the star-child-µÚ2½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
and¡¡selfish¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡children¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other
children¡¡of¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡he¡¡despised£»¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡of¡¡mean
parentage£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡was¡¡noble£»¡¡being¡¡sprang¡¡from¡¡a¡¡Star£»¡¡and¡¡he
made¡¡himself¡¡master¡¡over¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡called¡¡them¡¡his¡¡servants¡£¡¡¡¡No
pity¡¡had¡¡he¡¡for¡¡the¡¡poor£»¡¡or¡¡for¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡blind¡¡or¡¡maimed¡¡or
in¡¡any¡¡way¡¡afflicted£»¡¡but¡¡would¡¡cast¡¡stones¡¡at¡¡them¡¡and¡¡drive¡¡them
forth¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡highway£»¡¡and¡¡bid¡¡them¡¡beg¡¡their¡¡bread¡¡elsewhere£»¡¡so
that¡¡none¡¡save¡¡the¡¡outlaws¡¡came¡¡twice¡¡to¡¡that¡¡village¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡for
alms¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡as¡¡one¡¡enamoured¡¡of¡¡beauty£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡mock¡¡at
the¡¡weakly¡¡and¡¡ill¡favoured£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡jest¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡himself¡¡he
loved£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡summer£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡winds¡¡were¡¡still£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡lie¡¡by
the¡¡well¡¡in¡¡the¡¡priest's¡¡orchard¡¡and¡¡look¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡marvel¡¡of¡¡his
own¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡laugh¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡he¡¡had¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fairness¡£
Often¡¡did¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡chide¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡say£º¡¡¡¡'We¡¡did
not¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡thee¡¡as¡¡thou¡¡dealest¡¡with¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡left
desolate£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡none¡¡to¡¡succour¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Wherefore¡¡art¡¡thou¡¡so
cruel¡¡to¡¡all¡¡who¡¡need¡¡pity£¿'
Often¡¡did¡¡the¡¡old¡¡priest¡¡send¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡him¡¡the
love¡¡of¡¡living¡¡things£»¡¡saying¡¡to¡¡him£º¡¡¡¡'The¡¡fly¡¡is¡¡thy¡¡brother¡£¡¡¡¡Do
it¡¡no¡¡harm¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wild¡¡birds¡¡that¡¡roam¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡have¡¡their
freedom¡£¡¡¡¡Snare¡¡them¡¡not¡¡for¡¡thy¡¡pleasure¡£¡¡¡¡God¡¡made¡¡the¡¡blind¡worm
and¡¡the¡¡mole£»¡¡and¡¡each¡¡has¡¡its¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡art¡¡thou¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡pain
into¡¡God's¡¡world£¿¡¡¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡field¡¡praise¡¡Him¡£¡¨
But¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡heeded¡¡not¡¡their¡¡words£»¡¡but¡¡would¡¡frown¡¡and
flout£»¡¡and¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡companions£»¡¡and¡¡lead¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡his
companions¡¡followed¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fair£»¡¡and¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡foot£»¡¡and
could¡¡dance£»¡¡and¡¡pipe£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡music¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡wherever¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child
led¡¡them¡¡they¡¡followed£»¡¡and¡¡whatever¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡bade¡¡them¡¡do£»
that¡¡did¡¡they¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡when¡¡he¡¡pierced¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡reed¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡eyes
of¡¡the¡¡mole£»¡¡they¡¡laughed£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡cast¡¡stones¡¡at¡¡the¡¡leper
they¡¡laughed¡¡also¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡all¡¡things¡¡he¡¡ruled¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they
became¡¡hard¡¡of¡¡heart¡¡even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡£
Now¡¡there¡¡passed¡¡one¡¡day¡¡through¡¡the¡¡village¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡beggar¡woman¡£
Her¡¡garments¡¡were¡¡torn¡¡and¡¡ragged£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡were¡¡bleeding¡¡from
the¡¡rough¡¡road¡¡on¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡travelled£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡in¡¡very¡¡evil
plight¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡being¡¡weary¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡her¡¡down¡¡under¡¡a¡¡chestnut¡tree¡¡to
rest¡£
But¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡saw¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡his¡¡companions£»¡¡'See£¡
There¡¡sitteth¡¡a¡¡foul¡¡beggar¡woman¡¡under¡¡that¡¡fair¡¡and¡¡green¡leaved
tree¡£¡¡¡¡Come£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡drive¡¡her¡¡hence£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡is¡¡ugly¡¡and¡¡ill¡
favoured¡£'
So¡¡he¡¡came¡¡near¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡stones¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡mocked¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡she
looked¡¡at¡¡him¡¡with¡¡terror¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡she¡¡move¡¡her¡¡gaze
from¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡cleaving¡¡logs¡¡in¡¡a
haggard¡¡hard¡¡by£»¡¡saw¡¡what¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡was¡¡doing£»¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡up¡¡and
rebuked¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡to¡¡him£º¡¡¡¡'Surely¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡hard¡¡of¡¡heart¡¡and
