how to tell stories to children-第20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！





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。）。


I　wonder　if　you　have　ever　heard　the　anecdote　about　the　artist　of　Dusseldorf　and　the　jealous　courtiers。　　This　is　it。　　It　seems　there　was　once　a　very　famous　artist　who　lived　in　the　little　town　of　Dusseldorf。　　He　did　such　fine　work　that　the　Elector；　Prince　Johann　Wilhelm；　ordered　a　portrait　statue　of　himself；　on　horseback；　to　be　done　in　bronze。　　The　artist　was　overjoyed　at　the　commission；　and　worked　early　and　late　at　the　statue。

At　last　the　work　was　done；　and　the　artist　had　the　great　statue　set　up　in　the　public　square　of　Dusseldorf；　ready　for　the　opening　view。　　The　Elector　came　on　the　appointed　day；　and　with　him　came　his　favorite　courtiers　from　the　castle。　　Then　the　statue　was　unveiled。　　It　was　very　beautiful；　so　beautiful　that　the　prince　exclaimed　in　surprise。　　He　could　not　look　enough；　and　presently　he　turned　to　the　artist　and　shook　hands　with　him；　like　an　old　friend。　　〃Herr　Grupello；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　great　artist；　and　this　statue　will　make　your　fame　even　greater　than　it　is；　the　portrait　of　me　is　perfect！〃

When　the　courtiers　heard　this；　and　saw　the　friendly　hand…grasp；　their　jealousy　of　the　artist　was　beyond　bounds。　　Their　one　thought　was；　how　could　they　safely　do　something　to　humiliate　him。　　They　dared　not　pick　flaws　in　the　portrait　statue；　for　the　prince　had　declared　it　perfect。　　But　at　last　one　of　them　said；　with　an　air　of　great　frankness；　〃Indeed；　Herr　Grupello；　the　portrait　of　his　Royal　Highness　is　perfect；　　but　permit　me　to　say　that　the　statue　of　the　horse　is　not　quite　so　successful：　the　head　is　too　large；　it　is　out　of　proportion。〃

〃No；〃　said　another；　〃the　horse　is　really　not　so　successful；　the　turn　of　the　neck；　there；　is　awkward。〃

〃If　you　would　change　the　right　hind…　foot；　Herr　Grupello；〃　said　a　third；　〃it　would　be　an　improvement。〃

Still　another　found　fault　with　the　horse's　tail。

The　artist　listened；　quietly。　　When　they　had　all　finished；　he　turned　to　the　prince　and　said；　〃Your　courtiers；　Prince；　find　a　good　many　flaws　in　the　statue　of　the　horse；　will　you　permit　me　to　keep　it　a　few　days　more；　to　do　what　I　can　with　it？〃

The　Elector　assented；　and　the　artist　ordered　a　temporary　screen　built　around　the　statue；　so　that　his　assistants　could　work　undisturbed。　　For　several　days　the　sound　of　hammering　came　steadily　from　behind　the　enclosure。　　The　courtiers；　who　took　care　to　pass　that　way；　often；　were　delighted。　　Each　one　said　to　himself；　〃I　must　have　been　right；　really；　the　artist　himself　sees　that　something　was　wrong；　　now　I　shall　have　credit　for　saving　the　prince's　portrait　by　my　artistic　taste！〃

Once　more　the　artist　summoned　the　prince　and　his　courtiers；　and　once　more　the　statue　was　unveiled。　　Again　the　Elector　exclaimed　at　its　beauty；　and　then　he　turned　to　his　courtiers；　one　after　another；　to　see　what　they　had　to　say。

〃Perfect！〃　said　the　first。　　〃Now　that　the　horse's　head　is　in　proportion；　there　is　not　a　flaw。〃

〃The　change　in　the　neck　was　just　what　was　needed；〃　said　the　second；　〃it　is　very　graceful　now。〃

〃The　rear　right　foot　is　as　it　should　be；　now；〃　said　a　third；　〃and　it　adds　so　much　to　the　beauty　of　the　whole！〃

The　fourth　said　that　he　considered　the　tail　greatly　improved。

〃My　courtiers　are　much　pleased　now；〃　said　the　prince　to　Herr　Grupello；　〃they　think　the　statue　much　improved　by　the　changes　you　have　made。〃

Herr　Grupello　smiled　a　little。　　〃I　am　glad　they　are　pleased；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　fact　is；　I　have　changed　nothing！〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　the　prince　　in　surprise。　　〃Have　we　not　heard　the　sound　of　hammering　every　day？　　What　were　you　hammering　at　then？〃

〃I　was　hammering　at　the　reputation　of　your　courtiers；　who　found　fault　simply　because　they　were　jealous；〃　said　the　artist。　〃And　I　rather　think　that　their　reputation　is　pretty　well　hammered　to　pieces！〃

It　was；　indeed。　　The　Elector　laughed　heartily；　but　the　courtiers　slunk　away；　one　after　another；　without　a　word。



