the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第25部分
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soldiers surrounded him； uttering the loudest acclamations of joy。 In short；
they acknowledged him for their king； and that the crown of right
belonged to him； for which he thanked them； and； as the first mark of his
royal bounty； divided the thirty rooms of gold among the soldiers。 This
done he returned to his princess； ordering his army to march back into his
kingdom。
The princess was gone to bed。 Leander； therefore； retired into his own
apartment； for he was very sleepyso sleepy that he forgot to bolt his door；
and so it happened that the princess； rising early to taste the morning air；
chanced to enter into this very chamber； and was astonished to find a
young prince asleep upon the bed。 She took a full view of him； and was
convinced that he was the person whose picture she had in her diamond
box。 〃It is impossible；〃 said she； 〃that this should be a spirit； for can spirits
sleep？ Is this a body composed of air and fire； without substance； as
Abricotina told me？〃 She softly touched his hair； and heard him breathe；
and looked at him as if she could have looked forever。 While she was thus
occupied； her mother； the fairy entered with such a noise that Leander
started out of his sleep。 But how deeply was he afflicted to behold his
beloved princess in the most deplorable condition！ Her mother dragged
her by the hair and loaded her with a thousand bitter reproaches。 In what
grief and consternation were the two young lovers； who saw themselves
now upon the point of being separated forever！ The princess durst not
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open her lips； but cast her eyes upon Leander； as if to beg his assistance。
He judged rightly that he ought not to deal rudely with a power superior to
his own； and therefore he sought； by his eloquence and submission； to
move the incensed fairy。 He ran to her； threw himself at her feet； and
besought her to have pity upon a young prince who would never change in
his affection for her daughter。 The princess； encouraged； also embraced
her mother's knees； and declared that without Leander she should never be
happy。
〃Happy！〃 cried the fairy； 〃you know not the miseries of love nor the
treacheries of which lovers are capable。 They bewitch us only to poison
our lives； I have known it by experience； and will you suffer the same？〃
〃Is there no exception； madam？〃 replied Leander； and his countenance
showed him to be one。
But neither tears nor entreaties could move the implacable fairy； and it
is very probable that she would have never pardoned them； had not the
lovely Gentilla appeared at that instant in the chamber； more brilliant than
the sun。 Embracing the old fairy：
〃Dear sister；〃 said she； 〃I am persuaded you cannot have forgotten the
good office I did you when； after your unhappy marriage； you besought a
readmittance into Fairyland； since then I never desired any favor at your
hands； but now the time is come。 Pardon； then； this lovely princess；
consent to her nuptials with this young prince。 I will engage he shall be
ever constant to her； the thread of their days shall be spun of gold and silk；
they shall live to complete your happiness； and I will never forget the
obligation you lay upon me。〃
〃Charming Gentilla；〃 cried the fairy； 〃I consent to whatever you desire。
Come； my dear children； and receive my love。〃 So saying； she embraced
them both。
Abricotina； just then entering； cast her eyes upon Leander； she knew
him again； and saw he was perfectly happy； at which she； too； was quite
satisfied。
〃Prince；〃 condescendingly said the fairy… mother； 〃I will remove the
Island of Calm Delights into your own kingdom； live with you myself； and
do you great services。〃
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Whether or not Prince Leander appreciated this offer； he bowed low；
and assured his mother… in…law that no favor could be equal to the one he
had that day received from her hands。 This short compliment pleased the
fairy exceedingly； for she belonged to those ancient days when people
used to stand a whole day upon one leg complimenting one another。 The
nuptials were performed in a most splendid manner； and the young prince
and princess lived together happily many years； beloved by all around
them。
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The Little Lame Prince
PRINCE CHERRY
LONG ago there lived a monarch； who was such a very； honest man
that his subjects entitled him the Good King。 One day； when he was out
hunting； a little white rabbit； which had been half…killed by his hounds；
leaped right into his majesty's arms。 Said he； caressing it： 〃This poor
creature has put itself under my protection； and I will allow no one to
injure it。〃 So he carried it to his palace； had prepared for it a neat little
rabbit…hutch； with abundance of the daintiest food； such as rabbits love；
and there he left it。
The same night； when he was alone in his chamber； there appeared to
him a beautiful lady。 She was dressed neither in gold； nor silver； nor
brocade； but her flowing robes were white as snow； and she wore a
garland of white roses on her head。 The Good King was greatly astonished
at the sight； for his door was locked； and he wondered how so dazzling a
lady could possibly enter； but she soon removed his doubts。
〃I am the fairy Candide；〃 said she； with a smiling and gracious air。
〃Passing through the wood where you were hunting； I took a desire to
know if you were as good as men say you are I therefore changed myself
into a white rabbit and took refuge in your arms。 You saved me and now I
know that those who are merciful to dum beasts will be ten times more so
to human beings。 You merit the name your subjects give you： you are the
Good King。 I thank you for your protection； and shall be always one of
your best friends。 You have but to say what you most desire； and I promise
you your wish shall be granted。〃
〃Madam；〃 replied the king； 〃if you are a fairy； you must know； without
my telling you； the wish of my heart。 I have one well…beloved son； Prince
Cherry： whatever kindly feeling you have toward me； extend it to him。〃
〃Willingly；〃 said Candide。 〃I will make him the handsomest； richest； or
most powerful prince in the world： choose whichever you desire for him。〃
〃None of the three；〃 returned the father。 〃I only wish him to be good
the best prince in the whole world。 Of what use would riches； power； or
beauty be to him if he were a bad man？〃
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〃You are right；〃 said the fairy； 〃but I can not make him good： he must
do that himself。 I can only change his external fortunes； for his personal
character； the utmost I can promise is to give him good counsel； reprove
him for his faults； and even punish him； if he will not punish himself。 You
mortals can do the same with your children。〃
〃Ah； yes！〃 said the king； sighing。 Still； he felt that the kindness of a
fairy was something gained for his son； and died not long after； content
and at peace。
Prince Cherry mourned deeply； for he dearly loved his father； and
would have gladly given all his kingdoms and treasures to keep him in life
a little longer。 Two days after the Good King was no more； Prince Cherry
was sleeping in his chamber； when he saw the same dazzling vision of the
fairy Candide。
〃I promised your father；〃 said she； 〃to be your best friend； and in
pledge of this take what I now give you；〃 and she placed a small gold ring
upon his finger。 〃Poor as it looks； it is more precious than diamonds； for
whenever you do ill it will prick your finger。 If； after that warning； you
still continue in evil； you will lose my friendship； and I shall become your
direst enemy。〃'
So saying； she disappeared； leaving Cherry in such amazement that he
would have believed it all a dream； save for the ring on his finger。
He was for a long time so good that the ring never pricked him at all；
and this made him so cheerful and pleasant in his humor that everybody
called him 〃Happy Prince Cherry。〃 But one unlucky day he was out
hunting and found no sport； which vexed him so much that he showed his
ill temper by his looks and ways。 He fancied his ring felt very tight and
uncomfortable； but as it did not prick him he took no heed of this： until；
re…entering his palace； his little pet dog； Bibi； jumped up upon him and
was sharply told to get away。 The creature； accustomed to nothing but
caresses； tried to attract his attention by pulling at his garments； when
Prince Cherry turned and gave it a severe kick。 At this moment he felt in
his finger a prick like a pin。
〃What nonsense！〃 said he to himself。 〃The fairy must
