the little lame prince-第14章

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bly　a　lurking　pleasure　in　change。

So　there　was　a　fixed　day　when　all　the　people　whom　it　would　hold　assembled　in　the　great　square　of　the　capital；　to　see　the　young　prince　installed　solemnly　in　his　new　duties；　and　undertaking　his　new　vows。　He　was　a　very　fine　young　fellow；　tall　and　straight　as　a　poplar　tree；　with　a　frank；　handsome　facea　great　deal　handsomer　than　the　king；　some　people　said；　but　others　thought　differently。　However；　as　his　Majesty　sat　on　his　throne；　with　his　gray　hair　falling　from　underneath　his　crown；　and　a　few　wrinkles　showing　in　spite　of　his　smile；　there　was　something　about　his　countenance　which　made　his　people；　even　while　they　shouted；　regard　him　with　a　tenderness　mixed　with　awe。

He　lifted　up　his　thin；　slender　hand；　and　there　came　a　silence　over　the　vast　crowd　immediately。　Then　he　spoke；　in　his　own　accustomed　way；　using　no　grand　words；　but　saying　what　he　had　to　say　in　the　simplest　fashion；　though　with　a　clearness　that　struck　their　ears　like　the　first　song　of　a　bird　in　the　dusk　of　the　morning。

〃My　people；　I　am　tired：　I　want　to　rest。　I　have　had　a　long　reign；　and　done　much　workat　least；　as　much　as　I　was　able　to　do。　Many　might　have　done　it　better　than　Ibut　none　with　a　better　will。　Now　I　leave　it　to　others；　I　am　tired；　very　tired。　Let　me　go　home。〃

There　arose　a　murmurof　content　or　discontent　none　could　well　tell；　then　it　died　down　again；　and　the　assembly　listened　silently　once　more。

〃I　am　not　anxious　about　you；　my　peoplemy　children；〃　continued　the　King。　〃You　are　prosperous　and　at　peace。　I　leave　you　in　good　hands。　The　Prince　Regent　will　be　a　fitter　king　for　you　than　I。〃

〃No；　no；　no！〃　rose　the　universal　shoutand　those　who　had　sometimes　found　fault　with　him　shouted　louder　than　anybody。　But　he　seemed　as　if　he　heard　them　not。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　he；　as　soon　as　the　tumult　had　a　little　subsided：　and　his　voice　sounded　firm　and　clear；　and　some　very　old　people；　who　boasted　of　having　seen　him　as　a　child；　declared　that　his　face　took　a　sudden　change；　and　grew　as　young　and　sweet　as　that　of　the　little　Prince　Dolor。　〃Yes；　I　must　go。　It　is　time　for　me　to　go。　Remember　me　sometimes；　my　people；　for　I　have　loved　you　well。　And　I　am　going　a　long　way；　and　I　do　not　think　I　shall　come　back　any　more。〃

He　drew　a　little　bundle　out　of　his　breast　pocketa　bundle　that　nobody　had　ever　seen　before。　It　was　small　and　shabby…looking；　and　tied　up　with　many　knots；　which　untied　themselves　in　an　instant。　With　a　joyful　countenance；　he　muttered　over　it　a　few　half…intelligible　words。　Then；　so　suddenly　that　even　those　nearest　to　his　Majesty　could　not　tell　how　it　came　about；　the　King　was　awayawayfloating　right　up　in　the　airupon　something；　they　knew　not　what；　except　that　it　appeared　to　be　as　safe　and　pleasant　as　the　wings　of　a　bird。

And　after　him　sprang　a　birda　dear　little　lark；　rising　from　whence　no　one　could　say；　since　larks　do　not　usually　build　their　nests　in　the　pavement　of　city　squares。　But　there　it　was；　a　real　lark；　singing　far　over　their　heads；　louder　and　clearer　and　more　joyful　as　it　vanished　further　into　the　blue　sky。

Shading　their　eyes；　and　straining　their　ears；　the　astonished　people　stood　until　the　whole　vision　disappeared　like　a　speck　in　the　clouds　the　rosy　clouds　that　overhung　the　Beautiful　Mountains。

King　Dolor　was　never　again　beheld　or　heard　of　in　his　own　country。　But　the　good　he　had　done　there　lasted　for　years　and　years；　he　was　long　missed　and　deeply　mournedat　least；　so　far　as　anybody　could　mourn　one　who　was　gone　on　such　a　happy　journey。

Whither　he　went；　or　who　went　with　him；　it　is　impossible　to　say。　But　I　myself　believe　that　his　godmother　took　him　on　his　traveling…cloak　to　the　Beautiful　Mountains。　What　he　did　there；　or　where　he　is　now；　who　can　tell？　I　cannot。　But　one　thing　I　am　quite　sure　of；　that；　wherever　he　is；　he　is　perfectly　happy。

