小学英语英语故事（童话故事）The Bond of Friendship永恒的友情

TheBondofFriendship永恒的友情

We'verecentlymadealittlejourney,andalreadywewanttomakealongerone.Where?

ToSparta,orMycenae,orDelphi?Therearehundredsofplaceswhosenamesmakethe

heartpoundwiththeloveoftravel.Onhorsebackweclimbmountainpaths,through

shrubsandbrush.Asingletravelerlookslikeawholecaravan.Heridesinfront

withhisguide;apackhorsecarriesluggage,tent,andprovisions;acoupleof

soldiersguardtherearforhisprotection.Noinnwithsoftbedsawaitshimatthe

endofatiringday，sjourney;oftenthetentishisroofinnature'sgreatwilderness,

andtheguidecookshimhissupper-apilauofrice,fowl,andcurry.Thousandsof

gnatsswarmaroundthelittletent.Itisamiserablenight,andtomorrowtheroute

willheadacrossswollenstreams.Sittightonyourhorselestyouarewashedaway!

Whatrewardisthereforthesehardships?Thegreatest!Therichest!Naturereveals

herselfhereinallherglory;everyspotishistory;eyeandmindalikearedelighted.

Thepoetcansingofit,thepainterportrayitinsplendidpictures;butneither

canreproducetheairofrealitythatsinksdeepintothesoulofthespectator,

andremainsthere.

Thelonelyherdsmanuponthehillscould,perhaps,bythesimplestoryofanevent

inhislife,openyoureyes,andwithafewwordsletyoubeholdthelandofthe

Hellenesbetterthananytravelbookcoulddo.Lethimspeak,then!Aboutacustom,

abeautiful,peculiarcustom.Theshepherdinthemountainswilltellaboutit.He

callsitthebondoffriendship,andrelates:

Ourhousewasbuiltofclay,butthedoorpostswereflutedmarblepillarsfoundon

thespotwherethehousewasbuilt.Theroofalmostreachedtheground.Nowitwas

black-brownandugly;butwhenitwasnewitwascoveredwithbloomingoleanderand

freshlaurelbranchesfetchedfrombeyondthemountains.Thewalksaroundourhouse

werenarrow.Wallsofrockrosesteeplyup,bareandblackincolor.Ontopofthem,

cloudsoftenhunglikewhitelivingbeings.Ineverheardabirdsinghere,andnever

didthemendanceheretothesoundofthebagpipe;buttheplacewassacredfrom

oldentimes.Itsverynameremindedofthat,foritwascalledDelphi.Thedark,

solemnmountainswereallcoveredwithsnow.Thebrightest,whichgleamedinthe

redeveningsunthelongest,wasParnassus.Thebrookclosebyourhouserusheddown

fromit,andwasalsosacred,longago.Nowthedonkeymakesitmuddywithitsfeet,

butthecurrentrollsonandbecomesclearagain.

HowwellIremembereveryspotanditsdeepsacredsolitude!

Inthemiddleofthehutafirewaslit,andwhenthehotasheslayhighandglowing,

thebreadwasbakedinit.Ifthesnowwaspileduphighroundourhutandalmost

coveredit,thenmymotherseemedtobeherbrightest.Shewouldholdmyheadbetween

herhands,kissmyforehead,andsingthesongssheneversangatothertimes,for

ourmasters,theTurks,didnotlikethem.Andshesang:〃0nthesummitofOlympus,

inthefirtreeforestlivedanoldstag;itseyeswereheavywithtears.Itwept

red,yes,andevengreenandlight-bluetears.Thenaroebuckcamebyandsaid,'What

ailsyou,thatyoucryso,thatyouweepred,green,yes,evenlight-blue,tears?’

Thestagreplied,，TheTurkhasenteredourcity.Hehasfiercedogsforthehunt,

agoodlypack.5Iwilldrivethemawayacrosstheislands,，saidtheyoungroebuck.

'Iwilldrivethemawayacrosstheislandsintothedeepsea!’Butbeforeevening

theroebuckwasslain,andbeforenightfallthestagwashuntedandkilled.，z

Whenmymothersangthishereyesbecamemoist,andatearhungonthelonglashes.