knowest¡¡not¡¡mercy£»¡¡for¡¡what¡¡evil¡¡has¡¡this¡¡poor¡¡woman¡¡done¡¡to¡¡thee
that¡¡thou¡¡shouldst¡¡treat¡¡her¡¡in¡¡this¡¡wise£¿'
And¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡grew¡¡red¡¡with¡¡anger£»¡¡and¡¡stamped¡¡his¡¡foot¡¡upon
the¡¡ground£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡'Who¡¡art¡¡thou¡¡to¡¡question¡¡me¡¡what¡¡I¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡am
no¡¡son¡¡of¡¡thine¡¡to¡¡do¡¡thy¡¡bidding¡£'
'Thou¡¡speakest¡¡truly£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡Wood¡cutter£»¡¡'yet¡¡did¡¡I¡¡show
thee¡¡pity¡¡when¡¡I¡¡found¡¡thee¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡£'
And¡¡when¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡heard¡¡these¡¡words¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡cry£»¡¡and¡¡fell
into¡¡a¡¡swoon¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter¡¡carried¡¡her¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡house£»¡¡and
his¡¡wife¡¡had¡¡care¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡she¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡swoon¡¡into
which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡fallen£»¡¡they¡¡set¡¡meat¡¡and¡¡drink¡¡before¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡bade
her¡¡have¡¡comfort¡£
But¡¡she¡¡would¡¡neither¡¡eat¡¡nor¡¡drink£»¡¡but¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter£»
'Didst¡¡thou¡¡not¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡child¡¡was¡¡found¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest£¿¡¡¡¡And
was¡¡it¡¡not¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡from¡¡this¡¡day£¿'
And¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter¡¡answered£»¡¡'Yea£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡that¡¡I
found¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡from¡¡this¡¡day¡£'
'And¡¡what¡¡signs¡¡didst¡¡thou¡¡find¡¡with¡¡him£¿'¡¡she¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¡'Bare¡¡he¡¡not
upon¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡a¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡amber£¿¡¡¡¡Was¡¡not¡¡round¡¡him¡¡a¡¡cloak¡¡of¡¡gold
tissue¡¡broidered¡¡with¡¡stars£¿'
'Truly£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter£»¡¡'it¡¡was¡¡even¡¡as¡¡thou¡¡sayest¡£'
And¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡cloak¡¡and¡¡the¡¡amber¡¡chain¡¡from¡¡the¡¡chest¡¡where¡¡they
lay£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡them¡¡to¡¡her¡£
And¡¡when¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡she¡¡wept¡¡for¡¡joy£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡'He¡¡is¡¡my¡¡little
son¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡thee¡¡send¡¡for¡¡him¡¡quickly£»
for¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡him¡¡have¡¡I¡¡wandered¡¡over¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world¡£'
So¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡went¡¡out¡¡and¡¡called¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Star¡
Child£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡'Go¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡shalt¡¡thou
find¡¡thy¡¡mother£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡thee¡£'
So¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡in£»¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡wonder¡¡and¡¡great¡¡gladness¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡when¡¡he
saw¡¡her¡¡who¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡there£»¡¡he¡¡laughed¡¡scornfully¡¡and¡¡said£»
'Why£»¡¡where¡¡is¡¡my¡¡mother£¿¡¡¡¡For¡¡I¡¡see¡¡none¡¡here¡¡but¡¡this¡¡vile
beggar¡woman¡£'
And¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡answered¡¡him£»¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡thy¡¡mother¡£'
'Thou¡¡art¡¡mad¡¡to¡¡say¡¡so£»'¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡angrily¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡no
son¡¡of¡¡thine£»¡¡for¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡a¡¡beggar£»¡¡and¡¡ugly£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡rags¡£
Therefore¡¡get¡¡thee¡¡hence£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡thy¡¡foul¡¡face¡¡no¡¡more¡£'
'Nay£»¡¡but¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡indeed¡¡my¡¡little¡¡son£»¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡bare¡¡in¡¡the
forest£»'¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡her¡¡knees£»¡¡and¡¡held¡¡out¡¡her
arms¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡robbers¡¡stole¡¡thee¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡thee¡¡to
die£»'¡¡she¡¡murmured£»¡¡'but¡¡I¡¡recognised¡¡thee¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡thee£»¡¡and¡¡the
signs¡¡also¡¡have¡¡I¡¡recognised£»¡¡the¡¡cloak¡¡of¡¡golden¡¡tissue¡¡and¡¡the
amber¡¡chain¡£¡¡¡¡Therefore¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡thee¡¡come¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡for¡¡over¡¡the
whole¡¡world¡¡have¡¡I¡¡wandered¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡thee¡£¡¡¡¡Come¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡my
son£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡have¡¡need¡¡of¡¡thy¡¡love¡£'
But¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡stirred¡¡not¡¡from¡¡his¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡shut¡¡the¡¡doors
of¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡against¡¡her£»¡¡nor¡¡was¡¡there¡¡any¡¡sound¡¡heard¡¡save¡¡the
sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡weeping¡¡for¡¡pain¡£
And¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡bitter¡£
'If¡¡in¡¡very¡¡truth¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡my¡¡mother£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡better
