王尔德童话四则(英文版)-第4部分

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But　his　face　was　strangely　pale；　and　as　he　fell　upon　the　deck　the

blood　gushed　from　his　ears　and　nostrils。　　He　quivered　for　a　little；

and　then　he　was　still。　　The　negroes　shrugged　their　shoulders；　and

threw　the　body　overboard。



And　the　master　of　the　galley　laughed；　and；　reaching　out；　he　took

the　pearl；　and　when　he　saw　it　he　pressed　it　to　his　forehead　and

bowed。　　'It　shall　be；'　he　said；　'for　the　sceptre　of　the　young

King；'　and　he　made　a　sign　to　the　negroes　to　draw　up　the　anchor。



And　when　the　young　King　heard　this　he　gave　a　great　cry；　and　woke；

and　through　the　window　he　saw　the　long　grey　fingers　of　the　dawn

clutching　at　the　fading　stars。





And　he　fell　asleep　again；　and　dreamed；　and　this　was　his　dream。



He　thought　that　he　was　wandering　through　a　dim　wood；　hung　with

strange　fruits　and　with　beautiful　poisonous　flowers。　　The　adders

hissed　at　him　as　he　went　by；　and　the　bright　parrots　flew　screaming

from　branch　to　branch。　　Huge　tortoises　lay　asleep　upon　the　hot　mud。

The　trees　were　full　of　apes　and　peacocks。



On　and　on　he　went；　till　he　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　wood；　and

there　he　saw　an　immense　multitude　of　men　toiling　in　the　bed　of　a

dried…up　river。　　They　swarmed　up　the　crag　like　ants。　　They　dug　deep

pits　in　the　ground　and　went　down　into　them。　　Some　of　them　cleft　the

rocks　with　great　axes；　others　grabbled　in　the　sand。



They　tore　up　the　cactus　by　its　roots；　and　trampled　on　the　scarlet

blossoms。　　They　hurried　about；　calling　to　each　other；　and　no　man

was　idle。



From　the　darkness　of　a　cavern　Death　and　Avarice　watched　them；　and

Death　said；　'I　am　weary；　give　me　a　third　of　them　and　let　me　go。'

But　Avarice　shook　her　head。　　'They　are　my　servants；'　she　answered。



And　Death　said　to　her；　'What　hast　thou　in　thy　hand？'



'I　have　three　grains　of　corn；'　she　answered；　'what　is　that　to

thee？'



'Give　me　one　of　them；'　cried　Death；　'to　plant　in　my　garden；　only

one　of　them；　and　I　will　go　away。'



'I　will　not　give　thee　anything；'　said　Avarice；　and　she　hid　her　hand

in　the　fold　of　her　raiment。



And　Death　laughed；　and　took　a　cup；　and　dipped　it　into　a　pool　of

water；　and　out　of　the　cup　rose　Ague。　　She　passed　through　the　great

multitude；　and　a　third　of　them　lay　dead。　　A　cold　mist　followed　her；

and　the　water…snakes　ran　by　her　side。



And　when　Avarice　saw　that　a　third　of　the　multitude　was　dead　she

beat　her　breast　and　wept。　　She　beat　her　barren　bosom；　and　cried

aloud。　　'Thou　hast　slain　a　third　of　my　servants；'　she　cried；　'get

thee　gone。　　There　is　war　in　the　mountains　of　Tartary；　and　the　kings

of　each　side　are　calling　to　thee。　　The　Afghans　have　slain　the　black

ox；　and　are　marching　to　battle。　　They　have　beaten　upon　their

shields　with　their　spears；　and　have　put　on　their　helmets　of　iron。

What　is　my　valley　to　thee；　that　thou　shouldst　tarry　in　it？　　Get

thee　gone；　and　come　here　no　more。'



'Nay；'　answered　Death；　'but　till　thou　hast　given　me　a　grain　of　corn

I　will　not　go。'



