"Once I thought I saw him," replied the maiden, with a smile and a blush. "It was either Pegasus, or a large white bird, a very great way up in the air. And one other time, as I was coming to the fountain with my pitcher, I heard a neigh. Oh, such a brisk and melodious3 neigh as that was! My very heart leaped with delight at the sound. But it startled me, nevertheless; so that I ran home without filling my pitcher."
"That was truly a pity!" said Bellerophon.
And he turned to the child, whom I mentioned at the beginning of the story, and who was gazing at him, as children are apt to gaze at strangers, with his rosy4 mouth wide open.
"Well, my little fellow," cried Bellerophon, playfully pulling one of his curls, "I suppose you have often seen the winged horse."
"That I have," answered the child, very readily. "I saw him yesterday, and many times before."
"You are a fine little man!" said Bellerophon, drawing the child closer to him. "Come, tell me all about it."
"Why," replied the child, "I often come here to sail little boats in the fountain, and to gather pretty pebbles6 out of its basin. And sometimes, when I look down into the water, I see the image of the winged horse, in the picture of the sky that is there. I wish he would come down, and take-182- me on his back, and let me ride him up to the moon! But, if I so much as stir to look at him, he flies far away out of sight."
And Bellerophon put his faith in the child, who had seen the image of Pegasus in the water, and in the maiden, who had heard him neigh so melodiously7, rather than in the middle-aged8 clown, who believed only in cart-horses, or in the old man who had forgotten the beautiful things of his youth.
Therefore, he haunted about the Fountain of Pirene for a great many days afterwards. He kept continually on the watch, looking upward at the sky, or else down into the water, hoping forever that he should see either the reflected image of the winged horse, or the marvelous reality. He held the bridle10, with its bright gems11 and golden bit, always ready in his hand. The rustic12 people, who dwelt in the neighborhood, and drove their cattle to the fountain to drink, would often laugh at poor Bellerophon, and sometimes take him pretty severely13 to task. They told him that an able-bodied young man, like himself, ought to have better business than to be wasting his time in such an idle pursuit. They offered to sell him a horse, if he wanted one; and when Bellerophon declined the purchase, they tried to drive a bargain with him for his fine bridle.
Even the country boys thought him so very foolish, that they used to have a great deal of sport about him, and were rude enough not to care a fig14, although Bellerophon saw and heard it. One little urchin15, for example, would play-183- Pegasus, and cut the oddest imaginable capers17, by way of flying; while one of his schoolfellows would scamper18 after him, holding forth19 a twist of bulrushes, which was intended to represent Bellerophon's ornamental20 bridle. But the gentle child, who had seen the picture of Pegasus in the water, comforted the young stranger more than all the naughty boys could torment21 him. The dear little fellow, in his play-hours, often sat down beside him, and, without speaking a word, would look down into the fountain and up towards the sky, with so innocent a faith, that Bellerophon could not help feeling encouraged.
Now you will, perhaps, wish to be told why it was that Bellerophon had undertaken to catch the winged horse. And we shall find no better opportunity to speak about this matter than while he is waiting for Pegasus to appear.
If I were to relate the whole of Bellerophon's previous adventures, they might easily grow into a very long story. It will be quite enough to say, that, in a certain country of Asia, a terrible monster, called a Chim?ra, had made its appearance, and was doing more mischief22 than could be talked about between now and sunset. According to the best accounts which I have been able to obtain, this Chim?ra was nearly, if not quite, the ugliest and most poisonous creature, and the strangest and unaccountablest, and the hardest to fight with, and the most difficult to run away from, that ever came out of the earth's inside. It had a tail like a boa-constrictor; its body was like I do not care what; and it had three separate-184- heads, one of which was a lion's, the second a goat's, and the third an abominably23 great snake's. And a hot blast of fire came flaming out of each of its three mouths! Being an earthly monster, I doubt whether it had any wings; but, wings or no, it ran like a goat and a lion, and wriggled24 along like a serpent, and thus contrived25 to make about as much speed as all the three together.
