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04-the yellow dwarf-第4节

小说: 04-the yellow dwarf 字数: 每页4000字

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her the most lovely being she had ever seen。



〃What!〃 she cried; 〃was I not unhappy enough in this

lonely castle to which that frightful Yellow Dwarf

brought me? Must I also be made to know that the King

of the Gold Mines ceased to love me as soon as he lost

sight of me? But who can my rival be; whose fatal beauty

is greater than mine?〃



While she was saying this; the King; who really loved

her as much as ever; was feeling terribly sad at being so

rapidly torn away from his beloved Princess; but he knew

too well how powerful the Fairy was to have any hope of

escaping from her except by great patience and cunning。



The Fairy of the Desert had also seen Bellissima; and

she tried to read in the King's eyes the effect that this

unexpected sight had had upon him。



〃No one can tell you what you wish to know better than

I can;〃 said he。 〃This chance meeting with an unhappy

princess for whom I once had a passing fancy; before I

was lucky enough to meet you; has affected me a little; I

admit; but you are so much more to me than she is that

I would rather die than leave you。〃



〃Ah; Prince;〃 she said; 〃can I believe that you really

love me so much?〃



〃Time will show; madam;〃 replied the King; 〃but if you

wish to convince me that you have some regard for me; do

not; I beg of you; refuse to aid Bellissima。〃



〃Do you know what you are asking?〃 said the Fairy of

the Desert; frowning; and looking at him suspiciously。

〃Do you want me to employ my art against the Yellow

Dwarf; who is my best friend; and take away from him a

proud princess whom I can but look upon as my rival?〃



The King sighed; but made no answerindeed; what

was there to be said to such a clear…sighted person? At

last they reached a vast meadow; gay with all sorts of

flowers; a deep river surrounded it; and many little brooks

murmured softly under the shady trees; where it was

always cool and fresh。 A little way off stood a splendid

palace; the walls of which were of transparent emeralds。

As soon as the swans which drew the Fairy's chariot had

alighted under a porch; which was paved with diamonds

and had arches of rubies; they were greeted on all sides by

thousands of beautiful beings; who came to meet them

joyfully; singing these words:



  〃When Love within a heart would reign;

       Useless to strive against him 'tis。

  The proud but feel a sharper pain;

       And make a greater triumph his。〃





The Fairy of the Desert was delighted to hear them

sing of her triumphs; she led the King into the most

splendid room that can be imagined; and left him alone

for a little while; just that he might not feel that he was

a prisoner; but he felt sure that she had not really gone

quite away; but was watching him from some hiding…

place。 So walking up to a great mirror; he said to it;

〃Trusty counsellor; let me see what I can do to make

myself agreeable to the charming Fairy of the Desert; for I

can think of nothing but how to please her。〃



And he at once set to work to curl his hair; and; seeing

upon a table a grander coat than his own; he put it on

carefully。 The Fairy came back so delighted that she

could not conceal her joy。



〃I am quite aware of the trouble you have taken to

please me;〃 said she; 〃and I must tell you that you have

succeeded perfectly already。 You see it is not difficult to

do if you really care for me。〃



The King; who had his own reasons for wishing to keep

the old Fairy in a good humor; did not spare pretty

speeches; and after a time he was allowed to walk by

himself upon the sea…shore。 The Fairy of the Desert had

by her enchantments raised such a terrible storm that the

boldest pilot would not venture out in it; so she was not

afraid of her prisoner's being able to escape; and he found

it some relief to think sadly over his terrible situation

without being interrupted by his cruel captor。



Presently; after walking wildly up and down; he wrote

these verses upon the sand with his stick:



〃At last may I upon this shore

  Lighten my sorrow with soft tears。

Alas! alas! I see no more

  My Love; who yet my sadness cheers。



〃And thou; O raging; stormy Sea;

  Stirred by wild winds; from depth to height;

Thou hold'st my loved one far from me;

  And I am captive to thy might。



〃My heart is still more wild than thine;

  For Fate is cruel unto me。

Why must I thus in exile pine?

