the little lame prince-第16章

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　would　send　your　Amazons　to　rescue　poor　Abricotina。〃

Leander；　having　listened　to　what　she　said；　without　delay　seized　the　ruffian　that　held　her；　and　bound　him　fast　to　a　tree　before　he　had　time　or　strength　to　defend　himself。　He　then　went　to　the　second；　and　taking　him　by　both　arms；　bound　him　in　the　same　manner　to　another　tree。　In　the　meantime　Abricotina　made　the　best　of　her　good　fortune　and　betook　herself　to　her　heels；　not　knowing　which　way　she　went。　But　Leander；　missing　her；　called　out　to　his　horse　Gris…de…line；　who；　by　two　kicks　with　his　hoof；　rid　himself　of　the　two　ruffians　who　had　pursued　him：　one　of　them　had　his　head　broken　and　the　other　three　of　his　ribs。　And　now　Leander　only　wanted　to　overtake　Abricotina；　for　he　thought　her　so　handsome　that　he　wished　to　see　her　again。　He　found　her　leaning　against　a　tree。　When　she　saw　Gris…　de…line　coming　toward　her；　〃How　lucky　am　I！〃　cried　she；　〃this　pretty　little　horse　will　carry　me　to　the　palace　of　pleasure。〃　Leander　heard　her；　though　she　saw　him　not：　he　rode　up　to　her；　Gris…de…line　stopped；　and　when　Abricotina　mounted　him；　Leander　clasped　her　in　his　arms　and　placed　her　gently　before　him。　Oh；　how　great　was　Abricotina's　fear　to　feel　herself　fast　embraced；　and　yet　see　nobody！　She　durst　not　stir；　and　shut　her　eyes　for　fear　of　seeing　a　spirit。　But　Leander　took　off　his　little　cap。　〃How　comes　it；　fair　Abricotina；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　are　afraid　of　me；　who　delivered　you　out　of　the　hands　of　the　ruffians？〃

With　that　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　knowing　him　again；　〃Oh；　sir；〃　said　she；　〃I　am　infinitely　obliged　to　you；　but　I　was　afraid；　for　I　felt　myself　held　fast　and　could　see　no　one。〃

〃Surely；〃　replied　Leander；　〃the　danger　you　have　been　in　has　disturbed　you　and　cast　a　mist　before　your　eyes。〃

Abricotina　would　not　seem　to　doubt　him；　though　she　was　otherwise　extremely　sensible。　And　after　they　had　talked　for　some　time　of　indifferent　things；　Leander　requested　her　to　tell　him　her　age；　her　country；　and　by　what　accident　she　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　ruffians。

〃Know　then；　sir；〃　said　she；　〃there　was　a　certain　very　great　fairy　married　to　a　prince　who　wearied　of　her：　she　therefore　banished　him　from　her　presence；　and　established　herself　and　daughter　in　the　Island　of　Calm　Delights。　The　princess；　who　is　my　mistress；　being　very　fair；　has　many　loversamong　others；　one　named　Furibon；　whom　she　detests；　he　it　was　whose　ruffians　seized　me　to…day　when　I　was　wandering　in　search　of　a　stray　parrot。　Accept；　noble　prince；　my　best　thanks　for　your　valor；　which　I　shall　never　forget。〃

Leander　said　how　happy　he　was　to　have　served　her；　and　asked　if　he　could　not　obtain　admission　into　the　island。　Abricotina　assured　him　this　was　impossible；　and　therefore　he　had　better　forget　all　about　it。　While　they　were　thus　conversing；　they　came　to　the　bank　of　a　large　river。　Abricotina　alighted　with　a　nimble　jump　from　the　horse。

〃Farewell；　sir；〃　said　she　to　the　prince；　making　a　profound　reverence；　〃I　wish　you　every　happiness。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　Leander；　〃wish　that　I　may　now　and　then　have　a　small　share　in　your　remembrance。〃

So　saying；　he　galloped　away　and　soon　entered　into　the　thickest　part　of　the　wood；　near　a　river；　where　he　unbridled　and　unsaddled　Gris…de…line；　then；　putting　on　his　little　cap；　wished　himself　in　the　Island　of　Calm　Delights；　and　his　wish　was　immediately　accomplished。

The　palace　was　of　pure　gold；　and　stood　upon　pillars　of　crystal　and　precious　stones；　which　represented　the　zodiac　and　all　the　wonders　of　nature；　all　the　arts　and　sciences；　the　sea；　with　all　the　variety　of　fish　therein　contained；　the　earth；　with　all　the　various　creatures　which　it　produces；　the　chases　of　Diana　and　her　nymphs；　the　noble　exercises　of　the　Amazons；　the　amusements　of　a　country　life；　flocks　of　sheep　with　their　shepherds　and　dogs；　the　toils　of　agriculture；　harvesting；　gardening。　And　among　all　this　variety　of　representations　there　was　neither　man　nor　boy　to　be　seennot　so　much　as　a　little　winged　Cupid；　so　highly　had　the　princess　been　incensed　against　her　inconstant　husband　as　not　to　show　the　least　favor　to　his　fickle　sex。

