the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第16节
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had rested； settling down between the great stacks of chimneys as
comfortably as if on the ground。 She pecked at the tiles with her beak
truly she was a wonderful birdand immediately a little hole opened； a
sort of door； through which could be seen distinctly the chamber below。
〃Now look in； my Prince。 Make haste； for I must soon shut it up
again。〃
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But the boy hesitated。 〃Isn't it rude？ won't they think us intruding？〃
〃Oh； dear no！ there's a hole like this in every palace； dozens of holes；
indeed。 Everybody knows it； but nobody speaks of it。 Intrusion！ Why；
though the royal family are supposed to live shut up behind stone walls
ever so thick； all the world knows that they live in a glass house where
everybody can see them and throw a stone at them。 Now pop down on
your knees； and take a peep at his Majesty
His Majesty！
The Prince gazed eagerly down into a large room； the largest room he
had ever beheld； with furniture and hangings grander than anything he
could have ever imagined。 A stray sunbeam； coming through a crevice of
the darkened windows； struck across the carpet； and it was the loveliest
carpet ever wovenjust like a bed of flowers to walk over； only nobody
walked over it； the room being perfectly empty and silent。
〃Where is the King？〃 asked the puzzled boy。
〃There；〃 said Mag； pointing with one wrinkled claw to a magnificent
bed； large enough to contain six people。 In the center of it； just visible
under the silken counterpane；quite straight and still；with its head on the
lace pillow； lay a small figure； something like wax… work； fast asleepvery
fast asleep！ There was a number of sparkling rings on the tiny yellow
hands； that were curled a little； helplessly； like a baby's； outside the
coverlet； the eyes were shut； the nose looked sharp and thin； and the long
gray beard hid the mouth and lay over the breast。 A sight not ugly nor
frightening； only solemn and quiet。 And so very silenttwo little flies
buzzing about the curtains of the bed being the only audible sound。
〃Is that the King？〃 whispered Prince Dolor。
〃Yes；〃 replied the bird。
He had been angryfuriously angry ever since he knew how his
uncle had taken the crown； and sent him； a poor little helpless child； to be
shut up for life； just as if he had been dead。 Many times the boy had felt as
if； king as he was； he should like to strike him； this great； strong； wicked
man。
Why； you might as well have struck a baby！ How helpless he lay； with
his eyes shut； and his idle hands folded： they had no more work to do； bad
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The Little Lame Prince
or good。
〃What is the matter with him？〃 asked the Prince。
〃He is dead；〃 said the Magpie； with a croak。
No； there was not the least use in being angry with him now。 On the
contrary； the Prince felt almost sorry for him； except that he looked so
peaceful with all his cares at rest。 And this was being dead？ So even kings
died？
〃Well； well； he hadn't an easy life； folk say； for all his grandeur。
Perhaps he is glad it is over。 Good…by； your Majesty。〃
With another cheerful tap of her beak； Mistress Mag shut down the
little door in the tiles； and Prince Dolor's first and last sight of his uncle
was ended。
He sat in the center of his traveling…cloak； silent and thoughtful。
〃What shall we do now？〃 said the magpie。 〃There's nothing much
more to be done with his majesty； except a fine funeral； which I shall
certainly go and see。 All the world will。 He interested the world
exceedingly when he was alive； and he ought to do it now he's deadjust
once more。 And since he can't hear me； I may as well say that； on the
whole； his majesty is much better dead than aliveif we can only get
somebody in his place。 There'll be such a row in the city presently。
Suppose we float up again and see it allat a safe distance； though。 It will
be such fun！〃
〃What will be fun？〃
〃A revolution。〃
Whether anybody except a magpie would have called it 〃fun〃 I don't
know； but it certainly was a remarkable scene。
As soon as the cathedral bell began to toll and the minute…guns to fire；
announcing to the kingdom that it was without a king； the people gathered
in crowds； stopping at street corners to talk together。 The murmur now and
then rose into a shout； and the shout into a roar。 When Prince Dolor；
quietly floating in upper air； caught the sound of their different and
opposite cries； it seemed to him as if the whole city had gone mad
together。
〃Long live the king！〃 〃The king is dead down with the king！〃 〃Down
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with the crown； and the king too！〃 〃Hurrah for the republic！〃 〃Hurrah for
no government at all！〃
Such were the shouts which traveled up to the traveling…cloak。 And
then beganoh； what a scene！
When you children are grown men and women or beforeyou will
hear and read in books about what are called revolutionsearnestly I trust
that neither I nor you may ever see one。 But they have happened； and may
happen again； in other countries besides Nomansland； when wicked kings
have helped to make their people wicked too； or out of an unrighteous
nation have sprung rulers equally bad； or； without either of these causes；
when a restless country has fancied any change better than no change at
all。
For me； I don't like changes； unless pretty sure that they are for good。
And how good can come out of absolute evilthe horrible evil that went
on this night under Prince Dolor's very eyessoldiers shooting down
people by hundreds in the streets； scaffolds erected； and heads dropping
offhouses burned； and women and children murderedthis is more than I
can understand。
But all these things you will find in history； my children； and must by
and by judge for yourselves the right and wrong of them； as far as
anybody ever can judge。
Prince Dolor saw it all。 Things happened so fast one after another that
they quite confused his faculties。
〃Oh； let me go home；〃 he cried at last； stopping his ears and shutting
his eyes； 〃only let me go home！〃 for even his lonely tower seemed home；
and its dreariness and silence absolute paradise after all this。
〃Good…by； then；〃 said the magpie； flapping her wings。 She had been
chatting incessantly all day and all night； for it was actually thus long that
Prince Dolor had been hovering over the city； neither eating nor sleeping；
with all these terrible things happening under his very eyes。 〃You've had
enough； I suppose； of seeing the world？〃
〃Oh； I haveI have！〃 cried the prince； with a shudder。
〃That is； till next time。 All right； your royal highness。 You don't know
me； but I know you。 We may meet again some time。〃
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She looked at him with her clear； piercing eyes； sharp enough to see
through everything； and it seemed as if they changed from bird's eyes to
human eyesthe very eyes of his godmother； whom he had not seen for
ever so long。 But the minute afterward she became only a bird； and with a
screech and a chatter； spread her wings and flew away。
Prince Dolor fell into a kind of swoon of utter misery； bewilderment；
and exhaustion； and when he awoke he found himself in his own room
alone and quietwith the dawn just breaking； and the long rim of yellow
light in the horizon glimmering through the window…panes。
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CHAPTER IX
When Prince Dolor sat up in bed； trying to remember where he was；
whither he had been； and what he had
