the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第7章

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t　give　a　fig　for　anyone　who　wasnt。　shasta　thought　he　had　never　seen　anything　so　　lovely　in　his　life。

but　there　was　not　time　to　enjoy　it　for　at　once　a　really　dreadful　thing　　happened。　the　leader　of　the　fair…headed　men　suddenly　pointed　at　shasta；　cried　out；　〃there　he　is！　　theres　our　runaway！〃　and　seized　him　by　the　shoulder。　next　moment　he　gave　shasta　a　　smack　…　not　a　cruel　one　to　make　you　cry　but　a　sharp　one　to　let　you　know　you　are　in　　disgrace　and　added；　shaking：　　〃shame　on　you；　my　lord！　fie　for　shame！　queen　susans　eyes　are　red　with　　weeping　because　of　you。　what！　truant　for　a　whole　night！　where　have　you　been？鈥�

shasta　would　have　darted　under　brees　body　and　tried　to　make　himself　scarce　　in　the　crowd　if　he　had　had　the　least　chance；　but　the　fair…haired　men　were　all　　round　him　by　now　and　he　was　held　firm。

of　course　his　first　impulse　was　to　say　that　he　was　only　poor　arsheesh　the　　fishermans　son　and　that　the　foreign　lord　must　have　mistaken　him　for　someone　else。　but　　then；　the　very　last　thing　he　wanted　to　do　in　that　crowded　place　was　to　start　explaining　who　he　　was　and　what　he　was　doing。　if　he　started　on　that；　he　would　soon　be　asked　where　he　had　　got　his　horse　from；　and　who　aravis　was　…　and　then；　goodbye　to　any　chance　of　getting　　through　tashbaan。　his　next　impulse　was　to　look　at　bree　for　help。　but　bree　had　no　　intention　of　letting　all　the　crowd　know　that　he　could　talk；　and　stood　looking　just　as　　stupid　as　a　horse　can。　as　for　aravis；　shasta　did　not　even　dare　to　look　at　her　for　fear　of　　drawing　attention。

and　there　was　no　time　to　think；　for　the　leader　of　the　narnians　said　at　　once：　　〃take　one　of　his　little　lordships　hands；　peridan；　of　your　courtesy；　and　　ill　take　the　other。

and　now；　on。　our　royal　sisters　mind　will　be　greatly　eased　when　she　sees　　our　young　scapegrace　safe　in　our　lodging。鈥�

and　so；　before　they　were　half…way　through　tashbaan；　all　their　plans　were　　ruined；　and　without　even　a　chance　to　say　good…bye　to　the　others　shasta　found　himself　　being　marched　off　among　strangers　and　quite　unable　to　guess　what　might　be　going　to　happen　　next。　the　narnian　king　…　for　shasta　began　to　see　by　the　way　the　rest　spoke　to　him　　that　he　must　be　a　king　…　kept　on　asking　him　questions；　where　he　had　been；　how　he　had　got　out；　　what　he　had　done　with　his　clothes；　and　didnt　he　know　that　he　had　been　very　naughty。　　only　the　king　called　it　〃naught〃　instead　of　naughty。

and　shasta　said　nothing　in　answer；　because　he　couldnt　think　of　anything　to　　say　that　would　not　be　dangerous。

〃what！　all　mum？〃　asked　the　king。　〃i　must　plainly　tell　you；　prince；　that　　this　hangdog　silence　bees　one　of　your　blood　even　less　than　the　scape　itself。　to　run　　away　might　pass　for　a　boys　frolic　with　some　spirit　in　it。　but　the　kings　son　of　　archenland　should　avouch　his　deed；　not　hang　his　head　like　a　calormene　slave。鈥�

this　was　very　unpleasant；　for　shasta　felt　all　the　time　that　this　young　king　　was　the　very　nicest　kind　of　grown…up　and　would　have　liked　to　make　a　good　impression　on　　him。

