stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第23章
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only you can manage to keep still long enough。 We will each take hold of
one end of a stout stick； and do you take the middle in your mouth； then
we will fly up in the air with you and carry you with us。 But remember not
to talk！ If you open your mouth； you are lost。〃
The Tortoise said she would not say a word； she would not so much as
move her mouth； and she was very grateful。 So the Ducks brought a strong
little stick and took hold of the ends； while the Tortoise bit firmly on the
middle。 Then the two Ducks rose slowly in the air and flew away with
their burden。
When they were above the treetops； the Tortoise wanted to say； 〃How
high we are！〃 But she remembered； and kept still。 When they passed the
church steeple she wanted to say； 〃What is that which shines？〃 But she
remembered； and held her peace。 Then they came over the village square；
and the people looked up and saw them。 〃Look at the Ducks carrying a
Tortoise！〃 they shouted； and every one ran to look。 The Tortoise wanted to
say； 〃What business is it of yours？〃 But she didn't。 Then she heard the
people shout； 〃Isn't it strange！ Look at it！ Look！〃
The Tortoise forgot everything except that she wanted to say； 〃Hush；
you foolish people！〃 She opened her mouth； and fell to the ground。 And
that was the end of the Tortoise。
It is a very good thing to be able to hold one's tongue！
ROBERT OF SICILY＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Longfellow's poem。
An old legend says that there was once a king named Robert of Sicily；
who was brother to the great Pope of Rome and to the Emperor of
Allemaine。 He was a very selfish king； and very proud； he cared more for
his pleasures than for the needs of his people； and his heart was so filled
with his own greatness that he had no thought for God。
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One day； this proud king was sitting in his place at church； at vesper
service； his courtiers were about him； in their bright garments； and he
himself was dressed in his royal robes。 The choir was chanting the Latin
service； and as the beautiful voices swelled louder； the king noticed one
particular verse which seemed to be repeated again and again。 He turned
to a learned clerk at his side and asked what those words meant； for he
knew no Latin。
〃They mean； ‘He hath put down the mighty from their seats； and hath
exalted them of low degree；'〃 answered the clerk。
〃It is well the words are in Latin； then；〃 said the king angrily； 〃for they
are a lie。 There is no power on earth or in heaven which can put me down
from my seat！〃 And he sneered at the beautiful singing； as he leaned back
in his place。
Presently the king fell asleep； while the service went on。 He slept
deeply and long。 When he awoke the church was dark and still； and he was
all alone。 He； the king； had been left alone in the church； to awake in the
dark！ He was furious with rage and surprise； and； stumbling through the
dim aisles； he reached the great doors and beat at them； madly； shouting
for his servants。
The old sexton heard some one shouting and pounding in the church；
and thought it was some drunken vagabond who had stolen in during the
service。 He came to the door with his keys and called out； 〃Who is there？〃
〃Open！ open！ It is I； the king！〃 came a hoarse； angry voice from
within。
〃It is a crazy man；〃 thought the sexton； and he was frightened。 He
opened the doors carefully and stood back； peering into the darkness。 Out
past him rushed the figure of a man in tattered； scanty clothes； with
unkempt hair and white； wild face。 The sexton did not know that he had
ever seen him before； but he looked long after him； wondering at his
wildness and his haste。
In his fluttering rags； without hat or cloak； not knowing what strange
thing had happened to him； King Robert rushed to his palace gates； pushed
aside the startled servants； and hurried； blind with rage； up the wide stair
and through the great corridors； toward the room where he could hear the
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sound of his courtiers' voices。 Men and women servants tried to stop the
ragged man； who had somehow got into the palace； but Robert did not
even see them as he fled along。 Straight to the open doors of the big
banquet hall he made his way； and into the midst of the grand feast there。
The great hall was filled with lights and flowers； the tables were set
with everything that is delicate and rich to eat； the courtiers； in their gay
clothes； were laughing and talking； and at the head of the feast； on the
king's own throne； sat a king。 His face； his figure； his voice were exactly
like Robert of Sicily； no human being could have told the difference； no
one dreamed that he was not the king。 He was dressed in the king's royal
