the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第22章
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that he might not be perceived； took the princess in his arms and gave her
all the assistance that his zeal and tenderness could inspire。 At length she
opened her charming eyes and looked about in search of him； but she
could perceive nobody； yet she felt somebody who held her hands； kissed
them； and bedewed them with his tears。 It was a long time before she durst
speak； and her spirits were in a confused agitation between fear and hope。
She was afraid of the spirit； but loved the figure of the unknown。 At length
she said： 〃Courtly invisible； why are you not the person I desire you
should be？〃 At these words Leander was going to declare himself； but
durst not do it yet。 〃For；〃 thought he； 〃if I again affright the object I adore
and make her fear me； she will not love me。〃 This consideration caused
him to keep silence。
The princess； then； believing herself alone； called Abricotina and told
her all the wonders of the animated statue； that it had played divinely； and
that the invisible person had given her great assistance when she lay in a
swoon。
〃What pity 'tis；〃 said she； 〃that this person should be so frightful； for
nothing can be more amiable or acceptable than his behavior！〃
〃Who told you； madam；〃 answered Abricotina； 〃that he is frightful？ If
he is the youth who saved me； he is beautiful as Cupid himself。〃
〃If Cupid and the unknown are the same；〃 replied the princess；
blushing； 〃I could be content to love Cupid； but alas！ how far am I from
such a happiness！ I love a mere shadow； and this fatal picture； joined to
what thou hast told me； have inspired me with inclinations so contrary to
the precepts which I received from my mother that I am daily afraid of
being punished for them。〃
〃Oh！ madam；〃 said Abricotina； interrupting her； 〃have you not troubles
enough already？ Why should you anticipate afflictions which may never
come to pass？〃
It is easy to imagine what pleasure Leander took in this conversation。
In the meantime the little Furibon； still enamored of the princess
whom he had never seen； expected with impatience the return of the four
servants whom he had sent to the Island of Calm Delights。 One of them at
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last came back； and after he had given the prince a particular account of
what had passed； told him that the island was defended by Amazons； and
that unless he sent a very powerful army； it would be impossible to get
into it。 The king his father was dead； and Furibon was now lord of all：
disdaining； therefore； any repulse； he raised an army of four hundred
thousand men； and put himself at the head of them； appearing like another
Tom Thumb upon a war…horse。 Now； when the Amazons perceived his
mighty host； they gave the princess notice of its who immediately
dispatched away her trusty Abricotina to the kingdom of the fairies； to beg
her mother's instructions as to what she should do to drive the little
Furibon from her territories。 But Abricotina found the fairy in an angry
humor。
〃Nothing that my daughter does；〃 said she； 〃escapes my knowledge。
The Prince Leander is now in her palace； he loves her； and she has a
tenderness for him。 All my cares and precepts have not been able to guard
her from the tyranny of love； and she is now under its fatal dominion。 But
it is the decree of destiny； and I must submit； therefore； Abricotina； begone！
nor let me hear a word more of a daughter whose behavior has so much
displeased me。〃
Abricotina returned with these ill tidings； whereat the princess was
almost distracted； and this was soon perceived by Leander； who was near
her； though she did not see him。 He beheld her grief with the greatest pain。
However； he durst not then open his lips； but recollecting that Furibon was
exceedingly covetous； he thought that； by giving him a sum of money； he
might perhaps prevail with him to retire。 Thereupon； he dressed himself
like an Amazon； and wished himself in the forest； to catch his horse。 He
had no sooner called him than Gris…de…line came leaping； prancing； and
neighing for joy； for he was grown quite weary of being so long absent
from his dear master； but when he beheld him dressed as a woman he
hardly knew him。 However； at the sound of his voice； he suffered the
prince to mount； and they soon arrived in the camp at Furibon； where they
gave notice that a lady was come to speak with him from the Princess of
Calm Delights。 Immediately the little fellow put on his royal robes； and
having placed himself upon his throne； he looked like a great toad
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counterfeiting a king。
Leander harangued him； and told him that the princess； preferring a