Oh, the mischief, and mischief, and mischief that this naughty creature did! With its flaming breath, it could set a forest on fire, or burn up a field of grain, or, for that matter, a village, with all its fences and houses. It laid waste the whole country round about, and used to eat up people and animals alive, and cook them afterwards in the burning oven of its stomach. Mercy on us, little children, I hope neither you nor I will ever happen to meet a Chim?ra!
While the hateful beast (if a beast we can anywise call it) was doing all these horrible things, it so chanced that Bellerophon came to that part of the world, on a visit to the king. The king's name was Iobates, and Lycia was the country which he ruled over. Bellerophon was one of the bravest youths in the world, and desired nothing so much as to do some valiant26 and beneficent deed, such as would make all mankind admire and love him. In those days, the only way for a young man to distinguish himself was by fighting battles, either with the enemies of his country, or with wicked giants, or with troublesome dragons, or with wild beasts, when he could find nothing more dangerous to encounter. King Iobates, per-185-ceiving the courage of his youthful visitor, proposed to him to go and fight the Chim?ra, which everybody else was afraid of, and which, unless it should be soon killed, was likely to convert Lycia into a desert. Bellerophon hesitated not a moment, but assured the king that he would either slay27 this dreaded28 Chim?ra, or perish in the attempt.
But, in the first place, as the monster was so prodigiously29 swift, he bethought himself that he should never win the victory by fighting on foot. The wisest thing he could do, therefore, was to get the very best and fleetest horse that could anywhere be found. And what other horse, in all the world, was half so fleet as the marvelous horse Pegasus, who had wings as well as legs, and was even more active in the air than on the earth? To be sure, a great many people denied that there was any such horse with wings, and said that the stories about him were all poetry and nonsense. But, wonderful as it appeared, Bellerophon believed that Pegasus was a real steed, and hoped that he himself might be fortunate enough to find him; and, once fairly mounted on his back, he would be able to fight the Chim?ra at better advantage.
And this was the purpose with which he had traveled from Lycia to Greece, and had brought the beautifully ornamented30 bridle in his hand. It was an enchanted31 bridle. If he could only succeed in putting the golden bit into the mouth of Pegasus, the winged horse would be submissive, and would own Bellerophon for his master, and fly whithersoever he might choose to turn therein.-186-
But, indeed, it was a weary and anxious time, while Bellerophon waited and waited for Pegasus, in hopes that he would come and drink at the Fountain of Pirene. He was afraid lest King Iobates should imagine that he had fled from the Chim?ra. It pained him, too, to think how much mischief the monster was doing, while he himself, instead of fighting with it, was compelled to sit idly poring over the bright waters of Pirene, as they gushed32 out of the sparkling sand. And as Pegasus came thither33 so seldom in these latter years, and scarcely alighted there more than once in a lifetime, Bellerophon feared that he might grow an old man, and have no strength left in his arms nor courage in his heart, before the winged horse would appear. Oh, how heavily passes the time, while an adventurous34 youth is yearning35 to do his part in life, and to gather in the harvest of his renown36! How hard a lesson it is to wait! Our life is brief, and how much of it is spent in teaching us only this!
Well was it for Bellerophon that the gentle child had grown so fond of him, and was never weary of keeping him company. Every morning the child gave him a new hope to put in his bosom37, instead of yesterday's withered38 one.
"Dear Bellerophon," he would cry, looking up hopefully into his face, "I think we shall see Pegasus to-day!"
And, at length, if it had not been for the little boy's unwavering faith, Bellerophon would have given up all hope, and would have gone back to Lycia, and have done his best to slay the Chim?ra-187- without the help of the winged horse. And in that case poor Bellerophon would at least have been terribly scorched39 by the creature's breath, and would most probably have been killed and devoured40. Nobody should ever try to fight an earth-born Chim?ra, unless he can first get upon the back of an aerial steed.
"Dear, dear Bellerophon," cried he, "I know not why it is, but I feel as if we should certainly see Pegasus to-day!"
