天涯在线书库《www.tianyabook.com》 《石榴之屋》 少年国王 少年国王 在加冕典礼的前一天晚上，少年国王独自一人坐在他那间漂亮的房子里。他的大臣们按 照当时的礼节，头朝地向他鞠了躬，便告辞而去。他们来到皇宫的大厅中，向礼节教授学习 最后的几堂课，因为他们当中有几个人的举止还没有经过教化，不用说，这是很不礼貌的事 情。 这位少年——他仅仅是个少年，不过才十六岁——对他们的离去一点也不觉得难过。他 把身体向后靠去，坐在他那绣花沙发的软垫上，长长地舒了一口气，躺了下去，睁着两眼， 张着嘴，真像一位褐色的林地农牧神，或一只被猎人刚刚抓获的森林中的小动物。 说来也巧，他正是猎人们找到的，他们遇到他也差不多是凭运气。当时他光着脚，手里 拿着笛子，正跟在把他养大的穷牧羊人的羊群后面，而且他一直把自己看作穷牧羊人的儿 子。他的母亲原来是老国王的独生女儿。她偷偷地恋上了一个比她地位低得多的人一一有人 说，那人是外地来的，他用笛子吹出魔术般的美妙声音，使年轻的公主钟情于他；另外有人 说他是来自意大利里米尼的艺术家，公主对他很器重，也许是太看重他了。他不知怎的突然 间从城市里消失了，他那幅没有完成的作品还留在大教堂里——那时小孩才一个星期大，他 就从熟睡的孩子母亲身边偷偷抱走孩子，交给一对普通的农家夫妇去照管。这对夫妇自己没 有孩子，住在密林的深处，从城里骑马要一天才能到达。不知是像宫廷的御医所宣布的那样 因为悲伤过度，或者是像一些人所谈论的那样喝了放在香料酒中的一种意大利急性毒药，反 正那位给予这孩子生命的苍白的少女在不到一小时的时间内就死去了。一位忠诚的差人带着 孩子跨上马鞍走了，当他从疲惫的马背上俯下身来敲响牧羊人小茅屋简陋的房门时，公主的 尸体正被下葬于一个打开的墓穴中，这个墓穴就挖在一个荒凉的教堂墓地里，那里靠近城 门。据说在那个墓穴里还躺着另一具尸体，他是一位非常英俊的外地男人，他的双手被反绑 着，打了个绳结，胸膛上留着好多血淋淋的伤口。 至少，这正是人们私下悄悄相互传递的说法。然而令人确信的是老国王在临终时，不知 是由于对自己犯下的大罪而悔恨，或是仅仅因为希望自己的王国不至于落入外人之手，就派 人去找回那个少年，并当着宫中大臣的面，承认少年为自己的继位人。 似乎就从少年被承认的那一刻起，他就表现出了对美丽事物的极大热情，这便注定了将 对他的一生起到巨大的影响。那些陪伴他到预备的房间侍候他休息的仆人，常常讲起当他看 见那些华丽的服装和贵重宝石时会兴奋地大叫起来，并且在脱去身上的粗皮衣和粗羊皮外套 时简直是欣喜若狂。有时候他确也很怀念他那段自由自在的森林生活，且始终都对占去一天 大部分时间的繁杂的宫廷礼节感到忿懑，但这却是座富丽的宫殿——人们把它叫做“逍遥 宫”——此刻他一下子成了它的主人，对他来说，这就像是一个专为取悦他而新建成的时髦 的新世界；只要他能够从议会厅或会见室里逃出来，他便会跑下那立着镀金铜狮的亮闪闪的 斑岩石大台阶，从一个屋子转到另一个屋子，又从一条走廊来到另一条走廊，好像要一个人 在美中间找到一付止痛药，或一种治病的良方似的。 对于这种充满新发现的旅行，这是他对此的称谓——说真的，对他来说这可是真正地在 神境中漫游了。有时候会有几位身着披风飘着艳丽丝带的金发宫廷侍卫陪伴着；但更多的时 候，他常常是一个人，凭着感觉上的某种敏捷的本能，这差不多是一种先见之明吧，把握到 艺术的秘密最好是在秘密中求得，况且美也同智慧一样，钟爱的是孤独的崇拜者。 这段时期里流传着很多有关他的奇闻怪事。据说有一位胖乎乎的市政长官，代表全城市 民出来发表了一大通华丽堂皇的言论，还说他看见他十分崇敬地跪在一幅刚从威尼斯带来的 巨画面前，似乎要捍卫对新的众神的崇拜。还有那么一次他失踪了好几个小时，费了好大劲 人们才在宫殿内北边小塔的一间小屋里找到了他，他正痴呆呆地凝视着一块刻有美少年阿多 尼斯像的希腊宝石。还有人传说亲眼见他用自己的热唇去吻一座大理石古雕像的前额，那座 古雕像是人们在修建石桥时在河床中发现的，除像上还刻着罗马皇帝哈得里安所拥有的俾斯 尼亚国奴隶的名字。他还花了一整夜时间去观察月光照在安地民银像上的各种变化。 一切稀罕的和昂贵的东西对他的确都有极大的吸引力，使他急切地想得到它们。为此他 派出了许多商人，有的被派往北海，向那里的穷渔夫购买琥珀，有的到埃及去找寻那些只有 在法老的墓穴中才能找到的绿宝石，据说这种宝石具有非同一般的魔力，还有的去波斯收购 丝绒编织的地毯和彩陶，另外很多人就去印度采购薄纱和着色的象牙，月亮宝石和翡翠手 镯，檀香和蓝色珐琅以及细毛织披巾。 然而，最让他费心的还是在他登位加冕时穿的长袍。长袍是金线织的，另外还有嵌满了 红宝石的王冠以及那根挂着一串串珍珠的权杖。其实，他今晚所想的就是这个，当时他躺在 奢华的沙发上，望着大块的松木在壁炉中慢慢地燃尽。它们都是由那个时代最著名的艺术家 亲手设计的，设计式样也早在几个月前就呈交给他过目了，他也下了命令要求工匠们不分昼 夜地把它们赶制出来，还让人去满世界找寻那些能够配得上他们手艺的珠宝。他在想象中看 见自己穿着华贵的皇袍站在大教堂中高高的祭坛上，他那孩子气的嘴唇上露出了笑容，那双 森林人特有的黑眼睛也放射出明亮的光芒。 过了一会儿他站起身来，靠在壁炉顶部雕花的庇檐上，目光环视着灯光昏暗的屋子。四 周的墙上挂着代表“美的胜利”的华丽装饰物。一个大衣橱，上面嵌着玛瑙和琉璃，把一个 墙角给填满了。面对窗户立着一个异常别致的柜子，上面的漆格层不是镀了金粉就是镶着金 片，格层上摆放着一些精美的威尼斯玻璃高脚酒杯，还有一个黑纹玛瑙大杯子。绸子的床单 上绣着一些浅白的罂粟花，它们好像是从睡眠的倦手中撒落下来的。刻有条形凹槽的高大的 象牙柱撑起天鹅绒的华盖，华盖上面大簇的驼鸟毛像白色泡沫一般地向上伸展，一直达到银 白色的回文装饰屋顶上。用青铜做的美少年纳西苏斯像满脸笑容地用双手举起一面亮光光的 镜子。桌上放着一个紫晶做的平底盆。 窗外，他可以看见教堂的大圆顶，隐隐约约的像个气泡浮动在阴暗的房屋上面。无精打 采的哨兵们在靠近河边的雾蒙蒙的阳台上来回地走着。在远处的一座果园里，一只夜莺在唱 歌。一缕浅浅的茉莉花香从开着的窗户飘了进来。他把自己的棕色卷发从前额朝后掠去，随 后拿起一只琵琶，让手指随便地在弦上拨弄着。他的眼皮沉重地往下垂去，一股莫名的倦意 袭上身来。在这以前他从来没有这么强烈地并且是如此兴奋地感受到美的东西的魔力和神秘。 钟楼传来午夜钟声的时候，他按了一下铃，仆人们进来了，按繁杂的礼节为他脱去袍 子，并往他手上洒上玫瑰香水，在他的枕头上撒上鲜花。待他们退出房间后没多久，他就入 睡了。 他睡着后做了一个梦，梦是这样的： 他觉得自己正站在一间又长又矮的阁楼里，四周是一片织布机的转动声和敲击声。微弱 的光线透过格栅窗射了进来，使他看见了那些俯在织机台上工作的织工们憔悴的身影。一些 面带病容脸色苍白的孩子们蹲在巨大的横梁上而。每当梭子飞快地穿过经线的时候，织工们 便把沉重的箱座抬起，梭子一停下来又立即放下筘座，把线压在一起。他们的脸上露出饥饿 难忍的表情，一双双干枯的手不停地震动着，颤抖着。一些赢弱的妇女坐在一张桌边做着缝 纫。房间里充满了刺鼻的臭气，空气既污浊又沉闷，四壁因潮湿而滴水不止。 少年国王来到一位织工跟前，看着他工作。 织工却怒冲冲地望着他说，“你为什么老看着我？你是不是主人派来监视我们干活的探 子？” “谁是你们的主人？”少年国王问道。 “我们的主人！”织工痛苦地大声说，“他是跟我一样的人。其实，我和他之间就这么 点区别——他穿漂亮的衣服而我总是破衣烂衫，我饿得骨瘦如柴，他却饱得难受。” “这是个自由的国家，”少年国王说，“你不是任何人的奴隶。” “战争时代，”织工回答说，“强者把弱者变为奴隶，而在和平年代富人把穷人变成奴 隶。我们必须靠干活来糊口，可是他们给的工资少得可怜，我们会给饿死的。我们整天为他 们做苦役，他们的箱子里堆满了黄金，我们的子女还未长大成人就夭折了，我们所爱的那些 人的脸变得愁苦而凶恶。我们榨出的葡萄汁，却让别人去品尝。我们种出的谷物，却不能端 上我们的饭桌。我们戴着枷锁，尽管它们是无形的；而我们是奴隶，虽然人们说我们是自由 人。” “所有的人都是这样的吗？”少年国王问道。 “所有的人都这祥，”织工答道，“不论是年轻的或是年老的，不管是男人或是女人， 小孩子或是终年艰辛的人们都一样。商人们压榨我们，我们还得照他们的话去做。牧师们骑 马从我们身边走过，口中不停地数着念珠，没有一个人关心我们。穷困张着饥饿的双眼爬过 阴暗的小巷，罪恶带着他的酒精面孔紧随其后。早晨唤醒我们的是悲痛，晚上伴我们入睡的 是耻辱。但是这些与你有什么关系？你又不是我们中的一员。你的神情是多么的快乐啊！， 说完他满脸不高兴地转过头去，并把梭子穿过织机，少年国王看见梭子上面织出的是一根金 线。 他心中猛地一惊，赶紧问织工，“你织的是什么袍子？” “这是少年国王加冕时穿的袍子，”他回答说，“你问这干什么？” 这时少年国王大叫一声便醒了，天啊！他原来是在自己的房间里，透过窗户他看见蜜色 的大月亮正挂在熹微的天空上。 他又一次睡着了，再次做起了梦，梦是这样的： 他觉得自己躺在一艘大帆船的甲板上面，一百个奴隶在为船划桨。船长就坐在他身边的 地毯上。他黑得像一块乌木，头巾是深江色的丝绸做的。厚厚的耳垂上挂着一对硕大的银耳 坠，他的手中象着一架象牙天平。 奴隶们除了腰间的一块破烂的遮羞布外，全身上下光溜溜的，每个人都与旁边的另一个 锁在一起。骄阳热辣辣地射在他们身上，黑人们在过道上跑来跑去的，同时皮鞭不停地抽打 在他们身上。他们伸出干枯的双臂往水中划动着沉重的桨。咸咸的海水从桨上飞溅起来。 最后他们来到一个小港湾，并开始测量水的深度。一阵微风从岸上吹来，给甲板和大三 角帆上蒙上了一层细细的红沙。三个阿拉伯人骑着野毛驴赶来朝他们投来标枪。船长拿起一 张弓，射中了他们其中一人的咽喉。他重重地跌进了海浪之中，他的同伴也仓皇逃占。一位 面蒙黄色纱巾的女子骑着骆驼慢慢地跟在后面，还不时地回头看看那具死尸。 黑人们抛了锚，降下了帆，纷纷来到舱底下，拿出一根长长的吊梯来，梯下绑着铅锤。 船长把绳梯从船侧扔下去，把梯的两端系在两根铁柱上面。这时，黑人们抓住一位最年轻的 奴隶，打开了他的脚镣，并往他的鼻孔和耳朵里灌满蜡，还在他的腰间捆上了一块石头。他 疲惫地爬下绳梯，便消失在海水中了。在他入水的地方冒出了几个水泡。另外一些奴隶在一 旁好奇地张望着。在船头上坐着一位驱赶鲨鱼的人，他在单调不停地击着鼓。 过了一会儿潜水者从水中冒了上来，喘着粗气攀梯而上，右手拿着一颗珍珠。黑人们从 他手中夺去珍珠，又把他抛到海里。而奴隶们已靠在桨旁入睡了。 他上来了一次又一次，每次都带上一颗美丽的珍珠。船长把珍珠都过了秤，并把它们放 进一只绿色皮革的小袋子中。 少年国王想说点什么，可是他的舌头好像给粘在了上牙齿后面，他的嘴唇也动弹不了。 黑人们在彼此谈着话，并开始为一串明珠争吵起来。两只白鹤围绕着帆船飞个不停。 这时潜水者最后一次冒藏书网出水来，带上来的珍珠比奥马兹岛所有的珍珠都要美，因为它的 形状如同一轮满月，白得超过了晨星的颜色。不过他的脸却苍白异常，他一头倒在甲板上， 鲜血立即从他的耳朵和鼻孔中迸射而出。他只是颤抖了一下就再也动弹不了啦。黑人们耸耸 肩，把他的尸体抛向船舷外的海水中。 船长笑了，他伸出手去拿起那颗珍珠，他一边看着它，一边把它放在自己的前额上并鞠 了一个躬。“它应该用来，”他说，“用来装饰少年国王的权杖。”说完他朝黑人们打了个 手势示意起锚。 少年国王听到这里，突然大叫一声，便醒了过来，透过窗户，他看见那些破晓的长手指 正在摘取衰弱的繁星。 他再一次入睡了，做了梦，梦是这样的： 他觉得自己正徘徊在一个阴森森的树林中，树上悬挂着奇形的果子和美丽而有毒的鲜 花。他经过的地方，毒蛇朝他嘶嘶地叫着，羽毛华丽的鹦鹉尖叫着从一根树枝飞到另一个枝 头上。巨大的乌龟躺在热乎乎的泥潭中睡大觉。树上到处都是猴子和孔雀。 他走着走着，一直来到树林的边缘，在那儿他看见有好大一群人在一条干枯的河床上做 苦役。他们像蚂蚁般地蜂拥至岩石上。他们在地上挖了好些深洞，并下到洞里去。他们中的 一些人用大斧头开山劈石，另一些人在沙滩上摸索着。他们连根拔起仙人掌，并踏过鲜红的 花朵。他们忙来忙去，彼此叫喊着，没有一个人偷懒。 死亡和贪婪从洞穴的阴暗处注视着他们，死亡开口说：“我已经疲倦了，把他们中的三 分之一给我，我要走了。” 不过贪婪却摇了摇头。“他们是我的仆人，”她回答说。 死亡对她说，“你手中拿的是什么东西？” “我有三粒谷子，”她回答说，“那跟你有什么关系？” “给我一粒，”死亡大声说，“去种在我的花园中，只要其中的一粒，我要走了。” “我什么也不会给你的，”贪婪说，说着她把手藏在自己衣服福边的里面。 死亡笑了。他拿起一只杯子，并把它浸在水池中，等杯子出来时里面已生出了疟疾。疟 疾从人群中走过，三分之一的人便倒下死去了。她的身后卷起一股寒气，她的身旁狂窜着无 数条水蛇。 贪婪看见三分之一的人都死去了，便捶胸大哭起来。她捶打着自己干枯的胸膛，哭叫着 说：“你杀死了我三分之一的仆人，你快走吧。在鞑靼人的山上正举行着一场战争，双方的 国王都在呼唤你去。阿富汗人杀掉了黑牛，正开往前线。他们用长矛敲击着自己的盾牌，还 戴上了铁盔。我的山谷对你有什么用，你没有必要呆在这儿吧？你快走吧，不要再到这儿来 了。” “不，”死亡回答说，“除非你再给我一粒谷子，否则我是不会走的。” 贪婪一下子捏紧自己的手，牙齿也咬得紧绷绷的。“我不会给你任何东西的，”她喃喃 地说。 死亡笑了。他捡起一块黑色的石头，朝树林中扔去，从密林深处的野毒芹丛中走出了身 穿火焰长袍的热病。她从人群中走过，去触摸他们，凡是被她碰着的人都死去了。她脚下踏 过的青草也跟着枯萎了。 贪婪颤抖起来，把泥土放在自己的头上。“你太残忍了，”她叫着说，“你太残忍了。 在印度的好多城市里正闹着饥荒，撒马尔罕的蓄水池也干枯了。埃及的好多城市里也在闹饥 荒，蝗虫也从沙漠飞来了。尼罗河水并没有冲上岸来，牧师们正痛骂他们自己的神爱西斯和 阿西里斯。到那些需要你的人那儿去吧，放过我的仆人吧。” “不，”死亡回答说，“除非你给我一粒谷子，否则我是不会离开的。” “我什么东西也不会给你，”贪婪说。 死亡再一次笑了，他将手放在嘴上在指缝中吹了一声口哨，只见一个女人从空中飞来。 她的额头上印着“瘟疫”两个字，一群饥饿的老鹰在她身旁飞旋着。她用巨大的翅膀蓝住了 整个山谷，没有一个人能逃脱她的魔掌。 贪婪尖叫着穿过树林逃走了，死亡跨上他那匹红色的大马也飞驰而去，他的马跑得比风 还快。 从山谷底部的稀泥中爬出无数条龙和有鳞甲的怪兽，一群胡狼也沿着沙滩跑来，并用鼻 孔贪婪地吸着空气。 少年国王哭了，他说：“这些人是谁？他们在寻找什么东西？” “国王王冠上的红宝石，”站在他身后的一个人说。 少年国王吃了一惊，转过头去，看见一个香客模样的人，那人手中拿着一面银镜。 他脸色变得苍白起来，并开口问道：“哪一个国王？” 香客回答说：“看着这面镜子，你会看见他的。” 他朝镜子看去，见到的是他自己的面孔，他大叫了一声就惊醒了。灿烂的阳光泻入房 屋，从外面花园和庭园的树上传来了鸟儿的歌唱。 宫廷大臣和文武百官走进房来向他行礼，侍者给他拿来用金线篇织的长袍，还把王冠和 权杖放在他面前。 少年国王看着它们，它们美极了，比他以前见过的任何东西都要美。然而他还记得自己 做的梦，于是便对大臣们说：“把这些东西都拿走，我不会穿戴它们的。” 群臣都感到很惊讶，有些人甚至笑了，因为他们认为国王是在开玩笑。 可是他再次严肃地对他们说：“把这些东西都拿开，不要让我见到它们。虽然今天是我 加冕的日子，但是我不会穿戴它们的。因为我的这件长袍是在忧伤的织机上用痛苦的苍白的 双手织出来的。红宝石的心是用鲜血染红的。珍珠的心上有死亡的阴影。”接着他对他们讲 述了自己的三个梦。 大臣们听完故事后，互相对视着，低声交谈说：“他一定是疯了，梦还不就是梦吗，幻 觉只不过是幻觉罢了，它们不是真的，用不着在意。再说，那些为我们做工的人的生命又与 我们有什么相干的？难道一个人没有看见播种就不能吃面包，没有与种葡萄的人交谈过就不 能喝葡萄酒了吗？”宫廷大臣对少年国王说道：“陛下，我恳求您把这些忧伤的念头抛开， 穿上这件美丽的袍子，戴上这顶王冠吧。如果您不穿上王袍，人民怎么会知道您就是国王 呢？” 少年国王望着他。“真是这样吗？”他问道，“如果我不穿王袍，他们就不会知道我是 国王了吗？” “他们不会认识您的，陛下，”宫廷大臣大声说。 “我从前还以为真有那么一些带帝王之相的人，”少年国王回答说，“不过也许正如你 所说的，然而我还是不穿这身长袍，而且也不戴这顶王冠，我要像进宫时的那样走出宫去。” 然后他吩咐他们都离去，只留一个侍者来陪他，这个侍者的年中洗了个澡，打开一个上 了漆的箱子，从箱中他拿出皮衣和粗羊皮外套，这些都是当年他在山腰上放羊时穿过的。他 穿上它们，手里又拿起那根粗大的牧羊杖。 这位小侍者吃惊地睁大一双蓝色的眼睛，笑着对他说：“陛下，我看见你的长袍和权 杖，可你的王冠在哪儿？” 少年国王从攀附在阳台上的野荆棘上折下一枝，把它弯曲成一个圆圈，放在了自己的头 上。 “这就是我的王冠，”他回答说。 这样穿戴好后，他走出房间来到大厅中，显贵们都在那儿等着他。 显贵们觉得很可笑，他们中有的人还对他叫道：“陛下，臣民们等着见他们的国王，而 您却让他们看到了一位乞丐。”另有一些人怒气冲冲地说：“他使我们的国家蒙羞，不配做 我们的主人。”然而，他对他们一言不发，只是朝前走去，走下明亮的斑岩石阶，出了青铜 大门，骑上自己的坐骑，朝教堂奔去，小侍者跟在他身旁跑着。 百姓们笑了，他们说：“骑马走过的是国王的小丑。”他们嘲笑着他。 而他却勒住马缅，开口说道：“不，我就是国王。”于是他把自己的三个梦讲给了他们 听。 一个人从人群中走出，他痛苦地对国王说道：“皇上，你不知道穷人的生活是从富人的 奢侈中得来的吗？就是靠你们的富有我们才得以生存，是你们的恶习给我们带来了面包。给 一个严厉的主子干活是很艰苦的，但若没有主子要我们于活那会更艰苦。你以为乌鸦会养活 我们吗？对这些事你会有什么良方吗？你会对买主说，‘你要用这么多钱来买’，而同时又 对卖主说，‘你要以这个价格卖’吗？我敢说你不会。所以回到你自己的宫中去，穿上你的 高贵紫袍吧。你和我们以及我们遭受的痛苦有什么相干的？” “难道富人和穷人不是兄弟吗？”少年国王问道。 “是啊，”那人回答说，“那个有钱兄长的名字叫该隐（即《圣经》中杀害弟弟的 人）。” 少年国王的眼里充满了泪水，他骑着马在百姓们的喃喃低语中走过，小侍者感到好害 怕，就走开了。 他来到教堂的大门口时，卫兵们举起他们手中的戟对他说：“你到这儿来干什么？除了 国王以外任何人不得入内。” 一听这话他气得满脸通红，便对他们说：“我就是国王。”说完把他们的戟推开，就走 进去了。 老主教看见他穿一身牧羊人的衣服走了进来，吃惊地从宝座上站起来，迎上前去，对他 说：“我的孩子，这是国王的服饰吗？我用什么王冠为你加冕？又拿什么样的权杖放在你的 手中呢？这对你当然应该是个快乐的日子，而不应是一个屈辱的日子。” “难道快乐要用愁苦来装门面吗？”少年国王说。然后他对老主教讲了自己的三个梦。 主教听完了三个梦后，眉头紧锁，他说：“孩子，我是个老人，已进入垂暮之年，我知 道在这个大千世界里还有很多邪恶的东西。凶狠的土匪从山上下来，掳去无数小孩，把他们 卖给摩尔人。狮子躺在草丛中等待着过往的商队，准备扑咬骆驼。野猪将山谷中的庄稼连根 拔起。狐狸咬着山上的葡萄藤。海盗们在海岸一带兴风作浪，焚烧渔船，还把渔民的渔网抢 走。在盐泽地带住着麻疯病人，他们用芦苇杆盖起小屋，没有人愿意接近他们。乞丐们在大 街上漂流，同狗一起争食吃。你能够让这些事情不出现吗？你愿意让麻疯病人同你一起睡 觉，让乞丐同你一起进餐吗？你会叫狮子听你的话，野猪服从你的命令吗？难道制造出这些 苦难的上帝还不如你聪明吗？因此，我不会为你所做的事而赞扬你的，我要求你骑马回你自 己的王宫中，脸上要露出笑容，并穿上符合国王身分的衣服，我要用金王冠来为你加冕，我 要把嵌满珍珠的权杖放在你的手中。至于你的那些梦，就不要再想它们了。这世上的负担已 经太重了，是一个人难以承受的；人间的愁苦也太大了，不是一颗心所能负担的。” “你就是在这间房子里说这种话的吗？”少年国王说。他大步从主教身旁走过，登上祭 坛的台梯，站到了基督像前。 他站在基督像前，在他的左手边和右手边分别放着华丽的金盆，装黄酒的圣餐杯和装圣 油的瓶子。他跪在基督像下，巨大的蜡烛在珠光宝气的神座旁明亮地燃烧着，燃香的烟雾绕 成一圆圈蓝色的轻烟飘向屋梁。他低下头去进行祈祷，那些身着硬挺法衣的牧师们纷纷走下 了祭坛。 突然，从外面的大街上传来了喧哗声，一群头戴羽缨的贵族们走了进来，他们手中握着 出鞘的宝剑和闪光的钢制盾牌。“做梦的那个人在什么地方？”他们大声嚷道，“那位国 王，就是那位打扮得像个乞丐，给我们的国家带来耻辱的男孩在什么地方？我们一定要杀了 他，因为他不配统治我们。” 少年国王再一次低下头去祈祷，祷告完毕他便站起身来，转过头去悲伤地望着他们。 啊！看那，阳光透过彩色的玻璃窗照在他的身上，光线在他的四周织出一件金袍，比那 件为取悦于他而编织的王袍更加美丽。干枯的枝条怒放出鲜花，那是比珍珠还要洁白的百合 花。干枯的荆棘也开花了，开放出比红宝石还要红的红玫瑰。比上等珍珠还洁白的百合花， 它们的根茎是由亮闪闪纠银子做成的。比红宝石更红的玫魂，它们的叶子是由金子铸造的。 他身穿国王的衣服站在那里，珠宝镶嵌的神龛打开了盖子，从光芒四射的圣体匣的水晶 上放出异常神奇的光。他身着国王的衣服站在那儿，这里就充满了上帝的荣光，连壁龛中的 圣徒们也好像在动。身穿国王的华贵衣服，他站在了他们的面前，风琴奏出了乐曲，喇叭手 吹响了他们的喇叭，唱诗班的孩子们在放声歌唱。 百姓们敬畏地跪下身来，贵族们收回宝剑并向少年国王行礼，主教大人的脸色变得苍 白，双手颤抖不已。“给你加冕的人比我更伟大。”他大声说道，并跪倒在国王面前。 少年国王从高高的祭坛上走下来，穿过人群朝自己的房间走去。此时没有一个人敢看他 的脸，因为那容貌就跟天使一样。 THE YOUNG KING It was the night before the day fixed for his ation, and the young King was sitting alone in his beautiful chamber. His courtiers had all taken their leave of him, bowing their heads to the ground, acc to the ceremonious usage of the day, and had retired to the Great Hall of the Palace, to receive a few last lessons from the Professor of Etiquette; there being some of them who had still quite natural manners, whi a courtier is, I need hardly say, a very grave offence. The lad - for he was only a lad, being but sixteen years of age - was not sorry at their departure, and had flung himself back with a deep sigh of relief on the soft cushions of his embroidered couch, lying there, wild-eyed and open-mouthed, like a brown woodland Faun, or some young animal of the forest newly snared by the hunters. And, indeed, it was the hunters who had found him, ing upon him almost by ce as, bare-limbed and pipe in hand, he was following the flock of the poatherd who had brought him up, and whose son he had always fancied himself to be. The child of the old Kings only daughter by a secret marriage with one much beh her in station - a stranger, some said, who, by the wonderful magic of his lute-playing, had made the young Princess love him; while others spoke of an artist from Rimini, to whom the Princess had shown much, perhaps too much honour, and who had suddenly disappeared from the city, leaving his work ihedral unfinished - he had been, when but a week old, stolen away from his mothers side, as she slept, and given into the charge of a on peasant and his wife, who were without children of their own, and lived in a remote part of the forest, more than a days ride from the town. Grief, or the plague, as the court physi stated, or, as some suggested, a swift Italian poison administered in a cup of spiced wine, slew, within an hour of her wakening, the white girl who had given him birth, and as the trusty messenger who bare the child across his saddle-bow stooped from his weary horse and k the rude door of the goatherds hut, the body of the Princess was being lowered into an open grave that had been dug in a deserted churchyard, beyond the city gates, a grave where it was said that another body was also lying, that of a young man of marvellous and fy, whose hands were tied behind him with a knotted cord, and whose breast was stabbed with many red wounds. Such, at least, was the story that men whispered to each other. Certain it was that the old King, when on his deathbed, whether moved by remorse for his great sin, or merely desiring that the kingdom should not pass away from his line, had had the lad sent for, and, in the presence of the cil, had aowledged him as his heir. And it seems that from the very first moment of his reition he had shown signs of that strange passion for beauty that was destio have so great an influence over his life. Those who apanied him to the suite of rooms set apart for his service, often spoke of the cry of pleasure that broke from his lips when he saw the delicate raiment and rich jewels that had been prepared for him, and of the almost fierce joy with which he flung aside his rough leathern tunid coarse sheepskin cloak. He missed, indeed, at times the fine freedom of his forest life, and was always apt to chafe at the tedious Court ceremohat occupied so much of each day, but the wonderful palace - JOYEUSE, as they called it - of which he now found himself lord, seemed to him to be a new world fresh-fashioned for his delight; and as soon as he could escape from the cil-board or audience-chamber, he would run down the great staircase, with its lions of gilt bronze and its steps ht porphyry, and wander from room to room, and from corridor to corridor, like one who was seeking to find iy an anodyne from pain, a sort of restoration from siess. Upon these journeys of discovery, as he would call them - and, ihey were to him real voyages through a marvellous land, he would sometimes be apanied by the slim, fair-haired Court pages, with their floating mantles, and gay fluttering ribands; but more often he would be alone, feeling through a certain quick instinct, which was almost a divination, that the secrets of art are best learned i, and that Beauty, like Wisdom, loves the lonely worshipper. Many curious stories were related about him at this period. It was said that a stout Burgo-master, who had e to deliver a florid oratorical address on behalf of the citizens of the town, had caught sight of him kneeling in real adoration before a great picture that had just been brought from Venice, and that seemed to herald the worship of some new gods. On another occasion he had been missed for several hours, and after a lengthened search had been discovered in a little chamber in one of the northern turrets of the palace gazing, as one in a tra a Greek gem carved with the figure of Adonis. He had been seen, so the tale ran, pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the building of the stone bridge, and was inscribed with the name of the Bithynian slave of Hadrian. He had passed a whole night in noting the effect of the moonlight on a silver image of Endymion. All rare and costly materials had certainly a great fasation for him, and in his eagero procure them he had sent away many merts, some to traffiber with the rough fisher-folk of the north seas, some to Egypt to look for that curious green turquoise which is found only iombs of kings, and is said to possess magical properties, some to Persia for silken carpets and painted pottery, and others to India to buy gauze and stained ivory, moonstones and bracelets of jade, sandal-wood and blue enamel and shawls of fine wool. But what had occupied him most was the robe he was to wear at his ation, the robe of tissued gold, and the ruby-studded , and the sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls. Indeed, it was of this that he was thinking to-night, as he lay ba his luxurious couch, watg the great pinewood log that was burning itself out on the opeh. The designs, which were from the hands of the most famous artists of the time, had been submitted to him many months before, and he had given orders that the artificers were to toil night and day to carry them out, and that the whole world was to be searched for jewels that would be worthy of their work. He saw himself in fancy standing at the high altar of the cathedral in the fair raiment of a King, and a smile played and lingered about his boyish lips, and lit up with a bright lustre his dark woodland eyes. After some time he rose from his seat, and leaning against the carved penthouse of the ey, looked round at the dimly-lit room. The walls were hung with rich tapestries representing the Triumph of Beauty. A large press, inlaid with agate and lapis- lazuli, filled one er, and fag the window stood a curiously wrought et with lacquer panels of powdered and mosaiced gold, on which were placed some delicate goblets of Veian glass, and a cup of dark-veined onyx. Pale poppies were broidered on the silk coverlet of the bed, as though they had fallen from the tired hands of sleep, and tall reeds of fluted ivory bare up the velvet opy, from which great tufts of ostrich plumes sprang, like white foam, to the pallid silver of the fretted ceiling. A laughing Narcissus in green bronze held a polished mirror above its head. On the table stood a flat bowl of amethyst. Outside he could see the huge dome of the cathedral, looming like a bubble over the shadowy houses, and the weary sentinels pag up and down on the misty terrace by the river. Far away, in an orchard, a nightingale was singing. A faint perfume of jasmine came through the open window. He brushed his brown curls back from his forehead, and taking up a lute, let his fingers stray across the cords. His heavy eyelids drooped, and a strange languor came over him. Never before had he felt so keenly, or with such exquisite joy, the magid the mystery of beautiful things. When midnight sounded from the clock-tower he touched a bell, and his pages entered and disrobed him with much ceremony, p rose-water over his hands, and strewing flowers on his pillow. A few moments after that they had left the room, he fell asleep. And as he slept he dreamed a dream, and this was his dream. He thought that he was standing in a long, low attic, amidst the whir and clatter of many looms. The meagre daylight peered in through the grated windows, and showed him the gaunt figures of the weavers bending over their cases. Pale, sickly-looking children were crouched on the huge crossbeams. As the shuttles dashed through the they lifted up the heavy battens, and when the shuttles stopped they let the battens fall and pressed the threads together. Their faces were pinched with famine, and their thin hands shook and trembled. Some haggard women were seated at a table sewing. A horrible odour filled the place. The air was foul and heavy, and the walls dripped and streamed with damp. The young Ki over to one of the weavers, and stood by him and watched him. And the weaver looked at him angrily, and said, Why art thou watg me? Art thou a spy set on us by our master? Who is thy master? asked the young King. Our master! cried the weaver, bitterly. He is a man like myself. Ihere is but this differeween us - that he wears fine clothes while I go in rags, and that while I am weak from hunger he suffers not a little from overfeeding. The land is free, said the young King, and thou art no mans slave. In war, answered the weaver, the strong make slaves of the weak, and in peace the rich make slaves of the poor. We must work to live, and they give us such mean wages that we die. We toil for them all day long, and they heap up gold in their coffers, and our children fade away before their time, and the faces of those we love bee hard and evil. We tread out the grapes, and another drinks the wine. We sow the , and our own board is empty. We have s, though no eye beholds them; and are slaves, though men call us free. Is it so with all? he asked, It is so with all, answered the weaver, with the young as well as with the old, with the women as well as with the men, with the little children as well as with those who are stri in years. The merts grind us down, and we must needs do their bidding. The priest rides by and tells his beads, and no man has care of us. Through our sunless lanes creeps Poverty with her hungry eyes, and Sin with his sodden face follows close behind her. Misery wakes us in the m, and Shame sits with us at night. But what are these things to thee? Thou art not one of us. Thy face is too happy. Aurned away scowling, and threw the shuttle across the loom, and the young King saw that it was threaded with a thread of gold. And a grea..t terror seized upon him, and he said to the weaver, What robe is this that thou art weaving? It is the robe for the ation of the young King, he answered; what is that to thee? And the young King gave a loud cry and woke, and lo! he was in his own chamber, and through the window he saw the great honey-coloured moon hanging in the dusky air. And he fell asleep again and dreamed, and this was his dream. He thought that he was lying on the deck of a huge galley that was being rowed by a hundred slaves. On a carpet by his side the master of the galley was seated. He was black as ebony, and his turban was of crimson silk. Great earrings of silver dragged down the thick lobes of his ears, and in his hands he had a pair of ivory scales. The slaves were naked, but for a ragged loin-cloth, and each man was ed to his neighbour. The hot su brightly upon them, and the negroes ran up and down the gangway and lashed them with whips of hide. They stretched out their lean arms and pulled the heavy oars through the water. The salt spray flew from the blades. At last they reached a little bay, and began to take soundings. A light wind blew from the shore, and covered the ded the great lateen sail with a fine red dust. Three Arabs mounted on wild asses rode out and threw spears at them. The master of the galley took a painted bow in his hand and shot one of them ihroat. He fell heavily into the surf, and his panions galloped away. A woman ed in a yellow veil followed slowly on a camel, looking baow and then at the dead body. As soon as they had cast anchor and hauled down the sail, the negroes went into the hold and brought up a long rope-ladder, heavily weighted with lead. The master of the galley threw it over the side, making the ends fast to two iron stans. Then the negroes seized the you of the slaves and knocked his gyves off, and filled his nostrils and his ears with wax, and tied a big stone round his waist. He crept wearily down the ladder, and disappeared into the sea. A few bubbles rose where he sank. Some of the other slaves peered curiously over the side. At the prow of the galley sat a shark-charmer, beating monotonously upon a drum. After some time the diver rose up out of the water, and g panting to the ladder with a pearl in his right hand. The negroes seized it from him, and thrust him back. The slaves fell asleep over their oars. Again and again he came up, and each time that he did so he brought with him a beautiful pearl. The master of the galley weighed them, and put them into a little bag of greeher. The young King tried to speak, but his tongue seemed to cleave to the roof of his mouth, and his lips refused to move. The negroes chattered to each other, and began to quarrel over a string of bright beads. Two es flew round and round the vessel. Then the diver came up for the last time, and the pearl that he brought with him was fairer than all the pearls of Ormuz, for it was shaped like the full moon, and whiter than the m star. 