But　Avarice　shut　her　hand；　and　clenched　her　teeth。　　'I　will　not

give　thee　anything；'　she　muttered。



And　Death　laughed；　and　took　up　a　black　stone；　and　threw　it　into　the

forest；　and　out　of　a　thicket　of　wild　hemlock　came　Fever　in　a　robe

of　flame。　　She　passed　through　the　multitude；　and　touched　them；　and

each　man　that　she　touched　died。　　The　grass　withered　beneath　her

feet　as　she　walked。



And　Avarice　shuddered；　and　put　ashes　on　her　head。　　'Thou　art

cruel；'　she　cried；　'thou　art　cruel。　　There　is　famine　in　the　walled

cities　of　India；　and　the　cisterns　of　Samarcand　have　run　dry。　　There

is　famine　in　the　walled　cities　of　Egypt；　and　the　locusts　have　come

up　from　the　desert。　　The　Nile　has　not　overflowed　its　banks；　and　the

priests　have　cursed　Isis　and　Osiris。　　Get　thee　gone　to　those　who

need　thee；　and　leave　me　my　servants。'



'Nay；'　answered　Death；　'but　till　thou　hast　given　me　a　grain　of　corn

I　will　not　go。'



'I　will　not　give　thee　anything；'　said　Avarice。



And　Death　laughed　again；　and　he　whistled　through　his　fingers；　and　a

woman　came　flying　through　the　air。　　Plague　was　written　upon　her

forehead；　and　a　crowd　of　lean　vultures　wheeled　round　her。　　She

covered　the　valley　with　her　wings；　and　no　man　was　left　alive。



And　Avarice　fled　shrieking　through　the　forest；　and　Death　leaped

upon　his　red　horse　and　galloped　away；　and　his　galloping　was　faster

than　the　wind。



And　out　of　the　slime　at　the　bottom　of　the　valley　crept　dragons　and

horrible　things　with　scales；　and　the　jackals　came　trotting　along

the　sand；　sniffing　up　the　air　with　their　nostrils。



And　the　young　King　wept；　and　said：　　'Who　were　these　men；　and　for

what　were　they　seeking？'



'For　rubies　for　a　king's　crown；'　answered　one　who　stood　behind　him。



And　the　young　King　started；　and；　turning　round；　he　saw　a　man

habited　as　a　pilgrim　and　holding　in　his　hand　a　mirror　of　silver。



And　he　grew　pale；　and　said：　　'For　what　king？'



And　the　pilgrim　answered：　　'Look　in　this　mirror；　and　thou　shalt　see

him。'



And　he　looked　in　the　mirror；　and；　seeing　his　own　face；　he　gave　a

great　cry　and　woke；　and　the　bright　sunlight　was　streaming　into　the

room；　and　from　the　trees　of　the　garden　and　pleasaunce　the　birds

were　singing。





And　the　Chamberlain　and　the　high　officers　of　State　came　in　and　made

obeisance　to　him；　and　the　pages　brought　him　the　robe　of　tissued

gold；　and　set　the　crown　and　the　sceptre　before　him。



And　the　young　King　looked　at　them；　and　they　were　beautiful。　　More

beautiful　were　they　than　aught　that　he　had　ever　seen。　　But　he

remembered　his　dreams；　and　he　said　to　his　lords：　　'Take　these

things　away；　for　I　will　not　wear　them。'



And　the　courtiers　were　amazed；　and　some　of　them　laughed；　for　they

thought　that　he　was　jesting。



But　he　spake　sternly　to　them　again；　and　said：　　'Take　these　things

away；　and　hide　them　from　me。　　Though　it　be　the　day　of　my

coronation；　I　will　not　wear　them。　　For　on　the　loom　of　Sorrow；　and

by　the　white　hands　of　Pain；　has　this　my　robe　been　woven。　　There　is

Blood　in　the　heart　of　the　ruby；　and　Death　in　the　heart　of　the

pearl。'　　And　he　told　them　his　three　dreams。



And　when　the　courtiers　heard　them　they　looked　at　each　other　and

whispered；　saying：　　'Surely　he　is　mad；　for　what　is　a　dream　but　a

dream；　and　a　vision　but　a　vision？　　They　are　not　real　things　that

one　should　heed　them。　　And　what　have　we　to　do　with　the　lives　of

those　who　toil　for　us？　　Shall　a　man　not　eat　bread　till　he　has　seen

the　sower；　nor　drink　wine　till　he　has　talked　with　the　vinedresser？'



