the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第20节
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infirmity； the people thronged to greet him； when he drove out through the
city streets； shouts followed him wherever he wentevery countenance
brightened as he passed； and his own； perhaps； was the brightest of all。
First； because； accepting his affliction as inevitable； he took it patiently；
second； because； being a brave man； he bore it bravely； trying to forget
himself； and live out of himself； and in and for other people。 Therefore
other people grew to love him so well that I think hundreds of his subjects
might have been found who were almost ready to die for their poor lame
king。
He never gave them a queen。 When they implored him to choose one；
he replied that his country was his bride； and he desired no other。 But
perhaps the real reason was that he shrank from any change； and that no
wife in all the world would have been found so perfect； so lovable； so
tender to him in all his weaknesses as his beautiful old godmother。
His twenty…four other godfathers and godmothers； or as many of them
as were still alive； crowded round him as soon as he ascended the throne。
He was very civil to them all； but adopted none of the names they had
given him； keeping to the one by which he had been always known；
though it had now almost lost its meaning； for King Dolor was one of the
happiest and cheerfulest men alive。
He did a good many things； however； unlike most men and most kings；
which a little astonished his subjects。 First； he pardoned the condemned
woman who had been his nurse； and ordained that from henceforth there
should be no such thing as the punishment of death in Nomansland。 All
capital criminals were to be sent to perpetual imprisonment in Hopeless
Tower and the plain round about it； where they could do no harm to
anybody； and might in time do a little good； as the woman had done。
Another surprise he shortly afterward gave the nation。 He recalled his
uncle's family； who had fled away in terror to another country； and
restored them to all their honors in their own。 By and by he chose the
eldest son of his eldest cousin （who had been dead a year）； and had him
educated in the royal palace； as the heir to the throne。 This little prince was
a quiet； unobtrusive boy； so that everybody wondered at the King's
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choosing him when there were so many more； but as he grew into a fine
young fellow； good and brave； they agreed that the King judged more
wisely than they。
〃Not a lame prince； either；〃 his Majesty observed one day； watching
him affectionately； for he was the best runner； the highest leaper； the
keenest and most active sportsman in the country。 〃One cannot make one's
self； but one can sometimes help a little in the making of somebody else。 It
is well。〃
This was said； not to any of his great lords and ladies； but to a good
old womanhis first homely nurse whom he had sought for far and wide；
and at last found in her cottage among the Beautiful Mountains。 He sent
for her to visit him once a year； and treated her with great honor until she
died。 He was equally kind； though somewhat less tender； to his other nurse；
who； after receiving her pardon； returned to her native town and grew into
a great lady； and I hope a good one。 But as she was so grand a personage
now； any little faults she had did not show。
Thus King Dolor's reign passed year after year； long and prosperous。
Whether he were happy〃as happy as a king〃is a question no human
being can decide。 But I think he was； because he had the power of making
everybody about him happy； and did it too； also because he was his
godmother's godson； and could shut himself up with her whenever he
liked； in that quiet little room in view of the Beautiful Mountains； which
nobody else ever saw or cared to see。 They were too far off； and the city
lay so low。 But there they were； all the time。 No change ever came to them；
and I think； at any day throughout his long reign； the King would sooner
have lost his crown than have lost sight of the Beautiful Mountains。
In course of time； when the little Prince； his cousin； was grown into a
tall young man； capable of all the duties of a man； his Majesty did one of
the most extraordinary acts ever known in a sovereign beloved by his
people and prosperous in his reign。 He announced that he wished to invest
his heir with the royal purpleat any rate； for a timewhile he himself
went away on a distant journey； whither he had long desired to go。
Everybody marveled； but nobody opposed him。 Who could oppose the
good King； who was not a young king now？ And besides； the nation had a
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great admiration for the young regentand possibly a lurking pleasure in
change。
So there was a fixed day when all the people whom it would hold
assembled in the great square of the capital； to see the young prince
installed solemnly in his new duties； and undertaking his new vows。 He
was a very fine young fellow； tall and straight as a poplar tree； with a
frank； handsome facea great deal handsomer than the king； some people
said； but others thought differently。 However； as his Majesty sat on his
throne； with his gray hair falling from underneath his crown； and a few
wrinkles showing in spite of his smile； there was something about his
countenance which made his people； even while they shouted； regard him
with a tenderness mixed with awe。
He lifted up his thin； slender hand； and there came a silence over the
vast crowd immediately。 Then he spoke； in his own accustomed way；
using no grand words； but saying what he had to say in the simplest
fashion； though with a clearness that struck their ears like the first song of
a bird in the dusk of the morning。
〃My people； I am tired： I want to rest。 I have had a long reign； and
done much workat least； as much as I was able to do。 Many might have
done it better than Ibut none with a better will。 Now I leave it to others； I
am tired； very tired。 Let me go home。〃
There arose a murmurof content or discontent none could well tell；
then it died down again； and the assembly listened silently once more。
〃I am not anxious about you； my peoplemy children；〃 continued the
King。 〃You are prosperous and at peace。 I leave you in good hands。 The
Prince Regent will be a fitter king for you than I。〃
〃No； no； no！〃 rose the universal shoutand those who had sometimes
found fault with him shouted louder than anybody。 But he seemed as if he
heard them not。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said he； as soon as the tumult had a little subsided： and his
voice sounded firm and clear； and some very old people； who boasted of
having seen him as a child； declared that his face took a sudden change；
and grew as young and sweet as that of the little Prince Dolor。 〃Yes； I must
go。 It is time for me to go。 Remember me sometimes； my people； for I
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have loved you well。 And I am going a long way； and I do not think I shall
come back any more。〃
He drew a little bundle out of his breast pocketa bundle that nobody
had ever seen before。 It was small and shabby…looking； and tied up with
many knots； which untied themselves in an instant。 With a joyful
countenance； he muttered over it a few half…intelligible words。 Then； so
suddenly that even those nearest to his Majesty could not tell how it came
about； the King was awayawayfloating right up in the airupon
something； they knew not what； except that it appeared to be as safe and
pleasant as the wings of a bird。
And after him sprang a birda dear little lark； rising from whence no
one could say； since larks do not usually build their nests in the pavement
of city squares。 But there it was； a real lark； singing far over their hea