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, reag 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 clutg 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 upo 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 a down into them. Some of them cleft the rocks with great axes; rabbled 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 caverh and Avarice watched them, and Death said, I am weary; give me a third of them a me go. But Avarice shook her head. They are my servants, she answered. Ah said to her, What hast thou in thy hand? I have three grains of , 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. Ah 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 ist 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 a. She beat her barren bosom, and cried aloud. Thou hast slain a third of my servants, she cried, get thee gohere is war in the藏书网 mountains of Tartary, and the kings of each side are calling to thee. The Afghans have slain the black ox, and are marg 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 e here no more. Nay, answered Death, but till thou hast given me a grain of I will not go. But Avarice shut her hand, and ched her teeth. I will not give thee anything, she muttered. Ah 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 beh 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 Samard have run dry. There is famine in the walled cities of Egypt, and the locusts have e up from the desert. The Nile has not overflowed its banks, and the priests have cursed Isis and Osiris. Get thee goo those who hee, and leave me my servants. Nay, answered Death, but till thou hast given me a grain of I will not go. I will not give thee anything, said Avarice. Ah 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, ah 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 Ki, and said: Who were these men, and for what were they seeking? For rubies for a kings , 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 pleasauhe birds were singing. And the Chamberlain and the high officers of State came in and made obeisao him, and the pages brought him the robe of tissued gold, ahe 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 ation, 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, ah in the heart of the pearl. Aold 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 bread till he has seen the sower, nor drink wiill 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, ahis upon thy head. For how shall the people know that thou art a king, if thou hast not a kings 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 kings 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. A I will not wear this robe, nor will I be ed with this , 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 panion, a lad a year youhan 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 tunid 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 haook his rude shepherds 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 ? And the young King plucked a spray of wild briar that was climbing over the baly, a it, and made a circlet of it, a on his own head. This shall he my , 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, a 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 Kings fool who is riding by, and they mocked him. And he drew rein and said, Nay, but I am the King. Aold them his three dreams. And a man came out of the crowd and spake bitterly to him, and said, Sir, khou not that out of the luxury of the rich eth 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. Thihou 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. Therefo back to thy Palad put on thy purple and fine linen. What hast thou to do with us, and what we suffer? Are not the rid the poor brothers? asked the young King. Ay, answered the man, and the name of the rich brother is . And the young Kings eyes filled with tears, and he rode on through the murmurs of the people, and the little page grew afraid a him. And when he reached the great portal of the cathedral, the soldiers thrust their halberts out and said, What dost thou seek here? ers 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 ing in his goatherds dress, he rose up in wonder from his throne, ao meet him, and said to him, My son, is this a kings apparel? And with what shall I thee, and what sceptre shall I pla 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. Aold 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 e down from the mountains, and carry off the little children, and s?hem to the Moors. The lions lie in wait for the caravans, and leap upon the camels. The wild boar roots up the 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 s from them. In the salt-marshes live the lepers; they have houses of wattled reeds, and none may e nigh them. The beggars wahrough the cities, aheir food with the dogs. st thou make these things not to be? Wilt thou take the leper for thy bedfellow, ahe 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 Palad make thy face glad, and put on the raiment that beseemeth a king, and with the of gold I will thee, and the sceptre of pearl will I pla 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 worlds 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 k before the image of Christ, and the great dles burned brightly by the jewelled shrine, and the smoke of the inse 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 ehe 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 whs 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 ht 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 kings 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 kiood before them, and the an pealed out its music, and the trumpeters blew uporumpets, 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 Bishops face grew pale, and his hands trembled. A greater than I hath ed thee, he cried, and he k 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. 公主的生日 公主的生日 这一天是公主的生日，她刚满十二岁。灿烂的阳光照在王宫的花园中。 虽说她是一个真正的公主，一位西班牙公主，但是她就像穷人家的孩子们一样，每年只 能过一次生日，因此举国上下自然而然地就把这当作是一件重大的事情，那就是她过生日这 天应该是个晴朗的天气。那一天的确是个晴朗的好天。高高的带条纹的郁金香直挺挺地立在 花茎上，像一排列队立正的士兵，并傲慢地望着草地那边的玫瑰花，一边说：“我们跟你们 一样美丽无比。”紫色的蝴蝶伴着翅膀上的金粉翩翩起舞，轮流走访着每一朵鲜花；小蜥蜴 们从墙上的裂缝中爬出来，躺在白日的阳光下；石榴在火热的阳光下纷纷裂开了嘴，露出了 它们血红的心。就连沿着阴暗走廊的刻花棚架上的一串串悬挂着的浅黄色柠搁，仿佛也从这 奇妙的阳光中染上了一层丰富的色彩，玉兰花树也张开了它们那重叠着的象牙色的巨大球状 花朵，使空气中充满了浓浓的芳香。 小公主本人同她的伴侣们在阳台上来回地走动着，并绕着石花瓶和布满青苔的古雕像在 玩捉迷藏的游戏。在平日里她只被允许同她身分相同的小孩子们玩，因此她总是一个人玩， 不过生日这天可以例外。国王已经下了命令，她可邀请任何她喜欢的小朋友来宫中同她一起 玩。这些瘦小的西班牙孩子跑动起来的动作还挺优雅的。男孩们头戴大羽毛帽子，身穿飘动 的短外套，女孩们手里提着缎子长裙的后摆，并用黑色和银灰色的大扇子护住眼睛遮挡阳 光。然而小公主却是他们当中最优雅的一个，打扮得也是最入时的，依照的是当时相当繁杂 的款式。她的裙子是用灰色锦缎做的，裙摆和宽大的袖口上绣满了银线，挺直的胸衣上缝着 几排名贵的珍珠。两只配着粉红色大玫瑰花的小拖鞋随着她的走动从衣服下边显露出来。那 把大纱扇是粉红色和珍珠色的，她的头发像一圈褪色的金黄光环包围着她那张苍白的小脸 蛋，上面戴着一朵美丽的白玫瑰。 满面愁容的国王透过宫中的窗户望着他们。站在他身后的是他所憎恨的人，那是他的兄 弟，来自阿拉贡省的唐．彼德罗，还有他的忏悔师，来自格兰那达的大宗教裁判官坐在他的 身边。国王此时比以往更忧伤，因为他看见小公主一副孩子般严肃的模样向宫中群臣们行 礼，另外还看见她甩扇子掩着嘴偷笑那总是陪着她的一脸严肃的阿尔布奎尔基公爵夫人，国 王突然想起了年轻的王后，就是小公主的母亲，这在他看来就像是前不久的事情。那时王后 从欢乐的国度法兰西来到西班牙，在西班牙宫廷忧郁华丽的生活中不幸去逝了，死时孩子才 六个月大，她连园子中杏花的第二次开放也没有看到，也没赶上采集院子中央那棵多节老无 花果树上第二年的果子，此刻那儿已是杂草丛生。他爱她爱得太深了，他不能忍受把她埋在 自己看不见的墓穴中。一位摩尔人医生为她的尸体做了香料处理，为了回报医生的工作，国 王保住了他的生命，因为由于信邪教和行巫术的嫌疑，这位医生已被宗教裁判所判了极刑。 她的尸体仍然安放在宫中黑色大理石礼拜堂中铺着织锦的尸架上，还跟十二年前在一个狂风 大作的三月天里僧侣们把她抬放到那儿时的模样一个样。国王每月一次，身上裹着黑袍，手 里提着一个不透光的灯笼，走进礼拜堂跪在她的身旁，呼唤着：“我的王后，我的王后！” 有时他会不顾应有的礼节（在西班牙生活中的任何行为都受到礼节的约束，就连国王的悲痛 也不例外），万分悲痛地抓住她戴着珠宝的苍白的手，并狂吻着她那冰凉的化了妆的脸，试 图把她唤醒。 今天他好像又看见她了，就跟他头一次在巴黎的枫丹白露宫中见到她时一样，当时他仅 有十五岁，而她更年轻。他俩就是在那个时候正式订婚，出席仪式的有罗马教皇的使节还有 法国国王和全体朝臣，那之后他就带着一小束金黄头发返回到西班牙王宫中去了。自打踏上 自己的马车那时起，他就一直想着两片孩子气的嘴唇弯下来吻他手的情景。接下来的婚礼是 在蒲尔哥斯匆匆举行的，那是两国边境的一座小城市。进入马德里的公开庆典是盛大的，照 惯例在拉．阿托卡大教堂里举行了一次大弥撒，并且还搞了一次比平日更庄严的判处异教徒 火刑的仪式。将近三百名异教徒，其中不少是英国人，被交与刽子手去烧死在火刑柱上。 他爱她真是发了狂，很多人都认为是他把国家给毁了，因为当时他们正与英国为争夺新 世界的帝国而进行战争。他甚至连一刻钟也不能离开她；为了她，他已经忘记了，或似乎是 忘记了国家的一切重大事项；在这种激情的驱使下他达到了如此盲目的可怕地步，以致于他 没有发现，那些他为取悦于她而想出来的繁杂礼节，—反而加重了她所犯的奇怪的忧郁病。 她死后有那么一段时间，他仿佛发了疯似的。要不是他担心自己离去后小公主会受到自己兄 弟的残害的话，说真的，他定会正式退位并隐居到格兰那达的特拉卜教大寺院去，他已经是 该院的名誉院长了。他兄弟的残酷无情在西班牙是出了名的，不少人怀疑是他害死了王后， 传说王后到他所在的阿拉贡的城堡去走访的时候，他送了一双有毒的手套给王后。甚至在国 王以皇家法令宣布举国上下公开哀悼三年之后，他仍旧无法忍受他的大臣们跟他提起续弦的 事，当神圣的罗马帝国皇帝本人亲自来向他提出把自己的侄女，一位美丽可爱的波西米亚郡 主嫁给他时，他仍吩咐自己的大臣去告诉皇帝，说西班牙国王已经和悲伤结了婚，尽管她只 是一个不能生育的新娘，可他却爱她超过任何美人；这个回答的代价是使他的王国失去了富 饶的尼德兰诸省，这些省份不久后便在皇帝的鼓动下，由一些改革教派的狂热倍徒领导着， 向他发动了叛乱。 今天他望着小公主在阳台上玩耍的时候，似乎又回想起了他整个的婚姻生活，那是一场 强烈而火热的欢愉，同时也因其突然的完结而导致了可怕的痛苦。小公主具备了王后一切可 爱的傲慢举止，完全一样的任性的摆头动作，同样弯曲而骄傲的美丽嘴唇，一样漂亮可人的 笑容——的确是非常法国式的微笑——小公主不时地抬头望望窗户，或伸出小手让显贵的西 班牙绅士吻着。不过孩子们高声的笑声刺着了他的耳朵，明亮而无情的阳光嘲讽着他的哀 伤，一股奇怪香料的单调气味，就似是处理尸体用的香料，好像把早晨清新的空气给弄脏 了——这或许是他的幻想吧？他把脸埋在双手巾，等小公主再次举头望窗户的时候，窗帘已 经垂下，国王也离开了。 她有些失望地撅橛小嘴，并耸了耸肩膀。说实在的，他本应该跟她呆在一起过生日的。 那些愚载的国家事务有什么要紧的？或许他又去了那个阴森森的礼拜堂了吧？那儿一直点着 蜡烛，而且从未让她进去过。如此好的阳光，大家又这么开心，他可真是太傻了。再说，他 会错过看一场人扮的斗牛比赛，比赛的号角已经吹响了，更不用说那些木偶戏和其它精彩的 表演了。她的叔父和大宗教裁判官倒是更体谅人。他们已经走到阳台上了，并向她道了贺 词。所以她又摆起了她那可爱的头，还拉着唐．彼德罗的手，缓缓走下石阶，朝着耸立在花 园尽头的紫绸编织的长长亭廊走去，其他孩子严格地依照次序紧跟在她的身后，即谁的名字 最长，谁就走在前头。 一行由贵族男孩子化装成斗牛士的队伍走出来欢迎她。年轻的新地伯爵，一位十四岁的 美少年，用西班牙下级贵族世家的全部优雅举止向她脱帽致敬，并庄重地把她引到竞技场内 搭起的看台上安放着的一把镶金的象牙小椅子上坐下。孩子们在她的四周围成一圈，他们一 面挥动着手中的大扇子，一面相互交谈着。唐．彼德罗和大宗教裁判官面带笑容地站在人口 处。就连那位女公爵——人称侍从女市长的人——一个瘦小而性格不定的女人，带着黄色的 翎颌，也一改往日那板起的面孔，一丝像是冷冷的笑容掠过她那皱巴巴的脸，她那没有血色 而干瘦的嘴唇也抽动了一下。 这真是一场令人叫绝的斗牛赛，在小公主看来比真的斗牛比赛还要好看。那是在帕尔马 公爵来看望她父亲时，她被人带去塞维尔看过一场斗牛赛。一群男孩子穿着装饰华丽的马皮 衣服在场子内来回跑着，他们挥舞着长矛，上面绑着色彩艳丽的丝带；另一些男孩徒步走 着，并在假牛面前舞动着猩红色的大地，当牛冲来时他们就轻松地跳过栅栏；至于牛呢，尽 管它只是由柳枝和张开的牛皮做成的，可却跟真牛一样生龙活虎，不过有时它坚持着用后腿 绕着场子跑，这却是真牛连做梦也不敢想的事。这牛斗得也不错，孩子们兴奋极了，他们纷 纷起身站在了长凳子上，并挥动着手中的带边手绢，大声嚷着：太好了，太好了！那种劲头 就跟成年人一样。就这样战斗持续了下去，最后，好几匹人扮的马被戳倒，那位年轻的新地 伯爵把牛也压在了地上，他请求小公主允许他给予致命的一击，然后他就用木剑朝那动物猛 刺下去。他用力太大，一下子把牛头给刺掉了，这使小罗南先生高兴地大笑起来，他是法国 驻马德里大使的儿子。 在大家的掌声中，竞技场被收拾干净了，两个身着黄黑制服的摩尔人侍从把倒地的木马 庄严地拖走了，接着是一段小小的插曲，由一位法国的走绳索大师在一根绷紧的绳子上完成 了一次表演。一些意大利木偶戏表演者在特意建来演木偶戏的一个小戏院中上演了半古典的 悲剧《索福尼西巴》。他们的演出非常出色，木偶的动作也十分自然，演出结束时小公主的 眼中已充满了泪水。当时真的有好多孩子都哭了，只好拿糖块去安慰他们，就是大宗教裁判 官也深受感动，他忍不住对唐．彼德罗说，这些用简单的木头和彩色蜡做成的，并由丝线机 械地牵动的东西，竟能表演得如此悲伤和那么不幸，他似乎觉得难以接受。 接下来是一个非洲人表演戏法。他提来一只又大又平的篮子，上面盖着一块红布。他把 篮子放在场地中央，然后从他的包头帕下面拿出一根奇异的芦管，并吹了起来。不一会儿， 红布开始动了，随着芦管声愈吹愈尖，两条金绿色的蛇伸出了它们那古怪的楔形头，并越伸 越高，还随着音乐声摇来摆去，就跟水中浮动的植物一样。孩子们看见它们那有斑点的头部 和快速吐出的舌头，反而害怕起来，直到看见变戏法者在沙地上变出一棵小桔子树，开出美 丽白色的花朵且长出一串串真实的果实后，才又开心起来；后来变戏法者从拉斯．托里斯侯 爵的小女儿手中拿起一把扇子，把它变成了一只蓝色的小鸟在亭廊里飞来飞去，还不停地唱 着歌，这时他们的兴奋和惊讶真是难以形容。由纽斯特拉丝母院礼拜堂跳舞班的男孩们表演 的庄严舞曲，也同样引人人胜。小公主以前从没有见过如此盛大的庆典，这种庆典每年五月 在圣母大祭坛前面举办一次，是专为庆祝圣母而举行的。其实，自从一位疯教士（据许多人 说他是英国伊丽莎白女王收买了的）想用一块有毒的圣饼谋害西班牙太子阿斯图里亚斯以 后，就没有一位西班牙皇室的成员走进过萨拉哥萨大教堂。因此，小公主仅仅是听人说过这 种“我们之圣母”的舞蹈，看上去也确实很精彩。男孩们穿着白色天鹅绒做的老式宫廷服 装，他们那滑稽的三角帽上缀着银饰物，顶上插着很大的驼鸟毛。他们在阳光下桅舰起舞的 时候，那身耀眼的白色服饰在他们黑色面容和长长黑发的衬托下显得更加绚丽夺目。所有的 人都被他们的一举一动给迷住了，只见他们在繁杂的舞蹈动作中一直显得庄严尊重，缓缓的 舞姿得体而优雅，还气派不凡地鞠着躬。等舞曲一结束，他们就脱下大羽毛帽子向小公主致 敬，她很有礼貌地接受了，并许诺送一只大蜡烛给比拉尔圣母的神坛，以回报圣母给她带来 的快乐。 这时一队漂亮的埃及人——当时也被称为吉卜赛人—一走进到场子中来，他们盘腿席地 而坐，围成一个圈子，开始轻轻地弹奏起他们的弦琴，另一些人伴着曲调舞动起腰身，并用 他们尽可能低的声音哼着歌儿，那声音低得如同梦中的微风掠过。他们一看见唐．彼德罗， 便朝他皱起了眉头，有的人还露出了恐惧的表情，因为就在数周之前，唐说他们的两个族人 被行妖术而给绞死在塞维尔的市场上了。不过美丽的小公主使他们入了迷，这时她朝后靠着 身子，一对蓝色的大眼睛从扇子上边望着他们，他们相信像她这徉可爱的人绝不会残忍地对 待别人的。于是，他们很安静地弹着琴，他们那长长的尖指甲刚好挨到琴弦，他们的头开始 朝前点着，仿佛要入睡似的。突然传来一声尖厉的大叫，孩子们全都大吃了一惊，唐．彼德 罗的手赶紧抓住了他短剑的玛瑙剑柄。只见弹琴者们跳起身来，围着场地疯狂地转起圈来， 并不停地敲打手鼓，同时用他们那奇特的带喉音的语言唱起了狂放的情歌。随着一声信号的 传来，他们又都扑倒在地上，静静地躺着不动了，全场一派寂静，只能听到单调的弦琴声。 就这样他们做了几个来回以后，又一下子消失了，等他们再回来时已用链条牵来了一头毛乎 乎的棕色大熊，他们肩头上还坐着几只巴巴利的小猴子。大熊十分认真地倒立起身子，干瘦 的猴子跟着两个像是它们主人的吉卜赛小男孩在表演着各种各样逗笑的把戏，它们还会挥动 小剑和放枪，并且会像国王的卫队那样完成一整套正规军的操练。吉卜赛人的表演的确大获 成功。 然而整个早上的娱乐活动中最有趣的还要数小矮人的舞蹈。他蹒跚地移动着自己那双弯 曲的腿，他那颗畸形的大脑袋左右摇摆着，就这样他跌跌撞撞地冲进到场子中。孩子们见到 此情此景都一下子兴奋地大声叫了起来，小公主本人更是大笑不止，以致那位女侍从市长不 得不提醒她说，虽然过去西班牙国王的女儿在同等人面前哭过几回，可却从没有皇室家族的 公主在比她低下的人跟前如此开怀大笑过呢。不过，小矮人的举动真是让人无法抗拒，即使 是西班牙宫廷，这样一个以培养恐怖而著称的地方，也从未见过一个如此吸引人的小怪物。 这还是他头一回出场演出。人们仅是在昨天才找到了他，当时他正在树林里疯颠颠地跑着， 两个贵族刚好在环城一带的栓皮储树林中偏僻的区域打猎，于是就把他带进宫中，作为献给 小公玄的一个惊喜。小矮人的父亲是个穷苦的烧炭人，能够摆脱这个又丑又无用的孩子对他 来说真是求之不得。或许真正最有趣的倒是小矮人一点也不知道自己那丑陋的相貌。的确他 看上去好开心且精神饱满。孩子们笑了，他也跟他们一样笑得无拘无束。每支舞曲结束时， 他便要向他们每一个人鞠一个最滑稽的躬，他对他们点头高兴的样子就好像他的的确确是他 们中的一员，并非是上帝以滑稽的方式刻意创造出来让别人戏弄的一个不幸的小怪物。至于 小公主，她简直把小矮人给迷住了。他不能够把眼睛从她身上移开，他好像是专为小公主一 人跳舞似的。演出结束时，小公主记起了自己曾见过宫廷贵妇们向意大利著名男高音加法奈 里抛掷花束的情形，当时罗马教皇把加法奈里从自己的礼拜堂派往马德里，打算用他那最甜 美的歌声去医治国王的忧闷；于是小公主便从自己的头发上取下那朵美丽的白玫瑰，一半是 开玩笑，一半是为了戏弄那位女侍从市长，把花向场中的小矮人掷了过去，脸上带着最甜蜜 的微笑。小矮人把整个事情看得十分认真，他一只手将花朵压在他粗糙的嘴唇下，另一只手 按住胸膛跪在她的面前，咧着大嘴笑着，那双明亮的小眼睛放射出欣喜的光芒。 这使小公主忘记了尊严，等小矮人跑出场子好长一阵子她还在一个劲儿地笑，并对她的 叔父表示想立即让这种舞蹈再表演一次。然而那位女侍从市长却恳求说太阳已经老高了，太 热了，她的小公主殿下应该马上回到宫里去，那里已经为她备好了丰盛的宴席，有一个地道 的生日蛋糕，上面有用彩糖做出的她名字的大写字母，还有一面飘舞的小银旗。小公主非常 庄重地站起身来，并宣布说让小矮人在她午睡时间之后再表演一次，还要求把她的谢意转告 给新地伯爵，感谢他那番殷勤的款待，接着她就回自己的房间去了，其他孩子们又依照原先 进来时的次序跟着她出去了。 当听说小公主叫他去她面前再表演一次，而且还是她亲自下的命令的时候，小怪人真是 得意万分。他跑到花园中去，欣喜若狂地亲吻着那朵白玫瑰，得意忘形地做出了许多笨拙而 难看的动作。 花儿们对他如此胆大地闯进他们美丽的家园里来非常愤怒，他们看见他在花廊里奔来奔 去的，还十分可笑地举着双手挥舞着，他们再也忍受不下去了。 “他真是太难看了，根本不该让他到我们呆的地方来，”郁金香大声喊道。 “他应该去喝鸦片汤，然后睡上一千年，”红色的大百合花说。这时他们真的怒火万丈 了。 “他是个十足的可怕人物！”仙人掌尖叫着说，“啊，他扭得又丑，人又长得矮小，他 的头跟腿长得不成比例。他的确使我浑身上下觉得不舒服，如果他走近我身边，我会用我的 刺去刺他。” “而他却真的弄到了我最美的一朵花，”白玫瑰树惊叹道，“那朵花是我今天早上亲自 送给小公主的，作为生日礼物，他却从她那儿把花偷走了。”然后她大叫起来，“小偷，小 偷，小偷！” 甚至连不爱抛头露面的红色风露草们，这些大家都知道本身就有很多穷亲戚的草们，在 看见小矮人时也都厌恶地卷起身子。紫罗兰却温和地说小矮人的确是其貌不扬，可他也没有 办法去压他一把。风露草也非常公正地反驳说，那是他主要的缺陷，而人们不该因为他的不 治之症而嘲弄他。其实，也有好些紫罗兰觉得小矮人的丑陋是他本人装出来的，假如他面带 些愁容，或至少表现出沉思的样子，而不是欢乐地跳上跳下，做出古怪而又傻乎乎的神态， 那么他会让人觉得好受许多。 至于老日晷仪，他是一位非常了不起的人物，他曾经只向查理五世陛下本人汇报每天的 时刻，小矮人的模样让他吃惊不小，几乎忘记用他那长长的有影子的指头标出时间达两分之 久。他忍不住对在栏栅上晒太阳的乳白色的大孔雀说，人人都知道，国王的孩子就是国王， 烧炭夫的孩子还是烧炭夫，要想事情并非如此，那是不可能的。这种见解得到了孔雀的完全 赞同，而且她真的叫起好来：“是的，是的。”声音又大又粗，连住在凉爽的喷水池中的金 鱼们也从水中露出头来，询问巨大的石雕海神特里通斯究竟发生了什么事。 不过，鸟儿们却喜欢小矮人。他们常在树林中见到他，像个精灵似的追赶着空中的落 叶，或者蹲在一棵老橡树的洞子里，与松鼠们一起分享他的坚果。他们一点也不在乎他的相 貌丑。是啊，夜莺在夜晚去林子里放声歌唱，月亮有时也会俯下身聆听她甜美的歌声，其实 她也没有什么耐看的；再说，小矮人过去对他们一直都很好。在那可怕的严冬里，树上已经 没有坚果了，地面被冻得跟铁块似的，狼群也下山来到城门口寻找食物，就在这种时候，小 矮人也不曾忘记他们，他总是把自己的小块的黑面包揉成屑给他们吃，不管他的早餐多么 少，他总会分一些给他们吃。 所以他们绕着他飞了一圈又一圈，他们飞过他身边的时候用翅膀轻轻抚摸着他的脸，并 相互交谈着。小矮人高兴得不得了，他忍不住把那朵美丽的白玫瑰拿出来给他们看，还告诉 他们这是小公主本人亲自给他的，因为她爱他。 对他讲的话他们一个字也听不懂，不过这倒没什么关系，因为他们把头偏在一旁，看上 去很精明的样子，这就跟了解此事是一样的好，并且也更加容易。 蜥蜴也非常喜欢他，每当他跑累了以后躺在草地上休息的时候，蜥蜴就会在他身上爬来 爬去地玩着，拿出浑身的本事去逗他开心。“不是每个人都可以像蜥蜴那样漂亮的，”他们 大声说道，“不过这种要求太过分了。而且说起来也有些荒唐，其实他一点也不难看，当 然，只要人们团上眼睛，不要去看他。”蜥蜴们天生就是十足的哲学家派头，在没有什么事 情可做的时候，或碰上雨天不能外出，他们会一坐就是好几个钟头地思考问题。 然而，花儿对他们的举止倒是十分地担心，同时对鸟儿的举动也很不安。“这只能表 明，”花儿们说，“这种不停地蹦蹦跳跳会产生多么粗俗的影响。像我们这徉有教养的人， 总是老老实实地呆在同一个地方。从没有人看见我们在花廊中跳来跳去的，或者在草丛中发 疯似的追赶蜻蜓，只要我们想换换空气，我们就会叫园丁来，他会把我们搬到另一个花坛上 去。这是很神圣的事，而且也应该如此。可是鸟儿和蜥蜴没有休息的意识，的确鸟儿连一个 固定的住址都不曾有。他们只不过是一群像吉卜赛人那样的流浪汉，而且也真该受到同徉的 待遇。”于是花儿们露出趾高气昂的样子，一副了不起的神态，并且很得意地望着小矮人从 草地上爬起身来，跨过阳台朝宫廷走去。 “他应该一辈子都关在房子里不出门，”他们说，“看看他的驼背，还有他那双拐 腿，”说着他们吃吃地笑了起来。 不过小矮人对此是一无所知。他好喜欢这些小鸟和蜥蜴，并且认为花儿是世界上最美丽 的东西了，当然要除开小公主。而小公主已经把美丽的白玫瑰给了他，她是爱他的，这就大 不一样了。他多么希望自己能跟她一起回到树林中去！她会让他坐在她的右手边，还对他微 笑，他永远也不愿从她身边离去，他要她跟自己一块儿玩，并教她各种逗人的把戏。因为尽 管他以前从未进过王宫，可他却知道好多了不起的事情。他可以用灯芯草编出小笼子，好把 蚱蜢关在里面唱歌，他还会把竹节细长的竹子做成笛子，用它吹出牧神最爱听的曲子。他了 解每只鸟儿的叫声，还能把欧椋鸟从树梢上唤下来，或从池塘中唤弧苍鹭。他认识每一种动 物的足迹，可以凭着轻微的脚印寻觅到野兔，靠被践踏过的树叶找到狗熊。他知道各种风的 轻舞，有秋天里穿着红衣的狂舞，有穿着蓝色草鞋在稻谷上掠过的轻舞，有冬季戴着雪冠的 舞蹈，还有春天里吹过果园的慢舞。他知道斑鸠在什么地方做窝，曾有一次一对老斑鸠给捕 鸟者抓走了，他就亲自来哺育那些幼鸟，并在一棵砍去了树梢的榆树裂缝中为他们筑起了一 个小小的鸠窝。他们都很听话，并习惯了在他的手上找东西吃。小公主会喜欢他们的，还有 那些在长长的凤尾草中乱窜的兔子们，和有着硬羽毛和黑嘴的鹒鸟，以及能够弯曲成带刺圆 球的刺猬，和会摇头、轻轻地咬嫩叶、慢慢爬行的大智龟。是的，她一定会到林子里来和他 一起玩。他会把自己的小床让给她睡，他在窗外看守着直到天亮，不让带角的野兽伤了她， 更不能让饥饿的狼群靠近小茅屋。天亮时他会轻轻地敲着窗板把她唤醒，他们会一起到外面 去，跳上一整天的舞蹈。在树林里真是一点也不寂寞。有时主教会骑着他的白骡子从这里走 过，一边走一边还读着本带图画的书。有时候那些养猎鹰的人戴着他们的绿绒帽子，穿着硝 过的鹿皮短上衣从这儿经过，手腕上站着蒙着头的鹰。 6bcf." >每到葡萄熟透的季节，采葡萄的人们 连手和脚都是紫色的，头上戴着常青藤编的花冠，手里拿着滴着葡萄酒的皮袋子。烧炭人晚 上围坐在大火盆的边上，望着干柴在火中慢慢地燃烧，把栗子埋在灰中烘烤。强盗们也从山 洞里窜出来跟他们一块儿玩乐。还有一回，他看见一些人排成好看的队伍在长长的尘土飞扬 的大路上蜿蜒地朝托列多而去。僧侣们走在队伍的前头，唱着甜甜的歌曲，手里拿着鲜艳的 旗子和金十字架，随后跟着披银枣甲执火绳枪和长矛的士兵，在这些人当中走着三个赤脚的 人，身着奇怪的黄袍，上面绘满了奇妙的画像，他们的手中拿着点燃的蜡烛。说真的，树林 中有非常多值得看的东西。她疲倦了的时候，他便会找一个长满青苔的软海滩让她休息，要 不就扶着她走，因为他很结实，尽管他深知自己的个头不算高。他会用红色的蔓草果为她做 一串项链，它会跟她衣服上戴的白色珍珠一样美丽，一旦她不欢喜这种项链了，就把它给扔 掉，他还会为她做别的。他会给她找来一些皂角和露水浸泡过的秋牡丹，而且小小的萤火虫 还可以做她浅黄色头发上的小星星。 可是她又在什么地方呢？他问着白玫瑰，白玫瑰回答不了他的问题。整个王宫像是睡着 了似的，甚至连那些百叶窗没有关闭的地方，也垂下了厚重的窗帘挡去了投入窗户的光线。 他到处转悠着想寻到一处可以进入的地方，最后他瞧了一扇开着的小门。他溜了进去，发现 自己来到了一个辉煌的大厅中，他感到要比那树林气派得多，处处金光灿烂，就连地板都是 用五颜六色的大石头铺成的，可是小公主并不在那儿，只有几个美丽异常的白石像从他们的 绿宝石座上朝下望着他，眼神中满是忧伤和茫然，嘴角上还挂着一丝奇怪的微笑。 在大厅的尽头垂挂着绣工精致的黑天鹅绒帷幔，上面绣着太阳和繁星，都是国王最中意 的设计，而且绣的又是他最喜爱的颜色。也许她就躲在那后面？他无论怎样也要去看看。 于是他悄悄地走过去，把帷幔拉开。没有人，那儿只不过是另一间房子，可他觉得这间 房子比他刚才走过的那间更漂亮。墙上挂着绣着许多人物像的绿色挂毡。那是一幅狩猎图， 是几位弗来米西艺术家花了七年时间完成的。这儿曾经是被称为傻约翰的国王的房间，那个 疯子国王太喜欢打猎了，在他精神失常的时候，他总是幻想着骑上那些画中蹬起后蹄的大 马，拖开那只由一群大猎狗攻击的公鹿，吹响他那打猎的号角，用他的短剑刺一只奔跑的母 鹿。现在这儿改作会议厅了，在屋中央的桌子上放着大臣们的红色文件夹，上面盖着西班牙 金色郁金香的印花，以及哈普斯堡皇室的纹章和标识。 小矮人吃惊地朝四周看着，他真有点不敢往前走了。画中那些陌生而沉默的骑马人敏捷 地跨越过一片长长的草地，连一点声音也听不见，在他看来这些人就像烧炭夫们讲过的那些 可怕的鬼影——康普拉克斯，他们只在夜里外出打猎，要是遇上人，就会把此人变成一只赤 鹿，然后去猎取他。但是小矮人想起了美丽的小公主，于是又壮起了胆子。他希望她是一个 人呆在那儿，好让他告诉她，他也是爱她的。也许她就在隔壁的那间屋子里。 他从柔软的莫尔人地毯上跑过去，打开了门。没有！她也不在这儿。房间里空空的。 这是一间御室，用来接待外国使节的，只要国王同意亲自接见他们，这种事近来不常有 了。多年以前，就是在这间屋子里，英国的特使到这儿来安排他们的女王——当时她是欧洲 天主教君主之一，与皇帝的长子联姻的。屋子里的帷幔都是用镀金的皮革做成的，黑白两色 相间的开花板下面垂挂着沉重的镀金烛架，上而可以架起三百支蜡烛。一个巨大的金光闪闪 的华盖上面用小粒珍珠绣出了狮子和卡斯特尔城堡图，华盖下面就是国王的宝座，宝座上盖 着昂贵的黑色天鹅绒罩布，罩布上镶着银色的郁金香并且还配着精致的银饰和珍珠穗子。在 宝座第二级上面放着小公主用的跪凳，垫子是用银丝线布做成的，就在跪凳下面，靠华盖外 面的地方，立着教皇使节的椅子，只有这位使节大人才有权在任何公开的庆典仪式上与国王 坐在一起。他那顶主教的帽子，帽上缠着深红色的帽缨，就放在一个靠前边的紫色绣框上。 正对着宝座的墙上，挂着一幅查理五世猎装服的画像，像跟真人一样大小，身边还站着一只 大猎犬。另一面墙的中央处挂着一幅脉力普二世接受尼德兰诸省朝贡时的画像。在两扇窗户 的中间放着一个乌木幅柜，里面放着象牙盘子，盘子上刻着霍尔彭“死亡舞蹈”中的人物， 据说，这是这位大师亲自动手刻的。 可是小矮人对眼前豪华的盛景却没有留意。他不愿用自己的玫瑰花来换华盖上的珍珠， 更不肯用哪怕一片玫瑰花瓣来换宝座。他所要做的就是在小公主去亭廊之前见上她一面，并 要求在他的舞蹈结束之后就跟他一块儿离去。此时在宫中，空气是郁闷而沉重的，然而在树 林里风儿却能自由自在地衣着，阳光挥舞着那双金灿灿的双手拔开抖动的树叶。树林中也有 鲜花，也许赶不上花园里的花那么鲜艳，但却更加芳香怕人；早春中的风信子花在清凉的山 谷和青草的小丘上荡起层层紫色的浪潮；一簇簇黄色的樱草爬满了橡树根的四周；色彩鲜明 的白屈莱，蓝幽幽的威灵仙，深红且金黄的萄尾随处可见。榛树上有灰色的茅荑花，顶针花 上挂吊着斑迹点点的蜜蜂小屋。栗树的顶部如同白色的星星，而山楂却透着它那苍白的美丽 月色。是的，只要他能够找到她，她一定会来的！她会跟他一块儿到美妙的树林中去的，他 还会给她跳一整天的舞，逗她开心。想到这几，他的眼睛中露出灿烂的微笑，然后他就走进 了另一间房子。 在所有的房屋中这一间是最明亮和最漂亮的。屋里的四壁上布满了印着浅红色花朵的意 大利缎子，缎子上面还点缀着鸟图和可爱的银花；家具是用大块的银子做成的，上面镶着鲜 艳的花环和转动的小爱神；在两个大壁炉的前面立着绣有鹏踏和孔雀的大屏风；地板是海绿 色的玛瑙，仿佛延伸至遥遥的远方。这里并非他一个人，房间的另一头，在门道的阴影下站 着一个小小的人影，正望着他。他心中一颤，从口中进发出一声喜悦的叫声，接着他一下子 跑进了屋外的阳光中。他这么做的时候，那个人影也跟着这么做，他完全看清楚那是什么了。 小公主！不，那只是个怪物，是他所见过的最难看的怪物。奇形怪状的样子，非常人一 般，驼着背，拐着腿，还有一个摇来摇去的大脑袋和一头鬃毛般的乌发。小矮人皱起了眉 头。他笑了，而它也跟着笑，而且还把两只手放在腰间，就跟他的做法是一样的。他嘲笑着 向它鞠了一躬，它也对他还了一个礼。他朝它走去，它也走上来迎他，跟他迈着同样的步 伐，他停下来，对方也站住了脚步。他惊奇地叫了起来，跑上前去，伸出一只手，而怪物的 手也朝他的手伸来，那只手冷冰冰的。他觉得好害怕，又把手挥舞了过去，怪物的手也很快 地伸了过来。他再试着往前压去，但有什么光滑而坚硬的东西挡住了他。怪物的脸此时此刻 正好贴近了他的脸，脸上似乎充满了恐俱。他把头发从眼睛上抹开。它也摹仿他。他去打 它，可它也报以拳头。他对它做出烦恼的样子，它也朝他做鬼脸。他向后退去，它也跟着退 去了。 它是什么东西呀？他想了一会儿，并朝房屋的四周看了看。真是怪了，不管什么东西在 这堵看不见的清水墙上都会重复出现它们原有的模样，是的，墙上有屋里一样的图画，一样 的睡椅。门口壁禽中那个躺着的睡牧神，竟也有一个模样相同的孪生兄弟酣睡在那儿，那位 站立在阳光中伸出双臂的银维纳斯像也正朝着另一个一样可爱的维纳斯对视着。 这是回音吗？他曾经在山谷中呼唤过她，她一个字一个字地回应着。难道她也能摹仿眼 睛就像她摹仿声音那样？难道她能制造出一个与真实世界一样的假世界？难道物体的影子有 颜色、生命和动作吗？难道这会是——？ 他吃了一惊，便从怀里拿出那朵美丽的白玫瑰，转过身来，吻着花。那个怪物也有自己 的玫瑰花，花瓣竟跟他的一模一样！它也在吻花，而且跟他的吻法是一样的，还用它那可怕 的动作把花按在自己的胸口上。 等他明白了其中的道理的时候，他发出了绝望的狂叫声，趴在地上痛哭起来。原来那个 奇丑无比，弯腰驼背的怪物就是他自己。他正是那个怪物，所有的小孩嘲笑的也是他，那位 他原以为爱他的小公主——她也只不过是在嘲笑他的丑态，拿他的拐腿寻开心罢了。他们为 什么要把他带出树林？林子里没有镜子告诉他，他是多么的丑陋。为什么他的父亲不杀死 他，却要出卖他的丑相呢？热泪从他的脸颊上滚滚而下，他把白玫瑰扯了个粉碎。那个趴在 地上的怪物也照他的样子做了，还把花瓣撒在空中。它在地上爬着，他朝它看着，它也用皱 着眉头的苦脸望着他。他朝一边爬去，不愿再看见它，并用双手捂住自己的眼睛。他像一只 受了伤的动物，向阴暗处爬去，并躺在那儿呻吟起来。 正在这时小公主带着她的小伙伴们从开着的落地窗中走了进来，当他们看见丑陋的小矮 人躺在地上，用紧握的拳头捶打地板的时候，他们忍不住为他那极其滑稽夸张的举动哈哈大 笑起来，并围着他观赏起来。 “他的舞蹈很有趣的，”小公主说，“而他的演技更加滑稽。的确他差不多跟木偶人一 样的好，只是还不够自然而已。”说完她扇起了大扇子，高兴地拍手叫好。 可是小矮人再也没有抬起头来，他的哭泣声越来越弱了，突然他发出一声奇怪的喘息， 并在身上抓起来。然后他又倒了下去，一动不动地脑下了。 “这可真精彩，”小公主说，又过了一阵子；“不过现在你必须为我们跳舞了。” 可是小矮人却一声未答。 小公主跺了跺脚，叫起了她的叔父。她叔父此时正和宫廷大臣一起在阳台上散步，读着 刚从墨西哥送来的公文，宗教裁判所最近在墨西哥成立了。“我的这个有趣的小矮人生气 了，”她大声嚷道，“你一定要把他叫醒，让他为我跳舞。” 他们两人相互笑了笑，慢慢地走了进来。唐．彼德罗弯下腰去，用他那绣花的手套打着 小矮人的脸，说道：“你必须得跳舞，小怪物，你一定得跳。