robes； he wore the royal crown； and on his hand was the king's own ring。
Robert of Sicily； half naked； ragged； without a sign of his kingship on him；
stood before the throne and stared with fury at this figure of himself。
The king on the throne looked at him。 〃Who art thou； and what dost
thou here？〃 he asked。 And though his voice was just like Robert's own； it
had something in it sweet and deep； like the sound of bells。
〃I am the king！〃 cried Robert of Sicily。 〃I am the king； and you are an
impostor！〃
The courtiers started from their seats； and drew their swords。 They
would have killed the crazy man who insulted their king； but he raised his
hand and stopped them； and with his eyes looking into Robert's eyes he
said； 〃Not the king； you shall be the king's jester！ You shall wear the cap
and bells； and make laughter for my court。 You shall be the servant of the
servants； and your companion shall be the jester's ape。〃
With shouts of laughter； the courtiers drove Robert of Sicily from the
banquet hall； the waiting…men； with laughter； too； pushed him into the
soldiers' hall； and there the pages brought the jester's wretched ape； and
put a fool's cap and bells on Robert's head。 It was like a terrible dream； he
could not believe it true； he could not understand what had happened to
him。 And when he woke next morning； he believed it was a dream； and
that he was king again。 But as he turned his head； he felt the coarse straw
under his cheek instead of the soft pillow； and he saw that he was in the
stable； with the shivering ape by his side。 Robert of Sicily was a jester； and
no one knew him for the king。
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Three long years passed。 Sicily was happy and all things went well
under the king； who was not Robert。 Robert was still the jester； and his
heart was harder and bitterer with every year。 Many times； during the three
years； the king； who had his face and voice； had called him to himself；
when none else could hear； and had asked him the one question； 〃Who art
thou？〃 And each time that he asked it his eyes looked into Robert's eyes；
to find his heart。 But each time Robert threw back his head and answered；
proudly； 〃I am the king！〃 And the king's eyes grew sad and stern。
At the end of three years； the Pope bade the Emperor of Allemaine and
the King of Sicily； his brothers； to a great meeting in his city of Rome。 The
King of Sicily went； with all his soldiers and courtiers and servants；a
great procession of horsemen and footmen。 Never had been a gayer sight
than the grand train； men in bright armor； riders in wonderful cloaks of
velvet and silk； servants； carrying marvelous presents to the Pope。 And at
the very end rode Robert； the jester。 His horse was a poor old thing； many…
colored； and the ape rode with him。 Every one in the villages through
which they passed ran after the jester； and pointed and laughed。
The Pope received his brothers and their trains in the square before
Saint Peter's。 With music and flags and flowers he made the King of Sicily
welcome； and greeted him as his brother。 In the midst of it； the jester broke
through the crowd and threw himself before the Pope。 〃Look at me！〃 he
cried； 〃I am your brother； Robert of Sicily！ This man is an impostor； who
has stolen my throne。 I am Robert； the king！〃
The Pope looked at the poor jester with pity； but the Emperor of
Allemaine turned to the King of Sicily； and said； 〃Is it not rather
dangerous； brother； to keep a madman as jester？〃 And again Robert was
pushed back among the serving…men。
It was Holy Week； and the king and the emperor； with all their trains；
went every day to the great services in the cathedral。 Something wonderful
and holy seemed to make all these services more beautiful than ever
before。 All the people of Rome felt it： it was as if the presence of an angel
were there。 Men thought of God； and felt his blessing on them。 But no one
knew who it was that brought the beautiful feeling。 And when Easter Day
came； never had there been so lovely； so holy a day： in the great churches；
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filled with flowers； and sweet with incense； the kneeling people listened to
the choirs singing； and it was like the voices of angels； their prayers were
more earnest than ever before； their praise more glad； there was something
heavenly in Rome。
Robert of Sicily went to the services with the rest； and sat in the
humblest place with the servants。 Over and over again he heard the sweet
voices of the choirs chant the Latin words he had heard long ago： 〃He hath
put down the mighty from their seat； and hath exalted them of low
degree。〃 And at last； as he listened； his heart was softened。 He； too； felt the
strange blessed presence of a heavenly power。 He thought of God； and of
his own wickedness；
