the little lame prince-第24节

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eet　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　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　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；　ragged；　half…naked；　covered　with　wounds　and　sores。　Some　of　them　dropped　dead　at　once；　others　dragged　themselves　on　a　little　way　and　then　lay　down；　dying　of　hunger；　and　vainly　begged　a　morsel　of　bread　from　others　who　were　entering　inwho　never　took　the　least　notice　of　them。

Cherry　perceived　one　woman；　who　was　trying　feebly　to　gather　and　eat　some　green　herbs。　〃Poor　thing！〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃I　know　what　it　is　to　be　hungry；　and　I　want　my　breakfast　badly　enough；　but　still　it　will　kill　me　to　wait　till　dinner　time；　and　my　crust　may　save　the　life　of　this　poor　woman。〃

So　the　little　dog　ran　up　to　her　and　dropped　his　bread　at　her　feet；　she　picked　it　up　and　ate　it　with　avidity。　Soon　she　looked　quite　recovered；　and　Cherry；　delighted；　was　trotting　back　again　to　his　kennel；　when　he　heard　loud　cries；　and　saw　a　young　girl　dragged　by　four　men　to　the　door　of　the　palace；　which　they　were　trying　to　compel　her　to　enter。　Oh；　how　he　wished　himself　a　monster　again；　as　when　he　slew　the　tiger！for　the　young　girl　was　no　other　than　his　beloved　Zelia。　Alas！　what　could　a　poor　little　dog　do　to　defend　her？　But　he　ran　forward　and　barked　at　the　men；　and　bit　their　heels；　until　at　last　they　chased　him　away　with　heavy　blows。　And　then　he　lay　down　outside　the　palace　door；　determined　to　watch　and　see　what　had　become　of　Zelia。

Conscience　pricked　him　now。　〃What！〃　thought　he；　〃I　am　furious　against　these　wicked　men；　who　are　carrying　her　away；　and　did　I　not　do　the　same　myself？　Did　I　not　cast　her　into　prison；　and　intend　to　sell　her　as　a　slave？　Who　knows　how　much　more　wickedness　I　might　not　have　done　to　her　and　others；　if　Heaven's　justice　had　not　stopped　me　in　time？〃

While　he　lay　thinking　and　repenting；　he　heard　a　window　open　and　saw　Zelia　throw　out　of　it　a　bit　of　dainty　meat。　Cherry；　who　felt　hungry　enough　by　this　time；　was　just　about　to　eat　it；　when　the　woman　to　whom　he　had　given　his　crust　snatched　him　up　in　her　arms

〃Poor　little　beast！〃　cried　she；　patting　him；　〃every　bit　of　food　in　that　palace　is　poisoned：　you　shall　not　touch　a　morsel。〃

And　at　the　same　time　the　voice　in　the　air　repeated　again；　〃Good　actions　never　go　unrewarded；〃　and　Cherry　found　himself　changed　into　a　beautiful　little　white　pigeon。　He　remembered　with　joy　that　white　was　the　color　of　the　fairy　Candide；　and　began　to　hope　that　she　was　taking　him　into　favor　again。

So　he　stretched　his　wings；　delighted　that　he　might　now　have　a　chance　of　approaching　his　fair　Zelia。　He　flew　up　to　the　palace　windows；　and；　finding　one　of　them　open；　entered　and　sought　everywhere；　but　he　could　not　find　Zelia。　Then；　in　despair；　he　flew　out　again；　resolved　to　go　over　the　world　until　he　beheld　her　once　more。

He　took　flight　at　once　and　traversed　many　countries；　swiftly　as　a　bird　can；　but　found　no　trace　of　his　beloved。　At　length　in　a　desert；　sitting　beside　an　old　hermit　in　his　cave　and　par…　taking　with　him　his　frugal　repast；　Cherry　saw　a　poor　peasant　girl　and　recognized　Zelia。　Transported　with　joy；　he　flew　in；　perched　on　her　shoulder；　and　expressed　his　delight　and　affection　by　a　thousand　caresses。

She；　charmed　with　the　pretty　little　pigeon；　caressed　it　in　her　turn；　and　promised　it　that　if　it　would　stay　with　her　she　would　love　it　always。

〃What　have　you　done；　Zelia？〃　said　the　hermit；　smiling；　and　while　he　spoke　the　white　pigeon　vanished；　and　there　stood　Prince　Cherry　in　his　own　natural　form。　〃Your　enchantment　ended；　prince；　when　Zelia　promised　to　love　you。　Indeed；　she　has　loved　you　always；　but　your　many　faults　constrained　her　to　hide　her　love。　These　are　now　amended；　and　you　may　both　live　happy　if　you　will；　because　your　union　is　founded　upon　mutual　esteem。〃

Cherry　and　Zelia　threw　themselves　at　the　feet　of　the　hermit；　whose　form　also　began　to　change。　His　soiled　garments　became　of　dazzling　whiteness；　and　his　long　beard　and　withered　face　grew　into　the　flowing　hair　and　lovely　countenance　of　the　fairy　Candide。

〃Rise　up；　my　children；〃　said　she；　〃I　must　now　transport　you　to　your　palace　and　restore　to　Prince　Cherry　his　father's　crown；　of　which　he　is　now　worthy。〃

She　had　scarcely　ceased　speaking　when　they　found　themselves　in　the　chamber　of　Suliman；　who；　delighted　to　find　again　his　beloved　pupil　and　master；　willingly　resigned　the　throne；　and　became　the　most　faithful　of　his　subjects。

King　Cherry　and　Queen　Zelia　reigned　together　for　many　years；　and　it　is　said　that　the　former　was　so　blameless　and　strict　in　all　his　duties　that　though　he　constantly　wore　the　ring　which　Candide　had　restored　to　him；　it　never　once　pricked　his　finger　enough　to　make　it　bleed。



THE　PRINCE　W