西班牙及西印度群岛的小公主 要开心快乐才对。” 可是小矮人却一动也不动。 “应该叫个执鞭人来打他一顿，”唐．彼德罗愤愤地说，接着他又回到了阳台上去。不 过宫廷大臣却是一副庄重的表情，他跪在小矮人的身旁，把手按在小矮人的胸口上。过了一 会儿，他耸了耸肩膀，站起身来，向小公主鞠了个躬，并说道： “我美丽的小公主，您那位滑稽的小矮人再也不能够跳舞了。真遗憾，他长得这么丑， 一定会使国王不开心的。” “可是他为什么不再跳舞了呢？”小公主笑着问道。 “因为他的心碎了，”宫廷大臣说。 公主皱皱眉头，她那可爱的玫瑰叶嘴唇傲气地朝上撅了一下。“那么以后让那些来陪我 玩的人都不带心才行，”她大声说，然后就朝外跑进花园里去了。 THE BIRTHDAY OF THE INFANTA It was the birthday of the Infanta. She was just twelve years of age, and the sun was shining brightly in the gardens of the palace. Although she was a real Princess and the Infanta of Spain, she had only one birthday every year, just like the children of quite poor people, so it was naturally a matter of great importao the whole try that she should have a really fine day for the occasion. And a really fine day it certainly was. The tall striped tulips stood straight up upon their stalks, like long rows of soldiers, and looked defiantly across the grass at the roses, and said: We are quite as splendid as you are now. The purple butterflies fluttered about with gold dust on their wings, visiting each flower in turn; the little lizards crept out of the crevices of the wall, and lay basking in the white glare; and the pomegranates split and cracked with the heat, and showed their bleeding red hearts. Even the pale yellow lemons, that hung in such profusion from the mouldering trellis and along the dim arcades, seemed to have caught a richer colour from the wonderful sunlight, and the magnolia trees opeheir great globe-like blossoms of folded ivory, and filled the air with a sweet heavy perfume. The little Princess herself walked up and dowerrace with her panions, and played at hide and seek round the stone vases and the old moss-grown statues. On ordinary days she was only allowed to play with children of her own rank, so she had always to play alone, but her birthday was an exception, and the King had given orders that she was to invite any of her young friends whom she liked to e and amuse themselves with her. There was a stately grace about these slim Spanish children as they glided about, the boys with their large-plumed hats and short fluttering cloaks, the girls holding up the trains of their long brocaded gowns, and shielding the sun from their eyes with huge fans of blad silver. But the Infanta was the most graceful of all, and the most tastefully attired, after the somewhat cumbrous fashion of the day. Her robe was of grey satin, the skirt and the wide puffed sleeves heavily embroidered with silver, and the stiff corset studded with rows of fine pearls. Two tiny slippers with big pink rosettes peeped out beh her dress as she walked. Pink and pearl was her great gauze fan, and in her hair, which like an aureole of faded gold stood out stiffly round her pale little face, she had a beautiful white rose. From a window in the palace the sad melancholy King watched them. Behind him stood his brother, Don Pedro on, whom he hated, and his fessor, the Grand Inquisitor of Granada, sat by his side. Sadder even than usual was the King, for as he looked at the Infanta bowing with childish gravity to the assembling ters, or laughing behind her fan at the grim Duchess of Albuquerque who always apanied her, he thought of the young Queen, her mother, who but a short time before - so it seemed to him - had e from the gay try of France, and had withered away in the sombre splendour of the Spanish court, dying just six months after the birth of her child, and before she had seen the almonds blossom twi the orchard, or plucked the sed years fruit from the old gnarled fig-tree that stood in the tre of the now grass- grown courtyard. So great had been his love for her that he had not suffered even the grave to hide her from him. She had been embalmed by a Moorish physi, who iurn for this service had been granted his life, which for heresy and suspi of magical practices had been already forfeited, men said, to the Holy Office, and her body was still lying on its tapestried bier in the black marble chapel of the Palace, just as the monks had borne her in on that windy March day nearly twelve years before. Once every month the King, ed in a dark cloak and with a muffled lantern in his hand, went in and k by her side calling out, MI REINA! MI REINA! and sometimes breaking through the formal etiquette that in Spain governs every separate a of life, as limits even to the sorrow of a King, he would clutch at the pale jewelled hands in a wild agony of grief, and try to wake by his mad kisses the cold painted face. To-day he seemed to see her again, as he had seen her first at the Castle of Fontainebleau, when he was but fifteen years of age, and she still younger. They had been formally betrothed on that occasion by the Papal Nuncio in the presence of the French King and all the Court, and he had returo the Escurial bearing with him a little ri of yellow hair, and the memory of two childish lips bending down to kiss his hand as he stepped into his carriage. Later on had followed the marriage, hastily performed at Burgos, a small town on the frontier betweewo tries, and the grand publitry into Madrid with the ary celebration of high mass at the Church of La Atocha, and a more than usually solemn AUTO-DA-FE, in whiearly three hundred heretics, amongst whom were many Englishmen, had been delivered over to the secular arm to be burned. Certainly he had loved her madly, and to the ruin, many thought, of his try, then at war with England for the possession of the empire of the New World. He had hardly ever permitted her to be out of his sight; for her, he had fotten, or seemed to have fotten, all grave affairs of State; and, with that terrible blihat passis upon its servants, he had failed to notice that the elaborate ceremonies by which he sought to please her did but aggravate the strange malady from which she suffered. When she died he was, for a time, like o of reason. Ihere is no doubt but that he would have formally abdicated aired to the great Trappist monastery at Granada, of which he was already titular Prior, had he not been afraid to leave the little Infanta at the mercy of his brother, whose cruelty, even in Spain, was notorious, and who was suspected by many of having caused the Queeh by means of a pair of poisoned gloves that he had preseo her on the occasion of her visiting his castle in Aragon. Even after the expiration of the three years of public m that he had ordaihroughout his whole dominions by royal edict, he would never suffer his mio speak about any new alliance, and when the Emperor himself sent to him, and offered him the hand of the lovely Archduchess of Bohemia, his niece, in marriage, he bade the ambassadors tell their master that the King of Spain was already wedded to Sorrow, and that though she was but a barren bride he loved her better thay; an ahat cost his the rich provinces of the herlands, which soon after, at the Emperors instigatioed against him uhe leadership of some fanatics of the Reformed Church. His whole married life, with its fierce, fiery-coloured joys and the terrible agony of its sudden ending, seemed to e ba to-day as he watched the Infanta playing oerrace. She had all the Queens pretty petulanahe same wilful way of tossing her head, the same proud curved beautiful mouth, the same wonderful smile - VRAI SOURIRE DE FRANdeed - as she glanced up now and then at the window, or stretched out her little hand for the stately Spanish gentlemen to kiss. But the shrill laughter of the children grated on his ears, and the bright pitiless sunlight mocked his sorrow, and a dull odour of strange spices, spices such as embalmers use, seemed to taint - or was it fancy? - the clear m air. He buried his fa his hands, and when the Infanta looked up again the curtains had been drawn, and the King had retired. She made a little MOUE of disappoi, and shrugged her shoulders. Surely he might have stayed with her on her birthday. What did the stupid State-affairs matter? Or had he goo that gloomy chapel, where the dles were always burning, and where she was never allowed to enter? How silly of him, when the sun was shining shtly, and everybody was so happy! Besides, he would miss the sham bull-fight for which the trumpet was already sounding, to say nothing of the puppet-show and the other wonderful things. Her uncle and the Grand Inquisitor were much more sensible. They had e out oerrace, and paid ９9lｉb.her nice pliments. So she tossed her pretty head, and taking Don Pedro by the hand, she walked slowly doweps towards a long pavilion of purple silk that had beeed at the end of the garden, the other children following in strict order of prece, those who had the lo names going first. A procession of noble boys, fantastically dressed as TOREADORS, came out to meet her, and the young t of Tierra-Nueva, a wonderfully handsome lad of about fourteen years of age, unc his head with all the grace of a born hidalgo and grandee of Spain, led her solemnly in to a little gilt and ivory chair that was placed on a raised dais above the arena. The children grouped themselves all round, fluttering their big fans and whispering to each other, and Don Pedro and the Grand Inquisitor stood laughing at the entrance. Even the Duchess - the Camerera-Mayor as she was called - a thin, hard-featured woman with a yellow ruff, did not look quite so bad-tempered as usual, and something like a chill smile flitted across her wrinkled fad twitched her thin bloodless lips. It certainly was a marvellous bull-fight, and muicer, the Infanta thought, than the real bull-fight that she had been brought to see at Seville, on the occasion of the visit of the Duke of Parma to her father. Some of the boys pranced about on richly- caparisoned hobby-horses brandishing long javelins with gay streamers ht ribands attached to them; others went on foot waving their scarlet cloaks before the bull, and vaulting lightly over the barrier when he charged them; and as for the bull himself, he was just like a live bull, though he was only made of wicker- work and stretched hide, and sometimes insisted on running round the arena on his hind legs, whio live bull ever dreams of doing. He made a splendid fight of it too, and the children got so excited that they stood up upon the benches, and waved their lace handkerchiefs and cried out: BRAVO TORO! BRAVO TORO! just as sensibly as if they had been grown-up people. At last, however, after a prolonged bat, during which several of the hobby-horses were gored through and through, and, their riders dismouhe young t of Tierra-Nueva brought the bull to his knees, and having obtained permission from the Infanta to give the COUP DE GRACE, he plunged his wooden sword into the neck of the animal with such violehat the head came right off, and disclosed the laughing face of little Monsieur de Lorraihe son of the French Ambassador at Madrid. The arena was then cleared amidst much applause, and the dead hobbyhorses dragged solemnly away by two Moorish pages in yellow and black liveries, and after a short interlude, during which a French posture-master performed upoightrope, some Italian puppets appeared in the semi-classical tragedy of SOPHONISBA on the stage of a small theatre that had been built up for the purpose. They acted so well, and their gestures were so extremely natural, that at the close of the play the eyes of the Infanta were quite dim with tears. Indeed some of the children really cried, and had to be forted with sweetmeats, and the Grand Inquisitor himself was so affected that he could not help saying to Don Pedro that it seemed to him intolerable that things made simply out of wood and coloured wax, and worked meically by wires, should be so unhappy a with such terrible misfortunes. An Afri juggler followed, whht in a large flat basket covered with a red cloth, and having placed it in the tre of the arena, he took from his turban a curious reed pipe, and blew through it. In a few moments the cloth began to move, and as the pipe grew shriller and shriller two green and gold snakes put out their strange wedge-shaped heads and rose slowly up, swaying to and fro with the music as a plant sways ier. The children, however, were rather frighte their spotted hoods and quick darting tongues, and were much more pleased when the juggler made a tiny e-tree grow out of the sand and bear pretty white blossoms and clusters of real fruit; and wheook the fan of the little daughter of the Marquess de Las-Torres, and ged it into a blue bird that flew all round the pavilion >藏书网and sang, their delight and amazement knew no bounds. The solemn mioo, performed by the dang boys from the church of ra Senora Del Pilar, was charming. The Infanta had never before seen this wonderful ceremony which takes place every year at Maytime in front of the high altar of the Virgin, and in her honour; and indeed none of the royal family of Spain had ehe great cathedral of Saragossa since a mad priest, supposed by many to have been in the pay of Elizabeth of England, had tried to administer a poisoned wafer to the Prince of the Asturias. So she had known only by hearsay of Our Ladys Dance, as it was called, and it certainly was a beautiful sight. The boys wore old-fashioned court dresses of white velvet, and their curious three-ered hats were fringed with silver and surmounted with huge plumes of ostrich feathers, the dazzling whiteness of their es, as they moved about in the sunlight, being still more atuated by their swarthy faces and long black hair. Everybody was fasated by the grave dignity with which they moved through the intricate figures of the dance, and by the elaborate grace of their slow gestures, and stately bows, and when they had fiheir performand doffed their great plumed hats to the Infanta, she aowledged their reverence with much courtesy, and made a vow that she would send a large wax dle to the shrine of Our Lady of Pilar iurn for the pleasure that she had given her. A troop of handsome Egyptians - as the gipsies were termed in those days - then advanced into the arena, and sitting down cross-legs, in a circle, began to play softly upon their zithers, moving their bodies to the tune, and humming, almost below their breath, a low dreamy air. When they caught sight of Don Pedro they scowled at him, and some of them looked terrified, for only a few weeks before he had had two of their tribe hanged for sorcery in the market- place at Seville, but the pretty Infanta charmed them as she leaned back peeping over her fan with her great blue eyes, and they felt sure that one so lovely as she was could never be cruel to anybody. So they played on very gently and just toug the cords of the zithers with their long pointed nails, and their heads began to nod as though they were falling asleep. Suddenly, with a cry so shrill that all the children were startled and Don Pedros hand clutched at the agate pommel of his dagger, they leapt to their feet and whirled madly round the enclosure beating their tambourines, and ting some wild love-song in their stratural language. Then at annal they all flung themselves again to the ground and lay there quite still, the dull strumming of the zithers being the only sound that broke the silence. After that they had dohis several times, they disappeared for a moment and came back leading a brown shaggy bear by a , and carrying on their shoulders some little Barbary apes. The bear stood upon his head with the utmost gravity, and the wizened apes played all kinds of amusing tricks with two gipsy boys who seemed to be their masters, and fought with tiny swords, and fired off guns, ahrough a regular soldiers drill just like the Kings own bodyguard. In fact the gipsies were a great success. But the fu part of the whole ms eai, was undoubtedly the dang of the little Dwarf. Wheumbled into the arena, waddling on his crooked legs and wagging his huge misshapen head from side to side, the childre off into a loud shout of delight, and the Infanta herself laughed so much that the Camerera was obliged to remihat although there were many prets in Spain for a Kings daughter weeping before her equals, there were none for a Princess of the blood royal making so merry before those who were her inferiors in birth. The Dwarf, however, was really quite irresistible, and even at the Spanish Court, always noted for its cultivated passion for the horrible, so fantastic a little monster had never been seen. It was his first appearaoo. He had been discovered only the day before, running wild through the forest, by two of the nobles who happened to have been hunting in a remote part of the great cork-wood that surrouhe town, and had been carried off by them to the Palace as a surprise for the Infanta; his father, who oor charcoal- burner, being but too well pleased to get rid of so ugly and useless a child. Perhaps the most amusing thing about him was his plete unsciousness of his own grotesque appearance. Indeed he seemed quite happy and full of the highest spirits. When the children laughed, he laughed as freely and as joyously as any of them, and at the close of each dance he made them each the fu of bows, smiling and nodding at them just as if he was really one of themselves, and not a little misshapen thing that Nature, in some humourous mood, had fashioned for others to mock at. As for the Infanta, she absolutely fasated him. He could not keep his eyes off her, and seemed to dance for her alone, and when at the close of the performance, remembering how she had seen the great ladies of the Court throw bouquets to Caffarelli, the famous Italian treble, whom the Pope had sent from his own chapel to Madrid that he might cure the Kings melancholy by the sweetness of his voice, she took out of her hair the beautiful white rose, and partly for a jest and partly to tease the Camerera, threw it to him across the arena with her sweetest smile, he took the whole matter quite seriously, and pressing the flower to his rough coarse lips he put his hand upon his heart, and sank on one knee before her, grinning from ear to ear, and with his little bright eyes sparkling with pleasure. This so upset the gravity of the Infanta that she kept on laughing long after the little Dwarf had ran out of the arena, and expressed a desire to her uhat the dance should be immediately repeated. The Camerera, however, on the plea that the sun was too hot, decided that it would be better that her Highness should return without delay to the Palace, where a wonderful feast had been already prepared for her, including a real birthday cake with her own initials worked all over it in painted sugar and a lovely silver flag waving from the top. The Infanta accly rose up with much dignity, and having given orders that the little dwarf was to dance again for her after the hour of siesta, and veyed her thanks to the young t of Tierra-Nueva for his charming reception, she went back to her apartments, the children following in the same order in which they had entered. Now whetle Dwarf heard that he was to dance a sed time before the Infanta, and by her own express and, he was so proud that he ran out into the garden, kissing the white rose in an absurd ecstasy of pleasure, and making the most uncouth and clumsy gestures of delight. The Flowers were quite indibbr>?gnant at his daring to intrude into their beautiful home, and when they saw him capering up and down the walks, and waving his arms above his head in such a ridiculous mahey could not restrain their feelings any longer. He is really far too ugly to be allowed to play in any place where we are, cried the Tulips. He should drink poppy-juice, and go to sleep for a thousand years, said the great scarlet Lilies, and they grew quite hot and angry. He is a perfect horror! screamed the Cactus. Why, he is twisted and stumpy, and his head is pletely out of proportion with his legs. Really he makes me feel prickly all over, and if he es near me I will sting him with my thorns. And he has actually got one of my best blooms, exclaimed the White Rose-Tree. I gave it to the Infanta this m myself, as a birthday present, and he has stolen it from her. And she called out: Thief, thief, thief! at the top of her voice. Even the red Geraniums, who did not usually give themselves airs, and were known to have a great many poor relations themselves, curled up in disgust when they saw him, and when the Violets meekly remarked that though he was certairemely plain, still he could not help it, they retorted with a good d..eal of justice that that was his chief defect, and that there was no reason why one should admire a person because he was incurable; and, indeed, some of the Violets themselves felt that the ugliness of the little Dwarf was almost ostentatious, and that he would have shown much better taste if he had looked sad, or at least pensive, instead of jumping about merrily, and