the　strangers　led　him…held　tightly　by　both　hands…along　a　narrow　street　and　　down　a　flight　of　shallow　stairs　and　then　up　another　to　a　wide　doorway　in　a　white　wall　　with　two　tall；　dark　cypress　trees；　one　on　each　side　of　it。　once　through　the　arch；　shasta　　found　himself　in　a　courtyard　which　was　also　a　garden。　a　marble　basin　of　clear　water　in　the　　centre　was　kept　continually　rippling　by　the　fountain　that　fell　into　it。　orange　trees　grew　　round　it　out　of　smooth　grass；　and　the　four　white　walls　which　surrounded　the　lawn　were　　covered　with　climbing　roses。　the　noise　and　dust　and　crowding　of　the　streets　seemed　　suddenly　fad　away。　he　was　led　rapidly　across　the　garden　and　then　into　a　dark　doorway。　　the　crier　remained　outside。　after　that　they　took　him　along　a　corridor；　where　the　　stone　floor　felt　beautifully　cool　to　his　hot　feet；　and　up　some　stairs。　a　moment　later　he　　found　himself　blinking　in　the　light　of　a　big；　airy　room　with　wide　open　windows；　all　　looking　north　so　that　no　sun　came　in。　there　was　a　carpet　on　the　floor　more　wonderfully　　coloured　than　anything　he　had　ever　seen　and　his　feet　sank　down　into　it　as　if　he　were　　treading　in　thick　moss。　all　round　the　walls　there　were　low　sofas　with　rich　cushions　on　them；　　and　the　room　seemed　to　be　full　of　people；　very　queer　people　some　of　them；　thought　　shasta。　but　he　had　no　time　to　think　of　that　before　the　most　beautiful　lady　he　had　ever　seen　　rose　from　her　place　and　threw　her　arms　round　him　and　kissed　him；　saying：　　〃oh　corin；　corin；　how　could　you？　and　thou　and　i　such　close　friends　ever　　since　thy　mother　died。　and　what　should　i　have　said　to　thy　royal　father　if　i　came　home　　without　thee？　would　have　been　a　cause　almost　of　war　between　archenland　and　narnia　　which　are　friends　time　out　of　mind。　it　was　naught；　playmate；　very　naught　of　thee　to　　use　us　so。鈥�

〃apparently；〃　thought　shasta　to　himself；　〃im　being　mistaken　for　a　prince　　of　archenland；　wherever　that　is。　and　these　must　be　the　narnians。　i　wonder　where　the　real　　corin　is？〃　but　these　thoughts　did　not　help　him　say　anything　out　loud。

〃where　hast　been；　corin？〃　said　the　lady；　her　hands　still　on　shastas　　shoulders。

〃i…　i　dont　know；〃　stammered　shasta。

〃there　it　is；　susan；〃　said　the　king。　〃i　could　get　no　tale　out　of　him；　true　　or　false。鈥�

〃your　majesties！　queen　susan！　king　edmund！〃　said　a　voice：　and　when　shasta　　turned　to　look　at　the　speaker　he　nearly　jumped　out　of　his　skin　with　surprise。　for　　this　was　one　of　these　queer　people　whom　he　had　noticed　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　when　he　　first　came　into　the　room。　he　was　about　the　same　height　as　shasta　himself。　from　the　　waist　upwards　he　was　like　a　man；　but　his　legs　were　hairy　like　a　goats；　and　shaped　like　a　　goats　and　he　had　goats　hooves　and　a　tail。　his　skin　was　rather　red　and　he　had　curly　hair　　and　a　short　pointed　beard　and　two　little　horns。　he　was　in　fact　a　faun；　which　is　a　　creature　shasta　had　never　seen　a　picture　of　or　even　heard　of。　and　if　youve　read　a　book　called　　the　lion；　the　witch　and　the　wardrobe　you　may　like　to　know　that　this　was　the　very　same　　faun；　tumnus　by　name；　whom　queen　susans　sister　lucy　had　met　on　the　very　first　day　when　　she　found　her　way　into　narnia。　but　he　was　a　good　deal　older　now　for　by　this　time　　peter　and　susan　and　edmund　and　lucy　had　been　kings　and　queens　of　narnia　for　several　years。

〃your　majesties；〃　he　was　saying；　〃his　little　highness　has　had　a　touch　of　　the　sun。　look　at　him！　he　is　dazed。　he　does　not　know　where　he　is。鈥�

then　of　course　everyone　stopped　scolding　shasta　and　asking　him　questions　　and　he　was　made　much　of　and　laid　on　a　sofa　and　cushions　were　put　under　his　head　and　he　　was　given　iced　sherbet　in　a　golden　cup　to　drink　and　told　to　keep　very　quiet。

nothing　like　this　had　ever　happened　to　shasta　in　his　life　before。　he　had　　never　even　imagined　lying　on　anything　so　fortable　as　that　sofa　or　drinking　anything　　so　delicious　as　that　sherbet。　he　was　still　wondering　what　had　happened　to　the　others　and　　how　on　earth　he　was　going　to　escape　and　meet　them　at　the　tombs；　and　what　would　happen　　when　the　real　corin　turned　up　again。　but　none　of　these　worries　seemed　so　pressing　　now　that　he　was　fortable。　and　perhaps；　later　on；　there　would　be　nice　things　to　eat！

meanwhile　the　people　in　that　cool　airy　room　were　very　interesting。　besides　　the　faun　there　were　two　dwarfs　（a　kind　of　creature　he　had　never　seen　before）　and　a　　very　large　raven。

the　rest　were　all　humans；　grown…ups；　but　young；　and　all　of　them；　both　men　　and　women；　had　nicer　faces　and　voices　than　most　calormenes。　and　soon　shasta　found　　himself　taking　an　interest　in　the　conversation。　〃now；　madam；〃　the　king　was　saying　to　queen　　susan　（the　lady　who　had　kissed　shasta）。　〃what　think　you？　we　have　been　in　this　city　　fully　three　weeks。　have　you　yet　settled　in　your　mind　whether　you　will　marry　this　dark…　faced　lover　of　yours；　this　prince　rsh；　or　no？鈥�

the　lady　shook　her　head。　〃no；　brother；〃　she　said；　〃not　for　all　the　jewels　　in　tashbaan。鈥�

