the little lame prince-第24章

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nce　he　flew　to　Siam；　where　he　did　the　same；　in　three　days　he　traveled　over　all　the　four　parts　of　the　world；　and　from　time　to　time　brought　what　he　bought　to　the　Palace　of　Calm　Delights；　and　hid　it　all　in　a　chamber；　which　he　kept　always　locked。　When　he　had　thus　collected　together　all　the　rarities　he　could　meet　withfor　he　never　wanted　money；　his　rose　always　supplying　himhe　went　and　bought　five　or　six　dozen　of　dolls；　which　he　caused　to　be　dressed　at　Paris；　the　place　in　the　world　where　most　regard　is　paid　to　fashions。　They　were　all　dressed　differently；　and　as　magnificent　as　could　be；　and　Leander　placed　them　all　in　the　princess'　closet。　When　she　entered　it；　she　was　agreeably　surprised　to　see　such　company　of　little　mutes；　every　one　decked　with　watches　bracelets；　diamond　buckles；　or　necklaces；　and　the　most　remarkable　of　them　held　a　picture　box　in　its　hand；　which　the　princess　opening；　found　it　contained　Leander's　portrait。　She　gave　a　loud　shriek；　and　looking　upon　Abricotina；　〃There　have　appeared　of　late；〃　said　she；　〃so　many　wonders　in　this　place；　that　I　know　not　what　to　think　of　them：　my　birds　are　all　grown　witty；　I　cannot　so　much　as　wish；　but　presently　I　have　my　desires；　twice　have　I　now　seen　the　portrait　of　him　who　rescued　thee　from　the　ruffians；　and　here　are　silks　of　all　sorts；　diamonds；　embroideries；　laces；　and　an　infinite　number　of　other　rarities。　What　fairy　is　it　that　takes　such　care　to　pay　me　these　agreeable　civilities？〃

Leander　was　overjoyed　to　hear　and　see　her　so　much　interested　about　his　picture；　and　calling　to　mind　that　there　was　in　a　grotto　which　she　often　frequented　a　certain　pedestal；　on　which　a　Diana；　not　yet　finished；　was　to　be　erected；　on　this　pedestal　he　resolved　to　place　himself；　crowned　with　laurel；　and　holding　a　lyre　in　his　hand；　on　which　he　played　like　another　Apollo。　He　most　anxiously　waited　the　princess'　retiring　to　the　grotto；　which　she　did　every　day　since　her　thoughts　had　taken　up　with　this　unknown　person；　for　what　Abricotina　had　said；　joined　to　the　sight　of　the　picture；　had　almost　destroyed　her　repose：　her　lively　humor　changed　into　a　pensive　melancholy；　and　she　grew　a　great　lover　of　solitude。　When　she　entered　the　grotto；　she　made　a　sign　that　nobody　should　follow　her；　so　that　her　young　damsels　dispersed　themselves　into　the　neighboring　walks。　The　princess　threw　herself　upon　a　bank　of　green　turf；　sighed；　wept；　and　even　talked；　but　so　softly　that　Leander　could　not　hear　what　she　said。　He　had　put　his　red　cap　on；　that　she　might　not　see　him　at　first；　but　having　taken　it　off；　she　beheld　him　standing　on　the　pedestal。　At　first　she　took　him　for　a　real　statue；　for　he　observed　exactly　the　attitude　in　which　he　had　placed　himself；　without　moving　so　much　as　a　finger。　She　beheld　with　a　kind　of　pleasure　intermixed　with　fear；　but　pleasure　soon　dispelled　her　fear；　and　she　continued　to　view　the　pleasing　figure；　which　so　exactly　resembled　life。　The　prince　having　tuned　his　lyre；　began　to　play；　at　which　the　princess；　greatly　surprised；　could　not　resist　the　fear　that　seized　her；　she　grew　pale　and　fell　into　a　swoon。　Leander　leaped　from　the　pedestal；　and　putting　on　his　little　red　cap；　that　he　might　not　be　perceived；　took　the　princess　in　his　arms　and　gave　her　all　the　assistance　that　his　zeal　and　tenderness　could　inspire。　At　length　she　opened　her　charming　eyes　and　looked　about　in　search　of　him；　but　she　could　perceive　nobody；　yet　she　felt　somebody　who　held　her　hands；　kissed　them；　and　bedewed　them　with　his　tears。　It　was　a　long　time　before　she　durst　speak；　and　her　spirits　were　in　a　confused　agitation　between　fear　and　hope。　She　was　afraid　of　the　spirit；　but　loved　the　figure　of　the　unknown。　At　length　she　said：　〃Courtly　invisible；　why　are　you　not　the　person　I　desire　you　should　be？〃　At　these　words　Leander　was　going　to　declare　himself；　but　durst　not　do　it　yet。　〃For；〃　thought　he；　〃if　I　again　affright　the　object　I　adore　and　make　her　fear　me；　she　will　not　love　me。〃　This　consideration　caused　him　to　keep　silence。

The　princess；　then；　believing　herself　alone；　called　Abricotina　and　told　her　all　the　wonders　of　the　animated　statue；　that　it　had　played　divinely；　and　that　the　invisible　person　had　given　her　great　assistance　when　she　lay　in　a　swoon。