throwing himself into such grotesque and silly attitudes. As for the old Sundial, who was aremely remarkable individual, and had oold the time of day to no less a person than the Emperor Charles V. himself, he was so taken aback by the little Dwarfs appearahat he almost fot to mark two whole minutes with his long shadowy finger, and could not help saying to the great milk-white Peacock, who was sunning herself on the balustrade, that every one khat the children of Kings we.re Kings, and that the children of charcoal-burners were charcoal- burners, and that it was absurd to pretend that it wasnt so; a statement with which the Peacotirely agreed, and indeed screamed out, Certainly, certainly, in such a loud, harsh voice, that the gold-fish who lived in the basin of the cool splashing fountain put their heads out of the water, and asked the huge stone Tritons what oh was the matter. But somehow the Birds liked him. They had seen him often in the forest, dang about like an elf after the eddying leaves, or crouched up in the hollow of some old oak-tree, sharing his nuts with the squirrels. They did not mind his being ugly, a bit. Why, even the nightingale herself, who sang so sweetly in the e groves at night that sometimes the Moon leaned down to listen, was not much to look at after all; and, besides, he had been kind to them, and during that terribly bitter winter, when there were no berries orees, and the ground was as hard as iron, and the wolves had e down to the very gates of the city to look for food, he had never once fotten them, but had always given them crumbs out of his little hunch of black bread, and divided with them whatever poor breakfast he had. So they flew round and round him, just toug his cheek with their wings as they passed, and chattered to each other, and the little Dwarf was so pleased that he could not help showing them the beautiful white rose, and telling them that the Infanta herself had given it to him because she loved him. They did not uand a single word of what he was saying, but that made no matter, for they put their heads on one side, and looked wise, which is quite as good as uanding a thing, and very much easier. The Lizards also took an immense fan, and when he grew tired of running about and flung himself down on the grass to rest, they played and romped all over him, and tried to amuse him in the best way they could. Every one ot be as beautiful as a lizard, they cried; that would be too much to expect. And, though it sounds absurd to say so, he is really not so ugly after all, provided, of course, that one shuts ones eyes, and does not look at him. The Lizards were extremely philosophical by nature, and often sat thinking for hours and hours together, when there was nothing else to do, or when the weather was too rainy for them to go out. The Flowers, however, were excessively a their behaviour, and at the behaviour of the birds. It only shows, they said, what a vulgarising effect this incessant rushing and flying about has. Well-bred people always stay exactly in the same place, as we do. No one ever saw us hopping up and down the walks, alloping madly through the grass after dragon-flies. When we do want ge of air, we send for the gardener, and he carries us to another bed. This is dignified, and as it should be. But birds and lizards have no sense of repose, and indeed birds have not even a perma address. They are mere vagrants like the gipsies, and should be treated ily the same manner. So they put their noses in the air, and looked very haughty, and were quite delighted when after some time they saw the little Dwarf scramble up from the grass, and make his way across the terrace to the palace. He should certainly be kept indoors for the rest of his natural life, they said. Look at his hunched back, and his crooked legs, and they began to titter. But the little Dwarf knew nothing of all this. He liked the birds and the lizards immensely, and thought that the flowers were the most marvellous things in the whole world, except of course the Infanta, but then she had given him the beautiful white rose, and she loved him, and that made a great difference. How he wished that he had gone back with her! She would have put him on her right hand, and smiled at him, and he would have never left her side, but would have made her his playmate, and taught her all kinds of delightful tricks. For though he had never been in a palace before, he knew a great many wonderful things. He could make little cages out of rushes for the grasshoppers to sing in, and fashion the long jointed bamboo into the pipe that Pan loves to hear. He khe cry of every bird, and could call the starlings from the tree-top, or the heron from the mere. He khe trail of every animal, and could track the hare by its delicate footprints, and the boar by the trampled leaves. All the wild- dances he khe mad dan red raiment with the autumn, the light dan blue sandals over the , the dah white snow-wreaths in winter, and the blossom-dahrough the orchards in spring. He knew where the wood-pigeons built their s, and once when a fowler had she parent birds, he had brought up the young ones himself, and had built a little dovecot for them in the cleft of a pollard elm. They were quite tame, and used to feed out of his hands every m. She would like them, and the rabbits that scurried about in the long fern, and the jays with their steely feathers and black bills, and the hedgehogs that could curl themselves up into prickly balls, and the great wise tortoises that crawled slowly about, shaking their heads and nibbling at the young leaves. Yes, she must certainly e to the forest and play with him. He would give her his own little bed, and would watch outside the window till dawn, to see that the wild horned cattle did not harm her, nor the gaunt wolves creep too he hut. And at dawn he would tap at the shutters and wake her, and they would go out and daogether all the day long. It was really not a bit lonely in the forest. Sometimes a Bishop rode through on his white mule, reading out of a painted book. Sometimes in their gree caps, and their jerkins of tanned deerskin, the falers passed by, with hooded hawks on their wrists. At viime came the grape-treaders, with purple hands a, wreathed with glossy ivy and carrying dripping skins of wine; and the charcoal-burners sat round their huge braziers at night, watg the dry logs charring slowly in the fire, and roasting chestnuts in the ashes, and the robbers came out of their caves and made merry with them. Ooo, he had seen a beautiful procession winding up the long dusty road to Toledo. The monks went in front singing sweetly, and carrying bright banners and crosses of gold, and then, in silver armour, with matchlocks and pikes, came the soldiers, and in their midst walked three barefooted men, in strange yellow dresses painted all over with wonderful figures, and carrying lighted dles in their hands. Certainly there was a great deal to look at in the forest, and when she was tired he would find a soft bank of moss for her, or carry her in his arms, for he was very strong, though he khat he was not tall. He would make her a necklace of red bryony berries, that would be quite as pretty as the white berries that she wore on her dress, and when she was tired of them, she could throw them away, and he would fihers. He would bring her a-cups and dew-drenched anemones, and tiny glow-worms to be stars in the pale gold of her hair. But where was she? He asked the white rose, and it made him no answer. The whole palace seemed asleep, and evehe shutters had not been closed, heavy curtains had been drawn across the windows to keep out the glare. He wandered all round looking for some place through which he might gain arance, and at last he caught sight of a little private door that was lying open. He slipped through, and found himself in a splendid hall, far more splendid, he feared, than the forest, there was so much more gilding everywhere, and even the floor was made of great coloured stones, fitted together into a sort of geometrical pattern. But the little Infanta was not there, only some wonderful white statues that looked down on him from their jasper pedestals, with sad blank eyes and strangely smiling lips. At the end of the hall hung a richly embroidered curtain of black velvet, powdered with suns and stars, the Kings favourite devices, and broidered on the colour he loved best. Perhaps she was hiding behind that? He would try at any rate. So he stole quietly across, and drew it aside. No; there was only another room, though a prettier room, he thought, than the one he had just left. The walls were hung with a many-figured green arras of needle-wrought tapestry representing a hunt, the work of some Flemish artists who had spent more than seven years in its position. It had once been the chamber of JEAN LE FOU, as he was called, that mad King who was so enamoured of the chase, that he had often tried in his delirium to mount the huge rearing horses, and t dowag on which the great hounds were leaping, sounding his hunting horn, and stabbing with his dagger at the pale flying deer. It was now used as the cil-room, and on the tre table were lying the red portfolios of the ministers, stamped with the gold tulips of Spain, and with the arms and emblems of the house of Hapsburg. The little Dwarf looked in wonder all round him, and was half- afraid to go on. The strange silent horsemen that galloped so swiftly through the long glades without making any noise, seemed to him like those terrible phantoms of whom he had heard the charcoal- burners speaking - the prachos, who hunt only at night, and if they meet a man, turn him into a hind, and chase him. But he thought of the pretty Infanta, and took ce. He wao find her alone, and to tell her that he too loved her. Perhaps she was in the room beyond. He ran across the soft Moorish carpets, and opehe door. No! She was not here either. The room was quite empty. It was a throne-room, used for the reception of fn ambassadors, when the King, which of late had not been often, seo give them a personal audiehe same room in which, many years before, envoys had appeared from England to make arras for the marriage of their Queen, then one of the Catholic sns of Europe, with the Emperors eldest son. The hangings were of gilt Cordovaher, and a heavy gilt delier with branches for three hundred wax lights hung down from the black and white ceiling. Underh a great opy of gold cloth, on which the lions and towers of Castile were broidered in seed pearls, stood the throself, covered with a rich pall of black velvet studded with silver tulips and elaborately fringed with silver and pearls. On the sed step of the throne laced the kneeling-stool of the Infanta, with its cushion of cloth of silver tissue, and below that again, and beyond the limit of the opy, stood the chair for the Papal Nuncio, who alone had the right to be seated in the Kings presen the occasion of any public ceremonial, and whose Cardinals hat, with its tangled scarlet tassels, lay on a purple TABOURET in front. On the wall, fag the throne, hung a life-sized portrait of Charles V. in hunting dress, with a great mastiff by his side, and a picture of Philip II. receiving the homage of the herlands occupied the tre of the other wall. Between the windows stood a black ebony et, inlaid with plates of ivory, on which the figures from Holbeins Dance of Death had been graved - by the hand, some said, of that famous master himself. But the little Dwarf cared nothing for all this magnifice. He would not have given his rose for all the pearls on the opy, nor one white petal of his rose for the throself. What he wanted was to see the Infanta before she went down to the pavilion, and to ask her to e away with him when he had finished his dance. Here, in the Palace, the air was close and heavy, but in the forest the wind blew free, and the sunlight with wandering hands of gold moved the tremulous leaves aside. There were flowers, too, in the forest, not so splendid, perhaps, as the flowers in the garden, but more sweetly sted for all that; hyaths in early spring that flooded with waving purple the cool glens, and grassy knolls; yellow primroses that led in little clumps round the gnarled roots of the oak-trees; bright dine, and blue speedwell, and irises lilad gold. There were grey catkins on the hazels, and the foxgloves drooped with the weight of their dappled bee-haunted cells. The chestnut had its spires of white stars, and the hawthorn its pallid moons of beauty. Yes: surely she would e if he could only find her! She would e with him to the fair forest, and all day long he would dance for her delight. A smile lit up his eyes at the thought, and he passed into the room. Of all the rooms this was the brightest and the most beautiful. The walls were covered with a pink-flowered Lucca damask, patterned with birds and dotted with dainty blossoms of silver; the furniture was of massive silver, festooned with florid wreaths, and swinging Cupids; in front of the twe fire-places stood great ss broidered with parrots and peacocks, and the floor, which was of sea-green onyx, seemed to stretch far away into the distance. Nor was he alone. Standing uhe shadow of the doorway, at the extreme end of the room, he saw a little figure watg him. His heart trembled, a cry of joy broke from his lips, and he moved out into the sunlight. As he did so, the figure moved out also, and he saw it plainly. The Infanta! It was a mohe most grotesque monster he had ever beheld. Not properly shaped, as all other people were, but hunchbacked, and crooked-limbed, with huge lolling head and mane of black hair. The little Dwarf frowned, and the monster frowned also. He laughed, and it laughed with him, and held its hands to its sides, just as he himself was doing. He made it a mog bow, and it returned him a low reverence. He went towards it, and it came to meet him, copying each step that he made, and stopping when he stopped himself. He shouted with amusement, and ran forward, and reached out his hand, and the hand of the moouched his, and it was as cold as ice. He grew afraid, and moved his hand across, and the monsters hand followed it quickly. He tried to press on, but something smooth and hard stopped him. The face of the monster was now close to his own, and seemed full of terror. He brushed his hair off his eyes. It imitated him. He struck at it, and it returned blow for blow. He loathed it, and it made hideous faces at him. He drew back, and it retreated. What is it? He thought for a moment, and looked round at the rest of the room. It was strange, but everything seemed to have its double in this invisible wall of clear water. Yes, picture for picture was repeated, and couch for couch. The sleeping Faun that lay in the alcove by the doorway had its twin brother that slumbered, and the silver Venus that stood in the sunlight held out her arms to a Venus as lovely as herself. Was it Echo? He had called to her on the valley, and she had answered him word for word. Could she mock the eye, as she mocked the voice? Could she make a mimic world just like the real world? Could the shadows of things have colour and life and movement? Could it be that - ? He started, and taking from his breast the beautiful white rose, he turned round, and kissed it. The monster had a rose of its own, petal for petal the same! It kissed it with like kisses, and pressed it to its heart with horrible gestures. Wheruth dawned upon him, he gave a wild cry of despair, and fell sobbing to the ground. So it was he who was misshapen and hunchbacked, foul to look at and grotesque. He himself was the monster, and it was at him that all the children had been laughing, and the little Princess who he had thought loved him - she too had been merely mog at his ugliness, and making merry over his twisted limbs. Why had they not left him in the forest, where there was no mirror to tell him how loathsome he was? Why had his father not killed him, rather than sell him to his shame? The hot tears poured down his cheeks, aore the white rose to pieces. The sprawling monster did the same, and scattered the faials in the air. It grovelled on the ground, and, when he looked at it, it watched him with a face drawn with pain. He crept away, lest he should see it, and covered his eyes with his hands. He crawled, like some wouhing, into the shadow, and lay there moaning. And at that moment the Infanta herself came in with her panions through the open window, and when they saw the ugly little dwarf lying on the ground aing the floor with his ched hands, in the most fantastid exaggerated mahey went off into shouts of happy laughter, and stood all round him and watched him. His dang was funny, said the Infanta; but his ag is fuill. Indeed he is almost as good as the puppets, only of course not quite so natural. And she fluttered her big fan, and applauded. But the little Dwarf never looked up, and his sobs grew fainter and fainter, and suddenly he gave a curious gasp, and clutched his side. And then he fell back again, and lay quite still. That is capital, said the Infanta, after a pause; but now you must dane. Yes, cried all the children, you must get up and dance, for you are as clever as the Barbary apes, and much more ridiculous. But the little Dwarf made no answer. And the Infanta stamped her foot, and called out to her uncle, who was walking oerrace with the Chamberlain, reading some despatches that had just arrived from Mexico, where the Holy Office had retly beeablished. My funny little dwarf is sulking, she cried, you must wake him up, and tell him to dane. They smiled at each other, and sauntered in, and Don Pedro stooped down, and slapped the Dwarf on the cheek with his embroidered glove. You must dance, he said, PETIT MONSIRE. You must dance. The Infanta of Spain and the Indies wishes to be amused. But the little Dwarf never moved. A whipping master should be sent for, said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace. But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he k beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart. And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said - MI BELLA PRINCESA, your funny little dwarf will never dance again. It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile. But why will he not dance again? asked the Infanta, laughing. Because his heart is broken, answered the Chamberlain. And the Infanta frowned, and her dainty rose-leaf lips curled in pretty disdain. For the future let those who e to play with me have s, she cried, and she ran out into the garden. 渔夫和他的灵魂2 看门人从门洞中朝外面望去，等他看清了来人后，便拉下门臼，并对来人说：“请进。” 年轻的渔夫走了进来，他跪在地板上散发着芳香的灯心草垫上，向正在读圣经的神父大 声说：“神父，我爱上了一位美人鱼，而我的灵魂阻碍着我，使我不能实现自己的愿望。请 告诉我，我怎样才能把灵魂从我身上送走，因为我真是用不着它了。我的灵魂对我还有什么 用处？我看不见它，也摸不着它，我又不了解它。” 神父却捶打着自己的胸膛说：“唉呀，唉呀，你是疯了吗？你是吃了什么毒草了吧？因 为灵魂是人最高贵的部分，是上帝赐给我们的，我们应该用得高贵才对。世上没有比人的灵 魂更珍贵的东西了，地上的任何东西都不能与它相比。它的价值比得上世上所有的金子，而 且比国王们的红宝石要值钱得多。所以，我的孩子，不要再想此事了，因为这是一桩不可饶 恕的罪过。至于美人鱼家族，他们已经迷失了，而且谁要是与他们在一块儿，也会迷失的。 他们就同地上那些不分善与恶的野兽一样，基督不是为他们而死去的。” 听完神父这番严厉的忠言之后，年轻渔夫的双眼赖满了泪水。他站起身来，对神父说 道：“神父，牧神们住在森林中，他们都很快活，雄美人鱼坐在岩石上弹着他们金红色的竖 琴。让我跟他们为伍吧，我求您了，因为他们过着跟花儿一样的日子。至于我的灵魂，如果 它会在我和我所爱的东西之间形成障碍的话，那么我的灵魂对我会有什么好处呢？” “肉体的爱是邪恶的，”神父皱着眉头大声说道，“上帝漫步于他创造的世界所遇到的 使他不快的异教东西，都是邪恶的。林中的牧神们应该受到诅咒，海洋中的歌唱者们也该受 到诅咒！我在夜晚还听到过她们的歌声，她们要引诱我离开我的讲经课。她们敲我的，窗 户，大声笑着。她们往我的耳朵里轻声地讲述那些有毒的欢乐的故事。她们以种种诱惑来引 诱我，我在祷告的时候，她们就来戏弄我。她们是没救的了。因为她们心中既没有天堂，也 没有地狱，她们更不会赞美上帝的名字，， “神父，”年轻的渔夫大叫着说，“你不知道你自己在说什么。有一次我用鱼网捕捉了 国王的女儿。她比晨星还要美丽，比明月还要洁白。为了她的肉体，我愿意交出我的灵魂； 为了她的爱，我宁愿不要天堂。请告诉我求你的事吧，让我平静地离开吧。” “去吧！去吧！”神父叫喊起来，“你的情人是无可救药了，你也会跟她一起垮掉 的。”神父没有给他说祝福的话就把他赶出了门。年轻的渔夫来到了市场上，他走得很慢， 低着头，一副愁眉苦脸的样子。 商人们见他走来，他们便相互低语起来，他们中的一个人朝他走来，叫着他的名字，对 他说：“你要卖什么东西？” “我要把我的灵魂卖给你们，”他回答说：“我恳求你把它从我身上买去吧，因为我已 经讨厌它了。我的灵魂对我有什么用处呢？我看不见它，也摸不着它，我更不了解它。” 可是商人们开始嘲笑他，他们说：“人的灵魂对我们又有什么用呢？它连半个破银币也 不值。把你的身体卖给我们当奴隶吧，我们会为你穿上蓝紫色的衣服，在你的手指上戴一个 戒指，让你去给伟大的女王当小丑。但是不要再说什么灵魂了，因为它对我们无用，而且对 我们的工作也毫无价值。” 年轻的渔夫对自己说：“这事有多么奇怪呀！神父对我说灵魂的价值比得上全世界的黄 金，而商人们却说连半个破银币都不值。” 于是他离开了市场，走到海边，开始思考他该怎么办才好。 正午时分，他想起了自己的一位伙伴，那是个采集伞形草的人，曾经对他讲过，有这么 一位年轻的女巫，住在海湾入口处的一个洞穴中，她的巫术是如何如何的了不起。于是他便 跑步出发了，他迫不及待地要把自己的灵魂给弄掉。他在海滩上狂奔着，身后扬起一股尘 雾。年轻的女巫凭着自己的手掌发痒而知道了他的到来，她笑了起来，并把自己的一头红发 散开了。她站在敞开的洞口处，一头红发披落下来，包裹着她的脸，在她的手中拿着一枝开 放着的野毒芹。 “你缺少的是什么？你缺少的是什么？”她大声问道，此时他正气喘吁吁迈上悬崖，俯 身向她行礼。“在风向不利的时候，让鱼儿进入到你的网中吗？我有一根小芦苇，只要我吹 起它，鲤鱼便会游到海湾里来。不过这是有代价的，漂亮的孩子，这是有代价的。你缺少什 么？你缺少什么呢？要一场风暴把船刮翻，以便把满载珍宝的箱子吹到岸上来吗？我的风暴 超过了狂风，因为我所服侍的人比狂风更强大，用一个筛子和一桶水我就可以把大船送到海 底下去。不过这是有代价的，漂亮的孩子，这是有代价的。你缺少什么？你缺少什么呢？我 知道一种生长在山谷中的花，除了我无人知道这种花。它有紫色的叶子，花心上长着一颗 星，它的汁像牛奶一样白。只要你用花去碰一下王后的紧闭着的嘴唇，她就会跟着你走到天 涯海角。她会从国王的床榻上起来，跟着你走遍世界务地。不过这是有代价的，漂亮的孩 子，这是有代价的。你缺少的是什么？你缺少的是什么呢？我能够在碾钵中捣蟾蜍，并把捣 好的东西做成稀羹，还用一只死人的手去搅拌它。把羹洒在你仇人的身上，在他入睡的时 候，他就会变成一条黑色的毒蛇，他的母亲也会把它给杀死的。用一只轮子我就能把月亮从 天上给拉下来，我还可以让你在水晶球里看见死亡。你缺少什么？你还缺少什么呢？不过你 要回报我的，漂亮的孩子，你可要回报我的。” “我所想要的只不过是件小事，”年轻的渔夫说，“然而神父却为此跟我生了气，把我 给轰了出来。