stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第30节
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powerful； if he grows into a bad man？ Make him the best prince in the
world； I beg you！〃
〃Alas； I cannot make him good；〃 said the fairy； 〃he must do that for
himself。 I can give him good advice； reprove him when he does wrong；
and punish him if he will not punish himself； I can and will be his best
friend； but I cannot make him good unless he wills it。〃
The king was sad to hear this； but he rejoiced in the friendship of the
fairy for his son。 And when he died； soon after； he was happy to know that
he left Prince Cherry in her hands。
Prince Cherry grieved for his father and often lay awake at night；
thinking of him。 One night； when he was all alone in his room； a soft and
lovely light suddenly shone before him； and a beautiful vision stood at his
side。 It was the good fairy。 She was clad in robes of dazzling white； and on
her shining hair she wore a wreath of white roses。
〃I am the Fairy Candide；〃 she said to the prince。 〃I promised your
father that I would be your best friend； and as long as you live I shall
watch over your happiness。 I have brought you a gift； it is not wonderful
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to look at； but it has a wonderful power for your welfare； wear it； and let it
help you。〃
As she spoke； she placed a small gold ring on the prince's little finger。
〃This ring；〃 she said； 〃will help you to be good； when you do evil； it will
prick you； to remind you。 If you do not heed its warnings a worse thing
will happen to you； for I shall become your enemy。〃 Then she vanished。
Prince Cherry wore his ring； and said nothing to any one of the fairy's
gift。 It did not prick him for a long time； because he was good and merry
and happy。 But Prince Cherry had been rather spoiled by his nurse when
he was a child； she had always said to him that when he should become
king he could do exactly as he pleased。 Now； after a while； he began to
find out that this was not true； and it made him angry。
The first time that he noticed that even a king could not always have
his own way was on a day when he went hunting。 It happened that he got
no game。 This put him in such a bad temper that he grumbled and scolded
all the way home。 The little gold ring began to feel tight and
uncomfortable。 When he reached the palace his pet dog ran to meet him。
〃Go away！〃 said the prince； crossly。
But the little dog was so used to being petted that he only jumped up
on his master； and tried to kiss his hand。 The prince turned and kicked the
little creature。 At the instant； he felt a sharp prick in his little finger； like a
pin prick。
〃What nonsense！〃 said the prince to himself。 〃Am I not king of the
whole land？ May I not kick my own dog； if I choose？ What evil is there in
that？〃
A silver voice spoke in his ear： 〃The king of the land has a right to do
good； but not evil； you have been guilty of bad temper and of cruelty to…
day； see that you do better to…morrow。〃
The prince turned sharply； but no one was to be seen； yet he
recognized the voice as that of Fairy Candide。
He followed her advice for a little； but presently he forgot； and the ring
pricked him so sharply that his finger had a drop of blood on it。 This
happened again and again； for the prince grew more self…willed and
headstrong every day； he had some bad friends； too； who urged him on； in
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the hope that he would ruin himself and give them a chance to seize the
throne。 He treated his people carelessly and his servants cruelly； and
everything he wanted he felt that he must have。
The ring annoyed him terribly； it was embarrassing for a king to have
a drop of blood on his finger all the time！ At last he took the ring off and
put it out of sight。 Then he thought he should be perfectly happy； having
his own way； but instead； he grew more unhappy as he grew less good。
Whenever he was crossed； or could not have his own way instantly； he
flew into a passion；
Finally； he wanted something that he really could not have。 This time
it was a most beautiful young girl； named Zelia； the prince saw her； and
loved her so much that he wanted at once to make her his queen。 To his
great astonishment； she refused。
〃Am I not pleasing to you？〃 asked the prince in surprise。
〃You are very handsome； very charming； Prince；〃 said Zelia； 〃but you
are not like the good king； your father； I fear you would make me very
miserable if I were your queen。〃
In a great rage； Prince Cherry ordered the young girl put in prison； and
the key of her dungeon he kept。 He told one of his friends； a wicked man
who flattered him for his own purposes； about the thing； and asked his
advice。
〃Are you not king？〃 said the bad friend； 〃May you not do as you will？
Keep the girl in a dungeon till she does as you command； and if she will
not； sell her as a slave。〃
〃But would it not be a disgrace for me to harm an innocent creature？〃
said the prince。
〃It would be a disgrace to you to have it said that one of your subjects
dared disobey you！〃 said the courtier。
He had cleverly touched the Prince's worst trait； his pride。 Prince
Cherry went at once to Zelia's dungeon； prepared to do this cruel thing。
Zelia was gone。 No one had the key save the prince himself； yet she
was gone。 The only person who could have dared to help her； thought the
prince； was his old tutor； Suliman； the only man left who ever rebuked him
for anything。 In fury； he ordered Suliman to be put in fetters and brought
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before him。
As his servants left him； to carry out the wicked order； there was a
clash； as of thunder； in the room； and then a blinding light。 Fairy Candide
stood before him。 Her beautiful face was stern； and her silver voice rang
like a trumpet； as she said； 〃Wicked and selfish prince； you have become
baser than the beasts you hunt； you are furious as a lion； revengeful as a
serpent； greedy as a wolf； and brutal as a bull； take； therefore； the shape of
those beasts whom you resemble！〃
With horror； the prince felt himself being transformed into a monster。
He tried to rush upon the fairy and kill her； but she had vanished with her
words。 As he stood； her voice came from the air； saying； sadly； 〃Learn to
conquer your pride by being in submission to your own subjects。〃 At the
same moment； Prince Cherry felt himself being transported to a distant
forest； where he was set down by a clear stream。 In the water he saw his
own terrible image； he had the head of a lion； with bull's horns； the feet of
a wolf； and a tail like a serpent。 And as he gazed in horror； the fairy's voice
whispered； 〃Your soul has become more ugly than your shape is； you
yourself have deformed it。〃
The poor beast rushed away from the sound of her words； but in a
moment he stumbled into a trap； set by bear…catchers。 When the trappers
found him they were delighted to have caught a curiosity； and they
immediately dragged him to the palace courtyard。 There he heard the
whole court buzzing with gossip。 Prince Cherry had been struck by
lightning and killed； was the news； and the five favorite courtiers had
struggled to make themselves rulers； but the people had refused them； and
offered the crown to Suliman； the good old tutor。
Even as he heard this； the prince saw Suliman on the steps of the
palace； speaking to the people。 〃I will take the crown to keep in trust；〃 he
said。 〃Perhaps the prince is not dead。〃
〃He was a bad king； we do not want him back；〃 said the people。
〃I know his heart；〃 said Suliman； 〃it is not all bad； it is tainted； but not
corrupt； perhaps he will repent and come back to us a good king。〃
When the beast heard this； it touched him so much that he stopped
tearing at his chains； and became gentle。 He let his keepers lead him away
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