the little lame prince-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



These　words　touched　the　poor　beast　so　deeply　that　he　ceased　to　beat　himself　against　the　iron　bars　of　the　cage　in　which　the　hunters　carried　him　about；　became　gentle　as　a　lamb；　and　suffered　himself　to　be　taken　quietly　to　a　menagerie；　where　were　kept　all　sorts　of　strange　and　ferocious　animals　a　place　which　he　had　himself　often　visited　as　a　boy；　but　never　thought　he　should　be　shut　up　there　himself。

However；　he　owned　he　had　deserved　it　all；　and　began　to　make　amends　by　showing　himself　very　obedient　to　his　keeper。　This　man　was　almost　as　great　a　brute　as　the　animals　he　had　charge　of；　and　when　he　was　in　ill　humor　he　used　to　beat　them　without　rhyme　or　reason。　One　day；　while　he　was　sleeping；　a　tiger　broke　loose　and　leaped　upon　him；　eager　to　devour　him。　Cherry　at　first　felt　a　thrill　of　pleasure　at　the　thought　of　being　revenged；　then；　seeing　how　helpless　the　man　was；　he　wished　himself　free；　that　he　might　defend　him。　Immediately　the　doors　of　his　cage　opened。　The　keeper；　waking　up；　saw　the　strange　beast　leap　out；　and　imagined；　of　course；　that　he　was　going　to　be　slain　at　once。　Instead；　he　saw　the　tiger　lying　dead；　and　the　strange　beast　creeping　up　and　laying　itself　at　his　feet　to　be　caressed。　But　as　he　lifted　up　his　hand　to　stroke　it；　a　voice　was　heard　saying；　〃Good　actions　never　go　unrewarded；〃　and　instead　of　the　frightful　monster；　there　crouched　on　the　ground　nothing　but　a　pretty　little　dog。

Cherry；　delighted　to　find　himself　thus　metamorphosed；　caressed　the　keeper　in　every　possible　way；　till　at　last　the　man　took　him　up　into　his　arms　and　carried　him　to　the　king；　to　whom　he　related　this　wonderful　story；　from　beginning　to　end。　The　queen　wished　to　have　the　charming　little　dog；　and　Cherry　would　have　been　exceedingly　happy　could　he　have　forgotten　that　he　was　originally　a　man　and　a　king。　He　was　lodged　most　elegantly；　had　the　richest　of　collars　to　adorn　his　neck；　and　heard　himself　praised　continually。　But　his　beauty　rather　brought　him　into　trouble；　for　the　queen；　afraid　lest　he　might　grow　too　large　for　a　pet；　took　advice　of　dog…doctors；　who　ordered　that　he　should　be　fed　entirely　upon　bread；　and　that　very　sparingly；　so　poor　Cherry　was　sometimes　nearly　starved。

One　day；　when　they　gave　him　his　crust　for　breakfast；　a　fancy　seized　him　to　go　and　eat　it　in　the　palace　garden；　so　he　took　the　bread　in　his　mouth　and　trotted　away　toward　a　stream　which　he　knew；　and　where　he　sometimes　stopped　to　drink。　But　instead　of　the　stream　he　saw　a　splendid　palace；　glittering　with　gold　and　precious　stones。　Entering　the　doors　was　a　crowd　of　men　and　women；　magnificently　dressed；　and　within　there　was　singing　and　dancing　and　good　cheer　of　all　sorts。　Yet；　however　grandly　and　gayly　the　people　went　in；　Cherry　noticed　that　those　who　came　out　were　pale；　thin；　ragged；　half…naked；　covered　with　wounds　and　sores。　Some　of　them　dropped　dead　at　once；　others　dragged　themselves　on　a　little　way　and　then　lay　down；　dying　of　hunger；　and　vainly　begged　a　morsel　of　bread　from　others　who　were　entering　inwho　never　took　the　least　notice　of　them。

Cherry　perceived　one　woman；　who　was　trying　feebly　to　gather　and　eat　some　green　herbs。　〃Poor　thing！〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃I　know　what　it　is　to　be　hungry；　and　I　want　my　breakfast　badly　enough；　but　still　it　will　kill　me　to　wait　till　dinner　time；　and　my　crust　may　save　the　life　of　this　poor　woman。〃

So　the　little　dog　ran　up　to　her　and　dropped　his　bread　at　her　feet；　she　picked　it　up　and　ate　it　with　avidity。　Soon　she　looked　quite　recovered；　and　Cherry；　delighted；　was　trotting　back　again　to　his　kennel；　when　he　heard　loud　cries；　and　saw　a　young　girl　dragged　by　four　men　to　the　door　of　the　palace；　which　they　were　trying　to　compel　her　to　enter。　Oh；　how　he　wished　himself　a　monster　again；　as　when　he　slew　the　tiger！for　the　young　girl　was　no　other　than　his　beloved　Zelia。　Alas！　what　could　a　poor　little　dog　do　to　defend　her？　But　he　ran　forward　and　barked　at　the　men；　and　bit　their　heels；　until　at　last　they　chased　him　away　with　heavy　blows。　And　then　he　lay　down　outside　the　palace　door；　determined　to　watch　and　see　what　had　become　of　Zelia。

