The Treasures of Typhon by Eden Phillpotts

Author:Eden Phillpotts [Phillpotts, Eden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440544774
Publisher: Prologue Books
Published: 1924-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

VIII

THE ADVENTURE OF THE PINE

TYPHON discovered that in many cases the kings of the forest were wiser than men, for they sucked earth knowledge from below and received upon their foliage the wisdom of the wind, the message of the rain, and the illumination of the planets. They had, however, their limitations, and some were narrow-minded and some were selfish; some were foolish and some absurdly vain; but the great trees, who numbered their years by centuries, had nothing small about them. They took large and generous views, as became creatures that have lived so long; their philosophy was unsubtle, but their motto lacked not dignity. “Be patient and endure,” said the forest giants, “for nothing quicklier shortens life, or makes it of less value, than impatience.” They were prone to contemplation and had more to think about and remember than, from their sedentary existence, might have been imagined.

As for Typhon, while the months passed he lost his adolescent beauty, for now the muscles of his fine body began to mark their plan. The silky smoothness of his limbs was gone. He had grown hard as iron and tough as steel. He was tall for a Greek, and his austere life and ceaseless exercise had built him into an athlete. There was not a weak spot about him except his brain, and that daily grew stronger under the tuition of his simple life. He had felt lonely for a season, and still at times there came a desire for human companionship; but his old life, seen from the standpoint of the new, offered no great temptations or regrets. Here was liberty without security; there had been security without liberty. “Slaves,” thought he, “enjoy security without liberty; and, doubtless, to the greater number of men, security is all-important and they would barter freedom for it. Yet to Typhon, who has now tasted liberty and the raw delight of living on his wits, a stuffy security and urban comfort possess no charm.” He reflected, however, that with the advent of age and weakness the case might be altered.

“How Dion and the Pythoness scuttled back to security!” laughed Typhon to himself.

For many months, until falling leaves made aureoles for beech and elm and gold dust flew again from the larches, he pursued his search and failed to find Soter, or learn where the herb might dwell. He had climbed a little, but as yet not travelled aloft beyond the habitations of men. Then he descended, willing to let be his enterprise awhile until he had kept his promise to the old oak.

The tree was glad to see him once more.

“None too soon you come,” he declared. “My harvest is generous, but the wood pigeons, the golden pheasants and the wild swine have already taken handsome toll thereof. Seek now for twelve prime acorns, hard and sound, and convey them to Dodona in Epirus at some future time.”

Typhon obeyed, stored the fruit of the great oak in a little bag, which he kept to hold his few possessions, and then prepared to depart again.

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