the works of edgar allan poe-5-第5节
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（days are rather longer at court than elsewhere） without both a jester to
laugh with； and a dwarf to laugh at。 But； as I have already observed； your
jesters； in ninety…nine cases out of a hundred； are fat； round； and
unwieldy so that it was no small source of self…gratulation with our
king that； in Hop…Frog （this was the fool's name）； he possessed a
triplicate treasure in one person。
I believe the name 'Hop…Frog' was not that given to the dwarf by his
sponsors at baptism； but it was conferred upon him； by general consent of
the several ministers； on account of his inability to walk as other men
do。 In fact； Hop…Frog could only get along by a sort of interjectional
gait something between a leap and a wriggle a movement that afforded
illimitable amusement； and of course consolation； to the king； for
（notwithstanding the protuberance of his stomach and a constitutional
swelling of the head） the king； by his whole court； was accounted a
capital figure。
But although Hop…Frog； through the distortion of his legs； could move only
with great pain and difficulty along a road or floor； the prodigious
muscular power which nature seemed to have bestowed upon his arms； by way
of compensation for deficiency in the lower limbs； enabled him to perform
many feats of wonderful dexterity； where trees or ropes were in question；
or any thing else to climb。 At such exercises he certainly much more
resembled a squirrel； or a small monkey； than a frog。
I am not able to say； with precision； from what country Hop…Frog
originally came。 It was from some barbarous region； however； that no
person ever heard of a vast distance from the court of our king。
Hop…Frog； and a young girl very little less dwarfish than himself
（although of exquisite proportions； and a marvellous dancer）； had been
forcibly carried off from their respective homes in adjoining provinces；
and sent as presents to the king； by one of his ever…victorious generals。
Under these circumstances； it is not to be wondered at that a close
intimacy arose between the two little captives。 Indeed； they soon became
sworn friends。 Hop…Frog； who； although he made a great deal of sport； was
by no means popular； had it not in his power to render Trippetta many
services； but she； on account of her grace and exquisite beauty （although
a dwarf）； was universally admired and petted； so she possessed much
influence； and never failed to use it； whenever she could； for the benefit
of Hop…Frog。
On some grand state occasion I forgot what the king determined to
have a masquerade； and whenever a masquerade or any thing of that kind；
occurred at our court； then the talents； both of Hop…Frog and Trippetta
were sure to be called into play。 Hop…Frog； in especial； was so inventive
in the way of getting up pageants； suggesting novel characters； and
arranging costumes； for masked balls； that nothing could be done； it
seems； without his assistance。
The night appointed for the fete had arrived。 A gorgeous hall had been
fitted up； under Trippetta's eye； with every kind of device which could
possibly give eclat to a masquerade。 The whole court was in a fever of
expectation。 As for costumes and characters； it might well be supposed
that everybody had come to a decision on such points。 Many had made up
their minds （as to what roles they should assume） a week； or even a month；
in advance； and； in fact； there was not a particle of indecision anywhere
except in the case of the king and his seven minsters。 Why they
hesitated I never could tell； unless they did it by way of a joke。 More
probably； they found it difficult； on account of being so fat； to make up
their minds。 At all events； time flew； and； as a last resort they sent for
Trippetta and Hop…Frog。
When the two little friends obeyed the summons of the king they found him
sitting at his wine with the seven members of his cabinet council； but the
monarch appeared to be in a very ill humor。 He knew that Hop…Frog was not
fond of wine； for it excited the poor cripple almost to madness； and
madness is no comfortable feeling。 But the king loved his practical jokes；
and took pleasure in forcing Hop…Frog to drink and （as the king called it）
'to be merry。'
〃Come here； Hop…Frog；〃 said he； as the jester and his friend entered the
room； 〃swallow this bumper to the health of your absent friends； ＇here
Hop…Frog sighed；＇ and then let us have the benefit of your invention。 We
want characters characters； man something novel out of the way。
We are wearied with this everlasting sameness。 Come； drink！ the wine will
