the little lame prince-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ir；〃　said　he；　〃if　it　was　by　your　order　that　these　assassins　came　to　kill　me；　I　am　sorry　I　made　any　defense。〃

〃You　are　an　insolent　villain！〃　replied　Furibon；　〃and　if　ever　you　come　into　my　presence　again；　you　shall　surely　die。〃

Leander　made　no　answer；　but　retired　sad　and　pensive　to　his　own　home；　where　he　spent　the　night　in　pondering　what　was　best　for　him　to　do；　for　there　was　no　likelihood　he　should　be　able　to　defend　himself　against　the　power　of　the　king's　son；　therefore　he　at　length　concluded　he　would　travel　abroad　and　see　the　world。　Being　ready　to　depart；　he　recollected　his　snake；　and；　calling　for　some　milk　and　fruits；　carried　them　to　the　poor　creature　for　the　last　time；　but　on　opening　the　door　he　perceived　an　extraordinary　luster　in　one　corner　of　the　room；　and　casting　his　eye　on　the　place　he　was　surprised　to　see　a　lady；　whose　noble　and　majestic　air　made　him　immediately　conclude　she　was　a　princess　of　royal　birth。　Her　habit　was　of　purple　satin；　embroidered　with　pearls　and　diamonds；　she　advanced　toward　him　with　a　gracious　smile。

〃Young　prince；〃　said　she；　〃you　find　no　longer　your　pet　snake；　but　me；　the　fairy　Gentilla；　ready　to　requite　your　generosity。　For　know　that　we　fairies　live　a　hundred　years　in　flourishing　youth；　without　diseases；　without　trouble　or　pain；　and　this　term　being　expired；　we　become　snakes　for　eight　days。　During　that　time　it　is　not　in　our　power　to　prevent　any　misfortune　that　may　befall　us；　and　if　we　happen　to　be　killed；　we　never　revive　again。　But　these　eight　days　being　expired；　we　resume　our　usual　form　and　recover　our　beauty；　our　power；　and　our　riches。　Now　you　know　how　much　I　am　obliged　to　your　goodness；　and　it　is　but　just　that　I　should　repay　my　debt　of　gratitude；　think　how　I　can　serve　you　and　depend　on　me。〃

The　young　prince；　who　had　never　conversed　with　a　fairy　till　now；　was　so　surprised　that　it　was　a　long　time　before　he　could　speak。　But　at　length；　making　a　profound　reverence；　〃Madam；〃　said　he；　〃since　I　have　had　the　honor　to　serve　you；　I　know　not　any　other　happiness　that　I　can　wish　for。〃

〃I　should　be　sorry；〃　replied　she；　〃not　to　be　of　service　to　you　in　something；　consider；　it　is　in　my　power　to　bestow　on　you　long　life；　kingdoms；　riches；　to　give　you　mines　of　diamonds　and　houses　full　of　gold；　I　can　make　you　an　excellent　orator；　poet；　musician；　and　painter；　or；　if　you　desire　it；　a　spirit　of　the　air；　the　water；　or　the　earth。〃

Here　Leander　interrupted　her。　〃Permit　me；　madam；〃　said　he；　〃to　ask　you　what　benefit　it　would　be　to　me　to　be　a　spirit？〃

〃Much；〃　replied　the　fairy；　〃you　would　be　invisible　when　you　pleased；　and　might　in　an　instant　traverse　the　whole　earth；　you　would　be　able　to　fly　without　wings；　to　descend　into　the　abyss　of　the　earth　without　dying；　and　walk　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea　without　being　drowned；　nor　doors；　nor　windows；　though　fast　shut　and　locked；　could　hinder　you　from　entering　anywhere；　and　whenever　you　had　a　mind；　you　might　resume　your　natural　form。〃

〃Oh；　madam！〃　cried　Leander；　〃then　let　me　be　a　spirit；　I　am　going　to　travel；　and　should　prefer　it　above　all　those　other　advantages　you　have　so　generously　offered　me。〃

Gentilla　thereupon　stroking　his　face　three　times；　〃Be　a　spirit；〃　said　she；　and　then；　embracing　him；　she　gave　him　a　little　red　cap　with　a　plume　of　feathers。　〃When　you　put　on　this　cap　you　shall　be　invisible；　but　when　you　take　it　off　you　shall　again　become　visible。〃

Leander；　overjoyed；　put　his　little　red　cap　upon　his　head　and　wished　himself　in　the　forest；　that　he　might　gather　some　wild　roses　which　he　had　observed　there：　his　body　immediately　became　as　light　as　thought；　he　flew　through　the　window　like　a　bird；　though；　in　flying　over　the　river；　he　was　not　without　fear　lest　he　should　fall　into　it；　and　the　power　of　the　fairy　not　be　able　to　save　him。　But　he　arrived　in　safety　at　the　rose…　bushes；　plucked　the　three　roses；　and　returned　immediately　to　his　chamber；　presented　his　roses　to　the　fairy；　overjoyed　that　his　first　experiments　had　succeeded　so　well。　She　bade　him　keep　the　roses；　for　that　one　of　them　would　supply　him　with　money　whenever　he　wanted　it；　that　if　he　put　the　other　into　his　mistress'　bosom；　he　would　know　whether　she　was　faithful　or　not；　and　that　the　third　would　keep　him　always　in　good　health。　Then；　without　staying　to　receive　his　thanks；　she　wished　him　success　in　his　travels　and　disappeared。