这只是件小事，商人们也拿我开玩笑，拒我于千里之外。所以我才来这儿找 你，虽然人们都说你邪恶，但是不论你的开价是多少，我都会付给你的。” “你到底要什么呢？”女巫走到他面前，开口问道。 “我要把我的灵魂送掉，”年轻的渔夫回答道。 女巫的脸色变得苍白，并发起抖来，还把她的脸藏在蓝色的大履里。“漂亮的孩子，漂 亮的孩子，”她喃喃地说，“那可是一件可怕的事情。” 他摇摇自己那头棕色的惩发，笑了起来。“我的灵魂对我已毫无用处，”他回答说， “我既不能看见它，也不能摸到它，更不能了解它”。 “如果我告诉了你，你会给我什么呢？”站在高处的女巫用美丽的眼睛望着他，一边问 道。 “五个金币吧，”他说，“还有我的鱼网，我住的柳条编造的屋子，和我驾驶的涂着色 彩的船。你只需告诉我如何去掉我的灵魂，我就会把我拥有的一切都送给你。” 她嘲弄他笑了起来，并用那枝毒芹草抽打着他。“我可以把秋天的树叶变成黄金，”她 回答说，“我还可以把惨淡的月色编织成我喜欢的银子。我服侍的人比世界上的所有的国王 都更富有，并占有与他们一样大的王国。” “那么我要给你什么东西呢？”他大声叫喊着，“如果你的代价既不是黄金又不是银子 的话。” 女巫用她那纤细的白手抚了抚他的头发。“你得陪我跳舞，漂亮的孩子，”她轻轻地说 着，还微笑着看着他。 “就只要这个吗？”年轻的渔夫吃惊地问着，并站起了身。 “就只有这个，”她一边说，一边微笑着望着他。 “那么等太阳下山后，我们就去一个秘密的地方去跳舞，”他说，“舞跳完后你就得告 诉我我想知道的事情。” 女巫摇摇头。“到了月圆的时候，等到月圆的时候，”她轻声地说。接着她朝四下望了 望，并侧耳所了听。一只蓝鸟尖叫着从巢窝中飞了起来，在沙丘上绕着圈子，三只有斑点的 小鸟跳跃着窜过灰色的杂草，还相互打着口哨。此外还有下面波浪冲洗光滑的卵石的声音。 于是她伸出双手，把他拉到她自己的身边，把干嘴唇靠近他的耳朵。 “今天晚上你一定要到山顶上来，”她轻声地说，“今天是安息日，‘他’会到这儿来 的。” 年轻的渔夫吃惊地望着她，望着她那露出白色牙齿的笑脸。“你说的那个‘他，是什么 人？”他开口问道。 “这倒无关紧要，”她回答说，“今晚你得来，站在鹅耳枥树的枝叶下面，等着我来。 如果有一条黑狗朝你跑来，你就用一根柳条去抽打它，它就会走开的。如果有只猫头鹰对你 说话，你可不要回答它。等月亮圆了的时候，我就会来到你的身边，我们便在草地上一起跳 舞。” “不过你愿对我保证你会告诉我如何把我的灵魂送走吗？”他这样间道。 她来到了阳光底下，风轻轻地吹动着她那一头红发。“我以山羊的蹄子发誓，”她回答 说。 “你是女巫中最好的，”年轻的渔夫大声说，“我今天晚上一定到山顶上跟你一起跳 舞。其实，我更愿意你向我要黄金或白银，不过你既然需要这样的代价，且是件心事而已， 那么你就会如愿以偿的。”说完他脱帽向她行礼，深深地鞠了一个躬，满心欢喜地跑回到城 里去了。 女巫远远地看着他离去，等他的身影消失以后她才回到了自己的洞中，并从刻花的杉木 匣子里面取出一面镜子，把它放在一个架子上面，还在架子前面烧得发亮的木炭上燃起马鞭 草来，以便透过烟圈来观察镜子。“他本应该是我的，”她喃喃地说着，一边气呼呼地捏紧 拳头，“我跟她一样漂亮。” 那天晚上，月亮升起来以后，年轻的渔夫便爬到了山顶上，站在鹅耳枥树的枝叶下面。 在他脚底下横躺着环形海面，像一面磨光的金属的圆靶，渔船的影子在小海湾中晃动着。长 着一双黄色硫磺般眼睛的一只大猫头鹰，叫起了他的名字，但是他没有理睬。一条黑狗朝他 跑来，对他汪汪地叫着。他用一根柳条向它打去，狗儿哀叫着跑开了。 午夜时分女巫们像蝙蝠似的从空中飞来了。还没等她们脚跟在地上站稳，她们就叫了起 来：“呸！这儿有一个我们不认识的人！”她们用鼻子到处嗅着，相互说着话，还做出暗 号。最后赶来的是那位年轻的女巫，她的满头红发在风中飘舞着。她身着一件上面绣满孔雀 眼睛的金线绒衣裳，藏书网一顶绿色的天鹅绒小帽戴在她的头上。 “他在什么地方？他在什么地方？”女巫们一看见她就尖声叫着问道，然而她却只是笑 了笑，跑到鹅耳枥树下面，牵着年轻渔夫的手，把他领到月光底下，开始跳起舞来。 他们转了一圈又一圈，年轻的女巫跳得老高老高的，他都可以看清楚她那深红色的鞋 跟。这时一阵马匹奔驰的蹄声冲着舞蹈者们传了过去，可是并不见马的影子，他便觉得好害 怕。 “再快一点，”女巫大声说，她伸出胳膊挽着他的脖子，她的气息热乎乎地扑在他的脸 上。“快点，再快点！”她大声叫道，他觉得脚下的地面仿佛都旋转了起来，他感到好难 受，一股巨大的恐惧袭上身来，似乎有什么邪恶的东西在注视着他，最后他注意到了在岩石 的阴影处有一个人，那是先前他不曾见过的人。 那是一个男人，身穿一套黑色的天鹅绒服装，是按西班牙式的武葱方式。他的脸有一种 古怪的苍白色，可是他的嘴唇却似是一朵饼傲的玫瑰花。他看上去好疲倦的样子，他朝后靠 着身子，有气无力地抚弄着短剑的剑柄。在他身边的草地上放着一顶羽毛帽，还有一双镶着 金边的骑马戴的手套，上面绣着设计非常新奇的珍珠饰品。他的肩膀上挂着一件黑瓶皮衬里 的短外套，他那双纤巧的雪白声手上戴满了戒指。沉重的眼皮垂蓝在他的眼睛上。 年轻的渔夫望着他，仿佛是中了什么魔法似的。最后两人的眼睛相遇了，不论他跳舞跳 到什么地方，他都似乎感觉到那人的一双眼睛一直注视着自己。他听见年轻的女巫笑了，于 是便搂住了她的腰身，带着她疯狂地转起了圈来。 突然，一条狗在林子中叫了起来，跳舞的人都停住了，一对一对的舞伴走了过去，跪下 身去，吻着那个男人的手。在人们这样做声时候，一丝微笑桂在了他骄傲的嘴唇上，就像是 只小鸟用翅膀挨着了水面，让水挂上笑容一样。不过他的笑容中带着轻视的意味，也仍然一 个劲地望着年轻的渔夫。 “来呀！我俩去拜见他，”女巫耳语道，并把他拉了过去，一股强行的欲望促使他想要 去做她求他去做的事情，他就随着她去了。可在走近他的时候，不知道是为什么的缘故，他 在自己的胸前划起了十字，并呼唤着圣名。 他刚刚做完了此事，女巫们便都像老鹰似地尖叫起来，且飞走了，而那张一直望着他的 苍白的脸也因痛苦而扭曲了起来。那个人朝小树林中走去，吹起了口哨。一匹戴着银制辔头 的小马跑过来接他。他跨上马鞍时，转过头来，悲伤地望了望年轻的渔夫。 有着一头红发的女巫也想飞走，可是渔夫却抓住了她的手腕，紧紧地捏住不放。 “放开我，”她大声叫着说，“让我去吧。因为你叫出了不应该叫的名字，并做出了我 们不应该看到的记号。” “不，”他回答说，“除非你把秘密告诉我，否则我是不会放你去的。” “什么秘密？”女巫说，并像一头野猫似的挣扎着，还紧咬着她那冒泡沫的嘴唇。 “你知道的，”他回答说。 她那双草绿色的眼睛被泪水冲暗了，她对渔夫说：“你向我提什么都可以，除了这个以 外。” 他笑了，并把她的手抓得更紧了。 她看见自己是跑不掉了，于是便悄声对他说：“其实，我跟大海的女儿一样美丽，也与 那些住在碧蓝海水中的少女们一样可爱。”她一边向他讨好，一边把脸朝他的脸挨过去。 但是他皱着眉头把她推开了，并对她说：“如果你不能做到向我允诺的事情，那么我就 要把你当作假女巫来杀死。” 她的脸一下子就变成了灰色，像洋苏木的鲜花一样，并颤抖起来。“既然如此，”她喃 喃地说，“这是你的灵魂，不是我的。就照你说的那样去做吧。”说完从腰带上取出一把有 着绿色蛇皮刀柄的小刀来，并交给了他。 “这个东西对我会有什么用处呢？”他不解地问他。 她沉默地停顿了一会儿，恐惧的表情袭上了她的脸。随后她把垂在前额的头发向后抹 去，古怪地笑着对他说：“人们所说的人体的影子其实并不是身体的影子，而是灵魂的影 子。你背对着月亮站在海滩上，然后把你双脚周围的影子用刀切开，那就是你灵魂的身体， 叫你的灵魂离开你，它就会按你的话去做的。 年轻的渔夫打起了抖来。“这是真的吗？”他低声问。 “这是真的，我倒希望我没有告诉过你这件事，”她大声说，并抱住他的双膝哭了起来。 他把她推开，把她留在繁茂的草丛中，他走到山顶边，把小刀插进他的腰带里，开始下 山去。 他的灵魂在他的体内呼唤着他，对他说：“喂！我和你一同生活了这么些年，一直是你 的仆人。请不要让我离开你，难道我对你做了什么坏事吗？” 年轻的渔夫笑了。“你没有做什么对不起我的事，只是我不再需要你了，”他回答说， “世界宽阔无比，有天堂，也有地狱，以及位于这两者之间的那些阴森森的房子。去你喜欢 去的地方吧！不要再打搅我了，因为我的爱人在召唤我。” 他的灵魂在苦苦地恳求着他，但是他并不理睬它，而只是从一个岩石跳到另一个岩石， 脚步快得似一头野山羊那样，最后他跑到了一块平地上，来到了蜜色的海滩上。， 他站在海滩上，背对着月亮，他青铜色的四肢和结实的肌肉，看上去像一座希腊人完成 的雕像一洋，从海水的泡沫中伸出好多白色的胳膊在召唤着他，从波浪中升出一些朦胧的身 影在向他行礼，在他的面前横躺着他的影子，那就是他灵魂的身体，在他的身后蜜色的天空 中悬挂着一轮明月。 这时他的灵魂对他说：“如果你真要赶我走的话，你就得先送一颗心给我才行。世界是 残酷的，让你的那颗心跟我为伍一起走吧。” 他摇了摇头笑了。“如果我把我的心给了你，那么我拿什么去爱我的爱人呢？”他高声 喊道。 “不，就发发慈悲吧，”他的灵魂说，“把你的心给我，因为这个世界太残酷了，我有 些害怕。” “我的心是属于我的爱人的，”他回答说，“所以不要耽误时间了，你就快点离开这儿 吧。” “难道我就不应该爱吗？”他的灵魂问道。 “你走吧，因为我不需要你了。”年轻的渔夫吼叫着，他抽出那把绿色蛇皮刀柄的小刀 来，在他的双脚四周把他的身影切开去，影子立起了身子就站在他的面前，望着他，那样子 简直跟他本人没有区别。 他朝后退缩着，把小刀插进自己的腰带中，一种莫名的恐惧袭上身来。“快走吧，”他 喃喃地说，“不要让我再看见你的脸。” “不，我们一定会再见面的，”灵魂说，它的声音很低，好像笛子的声音，它说话的时 候连嘴唇都没有动一下。 “我们怎么会再见面呢？”年轻的渔夫大声说，“你不会也跟我到海洋深处去的吧？” “我每年都来这儿一次，来呼唤你，”灵魂说，“也许你会有需要我的时候。” “我还需要你来做什么呢？”年轻的渔夫高声喊道，“不过随你的便吧。”说完他就一 头扎进海水中去了，那些半人半鱼的海神们吹响了他们的号角，小美人鱼们也都纷纷游上来 去迎接他，并伸出她们的手臂搂着他的脖子，还吻他的嘴。 这时灵魂却孤伶伶地站在海滩上，望着他们。等他们沉入到海水中去以后，它便哭泣着 穿过沼泽地走了。 过了一年时候，灵魂又回到了海滩上，呼唤着年轻的渔夫，他从海底下浮了上来，并对 它说：“你为什么要唤我呢？” 灵魂回答说：“走近一点，我好与你说话，因为我看见了好多奇妙的东西。” 于是他走近了一点，还蹲在水里，用手托着自己的头，聆听着。 灵魂对他说：“在我离开你的时候，我就转向东方去旅行了。一切来自东方的东西都是 很聪明的。我旅行了6天，在第7天的早晨，我来到了一座小山，它位于鞑靼人国家的土地 上。我坐在一棵柽柳的树荫下躲避太阳。土地干裂了，被炎热烤得发烫。人们在平原上来来 回回地走着，如同飞蝇在磨光的铜盘子上面爬来爬去似的。 “在正午的时候，从地平线上升起了一团红色沙尘的云雾来。等鞑靼人看见它时，他们 就张开了自己的画弓，并跳上他们的小马，朝着那个方向狂奔而去。女人们尖声叫看跑进大 车里，躺藏在毛帘子的后面。 “黄昏的时候鞑靼人回来了，只是他们当中少了五个人，而在回来的人中间也有不少人 受了伤。他们把马匹套在大车上，便匆匆地赶着大车上路了。三只胡狼从洞子中走出来，在 他们的身后注视着。然后它们用鼻子吸了几口空气，就朝相反的方向奔去了。 “等到月亮升起来以后，我看见平原上燃起了簿火，便朝那个方向跑去了。一群商人围 着火堆坐在地毯上。他们的骆驼拴在他们身后的桩上，那些做奴隶的黑人们正在沙地上搭好 硝皮帐篷，并用霸王树筑起了高高的围墙。” “我走近他们的时候，商人中的头人站与身来，抽出他的刀，问我是干什么的。 “我回答说我是我那个国家的王子，我是从鞑靼人那儿跑出来的，因为他们要抓我给他 们当奴隶。头人笑了，还指给我看了挂在长竹竿上的五个人头。 “随后他问我谁是上帝的先知，我告诉他是穆罕默德。 “听到假先知的名字后，他深深地鞠了一个躬，拉起了我的手，叫我坐在了他的身边。 一位黑奴用木制的碗盛了一些马奶给我送来，还有一块烤好的小羊肉。 “黎明时我们又上路了。我骑在一匹红毛骆驼的身上，跟在头人的旁边走着，一个跑腿 的人扛着一根长枪跑在我们的前边。当兵的人走在我们的两边，骡子驮着商品跟在后面。这 个商队有四十只骆驼，骡子的数量却有两个四十这么多。 “我们从鞑靼人的国土走到了诅咒月亮人的国境中。我们看见鹰头狮身的怪物在白色的 岩石上守卫着自己的黄金，有鳞甲的龙在它们的山洞中睡得正香。我们翻过群山的时候，连 大气都不敢出，生伯积雪会落下来压住我们的身体，每个人的眼睛前都绑了一块纱布。我们 穿越山谷的时候，小矮人们从大树的洞巢中朝我们射箭，夜晚的时候我们听见野人们在击鼓 作乐。我们爬过猴塔的时候，就放一些水果在猴子面前，它们就不会伤害我们。等我们来到 蛇塔的时候，我们便用铜碗盛些热牛奶给它们喝，蛇就让我们顺利地通过。旅途中我们有三 次来到奥克苏姆斯河的岸边。我们坐在扎着胀鼓鼓的棕色皮口袋的木筏上渡过河去，河马怒 气冲天地对着我们，像是要把我们通通吃掉似的。骆驼看见它们那样，也都不寒而栗起来。 “每一座城邦的郡主都向我们征收税金，但却不愿让我们进入他们的城门。他们从墙头 上给我们扔下面包，还有用精粉做的蜂蜜玉米糕，以及装满大枣的面饼，并用每一百个篮子 的食物换我们的一粒琥珀珠子。 “乡村里的居民们一看我们走近了，他们便在水井里放毒药，并逃到山顶上去。我们同 马格达人打了仗，他们生下来时就是老人，且一年比一年长得年轻，等他们长成小孩的时 候，就会死去了；我们还同拉克特罗伊人打过仗，他们声称自己是老虎的儿子，把自己涂成 黄黑两种颜色；我们也同奥兰特斯人打过仗，他们会把死者埋葬在树顶上，而自己却住在黑 暗的洞中，生怕他们的神即太阳会杀死他们；我们跟克里尼安人打了仗，他们崇拜的是鳄 鱼，给它戴上绿色的玻璃耳环，并用牛油和活鸡去喂养它；我们与阿加中拜打了仗，他们长 着狗一样的面孔；我们还同长着马脚的希班人打了仗，他们比马跑得更快。战斗中我们商队 有三分之一的人阵亡了，另外三分之一的人因饥饿而死去。剩下的人都低声地抱怨我，说是 我给他们带去了厄运。我从一块石头下面捉起一条有角的毒蛇，让它来咬我。他们看见我一 点中毒的样子都没有，便害怕起来。 “到了第四个月，我们来到了伊勒尔市，到达城墙外的小树林时已经是夜里了，空气十 分沉闷，因为月亮到天蝎宫去旅行了。我们从树上摘下成熟的石榴，切开来喝里面的甜汁， 然后我们躺在地毯上等待着天明。 “天刚亮我们就起来了，敲响了城门。城门是用红铜制成的，上面刻有海龙和长了翅膀 的飞龙。哨兵从城垛上往下张望着，并问我们是干什么的。商队的翻译告诉对方我们带着很 多商品从叙利亚岛而来。他们要了我们几个人作人质，并告诉我们到中午时才能打开城门， 吩咐我们耐心等待。 “中午时分，他们打开了城门。我们入城的时候，人们一群群地从屋里跑出来看我们， 一个召集人到城内各处用海螺通知人们我们的到来。我们站到了集市中，黑奴们打开花布包 裹，翻开雕花的枫木箱子。等他们做完了这些事之后，商人们便摆出了各种奇特的物品，有 来自埃及的蜡染麻布，有来自埃塞俄比亚的花布，有泰尔城的紫色海绵，有希顿的蓝色帷 帘，有冰冷的琥珀杯子，有玻璃精品和奇妙的陶器。一家房屋的顶部有一群女人在看着我 们。其中一人戴着一副镀金的皮革面具。 “头一天来与我们交易的是僧侣们，第二天来的是贵族，第三天来的是手艺人和奴隶 们。这是他们对待商人的习惯，只要商人们呆在城中的话。 “我们在这儿呆了一个月，等到月缺的时候，我已觉得好无聊，便到城里的大街上到处 去闲荡，并来到了本城神社的花园中。身着黄袍的僧侣们静悄悄地穿过绿树丛，在黑色大理 石铺就的道路上立着一座玫瑰色的寺院，里面供着他们的神。门是涂过金粉的，上面突出来 的是金饰的闪闪发亮的公牛和孔雀。房顶是海绿色瓷瓦铺成的，伸出的屋檐上挂着小铃铛。 每当白鸽飞过的时候，它们便用翅膀扑打铃铛，使铃锁叮叮当当地响起来。 “寺院的前面有一个用条纹玛瑙铺砌的净水池。我躺在池子旁边，用我苍白的手指抚摸 那些宽大的树叶。其中的一位僧侣朝我走来，站在我的身后。他脚上穿着草鞋，一只是软蛇 皮做的，另一只是用鸟的羽毛做的。他的头上戴着一顶黑毡的僧帽，帽上装饰着银制的新 月。他的袍子上编织着七道黄色条，他堰曲的头发上抹上了锑粉。 “过了一小会儿，他开口对我说话，问我想要什么。 “我告诉他我的要求就是想见到神。 “‘神去打猎了，’僧侣说着，并用他那对小小的斜眼睛奇怪地看着我。 “我回答说，‘告诉我他在哪一个树林，我要与他一块几骑马。 “他又用长长的指甲梳理着袍子边上软软的穗子。‘神在睡觉，’他喃喃地说。 “我又答道，‘告诉我是哪一张床，我要去看护他。’ “‘神在开宴会，’他大声说。 “我回答说，‘如果酒是甜的，我就要与他共饮，而如果酒是苦的，我也会与他一同饮 下去的。’ “他好奇地低下了头，并拉着我的手，把我曳了起来，领着我走进了寺院。 “在第一间房子里，我看见一座雕像坐在用东方大珍珠镶边的翠玉宝座上。这尊雕像是 用乌木刻成的，跟真人一样大。在它的额头上有一块红宝石，厚厚的油从它的头发上滴下 来，落到它的大腿上。它的双脚是用新宰的小羊羔的血染红的，腰间扎着一根铜带， “我对这位僧侣说，‘这就是神吗？’他回答我，‘这就是神，’ “‘快带我去见神，’我大声吼道，‘否则我一定要杀了你。’我还摸了一下他的手， 那只手一下子就枯萎了。 “僧侣恳求着我说，‘请我的主人医治他的仆人吧，我要带他去见神了。’ “于是我便吹了一口气在他的手上，他的手又长好了，他把我领进第二间房子，同时浑 身不住地颤抖着。在这里我看见一尊雕像立在用翡翠做成的莲花上面，莲花上面悬挂着好多 硕大的绿宝石。这雕像是用象牙雕刻而成的，身材有普通人的两倍那么大。它的前额上是一 块黄玉，它的胸部抹着没药和肉桂末，它一只手上拿着一根弯曲的翡翠玉杖，另一只手中握 着一块圆圆的水晶。脚上穿着黄铜的靴子，粗壮的脖子上套着一个石膏做的圈子。 “我对这位僧侣说，‘这就是神吗？’他回答说，‘这就是神。’ “‘带我去见神，’我大声吼道，‘否则我一定会杀了你的，’我还摸了一下他的眼 睛，他一下子就成了瞎子。 “僧侣恳求着我说，‘请我的主人医治他的仆人吧，我就要领他心见神了。’ “于是我吹了一口气在他的眼睛上，他马上又恢复了视力，而且他又浑身颤抖起来，并 带着我走进了第三间房子。啊！原来这儿没有雕像，也没有任何品种的雕像，只是有一面圆 圆的金属镜子，放在一个石头祭坛上。 “我对僧侣说，‘神在什么地方？’ “他回答说：‘这儿没有神，只有这面你看见的镜子，因为这是智慧之镜，它把天上和 地上的一切东西都反映了出来，但只是朝镜子中看的了的脸是反映不出来的，所以朝镜子中 看的人可能是聪明的。有很多其它的镜子，不过那些都是些意见之镜。只有这一面是智慧之 镜。那些拥有这面镜子的人们便知道世间的一切，没有什么事可以瞒过他们的，那些没有这 面镜子的人就没有智慧。所以，我们把它看成是神，我们也就崇拜它了。我于是便朝镜子里 看去，它竟然与他所讲的情况一模一样。 “我做了一件奇怪的事，不过我做的事算不了什么，因为我把智慧之镜给藏了起来，藏 在距这个地方一天行程的一个山谷里面。我只恳求你让我再进入到你的体内，做你的仆人 吧，这样你就会比所有聪明的人都要聪明，智慧也就属于你了。就请让我进入到你的身体中 去吧，那么世上就不会有比你更聪明的人了。” 然而年轻的渔夫却笑了。“爱情比智慧更好，”他大声叫道、“而且小美人鱼爱我。” “不，没有什么东西比智慧更好的了，”灵魂说。“还是爱更好，”年轻的渔夫回答 说，说完便沉入到海底下去了，灵魂又哭泣着穿过沼泽地走了。 第二个年头过去了，灵魂又一次来到了海滩上，呼唤着年轻的渔夫，他便从水中冒出来 开口问道：“你为什么唤我呢？” 灵魂回答说：“走近一点，我好对你讲话，因为我看见好多奇妙的东西。” 于是他步近了一些，并蹲在浅水里，用手托着自己的头．聆听着。 灵魂对他说：“我离开你以后，我就转身向南去旅行了。一切来自南方的东西都是珍贵 的。我沿着公路朝着爱西特市走了整整6天，那是一条连香客们都不愿走的红色尘土飞扬的 公路，到了第7天，我抬头望去，啊！城市就横躺在我的脚下，因为它就位于山谷里。 “入城的大门有九个之多，每一个城门前都做立着一匹青铜马，每当伯都因人从山上下 来的时候，九匹马便齐声长啸。城墙上都裹着铜皮，哨塔的屋顶也是用黄铜做成的。每一个 塔弹都站着一位手握弓箭的射手。日出的时候他用一支箭敲响铜锣；日落的时候，他就会吹 响号角。 “我正准备进城时，守卫拦住了我，问我是什么人。我回答说我是回教徒，正要赶到麦 加城去，那儿有一幅绿色的帐幔，上面有天使们用银字绣出的《可兰经》。我的话使他们充 满了好奇，就让我进去了。 “城里面简直就是一个大集市。你真该跟我一块去的。在那些狭窄的街道上无数只精彩 的纸灯笼像大彩蝶似的在翩翩起舞。风吹过屋顶的时候，这些灯笼一起一浮的，好像一些多 彩的肥皂泡。商人们都坐在自己货摊前的丝毯上面。他们长着直挺挺的黑胡须，他们头帕上 饰满了金币，长串的琥珀和雕花桃核在他们凉冰冰的手指上滑动着。他们中有的卖枫脂香和 甘松油，也有的出售来自印度海各岛屿的奇妙香水，还有浓重的红玫瑰油，以及没药和小钉 子形状的丁香。一旦有人走上去与他们说话，他们便一把一把地将乳香投入炭火盆中，使空 气一下子香味袭人。我看见一个叙利亚人手里握着一根芦苇似的细棍棒，缕缕灰烟从棒子上 升起，棒燃着的时候发出的气味与春天中粉色扁桃花的气味是一样的。另一些人在出售一些 上面嵌满了乳蓝色土耳其宝石的银手铜和用铜丝串起小珍珠制成的脚环，以及金制的老虎 爪，镀金猫的脚爪，豹子也配上了金制的座架，还有穿了眼的绿宝石耳环，以及中间是空的 那种翡翠戒指。从茶馆里传来了吉他的音乐声，那些抽鸦片烟的人带着他们苍白的笑容望着 行人。 “说真的你应该跟我一起去的。卖酒的人肩上扛着黑色的大皮包，用后部在人群中挤出 一条通道。他们中的大部分人都卖一种叫西拉兹的酒，它就跟蜜糖一样甜。他们用金属小杯 子装上酒出售，并把玫瑰花瓣撒在上面。在市场上站着卖水果的人，他们出售各种水果，有 熟透的无花果，带着受伤的紫色鲜肉，还有如同膨香味一样的甜瓜，那颜色像黄玉一样的 黄，以及香橼、番石榴和一粒一粒的白葡萄，圆圆的金红色桔子和椭圆形的金绿色柠檬，有 一次我看见一头大象走过。它的身上涂着银朱和姜黄，它的耳朵上网着一个朱红丝做的网 子。它来到对面的一个货摊前站住了，吃起桔子来，那个卖水果的人只是笑了笑。你想不到 他们是多么奇怪的一个民族。他们只要高兴的话就会到卖鸟人那儿去买一只关着一只小鸟的 笼子，并把笼子打开让鸟飞走，这样他们会更加开心，等到他们伤心的时候，他们便用荆棘 抽打他们自己，以使他们的忧愁越来越大。 “一天夜里，我遇见了一些黑奴抬着一个沉甸甸的轿于从集市中走过。轿子是用镀金的 竹片做成的，轿杆是朱红色的，还有黄铜做的孔雀装饰。轿窗上挂着薄薄的纱幔，上面绣着 甲虫的翅膀和小粒珍珠。轿子走过的时候一个脸色苍白的塞加西亚人从轿里往外望着，笑着 注视我。我跟在它后面，黑奴们加快了步伐并皱紧眉头。不过我一点也不在意，我觉得有一 股好奇心在驱使着我。 “最后他们在一栋四方形的白房子前停了下来。房子没有窗户，只有一个像墓门一样的 小门。他们放下轿子，用一个铜锤连敲了三下门。一个身穿绿色皮长袍的亚美尼亚人从门洞 里朝外张望着，等他看见我们后就打开了门，还铺了一张地毯在地上，轿中的女人走了出 来。在她进屋的时候，她又转过头来，再一次望着我笑了。我还从未见过像她这么苍白的人。 “月亮升起的时候，我又回到了那个地方去寻找那所房子，可是就是找不着。看到这种 情况，我便知道那女人是谁了，而且她为什么要对我笑了。 “你真该跟我一起去的。在新月节那天，年轻的皇帝从他的宫中走出来，到庙里去祈 祷。他的头发和胡须都用玫瑰花瓣给染红了，他的脸颊上抹了一层细细的金粉，他的手掌和 脚心都用着红花染成了黄色。 “太阳升起的时候他身着银袍从宫中走了出来，日落的时候他又穿着金袍回到宫中。人 们都趴在地上把脸藏起来，可我不会那样做。我站在一个卖枣子的摊位前，等待着。皇帝看 见我时，他便抬他那画过的眉毛，停住了脚步。我静静地站在那儿，并不向他跪拜。人们对 我的大胆吃惊不小，都劝我快从城中逃走。我不理睬他们，却走到那些出售外来神祗的贩子 们中去，与他们坐在一起，这些人不论如何在这儿都是遭人憎恨的，等我把自己所做的．— 切告诉给他们之后，他们人人都绘了我一个神像，并请我离开他们。 “那天夜里，我躺在石榴街茶馆里的一个垫子上面，皇帝的卫兵走了进来，把我带进了 宫中。进了宫以后，他们把每一扇门都一个个地关上了，还加上了门锁。里面有一个大院 子，四周环绕着一个拱廊。四周的墙都是用白色的雪花石膏做成的，到处都嵌有蓝色和绿色 的瓷瓦。柱子是绿色大理石做的．地上铺着一种桃花色的大理行。我以前从没有见过像这样 的东西。 “我跨过院子的时候，两个戴面纱的女人从阳台上往下望着，还开口骂我，守卫急勿匆 地走着，他们手中的矛尖在磨光的地板上发出响声。他们打开一道精致的象牙门，我发现自 己已经来到有七个坛子的带水的花园中了。园里种的是郁金香、牛眼菊、银光闪闪的芦荟， 一股喷泉在昏暗的空中悬挂着像是一根细长的水晶棒。柏树就像燃烧完了的火把。在这样的 一棵柏树上有只夜莺在唱着歌。 “在花园的尽头有一个小亭子。我们走近它的时候，两位太监出来迎住我们。他们走起 路来，肥胖的身躯左右摇摆着，还用他们那黄色眼皮的眼睛好奇地打量着我。其中的一人把 卫士长拉到他必边，低声向对方耳语着什么。另一个不停地拿出香锭放在嘴里嚼起来，这些 香锭都是他以做作的姿势从一个淡紫色的椭圆形的盒子中取出的。 “片刻之后卫士长把卫兵们遣散了。他们回到宫中去了，两个太监跟在后面慢慢地走 着，一边走一边从树上摘下甜甜的桑果吃。那位年长的太监曾回过头来，带着恶意的笑容望 着我。 “然后卫士长示意我走到亭子中去。我毫无胆怯地向前走去，拉开那幅沉重的帘子，我 就进去了。 “年轻皇帝躺在上了色的狮皮长椅上休息着，他的手腕上栖息着一只白隼。他的身后站 着一个头戴铜帽的牛比亚黑人，赤棵着上半身，两只穿了眼的耳朵上垂着一副沉甸甸的耳 环。长椅旁边的桌子上放着一把弯曲的大钢刀。 “皇帝一看见我，便皱起了眉头，对我说道，‘你叫什么名字？你不知道我就是这个城 市的皇帝吗？’不过我并没有回答他。 “他用手指头指了指钢刀，那个牛比亚人一下子抓住刀，冲着我用足了劲朝我砍过来。 刀片嗖嗖地穿透了我的身体，可是并没有伤我分毫。而那个人却扑倒在地上，等他站起身 时，他的牙齿害怕的直打颤，他自己也躺到长椅后面去了。 “皇帝马上跳了起来，从武器架上取下一根长矛，他朝我投了过来。我一把抓住了飞过 来的长矛，并把矛杆折成两段。他又用箭射我，可是我举起了双手，箭在飞行途中就停住 了。紧接着他从白皮腰带中抽出一把短剑，刺入牛比亚黑人的咽喉，他担心这个奴隶会讲出 他那些不体面的事情。那人像一条给人践踏了的蛇一样扭曲起来，嘴里也流出了鲜红的泡沫。 “那个人一死，皇帝就转向我，用一张镶了花边的紫色绸料小手绢，揩去额上亮闪闪的 汗珠，对我说道，‘你是先知吗？是我不该伤害的，或者是一个我不能伤害的先知的儿子 吗？我恳求你今晚就离开我的城市吧，因为只要你还在城中，我就不再是这里的主人了。’ “我回答他说，‘给我一半你的财产，我就走。把你的财富给我一半，我就会离开的。’ “他牵着我的手，把我领到花园中。卫士长看见了我，他吃了一惊。太监们看见了我， 他们的膝头颤抖不已，吓得纷纷跪在了地上， “宫中有一间屋子，八面都是用红云斑石修筑的围墙，铜皮装饰的天花板上悬掉着一些 灯。皇帝触摸了一面墙，墙就自动打开了，我们走进了里而的一个长廊，廊里点了好多火 炬。在长廊两旁的壁禽中，放着很多巨大的酒缸，里面装得满满的都是银币。我们来到了长 廊的中央，皇帝说了一句平日听不到他说的什么话，一道装有秘密弹簧的花岗岩石大门一下 子就弹开了，他用手挡住他的脸，以免他的眼睛给弄得发花。 “你不会相信这是个多么奇妙的地方吧。一个巨大的乌龟壳里装满了珍珠，巨型月亮石 的空处里堆满了红色宝石。黄金都收藏在象皮箱中，金粉就放在皮制的瓶中。还有猫眼石和 青玉，猫眼石放在水晶杯中，青玉放在翡翠杯中。圆圆的绿柱宝石整整齐齐地排列在细薄的 象牙碟子上面，在一个角落里堆满了丝铜袋子，有的袋子中装的是绿松石，另一些袋子中装 的是绿玉。象牙做的角杯中盛满了紫色的玉英石，黄铜角杯中装满了玉髓和红玉髓。用杉木 做的梁柱上挂着一串串的黄色山猫石。在平坦的扁圆形盾牌上堆放着红玉，它们既像葡萄酒 的颜色又像是青草的色彩。然而我对你说的这些仅仅是那儿的十分之一罢了。 “等皇帝把他自己的手从脸上拿开时，他对我说，‘这就是我的财宝屋，这里面的东西 有一半是你的了，照我答应你那样的去做吧。我还会送你骆驼和赶骆驼的人，他们会照你的 吩咐去做，把你那一份财宝带到你想去的世界上的任何地方。这件事今天晚上就得办，因为 我不愿让太阳，他是我的父亲，看见在我的城市里竟会有一个我杀不死的人。’ “不过我对他说，‘这儿的黄金都是你的，白银也是你的，珍贵的珠宝和值钱的东西全 都是你的。对我来说，我不需要这些东西。我不会向你要任何东西，不过戴在你手指上的那 个小戒指我倒想要。’ “皇帝皱起了眉头，‘这只是个铅戒指呀，’他大声说，‘也不值什么钱。所以还是带 上你那一半财宝，离开我的城市吧。’ “‘不，’我回答说，‘我什么都不要，只要那个铅戒指，因为我知道那里面写着什 么，也知道它有什么用处。’ “皇帝却颤抖起来，哀求着我说，‘把全部的财宝都拿去，快离开我的城市吧。我那一 半财富也归你了。’ “不过我做了一件奇怪的事，但那也算不了什么，因为就在那个山洞我把这个财富指环 给藏了起来，它离这儿有一整天的路程。也就只是一天的路程，那戒指正等着你的到来。谁 要是占有了这个戒指，他会比世界上所有的国王都富有。去吧，把它拿到手，全世界的财富 就都归你了。” 然而年轻的渔夫却笑了。“爱情比财富更重要，”他大声喊道，“而且小美人鱼非常爱 我。” “不，没有什么比财富更重要的了，”灵魂说。 “爱情更好，”年轻的渔夫回答道，说完他又一头扎进海底深处，灵魂只好哭泣着穿过 沼泽走了。 第三个年头又过去了，灵魂又从陆上下来到了海边，呼唤着年轻的渔夫，于是渔夫从水 中冒出来，说道：“你唤我是为了什么？” 灵魂回答说：“走近一点，我好对你说话，因为我看见了奇妙的事情。” 因此渔夫走近了，并蹲在浅水中，用手托着自己的头，聆听着。 灵魂开口说道：“在一座我知道的城市中，有一家小旅店就位于一条河边。我跟水手们 坐在那儿，他们饮着两种不同颜色的葡萄酒，吃着大麦做的面包，还有放上醋用桂叶包着的 小咸鱼。就在我们坐着逗乐的时候，走进来一个上了年纪的人，他的肩上披着一个皮制的毯 子，还拿着一把嵌有两个琥珀角的琴。正在这时也就是在他把毯子铺在地板上，用弦拔弹响 他那把琴弦的时候，一个面戴细纱罩的少女跑了进来，并在我们面前跳起舞来。虽然她戴了 面纱，可是她的双脚却是光着的。她赤着双脚，在毯子上跳来跳去，真像跳舞的那个城市离 这儿只有一天的路程。” 此刻，年轻的渔夫听到了灵魂的这番话后，他想起了小美人鱼因为没有脚，不能跟他跳 舞的情形。于是他的心中升起了极大的欲望，他对自己说：“只不过就一天的路程，我还可 以回到我爱人的身边。”他笑了，便从浅水中站起身来，大步朝岸上走去。 来到干干的岸上后他又一次笑了，并向灵魂伸出双臂。他的灵魂也无比欣喜地大叫一声 就朝他奔了过来，进人到他的体内，这时年轻的渔夫便看见在他面前伸展的沙地上出现了他 自己的影子，那就是他灵魂的身体。 他的灵魂对他说：“我们不要耽误了，立即到那儿去吧，因为海神们会妒嫉的，而且还 有好多怪物也听他们的。” 于是他们匆匆上路了，整个夜晚他们都在月色下赶路，第二天白昼他们又顶着烈日前 进，当天晚上他们来到了城市。 年轻的渔夫对他的灵魂说：“这就是你对我说过的那座她跳舞的城市吗？” 他的灵魂回答说：“不是这座城市，是另外一座。不过我们可以进去看看。” 于是他们进了城，穿过一些街道，他们路经珠宝街的时候，年轻的渔夫看见在一个货摊 上放着一只美丽的银杯子。他的灵魂对他说，“拿走那个银杯子，把它藏起来。” 他便拿起那只银杯子把它蒙在长袍的搁缝中，他们赶快出城走了。 他们离开城走了三英里之后，年轻的渔夫皱起了眉头，并把银杯子给扔掉了，对他的灵 魂说：“你为什么要叫我拿起杯子藏起来呢？因为这可是一件坏事呀。” 然而他的灵魂回答他说：“不要生气，不要生气。” 第二天晚上他们又来到一个城市，年轻的渔夫对他的灵魂说：“这就是你对我说过的她 跳舞的那座城市吗？” 他的灵魂回答他说：“这不是那座城市，而是另外一座。不过我们得进去。” 他们便进了城，穿过了好几条街。他们走过草鞋街的时候，年轻的渔夫看见一个小孩正 站在一个水缸边。他的灵魂对他说：“去打那个孩子。”于是他动手打小孩，把小孩都打哭 了，过后他们又赶紧匆匆地离开了城市。 他们离开城市后走了三英里，年轻的渔夫突然生起气来，对他的灵魂说：“你为什么叫 我打那个小孩，这可是一件坏事呀？” 然而他的灵魂却回答说：“不要生气，不要生气。” 第三天晚上他们来到了另一座城市，年轻的渔夫对他的灵魂说：“这就是你对我说过的 那座她跳舞的城市吗？” 他的灵魂回答他说：“也许就是这座城市吧，所以我们还是进去看看吧。” 他们便进了城，穿过了好几条街，不过年轻的渔夫怎么也找不到那间位于河边的小旅 店。城市里的人都好奇地望着他，他开始害怕起来，并对他的灵魂说：“我们还是走吧，因 为用一双白脚跳舞的人不在这儿。” 可是他的灵魂却回答说：“不，我们还是留下来吧，因为夜里太黑，途中会遇上强盗 的。” 他便在市场上坐下来休息了，过了一会儿走过一个戴头巾的商人，他有一件鞑靼人的布 织斗篷，在有节的芦苇杆头上还绑着一个牛角灯笼。商人对他说：“你为什么还坐在市场上 呢，你没有看见货摊都关门了，东西都打好包了吗？” 年轻的渔夫回答他说：“我在这座城里找不到那个小旅店，我又没有亲戚留我在此过 夜。” “我们不都是亲戚吗？”商人说，“不都是由一个上帝创造出来的吗？所以就跟我去 吧，我有一间客房。” 因此年轻的渔夫站起身来，跟着商人到他的家里去了。等他穿过一个石榴园走进屋中 时，商人便用铜盘为他端来了玫瑰花水，让他洗干净手，还送来熟透的甜瓜让他解渴，以及 一碗米饭和一块烤小羊肉让他充饥。 这一切进行完了以后，商人就领他来到了客房，并叮嘱他好好休息。年轻的渔夫谢过了 他，并吻了商人手指上戴的戒指，随后就躺在了染了色的山羊毛毯上而。他用一床黑色的羊 羔毛被子盖好身体以后，就呼呼地入睡了。 离天亮还有三个小时，天依旧是黑乎乎的时候，他的灵魂便唤醒了他，并对他说：“快 起来，到商人的房间里去，到他睡觉的房间里去，把他杀死，拿走他的金子，因为我们需要 它。” 年轻的渔夫起了床，朝商人的房间里爬去，在商人的脚边放着一把弯刀，在商人身边的 那个盘子里装着九个黄金小包。渔夫伸出手去拿那把弯刀。就在他的手刚刚挨到刀时，商人 一下子惊醒了，他跳起来自己抓住刀，朝着年轻的渔夫大声吼道：“难道你要以怨报德吗？ 你要用流淌的鲜血来回报我对你的善举吗？” 这时他的灵魂对年轻的渔夫说，“去打他。”于是他就把商人给打晕了过去，然后抓起 九包金子，匆匆地穿过石榴园逃走了，朝着启明星的方向出发了。 他们离开城市三英里之后，年轻的渔夫捶打着自己的胸膛，对他的灵魂说：“你为什么 要我杀了商人，还抢走他的黄金？你真是太坏了。” 然而他的灵魂却回答说：“不要生气，不要生气。” “不，”年轻的渔夫大声喊道，“我平静不了，因为你要我做的一切事情都是我所恨 的。你也让我恨，我要你告诉我为何要教我做这种事。” 他的灵魂回答说：“过去你把我送到世界上去的时候，你并没有给我一颗心，所以我学 会了去做这一切事情，而且也喜欢这样。” “你在说什么？”年轻的渔夫喃喃地说。 “你是知道的，”他的灵魂回答说，“你知道得很清楚。你难道忘记了你没有送给我一 颗心吗？我不相信。所以不要自寻烦恼，也不要为我担心，请放心吧，因为世上没有除去不 掉的痛苦，也没有享受不到的快乐。” 年轻的渔夫听到这些话后，他浑身发抖起来，对他的灵魂说：“不，你是很坏的，甚至 使我忘记了我的爱人，并用多种诱惑来引诱我，还使我的双脚踏上了罪恶之路。” 他的灵魂回答他说：“你过去把我送到世界上去的时候，你并没有给我一顾心啊，所以 我学会了去做这一切事并喜欢做这些事。来吧，让我们到另一座城市去，去寻乐子吧，因为 我们已有了九包黄金。” 然而年轻的渔夫拿出九包黄金后就一下子扔在了地上，并用脚猛踩着。 “不，”渔夫大声吼道，“我和你之间没有任何关系了，我也不会再跟你到什么地方去 了，就跟我从前送走你那样，我现在也要那样赶你走了，因为你对我没有任何好处。”说完 他转过身去背朝着月亮，用那把绿色蛇皮刀柄的小刀，准备把他自己身体的影子，也就是他 的灵魂之躯从他双脚的四周切开。 然而他的灵魂连动都不动一下，不想离开他，也不理睬他的命令，还对他说：“那个女 巫教给你的魔法已经不再管用了，因为我不可能离开你，你也不可能把我赶走了。一个人一 生中只能把他的灵魂送走一次，但是他一旦把自己的灵魂收了回来，就得永远地留住它了， 这既是对他的惩罚，也是给他的回报。” 年轻的渔夫脸色开始发白，握紧自己的拳头，大声叫着：“她没有告诉我这一点，她骗 了我啦。” “不，”他的灵魂回答说，“不过她对她自己崇拜的那个‘他’可动了真心的，她要做 他永远的仆人。” 年轻的渔夫此刻已明白他再也不能够赶走他的灵魂，况且是—个邪恶的灵魂，还要永远 与他为伍，他一下子倒在地上伤心地哭了起来。 天明时分，年轻的渔夫站起身来，对他的灵魂说：“我要绑住我的双手，免得我会照你 的吩咐去做，我还要闭紧嘴巴，免得我说出休想让我说的话，我要回到我所爱的人居住的地 方去。我甚至要回到海里去，回到她过去经常唱歌的那个小海湾去，我要唤她上来，告诉她 .我做过的坏事以及你对我做过的坏事。” 他的灵魂诱惑着他，说：“谁是你的爱人？让你非回到她那儿去不可？世上有很多比她 漂亮的美人。萨马里斯的舞女们可以学各种鸟兽的姿态跳舞。她们的脚用凤仙花染成了红 色，她们手中握着好多小铜铃。她们一边跳一边笑，她们的笑容跟清溪一样明净。跟我走， 我带你去见她们。你为那些罪恶的事操那份心是为了什么呢？难道那些美味可口的东西不是 做来给人吃的吗？难道喝起来甘甜的东西里面放进了毒药吗？不要自寻烦恼了，跟我到另一 个城市去吧。这儿附近就有一座小城市，里面有一个百合树的花园。在这个可爱的花园中住 着一些白孔雀和有着蓝色胸脯的孔雀。当它们的尾巴向着太阳展开的时候，就像象牙的圆盘 和镀金圆盘一样。给它们喂食的女人还为它们跳舞取乐，有时候她用手跳舞，有时候用脚 跳。她的双眼染成了锑色，她的鼻孔长得像燕子的翅膀。在一个鼻孔中用小钩子挂着一朵用 珍珠刻成的花儿。她一边跳舞一边英，脚踝上的一对银锈子像银铃似的响着。所以不要再自 寻烦恼了，跟我到这座城市去吧。” 可是年轻的渔夫却没有回答他的灵魂，而是用沉默的封条封闭住自己的嘴，还用绳子紧 紧绑着自己的双手，起身回到了他出来的地方，甚至回到了他的爱人过去常常唱歌的那个小 海湾。尽管他的灵魂，一路上不停地引诱他，可是他却从未答复，他也不愿去做他的灵魂要 他去做的任何坏事，他内心的爱情的力量真是太大了。 等他来到了大海的边上，他才把手上的绳子解开，将沉默的封条从嘴上撕去，他呼唤着 小美人鱼。然而她并没有来会他，他呼唤了整整一天，恳求着她，结果却还是看不见她。 他的灵魂嘲笑着他，说：“你一定是没有从你的爱人那儿得到多少欢乐。你就像是大旱 天里往漏船上倒水的人。你把你的一切都给予了出去，却没有得到丝毫的回报。你最好还是 跟着我，因为我知道欢乐谷在什么地方，还有那儿有什么东西。” 不过年轻的渔夫并没有回答他的灵魂，他在岩石的裂缝中用树条为自己编造了一个房 子，在那儿住了一年。每天清晨他都呼唤着美人鱼，每天中午他又呼唤她的名字，到了晚上 他仍唤着她来。然而她再也没有从海中出来会他，他也不能够在大海的任何地方找到她，虽 然他已在洞穴中，在碧水下，在海潮的漩涡里，或者在海底深处的井中，到处都去寻找过， 但始终不见她的身影。 尽管他的灵魂不停地甩邪恶来引诱他，还对他悄悄地说着些可怕的事情，但是这些都没 有能够阻止他，他的爱情的力量真是太大了。 一年的时间过去了，灵魂在他的体内暗想：“我已经用邪恶引诱了我的主人，可是他的 爱比我强大。现在我要用善来引诱他，他也许会跟着我走的。” 于是他对年轻的渔夫说道：“我给你讲过世界上的欢乐的事情，而你却不听我的。现在 我只好告诉你世间的痛苦了，这也许是你想听的。说真的，痛苦是这个世界的主人，没有一 个人可以从它的网中逃出去。有些人缺少的是衣服，另一些人缺少的是面包。有穿着紫袍坐 着的寡妇，也有穿着破衣的寡妇。在沼泽地上走来走去的是麻疯病人，他们相互之间都非常 残酷，乞丐们在公路上来来往往，他们的袋中空空如也。在各个城市的街道上行走着的是饥 荒，不要发生。你看你的爱人不原来回应你的呼唤，那么你为什么还要停留在这儿唤你的爱 人呢？爱到底是什么，你竟要为此付出如此高的代价？ 然而年轻的渔夫并不回答，他的爱的力量太大了。每天清晨他都要呼唤美人鱼，每天中 午又要去呼唤她，夜里还要唤着她的名字。可是她从没有从海里出来会他，他也没有能够在 海洋的任何地方找到她，尽管他去海中的河流上去寻过她，在波浪下的谷里觅过她，甚至在 被黑夜染成紫色的海洋上，以及被黎明抹成灰色的海洋中，都不能找到她的影子。 第二年又过去了，一天晚上正当年轻的渔夫孤单单地坐在树条造的房子中时，灵魂便对 他说：“喂！现在我是用恶来引诱你，我也用善来引诱了你，而你的爱比我更强大。因此， 我不会再引诱你了，不过我恳求你让我进入到你的心中，这样我就会跟从前一样与你呆在一 起了。” “你当然可以进来，”年轻的渔夫说，“因为在你没有心而去世界上流浪的那些日子 里，你一定吃了不少苦头。” “哎呀！”他的灵魂叫了起来，“我找不到什么地方可以进去呀，你的这颗心被爱缠得 太紧了。” “可我倒希望我能够帮助你，”年轻的渔夫说。 就在说这句话的时候，从海洋中传来了好大一声哀叫，它跟美人鱼家族中的谁死的时候 人们听到的那种声音一模一样。年轻的渔夫一下子跳了起来，离开了他的树条屋，朝海滩跑 去。黑色的波浪急匆匆地朝岸边扑打过来，波浪载着一个比银子更白的东西。它跟浪头一样 的白，飘在波涛上面活像是一朵鲜花。浪头把它从波涛中抢走，泡沫又把它从浪头手中夺 去，最后是海岸接受了它，于是在年轻渔夫的脚下，他看见了小美人鱼的身体。她躺在他的 脚下死去了。 这位痛苦的泪人儿一下子扑倒在了她的身边，他吻着她那冰冷的红嘴唇，抚弄着她头发 上打湿了的琥珀。他扑倒在沙滩上，躺在她的身边，哭得像一个因兴奋而颤抖的人，他用自 己褐色的双臂把她紧紧地拥在胸中。她的嘴唇是冰冷的，但他依旧吻着它。她头发上的蜜色 是咸的，可他仍然带着痛苦的快乐去品尝它。他吻着她那双紧闭的眼皮，她眼角上挂着的浪 花还没有他的眼泪咸。 他对着死尸忏悔起来。他把自己要倾述的苦难经历都贯进了她的耳朵里了。他把她的两 只小手挽在自己的脖子上，并用他的手指头去抚摸她那细细的咽喉管。他此时的快乐变得越 来越痛苦了，而痛苦中又充满了奇妙的快感。 黑色的海水愈来愈近了，白色的泡沫像麻疯病人一样地哀叫着。海洋用它那白色的泡沫 来抢夺海岸。从海王的官廷中又传来了哀苦的叫声，在遥远的大海上半人半鱼的海神们用号 角吹出他们那嘶哑的声音。 “快逃走吧，”他的灵魂说，“因为海水越来越近了，如果你还呆着不走的话，它会杀 死你的。快逃走吧，因为我好害怕，我知道你的心对我关闭着的，原因是你的爱太大了。快 逃到一个安全的地方去吧。你一定不会不送给我一颗心，就把我送到另一个世界上去吧。” 然而年轻的渔夫并没有听他灵魂的话，却只是不停地呼唤着小美人鱼，并说道：“爱情 比智慧更好，比财富更宝贵，比人类女儿的脚更漂亮。烈火烧毁不了它，海水淹没不了它。 我在黎明时唤过你，可你没有回答我。月亮听见了你的名字，可你还是不理睬我。因为我离 开你是千错万错，我这一走反而害了我自己。但是你的爱始终伴着我，它永远都是强大的， 没有什么可以阻止得了它，不论我面对的是恶也好，是善也罢。现在你已经死了，因此我一 定要跟你一起去死。” 他的灵魂又恳求他离开，但是他不肯，他的爱太深了。海水越来越近了，它要它的波涛 把他盖住，此刻他知道死期已近，他便疯狂地吻着美人鱼冰冷的嘴唇，他的那颗心呀都碎 了。就在他的心充满了太多的爱而破碎的时候，灵魂找到一个入口就进去了，就跟从前那样 与他合为一体了。海水终于用它的波涛淹没了这位年轻的渔夫。 早晨，神父去给大海祝福，因为海水闹腾得太厉害了。与神父一起去的有僧侣和乐手， 以及手持蜡烛的人，摇着香炉的人，还有好大一群人。 等神父来到海滩上时，他一下就看见年轻的渔夫躺在浪头上淹死了，在他的胳膊中还紧 紧地抱着小美人鱼的尸体。神父皱紧眉头往后退去，在胸前划了个十字符号后，他便大声喊 着说：“我不会祝福大海和海里的任何东西了。美人鱼家族是该受到诅咒的，也该诅咒那些 与他们来往的人。至于他呢，他为了爱情而抛弃了上帝，所以躺在这个被上帝裁判而给杀死 的情妇的身边，抬走他的尸体和他情妇的尸体，把他们埋在漂洗场地的角落里，上面不放任 何标志，也不要做任何记号，这样就不会有人知道他们安息在什么地方。因为他们生前是该 诅咒的，他们死后也是该诅咒的。” 人们按照他的吩咐去做了，在漂洗场地的角落里，那儿没有长一棵香草，他们就在地上 挖了个深坑，把死尸放了进去。 第三年又过去了，在一个神圣的日子里，神父来到了礼拜堂上，他要把上帝的伤痕显示 给人们看，他还要给他们讲上帝的仇恨。 等他给自己穿好了法衣后，他就进了礼拜堂，在祭坛上行礼，这时他看见祭坛上放满了 他以前从未见过的奇异的鲜花。这些花看上去很奇怪，却又是异样的美丽，花儿的美使他难 受，它们的气味在他的鼻孔中闻着很香。他觉得开心起来，却不知道为什么开心起来。 随后他打开了圣龛，在里面的圣饼台上烧了香，把美丽的圣饼拿给人们看，然后又把它 藏在帐幔后面，他开始对人们说话，还想向人们讲述上帝的愤怒。但是那些白花的美使他心 烦意乱，花儿的气味在鼻子里闻起来好香，而另外一句话走进了他的嘴唇，他讲述的不是上 帝的愤怒，却是那个叫做“爱”的上帝。他为什么要这么说，他自己也不知道。 神父说完的时候，人们就哭了，神父回到了寺院中放圣器的地方，眼里充满了泪水。执 事们走了进来，为他脱去法衣，给他脱下白麻布法服，以及腰带、饰带和丝带。他站在那儿 就跟在梦境中似的。 等他们为他解衣宽带之后，他看着他们，开口说道：“坛上放的是什么花？它们是从哪 儿来的？” 他们回答他说：“我们说不出它们是些什么花，可它们来自于漂洗场地的那个角落。” 神父浑身发抖，并回到自己的住处，开始祷告起来。 早上，天刚刚发亮的时候，他同僧侣、乐师们以及手持蜡烛的人，摇香炉的人，以及一 大群人们来到大海边，向大海祝福，也向海中一切野生的东西祝福。他还祝福了牧神，以及 在森林中跳舞的小东西们，还有那些从树叶中朝外偷窥的亮眼睛的东西们。他对上帝创造的 世间一切东西都祝了福，人们充满了快乐和惊奇。不过从此以后漂洗场地的角落里再也没有 长出任何种类的鲜花了，那儿变得跟从前一样荒凉了。美人鱼家族再也不像往常那样游进这 个海湾里来了，因为他们到大海的其它地方去了。 渔夫和他的灵魂1 渔夫和他的灵魂 每天晚上年轻的渔夫都要出海去打鱼，把他的网撒到海里去。 风从陆地上吹来的时候，他便什么也捕不到，或者最多只能捉到一小点，因为那是一种 凶猛的长着黑翅膀的风，就连巨浪也跳起来欢迎它。不过当风朝岸上吹来的时候，鱼儿们便 从深海里浮上来，游到他的网里，他把抓来的鱼带到市场上去卖掉。 每天晚上他都出海打鱼，有一天晚上，收网的时候，网重得很，他差一点没能把网给拖 上船来。他笑了，自言自语的说：“我一定是把所有游动的鱼都给捕住了，要不就是把人们 当成是奇迹的什么怪物给弄进了网中，再不然就是伟大的女王喜欢的那种可怕的东西。”他 使出浑身的劲紧紧地拉着这根粗绳子，直到手臂上长长的血管给拉得冒了起来，就像绕在锅 制花瓶上的蓝色彩釉的bbr>条纹一样。他又使劲地曳细绳，近了，那个扁平的软木浮圈越来越近 了，网终于升出了水面。 不过，网里面既没有一尾鱼，也没有什么怪物，或任何可怕的东西，只有一个熟睡的小 美人鱼躺在里面。 她的头发像是湿满满的金羊毛，而每一根头发都如同放在玻璃杯中的细金线。她的身体 白得跟象牙一样，她的尾巴如同银子和珍珠的颜色。银色和珍珠色就是她的尾巴，翠绿的海 草缠绕着它；她的耳朵像贝壳，她的嘴唇像珊瑚。冰凉的波浪冲击着她的胸膛，海盐在她的 眼皮上闪闪发光。 她有多美啊，年轻的渔夫一见到她，就充满了惊叹。他伸出手去把鱼网拉到自己身边， 并俯下身去，把她搂在自己的怀中。他挨着她的时候，她像受惊的海鸥一样大叫了一声，就 醒了，她用紫 6c34." >水晶股的眼睛惊恐地望着他，还挣扎着想脱身逃走。可他却紧紧地抱着她，不 甘心就这样放她走。 她看见自己已无法逃脱时，便哭了起来，并说道：“我求求你放了我，我是国王唯一的 女儿，我父亲年纪大了，身边没有别的亲人。” 可是年轻的渔夫却回答说：“我不会放你走的，除非你答应我不论我什么时候叫你，你 都要来为我唱歌，因为鱼儿都喜欢听美人鱼的歌声，这样我的网就会装满了。” “如果我答应了你，你真的会放我走吗？”美人鱼哭着说。 “我一定会放你走的，”年轻的渔夫回答说。 于是她照他所希望的那样做了保证，并以美人鱼的誓言诅了咒。他从她身上松开了胳 膊，她带着一种莫名的恐惧颤抖着，沉入到海水中去了。 每天晚上只要年轻的渔夫外出打鱼，都要唤来美人鱼，她便从海水中冒出来，为他唱 歌。海豚们在她的周围游来游去，海鸥们在她的头顶上空盘旋着。 