brighten your wits。〃
Hop…Frog endeavored； as usual； to get up a jest in reply to these advances
from the king； but the effort was too much。 It happened to be the poor
dwarf's birthday； and the command to drink to his 'absent friends' forced
the tears to his eyes。 Many large； bitter drops fell into the goblet as he
took it； humbly； from the hand of the tyrant。
〃Ah！ ha！ ha！〃 roared the latter； as the dwarf reluctantly drained the
beaker。 〃See what a glass of good wine can do！ Why； your eyes are
shining already！〃
Poor fellow！ his large eyes gleamed； rather than shone； for the effect of
wine on his excitable brain was not more powerful than instantaneous。 He
placed the goblet nervously on the table； and looked round upon the
company with a half insane stare。 They all seemed highly amused at the
success of the king's 'joke。'
〃And now to business；〃 said the prime minister； a very fat man。
〃Yes；〃 said the King； 〃Come lend us your assistance。 Characters； my fine
fellow； we stand in need of characters all of us ha！ ha！ ha！〃 and as
this was seriously meant for a joke； his laugh was chorused by the seven。
Hop…Frog also laughed although feebly and somewhat vacantly。
〃Come； come；〃 said the king； impatiently； 〃have you nothing to suggest？〃
〃I am endeavoring to think of something novel；〃 replied the dwarf；
abstractedly； for he was quite bewildered by the wine。
〃Endeavoring！〃 cried the tyrant； fiercely； 〃what do you mean by that？ Ah；
I perceive。 You are Sulky； and want more wine。 Here； drink this！〃 and he
poured out another goblet full and offered it to the cripple； who merely
gazed at it； gasping for breath。
〃Drink； I say！〃 shouted the monster； 〃or by the fiends…〃
The dwarf hesitated。 The king grew purple with rage。 The courtiers
smirked。 Trippetta； pale as a corpse； advanced to the monarch's seat； and；
falling on her knees before him； implored him to spare her friend。
The tyrant regarded her； for some moments； in evident wonder at her
audacity。 He seemed quite at a loss what to do or say how most
becomingly to express his indignation。 At last； without uttering a
syllable； he pushed her violently from him； and threw the contents of the
brimming goblet in her face。
The poor girl got up the best she could； and； not daring even to sigh；
resumed her position at the foot of the table。
There was a dead silence for about half a minute； during which the falling
of a leaf； or of a feather； might have been heard。 It was interrupted by a
low； but harsh and protracted grating sound which seemed to come at once
from every corner of the room。
〃What what what are you making that noise for？〃 demanded the king；
turning furiously to the dwarf。
The latter seemed to have recovered； in great measure； from his
intoxication； and looking fixedly but quietly into the tyrant's face；
merely ejaculated：
〃I I？ How could it have been me？〃
〃The sound appeared to come from without；〃 observed one of the courtiers。
〃I fancy it was the parrot at the window； whetting his bill upon his
cage…wires。〃
〃True；〃 replied the monarch； as if much relieved by the suggestion； 〃but；
on the honor of a knight； I could have sworn that it was the gritting of
this vagabond's teeth。〃
Hereupon the dwarf laughed （the king was too confirmed a joker to object
to any one's laughing）； and displayed a set of large； powerful； and very
repulsive teeth。 Moreover； he avowed his perfect willingness to swallow as
much wine as desired。 The monarch was pacified； and having drained another
bumper with no very perceptible ill effect； Hop…Frog entered at once； and
with spirit； into the plans for the masquerade。
〃I cannot tell what was the association of idea；〃 observed he； very
tranquilly； and as if he had never tasted wine in his life； 〃but just
after your majesty； had struck the girl and thrown the wine in her face
just after your majesty had done this； and while the parrot was making
that odd noise outside the window； there came into my mind a capital
diversion one of my own country frolics often enacted among us； at
our masquerades： but here it will be new altogether。 Unfortunately；
however； it requires a company of eight persons and…〃
〃Here we are！〃 cried the king； laughing at his acute discovery of the
coincidence； 〃eight to a fraction I and my seven ministers。 Come！ what
is the diversion？〃
〃We call it；〃 replied the cripple； 〃the Eight Chained Ourang…Outangs； and
it really is excellent sport if well enacted。〃
〃We will enact it；〃 remarked the king； drawing himself up； and lowering
his eyelids。
〃The beauty of the game；〃 continued Hop…Frog； 〃lies in the fri