（〃hullo！〃　thought　shasta。　〃although　theyre　king　and　queen；　theyre　brother　　and　sister；　not　married　to　one　another。〃）

〃truly；　sister；〃　said　the　king；　〃i　should　have　loved　you　the　less　if　you　　had　taken　him。　and　i　tell　you　that　at　the　first　ing　of　the　tisrocs　ambassadors　into　narnia　　to　treat　of　this　marriage；　and　later　when　the　prince　was　our　guest　at　cair　paravel；　it　was　a　　wonder　to　me　that　ever　you　could　find　it　in　your　heart　to　show　him　so　much　favour。鈥�

〃that　was　my　folly；　edmund；〃　said　queen　susan；　〃of　which　i　cry　you　mercy。　　yet　when　he　was　with　us　in　narnia；　truly　this　prince　bore　himself　in　another　fashion　　than　he　does　now　in　tashbaan。　for　i　take　you　all　to　witness　what　marvellous　feats　he　did　　in　that　great　tournament　and　hastilude　which　our　brother　the　high　king　made　for　him；　and　　how　meekly　and　courteously　he　consorted　with　us　the　space　of　seven　days。　but　　here；　in　his　own　city；　he　has　shown　another　face。鈥�

〃ah！〃　croaked　the　raven。　〃it　is　an　old　saying：　see　the　bear　in　his　own　den　　before　you　judge　of　his　conditions。鈥�

〃thats　very　true；　sallowpad；〃　said　one　of　the　dwarfs。　〃and　another　is；　　e；　live　with　me　and　youll　know　me。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　the　king。　〃we　have　now　seen　him　for　what　he　is：　that　is；　a　most　　proud；　bloody；　luxurious；　cruel；　and　selfpleasing　tryant。鈥�

〃then　in　the　name　of　aslan；〃　said　susan；　〃let　us　leave　tashbaan　this　very　　day。鈥�

〃theres　the　rub；　sister；〃　said　edmund。　〃for　now　i　must　open　to　you　all　　that　has　been　growing　in　my　mind　these　last　two　days　and　more。　peridan；　of　your　courtesy　　look　to　the　door　and　see　that　there　is　no　spy　upon　us。　all　well？　so。　for　now　we　must　be　　secret。鈥�

everyone　had　begun　to　look　very　serious。　queen　susan　jumped　up　and　ran　to　　her　brother。

〃oh；　edmund；〃　she　cried。　〃what　is　it？　there　is　something　dreadful　in　your　　face。鈥�

ww锛枫��



CHAPTER　FIVE

灏忥紝璇达紝t锛寈t锛屽ぉ锛屽爞
prince　corin　　〃my　dear　sister　and　very　good　lady；〃　said　king　edmund；　〃you　must　now　show　　your　courage。　for　i　tell　you　plainly　we　are　in　no　small　danger。鈥�

〃what　is　it；　edmund　asked　the　queen。

〃it　is　this；〃　said　edmund。　〃i　do　not　think　we　shall　find　it　easy　to　leave　　tashbaan。　while　the　prince　had　hope　that　you　would　take　him；　we　were　honoured　guests。　but　　by　the　lions　mane；　i　think　that　as　soon　as　he　has　your　flat　denial　we　shall　be　no　better　　than　prisoners。鈥�

one　of　the　dwarfs　gave　a　low　whistle。

〃i　warned　your　majesties；　i　warned　you；〃　said　sallowpad　the　raven。　〃easily　　in　but　not　easily　out；　as　the　lobster　said　in　the　lobster　pot！鈥�

〃i　have　been　with　the　prince　this　morning；〃　continued　edmund。　〃he　is　little　　used　（mores　the　pity）　to　having　his　will　crossed。　and　he　is　very　chafed　at　your　long　　delays　and　doubtful　answers。　this　morning　he　pressed　very　hard　to　know　your　mind。　i　　put　it　aside…meaning　at　the　same　time　to　diminish　his　hopes　…　with　some　light　mon　　jests　about　womens　fancies；　and　hinted　that　his　suit　was　likely　to　be　cold。　he　grew　　angry　and　dangerous。　there　was　a　sort　of　threatening；　though　still　veiled　under　a　　show　of　courtesy；　in　every　word　he　spoke。鈥�

〃yes；〃　said　tumnus。　〃and　when　i　supped　with　the　grand　vizier　last　night；　it　　was　the　same。　he　asked　me　how　i　like　tashbaan。　and　i　（for　i　could　not　tell　him　i　　hated　every　stone　of　it　and　i　would　not　lie）　told　him　that　now；　when　high　summer　was　　ing　on；　my　heart　turned　to　the　cool　woods　and