她唱了一首美妙无比的歌。因为她唱的是自己同伴的故事。他们赶着牲口从一个山洞来 到另一个山洞，肩头上扛着小牛犊；她还唱起了半人半鱼的海神们，他们长着绿色的长胡 须，毛茸茸的胸膛，每当国王经过的时候，就吹响螺旋形的海螺；她唱到了国王的宫殿，那 全部都是用城冶造成的，屋顶用诱明的绿宝石蓝成，道路由发光的珍珠铺就；她唱到了海中 的花园，那里有巨大的珊瑚大扇整天都在舞动着，鱼儿像银鸟似的穿来游去，秋牡丹攀附在 岩石上，粉红色的石竹在黄沙中发出幼芽。她唱起了那些来自北海底部的大白鲸，它们的缚 上挂着尖尖的冰柱，她唱到了那些会讲动人故事的女妖们，她们的故事实在奇妙，过往的盲 人们不得不用蜡来堵住自己的耳朵，以免听到她们讲的故事，而跳入大海失去性命；她还唱 到那些有着高高桅杆的沉船，冻僵的水手们紧抱着帆缆，青花鱼通过开着的舱门游进游出； 她唱到了那些小螺蛳，他们都是伟大的旅行家，粘贴在船的龙骨上把世界游了个遍；她唱到 了住在悬崖边的乌贼鱼，伸出它们那些长长的黑手臂，只要它们愿意，随时可以叫黑夜降 临；她还唱到了鹦鹉螺，她有一艘用猫眼石刻出来的属于她自己的小船，用一张丝绸帆去航 行；她唱起那些弹着竖琴的雄性美人鱼，他们可以让大海怪进入梦乡；她唱到一群小孩子， 他们捉住滑溜溜的海豚，笑着骑在它们身上；她又唱起了美人鱼，她们躺在白色的泡沫中， 伸出手臂向水手们挥动；她唱到了那些身体长得弯弯的海狮，以及长着飘动的鬃毛的海马。 在她唱的时候，所有的金枪鱼都从水底下窜上来听她的歌声，年轻的渔夫在它们的四周 撒下网，把它们一网打尽，网外的鱼又被他用鱼叉给捉住了。等他的船装满了以后，美人鱼 便朝他笑笑，然后就沉入到水底下去了。 然而，她却不愿游近他身旁，让他摸到她。他经常呼唤她，并恳求她，可她就是不愿 意；只要他想捉住她时，她便像一头海豹似的，一下子窜入水中，而且那一整天他再也看不 见她了。日复一日，他觉得她的歌声越来越动听了。她的歌声是那么的美妙，连他也听得常 忘了鱼网和手中的活计，甚至连本行也忘了。金枪鱼成群地游过来，带着朱红色的鳍和突出 的金眼，可是他却没有去留意它们。他的鱼叉也闲在了一边，他那柳条篮子里面也是空空 的。他张着嘴巴，瞪着惊异的眼睛，呆呆地坐在船上胜听着，一直听到茫茫海雾笼罩在他的 四周，游荡的月亮用银白的光辉撒满他褐色的身躯。 有一天晚上，他把她唤来，说道：“小美人鱼，小美人鱼，我爱你，让我做你的新郎 吧，因为我太爱你了。” 然而美人鱼却摇摇头。“你有一个人的灵魂，”她回答说，“如果你肯送走你的灵魂， 那么我才会爱上你。” 年轻的渔夫对自己说：“我的灵魂对我有什么用呢？我看不见它，我也摸不着它，我更 不了解它。我一定要把它从我身上拿走，这样我就会非常开心了。”接着他发出了幸福的狂 叫声，并在彩色的船上站起身来，朝美人鱼伸出了胳膊。“我会把我的灵魂送走的，”他大 声说，“你做我的新娘吧，我来做你的新郎，在大海的底部我们共同生活在一起，凡是你歌 里唱过的都领我去看一看，凡是你希望的我都尽力去做，我们生活在一起永不分开。” 小美人鱼高兴地笑了，并把脸藏在自己的双手中。 “不过我如何才能把灵魂送走呢？”年轻的渔夫大声说，“告诉我我该怎样做，噢，我 一定会去做的。” “啊呀！我也不知道，”小美人鱼说，“我们美人鱼家族是没有灵魂的。”说完她就沉 入到水底，若有所思地望着他。 第二天一大早，太阳在藏书网山顶上升起还不足一抹高的时候，年轻的渔夫就来到神父家并连 敲了三下门。 THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL THE FISHERMAN AND HIS SOUL [TO H.S.H. ALICE, PRINCESS OF MONACO] Every evening the young Fisherma out upon the sea, and threw his s into the water. When the wind blew from the land he caught nothing, or but little at best, for it was a bitter and black-winged wind, and rough waves rose up to meet it. But when the wind blew to the shore, the fish came in from the deep, and swam into the meshes of his s, and he took them to the market-plad sold them. Every evening he went out upon the sea, and one evening the was so heavy that hardly could he draw it into the boat. And he laughed, and said to himself, Surely I have caught all the fish that swim, or snared some dull mohat will be a marvel to men, or some thing of horror that the great Queen will desire, and putting forth all his strength, he tugged at the coarse ropes till, like lines of blue enamel round a vase of brohe long veins rose up on his arms. He tugged at the thin ropes, and nearer and nearer came the circle of flat corks, and the rose at last to the top of the water. But no fish at all was in it, nor any monster or thing of horror, but only a little Mermaid lying fast asleep. Her hair was as a wet fleece of gold, and each separate hair as a thread of fine gold in a cup of glass. Her body was as white ivory, aail was of silver and pearl. Silver and pearl was her tail, and the green weeds of the sea coiled round it; and like sea-shells were her ears, and her lips were like sea-coral. The cold waves dashed over her cold breasts, and the salt glistened upon her eyelids. So beautiful was she that when the young Fisherman saw her he was filled with wonder, a out his hand and drew the close to him, and leaning over the side he clasped her in his arms. And wheouched her, she gave a cry like a startled sea-gull, and woke, and looked at him in terror with her mauve-amethyst eyes, and struggled that she might escape. But he held her tightly to him, and would not suffer her to depart. And when she saw that she could in no way escape from him, she began to weep, and said, I pray thee let me go, for I am the only daughter of a King, and my father is aged and alone. But the young Fisherman answered, I will not let thee go save thou makest me a promise that whenever I call thee, thou wilt e and sing to me, for the fish delight to listen to the song of the Sea- folk, and so shall my s be full. Wilt thou iruth let me go, if I promise thee this? cried the Mermaid. Iruth I will let thee go, said the young Fisherman. So she made him the promise he desired, and sware it by the oath of the Sea-folk. And he loosened his arms from about her, and she sank down into the water, trembling with a strange fear. Every evening the young Fisherma out upon the sea, and called to the Mermaid, and she rose out of the water and sang to him. Round and round her swam the dolphins, and the wild gulls wheeled above her head. And she sang a marvellous song. For she sang of the Sea-folk who drive their flocks from cave to cave, and carry the little calves on their shoulders; of the Tritons who have long green beards, and hairy breasts, and blow through twisted chs when the King passes by; of the palace of the King which is all of amber, with a roof of clear emerald, and a pavement ht pearl; and of the gardens of the sea where the great filigrane fans of coral wave all day long, and the fish dart about like silver birds, and the anemones g to the rocks, and the pinks beon in the ribbed yellow sand. She sang of the big whales that e down from the north seas and have sharp icicles hanging to their fins; of the Sirens who tell of such wonderful things that the merts have to stop their ears with wax lest they should hear them, and leap into the water and be drowned; of the sunken galleys with their tall masts, and the frozen sailors ging to the rigging, and the mackerel swimming in and out of the open portholes; of the little barnacles whreat travellers, and g to the keels of the ships and go round and round the world; and of the cuttlefish who live in the sides of the cliffs and stretch out their long black arms, and make night e when they will it. She sang of the nautilus who has a boat of her own that is carved out of an opal and steered with a silken sail; of the happy Mermen who play upon harps and charm the great Kraken to sleep; of the little children who catch hold of the slippery porpoises and ride laughing upon their backs; of the Mermaids who lie in the white foam and hold out their arms to the mariners; and of the sea-lions with their curved tusks, and the sea-horses with their floating manes. And as she sang, all the tunny-fish came in from the deep to listen to her, and the young Fisherman threw his s round them and caught them, and others he took with a spear. And when his boat was well-laden, the Mermaid would sink down into the sea, smiling at him. Yet would she never e near him that he might touch her. Oftentimes he called to her and prayed of her, but she would not; and when he sought to seize her she dived into the water as a seal might dive, nor did he see her again that day. And each day the sound of her voice became sweeter to his ears. So sweet was her voice that he fot his s and his ing, and had no care of his craft. Vermilion-finned and with eyes of bossy gold, the tunnies went by in shoals, but he heeded them not. His spear lay by his side unused, and his baskets of plaited osier were empty. With lips parted, and eyes dim with wonder, he sat idle in his boat and listened, listening till the sea-mists crept round him, and the wandering moon stained his brown limbs with silver. And one evening he called to her, and said: Little Mermaid, little Mermaid, I love thee. Take me for thy bridegroom, for I love thee. But the Mermaid shook her head. Thou hast a human soul, she answered. If only thou wouldst send away thy soul, then could I love thee. And the young Fisherman said to himself, Of what use is my soul to me? I ot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it. Surely I will send it away from me, and much gladness shall be mine. And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and standing up in the painted boat, he held out his arms to the Mermaid. I will send my soul away, he cried, and you shall be my bride, and I will be thy bridegroom, and in the depth of the sea we will dwell together, and all that thou hast sung of thou shalt show me, and all that thou desirest I will do, nor shall our lives be divided. And the little Mermaid laughed for pleasure and hid her fa her hands. But how shall I send my soul from me? cried the young Fisherman. Tell me how I may do it, and lo! it shall be done. Alas! I know not, said the little Mermaid: the Sea-folk have no souls. And she sank down into the deep, looking wistfully at him. Now early on the m, before the sun was the span of a mans hand above the hill, the young Fishermao the house of the Priest and khree times at the door. The novice looked out through the wicket, and when he saw who it was, he drew back the latd said to him, Enter. And the young Fisherman passed in, and k down on the sweet- smelling rushes of the floor, and cried to the Priest who was reading out of the Holy Book and said to him, Father, I am in love with one of the Sea-folk, and my soul hih me from having my desire. Tell me how I send my soul away from me, for in truth I have no need of it. Of what value is my soul to me? I ot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it. And the Priest beat his breast, and answered, Alack, alack, thou art mad, or hast eaten of some poisonous herb, for the soul is the part of man, and was given to us by God that we should nobly use it. There is no thing more precious than a human soul, nor ahly thing that be weighed with it. It is worth all the gold that is in the world, and is more precious than the rubies of the kings. Therefore, my son, think not any more of this matter, for it is a sin that may not be fiven. >?And as for the Sea-folk, they are lost, and they who would traffic with them are lost also. They are as the beasts of the field that know not good from evil, and for them the Lord has not died. The young Fishermans eyes filled with tears when he heard the bitter words of the Priest, and he rose up from his knees and said to him, Father, the Fauns live in the forest and are glad, and on the rocks sit the Mermen with their harps old. Let me be as they are, I beseech thee, for their days are as the days of flowers. And as for my soul, what doth my soul profit me, if it staween me and the thing that I love? The love of the body is vile, cried the Priest, knitting his brows, and vile and evil are the pagan things God suffers to wahrough His world. Accursed be the Fauns of the woodland, and accursed be the singers of the sea! I have heard them at night-time, and they have sought to lure me from my beads. They tap at the window, and laugh. They whisper into my ears the tale of their perilous joys. They tempt me with temptations, and when I would pray they make mouths at me. They are lost, I tell thee, they are lost. For them there is no heaven nor hell, and in her shall they praise Gods name. Father, cried the young Fisherman, thou k not what thou sayest. On my I she daughter of a King. She is fairer than the m star, and whiter than the moon. For her body I would give my soul, and for her love I would surrender heaven. Tell me what I ask of thee, a me go in peace. Away! Away! cried the Priest: thy leman is lost, and thou shalt be lost with her. And he gave him no blessing, but drove him from his door. And the young Fisherma down into the market-place, and he walked slowly, and with bowed head, as one who is in sorrow. And when the merts saw him ing, they began to whisper to each other, and one of them came forth to meet him, and called him by name, and said to him, What hast thou to sell? I will sell thee my soul, he answered. I pray thee buy it of me, for I am weary of it. Of what use is my soul to me? I ot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it. But the merts mocked at him, and said, Of what use is a mans soul to us? It is not worth a clipped piece of silver. Sell us thy body for a slave, and we will clothe thee in sea-purple, and put a ring upon thy finger, and make thee the minion of the great Queen. But talk not of the soul, for to us it is nought, nor has it any value for our service. And the young Fisherman said to himself: How strahing this is! The Priest telleth me that the soul is worth all the gold in the world, and the merts say that it is not worth a clipped piece of silver. And he passed out of the market-place, a down to the shore of the sea, and began to ponder on what he should do. And at noon he remembered how one of his panions, who was a gatherer of samphire, had told him of a certain young Witch who dwelt in a cave at the head of the bay and was very ing in her witcheries. A to and ran, so eager was he to get rid of his soul, and a cloud of dust followed him as he sped round the sand of the shore. By the itg of her palm the young Witew his ing, and she laughed a down her red hair. With her red hair falling around her, she stood at the opening of the cave, and in her hand she had a spray of wild hemlock that was blossoming. What dye lack? What dye lack? she cried, as he came panting up the steep, a down before her. Fish for thy , when the wind is foul? I have a little reed-pipe, and when I blow on it the mullet e sailing into the bay. But it has a price, pretty boy, it has a price. What dye lack? What dye lack? A storm to wreck the ships, and wash the chests of rich treasure ashore? I have more storms than the wind has, for I serve one who is strohan the wind, and with a sieve and a pail of water I send the great galleys to the bottom of the sea. But I have a price, pretty boy, I have a price. What dye lack? What dye lack? I know a flower that grows in the valley, none knows it but I. It has purple leaves, and a star in its heart, and its juice is as white as milk. Shouldst thou touch with this flower the hard lips of the Queen, she would follow thee all over the world. Out of the bed of the King she would rise, and over the whole world she would follow thee. And it has a price, pretty boy, it has a price. What dye lack? What dye lack? I pound a toad in a mortar, and make broth of it, and stir the broth with a dead mans hand. Sprinkle it on thine enemy while he sleeps, and he will turn into a black viper, and his own mother will slay him. With a wheel I draw the Moon from heaven, and in a crystal I show thee Death. What dye lack? What dye lack? Tell me thy desire, and I will give it thee, and thou shalt pay me a price, pretty boy, thou shalt pay me a price. My desire is but for a little thing, said the young Fisherman, yet hath the Priest been wroth with me, and driven me forth. It is but for a little thing, and the merts have mocked at me, and denied me. Therefore am I e to thee, though men call thee evil, and whatever be thy price I shall pay it. What wouldst thou? asked the Witch, io him. I would send my soul away from me, answered the young Fisherman. The Witch grew pale, and shuddered, and hid her fa her blue mantle. Pretty boy, pretty boy, she muttered, that is a terrible thing to do. He tossed his brown curls and laughed. My soul is nought to me, he answered. I ot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it. What wilt thou give me if I tell thee? asked the Witch, looking down at him with her beautiful eyes. Five pieces of gold, he said, and my s, and the wattled house where I live, and the painted boat in which I sail. Only tell me how to get rid of my soul, and I will give thee all that I possess. She laughed mogly at him, and struck him with the spray of hemlock. I turumn leaves into gold, she answered, and I weave the pale moonbeams into silver if I will it. He whom I serve is richer than all the kings of this world, and has their dominions. What then shall I give thee, he cried, if thy price be her gold nor silver? The Witch stroked his hair with her thin white hand. Thou must dah me, pretty boy, she murmured, and she smiled at him as she spoke. Nought but that? cried the young Fisherman in wonder and he rose to his feet. Nought but that, she answered, and she smiled at him again. Then at su in some secret place we shall daogether, he said, and after that we have dahou shalt tell me the thing which I desire to know. She shook her head. When the moon is full, when the moon is full, she muttered. Then she peered all round, and listened. A blue bird rose screaming from its and circled over the dunes, and three spotted birds rustled through the crey grass and whistled to each other. There was no other sound save the sound of a wave fretting the smooth pebbles below. So she reached out her hand, and drew him o her and put her dry lips close to his ear. To-night thou must e to the top of the mountain, she whispered. It is a Sabbath, and He will be there. The young Fisherman started and looked at her, and she showed her white teeth and laughed. Who is He of whom thou speakest? he asked. It matters not, she answered. Go thou to-night, and stand under the branches of the hornbeam, and wait for my ing. If a black dog run towards thee, strike it with a rod of willow, and it will go away. If an owl speak to thee, make it no answer. When the moon is full I shall be with thee, and we will daogether on the grass. But wilt thou swear to me to tell me how I may send my soul from me? he made question. She moved out into the sunlight, and through her red hair rippled the wind. By the hoofs of the goat I swear it, she made answer. Thou art the best of the witches, cried the young Fisherman, and I will surely dah thee to-night oop of the mountain. I would ihat thou hadst asked of me either gold or silver. But such as thy price is thou shalt have it, for it is but a little thing. And he doffed his cap to her, a his head low, and ran back to the town filled with a great joy. And the Witch watched him as he went, and when he had passed from her sight she entered her cave, and having taken a mirror from a box of carved cedarwood, she set it up on a frame, and burned vervain on lighted charcoal before it, and peered through the coils of the smoke. And after a time she ched her hands in anger. He should have been mine, she muttered, I am as fair as she is. And that evening, when the moon had risen, the young Fisherman climbed up to the top of the mountain, and stood uhe branches of the hornbeam. Like a targe of polished metal the round sea lay at his feet, and the shadows of the fishing-boats moved in the little bay. A great owl, with yellow sulphurous eyes, called to him by his name, but he made it no answer. A black dog ran towards him and snarled. He struck it with a rod of willow, and it went away whining. At midnight the witches came flying through the air like bats. Phew! they cried, as they lit upon the ground, there is some one here we know not! and they sniffed about, and chattered to each other, and made signs. Last of all came the young Witch, with her red hair streaming in the wind. She wore a dress of gold tissue embroidered with peacocks eyes, and a little cap of gree was on her head. Where is he, where is he? shrieked the witches when they saw her, but she only laughed, and ran to the hornbeam, and taking the Fisherman by the hand she led him out into the moonlight and began to dance. Round and round they whirled, and the young Witch jumped so high that he could see the scarlet heels of her shoes. Then right across the dancers came the sound of the galloping of a horse, but no horse was to be seen, and he felt afraid. Faster, cried the Witch, and she threw her arms about his neck, and her breath was hot upon his face. Faster, faster! she cried, and the earth seemed to spih his feet, and his brain grew troubled, and a great terror fell on him, as of some evil thing that was watg him, and at last he became aware that uhe shadow of a rock there was a figure that had not been there before. It was a man dressed in a suit of black velvet, cut in the Spanish fashion. His face was strangely pale, but his lips were like a proud red flower. He seemed weary, and was leaning back toying in a listless manner with the pommel of his dagger. On the grass beside him lay a plumed hat, and a pair of riding-gloves gaued with gilt lace, and sewn with seed-pearls wrought into a curious device. A short cloak lined with sables hang from his shoulder, and his delicate white hands were gemmed with rings. Heavy eyelids drooped over his eyes. The young Fisherman watched him, as one snared in a spell. At last their eyes met, and wherever he da seemed to him that the eyes of the man were upon him. He heard the Witch laugh, and caught her by the waist, and whirled her madly round and round. Suddenly a dog bayed in the wood, and the dancers stopped, and going up two by two, k down, and kissed the mans hands. As they did so, a little smile touched his proud lips, as a birds wing touches the water and makes it laugh. But there was disdain in it. He kept looking at the young Fisherman. e! let us worship, whispered the Witch, and she led him up, and a great desire to do as she besought him seized on him, and he followed her. But when he came close, and without