And　the　Chamberlain　spake　to　the　young　King；　and　said；　'My　lord；　I

pray　thee　set　aside　these　black　thoughts　of　thine；　and　put　on　this

fair　robe；　and　set　this　crown　upon　thy　head。　　For　how　shall　the

people　know　that　thou　art　a　king；　if　thou　hast　not　a　king's

raiment？'



And　the　young　King　looked　at　him。　　'Is　it　so；　indeed？'　he

questioned。　　'Will　they　not　know　me　for　a　king　if　I　have　not　a

king's　raiment？'



'They　will　not　know　thee；　my　lord；'　cried　the　Chamberlain。



'I　had　thought　that　there　had　been　men　who　were　kinglike；'　he

answered；　'but　it　may　be　as　thou　sayest。　　And　yet　I　will　not　wear

this　robe；　nor　will　I　be　crowned　with　this　crown；　but　even　as　I

came　to　the　palace　so　will　I　go　forth　from　it。'



And　he　bade　them　all　leave　him；　save　one　page　whom　he　kept　as　his

companion；　a　lad　a　year　younger　than　himself。　　Him　he　kept　for　his

service；　and　when　he　had　bathed　himself　in　clear　water；　he　opened　a

great　painted　chest；　and　from　it　he　took　the　leathern　tunic　and

rough　sheepskin　cloak　that　he　had　worn　when　he　had　watched　on　the

hillside　the　shaggy　goats　of　the　goatherd。　　These　he　put　on；　and　in

his　hand　he　took　his　rude　shepherd's　staff。



And　the　little　page　opened　his　big　blue　eyes　in　wonder；　and　said

smiling　to　him；　'My　lord；　I　see　thy　robe　and　thy　sceptre；　but　where

is　thy　crown？'



And　the　young　King　plucked　a　spray　of　wild　briar　that　was　climbing

over　the　balcony；　and　bent　it；　and　made　a　circlet　of　it；　and　set　it

on　his　own　head。



'This　shall　he　my　crown；'　he　answered。



And　thus　attired　he　passed　out　of　his　chamber　into　the　Great　Hall；

where　the　nobles　were　waiting　for　him。



And　the　nobles　made　merry；　and　some　of　them　cried　out　to　him；　'My

lord；　the　people　wait　for　their　king；　and　thou　showest　them　a

beggar；'　and　others　were　wroth　and　said；　'He　brings　shame　upon　our

state；　and　is　unworthy　to　be　our　master。'　　But　he　answered　them　not

a　word；　but　passed　on；　and　went　down　the　bright　porphyry　staircase；

and　out　through　the　gates　of　bronze；　and　mounted　upon　his　horse；

and　rode　towards　the　cathedral；　the　little　page　running　beside　him。



And　the　people　laughed　and　said；　'It　is　the　King's　fool　who　is

riding　by；'　and　they　mocked　him。



And　he　drew　rein　and　said；　'Nay；　but　I　am　the　King。'　　And　he　told

them　his　three　dreams。



And　a　man　came　out　of　the　crowd　and　spake　bitterly　to　him；　and

said；　'Sir；　knowest　thou　not　that　out　of　the　luxury　of　the　rich

cometh　the　life　of　the　poor？　　By　your　pomp　we　are　nurtured；　and

your　vices　give　us　bread。　　To　toil　for　a　hard　master　is　bitter；　but

to　have　no　master　to　toil　for　is　more　bitter　still。　　Thinkest　thou

that　the　ravens　will　feed　us？　　And　what　cure　hast　thou　for　these

things？　　Wilt　thou　say　to　the　buyer；　〃Thou　shalt　buy　for　so　much；〃

and　to　the　seller；　〃Thou　shalt　sell　at　this　price〃？　　I　trow　not。

Therefore　go　back　to　thy　Palace　and　put　on　thy　purple　and　fine

linen。　　What　hast　thou　to　do　with　us；　and　what　we　suffer？'



