the little lame prince-第21章
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t him history； and whenever any great king or lovely princess was referred to； the tutor always took care to mention that he or she had a long nose。 All the royal apartments were filled with pictures and portraits having this peculiarity； so that at last Prince Wish began to regard the length of his nose as his greatest perfection； and would not have had it an inch less even to save his crown。
When he was twenty years old his mother and his people wished him to marry。 They procured for him the likenesses of many princesses； but the one he preferred was Princess Darling； daughter of a powerful monarch and heiress to several kingdoms。 Alas！ with all her beauty； this princess had one great misfortune； a little turned…up nose； which； every one else said made her only the more bewitching。 But here； in the kingdom of Prince Wish； the courtiers were thrown by it into the utmost perplexity。 They were in the habit of laughing at all small noses； but how dared they make fun of the nose of Princess Darling？ Two unfortunate gentlemen； whom Prince Wish had overheard doing so； were ignominiously banished from the court and capital。
After this； the courtiers became alarmed； and tried to correct their habit of speech； but they would have found themselves in constant difficulties； had not one clever person struck out a bright idea。 He said that though it was indispensably necessary for a man to have a great nose； women were very different； and that a learned man had discovered in a very old manuscript that the celebrated Cleopatra； Queen of Egypt； the beauty of the ancient world； had a turned…up nose。 At this information Prince Wish was so delighted that he made the courtier a very handsome present； and immediately sent off ambassadors to demand Princess Darling in marriage。
She accepted his offer at once； and returned with the ambassadors。 He made all haste to meet and welcome her； but when she was only three leagues distant from his capital； before he had time even to kiss her hand； the magician who had once assumed the shape of his mother's cat； Minon； appeared in the air and carried her off before the lover's very eyes。
Prince Wish； almost beside himself with grief； declared that nothing should induce him to return to his throne and kingdom till he had found Darling。 He would suffer none of his courtiers or attendants to follow him； but bidding them all adieu； mounted a good horse； laid the reins on the animal's neck； and let him take him wherever he would。
The horse entered a wide…extended plain； and trotted on steadily the whole day without finding a single house。 Master and beast began almost to faint with hunger； and Prince Wish might have wished himself at home again； had he not discovered； just at dusk； a cavern； where there sat； beside a bright lantern； a little woman who might have been more than a hundred years old。
She put on her spectacles the better to look at the stranger； and he noticed that her nose was so small that the spectacles would hardly stay on； then the prince and the fairyfor she was a fairyburst into laughter。
〃What a funny nose！〃 cried the one。
〃Not so funny as yours； madam；〃 returned the other。 〃But pray let us leave our noses alone； and be good enough to give me something to eat； for I am dying with hunger； and so is my poor horse。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 answered the fairy。 〃Although your nose is ridiculously long； you are no less the son of one of my best friends。 I loved your father like a brother； he had a very handsome nose。〃
〃What is wanting to my nose？〃 asked Wish rather savagely。
〃Oh！ nothing at all。 On the contrary； there is a great deal too much of it； but never mind； one may be a very honest man； and yet have too big a nose。 As I said； I was a great friend of your father's； he came often to see me。 I was very pretty then； and oftentimes he used to say to me； ‘My sister' 〃
〃I will hear the rest； madam； with pleasure； when I have supped； but will you condescend to remember that I have tasted nothing all day？〃
〃Poor boy；〃 said the fairy； 〃I will give you some supper directly； and while you eat it I will tell you my history in six words； for I hate much talking。 A long tongue is as insupportable as a long nose； and I remember when I was young how much I used to be admired because I was not a talker； indeed； some one said to the queen my motherfor poor as you see me now； I am the daughter of a great king； who always〃
〃Ate when he was hungry； I hope；〃 interrupted the prince； whose patience was fast departing。
〃You are right；〃 said the imperturbable old fairy； 〃and I will bring you your supper directly； only I wish first just to say that the king my father〃
〃Hang the king your father！〃 Prince Wish was about to exclaim； but he stopped himself； and only observed that however the pleasure of her conversation might make him forget his hunger； it could not have the same effect upon his horse； who was really starving。
The fairy； pleased at his civility； called her servants and bade them supply him at once with all he needed。 〃And；〃 added she； 〃I must say you are very polite and very good…tempered； in spite of your nose。〃
〃What has the old woman to do with my nose？〃 thought the prince。 〃If I were not so very hungry； I would soon show her what she is a regular old gossip and chatterbox。 She to fancy she talks little； indeed！ One must be very foolish not to know one's own defects。 This comes of being born a princess。 Flatterers have spoiled her and persuaded her that she talks little。 Little； indeed！ I never knew anybody chatter so much。〃