Conscience　pricked　him　now。　〃What！〃　thought　he；　〃I　am　furious　against　these　wicked　men；　who　are　carrying　her　away；　and　did　I　not　do　the　same　myself？　Did　I　not　cast　her　into　prison；　and　intend　to　sell　her　as　a　slave？　Who　knows　how　much　more　wickedness　I　might　not　have　done　to　her　and　others；　if　Heaven's　justice　had　not　stopped　me　in　time？〃

While　he　lay　thinking　and　repenting；　he　heard　a　window　open　and　saw　Zelia　throw　out　of　it　a　bit　of　dainty　meat。　Cherry；　who　felt　hungry　enough　by　this　time；　was　just　about　to　eat　it；　when　the　woman　to　whom　he　had　given　his　crust　snatched　him　up　in　her　arms

〃Poor　little　beast！〃　cried　she；　patting　him；　〃every　bit　of　food　in　that　palace　is　poisoned：　you　shall　not　touch　a　morsel。〃

And　at　the　same　time　the　voice　in　the　air　repeated　again；　〃Good　actions　never　go　unrewarded；〃　and　Cherry　found　himself　changed　into　a　beautiful　little　white　pigeon。　He　remembered　with　joy　that　white　was　the　color　of　the　fairy　Candide；　and　began　to　hope　that　she　was　taking　him　into　favor　again。

So　he　stretched　his　wings；　delighted　that　he　might　now　have　a　chance　of　approaching　his　fair　Zelia。　He　flew　up　to　the　palace　windows；　and；　finding　one　of　them　open；　entered　and　sought　everywhere；　but　he　could　not　find　Zelia。　Then；　in　despair；　he　flew　out　again；　resolved　to　go　over　the　world　until　he　beheld　her　once　more。

He　took　flight　at　once　and　traversed　many　countries；　swiftly　as　a　bird　can；　but　found　no　trace　of　his　beloved。　At　length　in　a　desert；　sitting　beside　an　old　hermit　in　his　cave　and　par…　taking　with　him　his　frugal　repast；　Cherry　saw　a　poor　peasant　girl　and　recognized　Zelia。　Transported　with　joy；　he　flew　in；　perched　on　her　shoulder；　and　expressed　his　delight　and　affection　by　a　thousand　caresses。

She；　charmed　with　the　pretty　little　pigeon；　caressed　it　in　her　turn；　and　promised　it　that　if　it　would　stay　with　her　she　would　love　it　always。

〃What　have　you　done；　Zelia？〃　said　the　hermit；　smiling；　and　while　he　spoke　the　white　pigeon　vanished；　and　there　stood　Prince　Cherry　in　his　own　natural　form。　〃Your　enchantment　ended；　prince；　when　Zelia　promised　to　love　you。　Indeed；　she　has　loved　you　always；　but　your　many　faults　constrained　her　to　hide　her　love。　These　are　now　amended；　and　you　may　both　live　happy　if　you　will；　because　your　union　is　founded　upon　mutual　esteem。〃

Cherry　and　Zelia　threw　themselves　at　the　feet　of　the　hermit；　whose　form　also　began　to　change。　His　soiled　garments　became　of　dazzling　whiteness；　and　his　long　beard　and　withered　face　grew　into　the　flowing　hair　and　lovely　countenance　of　the　fairy　Candide。

〃Rise　up；　my　children；〃　said　she；　〃I　must　now　transport　you　to　your　palace　and　restore　to　Prince　Cherry　his　father's　crown；　of　which　he　is　now　worthy。〃

She　had　scarcely　ceased　speaking　when　they　found　themselves　in　the　chamber　of　Suliman；　who；　delighted　to　find　again　his　beloved　pupil　and　master；　willingly　resigned　the　throne；　and　became　the　most　faithful　of　his　subjects。

King　Cherry　and　Queen　Zelia　reigned　together　for　many　years；　and　it　is　said　that　the　former　was　so　blameless　and　strict　in　all　his　duties　that　though　he　constantly　wore　the　ring　which　Candide　had　restored　to　him；　it　never　once　pricked　his　finger　enough　to　make　it　bleed。



