the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第13章
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two or three boys at least。 And it was so fresh； so pureas water from the
clouds always is when it does not catch the soot from city chimneys and
other defilementsthat he drank it； every drop； with the greatest delight
and content。
Also； as soon as it was empty the rain filled it again； so that he was
able to wash his face and hands and refresh himself exceedingly。 Then the
sun came out and dried him in no time。 After that he curled himself up
under the bear… skin rug； and though he determined to be the most wide…
awake boy imaginable； being so exceedingly snug and warm and
comfortable； Prince Dolor condescended to shut his eyes just for one
minute。 The next minute he was sound asleep。
When he awoke； he found himself floating over a country quite unlike
anything he had ever seen before。
Yet it was nothing but what most of you children see every day and
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never notice ita pretty country landscape； like England； Scotland； France；
or any other land you choose to name。 It had no particular features
nothing in it grand or lovelywas simply pretty； nothing more； yet to
Prince Dolor； who had never gone beyond his lonely tower and level plain；
it appeared the most charming sight imaginable。
First； there was a river。 It came tumbling down the hillside； frothing
and foaming； playing at hide…and…seek among the rocks； then bursting out
in noisy fun like a child； to bury itself in deep； still pools。 Afterward it
went steadily on for a while； like a good grown…up person； till it came to
another big rock； where it misbehaved itself extremely。 It turned into a
cataract； and went tumbling over and over； after a fashion that made the
princewho had never seen water before； except in his bath or his
drinking…cupclap his hands with delight。
〃It is so active； so alive！ I like things active and alive！〃 cried he； and
watched it shimmering and dancing； whirling and leaping； till； after a few
windings and vagaries； it settled into a respectable stream。 After that it
went along； deep and quiet； but flowing steadily on； till it reached a large
lake； into which it slipped and so ended its course。
All this the boy saw； either with his own naked eye or through his gold
spectacles。 He saw also as in a picture； beautiful but silent； many other
things which struck him with wonder； especially a grove of trees。
Only think； to have lived to his age （which he himself did not know； as
he did not know his own birthday） and never to have seen trees！ As he
floated over these oaks； they seemed to himtrunk； branches； and leaves
the most curious sight imaginable。
〃If I could only get nearer； so as to touch them；〃 said he； and
immediately the obedient cloak ducked down； Prince Dolor made a snatch
at the topmost twig of the tallest tree； and caught a bunch of leaves in his
hand。
Just a bunch of green leavessuch as we see in myriads； watching
them bud； grow； fall； and then kicking them along on the ground as if they
were worth nothing。 Yet how wonderful they areevery one of them a
little different。 I don't suppose you could ever find two leaves exactly alike
in form； color； and sizeno more than you could find two faces alike； or
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two characters exactly the same。 The plan of this world is infinite
similarity and yet infinite variety。
Prince Dolor examined his leaves with the greatest curiosityand also
a little caterpillar that he found walking over one of them。 He coaxed it to
take an additional walk over his finger； which it did with the greatest
dignity and decorum； as if it； Mr。 Caterpillar； were the most important
individual in existence。 It amused him for a long time； and when a sudden
gust of wind blew it overboard； leaves and all； he felt quite disconsolate。
〃Still there must be many live creatures in the world besides
caterpillars。 I should like to see a few of them。〃
The cloak gave a little dip down； as if to say 〃All right； my Prince；〃
and bore him across the oak forest to a long fertile valleycalled in
Scotland a strath and in England a weald； but what they call it in the
tongue of Nomansland I do not know。 It was made up of cornfields；
pasturefields； lanes； hedges； brooks； and ponds。 Also； in it were what the
prince desired to see a quantity of living creatures； wild and tame。 Cows
and horses； lambs and sheep； fed in the meadows； pigs and fowls walked
about the farm…yards； and in lonelier places hares scudded； rabbits
burrowed； and pheasants and partridges； with many other smaller birds；
inhabited the fields and woods。
Through his wonderful spectacles the Prince could see everything； but；
as I said； it was a silent picture； he was too high up to catch anything
except a faint murmur； which only aroused his anxiety to hear more。
〃I have as good as two pairs of eyes；〃 he thought。 〃I wonder if my
godmother would give me a second pair of ears。〃
Scarcely had he spoken than he found lying on his lap the most curious
little parcel； all done up in silvery paper。 And it containedwhat do you
think？ Actually a pair of silver ears； which； when he tried them on； fitted
so exactly over his own that he hardly felt them； except for the difference
they made in his hearing。
There is something which we listen to daily and never notice。 I mean
the sounds of the visible world； animate and inanimate。 Winds blowing；
waters flowing； trees stirring； insects whirring （dear me！ I am quite
unconsciously writing rhyme）； with the various cries of birds and beasts；
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lowing cattle； bleating sheep； grunting pigs； and cackling hens；all the
infinite discords that somehow or other make a beautiful harmony。
We hear this； and are so accustomed to it that we think nothing of it；
but Prince Dolor； who had lived all his days in the dead silence of
Hopeless Tower； heard it for the first time。 And oh！ if you had seen his
face。
He listened； listened； as if he could never have done listening。 And he
looked and looked； as if he could not gaze enough。 Above all； the motion
of the animals delighted him： cows walking； horses galloping； little lambs
and calves running races across the meadows； were such a treat for him to
watchhe that was always so quiet。 But； these creatures having four legs；
and he only two； the difference did not strike him painfully。
Still； by and by； after the fashion of children； and I fear； of many big
people too；he began to want something more than he had； something
fresh and new。
〃Godmother；〃 he said； having now begun to believe that； whether he
saw her or not； he could always speak to her with full confidence that she
would hear him〃Godmother； all these creatures I like exceedingly； but I
should like better to see a creature like