While the prince thus meditated； the servants were laying the table； the fairy asking them a hundred unnecessary questions； simply for the pleasure of hearing herself talk。 〃Well；〃 thought Wish； 〃I am delighted that I came hither； if only to learn how wise I have been in never listening to flatterers； who hide from us our faults； or make us believe they are perfections。 But they could never deceive me。 I know all my own weak points； I trust。〃 As truly he believed he did。
So he went on eating contentedly； nor stopped till the old fairy began to address him。
〃Prince；〃 said she； 〃will you be kind enough to turn a little？ Your nose casts such a shadow that I cannot see what is on my plate。 And； as I was saying； your father admired me and always made me welcome at court。 What is the court etiquette there now？ Do the ladies still go to assemblies； promenades； balls？I beg your pardon for laughing； but how very long your nose is。〃
〃I wish you would cease to speak of my nose；〃 said the prince； becoming annoyed。 〃It is what it is； and I do not desire it any shorter。〃
〃Oh！ I see that I have vexed you；〃 returned the fairy。 〃Nevertheless； I am one of your best friends； and so I shall take the liberty of always〃 She would doubtless have gone on talking till midnight； but the prince； unable to bear it any longer； here interrupted her； thanked her for her hospitality； bade her a hasty adieu； and rode away。
He traveled for a long time； half over the world； but he heard no news of Princess Darling。 However； in each place he went to； he heard one remarkable factthe great length of his own nose。 The little boys in the streets jeered at him； the peasants stared at him； and the more polite ladies and gentlemen whom he met in society used to try in vain to keep from laughing； and to get out of his way as soon as they could。 So the poor prince became gradually quite forlorn and solitary； he thought all the world was mad； but still he never thought of there being anything queer about his own nose。 At last the old fairy； who； though she was a chatterbox； was very good…natured； saw that he was almost breaking his heart。 She felt sorry for him and wished to help him in spite of himself； for she knew the enchantment which hid from him the Princess Darling could never be broken till he had discovered his own defect。 So she went in search of the princess； and being more powerful than the magician； since she was a good fairy and he was an evil magician； she got her away from him and shut her up in a palace of crystal； which she placed on the road which Prince Wish had to pass。
He was riding along； very melancholy； when he saw the palace； and at its entrance was a room； made of the purest glass； in which sat his beloved princess； smiling and beautiful as ever。 He leaped from his horse and ran toward her。 She held out her hand for him to kiss； but he could not get at it for the glass。 Transported with eagerness and delight； he dashed his sword through the crystal and succeeded in breaking a small opening； to which she put up her beautiful rosy mouth。 But it was in vain； Prince Wish could not approach it。 He twisted his neck about； and turned his head on all sides； till at length； putting up his hand to his face； he discovered the impediment。
〃It must be confessed；'t exclaimed he； 〃that my nose is too long。〃
That moment the glass walls all split asunder； and the old fairy appeared； leading Princess Darling。
〃Avow； prince；〃 said she； 〃that you are very much obliged to me； for now the enchantment is ended。 You may marry the object of your choice。 But；〃 added she； smiling； 〃I fear I might have talked to you forever on the subject of your nose； and you would not have believed me in its length； till it became an obstacle to your own inclinations。 Now behold it！〃 and she held up a crystal mirror。 〃Are you satisfied to be no different from other people？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 said Prince Wish； who found his nose had shrunk to an ordinary length。 And taking the Princess Darling by the hand； he kissed her courteously； affectionately； and satisfactorily。 Then they departed to their own country； and lived very happily all their days。
THE FROG…PRINCE
IN times of yore； when wishes were both heard and granted； lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful but the youngest was so lovely that the sun himself； who has seen so much； wondered at her beauty every time he looked in her face。 Now； near the king's castle was a large dark forest； and in the forest； under an old linden tree； was a deep well。 When the day was very hot； the king's daughter used to go to the wood and seat herself at the edge of the cool well； and when she became wearied； she would take a golden ball； throw it up in the air； and catch it again。 This was her favorite amusement。 Once it happened that her golden ball； instead of falling back into the little hand that she stretched out for it； dropped on the ground； and immediately rolled away into the water。 The king's daughter followed it with her eyes； but the ball had vanished； and the well was so deep that no one could see down to the bottom。 Then she began to weep； wept louder and louder every minute； and could not console herself at all。
While she was thus lamenting some one called to her： 〃What is the matter with you； king's daughter？ You weep so that you would touch the heart of a stone。〃
She looked around to see whence the voice came； and saw a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water。
〃Ah！ it is you； old water…paddler！〃 said she。 〃I am crying for my golden ball； which has fallen into the well。〃
〃Be content；〃 answered the frog； 〃I dare say I can give you some good advice； but what will you give me if I bring back y
