the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第13部分
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always wondering〃Nurse；〃and one day he startled her with a sudden
question；〃tell me shall I ever be a king？〃
The woman stood； perplexed beyond expression。 So long a time had
passed by since her crimeif it were a crimeand her sentence； that she
now seldom thought of either。 Even her punishmentto be shut up for life
in Hopeless Towershe had gradually got used to。 Used also to the little
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lame Prince； her charge whom at first she had hated； though she
carefully did everything to keep him alive； since upon him her own life
hung。
But latterly she had ceased to hate him； and； in a sort of way； almost
loved himat least； enough to be sorry for himan innocent child；
imprisoned here till he grew into an old man； and became a dull； worn…out
creature like herself。 Sometimes； watching him； she felt more sorry for
him than even for herself； and then； seeing she looked a less miserable and
ugly woman； he did not shrink from her as usual。
He did not now。 〃Nursedear nurse；〃 said he； 〃I don't mean to vex you；
but tell me what is a king？ shall I ever be one？〃
When she began to think less of herself and more of the child； the
woman's courage increased。 The idea came to herwhat harm would it be；
even if he did know his own history？ Perhaps he ought to know itfor
there had been various ups and downs； usurpations； revolutions； and
restorations in Nomansland； as in most other countries。 Something might
happen who could tell？ Changes might occur。 Possibly a crown would
even yet be set upon those pretty； fair curlswhich she began to think
prettier than ever when she saw the imaginary coronet upon them。
She sat down； considering whether her oath； never to 〃say a word〃 to
Prince Dolor about himself； would be broken if she were to take a pencil
and write what was to be told。 A mere quibblea mean； miserable quibble。
But then she was a miserable woman； more to be pitied than scorned。
After long doubt； and with great trepidation； she put her fingers to her
lips； and taking the Prince's slatewith the sponge tied to it； ready to rub
out the writing in a minuteshe wrote：
〃You are a king。〃
Prince Dolor started。 His face grew pale； and then flushed all over； he
held himself erect。 Lame as he was； anybody could see he was born to be a
king。
〃Hush！〃 said the nurse； as he was beginning to speak。 And then；
terribly frightened all the while；people who have done wrong always are
frightened；she wrote down in a few hurried sentences his history。 How
his parents had diedhis uncle had usurped his throne； and sent him to end
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his days in this lonely tower。
〃I； too；〃 added she； bursting into tears。 〃Unless； indeed； you could get
out into the world； and fight for your rights like a man。 And fight for me
also； my Prince； that I may not die in this desolate place。〃
〃Poor old nurse！〃 said the boy compassion… ately。 For somehow； boy
as he was； when he heard he was born to be a king； he felt like a man
like a kingwho could afford to be tender because he was strong。
He scarcely slept that night； and even though he heard his little lark
singing in the sunrise； he barely listened to it。 Things more serious and
important had taken possession of his mind。
〃Suppose；〃 thought he； 〃I were to do as she says； and go out in the
world； no matter how it hurts methe world of people； active people； as
that boy I saw。 They might only laugh at me poor helpless creature that I
am； but still I might show them I could do something。 At any rate； I might
go and see if there were anything for me to do。 Godmother； help me！〃
It was so long since he had asked her help that he was hardly surprised
when he got no answeronly the little lark outside the window sang louder
and louder； and the sun rose； flooding the room with light。
Prince Dolor sprang out of bed； and began dressing himself； which
was hard work； for he was not used to ithe had always been accustomed
to depend upon his nurse for everything。
〃But I must now learn to be independent；〃 thought he。 〃Fancy a king
being dressed like a baby！〃
So he did the best he could；awkwardly but cheerily；and then he
leaped to the corner where lay his traveling…cloak； untied it as before； and
watched it unrolling itselfwhich it did rapidly； with a hearty good…will； as
if quite tired of idleness。 So was Prince Doloror felt as if he were。 He
jumped into the middle of it； said his charm； and was out through the
skylight immediately。
〃Good…by； pretty lark！〃 he shouted； as he passed it on the wing； still
warbling its carol to the newly risen sun。 〃You have been my pleasure； my
delight； now I must go and work。 Sing to old nurse till I come back again。
Perhaps she'll hear youperhaps she won'tbut it will do her good all the
same。 Good…by！〃
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But； as the cloak hung irresolute in air； he suddenly remembered that
he had not determined where to goindeed； he did not know； and there
was nobody to tell him。
〃Godmother；〃 he cried； in much perplexity； 〃you know what I want；
at least； I hope you do； for I hardly do myselftake me where I ought to go；
show me whatever I ought to see never mind what I like to see；〃 as a
sudden idea came into his mind that he might see many painful and
disagreeable things。 But this journey was not for pleasure as before。 He
was not a baby now； to do nothing but playbig boys do not always play。
Nor men neitherthey work。 Thus much Prince Dolor knewthough very
little more。
As the cloak started off； traveling faster than he had ever known it to
do；through sky…land and cloud land； over freezing mountain…tops； and
desolate stretches of forest； and smiling cultivated plains； and great lakes
that seemed to him almost as shoreless as the sea；he was often rather
frightened。 But he crouched down； silent and quiet； what was the use of
making a fuss？ and； wrapping himself up in his bear…skin； waited for what
was to happen。
After some time he heard a murmur in the distance； increasing more
and more till it grew like the hum of a gigantic hive of bees。 And；
stretching his chin over the rim of his cloak； Prince Dolor sawfar； far
below him； yet； with his gold spectacles and silver ears on； he could
distinctly hear and seewhat？
Most of us have some time or other visited a great metropolishave
wandered through its network of streetslost ourselves in its crowds of
peoplelooked up at its tall rows of houses； its grand public buildings；
churches； and squares。 Also； perhaps； we have peeped into its miserable
little back alleys； where dirty children play in gutters all day and half the
night even young boys go about picking pockets； with nobody to tell
them it is wrong except the policeman； and he simply takes them off to
prison。 And all this wretchedness is close behind the grandeurlike the
two sides of the leaf of a book。
An awful sight is a large city； seen any how from any where。 But；
suppose you were to see it from the upper air； where； with your eyes and
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ears open； you could take in everything at once？ What would it look like？
How would you feel about it？ I hardly know myself。 Do you？
Prince Dolor had need to be a kingthat is； a boy with a kingly nature…
…to be able to stand such a sight without being utterly overcome。 But he
was very much bewilderedas bewildered as a blind person who is
suddenly made to see。
He gazed down on the city below him； and then put his hand over his
eyes。
〃I can't bear to look at it； it is so beautiful so dreadful。 And I don't
understand itnot one bit。 There is nobody to tell me about it。 I wish I had
somebody to speak to。〃
〃Do you？ Then pray speak to me。 I was always considered good at
conversation。〃
The voice that squeaked out this reply was an excellent imitation of
the human one； though it came only from a bird。 No lark this time；
however； but a great black and white creature that flew into the cloak； and
began walking round and round on the edge of it with a dignified stride；
one foot before the other； like any unfeathered biped you could name。
〃I haven't the honor of your acquaintance； sir；〃 said the boy politely。
〃Ma'am； if you please。 I am a mother bird； and my name is Mag； and I
shall be happy to tell you everything you want to know。 For I know a great
deal； and I enjoy talking。 My family is of great antiquity； we have built in
this palace for hundredsthat is to say； dozens of years。 I am intimately
acquainted with the king； the queen； and the lit