And　so；　when　I　think　of　him；　am　I。



THE　INVISIBLE　PRINCE

THERE　were　a　king　and　queen　who　were　dotingly　fond　of　their　only　son；　notwithstanding　that　he　was　equally　deformed　in　mind　and　person。　The　king　was　quite　sensible　of　the　evil　disposition　of　his　son；　but　the　queen　in　her　excessive　fondness　saw　no　fault　whatever　in　her　dear　Furibon；　as　he　was　named。　The　surest　way　to　win　her　favor　was　to　praise　Furibon　for　charms　he　did　not　possess。　When　he　came　of　age　to　have　a　governor；　the　king　made　choice　of　a　prince　who　had　an　ancient　right　to　the　crown；　but　was　not　able　to　support　it。　This　prince　had　a　son；　named　Leander；　handsome；　accomplished；　amiablein　every　respect　the　opposite　of　Prince　Furibon。　The　two　were　frequently　together；　which　only　made　the　deformed　prince　more　repulsive。

One　day；　certain　ambassadors　having　arrived　from　a　far　country；　the　prince　stood　in　a　gallery　to　see　them；　when；　taking　Leander　for　the　king's　son；　they　made　their　obeisance　to　him；　treating　Furibon　as　a　mere　dwarf；　at　which　the　latter　was　so　offended　that　he　drew　his　sword；　and　would　have　done　them　a　mischief　had　not　the　king　just　then　appeared。　As　it　was；　the　affair　produced　a　quarrel；　which　ended　in　Leander's　being　sent　to　a　far…away　castle　belonging　to　his　father。

There；　however；　he　was　quite　happy；　for　he　was　a　great　lover　of　hunting；　fishing；　and　walking：　he　understood　painting；　read　much；　and　played　upon　several　instruments；　so　that　he　was　glad　to　be　freed　from　the　fantastic　humors　of　Furibon。　One　day　as　he　was　walking　in　the　garden；　finding　the　heat　increase；　he　retired　into　a　shady　grove　and　began　to　play　upon　the　flute　to　amuse　himself。　As　he　played；　he　felt　something　wind　about　his　leg；　and　looking　down　saw　a　great　adder：　he　took　his　handkerchief；　and　catching　it　by　the　head　was　going　to　kill　it。　But　the　adder；　looking　steadfastly　in　his　face；　seemed　to　beg　his　pardon。　At　this　instant　one　of　the　gardeners　happened　to　come　to　the　place　where　Leander　was；　and　spying　the　snake；　cried　out　to　his　master：　〃Hold　him　fast；　sir；　it　is　but　an　hour　since　we　ran　after　him　to　kill　him：　it　is　the　most　mischievous　creature　in　the　world。〃

Leander；　casting　his　eyes　a　second　time　upon　the　snake；　which　was　speckled　with　a　thousand　extraordinary　colors；　perceived　the　poor　creature　still　looked　upon　him　with　an　aspect　that　seemed　to　implore　compassion；　and　never　tried　in　the　least　to　defend　itself。

〃Though　thou　hast　such　a　mind　to　kill　it；〃　said　he　to　the　gardener；　〃yet；　as　it　came　to　me　for　refuge；　I　forbid　thee　to　do　it　any　harm；　for　I　will　keep　it；　and　when　it　has　cast　its　beautiful　skin　I　will　let　it　go。〃　He　then　returned　home；　and　carrying　the　snake　with　him；　put　it　into　a　large　chamber；　the　key　of　which　he　kept　himself；　and　ordered　bran；　milk；　and　flowers　to　be　given　to　it；　for　its　delight　and　sustenance；　so　that　never　was　snake　so　happy。　Leander　went　sometimes　to　see　it；　and　when　it　perceived　him　it　made　haste　to　meet　him；　showing　him　all　the　little　marks　of　love　and　gratitude　of　which　a　poor　snake　was　capable；　which　did　not　a　little　surprise　him；　though　he　took　no　further　notice　of　it。

In　the　meantime　all　the　court　ladies　were　extremely　troubled　at　his　absence；　and　he　was　the　subject　of　all　their　discourse。　〃Alas！〃　cried　they；　〃there　is　no　pleasure　at　court　since　Leander　is　gone；　of　whose　absence　the　wicked　Furibon　is　the　cause！〃　Furibon　also　had　his　parasites；　for　his　power　over　the　queen　made　him　feared；　they　told　him　what　the　ladies　said；　which　enraged　him　to　such　a　degree　that　in　his　passion　he　flew　to　the　queen's　chamber；　and　vowed　he　would　kill　himself　before　her　face　if　she　did　not　find　means　to　destroy　Leander。　The　queen；　who　also　hated　Leander；　because　he　was　handsomer　than　her　son；　replied　that　she　had　long　looked　upon　him　as　a　traitor；　and　therefore　would　willingly　consent　to　his　death。　To　which　purpose　she　advised　Furibon　to　go　a…hunting　with　some　of　his　confidants；　and　contrive　it　so　that　Leander　should　make　one　of　the　party。

