28-prince darling-第1章
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PRINCE DARLING
ONCE upon a time there lived a king who was so just
and kind that his subjects called him 〃the Good King。〃
It happened one day； when he was out hunting； that a
little white rabbit； which his dogs were chasing； sprang
into his arms for shelter。 The King stroked it gently；
and said to it：
〃Well； bunny； as you have come to me for protection
I will see that nobody hurts you。〃
And he took it home to his palace and had it put in a
pretty little house； with all sorts of nice things to eat。
That night； when he was alone in his room； a beautiful
lady suddenly appeared before him； her long dress was
as white as snow； and she had a crown of white roses upon
her head。 The good King was very much surprised to
see her； for he knew his door had been tightly shut； and
he could not think how she had got in。 But she said
to him：
〃I am the Fairy Truth。 I was passing through the
wood when you were out hunting； and I wished to find
out if you were really good； as everybody said you were；
so I took the shape of a little rabbit and came to your
arms for shelter； for I know that those who are merciful
to animals will be still kinder to their fellow…men。 If
you had refused to help me I should have been certain
that you were wicked。 I thank you for the kindness you
have shown me； which has made me your friend for ever。
You have only to ask me for anything you want and I
promise that I will give it to you。〃
〃Madam；〃 said the good King； 〃since you are a fairy
you no doubt know all my wishes。 I have but one son
whom I love very dearly； that is why he is called Prince
Darling。 If you are really good enough to wish to do
me a favor； I beg that you will become his friend。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 answered the Fairy。 〃I can
make your son the handsomest prince in the world； or
the richest； or the most powerful； choose whichever you
like for him。〃
〃I do not ask either of these things for my son；〃 replied
the good King； 〃but if you will make him the best of
princes； I shall indeed be grateful to you。 What good
would it do him to be rich； or handsome； or to possess all
the kingdoms of the world if he were wicked？ You know
well he would still be unhappy。 Only a good man can
be really contented。〃
〃You are quite right；〃 answered the Fairy； 〃but it is
not in my power to make Prince Darling a good man
unless he will help me； he must himself try hard to become
good； I can only promise to give him good advice；
to scold him for his faults； and to punish him if he will
not correct and punish himself。〃
The good King was quite satisfied with this promise；
and very soon afterward he died。
Prince Darling was very sorry； for he loved his father
with all his heart； and he would willingly have given all
his kingdoms and all his treasures of gold and silver if
they could have kept the good King with him。
Two days afterward； when the Prince had gone to
bed； the Fairy suddenly appeared to him and said：
〃I promised your father that I would be your friend；
and to keep my word I have come to bring you a present。〃
At the same time she put a little gold ring upon his
finger。
〃Take great care of this ring；〃 she said： 〃it is more
precious than diamonds； every time you do a bad deed
it will prick your finger； but if； in spite of its pricking；
you go on in your own evil way； you will lose my friendship；
and I shall become your enemy。〃
So saying； the Fairy disappeared； leaving Prince
Darling very much astonished。
For some time he behaved so well that the ring never
pricked him； and that made him so contented that his
subjects called him Prince Darling the Happy。
One day； however； he went out hunting； but could get
no sport； which put him in a very bad temper； it seemed
to him as he rode along that his ring was pressing into
his finger； but as it did not prick him he did not heed it。
When he got home and went to his own room； his little
dog Bibi ran to meet him； jumping round him with
pleasure。 〃Get away！〃 said the Prince； quite gruffly。
〃I don't want you； you are in the way。〃
The poor little dog； who didn't understand this at all；
pulled at his coat to make him at least look at her； and
this made Prince Darling so cross that he gave her quite
a hard kick。
Instantly his ring pricked him sharply； as if it had
been a pin。 He was very much surprised； and sat down
in a corner of his room feeling quite ashamed of himself。
〃I believe the Fairy is laughing at me；〃 he thought。
〃Surely I can have done no great wrong in just kicking
a tiresome animal！ What is the good of my being ruler
of a great kingdom if I am not even allowed to beat my
own dog？〃
〃I am not making fun of you；〃 said a voice； answering
Prince Darling's thoughts。 〃You have committed three
faults。 First of all； you were out of temper because you
could not have what you wanted； and you thought all
men and animals were only made to do your pleasure；
then you were really angry； which is very naughty
indeed； and lastly； you were cruel to a poor little animal
who did not in the least deserve to be ill…treated
〃I know you are far above a little dog； but if it were
right and allowable that great people should ill…treat all
who are beneath them； I might at this moment beat you；
or kill you； for a fairy is greater than a man。 The
advantage of possessing a great empire is not to be able to
do the evil that one desires； but to do all the good that
one possibly can。〃
The Prince saw how naughty he had been； and promised
to try and do better in future； but he did not keep
his word。 The fact was he had been brought up by a
foolish nurse； who had spoiled him when he was little。
If he wanted anything he only had to cry and fret and
stamp his feet and she would give him whatever he
asked for； which had made him self…willed； also she had
told him from morning to night that he would one day
be a king； and that kings were very happy； because
everyone was bound to obey and respect them； and no
one could prevent them from doing just as they liked。
When the Prince grew old enough to understand； he
soon learned that there could be nothing worse than to
be proud； obstinate； and conceited； and he had really
tried to cure himself of these defects； but by that time
all his faults had become habits； and a bad habit is very
hard to get rid of。 Not that he was naturally of a bad
disposition； he was truly sorry when he had been naughty；
and said：
〃I am very unhappy to have to struggle against my
anger and pride every day； if I had been punished for
them when I was little they would not be such a trouble
to me now。〃
His ring pricked him very often； and sometimes he
left off what he was doing at once； but at other times he
would not attend to it。 Strangely enough； it gave him
only a slight prick for a trifling fault； but when he was
really naughty it made his finger actually bleed。 At
last he got tired of being constantly reminded； and wanted
to be able to do as he liked； so he threw his ring aside；
and thought himself the happiest of men to have got rid
of its teasing pricks。 He gave himself up to doing every
foolish thing that occurred to him； until he became quite
wicked and nobody could like him any longer。
One day； when the Prince was walking about； he saw
a young girl who was so very pretty that he made up
his mind at once that he would marry her。 Her name
was Celia； and she was as good as she was beautiful。
Prince Darling fancied that Celia would think herself
only too happy if he offered to make her a great queen；
but she said fearlessly：
〃Sire； I am only a shepherdess； and a poor girl； but；
nevertheless； I will not marry you。〃
〃Do you dislike me？〃 asked the Prince； who was very
much vexed at this answer。
〃No； my Prince；〃 replied Celia； 〃I cannot help
thinking you very hand