knowing why he did it, he made on his breast the sign of the Cross, and called upon the holy name. No sooner had he done so thaches screamed like hawks and flew away, and the pallid face that had been watg him twitched with a spasm of pain. The ma over to a little wood, and whistled. A je with silver trappings came running to meet him. As he leapt upon the saddle he turned round, and looked at the young Fisherman sadly. And the Witch with the red hair tried to fly away also, but the Fisherman caught her by her wrists, and held her fast. Loose me, she cried, a me go. For thou hast named what should not be named, and shown the sign that may not be looked at. Nay, he answered, but I will not let thee go till thou hast told me the secret. What secret? said the Witch, wrestling with him like a wild cat, and biting her foam-flecked lips. Thou k, he made answer. Her grass-green eyes grew dim with tears, and she said to the Fisherman, Ask me anything but that! He laughed, and held her all the more tightly. And when she saw that she could not free herself, she whispered to him, Surely I am as fair as the daughters of the sea, and as ely as those that dwell in the blue waters, and she fawned on him and put her face close to his. But he thrust her back frowning, and said to her, If thou keepest not the promise that thou madest to me I will slay thee for a false witch. She grew grey as a blossom of the Judas tree, and shuddered. Be it so, she muttered. It is thy soul and not mine. Do with it as thou wilt. And she took from her girdle a little khat had a handle of green vipers skin, and gave it to him. What shall this serve me? he asked of her, w. She was silent for a few moments, and a look of terror came over her face. Then she brushed her hair back from her forehead, and smiling strangely she said to him, What men call the shadow of the body is not the shadow of the body, but is the body of the soul. Stand on the sea-shore with thy back to the moon, and cut away from around thy feet thy shadow, which is thy souls body, and bid thy soul leave thee, and it will do so. The young Fisherman trembled. Is this true? he murmured. It is true, and I would that I had not told thee of it, she cried, and she g to his knees weeping. He put her from him a her in the rank grass, and going to the edge of the mountain he placed the knife in his belt and began to climb down. And his Soul that was within him called out to him and said, Lo! I have dwelt with thee for all these years, and have been thy servant. Se away from thee now, for what evil have I done thee? And the young Fisherman laughed. Thou hast done me no evil, but I have no need of thee, he answered. The world is wide, and there is Heaven also, and Hell, and that dim twilight house that lies between. Go wherever thou wilt, but trouble me not, for my love is calling to me. And his Soul besought him piteously, but he heeded it not, but leapt fr t, being sure-footed as a wild goat, and at last he reached the level ground and the yellow shore of the sea. Bronze-limbed and well-knit, like a statue wrought by a Gre, he stood on the sand with his back to the moon, and out of the foam came white arms that beed to him, and out of the waves rose dim forms that did him homage. Before him lay his shadow, which was the body of his soul, and behind him hung the moon in the honey- coloured air. And his Soul said to him, If ihou must drive me from thee, se forth without a heart. The world is cruel, give me thy heart to take with me. He tossed his head and smiled. With what should I love my love if I gave thee my heart? he cried. Nay, but be merciful, said his Soul: give me thy heart, for the world is very cruel, and I am afraid. My heart is my loves, he answered, therefore tarry not, but get thee gone. Should I not love also? asked his Soul. Get thee gone, for I have no need of thee, cried the young Fisherman, aook the little kh its handle of green vipers skin, and cut away his shadow from around his feet, and it rose up and stood before him, and looked at him, and it was even as himself. He crept back, and thrust the ko his belt, and a feeling of awe came over him. Get thee gone, he murmured, a me see thy faore. Nay, but we must meet again, said the Soul. Its voice was low and flute-like, and its lips hardly moved while it spake. How shall we meet? cried the young Fisherman. Thou wilt not follow me into the depths of the sea? Once every year I will e to this place, and call to thee, said the Soul. It may be that thou wilt have need of me. What need should I have of thee? cried the young Fisherman, but be it as thou wilt, and he plunged into the waters and the Tritons blew their horns and the little Mermaid rose up to meet him, and put her arms around his ned kissed him on the mouth. And the Soul stood on the lonely bead watched them. And when they had sunk down into the sea, it went weeping away over the marshes. And after a year was over the Soul came down to the shore of the sea and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep, and said, Why dost thou call to me? And the Soul answered, e hat I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things. So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened. And the Soul said to him, When I left thee I turned my face to the East and journeyed. From the East eth everything that is wise. Six days I journeyed, and on the m of the seventh day I came to a hill that is in the try of the Tartars. I sat down under the shade of a tamarisk tree to shelter myself from the sun. The land was dry and burnt up with the heat. The people went to and fro over the plain like flies crawling upon a disk of polished copper. When it was noon a cloud of red dust rose up from the flat rim of the land. Wheartars saw it, they strung their painted bows, and havi upon their little horses they galloped to meet it. The women fled screaming to the waggons, and hid themselves behind the felt curtains. At twilight the Tartars returned, but five of them were missing, and of those that came baot a few had been wounded. They harheir horses to the waggons and drove hastily away. Three jackals came out of a cave and peered after them. Then they sniffed up the air with their nostrils, and trotted off in the opposite dire. When the moon rose I saw a camp-fire burning on the plain, and went towards it. A pany of merts were seated round it on carpets. Their camels were picketed behind them, and the negroes who were their servants were pitg tents of tanned skin upon the sand, and making a high wall of the prickly pear. As I came hem, the chief of the merts rose up and drew his sword, and asked me my business. I answered that I rin my own land, and that I had escaped from the Tartars, who had sought to make me their slave. The chief smiled, and showed me five heads fixed upon long reeds of bamboo. Then he asked me who was the prophet of God, and I answered him Mohammed. When he heard the name of the false prophet, he bowed and took me by the hand, and placed me by his sbbr>ide. A negrht me some mares milk in a wooden dish, and a piece of lambs flesh roasted. At daybreak we started on our journey. I rode on a red-haired camel by the side of the chief, and a runner ran before us carrying a spear. The men of war were oher hand, and the mules followed with the merdise. There were forty camels in the caravan, and the mules were twice forty in number. We went from the try of the Tartars into the try of those who curse the Moon. We saw the Gryphons guarding their gold on the white rocks, and the scaled Dragons sleeping in their caves. As we passed over the mountains we held our breath lest the snows might fall on us, and each man tied a veil of gauze before his eyes. As we passed through the valleys the Pygmies shot arrows at us from the hollows of the trees, and at night-time we heard the wild men beating on their drums. When we came to the Tower of Apes we set fruits before them, and they did not harm us. When we came to the Tower of Serpents we gave them warm milk in howls of brass, and they let us go by. Three times in our journey we came to the banks of the Oxus. We crossed it on rafts of wood with great bladders of blown hide. The river-horses raged against us and sought to slay us. When the camels saw them they trembled. The kings of each city levied tolls on us, but would not suffer us to eheir gates. They threw us bread over the walls, little maize-cakes baked in honey and cakes of fine flour filled with dates. For every hundred baskets we gave them a bead of amber. When the dwellers in the villages saw us ing, they poisohe wells and fled to the hill-summits. We fought with the Magadae who are born old, and grow younger and younger every year, and die when they are little children; and with the Laktroi who say that they are the sons of tigers, and paint themselves yellow and black; and with the Aurantes who bury their dead oops of tree?s, and themselves live in dark caverhe Sun, who is their god, should slay them; and with the Krimnians who worship a crocodile, and give it earrings of green glass, and feed it with butter and fresh fowls; and with the Agazonbae, who are dog-faced; and with the Sibans, who have horses feet, and run more swiftly than horses. A third of our pany died in battle, and a third died of want. The rest murmured against me, and said that I had brought them an evil fortune. I took a horned adder from beh a stone a sting me. When they saw that I did not si they grew afraid. In the fourth month we reached the city of Illel. It was night- time when we came to the grove that is outside the walls, and the air was sultry, for the Moon was travelling in Scorpion. We took the ripe pomegranates from the trees, and brake them, and drank their sweet juices. Then we lay down on our carpets, and waited for the dawn. And at dawn we rose and k the gate of the city. It was wrought out of red bronze, and carved with sea-dragons and dragons that have wings. The guards looked down from the battlements and asked us our business. The interpreter of the caravan answered that we had e from the island of Syria with much merdise. They took hostages, and told us that they would opee to us at noon, and bade us tarry till then. When it was noon they opehe gate, and as we entered in the people came crowding out of the houses to look at us, and a crier went round the city g through a shell. We stood in the market-place, and the negroes uncorded the bales of figured cloths and opehe carved chests of sycamore. And when they had ended their task, the merts set forth their strange wares, the waxed linen from Egypt and the painted linen from the try of the Ethiops, the purple sponges from Tyre and the blue hangings from Sidon, the cups of cold amber and the fine vessels of glass and the curious vessels of burnt clay. From the roof of a house a pany of women watched us. One of them wore a mask of gilded leather. And on the first day the priests came and bartered with us, and on the sed day came the nobles, and ohird day came the craftsmen and the slaves. And this is their with all merts as long as they tarry iy. Aarried for a moon, and when the moon was waning, I wearied and wandered away through the streets of the city and came to the garden of its god. The priests in their yellow robes moved silently through the green trees, and on a pavement of black marble stood the rose-red house in which the god had his dwelling. Its doors were of powdered lacquer, and bulls and peacocks were wrought on them in raised and polished gold. The tilted roof was of sea- green porcelain, and the jutting eaves were festooned with little bells. When the white doves flew past, they struck the bells with their wings and made them tinkle. In front of the temple ool of clear water paved with veined onyx. I lay down beside it, and with my pale fingers I touched the broad leaves. One of the priests came towards me and stood behind me. He had sandals on his feet, one of soft serpent-skin and the other of birds plumage. On his head was a mitre of black felt decorated with silver crests. Seven yellows were woven into his robe, and his frizzed hair was stained with antimony. After a little while he spake to me, and asked me my desire. I told him that my desire was to see the god. "The god is hunting," said the priest, looking strangely at me with his small slanting eyes. "Tell me in what forest, and I will ride with him," I answered. He bed out the soft fringes of his tunic with his long pointed nails. "The god is asleep," he murmured. "Tell me on what couch, and I will watch by him," I answered. "The god is at the feast," he cried. "If the wine be sweet I will drink it with him, and if it be bitter I will drink it with him also," was my answer. He bowed his head in wonder, and, taking me by the hand, he raised me up, and led me into the temple. And in the first chamber I saw an idol seated on a throne of jasper bordered with great orient pearls. It was carved out of ebony, and in stature was of the stature of a man. On its forehead was a ruby, and thick oil dripped from its hair on to its thighs. Its feet were red with the blood of a newly-slain kid, and its loins girt with a copper belt that was studded with seven beryls. And I said to the priest, "Is this the god?" And he answered me, "This is the god." "Show me the god," I cried, "or I will surely slay thee." And I touched his hand, and it became withered. And the priest besought me, saying, "Let my lord heal his servant, and I will show him the god." So I breathed with my breath upon his hand, and it became whole again, arembled and led me into the sed chamber, and I saw an idol standing on a lotus of jade hung with great emeralds. It was carved out of ivory, and in stature was twice the stature of a man. On its forehead was a chrysolite, and its breasts were smeared with myrrh and amon. In one hand it held a crooked sceptre of jade, and iher a round crystal. It ware buskins of brass, and its thieck was circled with a circle of selenites. And I said to the priest, "Is this the god?" And he answered me, "This is the god." "Show me the god," I cried, "or I will surely slay thee." And I touched his eyes, and they became blind. And the priest besought me, saying, "Let my lord heal his servant, and I will show him the god." So I breathed with my breath upon his eyes, and the sight came back to them, arembled again, and led me into the third chamber, and lo! there was no idol in it, nor image of any kind, but only a mirror of roual set on an altar of stone. And I said to the priest, "Where is the god?" And he answered me: "There is no god but this mirror that thou seest, for this is the Mirror of Wisdom. And it reflecteth all things that are in heaven and oh, save only the face of him who looketh into it. This it reflecteth not, so that he who looketh into it may be wise. Many other mirrors are there, but they are mirrors of Opinion. This only is the Mirror of Wisdom. And they who possess this mirror know everything, nor is there anything hidden from them. And they who possess it not have not Wisdom. Therefore is it the god, and we worship it." And I looked into the mirror, and it was even as he had said to me. And I did a strahing, but what I did matters not, for in a valley that is but a days journey from this place have I hidden the Mirror of Wisdom. Do but suffer me to enter into thee again ahy servant, and thou shalt be wiser than all the wise men, and Wisdom shall be thine. Suffer me to enter into thee, and none will be as wise as thou. But the young Fisherman laughed. Love is better than Wisdom, he cried, and the little Mermaid loves me. Nay, but there is nothier than Wisdom, said the Soul. Love is better, answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into the deep, and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes. And after the sed year was over, the Soul came down to the shore of the sea, and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep and said, Why dost thou call to me? And the Soul answered, e hat I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things. So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened. And the Soul said to him, When I left thee, I turned my face to the South and journeyed. From the South eth everything that is precious. Six days I journeyed along the highways that lead to the city of Ashter, along the dusty red-dyed highways by which the pilgrims are wont to go did I journey, and on the m of the seventh day I lifted up my eyes, and lo! the city lay at my feet, for it is in a valley. There are es to this city, and in front of each gate stands a bronze horse that neighs when the Bedouins e down from the mountains. The walls are cased with copper, and the watch- towers on the walls are roofed with brass. Iower stands an archer with a bow in his hand. At sunrise he strikes with an arrow on a gong, and at su he blows through a horn of horn. When I sought to ehe guards stopped me and asked of me who I was. I made ahat I was a Dervish and on my way to the city of Mecca, where there was a green veil on which the Koran was embroidered in silver letters by the hands of the angels. They were filled with wonder, areated me to pass in. I is even as a bazaar. Surely thou shouldst have been with me. Across the narrow streets the gay lanterns of paper flutter like large butterflies. When the wind blows over the roofs they rise and fall as painted bubbles do. In front of their booths sit the merts on silken carpets. They have straight black beards, and their turbans are covered with golden sequins, and long strings of amber and carved peach-stones glide through their cool fingers. Some of them sell galbanum and nard, and curious perfumes from the islands of the Indian Sea, and the thick oil of red roses, and myrrh and little nail-shaped cloves. Wheops to speak to them, they throw pinches of frankinse upon a charcoal brazier and make the air sweet. I saw a Syrian who held in his hands a thin rod like a reed. Grey threads of smoke came from it, and its odour as it burned was as the odour of the pink almond in spring. Others sell silver bracelets embossed all over with creamy blue turquoise stones, and as of brass wire fringed with little pearls, and tigers claws set in gold, and the claws of that gilt cat, the leopard, set in gold also, and earrings of pierced emerald, and finger-rings of hollowed jade. From the tea-houses es the sound of the guitar, and the opium-smokers with their white smiling faces look out at the passers-by. Of a truth thou shouldst have been with me. The wine-sellers elbow their way through the crowd with great black skins on their shoulders. Most of them sell the wine of Schiraz, which is as sweet as honey. They serve it in little metal cups and strew rose leaves upon it. In the market-place stand the fruitsellers, who sell all kinds of fruit: ripe figs, with their bruised purple flesh, melons, smelling of musk and yellow as topazes, citrons and rose-apples and clusters of white grapes, round red-gold es, and oval lemons of green gold. Once I saw an elephant go by. Its trunk ainted with vermilion and turmerid over its ears it had a of crimson silk cord. It stopped opposite one of the booths and begaing the es, and the man only laughed. Thou st not think how strange a people they are. When they are glad they go to the bird-sellers and buy of them a caged bird, and set it free that their joy may be greater, and when they are sad they sce themselves with thorns that their sorrow may not grow less. One evening I met some negroes carrying a heavy palanquin through the bazaar. It was made of gilded bamboo, and the poles were of vermilion lacquer studded with brass peacocks. Across the windows hung thin curtains of muslin embroidered with beetles wings and with tiny seed-pearls, and as it passed by a pale-faced Circassian looked out and smiled at me. I followed behind, and the negroes hurried their steps and scowled. But I did not care. I felt a great curiosity e over me. At last they stopped at a square white house. There were no windows to it, only a little door like the door of a tomb. They set down the palanquin and khree times with a copper hammer. An Armenian in a caftan of greeher peered through the wicket, and when he saw them he opened, and spread a carpet on the ground, and the woman stepped out. As she went in, she turned round and smiled at me again. I had never seen any one so pale. When the moon rose I returo the same plad sought for the house, but it was no lohere. When I saw that, I knew who the woman was, and wherefore she had smiled at me. Certainly thou shouldst have been with me. On the feast of the New Moon the young Emperor came forth from his palad went into the mosque to pray. His hair and beard were dyed with rose-leaves, and his