Page:Tanglewood tales (Dulac).djvu/84

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
 
TANGLEWOOD TALES

see I'm sleepy. There is not a Giant on earth for whom I would take the trouble to get up.'

But the Pygmy looked again, and now perceived that the stranger was coming directly towards the prostrate form of Antæus. With every step he looked less like a blue mountain, and more like an immensely large man. He was soon so nigh, that there could be no possible mistake about the matter. There he was, with the sun flaming on his golden helmet, and flashing from his polished breastplate; he had a sword by his side, and a lion's skin over his back, and on his right shoulder he carried a club, which looked bulkier and heavier than the pine tree walking-stick of Antæus.

By this time the whole nation of Pygmies had seen the new wonder, and a million of them set up a shout, altogether; so that it really made quite an audible squeak.

'Get up, Antæus! Bestir yourself, you lazy old Giant! Here comes another Giant, as strong as you are, to right with you.'

'Nonsense, nonsense!' growled the sleepy Giant. Til have my nap out, come who may.'

Still the stranger drew nearer; and now the Pygmies could plainly discern that, if his stature were less lofty than the Giant's, yet his shoulders were even broader. And, in truth, what a pair of shoulders they must have been! As I told you, a long while ago, they once upheld the sky. The Pygmies, being ten times as vivacious as their great numskull of a brother, could not abide the Giant's slow movements,

58