THE　PRINCE　WITH　THE　NOSE


THE　PRINCE　WITH　THE　NOSE


THERE　was　once　a　king　who　was　passionately　in　love　with　a　beautiful　princess；　but　she　could　not　be　married　because　a　magican｛sic｝　had　enchanted　her。　The　king　went　to　a　good　fairy　to　inquire　what　he　should　do。　Said　the　fairy；　after　receiving　him　graciously：　〃Sir；　I　will　tell　you　a　great　secret。　The　princess　has　a　great　cat　whom　she　loves　so　well　that　she　cares　for　nothing　and　nobody　else；　but　she　will　be　obliged　to　marry　any　person　who　is　adroit　enough　to　walk　upon　the　cat's　tail。〃

〃That　will　not　be　very　difficult；〃　thought　the　king　to　himself；　and　departed；　resolving　to　trample　the　cat's　tail　to　pieces　rather　than　not　succeed　in　walking　upon　it。　He　went　immediately　to　the　palace　of　his　fair　mistress　and　the　cat；　the　animal　came　in　front　of　him；　arching　its　back　in　anger　as　it　was　wont　to　do。　The　king　lifted　up　his　foot；　thinking　nothing　would　be　so　easy　as　to　tread　on　the　tail；　but　he　found　himself　mistaken。　Minonthat　was　the　creature's　nametwisted　itself　round　so　sharply　that　the　king　only　hurt　his　own　foot　by　stamping　on　the　floor。　For　eight　days　did　he　pursue　the　cat　everywhere：　up　and　down　the　palace　he　was　after　it　from　morning　till　night；　but　with　no　better　success；　the　tail　seemed　made　of　quicksilver；　so　very　lively　was　it。　At　last　the　king　had　the　good　fortune　to　catch　Minon　sleeping；　when　tramp！　tramp！　he　trod　on　the　tail　with　all　his　force。

Minon　woke　up；　mewed　horribly；　and　immediately　changed　from　a　cat　into　a　large；　fierce…　looking　man；　who　regarded　the　king　with　flashing　eyes。

〃You　must　marry　the　princess；〃　cried　he；　〃because　you　have　broken　the　enchantment　in　which　I　held　her；　but　I　will　be　revenged　on　you。　You　shall　have　a　son　with　a　nose　as　long　as　that；〃　he　made　in　the　air　a　curve　of　half　a　foot；　〃yet　he　shall　believe　it　is　just　like　all　other　noses；　and　shall　be　always　unfortunate　till　he　has　found　out　it　is　not。　And　if　you　ever　tell　anybody　of　this　threat　of　mine；　you　shall　die　on　the　spot。〃　So　saying　the　magician　disappeared。

The　king；　who　was　at　first　much　terrified；　soon　began　to　laugh　at　this　adventure。　〃My　son　might　have　a　worse　misfortune　than　too　long　a　nose；〃　thought　he。　〃At　least　it　will　hinder　him　neither　in　seeing　nor　hearing。　I　will　go　and　find　the　princess　and　marry　her　at　once。〃

He　did　so；　but　he　only　lived　a　few　months　after；　and　died　before　his　little　son　was　born；　so　that　nobody　knew　anything　about　the　secret　of　the　nose。

The　little　prince　was　so　much　wished　for　that　when　he　came　into　the　world　they　agreed　to　call　him　Prince　Wish。　He　had　beautiful　blue　eyes　and　a　sweet　little　mouth；　but　his　nose　was　so　big　that　it　covered　half　his　face。　The　queen；　his　mother；　was　inconsolable；　but　her　ladies　tried　to　satisfy　her　by　telling　her　that　the　nose　was　not　nearly　so　large　as　it　seemed；　that　it　would　grow　smaller　as　the　prince　grew　bigger；　and　that　if　it　did　not　a　large　nose　was　indispensable　to　a　hero。　All　great　soldiers；　they　said；　had　great　noses；　as　everybody　knew。　The　queen　was　so　very　fond　of　her　son　that　she　listened　eagerly　to　all　this　comfort。　Shortly　she　grew　so　used　to　the　princes's　nose　that　it　did　not　seem　to　her　any　larger　than　ordinary　noses　of　the　court；　where；　in　process　of　time；　everybody　with　a　long　nose　was　very　much　admired；　and　the　unfortunate　people　who　had　only　snubs　were　taken　very　little　notice　of。

Great　care　was　observed　in　the　education　of　the　prince；　and　as　soon　as　he　could　speak　they　told　him　all　sorts　of　amusing　tales；　in　which　all　the　bad　people　had　short　noses；　and　all　the　good　people　had　long　ones。　No　person　was　suffered　to　come　near　him　who　had　not　a　nose　of　more　than　ordinary　length；　nay；　to　such　an　extent　did　the　countries　carry　their　fancy；　that　the　noses　of　all　the　little　babies　were　ordered　to　be　pulled　out　as　far　as　possible　several　times　a　day；　in　order　to　make　them　grow。　But　grow　as　they　would；　they　never　could　grow　as　long　as　that　of　Prince　Wish。　When　he　was　old　enough　his　tutor　taught　him　history；　and　whenever　any　gre