PRINCE　CHERRY＇1＇

＇1＇　A　shortened　version　of　the　familiar　tale。


There　was　once　an　old　king；　so　wise　and　kind　and　true　that　the　most　powerful　good　fairy　of　his　land　visited　him　and　asked　him　to　name　the　dearest　wish　of　his　heart；　that　she　might　grant　it。

〃Surely　you　know　it；〃　said　the　good　king；　〃it　is　for　my　only　son；　Prince　Cherry；　do　for　him　whatever　you　would　have　done　for　me。〃

〃Gladly；〃　said　the　great　fairy；　〃choose　what　I　shall　give　him。　　I　can　make　him　the　　richest；　the　most　beautiful；　or　the　most　powerful　prince　in　the　world；　choose。〃

〃None　of　those　things　are　what　I　want；〃　said　the　king。　　〃I　want　only　that　he　shall　be　good。　　Of　what　use　will　it　be　to　him　to　be　beautiful；　rich；　or　powerful；　if　he　grows　into　a　bad　man？　　Make　him　the　best　prince　in　the　world；　I　beg　you！〃

〃Alas；　I　cannot　make　him　good；〃　said　the　fairy；　〃he　must　do　that　for　himself。　I　can　give　him　good　advice；　reprove　him　when　he　does　wrong；　and　punish　him　if　he　will　not　punish　himself；　I　can　and　will　be　his　best　friend；　but　I　cannot　make　him　good　unless　he　wills　it。〃

The　king　was　sad　to　hear　this；　but　he　rejoiced　in　the　friendship　of　the　fairy　for　his　son。　　And　when　he　died；　soon　after；　he　was　happy　to　know　that　he　left　Prince　Cherry　in　her　hands。

Prince　Cherry　grieved　for　his　father　and　often　lay　awake　at　night；　thinking　of　him。　　One　night；　when　he　was　all　alone　in　his　room；　a　soft　and　lovely　light　suddenly　shone　before　him；　and　a　beautiful　vision　stood　at　his　side。　　It　was　the　good　fairy。　　She　was　clad　in　robes　of　dazzling　　white；　and　on　her　shining　hair　she　wore　a　wreath　of　white　roses。

〃I　am　the　Fairy　Candide；〃　she　said　to　the　prince。　　〃I　promised　your　father　that　I　would　be　your　best　friend；　and　as　long　as　you　live　I　shall　watch　over　your　happiness。　I　have　brought　you　a　gift；　it　is　not　wonderful　to　look　at；　but　it　has　a　wonderful　power　for　your　welfare；　wear　it；　and　let　it　help　you。〃

As　she　spoke；　she　placed　a　small　gold　ring　on　the　prince's　little　finger。　　〃This　ring；〃　she　said；　〃will　help　you　to　be　good；　when　you　do　evil；　it　will　prick　you；　to　remind　you。　　If　you　do　not　heed　its　warnings　a　worse　thing　will　happen　to　you；　for　I　shall　become　your　enemy。〃　　Then　she　vanished。

Prince　Cherry　wore　his　ring；　and　said　nothing　to　any　one　of　the　fairy's　gift。　　It　did　not　prick　him　for　a　long　time；　because　he　was　good　and　merry　and　happy。　　But　Prince　Cherry　had　been　rather　spoiled　by　his　nurse　when　he　was　a　child；　she　had　always　said　to　him　that　when　he　should　become　king　he　could　do　exactly　as　he　pleased。　　Now；　after　a　while；　he　began　to　　find　out　that　this　was　not　true；　and　it　made　him　angry。

The　first　time　that　he　noticed　that　even　a　king　could　not　always　have　his　own　way　was　on　a　day　when　he　went　hunting。　　It　happened　that　he　got　no　game。　　This　put　him　in　such　a　bad　temper　that　he　grumbled　and　scolded　all　the　way　home。　　The　little　gold　ring　began　to　feel　tight　and　uncomfortable。　　When　he　reached　the　palace　his　pet　dog　ran　to　meet　him。

〃Go　away！〃　said　the　prince；　crossly。

But　the　little　dog　was　so　used　to　being　petted　that　he　only　jumped　up　on　his　master；　and　tried　to　kiss　his　hand。　　The　prince　turned　and　kicked　the　little　creature。　At　the　instant；　he　felt　a　sharp　prick　in　his　little　finger；　like　a　pin　prick。

〃What　nonsense！〃　said　the　prince　to　himself。　　〃Am　I　not　king　of　the　whole　land？　　May　I　not　kick　my　own　dog；　if　I　choose？　　What　evil　is　there　in　that？〃

A　silver　voice　spoke　in　his　ear：　　〃The　king　of　the　land　has　a　right　to　do　good；　but　not　evil；　you　have　been　guilty　of　bad　temper　and　of　cruelty　to…day；　see　that　you　do　better　to…morrow。〃

