the light princess(光明公主)-第8章
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dying lake； But she could not shut it out of her mind for a moment。 It
haunted her imagination so that she felt as if the lake were her soul； drying
up within her； first to mud； then to madness and death。 She thus brooded
over the change； with all its dreadful accompaniments； till she was nearly
distracted。 As for the prince； she had forgotten him。 However much
she had enjoyed his company in the water； she did not care for him
without it。 But she seemed to have forgotten her father and mother too。
The lake went on sinking。 Small slimy spots began to appear； which
glittered steadily amidst the changeful shine of the water。 These grew to
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broad patches of mud； which widened and spread； with rocks here and
there； and floundering fishes and crawling eels swarming。 The people
went everywhere catching these； and looking for anything that might have
dropped from the royal boats。
At length the lake was all but gone； only a few of the deepest pools
remaining unexhausted。
It happened one day that a party of youngsters found themselves on
the brink of one of these pools in the very centre of the lake。 it was a
rocky basin of considerable depth。 Looking in； they saw at the bottom
something that shone yellow in the sun。 A little boy jumped in and dived
for it。 It was a plate of gold covered with writing。 They carried it to the
king。 On one side of it stood these words：
〃Death alone from death can save。 Love is death； and so is brave
Love can fill the deepest grave。 Love loves on beneath the wave。〃
Now this was enigmatical enough to the king and courtiers。 But the
reverse of the plate explained it a little。 Its writing amounted to this：
〃If the lake should disappear； they must find the hole through which
the water ran。 But it would be useless to try to stop it by any ordinary
means。 There was but one effectual mode。The body of a living man
could alone stanch the flow。 The man must give himself of his own will；
and the lake must take his life as it filled。 Otherwise the offering would be
of no avail。 If the nation could not provide one hero； it was time it
should perish。〃
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13。 Here I Am。
This was a very disheartening revelation to the kingnot that he was
unwilling to sacrifice a subject； but that he was hopeless of finding a man
willing to sacrifice himself。 No time was to be lost； however； for the
princess was lying motionless on her bed； and taking no nourishment but
lake…water； which was now none of the best。 Therefore the king caused
the contents of the wonderful plate of gold to be published throughout the
country。
No one； however； came forward。
The prince； having gone several days' journey into the forest； to
consult a hermit whom he had met there on his way to Lagobel； knew
nothing of the oracle till his return。
When he had acquainted himself with all the particulars； he sat down
and thought；
〃She will die if I don't do it； and life would be nothing to me without
her； so I shall lose nothing by doing it。 And life will be as pleasant to her
as ever； for she will soon forget me。 And there will be so much more
beauty and happiness in the world！To be sure； I shall not see it。〃 （Here
the poor prince gave a sigh。） 〃How lovely the lake will be in the moonlight；
with that glorious creature sporting in it like a wild goddess！It is rather
hard to be drowned by inches； though。 Let me seethat will be seventy
inches of me to drown。〃 （Here he tried to laugh； but could not。） 〃The
longer the better； however；〃 he resumed： 〃for can I not bargain that the
princess shall be beside me all the time？ So I shall see her once more；
kiss her perhaps；who knows？and die looking in her eyes。 It will be no
death。 At least； I shall not feel it。 And to see the lake filling for the
beauty again！All right！ I am ready。〃
He kissed the princess's boot； laid it down； and hurried to the king's
apartment。 But feeling； as he went； that anything sentimental would be
disagreeable； he resolved to carry off the whole affair with nonchalance。
So he knocked at the door of the king's counting…house； where it was all
but a capital crime to disturb him。
When the king heard the knock he started up； and opened the door in a
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rage。 Seeing only the shoeblack； he drew his sword。 This； I am sorry to
