the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第24节
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share in your remembrance。〃
So saying； he galloped away and soon entered into the thickest part of
the wood； near a river； where he unbridled and unsaddled Gris…de…line；
then； putting on his little cap； wished himself in the Island of Calm
Delights； and his wish was immediately accomplished。
The palace was of pure gold； and stood upon pillars of crystal and
precious stones； which represented the zodiac and all the wonders of
nature； all the arts and sciences； the sea； with all the variety of fish therein
contained； the earth； with all the various creatures which it produces； the
chases of Diana and her nymphs； the noble exercises of the Amazons； the
amusements of a country life； flocks of sheep with their shepherds and
dogs； the toils of agriculture； harvesting； gardening。 And among all this
variety of representations there was neither man nor boy to be seennot so
much as a little winged Cupid； so highly had the princess been incensed
against her inconstant husband as not to show the least favor to his fickle
sex。
〃Abricotina did not deceive me；〃 said Leander to himself； 〃they have
banished from hence the very idea of men； now let us see what they have
lost by it。〃 With that he entered into the palaces and at every step he took
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he met with objects so wonderful that when he had once fixed his eyes
upon them he had much ado to take them off again。 He viewed a vast
number of these apartments； some full of china； no less fine than curious；
others lined with porcelain； so delicate that the walls were quite
transparent。 Coral； jasper； agates； and cornelians adorned the rooms of
state； and the presence…chamber was one entire mirror。 The throne was one
great pearl； hollowed like a shell； the princess sat； surrounded by her
maidens； none of whom could compare with herself。 In her was all the
innocent sweetness of youth； joined to the dignity of maturity； in truth； she
was perfection； and so thought the invisible Leander。
Not seeing Abricotina； she asked where she was。 Upon that； Leander；
being very desirous to speak； assumed the tone of a parrot； for there were
many in the room； and addressed himself invisibly to the princess。
〃Most charming princess；〃 said he； 〃Abricotina will return
immediately。 She was in great danger of being carried away from this
place but for a young prince who rescued her。〃
The princess was surprised at the parrot； his answer was so extremely
pertinent。
〃You are very rude； little parrot；〃 said the princess；〃 and Abricotina；
when she comes； shall chastise you for it。〃
〃I shall not be chastised；〃 answered Leander； still counterfeiting the
parrot's voice； 〃moreover； she will let you know the great desire that
stranger had to be admitted into this palace； that he might convince you of
the falsehood of those ideas which you have conceived against his sex。〃
〃In truth； pretty parrot；〃 cried the princess； 〃it is a pity you are not
every day so diverting； I should love you dearly。〃
〃Ah！ if prattling will please you； princess；〃 replied Leander； 〃I will
prate from morning till night。〃
〃But；〃 continued the princess； 〃how shall I be sure my parrot is not a
sorcerer？〃
〃He is more in love than any sorcerer can be；〃 replied the prince。
At this moment Abricotina entered the room； and falling at her lovely
mistress' feet； gave her a full account of what had befallen her； and
described the prince in the most glowing colors。
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〃I should have hated all men；〃 added she； 〃had I not seen him！ Oh；
madam； how charming he is！ His air and all his behavior have something
in them so noble； and though whatever he spoke was infinitely pleasing；
yet I think I did well in not bringing him hither。〃
To this the princess said nothing； but she asked Abricotina a hundred
other questions concerning the prince； whether she knew his name； his
country； his birth； from whence he came； and whither he was going； and
after this she fell into a profound thoughtfulness。
Leander observed everything； and continued to chatter as he had
begun。
〃Abricotina is ungrateful； madam；〃 said he； 〃that poor stranger will die
for grief if he sees you not。〃
〃Well； parrot； let him die；〃 answered the princess with a sigh； 〃and
since thou under… takest to reason like a person of wit； and not a little bird；
I forbid thee to talk to me any more of this unknown person。〃
Leander was overjoyed to find that Abricotina's and the parrot's
discourse had made such an impression on the princess。 He looked upon
her with pleasure and delight。 〃Can it be；〃 said he to himself； 〃that the
masterpiece of nature； that the wonder of our age； should be confined
eternally in an island； and no mortal dare to approach her？ But；〃 continued
he； 〃wherefore am I concerned that others are banished hence； since I have
the happiness to be with her； to hear and to admire her； nay； more； to love
her above all the women in the universe？〃
It was late； and the princess retired into a large room of marble and
porphyry； where several bubbling fountains； refreshed the air with an
agreeable coolness。 As soon as she entered the music began； a sumptuous
supper was served up； and the birds from several aviaries on each side of
the room； of which Abricotina had the chief care； opened their little throats
in the most agreeable manner。
Leander had traveled a journey long enough to give him a good
appetite； which made him draw near the table； where the very smell of
such viands was agreeable and refreshing。 The princess had a curious
tabby…cat； for which she had a great kindness。 This cat one of the maids of
honor held in her arms； saying； 〃Madam； Bluet is hungry！〃 With that a
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chair was presently brought for the cat； for he was a cat of quality； and had
a necklace of pearl about his neck。 He was served on a golden plate with a
laced napkin before him； and the plate being supplied with meat； Bluet sat
with the solemn importance of an alderman。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 cried Leander to himself； 〃an idle tabby malkin； that
perhaps never caught a mouse in his life； and I dare say is not descended
from a better family than myself； has the honor to sit at table with my
mistress： I would fain know whether he loves her so well as I do。〃
Saying this； he placed himself in the chair with the cat upon his knee；
for nobody saw him； because he had his little red cap on； finding Bluet's
plate well supplied with partridge； quails； and pheasants； he made so free
with them that whatever was set before Master Puss disappeared in a trice。
The whole court said no act｛sic｝ ever ate with a better appetite。 There
were excellent ragouts； and the prince made use of the cat's paw to taste
them； but he sometimes pulled his paw too roughly； and Bluet； not
understanding raillery； began to mew and be quite out of patience。 The
princess observing it； 〃Bring that fricassee and that tart to poor Bluet；〃
said she； 〃see how he cries to have them。〃
Leander laughed to himself at the pleasantness of this adventure； but
he was very thirsty； not being accustomed to make such large meals
without drinking。 By the help of the cat's paw he got a melon； with which
he somewhat quenched his thirst； and when supper was quite over； he
went to the buffet and took two bottles of delicious wine。
The princess now retired into her boudoir； ordering Abricotina to
follow her and make fast the door； but they could not keep out Leander；
