the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第11节
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somehow or other；I can't be expected to explain things very exactly；
packed on the back of the other； the great black horse； which stood and fed
contentedly at the bottom of the tower。
Prince Dolor leaned over and looked at it； and thought how grand it
must be to get upon its backthis grand live steedand ride away； like the
pictures of knights。
〃Suppose I was a knight；〃 he said to himself； 〃then I should be obliged
to ride out and see the world。〃
But he kept all these thoughts to himself； and just sat still； devouring
his new books till he had come to the end of them all。 It was a repast not
unlike the Barmecide's feast which you read of in the 〃Arabian Nights；〃
which consisted of very elegant but empty dishes； or that supper of Sancho
Panza in 〃Don Quixote；〃 where； the minute the smoking dishes came on
the table； the physician waved his hand and they were all taken away。
Thus almost all the ordinary delights of boy… life had been taken away
from； or rather never given to this poor little prince。
〃I wonder；〃 he would sometimes think〃I wonder what it feels like to
be on the back of a horse； galloping away； or holding the reins in a
carriage； and tearing across the country； or jumping a ditch； or running a
race； such as I read of or see in pictures。 What a lot of things there are that
I should like to do！ But first I should like to go and see the world。 I'll try。〃
Apparently it was his godmother's plan always to let him try； and try
hard； before he gained anything。 This day the knots that tied up his
traveling…cloak were more than usually troublesome； and he was a full
half…hour before he got out into the open air； and found himself floating
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merrily over the top of the tower。
Hitherto； in all his journeys； he had never let himself go out of sight of
home； for the dreary building； after all； was homehe remembered no
other； but now he felt sick of the very look of his tower； with its round
smooth walls and level battlements。
〃Off we go！〃 cried he； when the cloak stirred itself with a slight； slow
motion； as if waiting his orders。 〃Anywhere anywhere； so that I am away
from here； and out into the world。〃
As he spoke； the cloak； as if seized suddenly with a new idea； bounded
forward and went skimming through the air； faster than the very fastest
railway train。
〃Gee…up！ gee…up！〃 cried Prince Dolor in great excitement。 〃This is as
good as riding a race。〃
And he patted the cloak as if it had been a horsethat is； in the way he
supposed horses ought to be pattedand tossed his head back to meet the
fresh breeze； and pulled his coat collar up and his hat down as he felt the
wind grow keener and coldercolder than anything he had ever known。
〃What does it matter； though？〃 said he。 〃I'm a boy； and boys ought not
to mind anything。〃
Still； for all his good…will； by and by； he began to shiver exceedingly；
also； he had come away without his dinner； and he grew frightfully hungry。
And to add to everything； the sunshiny day changed into rain； and being
high up； in the very midst of the clouds； he got soaked through and
through in a very few minutes。
〃Shall I turn back？〃 meditated he。 〃Suppose I say ‘Abracadabra？' 〃
Here he stopped； for already the cloak gave an obedient lurch； as if it
were expecting to be sent home immediately。
〃NoI can'tI can't go back！ I must go forward and see the world。 But
oh！ if I had but the shabbiest old rug to shelter me from the rain； or the
driest morsel of bread and cheese； just to keep me from starving！ Still； I
don't much mind； I'm a prince； and ought to be able to stand anything。
Hold on； cloak； we'll make the best of it。〃
It was a most curious circumstance； but no sooner had he said this than
he felt stealing over his knees something warm and soft； in fact； a most
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beautiful bearskin； which folded itself round him quite naturally； and
cuddled him up as closely as if he had been the cub of the kind old
mother…bear that once owned it。 Then feeling in his pocket； which
suddenly stuck out in a marvelous way； he found； not exactly bread and
cheese； nor even sandwiches； but a packet of the most delicious food he
had ever tasted。 It was not meat； nor pudding； but a combination of both；
and it served him excellently for both。 He ate his dinner with the greatest
gusto imaginable； till he grew so thirsty he did not know what to do。
〃Couldn't I have just one drop of water； if it didn't trouble you too
much； kindest of godmothers？〃
For he really thought this want was beyond her power to supply。 All
the water which supplied Hopeless Tower was pumped up with difficulty
from a deep artesian wellthere were such things known in Nomansland
which had been made at the foot of it。 But around； for miles upon miles；
the desolate plain was perfectly dry。 And above it； high in the air； how
could he expect to find a well； or to get even a drop of water？
He forgot one thingthe rain。 While he spoke； it came on in another
wild burst； as if the clouds had poured themselves out in a passion of
crying； wetting him certainly； but leaving behind； in a large glass vessel
which he had never noticed before； enough water to quench the thirst of
two or three boys at least。 And it was so fresh； so pureas water from the
clouds always is when it does not catch the soot from city chimneys and
other defilementsthat he drank it； every drop； with the greatest delight
and content。
Also； as soon as it was empty the rain filled it again； so that he was
able to wash his face and hands and refresh himself exceedingly。 Then the
sun came out and dried him in no time。 After that he curled himself up
under the bear… skin rug； and though he determined to be the most wide…
awake boy imaginable； being so exceedingly snug and warm and
comfortable； Prince Dolor condescended to shut his eyes just for one
minute。 The next minute he was sound asleep。
When he awoke； he found himself floating over a country quite unlike
anything he had ever seen before。
Yet it was nothing but what most of you children see every day and
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never notice ita pretty country landscape； like England； Scotland； France；
or any other land you choose to name。 It had no particular features
nothing in it grand or lovelywas simply pretty； nothing more； yet to
Prince Dolor； who had never gone beyond his lonely tower and level plain；
it appeared the most charming sight imaginable。
First； there was a river。 It came tumbling down the hillside； frothing
and foaming； playing at hide…and…seek among the rocks； then bursting out
in noisy fun like a child； to bury itself in deep； still pools。 Afterward it
went steadily on for a while； like a good grown…up person； till it came to
another big rock； where it misbehaved itself extremely。 It turned into a
cataract； and went tumbling over and over； after a fashion that made the
princewho had never seen water before； except in his bath or his
drinking…cupclap his hands with delight。
〃It is so active； so alive！ I like things active and alive！〃 cried he； and
watched it shimmering and dancing； whirling and leaping； till； after a few
windings and vagaries； it settled into a respectable stream。 After that it
went along； deep and quiet； but flowing steadily on； till it reached a large
lake； into which it slipped and so ended its course。
All this the boy saw； either with his own naked eye or through his gold
spectacles。 He saw also as in a picture； beautiful but silent； many other
things which struck him with wonder； especially a grove of trees。
Only think； to have lived to his age （which he himself did not know； as
he did not know his own birthday） and never to have seen trees！ As he
floated over these oaks； they seemed to himtrunk； branches； and leaves
