the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第31节
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nose was indispensable to a hero。 All great soldiers； they said； had great
noses； as everybody knew。 The queen was so very fond of her son that she
listened eagerly to all this comfort。 Shortly she grew so used to the
princes's nose that it did not seem to her any larger than ordinary noses of
the court； where； in process of time； everybody with a long nose was very
much admired； and the unfortunate people who had only snubs were taken
very little notice of。
Great care was observed in the education of the prince； and as soon as
he could speak they told him all sorts of amusing tales； in which all the
bad people had short noses； and all the good people had long ones。 No
person was suffered to come near him who had not a nose of more than
ordinary length； nay； to such an extent did the countries carry their fancy；
that the noses of all the little babies were ordered to be pulled out as far as
possible several times a day； in order to make them grow。 But grow as they
would； they never could grow as long as that of Prince Wish。 When he was
old enough his tutor taught him history； and whenever any great king or
lovely princess was referred to； the tutor always took care to mention that
he or she had a long nose。 All the royal apartments were filled with
pictures and portraits having this peculiarity； so that at last Prince Wish
began to regard the length of his nose as his greatest perfection； and would
not have had it an inch less even to save his crown。
When he was twenty years old his mother and his people wished him
to marry。 They procured for him the likenesses of many princesses； but the
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one he preferred was Princess Darling； daughter of a powerful monarch
and heiress to several kingdoms。 Alas！ with all her beauty； this princess
had one great misfortune； a little turned…up nose； which； every one else
said made her only the more bewitching。 But here； in the kingdom of
Prince Wish； the courtiers were thrown by it into the utmost perplexity。
They were in the habit of laughing at all small noses； but how dared they
make fun of the nose of Princess Darling？ Two unfortunate gentlemen；
whom Prince Wish had overheard doing so； were ignominiously banished
from the court and capital。
After this； the courtiers became alarmed； and tried to correct their habit
of speech； but they would have found themselves in constant difficulties；
had not one clever person struck out a bright idea。 He said that though it
was indispensably necessary for a man to have a great nose； women were
very different； and that a learned man had discovered in a very old
manuscript that the celebrated Cleopatra； Queen of Egypt； the beauty of
the ancient world； had a turned…up nose。 At this information Prince Wish
was so delighted that he made the courtier a very handsome present； and
immediately sent off ambassadors to demand Princess Darling in
marriage。
She accepted his offer at once； and returned with the ambassadors。 He
made all haste to meet and welcome her； but when she was only three
leagues distant from his capital； before he had time even to kiss her hand；
the magician who had once assumed the shape of his mother's cat； Minon；
appeared in the air and carried her off before the lover's very eyes。
Prince Wish； almost beside himself with grief； declared that nothing
should induce him to return to his throne and kingdom till he had found
Darling。 He would suffer none of his courtiers or attendants to follow him；
but bidding them all adieu； mounted a good horse； laid the reins on the
animal's neck； and let him take him wherever he would。
The horse entered a wide…extended plain； and trotted on steadily the
whole day without finding a single house。 Master and beast began almost
to faint with hunger； and Prince Wish might have wished himself at home
again； had he not discovered； just at dusk； a cavern； where there sat； beside
a bright lantern； a little woman who might have been more than a hundred
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years old。
She put on her spectacles the better to look at the stranger； and he
noticed that her nose was so small that the spectacles would hardly stay on；
then the prince and the fairyfor she was a fairyburst into laughter。
〃What a funny nose！〃 cried the one。
〃Not so funny as yours； madam；〃 returned the other。 〃But pray let us
leave our noses alone； and be good enough to give me something to eat；
for I am dying with hunger； and so is my poor horse。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 answered the fairy。 〃Although your nose is
ridiculously long； you are no less the son of one of my best friends。 I loved
your father like a brother； he had a very handsome nose。〃
〃What is wanting to my nose？〃 asked Wish rather savagely。 〃Oh！
nothing at all。 On the contrary； there is a great deal too much of it； but
never mind； one may be a very honest man； and yet have too big a nose。
As I said； I was a great friend of your father's； he came often to see me。 I
was very pretty then； and oftentimes he used to say to me； ‘My sister' 〃
〃I will hear the rest； madam； with pleasure； when I have supped； but
will you condescend to remember that I have tasted nothing all day？〃
〃Poor boy；〃 said the fairy； 〃I will give you some supper directly； and
while you eat it I will tell you my history in six words； for I hate much
talking。 A long tongue is as insupportable as a long nose； and I remember
when I was young how much I used to be admired because I was not a
talker； indeed； some one said to the queen my motherfor poor as you see
me now； I am the daughter of a great king； who always〃
〃Ate when he was hungry； I hope；〃 interrupted the prince； whose
patience was fast departing。
〃You are right；〃 said the imperturbable old fairy； 〃and I will bring you
your supper directly； only I wish first just to say that the king my father
〃
〃Hang the king your father！〃 Prince Wish was about to exclaim； but he
stopped himself； and only observed that however the pleasure of her
conversation might make him forget his hunger； it could not have the same
effect upon his horse； who was really starving。
The fairy； pleased at his civility； called her servants and bade them
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supply him at once with all he needed。 〃And；〃 added she； 〃I must say you
are very polite and very good…tempered； in spite of your nose。〃
〃What has the old woman to do with my nose？〃 thought the prince。 〃If
I were not so very hungry； I would soon show her what she is a regular
old gossip and chatterbox。 She to fancy she talks little； indeed！ One must
be very foolish not to know one's own defects。 This comes of being born a
princess。 Flatterers have spoiled her and persuaded her that she talks little。
Little； indeed！ I never knew anybody chatter so much。〃
While the prince thus meditated； the servants were laying the table； the
fairy asking them a hundred unnecessary questions； simply for the
pleasure of hearing herself talk。 〃Well；〃 thought Wish； 〃I am delighted that
I came hither； if only to learn how wise I have been in never listening to
flatterers； who hide from us our faults； or make us believe they are
perfections。 But they could never deceive me。 I know all my own weak
points； I trust。〃 As truly he believed he did。
So he went on eating contentedly； nor stopped till the old fairy began
to address him。
〃Prince；〃 said she； 〃will you be kind enough to turn a little？ Your nose
casts such a shadow that I cannot see what is on my plate。 And； as I was
saying； your father admired me and always made me welcome at court。
What is the court etiquette there now？ Do the ladies still go to assemblies；
promenades； balls？I beg your pardon for laughing； but how very long
your nose is。〃
〃I wish you would cease to speak of my nose；〃 said the prince；