〃Abricotina　did　not　deceive　me；〃　said　Leander　to　himself；　〃they　have　banished　from　hence　the　very　idea　of　men；　now　let　us　see　what　they　have　lost　by　it。〃　With　that　he　entered　into　the　palaces　and　at　every　step　he　took　he　met　with　objects　so　wonderful　that　when　he　had　once　fixed　his　eyes　upon　them　he　had　much　ado　to　take　them　off　again。　He　viewed　a　vast　number　of　these　apartments；　some　full　of　china；　no　less　fine　than　curious；　others　lined　with　porcelain；　so　delicate　that　the　walls　were　quite　transparent。　Coral；　jasper；　agates；　and　cornelians　adorned　the　rooms　of　state；　and　the　presence…chamber　was　one　entire　mirror。　The　throne　was　one　great　pearl；　hollowed　like　a　shell；　the　princess　sat；　surrounded　by　her　maidens；　none　of　whom　could　compare　with　herself。　In　her　was　all　the　innocent　sweetness　of　youth；　joined　to　the　dignity　of　maturity；　in　truth；　she　was　perfection；　and　so　thought　the　invisible　Leander。

Not　seeing　Abricotina；　she　asked　where　she　was。　Upon　that；　Leander；　being　very　desirous　to　speak；　assumed　the　tone　of　a　parrot；　for　there　were　many　in　the　room；　and　addressed　himself　invisibly　to　the　princess。

〃Most　charming　princess；〃　said　he；　〃Abricotina　will　return　immediately。　She　was　in　great　danger　of　being　carried　away　from　this　place　but　for　a　young　prince　who　rescued　her。〃

The　princess　was　surprised　at　the　parrot；　his　answer　was　so　extremely　pertinent。

〃You　are　very　rude；　little　parrot；〃　said　the　princess；〃　and　Abricotina；　when　she　comes；　shall　chastise　you　for　it。〃

〃I　shall　not　be　chastised；〃　answered　Leander；　still　counterfeiting　the　parrot's　voice；　〃moreover；　she　will　let　you　know　the　great　desire　that　stranger　had　to　be　admitted　into　this　palace；　that　he　might　convince　you　of　the　falsehood　of　those　ideas　which　you　have　conceived　against　his　sex。〃

〃In　truth；　pretty　parrot；〃　cried　the　princess；　〃it　is　a　pity　you　are　not　every　day　so　diverting；　I　should　love　you　dearly。〃

〃Ah！　if　prattling　will　please　you；　princess；〃　replied　Leander；　〃I　will　prate　from　morning　till　night。〃

〃But；〃　continued　the　princess；　〃how　shall　I　be　sure　my　parrot　is　not　a　sorcerer？〃

〃He　is　more　in　love　than　any　sorcerer　can　be；〃　replied　the　prince。

At　this　moment　Abricotina　entered　the　room；　and　falling　at　her　lovely　mistress'　feet；　gave　her　a　full　account　of　what　had　befallen　her；　and　described　the　prince　in　the　most　glowing　colors。

〃I　should　have　hated　all　men；〃　added　she；　〃had　I　not　seen　him！　Oh；　madam；　how　charming　he　is！　His　air　and　all　his　behavior　have　something　in　them　so　noble；　and　though　whatever　he　spoke　was　infinitely　pleasing；　yet　I　think　I　did　well　in　not　bringing　him　hither。〃

To　this　the　princess　said　nothing；　but　she　asked　Abricotina　a　hundred　other　questions　concerning　the　prince；　whether　she　knew　his　name；　his　country；　his　birth；　from　whence　he　came；　and　whither　he　was　going；　and　after　this　she　fell　into　a　profound　thoughtfulness。

Leander　observed　everything；　and　continued　to　chatter　as　he　had　begun。

〃Abricotina　is　ungrateful；　madam；〃　said　he；　〃that　poor　stranger　will　die　for　grief　if　he　sees　you　not。〃

〃Well；　parrot；　let　him　die；〃　answered　the　princess　with　a　sigh；　〃and　since　thou　under…　takest　to　reason　like　a　person　of　wit；　and　not　a　little　bird；　I　forbid　thee　to　talk　to　me　any　more　of　this　unknown　person。〃

