the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第22节
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the fairy Gentilla； ready to requite your generosity。 For know that we
fairies live a hundred years in flourishing youth； without diseases； without
trouble or pain； and this term being expired； we become snakes for eight
days。 During that time it is not in our power to prevent any misfortune that
may befall us； and if we happen to be killed； we never revive again。 But
these eight days being expired； we resume our usual form and recover our
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beauty； our power； and our riches。 Now you know how much I am obliged
to your goodness； and it is but just that I should repay my debt of gratitude；
think how I can serve you and depend on me。〃
The young prince； who had never conversed with a fairy till now； was
so surprised that it was a long time before he could speak。 But at length；
making a profound reverence； 〃Madam；〃 said he； 〃since I have had the
honor to serve you； I know not any other happiness that I can wish for。〃
〃I should be sorry；〃 replied she； 〃not to be of service to you in
something； consider； it is in my power to bestow on you long life；
kingdoms； riches； to give you mines of diamonds and houses full of gold； I
can make you an excellent orator； poet； musician； and painter； or； if you
desire it； a spirit of the air； the water； or the earth。〃
Here Leander interrupted her。 〃Permit me； madam；〃 said he； 〃to ask
you what benefit it would be to me to be a spirit？〃
〃Much；〃 replied the fairy； 〃you would be invisible when you pleased；
and might in an instant traverse the whole earth； you would be able to fly
without wings； to descend into the abyss of the earth without dying； and
walk at the bottom of the sea without being drowned； nor doors； nor
windows； though fast shut and locked； could hinder you from entering
anywhere； and whenever you had a mind； you might resume your natural
form。〃
〃Oh； madam！〃 cried Leander； 〃then let me be a spirit； I am going to
travel； and should prefer it above all those other advantages you have so
generously offered me。〃
Gentilla thereupon stroking his face three times； 〃Be a spirit；〃 said she；
and then； embracing him； she gave him a little red cap with a plume of
feathers。 〃When you put on this cap you shall be invisible； but when you
take it off you shall again become visible。〃
Leander； overjoyed； put his little red cap upon his head and wished
himself in the forest； that he might gather some wild roses which he had
observed there： his body immediately became as light as thought； he flew
through the window like a bird； though； in flying over the river； he was not
without fear lest he should fall into it； and the power of the fairy not be
able to save him。 But he arrived in safety at the rose… bushes； plucked the
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three roses； and returned immediately to his chamber； presented his roses
to the fairy； overjoyed that his first experiments had succeeded so well。
She bade him keep the roses； for that one of them would supply him with
money whenever he wanted it； that if he put the other into his mistress'
bosom； he would know whether she was faithful or not； and that the third
would keep him always in good health。 Then； without staying to receive
his thanks； she wished him success in his travels and disappeared。
Leander； infinitely pleased； settled his affairs； mounted the finest horse
in the stable； called Gris…de…line； and attended by some of his servants in
livery； made his return to court。 Now you must know Furibon had given
out that had it not been for his courage Leander would have murdered him
when they were a…hunting； so the king； being importuned by the queen；
gave orders that Leander should be apprehended。 But when he came； he
showed so much courage and resolution that Furibon ran to the queen's
chamber and prayed her to order him to be seized。 The queen； who was
extremely diligent in everything that her son desired； went immediately to
the king。 Furibon； being impatient to know what would be resolved；
followed her； but stopped at the door and laid his ear to the keyhole；
putting his hair aside that he might the better hear what was said。 At the
same time； Leander entered the court…hall of the palace with his red cap
upon his head； and perceiving Furibon listening at the door of the king's
chamber； he took a nail and a hammer and nailed his ear to the door。
Furibon began to roar； so that the queen； hearing her son's voice； ran and
opened the door； and； pulling it hastily； tore her son's ear from his head。
Half out of her wits； she set him in her lap； took up his ear； kissed it； and
clapped it again upon its place； but the invisible Leander； seizing upon a
handful of twigs； with which they corrected the king's little dogs； gave the
queen several lashes upon her hands； and her son as many on the nose：
upon which the queen cried out； 〃Murder！ murder！〃 and the king looked
about； and the people came running in； but nothing was to be seen。 Some
cried that the queen was mad； and that her madness proceeded from her
grief to see that her son had lost one ear； and the king was as ready as any
to believe it； so that when she came near him he avoided her； which made
a very ridiculous scene。 Leander； then leaving the chamber； went into the
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garden； and there； assuming his own shape； he boldly began to pluck the
queen's cherries； apricots； strawberries； and flowers； though he knew she
set such a high value on them that it was as much as a man's life was
worth to touch one。 The gardeners； all amazed； came and told their
majesties that Prince Leander was making havoc of all the fruits and
flowers in the queen's gardens
〃What insolence！〃 said the queen： then turning to Furibon； 〃my pretty
child； forget the pain of thy ear but for a moment； and fetch that vile
wretch hither； take our guards； both horse and foot； seize him； and punish
him as he deserves。〃
Furibon； encouraged by his mother； and attended by a great number of
armed soldiers； entered the garden and saw Leander； who； taking refuge
under a tree； pelted them all with oranges。 But when they came running
toward him； thinking to have seized him； he was not to be seen； he had
slipped behind Furibon； who was in a bad condition already。 But Leander
played him one trick more； for he pushed him down upon the gravel walk；
and frightened him so that the soldiers had to take him up； carry him away；
and put him to bed。
Satisfied with this revenge； he returned to his servants； who waited for
him； and giving them money； sent them back to his castle； that none might
know the secret of his red cap and roses。 As yet he had not determined
whither to go； however； he mounted his fine horse Gris… de…line； and；
laying the reins upon his neck； let him take his own road： at length he
arrived in a forest； where he stopped to shelter himself from the heat。 He
had not been above a minute there before he heard a lamentable noise of
sighing and sobbing； and looking about him； beheld a man； who ran；
stopped； then ran again； sometimes crying； sometimes silent； then tearing
his hair； then thumping his breast like some unfortunate madman。 Yet he
seemed to be both handsome and young： his garments had been
magnificent； but he had torn them all to tatters。 The prince； moved with
compassion； made toward him； and mildly accosted him。 〃Sir；〃 said he；
〃your condition appears so deplorable that I must ask the cause of your
sorrow； assuring you of every assistance in my power。〃
〃Oh； sir；〃 answered the young man； 〃nothing can cure my grief； this
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day my dear mistress is to be sacrificed to a rich old ruffian of a husband
who will make her miserable。〃
〃Does she love you； then？〃 asked Leander。
〃I flatter myse
