the works of edgar allan poe-5-第4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！


appearance；　mouth　forming　a　rolled　proboscis；　produced　by　an　elongation　of
the　jaws；　upon　the　sides　of　which　are　found　the　rudiments　of　mandibles　and
downy　palpi；　the　inferior　wings　retained　to　the　superior　by　a　stiff　hair；
antennae　in　the　form　of　an　elongated　club；　prismatic；　abdomen　pointed；　The
Death's　　headed　Sphinx　has　occasioned　much　terror　among　the　vulgar；　at
times；　by　the　melancholy　kind　of　cry　which　it　utters；　and　the　insignia　of
death　which　it　wears　upon　its　corslet。'〃

He　here　closed　the　book　and　leaned　forward　in　the　chair；　placing　himself
accurately　in　the　position　which　I　had　occupied　at　the　moment　of　beholding
〃the　monster。〃

〃Ah；　here　it　is；〃　he　presently　exclaimed　　〃it　is　reascending　the　face　of
the　hill；　and　a　very　remarkable　looking　creature　I　admit　it　to　be。　Still；
it　is　by　no　means　so　large　or　so　distant　as　you　imagined　it；　　for　the
fact　is　that；　as　it　wriggles　its　way　up　this　thread；　which　some　spider　has
wrought　along　the　window…sash；　I　find　it　to　be　about　the　sixteenth　of　an
inch　in　its　extreme　length；　and　also　about　the　sixteenth　of　an　inch
distant　from　the　pupil　of　my　eye。〃

~~~　End　of　Text　~~~



HOP…FROG

　　　　I　NEVER　knew　anyone　so　keenly　alive　to　a　joke　as　the　king　was。　He
seemed　to　live　only　for　joking。　To　tell　a　good　story　of　the　joke　kind；　and
to　tell　it　well；　was　the　surest　road　to　his　favor。　Thus　it　happened　that
his　seven　ministers　were　all　noted　for　their　accomplishments　as　jokers。
They　all　took　after　the　king；　too；　in　being　large；　corpulent；　oily　men；　as
well　as　inimitable　jokers。　Whether　people　grow　fat　by　joking；　or　whether
there　is　something　in　fat　itself　which　predisposes　to　a　joke；　I　have　never
been　quite　able　to　determine；　but　certain　it　is　that　a　lean　joker　is　a
rara　avis　in　terris。

About　the　refinements；　or；　as　he　called　them；　the　'ghost'　of　wit；　the　king
troubled　himself　very　little。　He　had　an　especial　admiration　for　breadth　in
a　jest；　and　would　often　put　up　with　length；　for　the　sake　of　it。
Over…niceties　wearied　him。　He　would　have　preferred　Rabelais'　'Gargantua'
to　the　'Zadig'　of　Voltaire：　and；　upon　the　whole；　practical　jokes　suited
his　taste　far　better　than　verbal　ones。

At　the　date　of　my　narrative；　professing　jesters　had　not　altogether　gone
out　of　fashion　at　court。　Several　of　the　great　continental　'powers'　still
retain　their　'fools；'　who　wore　motley；　with　caps　and　bells；　and　who　were
expected　to　be　always　ready　with　sharp　witticisms；　at　a　moment's　notice；
in　consideration　of　the　crumbs　that　fell　from　the　royal　table。

Our　king；　as　a　matter　of　course；　retained　his　'fool。'　The　fact　is；　he
required　something　in　the　way　of　folly　　if　only　to　counterbalance　the
heavy　wisdom　of　the　seven　wise　men　who　were　his　ministers　　not　to
mention　himself。

His　fool；　or　professional　jester；　was　not　only　a　fool；　however。　His　value
was　trebled　in　the　eyes　of　the　king；　by　the　fact　of　his　being　also　a　dwarf
and　a　cripple。　Dwarfs　were　as　common　at　court；　in　those　days；　as　fools；
and　many　monarchs　would　have　found　it　difficult　to　get　through　their　days
（days　are　rather　longer　at　court　than　elsewhere）　without　both　a　jester　to
laugh　with；　and　a　dwarf　to　laugh　at。　But；　as　I　have　already　observed；　your
jesters；　in　ninety…nine　cases　out　of　a　hundred；　are　fat；　round；　and
unwieldy　　so　that　it　was　no　small　source　of　self…gratulation　with　our
king　that；　in　Hop…Frog　（this　was　the　fool's　name）；　he　possessed　a
triplicate　treasure　in　one　person。

I　believe　the　name　'Hop…Frog'　was　not　that　given　to　the　dwarf　by　his
sponsors　at　baptism；　but　it　was　conferred　upon　him；　by　general　consent　of
the　several　ministers；　on　account　of　his　inability　to　walk　as　other　men
