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第5节

part06-第5节

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of the prince was complete。

  〃Alas!〃 said he; 〃if love be indeed such a delight; and its

interruption such a misery; Allah forbid that I should mar the joy

of any of its votaries。〃 He opened the cage; took out the dove; and

having fondly kissed it; carried it to the window。 〃Go; happy bird;〃

said he; 〃rejoice with the partner of thy heart in the days of youth

and spring…time。 Why should I make thee a fellow…prisoner in this

dreary tower; where love can never enter?〃

  The dove flapped its wings in rapture; gave one vault into the

air; and then swooped downward on whistling wings to the blooming

bowers of the Darro。

  The prince followed him with his eyes; and then gave way to bitter

repining。 The singing of the birds which once delighted him; now added

to his bitterness。 Love! love! love! Alas; poor youth! he now

understood the strain。

  His eyes flashed fire when next he beheld the sage Bonabben。 〃Why

hast thou kept me in this abject ignorance?〃 cried he。 〃Why has the

great mystery and principle of life been withheld from me; in which

I find the meanest insect is so learned? Behold all nature is in a

revel of delight。 Every created being rejoices with its mate。 This…

this is the love about which I have sought instruction。 Why am I alone

debarred its enjoyment? Why has so much of my youth been wasted

without a knowledge of its raptures?〃

  The sage Bonabben saw that all further reserve was useless; for

the prince had acquired the dangerous and forbidden knowledge。 He

revealed to him; therefore; the predictions of the astrologers; and

the precautions that had been taken in his education to avert the

threatened evils。 〃And now; my prince;〃 added he; 〃my life is in

your hands。 Let the king your father discover that you have learned

the passion of love while under my guardianship; and my head must

answer for it。〃

  The prince was as reasonable as most young men of his age; and

easily listened to the remonstrances of his tutor; since nothing

pleaded against them。 Besides; he really was attached to Eben

Bonabben; and being as yet but theoretically acquainted with the

passion of love; he consented to confine the knowledge of it to his

own bosom; rather than endanger the head of the philosopher。

  His discretion was doomed; however; to be put to still further

proofs。 A few mornings afterwards; as he was ruminating on the

battlements of the tower; the dove which had been released by him came

hovering in the air; and alighted fearlessly upon his shoulder。

  The prince fondled it to his heart。 〃Happy bird;〃 said he; 〃who

can fly; as it were; with the wings of the morning to the uttermost

parts of the earth。 Where hast thou been since we parted?〃

  〃In a far country; my prince; whence I bring you tidings in reward

for my liberty。 In the wild compass of my flight; which extends over

plain and mountain; as I was soaring in the air; I beheld below me a

delightful garden with all kinds of fruits and flowers。 It was in a

green meadow; on the banks of a wandering stream; and in the centre of

the garden was a stately palace。 I alighted in one of the bowers to

repose after my weary flight。 On the green bank below me was a

youthful princess; in the very sweetness and bloom of her years。 She

was surrounded by female attendants; young like herself; who decked

her with garlands and coronets of flowers; but no flower of field or

garden could compare with her for loveliness。 Here; however; she

bloomed in secret; for the garden was surrounded by high walls; and no

mortal man was permitted to enter。 When I beheld this beauteous

maid; thus young and innocent and unspotted by the world; I thought;

here is the being formed by heaven to inspire my prince with love。〃

  The description was a spark of fire to the combustible heart of

Ahmed; all the latent amorousness of his temperament had at once found

an object; and he conceived an immeasurable passion for the

princess。 He wrote a letter; couched in the most impassioned language;

breathing his fervent devotion; but bewailing the unhappy thraldom

of his person; which prevented him from seeking her out and throwing

himself at her feet。 He added couplets of the most moving eloquence;

for he was a poet by nature; and inspired by love。 He addressed his

letter… 〃To the unknown beauty; from the captive Prince Ahmed〃;

