the little lame prince-第15章

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〃I　should　be　sorry；〃　replied　she；　〃not　to　be　of　service　to　you　in　something；　consider；　it　is　in　my　power　to　bestow　on　you　long　life；　kingdoms；　riches；　to　give　you　mines　of　diamonds　and　houses　full　of　gold；　I　can　make　you　an　excellent　orator；　poet；　musician；　and　painter；　or；　if　you　desire　it；　a　spirit　of　the　air；　the　water；　or　the　earth。〃

Here　Leander　interrupted　her。　〃Permit　me；　madam；〃　said　he；　〃to　ask　you　what　benefit　it　would　be　to　me　to　be　a　spirit？〃

〃Much；〃　replied　the　fairy；　〃you　would　be　invisible　when　you　pleased；　and　might　in　an　instant　traverse　the　whole　earth；　you　would　be　able　to　fly　without　wings；　to　descend　into　the　abyss　of　the　earth　without　dying；　and　walk　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea　without　being　drowned；　nor　doors；　nor　windows；　though　fast　shut　and　locked；　could　hinder　you　from　entering　anywhere；　and　whenever　you　had　a　mind；　you　might　resume　your　natural　form。〃

〃Oh；　madam！〃　cried　Leander；　〃then　let　me　be　a　spirit；　I　am　going　to　travel；　and　should　prefer　it　above　all　those　other　advantages　you　have　so　generously　offered　me。〃

Gentilla　thereupon　stroking　his　face　three　times；　〃Be　a　spirit；〃　said　she；　and　then；　embracing　him；　she　gave　him　a　little　red　cap　with　a　plume　of　feathers。　〃When　you　put　on　this　cap　you　shall　be　invisible；　but　when　you　take　it　off　you　shall　again　become　visible。〃

Leander；　overjoyed；　put　his　little　red　cap　upon　his　head　and　wished　himself　in　the　forest；　that　he　might　gather　some　wild　roses　which　he　had　observed　there：　his　body　immediately　became　as　light　as　thought；　he　flew　through　the　window　like　a　bird；　though；　in　flying　over　the　river；　he　was　not　without　fear　lest　he　should　fall　into　it；　and　the　power　of　the　fairy　not　be　able　to　save　him。　But　he　arrived　in　safety　at　the　rose…　bushes；　plucked　the　three　roses；　and　returned　immediately　to　his　chamber；　presented　his　roses　to　the　fairy；　overjoyed　that　his　first　experiments　had　succeeded　so　well。　She　bade　him　keep　the　roses；　for　that　one　of　them　would　supply　him　with　money　whenever　he　wanted　it；　that　if　he　put　the　other　into　his　mistress'　bosom；　he　would　know　whether　she　was　faithful　or　not；　and　that　the　third　would　keep　him　always　in　good　health。　Then；　without　staying　to　receive　his　thanks；　she　wished　him　success　in　his　travels　and　disappeared。

Leander；　infinitely　pleased；　settled　his　affairs；　mounted　the　finest　horse　in　the　stable；　called　Gris…de…line；　and　attended　by　some　of　his　servants　in　livery；　made　his　return　to　court。　Now　you　must　know　Furibon　had　given　out　that　had　it　not　been　for　his　courage　Leander　would　have　murdered　him　when　they　were　a…hunting；　so　the　king；　being　importuned　by　the　queen；　gave　orders　that　Leander　should　be　apprehended。　But　when　he　came；　he　showed　so　much　courage　and　resolution　that　Furibon　ran　to　the　queen's　chamber　and　prayed　her　to　order　him　to　be　seized。　The　queen；　who　was　extremely　diligent　in　everything　that　her　son　desired；　went　immediately　to　the　king。　Furibon；　being　impatient　to　know　what　would　be　resolved；　followed　her；　but　stopped　at　the　door　and　laid　his　ear　to　the　keyhole；　putting　his　hair　aside　that　he　might　the　better　hear　what　was　said。　At　the　same　time；　Leander　entered　the　court…hall　of　the　palace　with　his　red　cap　upon　his　head；　and　perceiving　Furibon　listening　at　the　door　of　the　king's　chamber；　he　took　a　nail　and　a　hammer　and　nailed　his　ear　to　the　door。　Furibon　began　to　roar；　so　that　the　queen；　hearing　her　son's　voice；　ran　and　opened　the　door；　and；　pulling　it　hastily；　tore　her　son's　ear　from　his　head。　Half　out　of　her　wits；　she　set　him　in　her　lap；　took　up　his　ear；　kissed　it；　and　clapped　it　again　upon　its　place；　but　the　invisible　Leander；　seizing　upon　a　handful　of　twigs；　with　which　they　corrected　the　king's　little　dogs；　gave　the　queen　several　lashes　upon　her　hands；　and　her　son　as　many　on　the　nose：　upon　which　the　queen　cried　out；　〃Murder！　murder！〃　and　the　king　looked　about；　and　the　people　came　running　in；　but　nothing　was　to　be　seen。　Some　cried　that　the　queen　was　mad；　and　that　her　madness　proceeded　from　her　grief　to　see　that　her　son　had　lost　one　ear；　and　the　king　was　as　ready　as　any　to　believe　it；　so　that　when　she　came　near　him　he　avoided　her；　which　made　a　very　ridiculous　scene。　Leander；　then　leaving　the　chamber；　went　into　the　garden；　and　there；　assuming　his　own　shape；　he　boldly　began　to　pluck　the　queen's　cherries；　apricots；　strawberries；　and　flowers；　though　he　knew　she　set　such　a　high　value　on　them　that　it　was　as　much　as　a　man's　life　was　worth　to　touch　one。　The　gardeners；　all　amazed；　came　and　told　their　majesties　that　Prince　Leander　was　making　havoc　of　all　the　fruits　and　flowers　in　the　queen's　gardens