do。　In　fact；　Hop…Frog　could　only　get　along　by　a　sort　of　interjectional
gait　　something　between　a　leap　and　a　wriggle　　a　movement　that　afforded
illimitable　amusement；　and　of　course　consolation；　to　the　king；　for
（notwithstanding　the　protuberance　of　his　stomach　and　a　constitutional
swelling　of　the　head）　the　king；　by　his　whole　court；　was　accounted　a
capital　figure。

But　although　Hop…Frog；　through　the　distortion　of　his　legs；　could　move　only
with　great　pain　and　difficulty　along　a　road　or　floor；　the　prodigious
muscular　power　which　nature　seemed　to　have　bestowed　upon　his　arms；　by　way
of　compensation　for　deficiency　in　the　lower　limbs；　enabled　him　to　perform
many　feats　of　wonderful　dexterity；　where　trees　or　ropes　were　in　question；
or　any　thing　else　to　climb。　At　such　exercises　he　certainly　much　more
resembled　a　squirrel；　or　a　small　monkey；　than　a　frog。

I　am　not　able　to　say；　with　precision；　from　what　country　Hop…Frog
originally　came。　It　was　from　some　barbarous　region；　however；　that　no
person　ever　heard　of　　a　vast　distance　from　the　court　of　our　king。
Hop…Frog；　and　a　young　girl　very　little　less　dwarfish　than　himself
（although　of　exquisite　proportions；　and　a　marvellous　dancer）；　had　been
forcibly　carried　off　from　their　respective　homes　in　adjoining　provinces；
and　sent　as　presents　to　the　king；　by　one　of　his　ever…victorious　generals。

Under　these　circumstances；　it　is　not　to　be　wondered　at　that　a　close
intimacy　arose　between　the　two　little　captives。　Indeed；　they　soon　became
sworn　friends。　Hop…Frog；　who；　although　he　made　a　great　deal　of　sport；　was
by　no　means　popular；　had　it　not　in　his　power　to　render　Trippetta　many
services；　but　she；　on　account　of　her　grace　and　exquisite　beauty　（although
a　dwarf）；　was　universally　admired　and　petted；　so　she　possessed　much
influence；　and　never　failed　to　use　it；　whenever　she　could；　for　the　benefit
of　Hop…Frog。

On　some　grand　state　occasion　　I　forgot　what　　the　king　determined　to
have　a　masquerade；　and　whenever　a　masquerade　or　any　thing　of　that　kind；
occurred　at　our　court；　then　the　talents；　both　of　Hop…Frog　and　Trippetta
were　sure　to　be　called　into　play。　Hop…Frog；　in　especial；　was　so　inventive
in　the　way　of　getting　up　pageants；　suggesting　novel　characters；　and
arranging　costumes；　for　masked　balls；　that　nothing　could　be　done；　it
seems；　without　his　assistance。

The　night　appointed　for　the　fete　had　arrived。　A　gorgeous　hall　had　been
fitted　up；　under　Trippetta's　eye；　with　every　kind　of　device　which　could
possibly　give　eclat　to　a　masquerade。　The　whole　court　was　in　a　fever　of
expectation。　As　for　costumes　and　characters；　it　might　well　be　supposed
that　everybody　had　come　to　a　decision　on　such　points。　Many　had　made　up
their　minds　（as　to　what　roles　they　should　assume）　a　week；　or　even　a　month；
in　advance；　and；　in　fact；　there　was　not　a　particle　of　indecision　anywhere
　except　in　the　case　of　the　king　and　his　seven　minsters。　Why　they
hesitated　I　never　could　tell；　unless　they　did　it　by　way　of　a　joke。　More
probably；　they　found　it　difficult；　on　account　of　being　so　fat；　to　make　up
their　minds。　At　all　events；　time　flew；　and；　as　a　last　resort　they　sent　for
Trippetta　and　Hop…Frog。

When　the　two　little　friends　obeyed　the　summons　of　the　king　they　found　him
sitting　at　his　wine　with　the　seven　members　of　his　cabinet　council；　but　the
monarch　appeared　to　be　in　a　very　ill　humor。　He　knew　that　Hop…Frog　was　not
fond　of　wine；　for　it　excited　the　poor　cripple　almost　to　madness；　and
madness　is　no　comfortable　feeling。　But　the　king　loved　his　practical　jokes；
and　took　pleasure　in　forcing　Hop…Frog　to　drink　and　（as　the　king　called　it）
'to　be　merry。'

〃Come　here；　Hop…Frog；〃　said　he；　as　the　jester　and　his　friend　entered　the
room；　〃swallow　this　bumper　to　the　health　of　your　absent　friends；　＇here
Hop…Frog　sighed；＇　and　then　let　us　have　the　benefit　of　your　invention。　We