Leander　was　overjoyed　to　find　that　Abricotina's　and　the　parrot's　discourse　had　made　such　an　impression　on　the　princess。　He　looked　upon　her　with　pleasure　and　delight。　〃Can　it　be；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃that　the　masterpiece　of　nature；　that　the　wonder　of　our　age；　should　be　confined　eternally　in　an　island；　and　no　mortal　dare　to　approach　her？　But；〃　continued　he；　〃wherefore　am　I　concerned　that　others　are　banished　hence；　since　I　have　the　happiness　to　be　with　her；　to　hear　and　to　admire　her；　nay；　more；　to　love　her　above　all　the　women　in　the　universe？〃

It　was　late；　and　the　princess　retired　into　a　large　room　of　marble　and　porphyry；　where　several　bubbling　fountains；　refreshed　the　air　with　an　agreeable　coolness。　As　soon　as　she　entered　the　music　began；　a　sumptuous　supper　was　served　up；　and　the　birds　from　several　aviaries　on　each　side　of　the　room；　of　which　Abricotina　had　the　chief　care；　opened　their　little　throats　in　the　most　agreeable　manner。

Leander　had　traveled　a　journey　long　enough　to　give　him　a　good　appetite；　which　made　him　draw　near　the　table；　where　the　very　smell　of　such　viands　was　agreeable　and　refreshing。　The　princess　had　a　curious　tabby…cat；　for　which　she　had　a　great　kindness。　This　cat　one　of　the　maids　of　honor　held　in　her　arms；　saying；　〃Madam；　Bluet　is　hungry！〃　With　that　a　chair　was　presently　brought　for　the　cat；　for　he　was　a　cat　of　quality；　and　had　a　necklace　of　pearl　about　his　neck。　He　was　served　on　a　golden　plate　with　a　laced　napkin　before　him；　and　the　plate　being　supplied　with　meat；　Bluet　sat　with　the　solemn　importance　of　an　alderman。

〃Ho！　ho！〃　cried　Leander　to　himself；　〃an　idle　tabby　malkin；　that　perhaps　never　caught　a　mouse　in　his　life；　and　I　dare　say　is　not　descended　from　a　better　family　than　myself；　has　the　honor　to　sit　at　table　with　my　mistress：　I　would　fain　know　whether　he　loves　her　so　well　as　I　do。〃

Saying　this；　he　placed　himself　in　the　chair　with　the　cat　upon　his　knee；　for　nobody　saw　him；　because　he　had　his　little　red　cap　on；　finding　Bluet's　plate　well　supplied　with　partridge；　quails；　and　pheasants；　he　made　so　free　with　them　that　whatever　was　set　before　Master　Puss　disappeared　in　a　trice。　The　whole　court　said　no　act｛sic｝　ever　ate　with　a　better　appetite。　There　were　excellent　ragouts；　and　the　prince　made　use　of　the　cat's　paw　to　taste　them；　but　he　sometimes　pulled　his　paw　too　roughly；　and　Bluet；　not　understanding　raillery；　began　to　mew　and　be　quite　out　of　patience。　The　princess　observing　it；　〃Bring　that　fricassee　and　that　tart　to　poor　Bluet；〃　said　she；　〃see　how　he　cries　to　have　them。〃

Leander　laughed　to　himself　at　the　pleasantness　of　this　adventure；　but　he　was　very　thirsty；　not　being　accustomed　to　make　such　large　meals　without　drinking。　By　the　help　of　the　cat's　paw　he　got　a　melon；　with　which　he　somewhat　quenched　his　thirst；　and　when　supper　was　quite　over；　he　went　to　the　buffet　and　took　two　bottles　of　delicious　wine。

The　princess　now　retired　into　her　boudoir；　ordering　Abricotina　to　follow　her　and　make　fast　the　door；　but　they　could　not　keep　out　Leander；　who　was　there　as　soon　as　they。　However；　the　princess；　believing　herself　alone　with　her　confidante：

〃Abricotina；〃　said　she；　〃tell　me　truly；　did　you　exaggerate　in　your　description　of　the　unknown　prince；　for　methinks　it　is　impossible　he　should　be　as　amiable　as　you　say？〃

〃Madam；〃　replied　the　damsel；　〃if　I　have　failed　in　anything；　it　was　ln　coming　short　of　what　was　due　to　him。〃

The　princess　sighed　and　was　silent　for　a　time；　then　resuming　her　speech：　〃I　am　glad；〃　said　she；　〃thou　didst　not　bring　him　with　thee。〃

〃But；　madam；〃　answered　Abricotina；　who　was　a　cunning　girl；　and　already　penetrated　her　mistress'　thoughts；　〃suppose　he　had　come　to　admire　the　wonders　of　these　beautiful　mansions；　what　harm　could　he　have　done　us？　Will　you　live　eternally　unknown　in　a　corner　of　the　world；　concealed　from　the　rest　of　human　kind？　Of　what　use　is　all　your　grandeur；　pomp；　magnificence；　if　nobody　sees　it？〃

〃Hold　thy　peace；　prattler；〃　repli