〃What　insolence！〃　said　the　queen：　then　turning　to　Furibon；　〃my　pretty　child；　forget　the　pain　of　thy　ear　but　for　a　moment；　and　fetch　that　vile　wretch　hither；　take　our　guards；　both　horse　and　foot；　seize　him；　and　punish　him　as　he　deserves。〃

Furibon；　encouraged　by　his　mother；　and　attended　by　a　great　number　of　armed　soldiers；　entered　the　garden　and　saw　Leander；　who；　taking　refuge　under　a　tree；　pelted　them　all　with　oranges。　But　when　they　came　running　toward　him；　thinking　to　have　seized　him；　he　was　not　to　be　seen；　he　had　slipped　behind　Furibon；　who　was　in　a　bad　condition　already。　But　Leander　played　him　one　trick　more；　for　he　pushed　him　down　upon　the　gravel　walk；　and　frightened　him　so　that　the　soldiers　had　to　take　him　up；　carry　him　away；　and　put　him　to　bed。

Satisfied　with　this　revenge；　he　returned　to　his　servants；　who　waited　for　him；　and　giving　them　money；　sent　them　back　to　his　castle；　that　none　might　know　the　secret　of　his　red　cap　and　roses。　As　yet　he　had　not　determined　whither　to　go；　however；　he　mounted　his　fine　horse　Gris…　de…line；　and；　laying　the　reins　upon　his　neck；　let　him　take　his　own　road：　at　length　he　arrived　in　a　forest；　where　he　stopped　to　shelter　himself　from　the　heat。　He　had　not　been　above　a　minute　there　before　he　heard　a　lamentable　noise　of　sighing　and　sobbing；　and　looking　about　him；　beheld　a　man；　who　ran；　stopped；　then　ran　again；　sometimes　crying；　sometimes　silent；　then　tearing　his　hair；　then　thumping　his　breast　like　some　unfortunate　madman。　Yet　he　seemed　to　be　both　handsome　and　young：　his　garments　had　been　magnificent；　but　he　had　torn　them　all　to　tatters。　The　prince；　moved　with　compassion；　made　toward　him；　and　mildly　accosted　him。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃your　condition　appears　so　deplorable　that　I　must　ask　the　cause　of　your　sorrow；　assuring　you　of　every　assistance　in　my　power。〃

〃Oh；　sir；〃　answered　the　young　man；　〃nothing　can　cure　my　grief；　this　day　my　dear　mistress　is　to　be　sacrificed　to　a　rich　old　ruffian　of　a　husband　who　will　make　her　miserable。〃

〃Does　she　love　you；　then？〃　asked　Leander。

〃I　flatter　myself　so；〃　answered　the　young　man。

〃Where　is　she？〃　continued　Leander。

〃In　the　castle　at　the　end　of　this　forest；〃　replied　the　lover。

〃Very　well；〃　said　Leander；　〃stay　you　here　till　I　come　again；　and　in　a　little　while　I　will　bring　you　good　news。〃

He　then　put　on　his　little　red　cap　and　wished　himself　in　the　castle。　He　had　hardly　got　thither　before　he　heard　all　sorts　of　music；　he　entered　into　a　great　room；　where　the　friends　and　kindred　of　the　old　man　and　the　young　lady　were　assembled。　No　one　could　look　more　amiable　than　she；　but　the　paleness　of　her　complexion；　the　melancholy　that　appeared　in　her　countenance；　and　the　tears　that　now　and　then　dropped；　as　it　were　by　stealth　from　her　eyes；　betrayed　the　trouble　of　her　mind。

