the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第4节
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if not worse。〃
〃Let us hope not worse；〃 said the first lord in a very hopeless tone； and
looking toward the Regent； who stood erect and pretended to hear nothing。
〃I have heard that these sort of children with very large heads； and great
broad fore… heads and staring eyes； arewell； well； let us hope for the best
and be prepared for the worst。 In the meantime〃
〃I swear；〃 said the Crown…Prince； coming forward and kissing the hilt
of his sword〃I swear to perform my duties as Regent； to take all care of
his Royal Highnesshis Majesty； I mean；〃 with a grand bow to the little
child； who laughed innocently back again。 〃And I will do my humble best
to govern the country。 Still； if the country has the slightest objection〃
But the Crown…Prince being generalissimo； having the whole army at
his beck and call； so that he could have begun a civil war in no time； the
country had； of course； not the slightest objection。
So the King and Queen slept together in peace； and Prince Dolor
reigned over the landthat is； his uncle did； and everybody said what a
fortunate thing it was for the poor little Prince to have such a clever uncle
to take care of him。
All things went on as usual； indeed； after the Regent had brought his
wife and her seven sons； and established them in the palace； rather better
than usual。 For they gave such splendid entertainments and made the
capital so lively that trade revived； and the country was said to be more
flourishing than it had been for a century。 Whenever the Regent and his
sons appeared； they were received with shouts： 〃Long live the Crown…
Prince！〃 〃Long live the royal family！〃 And； in truth； they were very fine
children； the whole seven of them； and made a great show when they rode
out together on seven beautiful horses； one height above another； down to
the youngest； on his tiny black pony； no bigger than a large dog。
As for the other child； his Royal Highness Prince Dolor；for somehow
people soon ceased to call him his Majesty； which seemed such a
ridiculous title for a poor little fellow； a helpless cripple；with only head
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The Little Lame Prince
and trunk； and no legs to speak of；he was seen very seldom by anybody。
Sometimes people daring enough to peer over the high wall of the
palace garden noticed there； carried in a footman's arms； or drawn in a
chair； or left to play on the grass； often with nobody to mind him； a pretty
little boy； with a bright； intelligent face and large； melancholy eyesno；
not exactly melancholy； for they were his mother's； and she was by no
means sad…minded； but thoughtful and dreamy。 They rather perplexed
people； those childish eyes； they were so exceedingly innocent and yet so
penetrating。 If anybody did a wrong thingtold a lie； for instance they
would turn round with such a grave； silent surprise the child never talked
muchthat every naughty person in the palace was rather afraid of Prince
Dolor。
He could not help it； and perhaps he did not even know it； being no
better a child than many other children； but there was something about
him which made bad people sorry； and grumbling people ashamed of
themselves； and ill… natured people gentle and kind。
I suppose because they were touched to see a poor little fellow who
did not in the least know what had befallen him or what lay before him；
living his baby life as happy as the day is long。 Thus； whether or not he
was good himself； the sight of him and his affliction made other people
good； and； above all； made everybody love him so much so； that his
uncle the Regent began to feel a little uncomfortable。
Now； I have nothing to say against uncles in general。 They are usually
very excellent people； and very convenient to little boys and girls。 Even
the 〃cruel uncle〃 of the 〃Babes in the Wood〃 I believe to be quite an
exceptional character。 And this 〃cruel uncle〃 of whom I am telling was； I
hope； an exception； too。
He did not mean to be cruel。 If anybody had called him so； he would
have resented it extremely： he would have said that what he did was done
entirely for the good of the country。 But he was a man who had always
been accustomed to consider himself first and foremost； believing that
whatever he wanted was sure to be right； and therefore he ought to have it。
So he tried to get it； and got it too； as people like him very often do。
Whether they enjoy it when they have it is another question。
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The Little Lame Prince
Therefore he went one day to the council chamber； determined on
making a speech； and informing the ministers and the country at large that
the young King was in failing health； and that it would be advisable to
send him for a time to the Beautiful Mountains。 Whether he really meant
to do this； or whether it occurred to him afterward that there would be an
easier way of attaining his great desire； the crown of Nomansland； is a
point which I cannot decide。
But soon after； when he had obtained an order in council to send the
King away； which was done in great state； with a guard of honor
composed of two whole regiments of soldiers； the nation learned；
without much surprise； that the poor little Princenobody ever called him
king nowhad gone a much longer journey than to the Beautiful
Mountains。
He had fallen ill on the road and died within a few hours； at least so
declared the physician in attendance and the nurse who had been sent to
take care of him。 They brought his coffin back in great state； and buried it
in the mausoleum with his parents。
So Prince Dolor was seen no more。 The country went into deep
mourning for him； and then forgot him； and his uncle reigned in his stead。
That illustrious personage accepted his crown with great decorum； and
wore it with great dignity to the last。 But whether he enjoyed it or not there
is no evidence to show。
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The Little Lame Prince
CHAPTER III
And what of the little lame Prince； whom everybody seemed so easily
to have forgotten？
Not everybody。 There were a few kind souls； mothers of families； who
had heard his sad story； and some servants about the palace； who had been
familiar with his sweet ways these many a time sighed and said； 〃Poor
Prince Dolor！〃 Or； looking at the Beautiful Mountains； which were visible
all over Nomansland； though few people ever visited them； 〃Well； perhaps
his Royal Highness is better where he is than even there。〃
They did not knowindeed； hardly anybody did knowthat beyond
the mountains； between them and the sea； lay a tract of country； barren；
level； bare； except for short； stunted grass； and here and there a patch of
tiny flowers。 Not a bushnot a tree not a resting place for bird or beast
was in that dreary plain。 In summer the sunshine fell upon it hour after
hour with a blinding glare； in winter the winds and rains swept over it
unhindered； and the snow came down steadily； noiselessly； covering it
from end to end in one great white sheet； which lay for days and weeks
unmarked by a single footprint。
Not a pleasant place to live inand nobody did live there； apparently。
The only sign that human creatures had ever been near the spot was one
large round tower which rose up in the center of the plain； and might be
seen all over itif there had been anybody to see； which there never was。
Rose right up out of the ground； as if it had grown of itself； like a
mushroom。 But it was not at all mushroom…like； on the contrary； it was
very solidly built。 In form it resembled the Irish round towers； which have
puzzled people for so long； nobody being able to find out when； or by
whom； or for what purpose they were made； seemingly for no use at all；
like this tower。 It was circul