hadst¡¡thou¡¡stayed¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡come¡¡here¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡me¡¡to¡¡shame£»
seeing¡¡that¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡child¡¡of¡¡some¡¡Star£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡a
beggar's¡¡child£»¡¡as¡¡thou¡¡tellest¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡Therefore¡¡get¡¡thee
hence£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡thee¡¡no¡¡more¡£'
'Alas£¡¡¡my¡¡son£»'¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡'wilt¡¡thou¡¡not¡¡kiss¡¡me¡¡before¡¡I¡¡go£¿¡¡¡¡For
I¡¡have¡¡suffered¡¡much¡¡to¡¡find¡¡thee¡£'
'Nay£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child£»¡¡'but¡¡thou¡¡art¡¡too¡¡foul¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at£»¡¡and
rather¡¡would¡¡I¡¡kiss¡¡the¡¡adder¡¡or¡¡the¡¡toad¡¡than¡¡thee¡£'
So¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡rose¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡away¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡weeping
bitterly£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡he¡¡was
glad£»¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡playmates¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡play¡¡with¡¡them¡£
But¡¡when¡¡they¡¡beheld¡¡him¡¡coming£»¡¡they¡¡mocked¡¡him¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡'Why£»
thou¡¡art¡¡as¡¡foul¡¡as¡¡the¡¡toad£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡loathsome¡¡as¡¡the¡¡adder¡£¡¡¡¡Get
thee¡¡hence£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡will¡¡not¡¡suffer¡¡thee¡¡to¡¡play¡¡with¡¡us£»'¡¡and¡¡they
drave¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garden¡£
And¡¡the¡¡Star¡Child¡¡frowned¡¡and¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡'What¡¡is¡¡this¡¡that
they¡¡say¡¡to¡¡me£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡well¡¡of¡¡water¡¡and¡¡look¡¡into¡¡it£»
and¡¡it¡¡shall¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡of¡¡my¡¡beauty¡£'
So¡¡he¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡well¡¡of¡¡water¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡lo£¡¡¡his
face¡¡was¡¡as¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡a¡¡toad£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡body¡¡was¡¡sealed¡¡like¡¡an
adder¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡flung¡¡himself¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡wept£»¡¡and¡¡said
to¡¡himself£»¡¡'Surely¡¡this¡¡has¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡by¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡my¡¡sin¡£¡¡¡¡For
I¡¡have¡¡denied¡¡my¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡driven¡¡her¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡been¡¡proud£»¡¡and
cruel¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Wherefore¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡and¡¡seek¡¡her¡¡through¡¡the¡¡whole
world£»¡¡nor¡¡will¡¡I¡¡rest¡¡till¡¡I¡¡have¡¡found¡¡her¡£'
And¡¡there¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him¡¡the¡¡little¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Woodcutter£»¡¡and
she¡¡put¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡'What¡¡doth¡¡it¡¡matter
if¡¡thou¡¡hast¡¡lost¡¡thy¡¡comeliness£¿¡¡¡¡Stay¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not
mock¡¡at¡¡thee¡£'
And¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡'Nay£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡cruel¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mother£»¡¡and
as¡¡a¡¡punishment¡¡has¡¡this¡¡evil¡¡been¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Wherefore¡¡I¡¡must¡¡go
hence£»¡¡and¡¡wander¡¡through¡¡the¡¡world¡¡till¡¡I¡¡find¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡give
me¡¡her¡¡forgiveness¡£'
So¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡and¡¡called¡¡out¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡come
to¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡day¡¡long¡¡he¡¡called¡¡to¡¡her£»
and£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡set¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡on¡¡a¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡leaves£»¡¡and
the¡¡birds¡¡and¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡fled¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡remembered¡¡his
cruelty£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡alone¡¡save¡¡for¡¡the¡¡toad¡¡that¡¡watched¡¡him£»¡¡and
the¡¡slow¡¡adder¡¡that¡¡crawled¡¡past¡£
And¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡plucked¡¡some¡¡bitter¡¡berries¡¡from
the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡ate¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡his¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡great¡¡wood£»
weeping¡¡sorely¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡of¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡he¡¡met¡¡he¡¡made¡¡inquiry¡¡if
perchance¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡his¡¡mother¡£
He¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Mole£»¡¡'Thou¡¡canst¡¡go¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡me£»¡¡is
my¡¡mother¡¡there£¿'
And¡¡the¡¡Mole¡¡answered£»¡¡'Thou¡¡hast¡¡blinded¡¡mine¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡should¡¡I
know£¿'
He¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Linnet£»¡¡'Thou¡¡canst¡¡fly¡¡over¡¡the¡¡tops¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tall
trees£»¡¡and¡¡canst¡¡see¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡me£»¡¡canst¡¡thou¡¡see¡¡my
mother£¿'
And¡¡the¡¡Linnet¡¡answered£»¡¡'Thou¡¡hast¡¡clipt¡¡my¡¡wings¡¡for¡¡thy
pleasure¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡should¡¡I¡¡fly£¿'
And¡¡to¡¡the¡¡little¡¡Squirrel¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fir¡tree£»¡¡and¡¡was
lonely£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'Where¡¡is¡¡my¡¡mother£¿'
And¡¡the¡¡Squi