The　prince　turned　sharply；　but　no　one　was　to　be　seen；　yet　he　recognized　the　voice　as　that　of　Fairy　Candide。

He　followed　her　advice　for　a　little；　but　presently　he　forgot；　and　the　ring　pricked　him　so　sharply　that　his　finger　had　a　drop　of　blood　on　it。　　This　happened　again　and　again；　for　the　prince　grew　more　self…willed　and　headstrong　every　day；　he　had　some　bad　friends；　too；　who　urged　him　on；　in　the　hope　that　he　would　ruin　himself　and　give　them　a　chance　to　seize　the　throne。　　He　treated　his　people　carelessly　and　his　servants　cruelly；　and　everything　he　wanted　he　felt　that　he　must　have。

The　ring　annoyed　him　terribly；　it　was　embarrassing　for　a　king　to　have　a　drop　of　blood　on　his　finger　all　the　time！　　At　last　he　took　the　ring　off　and　put　it　out　of　sight。　　Then　he　thought　he　should　be

perfectly　happy；　having　his　own　way；　but　instead；　he　grew　more　unhappy　as　he　grew　less　good。　　Whenever　he　was　crossed；　or　could　not　have　his　own　way　instantly；　he　flew　into　a　passion；

Finally；　he　wanted　something　that　he　really　could　not　have。　　This　time　it　was　a　　most　beautiful　young　girl；　named　Zelia；　the　prince　saw　her；　and　loved　her　so　much　that　he　wanted　at　once　to　make　her　his　queen。　　To　his　great　astonishment；　she　refused。

〃Am　I　not　pleasing　to　you？〃　asked　the　prince　in　surprise。

〃You　are　very　handsome；　very　charming；　Prince；〃　said　Zelia；　〃but　you　are　not　like　the　good　king；　your　father；　I　fear　you　would　make　me　very　miserable　if　I　were　your　queen。〃

In　a　great　rage；　Prince　Cherry　ordered　the　young　girl　put　in　prison；　and　the　key　of　her　dungeon　he　kept。　　He　told　one　of　his　friends；　a　wicked　man　who　flattered　him　for　his　own　purposes；　about　the　thing；　and　asked　his　advice。

〃Are　you　not　king？〃　said　the　bad　friend；　〃May　you　not　do　as　you　will？　　Keep　the　girl　in　a　dungeon　till　she　does　as　you　command；　and　if　she　will　not；　sell　her　as　a　slave。〃

〃But　would　it　not　be　a　disgrace　for　me　to　harm　an　innocent　creature？〃　said　the　prince。

〃It　would　be　a　disgrace　to　you　to　have　　it　said　that　one　of　your　subjects　dared　disobey　you！〃　said　the　courtier。

He　had　cleverly　touched　the　Prince's　worst　trait；　his　pride。　　Prince　Cherry　went　at　once　to　Zelia's　dungeon；　prepared　to　do　this　cruel　thing。

Zelia　was　gone。　　No　one　had　the　key　save　the　prince　himself；　yet　she　was　gone。　The　only　person　who　could　have　dared　to　help　her；　thought　the　prince；　was　his　old　tutor；　Suliman；　the　only　man　left　who　ever　rebuked　him　for　anything。　　In　fury；　he　ordered　Suliman　to　be　put　in　fetters　and　brought　before　him。

As　his　servants　left　him；　to　carry　out　the　wicked　order；　there　was　a　clash；　as　of　thunder；　in　the　room；　and　then　a　blinding　light。　　Fairy　Candide　stood　before　him。　Her　beautiful　face　was　stern；　and　her　silver　voice　rang　like　a　trumpet；　as　she　said；　〃Wicked　and　selfish　prince；　you　have　become　baser　than　the　beasts　you　hunt；　you　are　furious　as　a　lion；　revengeful　as　a　serpent；　greedy　as　a　wolf；　and　brutal　as　a　bull；　take；　therefore；　the　shape　of　those　beasts　whom　you　resemble！〃

With　horror；　the　prince　felt　himself　　being　transformed　into　a　monster。　　He　tried　to　rush　upon　the　fairy　and　kill　her；　but　she　had　vanished　with　her　words。　　As　he　stood；　her　voice　came　from　the　air；　saying；　sadly；　〃Learn　to　conquer　your　pride　by　being　in　submission　to　your　own　subjects。〃　At　the　same　moment；　Prince　Cherry　felt　himself　being　transported　to　a　distant　forest；　where　he　was　set　down　by　a　clear　stream。　　In　the　water　he　saw　his　own　terrible　image；　he　had　the　head　of　a　lion；　with　bull's　horns；　the　feet　of　a　wolf；　and　a　tail　like　a　serpent。　　And　as　he　gazed　in　horror；　the　fairy's　voice　whispered；　〃Your　soul　has　become　more　ugly　than　your　shape　is；　you　yoursel