the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第18节
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his provisionsand what was to happen next？ Get out of the tower he
could not： the ladder the deaf…mute used was always carried away again；
and if it had not been； how could the poor boy have used it？ And even if
he slung or flung himself down； and by miraculous chance came alive to
the foot of the tower； how could he run away？
Fate had been very hard to him； or so it seemed。
He made up his mind to die。 Not that he wished to die； on the contrary；
there was a great deal that he wished to live to do； but if he must die； he
must。 Dying did not seem so very dreadful； not even to lie quiet like his
uncle； whom he had entirely forgiven now； and neither be miserable nor
naughty any more； and escape all those horrible things that he had seen
going on outside the palace； in that awful place which was called 〃the
world。〃
〃It's a great deal nicer here；〃 said the poor little Prince； and collected
all his pretty things round him： his favorite pictures； which he thought he
should like to have near him when he died； his books and toysno； he had
ceased to care for toys now； he only liked them because he had done so as
a child。 And there he sat very calm and patient； like a king in his castle；
waiting for the end。
〃Still； I wish I had done something first something worth doing； that
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somebody might remember me by；〃 thought he。 〃Suppose I had grown a
man； and had had work to do； and people to care for； and was so useful
and busy that they liked me； and perhaps even forgot I was lame？ Then it
would have been nice to live； I think。〃
A tear came into the little fellow's eyes； and he listened intently
through the dead silence for some hopeful sound。
Was there one？was it his little lark； whom he had almost forgotten？
No； nothing half so sweet。 But it really was somethingsomething which
came nearer and nearer； so that there was no mistaking it。 It was the sound
of a trumpet； one of the great silver trumpets so admired in Nomansland。
Not pleasant music； but very bold； grand； and inspiring。
As he listened to it the boy seemed to recall many things which had
slipped his memory for years； and to nerve himself for whatever might be
going to happen。
What had happened was this。
The poor condemned woman had not been such a wicked woman after
all。 Perhaps her courage was not wholly disinterested； but she had done a
very heroic thing。 As soon as she heard of the death and burial of the King
and of the changes that were taking place in the country； a daring idea
came into her headto set upon the throne of Nomansland its rightful heir。
Thereupon she persuaded the deaf…mute to take her away with him； and
they galloped like the wind from city to city； spreading everywhere the
news that Prince Dolor's death and burial had been an invention concocted
by his wicked uncle that he was alive and well； and the noblest young
prince that ever was born。
It was a bold stroke； but it succeeded。 The country； weary perhaps of
the late King's harsh rule； and yet glad to save itself from the horrors of
the last few days； and the still further horrors of no rule at all； and having
no particular interest in the other young princes； jumped at the idea of this
Prince； who was the son of their late good King and the beloved Queen
Dolorez。
〃Hurrah for Prince Dolor！ Let Prince Dolor be our sovereign！〃 rang
from end to end of the kingdom。 Everybody tried to remember what a dear
baby he once washow like his mother； who had been so sweet and kind；
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and his father； the finest…looking king that ever reigned。 Nobody
remembered his lameness or； if they did； they passed it over as a matter
of no consequence。 They were determined to have him reign over them；
boy as he was perhaps just because he was a boy； since in that case the
great nobles thought they should be able to do as they liked with the
country。
Accordingly； with a fickleness not confined to the people of
Nomansland； no sooner was the late King laid in his grave than they
pronounced him to have been a usurper； turned all his family out of the
palace； and left it empty for the reception of the new sovereign； whom
they went to fetch with great rejoicing； a select body of lords； gentlemen；
and soldiers traveling night and day in solemn procession through the
country until they reached Hopeless Tower。
There they found the Prince； sitting calmly on the floordeadly pale；
indeed； for he expected a quite different end from this； and was resolved；
if he had to die； to die courageously； like a Prince and a King。
But when they hailed him as Prince and King； and explained to him
how matters stood； and went down on their knees before him； offering the
crown （on a velvet cushion； with four golden tassels； each nearly as big as
his head）；small though he was and lame； which lameness the courtiers
pretended not to notice； there came such a glow into his face； such a
dignity into his demeanor； that he became beautiful； king…like。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃if you desire it； I will be your king。 And I will do my
best to make my people happy。〃
Then there arose； from inside and outside the tower； such a shout as
never yet was heard across the lonely plain。
Prince Dolor shrank a little from the deafening sound。 〃How shall I be
able to rule all this great people？ You forget； my lords； that I am only a
little boy still。〃
〃Not so very little；〃 was the respectful answer。 〃We have searched in
the records； and found that your Royal Highnessyour Majesty； I meanis
fifteen years old。〃
〃Am I？〃 said Prince Dolor； and his first thought was a thoroughly
childish pleasure that he should now have a birthday； with a whole nation
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to keep it。 Then he remembered that his childish days were done。 He was a
monarch now。 Even his nurse； to whom； the moment he saw her； he had
held out his hand； kissed it reverently； and called him ceremoniously 〃his
Majesty the King。〃
〃A king must be always a king； I suppose；〃 said he half…sadly； when；
the ceremonies over； he had been left to himself for just ten minutes； to put
off his boy's clothes and be reattired in magnificent robes； before he was
conveyed away from his tower to the royal palace。
He could take nothing with him； indeed； he soon saw that； however
politely they spoke； they would not allow him to take anything。 If he was
to be their king； he must give up his old life forever。 So he looked with
tender farewell on his old books； old toys； the furniture he knew so well；
and the familiar plain in all its levelness ugly yet pleasant； simply
because it was familiar。
〃It will be a new life in a new world；〃 said he to himself； 〃but I'll
remember the old things still。 And； oh！ if before I go I could but once see
my dear old godmother。〃
While he spoke he had laid himself down on the bed for a minute or
two； rather tired with his grandeur； and confused by the noise of the
trumpets which kept playing incessantly down below。 He gazed； half sadly；
up to the skylight； whence there came pouring a stream of sunrays； with
innumerable motes floating there； like a bridge thrown between heaven
and earth。 Sliding down it； as if she had been made of air； came the little
old woman in gray。
So beautiful looked sheold as she wasthat Prince Dolor was at first
quite startled by the apparition。 Then he held out his arms in eager delight。
〃Oh； godmother； you have not forsaken me！〃
〃Not at all； my son。 You may not have seen me； but I have seen you
many a time。〃
〃How？〃
〃Oh； never mind。 I can turn into anything I please； you know。 And I
have been a bearskin rug； and a crystal gobletand sometimes I have
changed from inanimate to animate nature； put on feathers； and made
myself very comfortable as a bird。〃
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