the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第21章
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spruce and well educated。 He dressed Briscambril like a king and placed
him in the coach； Pierceforest he made the coachman； the others were
dressed like pages； all which he put into his sack； coach and all。
The princess not being gone to bed； heard a rumbling of a little coach
in the long gallery； at the same time； her ladies came to tell her that the
king of the dwarfs was arrived； and the chariot immediately entered her
chamber with all the monkey train。 The country monkeys began to show a
thousand tricks； which far surpassed those of Briscambril and Pierceforest。
To say the truth； Leander conducted the whole machine。 He drew the
chariot where Briscambril sat arrayed as a king； and making him hold a
box of diamonds in his hand； he presented it with a becoming grace to the
princess。 The princess' surprise may be easily imagined。 Moreover；
Briscambril made a sign for Pierceforest to come and dance with him。 The
most celebrated dancers were not to be compared with them in activity。
But the princess； troubled that she could not guess from whence this
curious present came； dismissed the dancers sooner than she would
otherwise have done； though she was extremely pleased with them。
Leander； satisfied with having seen the delight the princess had taken
in beholding the monkeys； thought of nothing now but to get a little repose；
which he greatly wanted。 He stayed sometime in the great gallery；
afterward； going down a pair of stairs； and finding a door open； he entered
into an apartment the most delightful that ever was seen。 There was in it a
bed of cloth…of…gold； enriched with pearls； intermixed with rubies and
emeralds： for by this time there appeared daylight sufficient for him to
view and admire the magnificence of this sumptuous furniture。 Having
made fast the door； he composed himself to sleep。 Next day he rose very
early； and looking about on every side； he spied a painter's pallet； with
colors ready prepared and pencils。 Remembering what the princess had
said to Abricotina touching her own portrait； he immediately （for he could
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paint as well as the most excellent masters） seated himself before a mirror
and drew his own picture first； then； in an oval； that of the princess。 He
had all her features so strong in his imagination that he had no occasion
for her sitting； and as his desire to please her had set him to work； never
did portrait bear a stronger resemblance。 He had painted himself upon one
knee； holding the princess' picture in one hand； and in the other a label
with this inscription； 〃She is better in my heart。〃 When the princess went
into her cabinet； she was amazed to see the portrait of a man； and she fixed
her eyes upon it with so much the more surprise； because she also saw her
own with it； and because the words which were written upon the label
afforded her ample room for curiosity。 She persuaded herself that it was
Abricotina's doing； and all she desired to know was whether the portrait
was real or imaginary。 Rising in haste； she called Abricotina； while the
invisible Leander； with his little red cap； slipped into the cabinet； impatient
to know what passed。 The princess bade Abricotina look upon the picture
and tell her what she thought of it。
After she had viewed it； 〃I protest！〃 said she； 〃'tis the picture of that
generous stranger to whom I am indebted for my life。 Yes； yes； I am sure it
is he； his very features； shape； and hair。〃
〃Thou pretendest surprise；〃 said the princess； 〃but I know it was thou
thyself who put it there。〃
〃Who！ I； madam？〃 replied Abricotina。 〃I protest I never saw the
picture before in my life。 Should I be so bold as to conceal from your
knowledge a thing that so nearly concerns you？ And by what miracle
could I come by it？ I never could paint； nor did any man ever enter this
place； yet here he is painted with you？〃
〃Some spirit； then； must have brought it hither；〃 cried the princess。
〃How I tremble for fear； madam！〃 said Abricotina。 〃Was it not rather
some lover？ And therefore； if you will take my advice； let us burn it
immediately。〃
〃'Twere a pity to burn it；〃 cried the princess； sighing； 〃a finer piece；
methinks； cannot adorn my cabinet。〃 And saying these words； she cast her
eyes upon it。 But Abricotina continued obstinate in her opinion that it
ought to be burned； as a thing that could not come there but by the power
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of magic。
〃And these words‘She is better in my heart；' 〃 said the princess；
〃must we burn them too？〃
