the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第9节
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many may think so exceedingly to be pitied。 But if you had seen him as he
sat patiently untying his wonderful cloak； which was done up in a very
tight and perplexing parcel； using skillfully his deft little hands； and
knitting his brows with firm determination； while his eyes glistened with
pleasure and energy and eager anticipationif you had beheld him thus；
you might have changed your opinion。
When we see people suffering or unfortunate； we feel very sorry for
them； but when we see them bravely bearing their sufferings and making
the best of their misfortunes； it is quite a different feeling。 We respect； we
admire them。 One can respect and admire even a little child。
When Prince Dolor had patiently untied all the knots； a remarkable
thing happened。 The cloak began to undo itself。 Slowly unfolding； it laid
itself down on the carpet； as flat as if it had been ironed； the split joined
with a little sharp crick…crack； and the rim turned up all round till it was
breast…high； for meantime the cloak had grown and grown； and become
quite large enough for one person to sit in it as comfortable as if in a boat。
The Prince watched it rather anxiously； it was such an extraordinary；
not to say a frightening； thing。 However； he was no coward； but a thorough
boy； who； if he had been like other boys； would doubtless have grown up
daring and adventurousa soldier； a sailor； or the like。 As it was； he could
only show his courage morally； not physically； by being afraid of nothing；
and by doing boldly all that it was in his narrow powers to do。 And I am
not sure but that in this way he showed more real valor than if he had had
six pairs of proper legs。
He said to himself： 〃What a goose I am ！ As if my dear godmother
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would ever have given me anything to hurt me。 Here goes！〃
So； with one of his active leaps； he sprang right into the middle of the
cloak； where he squatted down； wrapping his arms tight round his knees；
for they shook a little and his heart beat fast。 But there he sat； steady and
silent； waiting for what might happen next。
Nothing did happen； and he began to think nothing would； and to feel
rather disappointed； when he recollected the words he had been told to
repeat〃Abracadabra； dum dum dum！〃
He repeated them； laughing all the while； they seemed such nonsense。
And thenand then
Now I don't expect anybody to believe what I am going to relate；
though a good many wise people have believed a good many sillier things。
And as seeing's believing； and I never saw it； I cannot be expected
implicitly to believe it myself； except in a sort of a way； and yet there is
truth in itfor some people。
The cloak rose； slowly and steadily； at first only a few inches； then
gradually higher and higher； till it nearly touched the skylight。 Prince
Dolor's head actually bumped against the glass； or would have done so had
he not crouched down； crying 〃Oh； please don't hurt me！〃 in a most
melancholy voice。
Then he suddenly remembered his godmother's express command
〃Open the skylight！〃
Regaining his courage at once； without a moment's delay he lifted up
his head and began searching for the boltthe cloak meanwhile remaining
perfectly still； balanced in the air。 But the minute the window was opened；
out it sailedright out into the clear； fresh air； with nothing between it and
the cloudless blue。
Prince Dolor had never felt any such delicious sensation before。 I can
understand it。 Cannot you？ Did you never think； in watching the rooks
going home singly or in pairs； soaring their way across the calm evening
sky till they vanish like black dots in the misty gray； how pleasant it must
feel to be up there； quite out of the noise and din of the world； able to hear
and see everything down below； yet troubled by nothing and teased by no
oneall alone； but perfectly content？
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The Little Lame Prince
Something like this was the happiness of the little lame Prince when
he got out of Hopeless Tower； and found himself for the first time in the
pure open air； with the sky above him and the earth below。
True； there was nothing but earth and sky； no houses； no trees； no
rivers； mountains； seas not a beast on the ground； or a bird in the air。 But
to him even the level plain looked beautiful； and then there was the
glorious arch of the sky； with a little young moon sitting in the west like a
baby queen。 And the evening breeze was so sweet and freshit kissed him
like his godmother's kisses； and by and by a few stars came outfirst two
or three； and then quantities quantities！ so that when he began to count
them he was utterly bewildered。
By this time； however； the cool breeze had become cold； the mist
gathered； and as he had； as he said； no outdoor clothes； poor Prince Dolor
was not very comfortable。 The dews fell damp on his curlshe began to
shiver。
〃Perhaps I had better go home；〃 thought he。
But how？ For in his excitement the other words which his godmother
had told him to use had slipped his memory。 They were only a little
different from the first； but in that slight difference all the importance lay。
As he repeated his 〃Abracadabra；〃 trying ever so many other syllables
after it； the cloak only went faster and faster； skimming on through the
dusky； empty air。
The poor little Prince began to feel frightened。 What if his wonderful
traveling…cloak should keep on thus traveling； perhaps to the world's end；
carrying with it a poor； tired； hungry boy； who； after all； was beginning to
think there was something very pleasant in supper and bed！
〃Dear godmother；〃 he cried pitifully； 〃do help me！ Tell me just this
once and I'll never forget again。〃
Instantly the words came rushing into his head〃Abracadabra； tum
tum ti！〃 Was that it？ Ah！ yesfor the cloak began to turn slowly。 He
repeated the charm again； more distinctly and firmly； when it gave a gentle
dip； like a nod of satisfaction； and immediately started back； as fast as ever；
in the direction of the tower。
He reached the skylight； which he found exactly as he had left it； and
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The Little Lame Prince
slipped in； cloak and all； as easily as he had got out。 He had scarcely
reached the floor； and was still sitting in the middle of his traveling…cloak；…
…like a frog on a water…lily leaf； as his godmother had expressed it；when
he heard his nurse's voice outside。
〃Bless us！ what has become of your Royal Highness all this time？ To
sit stupidly here at the window till it is quite dark； and leave the skylight
open； too。 Prince！ what can you be thinking of？ You are the silliest boy I
ever knew。〃
〃Am I？〃 said he absently； and never heeding her crossness； for his only
anxiety was lest she might find out anything。
She would have been a very clever person to have done so。 The instant
Prince Dolor got off it； the cloak folded itself up into the tiniest possible
parcel； tied all its own knots； and rolled itself of its own accord into the
farthest and darkest corner of the room。 If the nurse had seen it； which she
didn't； she would have taken it for a mere bundle of rubbish not worth
noticing。
Shutting the skylight with an angry bang； she brought in the supper
and lit the candles with her usual unhappy expression of countenance。 But
Prince Dolor hardly saw it； he only saw； hid in the corner where nobody
else would see it； his wonderful traveling…cloak。 And though his supper
was not particularly nice； he ate it heartily； scarcely hearing a word of his
nurse's grumbling； which to…night seemed to have taken the place of her
sullen silence。
〃Poor woman！〃 he thought； when he paused a minute to listen and
look at her with those quiet； happy eyes； so like his mother's。 〃Poor
woman！ she hasn't got a traveling…cloak！〃
And when he was left alone at last； and crept in
