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21-the wonderful sheep-第1章

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THE WONDERFUL SHEEP





ONCE upon a timein the days when the fairies lived

there was a king who had three daughters; who were all

young; and clever; and beautiful; but the youngest of the

three; who was called Miranda; was the prettiest and

the most beloved。



The King; her father; gave her more dresses and jewels

in a month than he gave the others in a year; but she was

so generous that she shared everything with her sisters;

and they were all as happy and as fond of one another as

they could be。



Now; the King had some quarrelsome neighbors; who;

tired of leaving him in peace; began to make war upon

him so fiercely that he feared he would be altogether

beaten if he did not make an effort to defend himself。

So he collected a great army and set off to fight them;

leaving the Princesses with their governess in a castle

where news of the war was brought every daysometimes

that the King had taken a town; or won a battle;

and; at last; that he had altogether overcome his enemies

and chased them out of his kingdom; and was coming

back to the castle as quickly as possible; to see his dear

little Miranda whom he loved so much。



The three Princesses put on dresses of satin; which they

had had made on purpose for this great occasion; one

green; one blue; and the third white; their jewels were

the same colors。 The eldest wore emeralds; the second

turquoises; and the youngest diamonds; and thus adorned

they went to meet the King; singing verses which they

had composed about his victories。



When he saw them all so beautiful and so gay he

embraced them tenderly; but gave Miranda more kisses than

either of the others。



Presently a splendid banquet was served; and the King

and his daughters sat down to it; and as he always

thought that there was some special meaning in everything;

he said to the eldest:



〃Tell me why you have chosen a green dress。〃



〃Sire;〃 she answered; 〃having heard of your victories

I thought that green would signify my joy and the hope

of your speedy return。〃



〃That is a very good answer;〃 said the King; 〃and you;

my daughter;〃 he continued; 〃why did you take a blue

dress?〃



〃Sire;〃 said the Princess; 〃to show that we constantly

hoped for your success; and that the sight of you is as

welcome to me as the sky with its most beautiful stars。〃



〃Why;〃 said the King; 〃your wise answers astonish

me; and you; Miranda。 What made you dress yourself

all in white?



〃Because; sire;〃 she answered; 〃white suits me better

than anything else。〃



〃What!〃 said the King angrily; 〃was that all you

thought of; vain child?〃



〃I thought you would be pleased with me;〃 said the

Princess; 〃that was all。〃



The King; who loved her; was satisfied with this; and

even pretended to be pleased that she had not told him

all her reasons at first。



〃And now;〃 said he; 〃as I have supped well; and it is

not time yet to go to bed; tell me what you dreamed last

night。〃



The eldest said she had dreamed that he brought her a

dress; and the precious stones and gold embroidery on

it were brighter than the sun。



The dream of the second was that the King had brought

her a spinning wheel and a distaff; that she might spin

him some shirts。



But the youngest said: 〃I dreamed that my second

sister was to be married; and on her wedding…day; you;

father; held a golden ewer and said: ‘Come; Miranda;

and I will hold the water that you may dip your hands

in it。'〃



The King was very angry indeed when he heard this

dream; and frowned horribly; indeed; he made such an

ugly face that everyone knew how angry he was; and he

got up and went off to bed in a great hurry; but he could

not forget his daughter's dream。



〃Does the proud girl wish to make me her slave?〃 he

said to himself。 〃I am not surprised at her choosing to

dress herself in white satin without a thought of me。

She does not think me worthy of her consideration! But

I will soon put an end to her pretensions!〃



He rose in a fury; and although it was not yet

daylight; he sent for the Captain of his Bodyguard; and said

to him:



〃You have heard the Princess Miranda's dream? I

consider that it means strange things against me; therefore

I order you to take her away into the forest and kill

her; and; that I may be sure it is done; you must bring

me her heart and her tongue。 If you attempt to deceive

me you shall be put to death!〃



The Captain of the Guard was very much astonished

when he heard this barbarous order; but he did not dare

to contradict the King for fear of making him still more

angry; or causing him to send someone else; so he

answered that he would fetch the Princess and do as the

King had said。 When he went to her room they would

hardly let him in; it was so early; but he said that the

King had sent for Miranda; and she got up quickly and

came out; a little black girl called Patypata held up her

train; and her pet monkey and her little dog ran after

her。 The monkey was called Grabugeon; and the little

dog Tintin。



The Captain of the Guard begged Miranda to come

down into the garden where the King was enjoying the

fresh air; and when they got there; he pretended to search

for him; but as he was not to be found; he said:



〃No doubt his Majesty has strolled into the forest;〃

and he opened the little door that led to it and they went

through。



By this time the daylight had begun to appear; and

the Princess; looking at her conductor; saw that he had

tears in his eyes and seemed too sad to speak。



〃What is the matter?〃 she said in the kindest way。

〃You seem very sorrowful。〃



〃Alas! Princess;〃 he answered; 〃who would not be

sorrowful who was ordered to do such a terrible thing as

I am? The King has commanded me to kill you here;

and carry your heart and your tongue to him; and if I

disobey I shall lose my life。〃



The poor Princess was terrified; she grew very pale and

began to cry softly。



Looking up at the Captain of the Guard with her

beautiful eyes; she said gently:



Will you really have the heart to kill me? I have

never done you any harm; and have always spoken well

of you to the King。 If I had deserved my father's anger

I would suffer without a murmur; but; alas! he is unjust

to complain of me; when I have always treated him with

love and respect。〃



〃Fear nothing; Princess;〃 said the Captain of the

Guard。 〃I would far rather die myself than hurt you;

but even if I am killed you will not be safe: we must find

some way of making the King believe that you are dead。〃



〃What can we do?〃 said Miranda; 〃unless you take

him my heart and my tongue he will never believe you。〃



The Princess and the Captain of the Guard were talking

so earnestly that they did not think of Patypata;

but she had overheard all they said; and now came and

threw herself at Miranda's feet



〃Madam;〃 she said; 〃I offer you my life; let me be

killed; I shall be only too happy to die for such a kind

mistress。〃



〃Why; Patypata;〃 cried the Princess; kissing her;

〃that would never do; your life is as precious to me as

my own; especially after such a proof of your affection

as you have just given me。〃



〃You are right; Princess;〃 said Grabugeon; coming

forward; 〃to love such a faithful slave as Patypata; she

is of more use to you than I am; I offer you my tongue

and my heart most willingly; especially as I wish to

make a great name for myself in Goblin Land。〃



〃No; no; my little Grabugeon;〃 replied Miranda; 〃I

cannot bear the thought of taking your life。〃



〃Such a good little dog as I am;〃 cried Tintin; acould

not think of letting either of you die for his mistress。 If

anyone is to die for her it must be me。〃



And then began a great dispute between Patypata;

Grabugeon; and Tintin; and they came to high words;

until at last Grabugeon; who was quicker than the

othe

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