the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第26节
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ought to be burned； as a thing that could not come there but by the power
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of magic。
〃And these words‘She is better in my heart；' 〃 said the princess；
〃must we burn them too？〃
〃No favor must be shown to anything；〃 said Abricotina； 〃not even to
your own portrait。〃
Abricotina ran away immediately for some fire； while the princess
went to look out at the window。 Leander； unwilling to let his performance
be burned； took this opportunity to convey it away without being
perceived。 He had hardly quitted the cabinet； when the princess turned
about to look once more upon that enchanting picture； which had so
delighted her。 But how was she surprised to find it gone！ She sought for it
all the room over； and Abricotina； returning； was no less surprised than her
mistress； so that this last adventure put them both in the most terrible
fright。
Leander took great delight in hearing and seeing his incomparable
mistress； even though he had to eat every day at her table with the tabby…
cat； who fared never the worse for that； but his satisfaction was far from
being complete； seeing he durst neither speak nor show himself； and he
knew it was not a common thing for ladies to fall in love with persons
invisible。
The princess had a universal taste for amusement。 One day； she was
saying to her attend… ants that it would give her great pleasure to know
how the ladies were dressed in all the courts of the universe。 There needed
no more words to send Leander all over the world。 He wished himself in
China； where he bought the richest stuffs he could lay his hands on； and
got patterns of all the court fashions。 From thence he flew to Siam； where
he did the same； in three days he traveled over all the four parts of the
world； and from time to time brought what he bought to the Palace of
Calm Delights； and hid it all in a chamber； which he kept always locked。
When he had thus collected together all the rarities he could meet with
for he never wanted money； his rose always supplying himhe went and
bought five or six dozen of dolls； which he caused to be dressed at Paris；
the place in the world where most regard is paid to fashions。 They were all
dressed differently； and as magnificent as could be； and Leander placed
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them all in the princess' closet。 When she entered it； she was agreeably
surprised to see such company of little mutes； every one decked with
watches bracelets； diamond buckles； or necklaces； and the most
remarkable of them held a picture box in its hand； which the princess
opening； found it contained Leander's portrait。 She gave a loud shriek； and
looking upon Abricotina； 〃There have appeared of late；〃 said she； 〃so
many wonders in this place； that I know not what to think of them： my
birds are all grown witty； I cannot so much as wish； but presently I have
my desires； twice have I now seen the portrait of him who rescued thee
from the ruffians； and here are silks of all sorts； diamonds； embroideries；
laces； and an infinite number of other rarities。 What fairy is it that takes
such care to pay me these agreeable civilities？〃
Leander was overjoyed to hear and see her so much interested about
his picture； and calling to mind that there was in a grotto which she often
frequented a certain pedestal； on which a Diana； not yet finished； was to be
erected； on this pedestal he resolved to place himself； crowned with laurel；
and holding a lyre in his hand； on which he played like another Apollo。 He
most anxiously waited the princess' retiring to the grotto； which she did
every day since her thoughts had taken up with this unknown person； for
what Abricotina had said； joined to the sight of the picture； had almost
destroyed her repose： her lively humor changed into a pensive melancholy；
and she grew a great lover of solitude。 When she entered the grotto； she
made a sign that nobody should follow her； so that her young damsels
dispersed themselves into the neighboring walks。 The princess threw
herself upon a bank of green turf； sighed； wept； and even talked； but so
softly that Leander could not hear what she said。 He had put his red cap on；
that she might not see him at first； but having taken it off； she beheld him
standing on the pedestal。 At first she took him for a real statue； for he
observed exactly the attitude in which he had placed himself； without
moving so much as a finger。 She beheld with a kind of pleasure intermixed
with fear； but pleasure soon dispelled her fear； and she continued to view
the pleasing figure； which so exactly resembled life。 The prince having
tuned his lyre； began to play； at which the princess； greatly surprised；
could not resist the fear that seized her； she grew pale and fell into a
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swoon。 Leander leaped from the pedestal； and putting on his little red cap；
that he might not be perceived； took the princess in his arms and gave her
all the assistance that his zeal and tenderness could inspire。 At length she
opened her charming eyes and looked about in search of him； but she
could perceive nobody； yet she felt somebody who held her hands； kissed
them； and bedewed them with his tears。 It was a long time before she durst
speak； and her spirits were in a confused agitation between fear and hope。
She was afraid of the spirit； but loved the figure of the unknown。 At length
she said： 〃Courtly invisible； why are you not the person I desire you
should be？〃 At these words Leander was going to declare himself； but
durst not do it yet。 〃For；〃 thought he； 〃if I again affright the object I adore
and make her fear me； she will not love me。〃 This consideration caused
him to keep silence。
The princess； then； believing herself alone； called Abricotina and told
her all the wonders of the animated statue； that it had played divinely； and
that the invisible person had given her great assistance when she lay in a
swoon。
〃What pity 'tis；〃 said she； 〃that this person should be so frightful； for
nothing can be more amiable or acceptable than his behavior！〃
〃Who told you； madam；〃 answered Abricotina； 〃that he is frightful？ If
he is the youth who saved me； he is beautiful as Cupid himself。〃
〃If Cupid and the unknown are the same；〃 replied the princess；
blushing； 〃I could be content to love Cupid； but alas！ how far am I from
such a happiness！ I love a mere shadow； and this fatal picture； joined to
what thou hast told me； have inspired me with inclinations so contrary to
the precepts which I received from my mother that I am daily afraid of
being punished for them。〃
〃Oh！ madam；〃 said Abricotina； interrupting her； 〃have you not troubles
enough already？ Why should you anticipate afflictions which may never
come to pass？〃
It is easy to imagine what pleasure Leander took in this conversation。
In the meantime the little Furibon； still enamored of the princess
whom he had never seen； expected with impatience the return of the four
servants whom he had sent to the Island of Calm Delights。 One of them at
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last came back； and after he had given the prince a particular account of
what had passed； told him that the island was defended by Amazons； and
that unless he sent a very powerful army； it would be impossible to get
into it。 The king his father was dead； and Furibon was now lord of all：
disdaining； therefore； any repulse； he raised an army of four hundred
thousand men； and put himself at the head of them； appearing like another
Tom Thumb upon a