And all that day he would not stir a step from Bellerophon's side; so they ate a crust of bread together, and drank some of the water of the fountain. In the afternoon, there they sat, and Bellerophon had thrown his arm around the child, who likewise had put one of his little hands into Bellerophon's. The latter was lost in his own thoughts, and was fixing his eyes vacantly on the trunks of the trees that overshadowed the fountain, and on the grapevines that clambered up among their branches. But the gentle child was gazing down into the water; he was grieved, for Bellerophon's sake, that the hope of another day should be deceived, like so many before it; and two or three quiet tear-drops fell from his eyes, and mingled42 with what were said to be the many tears of Pirene, when she wept for her slain43 children.
But, when he least thought of it, Bellerophon felt the pressure of the child's little hand, and heard a soft, almost breathless, whisper.-188-
"See there, dear Bellerophon! There is an image in the water!"
The young man looked down into the dimpling mirror of the fountain, and saw what he took to be the reflection of a bird which seemed to be flying at a great height in the air, with a gleam of sunshine on its snowy or silvery wings.
"What a splendid bird it must be!" said he. "And how very large it looks, though it must really be flying higher than the clouds!"
"It makes me tremble!" whispered the child. "I am afraid to look up into the air! It is very beautiful, and yet I dare only look at its image in the water. Dear Bellerophon, do you not see that it is no bird? It is the winged horse Pegasus!"
Bellerophon's heart began to throb44! He gazed keenly upward, but could not see the winged creature, whether bird or horse; because, just then, it had plunged45 into the fleecy depths of a summer cloud. It was but a moment, however, before the object reappeared, sinking lightly down out of the cloud, although still at a vast distance from the earth. Bellerophon caught the child in his arms, and shrank back with him, so that they were both hidden among the thick shrubbery which grew all around the fountain. Not that he was afraid of any harm, but he dreaded lest, if Pegasus caught a glimpse of them, he would fly far away, and alight in some inaccessible46 mountain-top. For it was really the winged horse. After they had expected him so long, he was coming to quench47 his thirst with the water of Pirene.-189-
Nearer and nearer came the aerial wonder, flying in great circles, as you may have seen a dove when about to alight. Downward came Pegasus, in those wide, sweeping48 circles, which grew narrower, and narrower still, as he gradually approached the earth. The nigher the view of him, the more beautiful he was, and the more marvelous the sweep of his silvery wings. At last, with so light a pressure as hardly to bend the grass about the fountain, or imprint49 a hoof-tramp in the sand of its margin50, he alighted, and, stooping his wild head, began to drink. He drew in the water, with long and pleasant sighs, and tranquil51 pauses of enjoyment52; and then another draught53, and another, and another. For, nowhere in the world, or up among the clouds, did Pegasus love any water as he loved this of Pirene. And when his thirst was slaked54, he cropped a few of the honey-blossoms of the clover, delicately tasting them, but not caring to make a hearty55 meal, because the herbage, just beneath the clouds, on the lofty sides of Mount Helicon, suited his palate better than this ordinary grass.
After thus drinking to his heart's content, and, in his dainty fashion, condescending56 to take a little food, the winged horse began to caper16 to and fro, and dance as it were, out of mere57 idleness and sport. There never was a more playful creature made than this very Pegasus. So there he frisked, in a way that it delights me to think about, fluttering his great wings as lightly as ever did a linnet, and running little races, half on earth and half in air, and which I know not whether to-190- call a flight or a gallop58. When a creature is perfectly59 able to fly, he sometimes chooses to run, just for the pastime of the thing; and so did Pegasus, although it cost him some little trouble to keep his hoofs60 so near the ground. Bellerophon, meanwhile, holding the child's hand, peeped forth from the shrubbery, and thought that never was any sight so beautiful as this, nor ever a horse's eyes so wild and spirited as those of Pegasus. It seemed a sin to think of bridling61 him and riding on his back.
