the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第26章
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〃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
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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
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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
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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。
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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 your plaything to you？〃
〃Whatever you like； dear frog；〃 said she； 〃my clothes； my pearls and
jewels； even the golden crown I wear。〃
The frog answered； 〃Your clothes； your pearls and jewels； even your
golden crown； I do not care for； but if you will love me； and let me be
your companion and play…fellow； sit near you at your little table； eat from
your little golden plate； drink from your little cup； and sleep in your little
bedif you will promise me this； then I will bring you back your golden
ball from the bottom of the well。〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 said she； 〃I promise you every… thing； if you will only bring
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me back my golden ball。〃
She thought to herself； meanwhile： 〃What nonsense the silly frog talks！
He sits in the water with the other frogs； and croaks； and cannot be
anybody's playfellow！〃
But the frog； as soon as he had received the promise dipped his head
under the water and sank down。 In a little whi