Butsheconcealedit,andturnedourblackbreadintheashes.ThenIwouldclench

myfistsandsay,〃We'11killtheTurks!zz

Butsherepeatedthewordsofthesong,〃'Iwilldrivethemacrosstheislandsinto

thedeepsea!’Butbeforeeveningtheroebuckwasslain,andbeforenightfallthe

stagwashuntedandkilled.，z

Forseveraldaysandnightswehadbeenaloneinourhut,andthenmyfathercame

home.IknewhewouldbringmeseashellsfromtheGulfofLepanto,ormaybeeven

asharpgleamingknife.Butthistimehebroughtusachild,anakedlittlegirl

whomhehadcarriedunderhissheepskincoat.Shewaswrappedinafur,butwhen

thiswastakenoffandshelayinmymother，slapallthatshepossessedwasthree

silvercoinsfastenedinherdarkhair.AndfatherexplainedtousthattheTurks

hadkilledherparents,andtoldussomuchaboutitthatIdreamedaboutitall

night.Fatherhimselfhadbeenwounded,andmymotherdressedhisarm.Hiswound

wasdeep,andthethicksheepskinwasstiffwithblood.

Thelittlegirlwastobemysister!Shewassobeautiful,withclear,shiningeyes;

evenmymother，seyeswerenotgentlerthanhers.Yes,Anastasia,astheycalled

her,wastobemysister,forherfatherwasunitedtomine,unitedinaccordance

withanoldcustomwestillkeep.Theyhadswornbrotherhoodintheiryouth,and

hadchosenthemostbeautifulandvirtuousgirlinthewholecountrytoconsecrate

theirbondoffriendship.Ihadoftenheardofthequeerandbeautifulcustom.

Sonowthelittlegirlwasmysister.Shesatinmylap;Ibroughtherflowersand

feathersofthefieldbirds.WedranktogetherofthewatersofParnassusandslept

headtoheadbeneaththelaurelroofofthehut,whilemanyawintermymothersang

ofthered,thegreen,andthelight-bluetears.ButstillIdidn，tunderstandit

wasmyowncountrymenwhosethousandfoldsorrowswerereflectedinthosetears.

Oneday,threeFrankishmencame,dresseddifferentlythanwewere.Theyhadtheir

tentsandbedspackedonhorses;andmorethantwentyTurks,armedwithswordsand

muskets,accompaniedthem,fortheywerefriendsofthepasha,andcarriedletters

fromhim.Theyonlycametoviewourmountains,toclimbParnassusthroughsnowand

clouds,andtoseethestrange,steepblackrockssurroundingourhut.Therewas

noroomfortheminsideourhome,norcouldtheystandthesmokerollingalongthe

ceilingandoutatthelowdoor;sotheypitchedtheirtentsinthenarrowclearing

outsideourhouse,roastedlambsandbirds,anddrankstrong,sweetwine,whichthe

Turksdidnotdaretodrink.

Whentheyleft,Iwentwiththemforsomedistance,andmylittlesisterhungin

agoatskinonmyback.OneoftheFrankishgentlemenhadmestandbeforearock,

andsketchedmeandher,solifelikeaswestoodthere,sothatwelookedlikeone

being-Ihadneverthoughtofitbefore,butAnastasiaandIwerereallyoneperson.

Shewasalwayssittinginmylaporhangingonmybackinthegoatskin,andwhen

Idreamedsheappearedinmydreams.

Twonightslaterothermencametoourhut,armedwithknivesandmuskets.Theywere

Albanians,bravemen,saidmymother.Theystayedonlyashortwhile,wrapping

tobaccoinstripsofpaperandsmokingit.MysisterAnastasiasatonthekneesof

oneofthem,andwhenhewasgoneshehadonlytwosilvercoinsinherhairinstead

ofthree.Theoldestofthementalkedaboutwhichroutetheyshouldtake;hewas

notsure.

〃IfIspitupward,z/hesaid,〃itwillfallinmyface;ifIspitdownward,itwill

fallinmybeard!zz

Buttheyhadtomakeachoice,sotheywent,andmyfatherfollowedthem.Andsoon

afterwardsweheardthesoundofshots!Thefiringincreased;thensoldiersrushed

intoourhutandtookmymother,myself,andAnastasiaprisoners.Therobbers,they

said,hadstayedwithus,andmyfatherhadgonewiththem;thereforewehadtobe

takenaway.SoonIsawtherobbers，corpses,andIsawmyfather5scorpsetoo,and

Icriedmyselftosleep.WhenIawokewewereinprison,butthecellwasnoworse

thantheroominourhut.Andtheygavemeonionstoeatandmustywinepouredfrom

atarredsack,butoursathomewasnobetter.