Once or twice, Pegasus stopped, and snuffed the air, pricking62 up his ears, tossing his head, and turning it on all sides, as if he partly suspected some mischief or other. Seeing nothing, however, and hearing no sound, he soon began his antics again.
At length—not that he was weary, but only idle and luxurious—Pegasus folded his wings, and lay down on the soft green turf. But, being too full of aerial life to remain quiet for many moments together, he soon rolled over on his back, with his four slender legs in the air. It was beautiful to see him, this one solitary63 creature, whose mate had never been created, but who needed no companion, and, living a great many hundred years, was as happy as the centuries were long. The more he did such things as mortal horses are accustomed to do, the less earthly and the more wonderful he seemed. Bellerophon and the child almost held their breath, partly from a delightful64 awe65, but still more because they dreaded lest the slightest stir or murmur66 should send him-191- up, with the speed of an arrow-flight, into the farthest blue of the sky.
Finally, when he had had enough of rolling over and over, Pegasus turned himself about, and, indolently, like any other horse, put out his fore5 legs, in order to rise from the ground; and Bellerophon, who had guessed that he would do so, darted67 suddenly from the thicket68, and leaped astride of his back.
Yes, there he sat, on the back of the winged horse!
But what a bound did Pegasus make, when, for the first time, he felt the weight of a mortal man upon his loins! A bound, indeed! Before he had time to draw a breath, Bellerophon found himself five hundred feet aloft, and still shooting upward, while the winged horse snorted and trembled with terror and anger. Upward he went, up, up, up, until he plunged into the cold misty69 bosom of a cloud, at which, only a little while before, Bellerophon had been gazing, and fancying it a very pleasant spot. Then again, out of the heart of the cloud, Pegasus shot down like a thunderbolt, as if he meant to dash both himself and his rider headlong against a rock. Then he went through about a thousand of the wildest caprioles that had ever been performed either by a bird or a horse.
I cannot tell you half that he did. He skimmed straight forward, and sideways, and backward. He reared himself erect70, with his fore legs on a wreath of mist, and his hind71 legs on nothing at all. He flung out his heels be-192-hind, and put down his head between his legs, with his wings pointing right upward. At about two miles' height above the earth, he turned a somerset, so that Bellerophon's heels were where his head should have been, and he seemed to look down into the sky, instead of up. He twisted his head about, and, looking Bellerophon in the face, with fire flashing from his eyes, made a terrible attempt to bite him. He fluttered his pinions72 so wildly that one of the silver feathers was shaken out, and, floating earthward, was picked up by the child, who kept it as long as he lived, in memory of Pegasus and Bellerophon.
But the latter (who, as you may judge, was as good a horseman as ever galloped) had been watching his opportunity, and at last clapped the golden bit of the enchanted bridle between the winged steed's jaws73. No sooner was this done, than Pegasus became as manageable as if he had taken food, all his life, out of Bellerophon's hand. To speak what I really feel, it was almost a sadness to see so wild a creature grow suddenly so tame. And Pegasus seemed to feel it so, likewise. He looked round to Bellerophon, with the tears in his beautiful eyes, instead of the fire that so recently flashed from them. But when Bellerophon patted his head, and spoke a few authoritative74, yet kind and soothing75 words, another look came into the eyes of Pegasus; for he was glad at heart, after so many lonely centuries, to have found a companion and a master.
Thus it always is with winged horses, and with all such wild and solitary creatures. If you can-193- catch and overcome them, it is the surest way to win their love.
While Pegasus had been doing his utmost to shake Bellerophon off his back, he had flown a very long distance; and they had come within sight of a lofty mountain by the time the bit was in his mouth. Bellerophon had seen this mountain before, and knew it to be Helicon, on the summit of which was the winged horse's abode76. Thither (after looking gently into his rider's face, as if to ask leave) Pegasus now flew, and, alighting, waited patiently until Bellerophon should please to dismount. The young man, accordingly, leaped from his steed's back, but still held him fast by the bridle. Meeting his eyes, however, he was so affected77 by the gentleness of his aspect, and by the thought of the free life which Pegasus had heretofore lived, that he could not bear to keep him a prisoner, if he really desired his liberty.