Leander；　infinitely　pleased；　settled　his　affairs；　mounted　the　finest　horse　in　the　stable；　called　Gris…de…line；　and　attended　by　some　of　his　servants　in　livery；　made　his　return　to　court。　Now　you　must　know　Furibon　had　given　out　that　had　it　not　been　for　his　courage　Leander　would　have　murdered　him　when　they　were　a…hunting；　so　the　king；　being　importuned　by　the　queen；　gave　orders　that　Leander　should　be　apprehended。　But　when　he　came；　he　showed　so　much　courage　and　resolution　that　Furibon　ran　to　the　queen's　chamber　and　prayed　her　to　order　him　to　be　seized。　The　queen；　who　was　extremely　diligent　in　everything　that　her　son　desired；　went　immediately　to　the　king。　Furibon；　being　impatient　to　know　what　would　be　resolved；　followed　her；　but　stopped　at　the　door　and　laid　his　ear　to　the　keyhole；　putting　his　hair　aside　that　he　might　the　better　hear　what　was　said。　At　the　same　time；　Leander　entered　the　court…hall　of　the　palace　with　his　red　cap　upon　his　head；　and　perceiving　Furibon　listening　at　the　door　of　the　king's　chamber；　he　took　a　nail　and　a　hammer　and　nailed　his　ear　to　the　door。　Furibon　began　to　roar；　so　that　the　queen；　hearing　her　son's　voice；　ran　and　opened　the　door；　and；　pulling　it　hastily；　tore　her　son's　ear　from　his　head。　Half　out　of　her　wits；　she　set　him　in　her　lap；　took　up　his　ear；　kissed　it；　and　clapped　it　again　upon　its　place；　but　the　invisible　Leander；　seizing　upon　a　handful　of　twigs；　with　which　they　corrected　the　king's　little　dogs；　gave　the　queen　several　lashes　upon　her　hands；　and　her　son　as　many　on　the　nose：　upon　which　the　queen　cried　out；　〃Murder！　murder！〃　and　the　king　looked　about；　and　the　people　came　running　in；　but　nothing　was　to　be　seen。　Some　cried　that　the　queen　was　mad；　and　that　her　madness　proceeded　from　her　grief　to　see　that　her　son　had　lost　one　ear；　and　the　king　was　as　ready　as　any　to　believe　it；　so　that　when　she　came　near　him　he　avoided　her；　which　made　a　very　ridiculous　scene。　Leander；　then　leaving　the　chamber；　went　into　the　garden；　and　there；　assuming　his　own　shape；　he　boldly　began　to　pluck　the　queen's　cherries；　apricots；　strawberries；　and　flowers；　though　he　knew　she　set　such　a　high　value　on　them　that　it　was　as　much　as　a　man's　life　was　worth　to　touch　one。　The　gardeners；　all　amazed；　came　and　told　their　majesties　that　Prince　Leander　was　making　havoc　of　all　the　fruits　and　flowers　in　the　queen's　gardens

〃What　insolence！〃　said　the　queen：　then　turning　to　Furibon；　〃my　pretty　child；　forget　the　pain　of　thy　ear　but　for　a　moment；　and　fetch　that　vile　wretch　hither；　take　our　guards；　both　horse　and　foot；　seize　him；　and　punish　him　as　he　deserves。〃

Furibon；　encouraged　by　his　mother；　and　attended　by　a　great　number　of　armed　soldiers；　entered　the　garden　and　saw　Leander；　who；　taking　refuge　under　a　tree；　pelted　them　all　with　oranges。　But　when　they　came　running　toward　him；　thinking　to　have　seized　him；　he　was　not　to　be　seen；　he　had　slipped　behind　Furibon；　who　was　in　a　bad　condition　already。　But　Leander　played　him　one　trick　more；　for　he　pushed　him　down　upon　the　gravel　walk；　and　frightened　him　so　that　the　soldiers　had　to　take　him　up；　carry　him　away；　and　put　him　to　bed。

Satisfied　with　this　revenge；　he　returned　to　his　servants；　who　waited　for　him；　and　giving　them　money；　sent　them　back　to　his　castle；　that　none　might　know　the　secret　of　his　red　cap　and　roses。　As　yet　he　had　not　determined　whither　to　go；　however；　he　mounted　his　fine　horse　Gris…　de…line；　and；　laying　the　reins　upon　his　neck；　let　him　take　his　own　road：　at　length　he　arrived　in　a　forest；　where　he　stopped　to　shelter　himself　from　the　heat。　He　had　not　been　above　a　minute　there　before　he　heard　a　lamentable　noise　of　sighing　and　sobbing；　and　looking　about　him；　beheld　a　man；　who　ran；　stopped；　then　ran　again；　sometimes　crying；　sometimes　silent；　then　tearing　his　hair；　then　thumping　his　breast　like　some　unfortunate　madman。　Yet　he　seemed　to　be　both　handsome　and　young：　his　garments　had　been　magnificent；　but　he　had　torn　them　all　to　tatters。　The　prince；