06-the sleeping beauty-第3节

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tenderly　loved。〃



For　she　thought　them　dead　ever　since　they　had　been

taken　away　without　her　knowledge。



〃No；　no；　madam〃　（cried　the　poor　clerk　of　the　kitchen；

all　in　tears）；　〃you　shall　not　die；　and　yet　you　shall　see　your

children　again；　but　then　you　must　go　home　with　me　to

my　lodgings；　where　I　have　concealed　them；　and　I　shall

deceive　the　Queen　once　more；　by　giving　her　in　your　stead

a　young　hind。〃



Upon　this　he　forthwith　conducted　her　to　his　chamber；

where；　leaving　her　to　embrace　her　children；　and　cry　along

with　them；　he　went　and　dressed　a　young　hind；　which　the

Queen　had　for　her　supper；　and　devoured　it　with　the　same

appetite　as　if　it　had　been　the　young　Queen。　Exceedingly

was　she　delighted　with　her　cruelty；　and　she　had　invented

a　story　to　tell　the　King；　at　his　return；　how　the　mad

wolves　had　eaten　up　the　Queen　his　wife　and　her　two

children。



One　evening；　as　she　was；　according　to　her　custom；

rambling　round　about　the　courts　and　yards　of　the　palace

to　see　if　she　could　smell　any　fresh　meat；　she　heard；　in　a

ground　room；　little　Day　crying；　for　his　mamma　was　going

to　whip　him；　because　he　had　been　naughty；　and　she

heard；　at　the　same　time；　little　Morning　begging　pardon

for　her　brother。



The　Ogress　presently　knew　the　voice　of　the　Queen　and

her　children；　and　being　quite　mad　that　she　had　been　thus

deceived；　she　commanded　next　morning；　by　break　of　day

（with　a　most　horrible　voice；　which　made　everybody　tremble）；

that　they　should　bring　into　the　middle　of　the　great

court　a　large　tub；　which　she　caused　to　be　filled　with　toads；

vipers；　snakes；　and　all　sorts　of　serpents；　in　order　to　have

thrown　into　it　the　Queen　and　her　children；　the　clerk　of　the

kitchen；　his　wife　and　maid；　all　whom　she　had　given　orders

should　be　brought　thither　with　their　hands　tied　behind

them。



They　were　brought　out　accordingly；　and　the　executioners

were　just　going　to　throw　them　into　the　tub；　when　the

King　（who　was　not　so　soon　expected）　entered　the　court　on

horseback　（for　he　came　post）　and　asked；　with　the　utmost

astonishment；　what　was　the　meaning　of　that　horrible

spectacle。



No　one　dared　to　tell　him；　when　the　Ogress；　all　enraged

to　see　what　had　happened；　threw　herself　head　foremost

into　the　tub；　and　was　instantly　devoured　by　the　ugly

creatures　she　had　ordered　to　be　thrown　into　it　for　others。

The　King　could　not　but　be　very　sorry；　for　she　was　his

mother；　but　he　soon　comforted　himself　with　his　beautiful

wife　and　his　pretty　children。