〃What　pity　'tis；〃　said　she；　〃that　this　person　should　be　so　frightful；　for　nothing　can　be　more　amiable　or　acceptable　than　his　behavior！〃

〃Who　told　you；　madam；〃　answered　Abricotina；　〃that　he　is　frightful？　If　he　is　the　youth　who　saved　me；　he　is　beautiful　as　Cupid　himself。〃

〃If　Cupid　and　the　unknown　are　the　same；〃　replied　the　princess；　blushing；　〃I　could　be　content　to　love　Cupid；　but　alas！　how　far　am　I　from　such　a　happiness！　I　love　a　mere　shadow；　and　this　fatal　picture；　joined　to　what　thou　hast　told　me；　have　inspired　me　with　inclinations　so　contrary　to　the　precepts　which　I　received　from　my　mother　that　I　am　daily　afraid　of　being　punished　for　them。〃

〃Oh！　madam；〃　said　Abricotina；　interrupting　her；　〃have　you　not　troubles　enough　already？　Why　should　you　anticipate　afflictions　which　may　never　come　to　pass？〃

It　is　easy　to　imagine　what　pleasure　Leander　took　in　this　conversation。

In　the　meantime　the　little　Furibon；　still　enamored　of　the　princess　whom　he　had　never　seen；　expected　with　impatience　the　return　of　the　four　servants　whom　he　had　sent　to　the　Island　of　Calm　Delights。　One　of　them　at　last　came　back；　and　after　he　had　given　the　prince　a　particular　account　of　what　had　passed；　told　him　that　the　island　was　defended　by　Amazons；　and　that　unless　he　sent　a　very　powerful　army；　it　would　be　impossible　to　get　into　it。　The　king　his　father　was　dead；　and　Furibon　was　now　lord　of　all：　disdaining；　therefore；　any　repulse；　he　raised　an　army　of　four　hundred　thousand　men；　and　put　himself　at　the　head　of　them；　appearing　like　another　Tom　Thumb　upon　a　war…horse。　Now；　when　the　Amazons　perceived　his　mighty　host；　they　gave　the　princess　notice　of　its　who　immediately　dispatched　away　her　trusty　Abricotina　to　the　kingdom　of　the　fairies；　to　beg　her　mother's　instructions　as　to　what　she　should　do　to　drive　the　little　Furibon　from　her　territories。　But　Abricotina　found　the　fairy　in　an　angry　humor。

〃Nothing　that　my　daughter　does；〃　said　she；　〃escapes　my　knowledge。　The　Prince　Leander　is　now　in　her　palace；　he　loves　her；　and　she　has　a　tenderness　for　him。　All　my　cares　and　precepts　have　not　been　able　to　guard　her　from　the　tyranny　of　love；　and　she　is　now　under　its　fatal　dominion。　But　it　is　the　decree　of　destiny；　and　I　must　submit；　therefore；　Abricotina；　begone！　nor　let　me　hear　a　word　more　of　a　daughter　whose　behavior　has　so　much　displeased　me。〃

Abricotina　returned　with　these　ill　tidings；　whereat　the　princess　was　almost　distracted；　and　this　was　soon　perceived　by　Leander；　who　was　near　her；　though　she　did　not　see　him。　He　beheld　her　grief　with　the　greatest　pain。　However；　he　durst　not　then　open　his　lips；　but　recollecting　that　Furibon　was　exceedingly　covetous；　he　thought　that；　by　giving　him　a　sum　of　money；　he　might　perhaps　prevail　with　him　to　retire。　Thereupon；　he　dressed　himself　like　an　Amazon；　and　wished　himself　in　the　forest；　to　catch　his　horse。　He　had　no　sooner　called　him　than　Gris…de…line　came　leaping；　prancing；　and　neighing　for　joy；　for　he　was　grown　quite　weary　of　being　so　long　absent　from　his　dear　master；　but　when　he　beheld　him　dressed　as　a　woman　he　hardly　knew　him。　However；　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　he　suffered　the　prince　to　mount；　and　they　soon　arrived　in　the　camp　at　Furibon；　where　they　gave　notice　that　a　lady　was　come　to　speak　with　him　from　the　Princess　of　Calm　Delights。　Immediately　the　little　fellow　put　on　his　royal　robes；　and　having　placed　himself　upon　his　throne；　he　looked　like　a　great　toad　counterfeiting　a　king。

Leander　harangued　him；　and　told　him　that　the　princess；　preferring　a　quiet　and　peaceable　life　to　the　fatigues　of　war；　had　sent　to　offer　his　majesty　as　much　money　as　he　pleased　to　demand；　provided　he　would　suffer　her　to　continue　in　peace；　but　if　he　refused　her　proposal；　she　would　omit　no　means　that　might　serve　for　her　defense。　Furibon　replied　that　he　took　pity　on　her；　and　would　grant　her　the　honor　of　his　protection；　but　that　he　demanded　a　hundred　thousand　millions　of　pounds；　and　without　which　he　would　not　return　to　his　kingdom。　Leander　answered　that　such　a　vast　sum　would　be　too　long　a…counting；　and　therefore；　if　he　would　say　how　many