the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第23节
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who will make her miserable。〃
〃Does she love you； then？〃 asked Leander。
〃I flatter myself so；〃 answered the young man。
〃Where is she？〃 continued Leander。
〃In the castle at the end of this forest；〃 replied the lover。
〃Very well；〃 said Leander； 〃stay you here till I come again； and in a
little while I will bring you good news。〃
He then put on his little red cap and wished himself in the castle。 He
had hardly got thither before he heard all sorts of music； he entered into a
great room； where the friends and kindred of the old man and the young
lady were assembled。 No one could look more amiable than she； but the
paleness of her complexion； the melancholy that appeared in her
countenance； and the tears that now and then dropped； as it were by stealth
from her eyes； betrayed the trouble of her mind。
Leander now became invisible； and placed himself in a corner of the
room。 He soon perceived the father and mother of the bride； and coming
behind the mother's chair； whispered in her ear； 〃If you marry your
daughter to that old dotard； before eight days are over you shall certainly
die。〃 The woman； frightened to hear such a terrible sentence pronounced
upon her； and yet not know from whence it came； gave a loud shriek and
dropped upon the floor。 Her husband asked what ailed her： she cried that
she was a dead woman if the marriage of her daughter went forward； and
therefore she would not consent to it for all the world。 Her husband
laughed at her and called her a fool。 But the invisible Leander accosting
the man； threatened him in the same way； which frightened him so terribly
that he also insisted on the marriage being broken off。 When the lover
complained； Leander trod hard upon his gouty toes and rang such an alarm
in his ears that； not being able any longer to hear himself speak； away he
limped； glad enough to go。 The real lover soon appeared； and he and his
fair mistress fell joyfully into one another's arms； the parents consenting to
their union。 Leander； assuming his own shape； appeared at the hall door； as
if he were a stranger drawn thither by the report of this extraordinary
wedding。
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From hence he traveled on； and came to a great city； where； upon his
arrival； he understood there was a great and solemn procession； in order to
shut up a young woman against her will among the vestal…nuns。 The
prince was touched with compassion； and thinking the best use he could
make of his cap was to redress public wrongs and relieve the oppressed； he
flew to the temple； where he saw the young woman； crowned with flowers；
clad in white； and with her disheveled hair flowing about her shoulders。
Two of her brothers led her by each hand； and her mother followed her
with a great crowd of men and women。 Leander； being invisible； cried out；
〃Stop； stop； wicked brethren： stop； rash and inconsiderate mother； if you
proceed any further； you shall be squeezed to death like so many frogs。〃
They looked about； but could not conceive from whence these terrible
menaces came。 The brothers said it was only their sister's lover； who had
hid himself in some hole； at which Leander； in wrath； took a long cudgel；
and they had no reason to say the blows were not well laid on。 The
multitude fled； the vestals ran away； and Leander was left alone with the
victim； immediately he pulled off his red cap and asked her wherein he
might serve her。 She answered him that there was a certain gentleman
whom she would be glad to marry； but that he wanted an estate。 Leander
then shook his rose so long that he supplied them with ten millions； after
which they were married and lived happily together。
But his last adventure was the most agreeable。 Entering into a wide
forest； he heard lamentable cries。 Looking about him every way； at length
he spied four men well armed； who were carrying away by force a young
lady； thirteen or fourteen years of age； upon which； making up to them as
fast as he could； 〃What harm has that girl done？〃 said he。
〃Ha！ ha！ my little master；〃 cried he who seemed to be the ringleader of
the rest； 〃who bade you inquire？〃
〃Let her alone；〃 said Leander； 〃and go about your business。〃
〃Oh； yes； to be sure；〃 cried they； laughing； whereupon the prince；
alighting； put on his red cap； not thinking it otherwise prudent to attack
four who seemed strong enough to fight a dozen。 One of them stayed to
take care of the young lady； while the three others went after Gris…de…line；
who gave them a great deal of unwelcome exercise。
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Meantime the young lady continued her cries and complaints。 〃Oh； my
dear princess；〃 said she； 〃how happy was I in your palace！ Did you but
know my sad misfortune； you would send your Amazons to rescue poor
Abricotina。〃
Leander； having listened to what she said； without delay seized the
ruffian that held her； and bound him fast to a tree before he had time or
strength to defend himself。 He then went to the second； and taking him by
both arms； bound him in the same manner to another tree。 In the meantime
Abricotina made the best of her good fortune and betook herself to her
heels； not knowing which way she went。 But Leander； missing her； called
out to his horse Gris…de…line； who； by two kicks with his hoof； rid himself
of the two ruffians who had pursued him： one of them had his head broken
and the other three of his ribs。 And now Leander only wanted to overtake
Abricotina； for he thought her so handsome that he wished to see her again。
He found her leaning against a tree。 When she saw Gris… de…line coming
toward her； 〃How lucky am I！〃 cried she； 〃this pretty little horse will carry
me to the palace of pleasure。〃 Leander heard her； though she saw him not：
he rode up to her； Gris…de…line stopped； and when Abricotina mounted him；
Leander clasped her in his arms and placed her gently before him。 Oh；
how great was Abricotina's fear to feel herself fast embraced； and yet see
nobody！ She durst not stir； and shut her eyes for fear of seeing a spirit。 But
Leander took off his little cap。 〃How comes it； fair Abricotina；〃 said he；
〃that you are afraid of me； who delivered you out of the hands of the
ruffians？〃
With that she opened her eyes； and knowing him again； 〃Oh； sir；〃 said
she； 〃I am infinitely obliged to you； but I was afraid； for I felt myself held
fast and could see no one。〃
〃Surely；〃 replied Leander； 〃the danger you have been in has disturbed
you and cast a mist before your eyes。〃
Abricotina would not seem to doubt him； though she was otherwise
extremely sensible。 And after they had talked for some time of indifferent
things； Leander requested her to tell him her age； her country； and by what
accident she fell into the hands of the ruffians。
〃Know then； sir；〃 said she； 〃there was a certain very great fairy
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married to a prince who wearied of her： she therefore banished him from
her presence； and established herself and daughter in the Island of Calm
Delights。 The princess； who is my mistress； being very fair； has many
loversamong others； one named Furibon； whom she detests； he it was
whose ruffians seized me to…day when I was wandering in search of a stray
parrot。 Accept； noble prince； my best thanks for your valor； which I shall
never forget。〃
Leander said how happy he was to have served her； and asked if he
could not obtain admission into the island。 Abricotina assured him this was
impossible； and therefore he had better forget all about it。 While they were
thus conversing； they came to the bank of a large river。 Abricotina alighted
with a nimble jump from the horse。
〃Farewell； sir；〃 said she to the prince； making a profound reverence； 〃I
wish you every happiness。〃
〃And I；〃 said Leander； 〃wish that I may now and then have a small
share in your remembrance。〃
So saying； he galloped away and soon entered into the thickest part of
the wood；
