selected prose of oscar wilde-第9节

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moonstones　and　bracelets　of　jade；　sandal…wood　and　blue　enamel　and

shawls　of　fine　wool。



But　what　had　occupied　him　most　was　the　robe　he　was　to　wear　at　his

coronation；　the　robe　of　tissued　gold；　and　the　ruby…studded　crown；

and　the　sceptre　with　its　rows　and　rings　of　pearls。　　Indeed；　it　was

of　this　that　he　was　thinking　to…night；　as　he　lay　back　on　his

luxurious　couch；　watching　the　great　pinewood　log　that　was　burning

itself　out　on　the　open　hearth。　　The　designs；　which　were　from　the

hands　of　the　most　famous　artists　of　the　time；　had　been　submitted　to

him　many　months　before；　and　he　had　given　orders　that　the　artificers

were　to　toil　night　and　day　to　carry　them　out；　and　that　the　whole

world　was　to　be　searched　for　jewels　that　would　be　worthy　of　their

work。　　He　saw　himself　in　fancy　standing　at　the　high　altar　of　the

cathedral　in　the　fair　raiment　of　a　King；　and　a　smile　played　and

lingered　about　his　boyish　lips；　and　lit　up　with　a　bright　lustre　his

dark　woodland　eyes。



After　some　time　he　rose　from　his　seat；　and　leaning　against　the

carved　penthouse　of　the　chimney；　looked　round　at　the　dimly…lit　room。

The　walls　were　hung　with　rich　tapestries　representing　the　Triumph　of

Beauty。　　A　large　press；　inlaid　with　agate　and　lapis…lazuli；　filled

one　corner；　and　facing　the　window　stood　a　curiously　wrought　cabinet

with　lacquer　panels　of　powdered　and　mosaiced　gold；　on　which　were

placed　some　delicate　goblets　of　Venetian　glass；　and　a　cup　of　dark…

veined　onyx。　　Pale　poppies　were　broidered　on　the　silk　coverlet　of

the　bed；　as　though　they　had　fallen　from　the　tired　hands　of　sleep；

and　tall　reeds　of　fluted　ivory　bare　up　the　velvet　canopy；　from　which

great　tufts　of　ostrich　plumes　sprang；　like　white　foam；　to　the　pallid

silver　of　the　fretted　ceiling。　　A　laughing　Narcissus　in　green　bronze

held　a　polished　mirror　above　its　head。　　On　the　table　stood　a　flat

bowl　of　amethyst。



Outside　he　could　see　the　huge　dome　of　the　cathedral；　looming　like　a

bubble　over　the　shadowy　houses；　and　the　weary　sentinels　pacing　up

and　down　on　the　misty　terrace　by　the　river。　　Far　away；　in　an

orchard；　a　nightingale　was　singing。　　A　faint　perfume　of　jasmine　came

through　the　open　window。　　He　brushed　his　brown　curls　back　from　his

forehead；　and　taking　up　a　lute；　let　his　fingers　stray　across　the

cords。　　His　heavy　eyelids　drooped；　and　a　strange　languor　came　over

him。　　Never　before　had　he　felt　so　keenly；　or　with　such　exquisite

joy；　the　magic　and　the　mystery　of　beautiful　things。



When　midnight　sounded　from　the　clock…tower　he　touched　a　bell；　and

his　pages　entered　and　disrobed　him　with　much　ceremony；　pouring　rose…

water　over　his　hands；　and　strewing　flowers　on　his　pillow。　　A　few

moments　after　that　they　had　left　the　room；　he　fell　asleep。The

Young　King







A　CORONATION







And　when　the　Bishop　had　heard　them　he　knit　his　brows；　and　said；　'My

son；　I　am　an　old　man；　and　in　the　winter　of　my　days；　and　I　know　that

many　evil　things　are　done　in　the　wide　world。　　The　fierce　robbers

come　down　from　the　mountains；　and　carry　off　the　little　children；　and

sell　them　to　the　Moors。　　The　lions　lie　in　wait　for　the　caravans；　and

leap　upon　the　camels。　　The　wild　boar　roots　up　the　corn　in　the

valley；　and　the　foxes　gnaw　the　vines　upon　the　hill。　　The　pirates　lay

waste　the　sea…coast　and　burn　the　ships　of　the　fishermen；　and　take

their　nets　from　them。　　In　the　salt…marshes　live　the　lepers；　they

have　houses　of　wattled　reeds；　and　none　may　come　nigh　them。　　The

beggars　wander　through　the　cities；　and　eat　their　food　with　the　dogs。

Canst　thou　make　these　things　not　to　be？　　Wilt　thou　take　the　leper

for　thy　bedfellow；　and　set　the　beggar　at　thy　board？　　Shall　the　lion

do　thy　bidding；　and　the　wild　boar　obey　thee？　　Is　not　He　who　made

misery　wiser　than　thou　art？　　Wherefore　I　praise　thee　not　for　this

that　thou　hast　done；　but　I　bid　thee　ride　back　to　the　Palace　and　make

thy　face　glad；　and　put　on　the　raiment　that　beseemeth　a　king；　and

with　the　crown　of　gold　I　will　crown　thee；　and　the　sceptre　of　pearl

will　I　place　in　thy　hand。　　And　as　for　thy　dreams；　think　no　more　of

them。　　The　burden　of　this　world　is　too　great　for　one　man　to　bear；

and　the　world's　sorrow　too　heavy　for　one　heart　to　suffer。'