  Why is my Princess snatched from me?



〃O! lovely Nymphs; from ocean caves;

  Who know how sweet true love may be;

Come up and calm the furious waves

  And set a desperate lover free!〃





While he was still writing he heard a voice which

attracted his attention in spite of himself。 Seeing that the

waves were rolling in higher than ever; he looked all

round; and presently saw a lovely lady floating gently

toward him upon the crest of a huge billow; her long hair

spread all about her; in one hand she held a mirror; and in

the other a comb; and instead of feet she had a beautiful

tail like a fish; with which she swam。



The King was struck dumb with astonishment at this

unexpected sight; but as soon as she came within speaking

distance; she said to him; 〃I know how sad you are at

losing your Princess and being kept a prisoner by the Fairy

of the Desert; if you like I will help you to escape from

this fatal place; where you may otherwise have to drag on

a weary existence for thirty years or more。〃



The King of the Gold Mines hardly knew what answer

to make to this proposal。 Not because he did not wish

very much to escape; but he was afraid that this might

be only another device by which the Fairy of the Desert

was trying to deceive him。 As he hesitated the Mermaid;

who guessed his thoughts; said to him:



〃You may trust me: I am not trying to entrap you。 I

am so angry with the Yellow Dwarf and the Fairy of the

Desert that I am not likely to wish to help them;

especially since I constantly see your poor Princess; whose

beauty and goodness make me pity her so much; and I

tell you that if you will have confidence in me I will help

you to escape。〃



〃I trust you absolutely;〃 cried the King; 〃and I will do

whatever you tell me; but if you have seen my Princess I

beg of you to tell me how she is and what is happening to

her。



〃We must not waste time in talking;〃 said she。 〃Come

with me and I will carry you to the Castle of Steel; and

we will leave upon this shore a figure so like you that even

the Fairy herself will be deceived by it。〃



So saying; she quickly collected a bundle of sea…weed;

and; blowing it three times; she said:



〃My friendly sea…weeds; I order you to stay here

stretched upon the sand until the Fairy of the Desert

comes to take you away。〃 And at once the sea…weeds became

like the King; who stood looking at them in great

astonishment; for they were even dressed in a coat like

his; but they lay there pale and still as the King himself

might have lain if one of the great waves had overtaken

him and thrown him senseless upon the shore。 And then

the Mermaid caught up the King; and away they swam

joyfully together。



〃Now;〃 said she; 〃I have time to tell you about the

Princess。 In spite of the blow which the Fairy of the

Desert gave her; the Yellow Dwarf compelled her to

mount behind him upon his terrible Spanish cat; but she

soon fainted away with pain and terror; and did not recover

till they were within the walls of his frightful Castle

of Steel。 Here she was received by the prettiest girls it

was possible to find; who had been carried there by the

Yellow Dwarf; who hastened to wait upon her and showed

her every possible attention。 She was laid upon a couch

covered with cloth of gold; embroidered with pearls as big

as nuts。〃



〃Ah!〃 interrupted the King of the Gold Mines; 〃if

Bellissima forgets me; and consents to marry him; I shall

break my heart。〃



〃You need not be afraid of that;〃 answered the

Mermaid; 〃the Princess thinks of no one but you; and the

frightful Dwarf cannot persuade her to look at him。〃



〃Pray go on with your story;〃 said the King。



〃What more is there to tell you?〃 replied the Mermaid。

〃Bellissima was sitting in the wood when you passed; and

saw you with the Fairy of the Desert; who was so cleverly

disguised that the Princess took her to be prettier than

herself; you may imagine her despair; for she thought that

you had fallen in love with her。〃



〃She believes that I love her!〃 cried the King。 〃What

a fatal mistake! What is to be done to undeceive her?〃



〃You know best;〃 answered the Mermaid; smiling

kindly at him。 〃When people are as much in love with

one another as you two are; they don't need advice from

anyone else。〃



As she spoke they reached the Castle of Steel; the side

next the sea being the only one which the Yellow Dwarf

had left unprotected by the dreadful burning walls。

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