Obeying this generous impulse he slipped the enchanted bridle off the head of Pegasus, and took the bit from his mouth.
"Leave me, Pegasus!" said he. "Either leave me, or love me."
In an instant, the winged horse shot almost out of sight, soaring straight upward from the summit of Mount Helicon. Being long after sunset, it was now twilight78 on the mountain-top, and dusky evening over all the country round about. But Pegasus flew so high that he overtook the departed day, and was bathed in the upper radiance of the sun. Ascending79 higher-194- and higher, he looked like a bright speck80, and, at last, could no longer be seen in the hollow waste of the sky. And Bellerophon was afraid that he should never behold81 him more. But, while he was lamenting82 his own folly83, the bright speck reappeared, and drew nearer and nearer, until it descended84 lower than the sunshine; and, behold, Pegasus had come back! After this trial there was no more fear of the winged horse's making his escape. He and Bellerophon were friends, and put loving faith in one another.
That night they lay down and slept together, with Bellerophon's arm about the neck of Pegasus, not as a caution, but for kindness. And they awoke at peep of day, and bade one another good morning, each in his own language.
In this manner, Bellerophon and the wondrous85 steed spent several days, and grew better acquainted and fonder of each other all the time. They went on long aerial journeys, and sometimes ascended86 so high that the earth looked hardly bigger than—the moon. They visited distant countries, and amazed the inhabitants, who thought that the beautiful young man, on the back of the winged horse, must have come down out of the sky. A thousand miles a day was no more than an easy space for the fleet Pegasus to pass over. Bellerophon was delighted with this kind of life, and would have liked nothing better than to live always in the same way, aloft in the clear atmosphere; for it was always sunny weather up there, however cheerless and rainy it might be in the lower region. But he could-195- not forget the horrible Chim?ra, which he had promised King Iobates to slay. So, at last, when he had become well accustomed to feats87 of horsemanship in the air, and could manage Pegasus with the least motion of his hand, and had taught him to obey his voice, he determined88 to attempt the performance of this perilous89 adventure.
At daybreak, therefore, as soon as he unclosed his eyes, he gently pinched the winged horse's ear, in order to arouse him. Pegasus immediately started from the ground, and pranced90 about a quarter of a mile aloft, and made a grand sweep around the mountain-top, by way of showing that he was wide awake, and ready for any kind of an excursion. During the whole of this little flight, he uttered a loud, brisk, and melodious neigh, and finally came down at Bellerophon's side, as lightly as ever you saw a sparrow hop9 upon a twig91.
"Well done, dear Pegasus! well done, my sky-skimmer!" cried Bellerophon, fondly stroking the horse's neck. "And now, my fleet and beautiful friend, we must break our fast. To-day we are to fight the terrible Chim?ra."
As soon as they had eaten their morning meal, and drank some sparkling water from a spring called Hippocrene, Pegasus held out his head, of his own accord, so that his master might put on the bridle. Then, with a great many playful leaps and airy caperings, he showed his impatience92 to be gone; while Bellerophon was girding on his sword, and hanging his shield about his neck, and preparing himself for battle. When everything was ready, the rider mounted, and (as was his-196- custom, when going a long distance) ascended five miles perpendicularly93, so as the better to see whither he was directing his course. He then turned the head of Pegasus towards the east, and set out for Lycia. In their flight they overtook an eagle, and came so nigh him, before he could get out of their way, that Bellerophon might easily have caught him by the leg. Hastening onward94 at this rate, it was still early in the forenoon when they beheld95 the lofty mountains of Lycia, with their deep and shaggy valleys. If Bellerophon had been told truly, it was in one of those dismal96 valleys that the hideous97 Chim?ra had taken up its abode.