'Are　not　the　rich　and　the　poor　brothers？'　asked　the　young　King。



'Ay；'　answered　the　man；　'and　the　name　of　the　rich　brother　is　Cain。'



And　the　young　King's　eyes　filled　with　tears；　and　he　rode　on　through

the　murmurs　of　the　people；　and　the　little　page　grew　afraid　and　left

him。



And　when　he　reached　the　great　portal　of　the　cathedral；　the　soldiers

thrust　their　halberts　out　and　said；　'What　dost　thou　seek　here？

None　enters　by　this　door　but　the　King。'



And　his　face　flushed　with　anger；　and　he　said　to　them；　'I　am　the

King；'　and　waved　their　halberts　aside　and　passed　in。



And　when　the　old　Bishop　saw　him　coming　in　his　goatherd's　dress；　he

rose　up　in　wonder　from　his　throne；　and　went　to　meet　him；　and　said

to　him；　'My　son；　is　this　a　king's　apparel？　　And　with　what　crown

shall　I　crown　thee；　and　what　sceptre　shall　I　place　in　thy　hand？

Surely　this　should　be　to　thee　a　day　of　joy；　and　not　a　day　of

abasement。'



'Shall　Joy　wear　what　Grief　has　fashioned？'　said　the　young　King。

And　he　told　him　his　three　dreams。



And　when　the　Bishop　had　heard　them　he　knit　his　brows；　and　said；　'My

son；　I　am　an　old　man；　and　in　the　winter　of　my　days；　and　I　know　that

many　evil　things　are　done　in　the　wide　world。　　The　fierce　robbers

come　down　from　the　mountains；　and　carry　off　the　little　children；

and　sell　them　to　the　Moors。　　The　lions　lie　in　wait　for　the

caravans；　and　leap　upon　the　camels。　　The　wild　boar　roots　up　the

corn　in　the　valley；　and　the　foxes　gnaw　the　vines　upon　the　hill。

The　pirates　lay　waste　the　sea…coast　and　burn　the　ships　of　the

fishermen；　and　take　their　nets　from　them。　　In　the　salt…marshes　live

the　lepers；　they　have　houses　of　wattled　reeds；　and　none　may　come

nigh　them。　　The　beggars　wander　through　the　cities；　and　eat　their

food　with　the　dogs。　　Canst　thou　make　these　things　not　to　be？　　Wilt

thou　take　the　leper　for　thy　bedfellow；　and　set　the　beggar　at　thy

board？　　Shall　the　lion　do　thy　bidding；　and　the　wild　boar　obey　thee？

Is　not　He　who　made　misery　wiser　than　thou　art？　　Wherefore　I　praise

thee　not　for　this　that　thou　hast　done；　but　I　bid　thee　ride　back　to

the　Palace　and　make　thy　face　glad；　and　put　on　the　raiment　that

beseemeth　a　king；　and　with　the　crown　of　gold　I　will　crown　thee；　and

the　sceptre　of　pearl　will　I　place　in　thy　hand。　　And　as　for　thy

dreams；　think　no　more　of　them。　　The　burden　of　this　world　is　too

great　for　one　man　to　bear；　and　the　world's　sorrow　too　heavy　for　one

heart　to　suffer。'



'Sayest　thou　that　in　this　house？'　said　the　young　King；　and　he

strode　past　the　Bishop；　and　climbed　up　the　steps　of　the　altar；　and

stood　before　the　image　of　Christ。



He　stood　before　the　image　of　Christ；　and　on　his　right　hand　and　on

his　left　were　the　marvellous　vessels　of　gold；　the　chalice　with　the

yellow　wine；　and　the　vial　with　the　holy　oil。　　He　knelt　before　the

image　of　Christ；　and　the　great　candles　burned　brightly　by　the

jewelled　shrine；　and　the　smoke　of　the　incense　curled　in　thin　blue

wreaths　through　the　dome。　　He　bowed　his　head　in　prayer；　and　the

priests　in　their　stiff　copes　crept　away　from　the　altar。



And　suddenly　a　wild　tumult　came　from　the　street　outside；　and　in

entered　the　nobles　with　drawn　swords　and　nodding　plumes；　and

shields　of　polished　steel。　　'Where　is　this　dreamer　of　dreams？'　they

cried。　　'Where　is　this　King　who　is　apparelled　like　a　beggar　…　this

boy　who　brings　shame　upon　our　state？　　Surely　we　will　slay　him；　for

he　is　unworthy　to　rule　over　us。'



