the little lame prince-第14章
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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 natureto 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 little princes and princessesalso the maids of honor； and all the inhabitants of the city。 I talk a good deal； but I always talk sense； and I daresay I should be ex… ceedingly useful to a poor little ignorant boy like you。〃
〃I am a prince；〃 said the other gently。
〃All right。 And I am a magpie。 You will find me a most respectable bird。〃
〃I have no doubt of it；〃 was the polite answer though he thought in his own mind that Mag must have a very good opinion of herself。 But she was a lady and a stranger； so of course he was civil to her。
She settled herself at his elbow； and began to chatter away； pointing out with one skinny claw； while she balanced herself on the other； every object of interest； evidently believing； as no doubt all its inhabitants did； that there was no capital in the world like the great metropolis of Nomansland。
I have not seen it； and therefore cannot describe it； so we will just take it upon trust； and suppose it to be； like every other fine city； the finest city that ever was built。 Mag said so and of course she knew。
Nevertheless； there were a few things in it which surprised Prince Dolorand； as he had said； he could not understand them at all。 One half the people seemed so happy and busy hurrying up and down the full streets； or driv… ing lazily along the parks in their grand carriages； while the other half were so wretched and miserable。
〃Can't the world be made a little more level？ I would try to do it if I were a king。〃
〃But you're not the king： only a little goose of a boy；〃 returned the magpie loftily。 〃And I'm here not to explain things； only to show them。 Shall I show you the royal palace？〃
It was a very magnificent palace。 It had terraces and gardens； battlements and towers。 It extended over acres of ground； and had in it rooms enough to accommodate half the city。 Its windows looked in all directions； but none of them had any particular viewexcept a small one； high up toward the roof； which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains。 But since the queen died there it had been closed； boarded up； indeed； the magpie said。 It was so little and inconvenient that nobody cared to live in it。 Besides； the lower apartments； which had no view； were magnificentworthy of being inhabited by the king。
〃I should like to see the king；〃 said Prince Dolor。
CHAPTER VIII
What； I wonder； would be people's idea of a king？ What was Prince Dolor's？
Perhaps a very splendid personage； with a crown on his head and a scepter in his hand； sitting on a throne and judging the people。 Always doing right； and never wrong 〃The king can do no wrong〃 was a law laid down in olden times。 Never cross； or tired； or sick； or suffering； perfectly handsome and well dressed； calm and good…tempered； ready to see and hear everybody； and discourteous to nobody； all things always going well with him； and nothing unpleasant ever happening。
This； probably； was what Prince Dolor expected to see。 And what did he see？ But I must tell you how he saw it。
〃Ah；〃 said the magpie； 〃no levee to…day。 The King is ill； though his Majesty does not wish it to be generally knownit would be so very inconvenient。 He can't see you； but perhaps you might like to go and take a look at him in a way I often do？ It is so very amusing。〃
Amusing； indeed！
The prince was just now too much excited to talk much。 Was he not going to see the king his uncle； who had succeeded his father and dethroned himself； had stepped into all the pleasant things that he； Prince Dolor； ought to have had； and shut him up in a desolate tower？ What was he like； this great； bad； clever man？ Had he got all the things he wanted； which another ought to have had？ And did he enjoy them？
〃Nobody knows；〃 answered the magpie； just as if she had been sitting inside the prince's heart； instead of on the top of his shoulder。 〃He is a king； and that's enough。 For the rest nobody knows。〃
As she spoke； Mag flew down on to the palace roof； where the cloak had rested； settling down between the great stacks of chimneys as comfortably as if on the ground。 She pecked at the tiles with her beaktruly she was a wonderful birdand immediately a little hole opened； a sort of door； through which could be seen distinctly the chamber below。
〃Now look in； my Prince。 Make haste； for I must soon shut it up again。〃
But the boy hesitated。 〃Isn't it rude？ won't they think us intruding？〃
〃Oh； dear no！ there's a hole like this in every palace； dozens of holes； indeed。 Everybody knows it； but nobody speaks of it。 Intrusion！ Why； though the royal family are supposed to live shut up behind stone walls ever so thick； all the world knows that they live in a glass house where everybody can see them and throw a stone at them。 Now pop down on your knees； and take a peep at his Majesty
His Majesty！
The Prince gazed eagerly down into a large room； the largest room he had ever beheld； with furniture and hangings grander than anything he could have ever imagined。 A stray sunbeam； coming through a crevice of the darkened windows； struck across the carpet； and it was the loveliest carpet ever wovenjust like a bed of flowers to walk over； only nobody walked over it； the room being perfectly empty and silent。
〃Where is the King？〃 asked the puzzled boy。
〃There；〃 said Mag； pointing with one wrinkled claw to a magnificent bed； large enough to contain six people。 In the center of it； just visible under the silken counterpane；quite
straight and still；with its head on the lace pillow； lay a small figure； something like wax… work； fast asleepvery fast asleep！ There was a number of sparkling rings on the tiny yellow hands； that were curled a little； helplessly； like a baby's； outside the coverlet； the eyes were shut； the nose looked sharp and thin； and the long gray beard hid the mouth and lay over the breast。 A sight not ugly nor frightening； only solemn and quiet。 And so very silenttwo little flies buzzing about the curtains of the bed being the only audible sound。
〃Is that the King？〃 whispered Prince Dolor。
〃Yes；〃 replied the bird。
He had been angryfuriously angry ever since he knew how his uncle had taken the crown； and sent him； a poor little helpless child； to be shut up for life； just as if he had been dead。 Many times the boy had felt as if； king as he was； he should like to strike him； this great； strong； wicked man。
Why； you might as well have struck a baby！ How helpless he lay； with his eyes shut； and his idle hands folded： they had no more work to do； bad or good。
〃What is the matter with him？〃 asked the Prince。
〃He is dead；〃 said the Magpie； with a croak。
No； there was not the least use in being angry with him now。 On the contrary； the Prince felt almost sorry for him； except that he looked so peaceful with all his cares at rest。 And this was being dead？ So even kings died？
〃We