Being now so near their journey's end, the winged horse gradually descended with his rider; and they took advantage of some clouds that were floating over the mountain-tops, in order to conceal98 themselves. Hovering99 on the upper surface of a cloud, and peeping over its edge, Bellerophon had a pretty distinct view of the mountainous part of Lycia, and could look into all its shadowy vales at once. At first there appeared to be nothing remarkable100. It was a wild, savage101, and rocky tract102 of high and precipitous hills. In the more level part of the country, there were the ruins of houses that had been burnt, and, here and there, the carcasses of dead cattle, strewn about the pastures where they had been feeding.
"The Chim?ra must have done this mischief," thought Bellerophon. "But where can the monster be?"
As I have already said, there was nothing re-197-markable to be detected, at first sight, in any of the valleys and dells that lay among the precipitous heights of the mountains. Nothing at all; unless, indeed, it were three spires103 of black smoke, which issued from what seemed to be the mouth of a cavern104, and clambered sullenly105 into the atmosphere. Before reaching the mountain-top, these three black smoke-wreaths mingled themselves into one. The cavern was almost directly beneath the winged horse and his rider, at the distance of about a thousand feet. The smoke, as it crept heavily upward, had an ugly, sulphurous, stifling106 scent107, which caused Pegasus to snort and Bellerophon to sneeze. So disagreeable was it to the marvelous steed (who was accustomed to breathe only the purest air), that he waved his wings, and shot half a mile out of the range of this offensive vapor108.
But, on looking behind him, Bellerophon saw something that induced him first to draw the bridle, and then to turn Pegasus about. He made a sign, which the winged horse understood, and sunk slowly through the air, until his hoofs were scarcely more than a man's height above the rocky bottom of the valley. In front, as far off as you could throw a stone, was the cavern's mouth, with the three smoke-wreaths oozing109 out of it. And what else did Bellerophon behold there?
There seemed to be a heap of strange and terrible creatures curled up within the cavern. Their bodies lay so close together, that Bellerophon could not distinguish them apart; but, judging by their heads, one of these creatures was a-198- huge snake, the second a fierce lion, and the third an ugly goat. The lion and the goat were asleep; the snake was broad awake, and kept staring around him with a great pair of fiery110 eyes. But—and this was the most wonderful part of the matter—the three spires of smoke evidently issued from the nostrils111 of these three heads! So strange was the spectacle, that, though Bellerophon had been all along expecting it, the truth did not immediately occur to him, that here was the terrible three-headed Chim?ra. He had found out the Chim?ra's cavern. The snake, the lion, and the goat, as he supposed them to be, were not three separate creatures, but one monster!
The wicked, hateful thing! Slumbering112 as two thirds of it were, it still held, in its abominable113 claws, the remnant of an unfortunate lamb,—or possibly (but I hate to think so) it was a dear little boy,—which its three mouths had been gnawing114, before two of them fell asleep!
All at once, Bellerophon started as from a dream, and knew it to be the Chim?ra. Pegasus seemed to know it, at the same instant, and sent forth a neigh, that sounded like the call of a trumpet116 to battle. At this sound the three heads reared themselves erect, and belched117 out great flashes of flame. Before Bellerophon had time to consider what to do next, the monster flung itself out of the cavern and sprung straight towards him, with its immense claws extended, and its snaky tail twisting itself venomously behind. If Pegasus had not been as nimble as a bird, both-199- he and his rider would have been overthrown118 by the Chim?ra's headlong rush, and thus the battle have been ended before it was well begun. But the winged horse was not to be caught so. In the twinkling of an eye he was up aloft, halfway119 to the clouds, snorting with anger. He shuddered120, too, not with affright, but with utter disgust at the loathsomeness121 of this poisonous thing with three heads.
The Chim?ra, on the other hand, raised itself up so as to stand absolutely on the tip-end of its tail, with its talons122 pawing fiercely in the air, and its three heads spluttering fire at Pegasus and his rider. My stars, how it roared, and hissed123, and bellowed124! Bellerophon, meanwhile, was fitting his shield on his arm, and drawing his sword.