And　the　young　King　bowed　his　head　again；　and　prayed；　and　when　he

had　finished　his　prayer　he　rose　up；　and　turning　round　he　looked　at

them　sadly。



And　lo！　through　the　painted　windows　came　the　sunlight　streaming

upon　him；　and　the　sun…beams　wove　round　him　a　tissued　robe　that　was

fairer　than　the　robe　that　had　been　fashioned　for　his　pleasure。　　The

dead　staff　blossomed；　and　bare　lilies　that　were　whiter　than　pearls。

The　dry　thorn　blossomed；　and　bare　roses　that　were　redder　than

rubies。　　Whiter　than　fine　pearls　were　the　lilies；　and　their　stems

were　of　bright　silver。　　Redder　than　male　rubies　were　the　roses；　and

their　leaves　were　of　beaten　gold。



He　stood　there　in　the　raiment　of　a　king；　and　the　gates　of　the

jewelled　shrine　flew　open；　and　from　the　crystal　of　the　many…rayed

monstrance　shone　a　marvellous　and　mystical　light。　　He　stood　there

in　a　king's　raiment；　and　the　Glory　of　God　filled　the　place；　and　the

saints　in　their　carven　niches　seemed　to　move。　　In　the　fair　raiment

of　a　king　he　stood　before　them；　and　the　organ　pealed　out　its　music；

and　the　trumpeters　blew　upon　their　trumpets；　and　the　singing　boys

sang。



And　the　people　fell　upon　their　knees　in　awe；　and　the　nobles

sheathed　their　swords　and　did　homage；　and　the　Bishop's　face　grew

pale；　and　his　hands　trembled。　　'A　greater　than　I　hath　crowned

thee；'　he　cried；　and　he　knelt　before　him。



And　the　young　King　came　down　from　the　high　altar；　and　passed　home

through　the　midst　of　the　people。　　But　no　man　dared　look　upon　his

face；　for　it　was　like　the　face　of　an　angel。


　



星孩
THE　STAR…CHILD


＇TO　MISS　MARGOT　TENNANT　…　MRS。　ASQUITH＇





Once　upon　a　time　two　poor　Woodcutters　were　making　their　way　home

through　a　great　pine…forest。　　It　was　winter；　and　a　night　of　bitter

cold。　　The　snow　lay　thick　upon　the　ground；　and　upon　the　branches　of

the　trees：　　the　frost　kept　snapping　the　little　twigs　on　either　side

of　them；　as　they　passed：　　and　when　they　came　to　the　Mountain…

Torrent　she　was　hanging　motionless　in　air；　for　the　Ice…King　had

kissed　her。



So　cold　was　it　that　even　the　animals　and　the　birds　did　not　know

what　to　make　of　it。



'Ugh！'　snarled　the　Wolf；　as　he　limped　through　the　brushwood　with

his　tail　between　his　legs；　'this　is　perfectly　monstrous　weather。

Why　doesn't　the　Government　look　to　it？'



'Weet！　weet！　weet！'　twittered　the　green　Linnets；　'the　old　Earth　is

dead　and　they　have　laid　her　out　in　her　white　shroud。'



'The　Earth　is　going　to　be　married；　and　this　is　her　bridal　dress；'

whispered　the　Turtle…doves　to　each　other。　　Their　little　pink　feet

were　quite　frost…bitten；　but　they　felt　that　it　was　their　duty　to

take　a　romantic　view　of　the　situation。



'Nonsense！'　growled　the　Wolf。　　'I　tell　you　that　it　is　all　the　fault

of　the　Government；　and　if　you　don't　believe　me　I　shall　eat　you。'

