the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第20章
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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。
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〃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
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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。〃
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〃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；〃 replied the princess； 〃and do not disturb that
happy repose which I have enjoyed so long。〃
Abricotina durst make no reply； and the princess； having waited her
answer for some time； asked her whether she had anything to say。
Abricotina then said she thought it was to very little purpose her mistress
having sent her picture to the courts of several princes； where it only
served to make those who saw it miserable； that every one would be
desirous to marry her； and as she could not marry them all； indeed none of
them； it would make them desperate。
〃Yet； for all that；〃 said the princess； I could wish my picture were in
the hands of this same stranger。〃
〃Oh； madam；〃 answered Abricotina； 〃is not his desire to see you
violent enough already？ Would you augment it？〃
〃Yes；〃 cried the princess； 〃a certain impulse of vanity； which I was
never sensible of till now； has bred this foolish fancy in me。〃
Leander heard all this discourse； and lost not a tittle of what she said；
some of her expressions gave him hope； others absolutely destroyed it。
The princess presently asked Abricotina whether she had seen anything
extraordinary during her short travels。
〃Madam；〃 said she； 〃I passed through one forest where I saw certain
creatures that resembled little children： they skip and dance upon the trees
like squirrels； they are very ugly； but have wonderful agility and address。〃
〃I wish I had one of them；〃 said the princess； 〃but if they are so nimble
as you say they are； it is impossible to catch one。〃
Leander； who passed through the same forest； knew what Abricotina
meant； and presently wished himself in the place。 He caught a dozen of
little monkeys； some bigger； some less； and all of different colors； and
with much ado put them into a large sack； then； wishing himself at Paris；
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where； he had heard； a man might have everything for money； he went and
bought a little gold chariot。 He taught six green monkeys to draw it； they
were harnessed with fine traces of flame… colored morocco leather。 He
went to another place； where he met with two monkeys of merit； the most
pleasant of which was called Briscambril； the other Pierceforestboth very
spruce and well educated。 He dressed Briscambril like a king and placed
him in the coach； Pierceforest he made the coachman； the others we