want　characters　　characters；　man　　something　novel　　out　of　the　way。
We　are　wearied　with　this　everlasting　sameness。　Come；　drink！　the　wine　will
brighten　your　wits。〃

Hop…Frog　endeavored；　as　usual；　to　get　up　a　jest　in　reply　to　these　advances
from　the　king；　but　the　effort　was　too　much。　It　happened　to　be　the　poor
dwarf's　birthday；　and　the　command　to　drink　to　his　'absent　friends'　forced
the　tears　to　his　eyes。　Many　large；　bitter　drops　fell　into　the　goblet　as　he
took　it；　humbly；　from　the　hand　of　the　tyrant。

〃Ah！　ha！　ha！〃　roared　the　latter；　as　the　dwarf　reluctantly　drained　the
beaker。　　〃See　what　a　glass　of　good　wine　can　do！　Why；　your　eyes　are
shining　already！〃

Poor　fellow！　his　large　eyes　gleamed；　rather　than　shone；　for　the　effect　of
wine　on　his　excitable　brain　was　not　more　powerful　than　instantaneous。　He
placed　the　goblet　nervously　on　the　table；　and　looked　round　upon　the
company　with　a　half　　insane　stare。　They　all　seemed　highly　amused　at　the
success　of　the　king's　'joke。'

〃And　now　to　business；〃　said　the　prime　minister；　a　very　fat　man。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　King；　〃Come　lend　us　your　assistance。　Characters；　my　fine
fellow；　we　stand　in　need　of　characters　　all　of　us　　ha！　ha！　ha！〃　and　as
this　was　seriously　meant　for　a　joke；　his　laugh　was　chorused　by　the　seven。

Hop…Frog　also　laughed　although　feebly　and　somewhat　vacantly。

〃Come；　come；〃　said　the　king；　impatiently；　〃have　you　nothing　to　suggest？〃

〃I　am　endeavoring　to　think　of　something　novel；〃　replied　the　dwarf；
abstractedly；　for　he　was　quite　bewildered　by　the　wine。

〃Endeavoring！〃　cried　the　tyrant；　fiercely；　〃what　do　you　mean　by　that？　Ah；
I　perceive。　You　are　Sulky；　and　want　more　wine。　Here；　drink　this！〃　and　he
poured　out　another　goblet　full　and　offered　it　to　the　cripple；　who　merely
gazed　at　it；　gasping　for　breath。

〃Drink；　I　say！〃　shouted　the　monster；　〃or　by　the　fiends…〃

The　dwarf　hesitated。　The　king　grew　purple　with　rage。　The　courtiers
smirked。　Trippetta；　pale　as　a　corpse；　advanced　to　the　monarch's　seat；　and；
falling　on　her　knees　before　him；　implored　him　to　spare　her　friend。

The　tyrant　regarded　her；　for　some　moments；　in　evident　wonder　at　her
audacity。　He　seemed　quite　at　a　loss　what　to　do　or　say　　how　most
becomingly　to　express　his　indignation。　At　last；　without　uttering　a
syllable；　he　pushed　her　violently　from　him；　and　threw　the　contents　of　the
brimming　goblet　in　her　face。

The　poor　girl　got　up　the　best　she　could；　and；　not　daring　even　to　sigh；
resumed　her　position　at　the　foot　of　the　table。

There　was　a　dead　silence　for　about　half　a　minute；　during　which　the　falling
of　a　leaf；　or　of　a　feather；　might　have　been　heard。　It　was　interrupted　by　a
low；　but　harsh　and　protracted　grating　sound　which　seemed　to　come　at　once
from　every　corner　of　the　room。

〃What　　what　　what　are　you　making　that　noise　for？〃　demanded　the　king；
turning　furiously　to　the　dwarf。

The　latter　seemed　to　have　recovered；　in　great　measure；　from　his
intoxication；　and　looking　fixedly　but　quietly　into　the　tyrant's　face；
merely　ejaculated：

〃I　　I？　How　could　it　have　been　me？〃

〃The　sound　appeared　to　come　from　without；〃　observed　one　of　the　courtiers。
〃I　fancy　it　was　the　parrot　at　the　window；　whetting　his　bill　upon　his
cage…wires。〃

〃True；〃　replied　the　monarch；　as　if　much　relieved　by　the　suggestion；　〃but；
on　the　honor　of　a　knight；　I　could　have　sworn　that　it　was　the　gritting　of
this　vagabond's　teeth。〃

Hereupon　the　dwarf　laughed　（the　king　was　too　confirmed　a　joker　to　object
to　any　one's　laughing）；　and　displayed　a　set　of　large；　powerful；　and　very
repulsive　teeth。　Moreover；　he　avowed　his　perfect　willingness　to　swallow　as
much　wine　as　desired。　The　monarch　was　pacified；　and　having　drained　another
bumper　with　no　very　perceptible　ill　effect；　Hop…Frog　entered　at　once；　and
with