The　Wolf　had　a　thoroughly　practical　mind；　and　was　never　at　a　loss

for　a　good　argument。



'Well；　for　my　own　part；'　said　the　Woodpecker；　who　was　a　born

philosopher；　'I　don't　care　an　atomic　theory　for　explanations。　　If　a

thing　is　so；　it　is　so；　and　at　present　it　is　terribly　cold。'



Terribly　cold　it　certainly　was。　　The　little　Squirrels；　who　lived

inside　the　tall　fir…tree；　kept　rubbing　each　other's　noses　to　keep

themselves　warm；　and　the　Rabbits　curled　themselves　up　in　their

holes；　and　did　not　venture　even　to　look　out　of　doors。　　The　only

people　who　seemed　to　enjoy　it　were　the　great　horned　Owls。　　Their

feathers　e；　but　they　did　not　mind；　and

they　rolled　their　large　yellow　eyes；　and　called　out　to　each　other

across　the　forest；　'Tu…whit！　　Tu…whoo！　　Tu…whit！　　Tu…whoo！　what

delightful　weather　we　are　having！'



On　and　on　went　the　two　Woodcutters；　blowing　lustily　upon　their

fingers；　and　stamping　with　their　huge　iron…shod　boots　upon　the

caked　snow。　　Once　they　sank　into　a　deep　drift；　and　came　out　as

white　as　millers　are；　when　the　stones　are　grinding；　and　once　they

slipped　on　the　hard　smooth　ice　where　the　marsh…water　was　frozen；

and　their　faggots　fell　out　of　their　bundles；　and　they　had　to　pick

them　up　and　bind　them　together　again；　and　once　they　thought　that

they　had　lost　their　way；　and　a　great　terror　seized　on　them；　for

they　knew　that　the　Snow　is　cruel　to　those　who　sleep　in　her　arms。

But　they　put　their　trust　in　the　good　Saint　Martin；　who　watches　over

all　travellers；　and　retraced　their　steps；　and　went　warily；　and　at

last　they　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　forest；　and　saw；　far　down　in

the　valley　beneath　them；　the　lights　of　the　village　in　which　they

dwelt。



So　overjoyed　were　they　at　their　deliverance　that　they　laughed

aloud；　and　the　Earth　seemed　to　them　like　a　flower　of　silver；　and

the　Moon　like　a　flower　of　gold。



Yet；　after　that　they　had　laughed　they　became　sad；　for　they

remembered　their　poverty；　and　one　of　them　said　to　the　other；　'Why

did　we　make　merry；　seeing　that　life　is　for　the　rich；　and　not　for

such　as　we　are？　　Better　that　we　had　died　of　cold　in　the　forest；　or

that　some　wild　beast　had　fallen　upon　us　and　slain　us。'



'Truly；'　answered　his　companion；　'much　is　given　to　some；　and　little

is　given　to　others。　　Injustice　has　parcelled　out　the　world；　nor　is

there　equal　division　of　aught　save　of　sorrow。'



But　as　they　were　bewailing　their　misery　to　each　other　this　strange

thing　happened。　　There　fell　from　heaven　a　very　bright　and　beautiful

star。　　It　slipped　down　the　side　of　the　sky；　passing　by　the　other

stars　in　its　course；　and；　as　they　watched　it　wondering；　it　seemed

to　them　to　sink　behind　a　clump　of　willow…trees　that　stood　hard　by　a

little　sheepfold　no　more　than　a　stone's…throw　away。



'Why！　there　is　a　crook　of　gold　for　whoever　finds　it；'　they　cried；

and　they　set　to　and　ran；　so　eager　were　they　for　the　gold。



And　one　of　them　ran　faster　than　his　mate；　and　outstripped　him；　and

forced　his　way　through　the　willows；　and　came　out　on　the　other　side；

and　lo！　there　was　indeed　a　thing　of　gold　lying　on　the　white　snow。

So　he　hastened　to