then; perfuming it with musk and roses; he gave it to the dove。

  〃Away; trustiest of messengers!〃 said he。 〃Fly over mountain and

valley; and river; and plain; rest not in bower; nor set foot on

earth; until thou hast given this letter to the mistress of my heart。〃

  The dove soared high in air; and taking his course darted away in

one undeviating direction。 The prince followed him with his eye

until he was a mere speck on a cloud; and gradually disappeared behind

a mountain。

  Day after day he watched for the return of the messenger of love;

but he watched in vain。 He began to accuse him of forgetfulness;

when towards sunset one evening the faithful bird fluttered into his

apartment; and falling at his feet expired。 The arrow of some wanton

archer had pierced his breast; yet he had struggled with the

lingerings of life to execute his mission。 As the prince bent with

grief over this gentle martyr to fidelity; he beheld a chain of pearls

round his neck; attached to which; beneath his wing; was a small

enamelled picture。 It represented a lovely princess in the very flower

of her years。 It was doubtless the unknown beauty of the garden; but

who and where was she… how had she received his letter; and was this

picture sent as a token of her approval of his passion?

Unfortunately the death of the faithful dove left every thing in

mystery and doubt。

  The prince gazed on the picture till his eyes swam with tears。 He

pressed it to his lips and to his heart; he sat for hours

contemplating it almost in an agony of tenderness。 〃Beautiful

image!〃 said he; 〃alas; thou art but an image! Yet thy dewy eyes

beam tenderly upon me; those rosy lips look as though they would speak

encouragement: vain fancies! Have they not looked the same on some

more happy rival? But where in this wide world shall I hope to find

the original? Who knows what mountains; what realms may separate us;

what adverse chances may intervene? Perhaps now; even now; lovers

may be crowding around her; while I sit here a prisoner in a tower;

wasting my time in adoration of a painted shadow。〃

  The resolution of Prince Ahmed was taken。 〃I will fly from this

palace;〃 said he; 〃which has become an odious prison; and; a pilgrim

of love; will seek this unknown princess throughout the world。〃 To

escape from the tower in the day; when every one was awake; might be a

difficult matter; but at night the palace was slightly guarded; for no

one apprehended any attempt of the kind from the prince; who had

always been so passive in his captivity。 How was he to guide

himself; however; in his darkling flight; being ignorant of the

country?

  He bethought him of the owl; who was accustomed to roam at night;

and must know every by…lane and secret pass。 Seeking him in his

hermitage; he questioned him touching his knowledge of the land。

Upon this the owl put on a mighty self…important look。 〃You must know;

O prince;〃 said he; 〃that we owls are of a very ancient and

extensive family; though rather fallen to decay; and possess ruinous

castles and palaces in all parts of Spain。 There is scarcely a tower

of the mountains; or a fortress of the plains; or an old citadel of

a city; but has some brother or uncle; or cousin; quartered in it; and

in going the rounds to visit this my numerous kindred; I have pryed

into every nook and corner; and made myself acquainted with every

secret of the land。〃

  The prince was overjoyed to find the owl so deeply versed in

topography; and now informed him; in confidence; of his tender passion

and his intended elopement; urging him to be his companion and

counsellor。

  〃Go to!〃 said the owl; with a look of displeasure; 〃am I a bird to

engage in a love affair? I whose whole time is devoted to meditation

and the moon?〃

  〃Be not offended; most solemn owl;〃 replied the prince; 〃abstract

thyself for a time from meditation and the moon; and aid me in my

flight; and thou shalt have whatever heart can wish。〃

  〃I have that already;〃 said the owl: 〃a few mice are sufficient

for my frugal table; and this hole in the wall is spacious enough

for my studies; and what more does a philosopher like myself desire?〃

  〃Bethink thee; most wise owl; that while moping in thy cell and

gazing at the moon; all thy talents are lost to the world。 I shall one

day be a sovereign prince; and may advance thee to some post of

honor and dignity。〃

  The owl; though a philosopher and above the ordinary wants of

life; was not above ambition; so he was finally prevailed on to

elope with the prince; and be his guide and mentor in his pilgrimage。

  The plans of a lover are

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