Idon，tknowhowlongwewereheldprisoners,butmanydaysandnightswentby.It

wasourholyEastertimewhenwewerereleased.IcarriedAnastasiaonmyback,for

mymotherwasillandcouldonlywalkslowly,anditwasalongwaydowntothesea,

totheGulfofLepanto.Weenteredachurchmagnificentwithpicturesonagolden

background.Theywerepicturesofangels,oh,sobeautiful!butIthoughtourlittle

Anastasiawasjustasbeautiful.Inthecenterofthefloorwasacoffinfilledwith

roses."TheLordChristissymbolizedthereasabeautifulrose,〃saidmymother;

andthenthepriestchanted,/zChristisrisen!z/Everybodykissedeachother.All

thepeoplehadlightedtapersintheirhands;Ireceivedone,andsodidlittle

Anastasia.Thebagpipesplayed,mendancedhandinhandfromthechurch,andthe

womenoutsidewereroastingtheEasterlamb.Wewereinvitedtoshareit,andwhen

IsatbythefireaboyolderthanIputhisarmsaroundmyneck,kissedme,and

cried,z/Christisrisen!”Thuswemetforthefirsttime,AphtanidesandI.

Mymothercouldmakefishingnets,whichgaveheragoodincomehereinthebay,

soforalongtimewelivedbesidethesea-thebeautifulseathattastedliketears,

andwhosecolorsremindedmeofthesongoftheweepingstag,foritswaterswere

sometimesred,sometimesgreen,andthenagainlight-blue.

Aphtanidesknewhowtoguideaboat,andIoftensatinitwithAnastasiawhileit

glidedthroughthewater,likeacloudoverthesky.Then,asthesunsetandthe

mountainsturnedadeeperanddeeperblue,onerangeseemedtorisebehindtheother,

andbehindallofthemwasParnassus,coveredwithsnow.Itssummitgleamedinthe

eveningrayslikeglowingiron,anditseemedasthoughthelightshonefromwithin

it;forlongafterthesunhadsetthemountaintopstillglitteredintheclear,

blueshimmeringair.Thewhiteseabirdstouchedthewater'ssurfacewiththeirwings,

andindeedeverythingherewasascalmasamongtheblackrocksatDelphi.

IwaslyingonmybackintheboatwhileAnastasialeanedagainstmychest,andthe

starsaboveshonemorebrightlythanourchurchlamps.Theywerethesamestars,

andtheywereinexactlythesamepositionaboveme,aswhenIhadsatoutsideour

hutatDelphi,andatlastIimaginedIwasstillthere.Thentherewasasplash

inthewater,andtheboatrockedviolently!Icriedoutloud,forAnastasiahad

fallenoverboard,butjustasquicklyAphtanideshadleapedinafterher,andsoon

heliftedheruptome.Weundressedher,wrungthewateroutofherclothes;and

thendressedheragain.Aphtanidesdidthesameforhimself.Weremainedonthewater

untiltheirclothesweredry;andnooneknewaboutourfrightoverthelittleadopted

sisterinwhoselifeAphtanidesalsonowhadapart.

Thenitwassummer!Thesunblazedsofiercelythattheleavesonthetreeswithered.

Ithoughtofourcoolmountainsandtheirfresh-waterstreams,andmymotherlonged

forthemtoo;sooneeveningwejourneyedhome.Howquietitwasandhowpeaceful!

Wewalkedonthroughthehighthyme,stillfragrantthoughthesunhaddriedits

leaves.Notashepherddidwemeet;notasinglehutdidwepass.Everythingwas

quietanddeserted;onlyashootingstartoldusthatinheaventherestillwaslife.

Idonotknowiftheclearblueairglowedwithitsownlight,oriftherayscame

fromthestars,butwecouldplainlymakeouttheoutlinesofthemountains.Mymother

litafireandroastedtheonionsshehadbroughtwithher;thenmysisterandI

sleptamongthethyme,withnofearofthewolforthejackal,nottomentionfear

oftheugly,fire-breathingsmidraki,formymothersatbesideus,andthisIbelieved

wasenough.

Whenwereachedouroldhomewefoundthehutaheapofruins,andhadtobuilda

newone.Acoupleofwomenhelpedmymother,andinafewdaysthewallswereraised

andcoveredwithanewroofofoleander.Mymotherbraidedmanybottleholstersof

barkandskins;Itendedthepriests'littleflock,andAnastasiaandthelittle

tortoisesweremyplaymates.