quiet and peaceable life to the fatigues of war； had sent to offer his majesty
as much money as he pleased to demand； provided he would suffer her to
continue in peace； but if he refused her proposal； she would omit no means
that might serve for her defense。 Furibon replied that he took pity on her；
and would grant her the honor of his protection； but that he demanded a
hundred thousand millions of pounds； and without which he would not
return to his kingdom。 Leander answered that such a vast sum would be
too long a…counting； and therefore； if he would say how many rooms full
he desired to have； the princess was generous and rich enoug hto｛sic｝
satisfy him。 Furibon was astonished to hear that； instead of entreating； she
would rather offer more； and it came into his wicked mind to take all the
money he could get； and then seize the Amazon and kill her； that she
might never return to her mistress。 He told Leander； therefore； that he
would have thirty chambers of gold； all full to the ceiling。 Leander； being
conducted into the chambers； took his rose and shook it； till every room
was filled with all sorts of coin。 Furibon was in an ecstasy； and the more
gold he saw the greater was his desire to get hold of the Amazon； so that
when all the rooms were full； he commanded his guards to seize her；
alleging she had brought him counterfeit money。 Immediately Leander put
on his little red cap and disappeared。 The guards； believing that the lady
had escaped； ran out and left Furibon alone； when Leander； availing
himself of the opportunity； took the tyrant by the hair； and twisted his head
off with the same ease he would a pullet's； nor did the little wretch of a
king see that hand that killed him。
Leander having got his enemy's head； wished himself in the Palace of
Calm Delights； where he found the princess walking； and with grief
considering the message which her mother had sent her； and on the means
to repel Furibon。
Suddenly she beheld a head hanging in the air； with nobody to hold it。
This prodigy astonished her so that she could not tell what to think of it；
but her amazement was increased when she saw the head laid at her feet；
and heard a voice utter these words：
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〃Charming Princess； cease your fear Of Furibon； whose head see
here。〃
Abricotina； knowing Leander's voice； cried：
〃I protest； madam； the invisible person who speaks is the very stranger
that rescued me。〃
The princess seemed astonished； but yet pleased。
〃Oh；〃 said she； 〃if it be true that the invisible and the stranger are the
same person； I confess I shall be glad to make him my acknowledgments。〃
Leander； still invisible； replied； 〃I will yet do more to deserve them；〃
and so saying he returned to Furibon's army； where the report of the king's
death was already spread throughout the camp。 As soon as Leander
appeared there in his usual habit； everybody knew him； all the officers and
soldiers surrounded him； uttering the loudest acclamations of joy。 In short；
they acknowledged him for their king； and that the crown of right
belonged to him； for which he thanked them； and； as the first mark of his
royal bounty； divided the thirty rooms of gold among the soldiers。 This
done he returned to his princess； ordering his army to march back into his
kingdom。
The princess was gone to bed。 Leander； therefore； retired into his own
apartment； for he was very sleepyso sleepy that he forgot to bolt his door；
and so it happened that the princess； rising early to taste the morning air；
chanced to enter into this very chamber； and was astonished to find a
young prince asleep upon the bed。 She took a full view of him； and was
convinced that he was the person whose picture she had in her diamond
box。 〃It is impossible；〃 said she； 〃that this should be a spirit； for can spirits
sleep？ Is this a body composed of air and fire； without substance； as
Abricotina told me？〃 She softly touched his hair； and heard him breathe；
and looked at him as if she could have looked forever。 While she was thus
occupied； her mother； the fairy entered with such a noise that Leander
started out of his sleep。 But how deeply was he afflicted to behold his
beloved princess in the most deplorable condition！ Her mother dragged
her by the hair and loaded her with a thousand bitter reproaches。 In what
grief and consternation were the two young lovers； who saw themselves
now upon the point of being separated forever！ The princess durst not
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open her lips； but cast her eyes upon Leander； as if to beg his assistance。
He judged rightly that he ought not to deal rudely with a power superior to
his own； and therefore he sought； by his eloquence and submissi
