the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第29节
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for she was very poor。 But Zeliathat was her nameanswered； to his
great astonishment； that she would rather not marry him。
〃Do I displease you？〃 asked the prince； into whose mind it had never
entered that he could displease anybody。
〃Not at all； my prince；〃 said the honest peasant maiden。 〃You are very
handsome； very charming； but you are not like your father the Good King。
I will not be your queen； for you would make me miserable。〃
At these words the prince's love seemed all to turn to hatred： he gave
orders to his guards to convey Zelia to a prison near the palace； and then
took counsel with his foster brother； the one of all his ill companions who
most incited him to do wrong。
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〃Sir；〃 said this man； 〃if I were in your majesty's place； I would never
vex myself about a poor silly girl。 Feed her on bread and water till she
comes to her senses； and if she still refuses you； let her die in torment； as a
warning to your other subjects should they venture to dispute your will。
You will be disgraced should you suffer yourself to be conquered by a
simple girl。〃
〃But；〃 said Prince Cherry； 〃shall I not be disgraced if I harm a creature
so perfectly innocent？〃
〃No one is innocent who disputes your majesty's authority；〃 said the
courtier； bowing； 〃and it is better to commit an injustice than allow it to be
supposed you can ever be contradicted with impunity。〃
This touched Cherry on his weak pointhis good impulses faded； he
resolved once more to ask Zelia if she would marry him； and if she again
refused； to sell her as a slave。 Arrived at the cell in which she was
confined； what was his astonishment to find her gone！ He knew not whom
to accuse； for he had kept the key in his pocket the whole time。 At last； the
foster… brother suggested that the escape of Zelia might have been
contrived by an old man； Suliman by name； the prince's former tutor； who
was the only one who now ventured to blame him for anything that he did。
Cherry sent immediately； and ordered his old friend to be brought to him；
loaded heavily with irons。 Then； full of fury； he went and shut himself up
in his own chamber； where he went raging to and fro； till startled by a
noise like a clap of thunder。 The fairy Candide stood before him。
〃Prince；〃 said she； in a severe voice； 〃I promised your father to give
you good counsels and to punish you if you refused to follow them。 My
counsels were forgotten； my punishment despised。 Under the figure of a
man； you have been no better than the beasts you chase： like a lion in fury；
a wolf in gluttony； a serpent in revenge； and a bull in brutality。 Take；
therefore； in your new form the likeness of all these animals。〃
Scarcely had Prince Cherry heard these words than to his horror he
found himself transformed into what the Fairy had named。 He was a
creature with the head of a lion； the horns of a bull； the feet of a wolf； and
the tail of a serpent。 At the same time he felt himself transported to a
distant forest； where； standing on the bank of a stream； he saw reflected in
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the water his own frightful shape； and heard a voice saying：
〃Look at thyself； and know thy soul has become a thousand times
uglier even than thy body。〃
Cherry recognized the voice of Candide； and in his rage would have
sprung upon her and devoured her； but he saw nothing and the same voice
said behind him：
〃Cease thy feeble fury； and learn to conquer thy pride by being in
submission to thine own subjects。〃
Hearing no more； he soon quitted the stream； hoping at least to get rid
of the sight of himself； but he had scarcely gone twenty paces when he
tumbled into a pitfall that was laid to catch bears； the bear…hunters；
descending from some trees hard by； caught him； chained him； and only
too delighted to get hold of such a curious… looking animal； led him along
with them to the capital of his own kingdom。
There great rejoicings were taking place； and the bear…hunters； asking
what it was all about； were told that it was because Prince Cherry； the
torment of his subjects； had just been struck dead by a thunderboltjust
punishment of all his crimes。 Four courtiers； his wicked companions； had
wished to divide his throne between them； but the people had risen up
against them and offered the crown to Suliman； the old tutor whom Cherry
had ordered to be arrested。
All this the poor monster heard。 He even saw Suliman sitting upon his
own throne and trying to calm the populace by representing to them that it
was not certain Prince Cherry was dead； that he might return one day to
reassume with honor the crown which Suliman only consented to wear as
a sort of viceroy。
〃I know his heart；〃 said the honest and faithful old man； 〃it is tainted；
but not corrupt。 If alive； he may reform yet； and be all his father over again
to you； his people； whom he has caused to suffer so much。〃
These words touched the poor beast so deeply that he ceased to beat
himself against the iron bars of the cage in which the hunters carried him
about； became gentle as a lamb； and suffered himself to be taken quietly to
a menagerie； where were kept all sorts of strange and ferocious animals a
place which he had himself often visited as a boy； but never thought he
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should be shut up there himself。
However； he owned he had deserved it all； and began to make amends
by showing himself very obedient to his keeper。 This man was almost as
great a brute as the animals he had charge of； and when he was in ill
humor he used to beat them without rhyme or reason。 One day； while he
was sleeping； a tiger broke loose and leaped upon him； eager to devour
him。 Cherry at first felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of being
revenged； then； seeing how helpless the man was； he wished himself free；
that he might defend him。 Immediately the doors of his cage opened。 The
keeper； waking up； saw the strange beast leap out； and imagined； of course；
that he was going to be slain at once。 Instead； he saw the tiger lying dead；
and the strange beast creeping up and laying itself at his feet to be caressed。
But as he lifted up his hand to stroke it； a voice was heard saying； 〃Good
actions never go unrewarded；〃 and instead of the frightful monster； there
crouched on the ground nothing but a pretty little dog。
Cherry； delighted to find himself thus metamorphosed； caressed the
keeper in every possible way； till at last the man took him up into his arms
and carried him to the king； to whom he related this wonderful story； from
beginning to end。 The queen wished to have the charming little dog； and
Cherry would have been exceedingly happy could he have forgotten that
he was originally a man and a king。 He was lodged most elegantly； had the
richest of collars to adorn his neck； and heard himself praised continually。
But his beauty rather brought him into trouble； for the queen； afraid lest he
might grow too large for a pet； took advice of dog…doctors； who ordered
that he should be fed entirely upon bread； and that very sparingly； so poor
Cherry was sometimes nearly starved。
One day； when they gave him his crust for breakfast； a fancy seized
him to go and eat it in the palace garden； so he took the bread in his mouth
and trotted away toward a stream which he knew； and where he sometimes
stopped to drink。 But instead of the stream he saw a splendid palace；
glittering with gold and precious stones。 Entering the doors was a crowd
of men and women； magnificently dressed； and within there was singing
and dancing and good cheer of all sorts。 Yet； however grandly and gayly
the people went in； Cherry noticed that those who came out were pale； thin；
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ragged； half…naked； covered with wounds and sores。 So