Leander　now　became　invisible；　and　placed　himself　in　a　corner　of　the　room。　He　soon　perceived　the　father　and　mother　of　the　bride；　and　coming　behind　the　mother's　chair；　whispered　in　her　ear；　〃If　you　marry　your　daughter　to　that　old　dotard；　before　eight　days　are　over　you　shall　certainly　die。〃　The　woman；　frightened　to　hear　such　a　terrible　sentence　pronounced　upon　her；　and　yet　not　know　from　whence　it　came；　gave　a　loud　shriek　and　dropped　upon　the　floor。　Her　husband　asked　what　ailed　her：　she　cried　that　she　was　a　dead　woman　if　the　marriage　of　her　daughter　went　forward；　and　therefore　she　would　not　consent　to　it　for　all　the　world。　Her　husband　laughed　at　her　and　called　her　a　fool。　But　the　invisible　Leander　accosting　the　man；　threatened　him　in　the　same　way；　which　frightened　him　so　terribly　that　he　also　insisted　on　the　marriage　being　broken　off。　When　the　lover　complained；　Leander　trod　hard　upon　his　gouty　toes　and　rang　such　an　alarm　in　his　ears　that；　not　being　able　any　longer　to　hear　himself　speak；　away　he　limped；　glad　enough　to　go。　The　real　lover　soon　appeared；　and　he　and　his　fair　mistress　fell　joyfully　into　one　another's　arms；　the　parents　consenting　to　their　union。　Leander；　assuming　his　own　shape；　appeared　at　the　hall　door；　as　if　he　were　a　stranger　drawn　thither　by　the　report　of　this　extraordinary　wedding。

From　hence　he　traveled　on；　and　came　to　a　great　city；　where；　upon　his　arrival；　he　understood　there　was　a　great　and　solemn　procession；　in　order　to　shut　up　a　young　woman　against　her　will　among　the　vestal…nuns。　The　prince　was　touched　with　compassion；　and　thinking　the　best　use　he　could　make　of　his　cap　was　to　redress　public　wrongs　and　relieve　the　oppressed；　he　flew　to　the　temple；　where　he　saw　the　young　woman；　crowned　with　flowers；　clad　in　white；　and　with　her　disheveled　hair　flowing　about　her　shoulders。　Two　of　her　brothers　led　her　by　each　hand；　and　her　mother　followed　her　with　a　great　crowd　of　men　and　women。　Leander；　being　invisible；　cried　out；　〃Stop；　stop；　wicked　brethren：　stop；　rash　and　inconsiderate　mother；　if　you　proceed　any　further；　you　shall　be　squeezed　to　death　like　so　many　frogs。〃　They　looked　about；　but　could　not　conceive　from　whence　these　terrible　menaces　came。　The　brothers　said　it　was　only　their　sister's　lover；　who　had　hid　himself　in　some　hole；　at　which　Leander；　in　wrath；　took　a　long　cudgel；　and　they　had　no　reason　to　say　the　blows　were　not　well　laid　on。　The　multitude　fled；　the　vestals　ran　away；　and　Leander　was　left　alone　with　the　victim；　immediately　he　pulled　off　his　red　cap　and　asked　her　wherein　he　might　serve　her。　She　answered　him　that　there　was　a　certain　gentleman　whom　she　would　be　glad　to　marry；　but　that　he　wanted　an　estate。　Leander　then　shook　his　rose　so　long　that　he　supplied　them　with　ten　millions；　after　which　they　were　married　and　lived　happily　together。

But　his　last　adventure　was　the　most　agreeable。　Entering　into　a　wide　forest；　he　heard　lamentable　cries。　Looking　about　him　every　way；　at　length　he　spied　four　men　well　armed；　who　were　carrying　away　by　force　a　young　lady；　thirteen　or　fourteen　years　of　age；　upon　which；　making　up　to　them　as　fast　as　he　could；　〃What　harm　has　that　girl　done？〃　said　he。

〃Ha！　ha！　my　little　master；〃　cried　he　who　seemed　to　be　the　ringleader　of　the　rest；　〃who　bade　you　inquire？〃

〃Let　her　alone；〃　said　Leander；　〃and　go　about　your　business。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　to　be　sure；〃　cried　they；　laughing；　whereupon　the　prince；　alighting；　put　on　his　red　cap；　not　thinking　it　otherwise　prudent　to　attack　four　who　seemed　strong　enough　to　fight　a　dozen。　One　of　them　stayed　to　take　care　of　the　young　lady；　while　the　three　others　went　after　Gris…de…line；　who　gave　them　a　great　deal　of　unwelcome　exercise。

Meantime　the　young　lady　continued　her　cries　and　complaints。　〃Oh；　my　dear　princess；〃　said　she；　〃how　happy　was　I　in　your　palace！　Did　you　but　know　my　sad　misfortune；　you　would　send　your　Amazons　to　rescue　poor　Abricotina。〃

Leander；　having　listened　to　what　she　said；　w