"Now, my beloved Pegasus," he whispered in the winged horse's ear, "thou must help me to slay this insufferable monster; or else thou shalt fly back to thy solitary mountain-peak without thy friend Bellerophon. For either the Chim?ra dies, or its three mouths shall gnaw115 this head of mine, which has slumbered125 upon thy neck!"
Pegasus whinnied, and, turning back his head, rubbed his nose tenderly against his rider's cheek. It was his way of telling him that, though he had wings and was an immortal126 horse, yet he would perish, if it were possible for immortality127 to perish, rather than leave Bellerophon behind.
"I thank you, Pegasus," answered Bellerophon. "Now, then, let us make a dash at the monster!"
Uttering these words, he shook the bridle; and Pegasus darted down aslant128, as swift as the flight-200- of an arrow, right towards the Chim?ra's three-fold head, which, all this time, was poking129 itself as high as it could into the air. As he came within arm's-length, Bellerophon made a cut at the monster, but was carried onward by his steed, before he could see whether the blow had been successful. Pegasus continued his course, but soon wheeled round, at about the same distance from the Chim?ra as before. Bellerophon then perceived that he had cut the goat's head of the monster almost off, so that it dangled130 downward by the skin, and seemed quite dead.
But, to make amends131, the snake's head and the lion's head had taken all the fierceness of the dead one into themselves, and spit flame, and hissed, and roared, with a vast deal more fury than before.
"Never mind, my brave Pegasus!" cried Bellerophon. "With another stroke like that, we will stop either its hissing132 or its roaring."
And again he shook the bridle. Dashing aslantwise, as before, the winged horse made another arrow-flight towards the Chim?ra, and Bellerophon aimed another downright stroke at one of the two remaining heads, as he shot by. But this time, neither he nor Pegasus escaped so well as at first. With one of its claws, the Chim?ra had given the young man a deep scratch in his shoulder, and had slightly damaged the left wing of the flying steed with the other. On his part, Bellerophon had mortally wounded the lion's head of the monster, insomuch that it now hung downward, with its fire almost extinguished, and sending out gasps133 of thick black smoke. The-201- snake's head, however (which was the only one now left), was twice as fierce and venomous as ever before. It belched forth shoots of fire five hundred yards long, and emitted hisses134 so loud, so harsh, and so ear-piercing, that King Iobates heard them, fifty miles off, and trembled till the throne shook under him.
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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6
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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melodiously
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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10
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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11
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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12
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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13
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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14
fig
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| n.无花果(树) | |
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15
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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16
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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17
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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19
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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20
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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21
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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22
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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23
abominably
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| adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地 | |
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24
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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25
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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26
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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27
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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28
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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29
prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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30
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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32
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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33
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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34
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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35
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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36
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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37
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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38
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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39
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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40
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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41
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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42
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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43
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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44
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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45
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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46
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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47
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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48
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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49
imprint
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| n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记 | |
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50
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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51
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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52
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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53
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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54
slaked
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| v.满足( slake的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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56
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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57
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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58
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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59
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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60
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61
bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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62
pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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63
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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64
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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65
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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66
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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67
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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68
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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69
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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70
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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71
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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72
pinions
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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73
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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74
authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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75
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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76
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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77
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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78
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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79
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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80
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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81
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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82
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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83
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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84
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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85
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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86
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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88
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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89
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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90
pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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92
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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93
perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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94
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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95
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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96
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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97
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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98
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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99
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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100
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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101
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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102
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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103
spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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104
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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105
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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106
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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107
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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108
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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109
oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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110
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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111
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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112
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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113
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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114
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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115
gnaw
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| v.不断地啃、咬；使苦恼，折磨 | |
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116
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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117
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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118
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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119
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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120
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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121
loathsomeness
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122
talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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123
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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124
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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125
slumbered
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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126
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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127
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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128
aslant
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| adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的 | |
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129
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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130
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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131
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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132
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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133
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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134
hisses
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| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
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