say； was his usual mode of asserting his regality when he thought his
dignity was in danger。 But the prince was not in the least alarmed。
〃Please your Majesty； I'm your butler；〃 said he。
〃My butler！ you lying rascal！ What do you mean？〃
〃I mean； I will cork your big bottle。〃
〃Is the fellow mad？〃 bawled the king； raising the point of his sword。
〃I will put a stopperplugwhat you call it； in your leaky lake； grand
monarch；〃 said the prince。
The king was in such a rage that before he could speak he had time to
cool； and to reflect that it would be great waste to kill the only man who
was willing to be useful in the present emergency； seeing that in the end
the insolent fellow would be as dead as if he had died by his Majesty's
own hand。 〃Oh！〃 said he at last； putting up his sword with difficulty； it
was so long； 〃I am obliged to you； you young fool！ Take a glass of
wine？〃
'No； thank you；〃 replied the prince。
〃Very well；〃 said the king。 〃Would you like to run and see your
parents before you make your experiment？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 said the prince。
〃Then we will go and look for the hole at once；〃 said his Majesty； and
proceeded to call some attendants。
〃Stop； please your Majesty； I have a condition to make；〃 interposed
the prince。
〃What！〃 exclaimed the king； 〃a condition！ and with me！ How dare
you？〃
〃As you please；〃 returned the prince； coolly。 〃I wish your Majesty a
good morning。〃
〃You wretch！ I will have you put in a sack； and stuck in the hole。〃
〃Very well； your Majesty；〃 replied the prince； becoming a little more
respectful； lest the wrath of the king should deprive him of the pleasure of
dying for the princess。 〃But what good will that do your Majesty？
Please to remember that the oracle says the victim must offer himself。〃
〃Well； you have offered yourself；〃 retorted the king。
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〃Yes； upon one condition。〃
〃Condition again！〃 roared the king； once more drawing his sword。
〃Begone！ Somebody else will be glad enough to take the honour off
your shoulders。〃
〃Your Majesty knows it will not be easy to get another to take my
place。〃
〃Well； what is your condition？〃 growled the king； feeling that the
prince was right。
〃Only this；〃 replied the prince： 〃that； as I must on no account die
before I am fairly drowned； and the waiting will be rather wearisome； the
princess； your daughter； shall go with me； feed me with her own hands；
and look at me now and then to comfort me； for you must confess it IS
rather hard。 As soon as the water is up to my eyes； she may go and be
happy； and forget her poor shoeblack。〃
Here the prince's voice faltered； and he very nearly grew sentimental；
in spite of his resolution。
〃Why didn't you tell me before what your condition was？ Such a
fuss about nothing！〃 exclaimed the king。
〃Do you grant it？〃 persisted the prince。 〃Of course I do；〃 replied the
king。
〃Very well。 I am ready。〃
〃Go and have some dinner； then； while I set my people to find the
place。〃
The king ordered out his guards； and gave directions to the officers to
find the hole in the lake at once。 So the bed of the lake was marked out
in divisions and thoroughly examined； and in an hour or so the hole was
discovered。 It was in the middle of a stone； near the centre of the lake； in
the very pool where the golden plate had been found。 It was a three…
cornered hole of no great size。 There was water all round the stone； but
very little was flowing through the hole。
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14。 This Is Very Kind of You。
The prince went to dress for the occasion； for he was resolved to die
like a prince。
When the princess heard that a man had offered to die for her； she was
so transported that she jumped off the bed； feeble as she was； and danced
about the room for joy。 She did not care who the man was； that was
nothing to her。 The hole wanted stopping； and if only a man would do；
why； take one。 In an hour or two more everything was ready。 Her maid
dressed her in haste； and they carried her to the side of the lake。 When
she saw it she shrieked； and covered her face with her hands。 They bore
her across to the stone where they had already placed a little boat for her。
The water was not deep enough to float it； but they hoped it would be；
before long。 They laid her on cushions； placed in the boat wines and
fruits and other nice things； and stretched a canopy over all。
In a few minutes the prince appeared。 The princess recognized him
at once； but did not thi