〃No favor must be shown to anything；〃 said Abricotina； 〃not even to
your own portrait。〃
Abricotina ran away immediately for some fire； while the princess
went to look out at the window。 Leander； unwilling to let his performance
be burned； took this opportunity to convey it away without being
perceived。 He had hardly quitted the cabinet； when the princess turned
about to look once more upon that enchanting picture； which had so
delighted her。 But how was she surprised to find it gone！ She sought for it
all the room over； and Abricotina； returning； was no less surprised than her
mistress； so that this last adventure put them both in the most terrible
fright。
Leander took great delight in hearing and seeing his incomparable
mistress； even though he had to eat every day at her table with the tabby…
cat； who fared never the worse for that； but his satisfaction was far from
being complete； seeing he durst neither speak nor show himself； and he
knew it was not a common thing for ladies to fall in love with persons
invisible。
The princess had a universal taste for amusement。 One day； she was
saying to her attend… ants that it would give her great pleasure to know
how the ladies were dressed in all the courts of the universe。 There needed
no more words to send Leander all over the world。 He wished himself in
China； where he bought the richest stuffs he could lay his hands on； and
got patterns of all the court fashions。 From thence he flew to Siam； where
he did the same； in three days he traveled over all the four parts of the
world； and from time to time brought what he bought to the Palace of
Calm Delights； and hid it all in a chamber； which he kept always locked。
When he had thus collected together all the rarities he could meet with
for he never wanted money； his rose always supplying himhe went and
bought five or six dozen of dolls； which he caused to be dressed at Paris；
the place in the world where most regard is paid to fashions。 They were all
dressed differently； and as magnificent as could be； and Leander placed
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them all in the princess' closet。 When she entered it； she was agreeably
surprised to see such company of little mutes； every one decked with
watches bracelets； diamond buckles； or necklaces； and the most
remarkable of them held a picture box in its hand； which the princess
opening； found it contained Leander's portrait。 She gave a loud shriek； and
looking upon Abricotina； 〃There have appeared of late；〃 said she； 〃so
many wonders in this place； that I know not what to think of them： my
birds are all grown witty； I cannot so much as wish； but presently I have
my desires； twice have I now seen the portrait of him who rescued thee
from the ruffians； and here are silks of all sorts； diamonds； embroideries；
laces； and an infinite number of other rarities。 What fairy is it that takes
such care to pay me these agreeable civilities？〃
Leander was overjoyed to hear and see her so much interested about
his picture； and calling to mind that there was in a grotto which she often
frequented a certain pedestal； on which a Diana； not yet finished； was to be
erected； on this pedestal he resolved to place himself； crowned with laurel；
and holding a lyre in his hand； on which he played like another Apollo。 He
most anxiously waited the princess' retiring to the grotto； which she did
every day since her thoughts had taken up with this unknown person； for
what Abricotina had said； joined to the sight of the picture； had almost
destroyed her repose： her lively humor changed into a pensive melancholy；
and she grew a great lover of solitude。 When she entered the grotto； she
made a sign that nobody should follow her； so that her young damsels
dispersed themselves into the neighboring walks。 The princess threw
herself upon a bank of green turf； sighed； wept； and even talked； but so
softly that Leander could not hear what she said。 He had put his red cap on；
that she might not see him at first； but having taken it off； she beheld him
standing on the pedestal。 At first she took him for a real statue； for he
observed exactly the attitude in which he had placed himself； without
moving so much as a finger。 She beheld with a kind of pleasure intermixed
with fear； but pleasure soon dispelled her fear； and she continued to view
the pleasing figure； which so exactly resembled life。 The prince having
tuned his lyre； began to play； at which the princess； greatly surprised；
could not resist the fear that seized her； she grew pale and fell into a
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swoon。 Leander leaped from the pedestal； and putting on his little red cap；
that he might not be per