OnedaywehadavisitfromourdearAphtanides,whosaidhowmuchhehadlonged

toseeus;hestayedwithusfortwowholedays.

Amonthlaterhecameagain,totellushewastakingashipforCorfuandPatras

buthadtobidusgood-byfirst;hehadbroughtourmotheralargefish.Hetalked

agreatdeal,notonlyaboutthefishermenoutintheGulfofLepanto,butalsoof

thekingsandheroeswhohadonceruledGreece,justastheTurksruleitnow.

Ihaveseenabudonarosebushdevelopthroughthedaysandweeksintoafull,

bloomingflowerbeforeIwasevenawarehowlarge,beautiful,andblushingithad

become;andnowIsawthesamethinginAnastasia.Shewasnowabeautiful,fullgrown

girl,andIwasastrongyouth.Imyselfhadtakenfromthewolvesthatfellbefore

mymuskettheskinsthatcoveredmymother，sandAnastasia'sbeds.Yearshadpassed.

ThenoneeveningAphtanidesreturned,strong,brown,andslenderasareed.Hekissed

usall,andhadmanystoriestotellofthegreatocean,thefortificationsofMalta,

andthestrangetombsofEgypt.Itallsoundedwonderful,likeapriestlylegend,

andIlookedathimwithakindofawe.

〃Howmuchyouknow!z/Isaid.〃Howwellyoucantellaboutit!〃

“Butafterall,youoncetoldmeaboutthemostwonderfulthing,〃hesaid."Youtold

mesomethingthathasneverbeenoutofmythoughts-thegrandoldcustomofthebond

offriendship,acustomIwantverymuchtofollow.Brother,letusgotochurch,

asyourandAnastasia5sfathersdidbeforeus.Yoursisteristhemostbeautiful

andinnocentofgirls;sheshallconsecrateus!Nonationhassuchbeautifulold

customsasweGreeks.z/

Anastasiablushedlikeafreshrose,andmymotherkissedAphtanides.

Anhour，swalkfromourhouse,wherelooseearthliesontherocks,andafewscattered

treesgiveshade,stoodthelittlechurch,asilverlamphangingbeforeitsaltar.

Iworemybestclothes.Thewhitefustanellafellinrichfoldsovermyhips,the

redjacketfittedtightandsnug,thetasselonmyfezwassilver,andinmygirdle

gleamedmyknifeandpistols.AphtanidesworethebluecostumeoftheGreeksailors;

onhischesthungasilvermedallionwithafigureoftheVirginMary,andhisscarf

wasascostlyasthosewornbyrichmen.Everyonecouldseethatwetwoweregoing

tosomeceremony.

Weenteredthelittleemptychurch,wheretheeveningsunlight,streamingthrough

thedoor,gleamedontheburninglampandthecoloredpicturesonthegolden

background.Wekneltonthealtarsteps,andAnastasiastoodbeforeus.Alongwhite

garmenthunglooselyandlightlyoverhergracefulfigure;onherwhiteneckand

bosomachainofoldandnewcoinsformedalargecollar.Herblackhairwasfastened

inasingleknotandheldtogetherbyasmallcapfashionedofgoldandsilvercoins

thathadbeenfoundintheoldtemples.NoGreekgirlhadmorebeautifulornaments

thanshe.Herfacebeamed,andhereyeswerebrightastwostars.

Thethreeofusprayedsilently,andthensheaskedus,“Willyoubefriendsinlife

andindeath?”

〃Yes〃，wereplied.

“Willeachofyou,whatevermayhappen,remember:mybrotherisapartofme!My

secretsarehissecrets;myhappinessishishappiness!Self-sacrifice,patience,

everyvirtueinme,belongstohimaswellastome!z/

Thensheplacedourhandstogetherandkissedeachofusontheforehead,andagain

weprayedsilently.Thenthepriestcamethroughthedoorbehindthealtarandblessed

thethreeofus;thesingingvoicesofotherholymensoundedfrombehindthealtar

screen.Thebondofeternalfriendshipwascompleted.WhenwearoseIsawthatmy

motherstandingbythechurchdoorwasweepingtenderly.

HowcheerfulitwasnowinourlittlehutbythespringsofDelphi!Theeveningbefore

hisdepartureAphtanidessatwithmeonthemountainside,hisarmaroundmywaist,

minearoundhisneck.WespokeofthesufferingofGreece,andofthementhecountry

couldtrust.Everythoughtofoursoulswascleartoeachofus,andItookhis