〃Then；〃　said　she；　〃you　may　find　some　way　to　punish　him　for　pleasing　everybody。〃

Furibon　understood　her；　and　accordingly　went　a…hunting；　and　Leander；　when　he　heard　the　horns　and　the　hounds；　mounted　his　horse　and　rode　to　see　who　it　was。　But　he　was　surprised　to　meet　the　prince　so　unexpectedly；　he　alighted　immediately　and　saluted　him　with　respect；　and　Furibon　received　him　more　graciously　than　usual　and　bade　follow　him。　All　of　a　sudden　he　turned　his　horse　and　rode　another　way；　making　a　sign　to　the　ruffians　to　take　the　first　opportunity　to　kill　him；　but　before　he　had　got　quite　out　of　sight；　a　lion　of　prodigious　size；　coming　out　of　his　den；　leaped　upon　Furibon；　all　his　followers　fled；　and　only　Leander　remained；　who；　attacking　the　animal　sword　in　hand；　by　his　valor　and　agility　saved　the　life　of　his　most　cruel　enemy；　who　had　fallen　in　a　swoon　from　fear。　When　he　recovered；　Leander　presented　him　his　horse　to　remount。　Now；　any　other　than　such　a　wretch　would　have　been　grateful；　but　Furibon　did　not　even　look　upon　him；　nay；　mounting　the　horse；　he　rode　in　quest　of　the　ruffians；　to　whom　he　repeated　his　orders　to　kill　him。　They　accordingly　surrounded　Leander；　who；　setting　his　back　to　a　tree；　behaved　with　so　much　bravery　that　he　laid　them　all　dead　at　his　feet。　Furibon；　believing　him　by　this　time　slain；　rode　eagerly　up　to　the　spot。　When　Leander　saw　him　he　advanced　to　meet　him。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃if　it　was　by　your　order　that　these　assassins　came　to　kill　me；　I　am　sorry　I　made　any　defense。〃

〃You　are　an　insolent　villain！〃　replied　Furibon；　〃and　if　ever　you　come　into　my　presence　again；　you　shall　surely　die。〃

Leander　made　no　answer；　but　retired　sad　and　pensive　to　his　own　home；　where　he　spent　the　night　in　pondering　what　was　best　for　him　to　do；　for　there　was　no　likelihood　he　should　be　able　to　defend　himself　against　the　power　of　the　king's　son；　therefore　he　at　length　concluded　he　would　travel　abroad　and　see　the　world。　Being　ready　to　depart；　he　recollected　his　snake；　and；　calling　for　some　milk　and　fruits；　carried　them　to　the　poor　creature　for　the　last　time；　but　on　opening　the　door　he　perceived　an　extraordinary　luster　in　one　corner　of　the　room；　and　casting　his　eye　on　the　place　he　was　surprised　to　see　a　lady；　whose　noble　and　majestic　air　made　him　immediately　conclude　she　was　a　princess　of　royal　birth。　Her　habit　was　of　purple　satin；　embroidered　with　pearls　and　diamonds；　she　advanced　toward　him　with　a　gracious　smile。

〃Young　prince；〃　said　she；　〃you　find　no　longer　your　pet　snake；　but　me；　the　fairy　Gentilla；　ready　to　requite　your　generosity。　For　know　that　we　fairies　live　a　hundred　years　in　flourishing　youth；　without　diseases；　without　trouble　or　pain；　and　this　term　being　expired；　we　become　snakes　for　eight　days。　During　that　time　it　is　not　in　our　power　to　prevent　any　misfortune　that　may　befall　us；　and　if　we　happen　to　be　killed；　we　never　revive　again。　But　these　eight　days　being　expired；　we　resume　our　usual　form　and　recover　our　beauty；　our　power；　and　our　riches。　Now　you　know　how　much　I　am　obliged　to　your　goodness；　and　it　is　but　just　that　I　should　repay　my　debt　of　gratitude；　think　how　I　can　serve　you　and　depend　on　me。〃

The　young　prince；　who　had　never　conversed　with　a　fairy　till　now；　was　so　surprised　that　it　was　a　long　time　before　he　could　speak。　But　at　length；　making　a　profound　reverence；　〃Madam；〃　said　he；　〃since　I　have　had　the　honor　to　serve　you；　I　know　not　any　other　happiness　that　I　can　wish　for。〃

〃I　should　be　sorry；〃　replied　she；　〃not　to　be　of　service　to　you　in　something；　consider；　it　is　in　m