'Sayest　thou　that　in　this　house？'　said　the　young　King；　and　he　strode

past　the　Bishop；　and　climbed　up　the　steps　of　the　altar；　and　stood

before　the　image　of　Christ。



He　stood　before　the　image　of　Christ；　and　on　his　right　hand　and　on

his　left　were　the　marvellous　vessels　of　gold；　the　chalice　with　the

yellow　wine；　and　the　vial　with　the　holy　oil。　　He　knelt　before　the

image　of　Christ；　and　the　great　candles　burned　brightly　by　the

jewelled　shrine；　and　the　smoke　of　the　incense　curled　in　thin　blue

wreaths　through　the　dome。　　He　bowed　his　head　in　prayer；　and　the

priests　in　their　stiff　copes　crept　away　from　the　altar。



And　suddenly　a　wild　tumult　came　from　the　street　outside；　and　in

entered　the　nobles　with　drawn　swords　and　nodding　plumes；　and　shields

of　polished　steel。　　'Where　is　this　dreamer　of　dreams？'　they　cried。

'Where　is　this　King　who　is　apparelled　like　a　beggarthis　boy　who

brings　shame　upon　our　state？　　Surely　we　will　slay　him；　for　he　is

unworthy　to　rule　over　us。'



And　the　young　King　bowed　his　head　again；　and　prayed；　and　when　he　had

finished　his　prayer　he　rose　up；　and　turning　round　he　looked　at　them

sadly。



And　lo！　through　the　painted　windows　came　the　sunlight　streaming　upon

him；　and　the　sun…beams　wove　round　him　a　tissued　robe　that　was　fairer

than　the　robe　that　had　been　fashioned　for　his　pleasure。　　The　dead

staff　blossomed；　and　bare　lilies　that　were　whiter　than　pearls。　　The

dry　thorn　blossomed；　and　bare　roses　that　were　redder　than　rubies。

Whiter　than　fine　pearls　were　the　lilies；　and　their　stems　were　of

bright　silver。　　Redder　than　male　rubies　were　the　roses；　and　their

leaves　were　of　beaten　gold。



He　stood　there　in　the　raiment　of　a　king；　and　the　gates　of　the

jewelled　shrine　flew　open；　and　from　the　crystal　of　the　many…rayed

monstrance　shone　a　marvellous　and　mystical　light。　　He　stood　there　in

a　king's　raiment；　and　the　Glory　of　God　filled　the　place；　and　the

saints　in　their　carven　niches　seemed　to　move。　　In　the　fair　raiment

of　a　king　he　stood　before　them；　and　the　organ　pealed　out　its　music；

and　the　trumpeters　blew　upon　their　trumpets；　and　the　singing　boys

sang。



And　the　people　fell　upon　their　knees　in　awe；　and　the　nobles　sheathed

their　swords　and　did　homage；　and　the　Bishop's　face　grew　pale；　and

his　hands　trembled。　　'A　greater　than　I　hath　crowned　thee；'　he　cried；

and　he　knelt　before　him。



And　the　young　King　came　down　from　the　high　altar；　and　passed　home

through　the　midst　of　the　people。　　But　no　man　dared　look　upon　his

face；　for　it　was　like　the　face　of　an　angel。The　Young　King







THE　KING　OF　SPAIN







From　a　window　in　the　palace　the　sad　melancholy　King　watched　them。

Behind　him　stood　his　brother；　Don　Pedro　of　Aragon；　whom　he　hated；

and　his　confessor；　the　Grand　Inquisitor　of　Granada；　sat　by　his　side。

Sadder　even　than　usual　was　the　King；　for　as　he　looked　at　the　Infanta

bowing　with　childish　gravity　to　the　assembling　counters；　or　laughing

behind　her　fan　at　the　grim　Duchess　of　Albuquerque　who　always

accompanied　her；　he　thought　of　the　young　Queen；　her　mother；　who　but

a　short　time　beforeso　it　seemed　to　himhad　come　from　the　gay

country　of　France；　and　had　withered　away　in　the　sombre　splendour　of

the　Spanish　court；　dying　just　six　months　after　the　birth　of　her

child；　and　before　she　had　seen　the　almonds　blossom　twice　in　the

orchard；　or　plucked　the　second　year's　fruit　from　the　old　gnarled

fig…tree　that　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　now　grass…grown　courtyard。

So　great　had　been　his　love　for　her　that　he　had　not　suffered　even　the

grave　to　hide　her　from　him。　　She　had　been　embalmed　by　a　Moorish

physician；　who　in　return　for　this　service　had　been　granted　his　life；

which　for　heresy　and　suspicion　of　magical　practices　had　been　already

forfeited；　men　said；　to　the　Holy　Office；　and　her　body　was　still

lying　on　its　tapestried　bier　in　the　black　marble　chapel　of　the

Palace；　just　as　the　monks　had　borne　her　in　on　that　windy　March　day

nearly　twelve　years　before。　　Once　every　month　the　King；　wrapped　in　a

dark　cloak　and　with　a　muffled　lantern　in　his　hand；　went　in　and　knelt

by　her　side　calling　out；　'Mi　reina！　　Mi　reina！'　and　sometimes

breaking　through　the　formal　etiquette　that　in　Spain　governs　every

separate　action　of　life；　and　sets　limits　even　to　the　sorrow　of　a

King；　he　would　clutch　at　the　pale　jewelled　hands　in　a　wild　agony　of

grief；　and　try　to　wake　by　his　mad　kisses　the　cold　painted　face。



To…day　he　seemed　to　see　her　again；　as　he　had　seen　her　first　at　the

Castle　of　Fontainebleau；　when　he　was　but　fifteen　years　of　age；　and

she　still　younger。　　They　had　been　formally　betrothed　on　that

occasion　by　the　Papal　Nuncio　in　the　presence　of　the　French　King　and

all　the　Court；　and　he　had　returned　to　the　Escurial　bearing　with　him

a　little　ringlet　of　yellow　hair；　and　the　memory　of　t