the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第33节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
115
… Page 116…
The Little Lame Prince
open the door。〃
She went and opened the door； the frog hopped in； always following
and following her till he came up to her chair。 There he sat and cried out；
〃Lift me up to you on the table。〃
She refused； till the king； her father； commanded her to do it。 When the
frog was on the table； he said； 〃Now push your little golden plate nearer to
me； that we may eat together。〃 She did as he desired； but one could easily
see that she did it unwillingly。 The frog seemed to enjoy his dinner very
much； but every morsel she ate stuck in the throat of the poor little
princess。
Then said the frog； 〃I have eaten enough； and am tired； carry me to
your little room； and make your little silken bed smooth； and we will lay
ourselves down to sleep together。〃
At this the daughter of the king began to weep； for she was afraid of
the cold frog； who wanted to sleep in her pretty clean bed。
But the king looked angrily at her； and said again： 〃What you have
promised you must perform。 The frog is your companion。〃
It was no use to complain； whether she liked it or not； she was obliged
to take the frog with her up to her little bed。 So she picked him up with
two fingers； hating him bitterly the while； and carried him upstairs： but
when she got into bed； instead of lifting him up to her； she threw him with
all her strength against the wall； saying； 〃Now you nasty frog； there will
be an end of you。〃
But what fell down from the wall was not a dead frog； but a living
young prince； with beautiful and loving eyes； who at once became； by her
own promise and her father's will； her dear companion and husband。 He
told her how he had been cursed by a wicked sorceress； and that no one
but the king's youngest daughter could release him from his enchantment
and take him out of the well。
The next day a carriage drove up to the palace gates with eight white
horses； having white feathers on their heads and golden reins。 Behind it
stood the servant of the young prince； called the faithful Henry。 This
faithful Henry had been so grieved when his master was changed into a
frog that he had been compelled to have three iron bands fastened round
116
… Page 117…
The Little Lame Prince
his heart； lest it should break。 Now the carriage came to convey the prince
to his kingdom； so the faithful Henry lifted in the bride and bridegroom
and mounted behind； full of joy at his lord's release。 But when they had
gone a short distance； the prince heard behind him a noise as if something
was breaking。 He cried out； 〃Henry； the carriage is breaking！〃
But Henry replied： 〃No； sir； it is not the carriage but one of the bands
from my heart； with which I was forced to bind it up； or it would have
broken with grief while you sat as a frog at the bottom of the well。〃
Twice again this happened； and the prince always thought the carriage
was breaking； but it was only the bands breaking off from the heart of the
faithful Henry； out of joy that his lord； the frog…prince； was a frog no more。
117
… Page 118…
The Little Lame Prince
CLEVER ALICE
ONCE upon a time there was a man who had a daughter who was
called 〃Clever Alice；〃 and when she was grown up； her father said； 〃We
must see about her marrying。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied her mother； 〃whenever a young man shall appear who is
worthy of her。〃
At last a certain youth； by name Hans； came from a distance to make a
proposal of marriage； but he required one condition； that the clever Alice
should be very prudent。
〃Oh；〃 said her father； 〃no fear of that！ she has got a head full of
brains；〃 and the mother added； 〃ah； she can see the wind blow up the street；
and hear the flies cough！〃
〃Very well；〃 replied Hans； 〃but remember； if she is not very prudent； I
will not take her。〃 Soon afterward they sat down to dinner； and her mother
said； 〃Alice； go down into the cellar and draw some beer。〃
So Clever Alice took the jug down from the wall； and went into the
cellar； jerking the lid up and down on her way； to pass away the time。 As
soon as she got downstairs she drew a stool and placed it before the cask；
in order that she might not have to stoop； for she thought stooping might
in some way injure her back and give it an undesirable bend。 Then she
placed the can before her and turned the tap； and while the beer was
running； as she did not wish her eyes to be idle； she looked about upon the
wall above and below。 Presently she perceived； after much peeping into
this corner and that corner； a hatchet； which the bricklayers had left behind？
sticking out of the ceiling right above her head。 At the sight of this Clever
Alice began to cry； saying； 〃Oh！ if I marry Hans； and we have a child； and
he grows up； and we send him into the cellar to draw beer； the hatchet will
fall upon his head and kill him；〃 and so she sat there weeping with all her
might over the impending misfortune。
Meanwhile the good folks upstairs were waiting for the beer； but as
Clever Alice did not come； her mother told the maid to go and see what
she was stopping for。 The maid went down into the cellar and found Alice
sitting before the cask crying heartily； and she asked； 〃Alice； what are you
118
… Page 119…
The Little Lame Prince
weeping about？〃
〃Ah；〃 she replied； 〃have I not cause？ If I marry Hans； and we have a
child； and he grows up； and we send him here to draw beer； that hatchet
will fall upon his head and kill him。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the maid； 〃what a clever Alice we have！〃 And sitting down；
she began to weep； too； for the misfortune that was to happen。
After a while； when the servant did not return； the good folks above
began to feel very thirsty； so the husband told the boy to go down into the
cellar and see what had become of Alice and the maid。 The boy went down；
and there sat Clever Alice and the maid both crying； so he asked the
reason； and Alice told him the same tale； of the hatchet that was to fall on
her child； if she married Hans； and if they had a child。 When she had
finished； the boy exclaimed； 〃What a clever Alice we have！〃 and fell
weeping and howling with the others。
Upstairs they were still waiting； and the husband said； when the boy
did not return； 〃Do you go down； wife； into the cellar and see why Alice
stays so long。〃 So she went down； and finding all three sitting there crying；
asked the reason； and Alice told her about the hatchet which must
inevitably fall upon the head of her son。 Then the mother likewise
exclaimed； 〃Oh； what a clever Alice we have！〃 and； sitting down； began to
weep as much as any of the rest。
Meanwhile the husband waited for his wife's return； but at last he felt
so very thirsty that he said； 〃I must go myself down into the cellar and see
what is keeping our Alice。〃 As soon as he entered the cellar； there he found
the four sitting and crying together； and when he heard the reason； he also
exclaimed； 〃Oh； what a clever Alice we have！〃 and sat down to cry with
the whole strength of his lungs。
All this time the bridegroom above sat waiting； but when nobody
returned； he thought they must be waiting for him； and so he went down to
see what was the matter。 When he entered； there sat the five crying and
groaning； each one in a louder key than his neighbor。
〃What misfortune has happened？〃 he asked。
〃Ah； dear Hans！〃 cried Alice； 〃if you and I should marry one another；
and have a child； and he grew up； and we； perhaps； send him down to this
119
… Page 120…
The Little Lame Prince
cellar to tap the beer； the hatchet which has been left sticking up there may
fall on his head； and so kill him； and do you not think this is enough to
weep about？〃
〃Now；〃 said Hans； 〃more prudence than this is not necessary for my
housekeeping； because you are such a clever Alice； I will have you for my
