太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > 04-the yellow dwarf >

第5节

04-the yellow dwarf-第5节

小说: 04-the yellow dwarf 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




next the sea being the only one which the Yellow Dwarf

had left unprotected by the dreadful burning walls。



〃I know quite well;〃 said the Mermaid; 〃that the

Princess is sitting by the brook…side; just where you saw her

as you passed; but as you will have many enemies to fight

with before you can reach her; take this sword; armed with

it you may dare any danger; and overcome the greatest

difficulties; only beware of one thingthat is; never to let

it fall from your hand。 Farewell; now I will wait by that

rock; and if you need my help in carrying off your beloved

Princess I will not fail you; for the Queen; her mother; is

my best friend; and it was for her sake that I went to

rescue you。〃



So saying; she gave to the King a sword made from a

single diamond; which was more brilliant than the sun。

He could not find words to express his gratitude; but he

begged her to believe that he fully appreciated the

importance of her gift; and would never forget her help and

kindness。



We must now go back to the Fairy of the Desert。 When

she found that the King did not return; she hastened out

to look for him; and reached the shore; with a hundred of

the ladies of her train; loaded with splendid presents for

him。 Some carried baskets full of diamonds; others

golden cups of wonderful workmanship; and amber; coral;

and pearls; others; again; balanced upon their heads bales

of the richest and most beautiful stuffs; while the rest

brought fruit and flowers; and even birds。 But what was

the horror of the Fairy; who followed this gay troop; when

she saw; stretched upon the sands; the image of the King

which the Mermaid had made with the sea…weeds。 Struck

with astonishment and sorrow; she uttered a terrible cry;

and threw herself down beside the pretended King; weeping;

and howling; and calling upon her eleven sisters; who

were also fairies; and who came to her assistance。 But

they were all taken in by the image of the King; for;

clever as they were; the Mermaid was still cleverer; and

all they could do was to help the Fairy of the Desert to

make a wonderful monument over what they thought was

the grave of the King of the Gold Mines。 But while they

were collecting jasper and porphyry; agate and marble;

gold and bronze; statues and devices; to immortalize the

King's memory; he was thanking the good Mermaid and

begging her still to help him; which she graciously promised

to do as she disappeared; and then he set out for the

Castle of Steel。 He walked fast; looking anxiously round

him; and longing once more to see his darling Bellissima;

but he had not gone far before he was surrounded by four

terrible sphinxes who would very soon have torn him to

pieces with their sharp talons if it had not been for the

Mermaid's diamond sword。 For; no sooner had he flashed

it before their eyes than down they fell at his feet quite

helpless; and he killed them with one blow。 But he had

hardly turned to continue his search when he met six

dragons covered with scales that were harder than iron。

Frightful as this encounter was the King's courage was

unshaken; and by the aid of his wonderful sword he cut

them in pieces one after the other。 Now he hoped his

difficulties were over; but at the next turning he was met

by one which he did not know how to overcome。 Four…

and…twenty pretty and graceful nymphs advanced toward

him; holding garlands of flowers; with which they

barred the way。



〃Where are you going; Prince?〃 they said; 〃it is our

duty to guard this place; and if we let you pass great

misfortunes will happen to you and to us。 We beg you not

to insist upon going on。 Do you want to kill four…and…

twenty girls who have never displeased you in any way?〃



The King did not know what to do or to say。 It went

against all his ideas as a knight to do anything a lady

begged him not to do; but; as he hesitated; a voice in his

ear said:



〃Strike! strike! and do not spare; or your Princess is lost

for ever!〃



So; without reply to the nymphs; he rushed forward

instantly; breaking their garlands; and scattering them in

all directions; and then went on without further hindrance

to the little wood where he had seen Bellissima。 She was

seated by the brook looking pale and weary when he

reached her; and he would have thrown himself down at

her feet; but she drew herself away from him with as

much indignation as if he had been the Yellow Dwarf



〃Ah! Princess;〃 he cried; 〃do not be angry with me。 Let

me explain everything。 I am not faithless or to blame for

what has happened。 I am a miserable wretch who has

displeased you without being able to help himself。〃



〃Ah!〃 cried Bellissima; 〃did I not see you flying through

the air with the loveliest being imaginable? Was that

against your will?〃



〃Indeed it was; Princess;〃 he answered; 〃the wicked

Fairy of the Desert; not content with chaining me to a

rock; carried me off in her chariot to the other end of the

earth; where I should even now be a captive but for the

unexpected help of a friendly mermaid; who brought me

here to rescue you; my Princess; from the unworthy hands

that hold you。 Do not refuse the aid of your most faithful

lover。〃 So saying; he threw himself at her feet and

held her by her robe。 But; alas! in so doing he let fall the

magic sword; and the Yellow Dwarf; who was crouching

behind a lettuce; no sooner saw it than he sprang out and

seized it; well knowing its wonderful power。



The Princess gave a cry of terror on seeing the Dwarf;

but this only irritated the little monster; muttering a few

magical words he summoned two giants; who bound the

King with great chains of iron。



〃Now;〃 said the Dwarf; 〃I am master of my rival's

fate; but I will give him his life and permission to depart

unharmed if you; Princess; will consent to marry me。〃



〃Let me die a thousand times rather;〃 cried the

unhappy King。



〃Alas!〃 cried the Princess; 〃must you die? Could

anything be more terrible?〃



〃That you should marry that little wretch would be far

more terrible;〃 answered the King。



〃At least;〃 continued she; 〃let us die together。〃



〃Let me have the satisfaction of dying for you; my

Princess;〃 said he。



〃Oh; no; no!〃 she cried; turning to the Dwarf; 〃rather

than that I will do as you wish。〃



〃Cruel Princess!〃 said the King; 〃would you make my

life horrible to me by marrying another before my eyes?〃



〃Not so;〃 replied the Yellow Dwarf; 〃you are a rival

of whom I am too much afraid; you shall not see our

marriage。〃 So saying; in spite of Bellissima's tears and

cries; he stabbed the King to the heart with the diamond

sword。



The poor Princess; seeing her lover lying dead at her

feet; could no longer live without him; she sank down by

him and died of a broken heart。



So ended these unfortunate lovers; whom not even the

Mermaid could help; because all the magic power had

been lost with the diamond sword。



As to the wicked Dwarf; he preferred to see the

Princess dead rather than married to the King of the Gold

Mines; and the Fairy of the Desert; when she heard of the

King's adventures; pulled down the grand monument

which she had built; and was so angry at the trick that

had been played her that she hated him as much as she

had loved him before。



The kind Mermaid; grieved at the sad fate of the lovers;

caused them to be changed into two tall palm trees; which

stand always side by side; whispering together of their

faithful love and caressing one another with their

interlacing branches。'1'





'1' Madame d'Aulnoy。


返回目录 上一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的