28-the boys-第2节

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nets　into　the　stream。　　As　the　last　star　twinkled　out　of　the　sky
they　drew　them　in；　and　among　the　multitude　of　fishes　lay　two　with
scales　of　gold；　such　as　no　man　had　ever　looked　on。

They　all　gathered　round　and　wondered；　and　after　some　talk　they
decided　that　they　would　take　the　little　fishes　alive　as　they
were；　and　give　them　as　a　present　to　the　emperor。

'Do　not　take　us　there；　for　that　is　whence　we　came；　and　yonder
lies　our　destruction；'　said　one　of　the　fishes。

'But　what　are　we　to　do　with　you？'　asked　the　fisherman。

'Go　and　collect　all　the　dew　that　lies　on　the　leaves；　and　let　us
swim　in　it。　　Then　lay　us　in　the　sun；　and　do　not　come　near　us　till
the　sun's　rays　shall　have　dried　off　the　dew；'　answered　the　other
fish。

The　fisherman　did　as　they　told　himgathered　the　dew　from　the
leaves　and　let　them　swim　in　it；　then　put　them　to　lie　in　the　sun
till　the　dew　should　be　all　dried　up。

And　when　he　came　back；　what　do　you　think　he　saw？　　　Why；　two　boys；
two　beautiful　young　princes；　with　hair　as　golden　as　the　stars　on
their　foreheads；　and　each　so　like　the　other；　that　at　the　first
glance　every　one　would　have　known　them　for　twins。

The　boys　grew　fast。　　In　every　day　they　grew　a　year's　growth；　and
in　every　night　another　year's　growth；　but　at　dawn；　when　the　stars
were　fading；　they　grew　three　years'　growth　in　the　twinkling　of　an
eye。　　And　they　grew　in　other　things　besides　height；　too。　　Thrice
in　age；　and　thrice　in　wisdom；　and　thrice　in　knowledge。　　And　when
three　days　and　three　nights　had　passed　they　were　twelve　years　in
age；　twenty…four　in　strength；　and　thirty…six　in　wisdom。

'Now　take　us　to　our　father；'　said　they。　　So　the　fisherman　gave
them　each　a　lambskin　cap　which　half　covered　their　faces；　and
completely　hid　their　golden　hair　and　the　stars　on　their
foreheads；　and　led　them　to　the　court。

By　the　time　they　arrived　there　it　was　midday；　and　the　fisherman
and　his　charges　went　up　to　an　official　who　was　standing　about。　
'We　wish　to　speak　with　the　emperor；'　said　one　of　the　boys。

'You　must　wait　until　he　has　finished　his　dinner；'　replied　the
porter。

'No；　while　he　is　eating　it；'　said　the　second　boy；　stepping　across
the　threshold。

The　attendants　all　ran　forward　to　thrust　such　impudent　youngsters
outside　the　palace；　but　the　boys　slipped　through　their　fingers
like　quicksilver；　and　entered　a　large　hall；　where　the　emperor　was
dining；　surrounded　by　his　whole　court。

'We　desire　to　enter；'　said　one　of　the　princes　sharply　to　a
servant　who　stood　near　the　door。

'That　is　quite　impossible；'　replied　the　servant。

'Is　it？　let　us　see！'　said　the　second　prince；　pushing　the
servants　to　right　and　left。

But　the　servants　were　many；　and　the　princes　only　two。　　There　was
the　noise　of　a　struggle；　which　reached　the　emperor's　ears。

'What　is　the　matter？'　asked　he　angrily。

The　princes　stopped　at　the　sound　of　their　father's　voice。

'Two　boys　who　want　to　force　their　way　in；'　replied　one　of　the
servants；　approaching　the　emperor。

'To　FORCE　their　way　in？　　Who　dares　to　use　force　in　my　palace？　　
What　boys　are　they？'　said　the　emperor　all　in　one　breath。

'We　know　not；　O　mighty　emperor；'　answered　the　servant；　'but　they
must　surely　be　akin　to　you；　for　they　have　the　strength　of　lions；
and　have　scattered　the　guards　at　the　gate。　　And　they　are　as　proud
as　they　are　strong；　for　they　will　not　take　their　caps　from　their
heads。'

The　emperor；　as　he　listened；　grew　red　with　anger。

'Thrust　them　out；'　cried　he。　　'Set　the　dogs　after　them。'

'Leave　us　alone；　and　we　will　go　quietly；'　said　the　princes；　and
stepped　backwards；　weeping　silently　at　the　harsh　words。　　They　had
almost　reached　the　gates　when　a　servant　ran　up　to　them。

'The　emperor　commands　you　to　return；'　panted　he：　　'the　empress
wishes　to　see　you。'

The　princes　thought　a　moment：　　then　they　went　back　the　way　they
had　come；　and　walked　straight　up　to　the　emperor；　their　caps　still
on　their　heads。

He　sat　at　the　top　of　a　long　table　covered　with　flowers　and　filled
with　guests。　　And　beside　him　sat　the　empress；　supported　by　twelve
cushions。　　When　the　princes　entered　one　of　the　cushions　fell
down；　and　there　remained　only　eleven。

'Take　off　your　caps；'　said　one　of　the　courtiers。

'A　covered　head　is　among　men　a　sign　of　honour。　　We　wish　to　seem
what　we　are。'

'Never　mind；'　said　the　emperor；　whose　anger　had　dropped　before
the　silvery　tones　of　the　boy's　voice。　　'Stay　as　you　are；　but　tell
me　WHO　you　are！　　Where　do　you　come　from；　and　what　do　you　want？'

'We　are　twins；　two　shoots　from　one　stem；　which　has　been　broken；
and　half　lies　in　the　ground　and　half　sits　at　the　head　of　this
table。　　We　have　travelled　a　long　way；　we　have　spoken　in　the
rustle　of　the　wind；　have　whispered　in　the　wood；　we　have　sung　in
the　waters；　but　now　we　wish　to　tell　you　a　story　which　you　know
without　knowing　it；　in　the　speech　of　men。'

And　a　second　cushion　fell　down。

'Let　them　take　their　silliness　home；'　said　the　empress。

'Oh；　no；　let　them　go　on；'　said　the　emperor。　　'You　wished　to　see
them；　but　I　wish　to　hear　them。　　Go　on；　boys；　sing　me　the　story。'

The　empress　was　silent；　but　the　princes　began　to　sing　the　story
of　their　lives。

'There　was　once　an　emperor；'　began　they；　and　the　third　cushion
fell　down。

When　they　reached　the　warlike　expedition　of　the　emperor　three　of
the　cushions　fell　down　at　once。

And　when　the　tale　was　finished　there　were　no　more　cushions　under
the　empress；　but　the　moment　that　they　lifted　their　caps；　and
showed　their　golden　hair　and　the　golden　stars；　the　eyes　of　the
emperor　and　of　all　his　guests　were　bent　on　them；　and　they　could
hardly　bear　the　power　of　so　many　glances。

And　there　happened　in　the　end　what　should　have　happened　in　the
beginning。　　Laptitza　sat　next　her　husband　at　the　top　of　the
table。　　The　stepmother's　daughter　became　the　meanest　sewing　maid
in　the　palace；　the　stepmother　was　tied　to　a　wild　horse；　and　every
one　knew　and　has　never　forgotten　that　whoever　has　a　mind　turned
to　wickedness　is　sure　to　end　badly。

＇Rumanische　Marchen。＇