how to tell stories to children-第19章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


uth；　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。

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　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。

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；　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；　he　remembered　how　happy　he　had　been；　and　how　little　good　he　had　done；　he　realized；　that　his　power　had　not　been　from　himself；　at　all。　　On　Easter　night；　as　he　crept　to　his　bed　of　straw；　he　wept；　not　because　he　was　so　wretched；　but　because　he　had　not　been　a　better　king　when　power　was　his。

At　last　all　the　festivities　were　over；　and　the　King　of　Sicily　went　home　to　his　own　　land　again；　with　his　people。　　Robert　the　jester　came　home　too。

On　the　day　of　their　home…coming；　there　was　a　special　service　in　the　royal　church；　and　even　after　the　service　was　over　for　the　people；　the　monks　held　prayers　of　thanksgiving　and　praise。　　The　sound　of　their　singing　came　softly　in　at　the　palace　windows。　　In　the　great　banquet　room；　the　king　sat；　wearing　his　royal　robes　and　his　crown；　while　many　subjects　came　to　greet　him。　　At　last；　he　sent　them　all　away；　saying　he　wanted　to　be　alone；　but　he　commanded　the　jester　to　stay。　　And　when　they　were　alone　together　the　king　looked　into　Robert's　eyes；　as　he　had　done　before；　and　said；　softly；　〃Who　art　thou？〃

Robert　of　Sicily　bowed　his　head。　　〃Thou　knowest　best；〃　he　said；　〃I　only　know　that　I　have　sinned。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　heard　the　voices　of　the　monks　singing；　〃He　hath　put　down　the　mighty　from　their　seat；〃and　his　head　sank　lower。　　But　suddenly　the　music　seemed　to　change；　a　wonderful　light　shone　all　about。　　As　Robert　raised　his　eyes；　he　saw　the　face　of　the　king　smiling　at　him　　with　a　radiance　like　nothing　on　earth；　and　as　he　sank　to　his　knees　before　the　glory　of　that　smile；　a　voice　sounded　with　the　music；　like　a　melody　throbbing　on　a　single　string：

〃I　am　an　angel；　and　thou　art　the　king！〃

Then　Robert　of　Sicily　was　alone。　　His　royal　robes　were　upon　him　once　more；　he　wore　his　crown　and　his　royal　ring。　　He　was　king。　　And　when　the　courtiers　came　back　they　found　their　king　kneeling　by　his　throne；　absorbed　in　silent　prayer。



THE　JEALOUS　COURTIERS＇1＇

＇1＇　Adapted　from　the　facts　given　in　the　German　of　H。　A。　Guerber's　Marchen　und　Erzahlungen　（D。　C。　Heath　&　Co。）。