cheeks were powdered with a fine gold dust. The palms of his feet and hands were yellow with saffron. At sunrise he went forth from his pala a robe of silver, and at su he returo it again in a robe of gold. The people flung themselves on the ground and hid their faces, but I would not do so. I stood by the stall of a seller of dates and waited. When the Emperor saw me, he raised his painted eyebrows and stopped. I stood quite still, and made him no obeisahe people marvelled at my boldness, and selled me to flee from the city. I paid no heed to them, but went and sat with the sellers of strange gods, who by reason of their craft are abominated. When I told them what I had done, each of them gave me a god and prayed me to leave them. That night, as I lay on a cushion iea-house that is in the Street of Pomegrahe guards of the Emperor entered and led me to the palace. As I went in they closed each door behind me, and put a across it. Inside was a great court with an arcade running all round. The walls were of white alabaster, set here and there with blue and green tiles. The pillars were of green marble, and the pavement of a kind of peach-blossom marble. I had never seen anything like it before. As I passed across the court two veiled women looked down from a baly and cursed me. The guards hastened on, and the butts of the lances rang upon the polished floor. They opened a gate of wrought ivory, and I found myself in a watered garden of seven terraces. It lanted with tulip-cups and moonflowers, and silver-studded aloes. Like a slim reed of crystal a fountain hung in the dusky air. The cypress-trees were like burnt-out torches. From one of them a nightingale was singing. At the end of the garden stood a little pavilion. As we approached it two eunuchs came out to meet us. Their fat bodies swayed as they walked, and they glanced curiously at me with their yellow-lidded eyes. One of them drew aside the captain of the guard, and in a low voice whispered to him. The other kept mung sted pastilles, which he took with an affected gesture out of an oval box of lilaamel. After a few moments the captain of the guard dismissed the soldiers. They went back to the palace, the eunuchs following slowly behind and plug the sweet mulberries from the trees as they passed. Ohe elder of the two turned round, and smiled at me with an evil smile. Then the captain of the guard motioned me towards the entrance of the pavilion. I walked on without trembling, and drawing the heavy curtain aside I entered in. The young Emperor was stretched on a couch of dyed lion skins, and a gerfal perched upon his wrist. Behind him stood a brass- turbaned Nubian, naked down to the waist, and with heavy earrings in his split ears. On a table by the side of the couch lay a mighty scimitar of steel. When the Emperor saw me he frowned, and said to me, "What is thy name? Khou not that I am Emperor of this city?" But I made him no answer. He pointed with his fi the scimitar, and the Nubian seized it, and rushing forward struck at me with great violehe blade whizzed through me, and did me no hurt. The man fell sprawling on the floor, and when he rose up his teeth chattered with terror and he hid himself behind the couch. The Emperor leapt to his feet, and taking a lance from a stand of arms, he threw it at me. I caught it in its flight, and brake the shaft into two pieces. He shot at me with an arrow, but I held up my hands and it stopped in mid-air. Then he drew a dagger from a belt of white leather, and stabbed the Nubian ihroat lest the slave should tell of his dishonour. The man writhed like a trampled snake, and a red foam bubbled from his lips. As soon as he was dead the Emperor turo me, and when he had wiped away the bright sweat from his brow with a little napkin of purfled and purple silk, he said to me, "Art thou a prophet, that I may not harm thee, or the son of a prophet, that I do thee no hurt? I pray thee leave my city to-night, for while thou art in it I am no los lord." And I answered him, "I will go for half of thy treasure. Give me half of thy treasure, and I will go away." He took me by the hand, and led me out into the garden. When the captain of the guard saw me, he wondered. When the eunuchs saw me, their knees shook and they fell upon the ground in fear. There is a chamber in the palace that has eight walls of red porphyry, and a brass-sealed ceiling hung with lamps. The Emperor touched one of the walls and it opened, and we passed down a corridor that was lit with many torches. In niches upon each side stood great wine-jars filled to the brim with silver pieces. When we reached the tre of the corridor the Emperor spake the word that may not be spoken, and a granite door swung ba a secret spring, a his hands before his face lest his eyes should be dazzled. Thou couldst not believe how marvellous a place it was. There were huge tortoise-shells full of pearls, and hollowed moonstones of great size piled up with red rubies. The gold was stored in coffers of elephant-hide, and the gold-dust iher bottles. There were opals and sapphires, the former in cups of crystal, and the latter in cups of jade. Round green emeralds were ranged in order upon thin plates of ivory, and in one er were silk bags filled, some with turquoise-stones, and others with beryls. The ivory horns were heaped with purple amethysts, and the horns of brass with chalies and sards. The pillars, which were of cedar, were hung with strings of yellow lynx-stones. In the flat oval shields there were carbuncles, both wine-coloured and coloured like grass. A I have told thee but a tithe of what was there. And when the Emperor had taken away his hands from before his face he said to me: "This is my house of treasure, and half that is in it is thine, even as I promised to thee. And I will give thee camels and camel drivers, and they shall do thy bidding and take thy share of the treasure to whatever part of the world thou desirest to go. And the thing shall be doo-night, for I would not that the Sun, who is my father, should see that there is in my city a man whom I ot slay." But I answered him, "The gold that is here is thine, and the silver also is thine, and thine are the precious jewels and the things of price. As for me, I have no need of these. Nor shall I take aught from thee but that little ring that thou wearest on the finger of thy hand." And the Emperor frowned. "It is but a ring of lead," he cried, "nor has it any value. Therefore take thy half of the treasure and go from my city." "Nay," I answered, "but I will take nought but that leaden ring, for I know what is written within it, and for urpose." And the Emperor trembled, and besought me and said, "Take all the treasure and go from my city. The half that is mine shall be thine also." And I did a strahing, but what I did matters not, for in a cave that is but a days journey from this place have, I hidden the Ring of Riches. It is but a days journey from this place, and it waits for thy ing. He who has this Ring is richer than all the kings of the world. e therefore and take it, and the worlds riches shall be thine. But the young Fisherman laughed. Love is better than Riches, he cried, and the little Mermaid loves me. Nay, but there is nothier than Riches, said the Soul. Love is better, answered the young Fisherman, and he plunged into the deep, and the Soul went weeping away over the marshes. And after the third year was over, the Soul came down to the shore of the sea, and called to the young Fisherman, and he rose out of the deep and said, Why dost thou call to me? And the Soul answered, e hat I may speak with thee, for I have seen marvellous things. So he came nearer, and couched in the shallow water, and leaned his head upon his hand and listened. And the Soul said to him, In a city that I know of there is an inn that stah by a river. I sat there with sailors who drank of two different-coloured wines, and ate bread made of barley, and little salt fish served in bay leaves with vinegar. And as we sat and made merry, there eo us an old man bearing a leather carpet and a lute that had two horns of amber. And when he had laid out the carpet on the floor, he struck with a quill on the wire strings of his lute, and a girl whose face was veiled ran in and began to dance before us. Her face was veiled with a veil of gauze, but her feet were naked. Naked were her feet, and they moved over the carpet like little white pigeons. Never have I seen anything so marvellous; and the city in which she dances is but a days journey from this place. Now when the young Fisherman heard the words of his Soul, he remembered that the little Mermaid had and could not dance. And a great desire came over him, and he said to himself, It is but a days journey, and I return to my love, and he laughed, and stood up in the shallow water, and strode towards the shore. And when he had reached the dry shore he laughed again, and held out his arms to his Soul. And his Soul gave a great cry of joy and ran to meet him, aered into him, and the young Fisherman saw stretched before him upon the sand that shadow of the body that is the body of the Soul. And his Soul said to him, Let us not tarry, but get he once, for the Sea-gods are jealous, and have mohat do their bidding. So they made haste, and all that night they journeyed beh the moon, and all the day they journeyed beh the sun, and on the evening of the day they came to a city. And the young Fisherman said to his Soul, Is this the city in which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me? And his Soul answered him, It is not this city, but another. heless let us enter in. So they entered in and passed through the streets, and as they passed through the Street of the Jewellers the young Fisherman saw a fair silver cup set forth in a booth. And his Soul said to him, Take that silver cup and hide it. So he took the cup and hid it in the fold of his tunid they went hurriedly out of the city. And after that they had gone a league from the city, the young Fisherman frowned, and flung the cup away, and said to his Soul, Why didst thou tell me to take this cup and hide it, for it was an evil thing to do? But his Soul answered him, Be at peace, be at peace. And on the evening of the sed day they came to a city, and the young Fisherman said to his Soul, Is this the city in which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me? And his Soul answered him, It is not this city, but another. heless let us enter in. So they entered in and passed through the streets, and as they passed through the Street of the Sellers of Sandals, the young Fisherman saw a child standing by a jar of water. And his Soul said to him, Smite that child. So he smote the child till it wept, and when he had dohis they went hurriedly out of the city. And after that they had gone a league from the city the young Fisherman grew wroth, and said to his Soul, Why didst thou tell me to smite the child, for it was an evil thing to do? But his Soul answered him, Be at peace, be at peace. And on the evening of the third day they came to a city, and the young Fisherman said to his Soul, Is this the city in which she dances of whom thou didst speak to me? And his Soul answered him, It may be that it is in this city, therefore let us enter in. So they entered in and passed through the streets, but nowhere could the young Fisherman find the river or the inn that stood by its side. And the people of the city looked curiously at him, and he grew afraid and said to his Soul, Let us go hence, for she who dances with white feet is not here. But his Soul answered, Nay, but let us tarry, for the night is dark and there will be robbers on the way. So he sat him down in the market-plad rested, and after a time there went by a hooded mert who had a cloak of cloth of Tartary, and bare a lantern of pierced horn at the end of a jointed reed. And the mert said to him, Why dost thou sit in the market-place, seeing that the booths are closed and the bales corded? And the young Fisherman answered him, I find no inn in this city, nor have I any kinsman who might give me shelter. Are we not all kinsmen? said the mert. And did not one God make us? Therefore e with me, for I have a guest-chamber. So the young Fisherman rose up and followed the mert to his house. And when he had passed through a garden of pomegranates and entered into the house, the mert brought him rose-water in a copper dish that he might wash his hands, and ripe melons that he might quench his thirst, a a bowl of rid a piece of roasted kid before him. And after that he had fihe mert led him to the guest- chamber, and bade him sleep a rest. And the young Fisherman gave him thanks, and kissed the ring that was on his hand, and flung himself down on the carpets of dyed goats-hair. And when he had covered himself with a c of black lambs- wool he fell asleep. And three hours before dawn, and while it was still night, his Soul waked him and said to him, Rise up and go to the room of the mert, even to the room in which he sleepeth, and slay him, and take from him his gold, for we have need of it. And the young Fisherman rose up and crept towards the room of the mert, and over the feet of the mert there was lying a curved sword, and the tray by the side of the mert held nine purses of gold. And he reached out his hand and touched the sword, and wheouched it the mert started and awoke, and leaping up seized himself the sword and cried to the young Fisherman, Dost thou return evil food, and pay with the shedding of blood for the kihat I have shown thee? And his Soul said to the young Fisherman, Strike him, and he struck him so that he swooned and he seized then the nine purses of gold, and fled hastily through the garden of pomegranates, a his face to the star that is the star of m. And when they had gone a league from the city, the young Fisherman beat his breast, and said to his Soul, Why didst thou bid me slay the mert and take his gold? Surely thou art evil. But his Soul answered him, Be at peace, be at peace. Nay, cried the young Fisherman, I may not be at peace, for all that thou hast made me to do I hate. Thee also I hate, and I bid thee tell me wherefore thou hast wrought with me in this wise. And his Soul answered him, When thou didst send me forth into the world thou gavest me , so I learo do all these things and love them. What sayest thou? murmured the young Fisherman. Thou k, answered his Soul, thou k it well. Hast thou fotten that thou gavest me ? I trow not. And so trouble not thyself nor me, but be at peace, for there is no pain that thou shalt not give away, nor any pleasure that thou shalt not receive. And when the young Fisherman heard these words he trembled and said to his Soul, Nay, but thou art evil, and hast made me fet my love, and hast tempted me with temptations, and hast set my feet in the ways of sin. And his Soul answered him, Thou hast not fotten that when thou didst send me forth into the world thou gavest me . e, let us go to another city, and make merry, for we have nine purses of gold. But the young Fisherman took the nine purses of gold, and flung them down, and trampled on them. Nay, he cried, but I will have nought to do with thee, nor will I journey with thee anywhere, but even as I sent thee away before, so will I send thee away now, for thou hast wrought me no good. Aurned his back to the moon, and with the little khat had the handle of green vipers skirove to cut from his feet that shadow of the body which is the body of the Soul. Yet his Soul stirred not from him, nor paid heed to his and, but said to him, The spell that the Witch told thee avails thee no more, for I may not leave thee, nor mayest thou drive me forth. On his life may a man send his Soul away, but he who receiveth back his Soul must keep it with him for ever, and this is his punishment and his reward. And the young Fisherman grew pale and ched his hands and cried, She was a false Wit that she told me not that. Nay, answered his Soul, but she was true to Him she worships, and whose servant she will be ever. And when the young Fishermahat he could no let rid of his Soul, and that it was an evil Soul and would abide with him always, he fell upon the ground weeping bitterly. And when it was day the young Fisherman rose up and said to his Soul, I will bind my hands that I may not do thy bidding, and y lips that I may not speak thy words, and I will return to the place where she whom I love has her dwelling. Even to the sea will I return, and to the little bay where she is wont to sing, and I will call to her and tell her the evil I have done and the evil thou hast wrought on me. And his Soul tempted him and said, Who is thy love, that thou shouldst return to her? The world has many fairer than she is. There are the dang-girls of Samaris who dan the manner of all kinds of birds as. Their feet are painted with henna, and in their hands they have little copper bells. They laugh while they dance, and their laughter is as clear as the laughter of water. e with me and I will show them to thee. For what is this trouble of thine about the things of sin? Is that which is pleasant to eat not made for the eater? Is there poison in that which is sweet to drink? Trouble not thyself, but e with me to another city. There is a little city hard by in which there is a garden of tulip-trees. And there dwell in this ely garden white peacocks and peacocks that have blue breasts. Their tails when they spread them to the sun are like disks of ivory and like gilt disks. And she who feeds them dances for their pleasure, and sometimes she dances on her hands and at other times she dances with her feet. Her eyes are coloured with stibium, and her nostrils are shaped like the wings of a swallow. From a hook in one of her nostrils hangs a flower that is carved out of a pearl. She laughs while she dances, and the silver rings that are about her ainkle like bells of silver. And so trouble not thyself any more, but e with me to this city. But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul, but closed his lips with the seal of silend with a tight cord bound his hands, and journeyed back to the place from which he had e, even to the little bay where his love had been wont to sing. And ever did his Soul tempt him by the way, but he made it no answer, nor would he do any of the wiess that it sought to make him to do, so great was the power of the love that was within him. And when he had reached the shore of the sea, he loosed the cord from his hands, and took the seal of silence from his lips, and called to the little Mermaid. But she came not to his call, though he called to her all day long and besought her. And his Soul mocked him and said, Surely thou hast but little joy out of thy love. Thou art as one who in time of death pours water into a broken vessel. Thou givest away what thou hast, and nought is given to thee iurn. It were better for thee to e with me, for I know where the Valley of Pleasure lies, and what things are wrought there. But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul, but in a cleft of the rock he built himself a house of wattles, and abode there for the space of a year. And every m he called to the Mermaid, and every noon he called tain, and at night-time he spake her name. Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him, nor in any place of the sea could he fihough he sought for her in the caves and in the green water, in the pools of the tide and in the wells that are at the bottom of the deep. And ever did his Soul tempt him with evil, and whisper of terrible things. Yet did it not prevail against him, so great was the power of his love. And after the year was over, the Soul thought within himself, I have tempted my master with evil, and his love is strohan I am. I will tempt him now with good, and it may be that he will e with me. So he spake to the young Fisherman and said, I have told thee of the joy of the world, and thou hast turned a deaf ear to me. Suffer me now to tell thee of the worlds pain, and it may be that thou wilt hearken. For of a truth pain is the Lord of this world, nor is there any one who escapes from its . There be some who lack raiment, and others who lack bread. There be ho sit in purple, and ho sit in rags. To and fro over the fens go the lepers, and they are cruel to each other. The beggars go up and down on the highways, and their wallets are empty. Through the streets of the cities walks Famine, and the Plague sits at their gates. e, let us go forth ahese things, and make them not to be. Wherefore shouldst thou tarry here calling to thy love, seeing she es not to thy call? And what is love, that thou shouldst set this high store upon it? But the young Fisherman answered it nought, so great was the power of his love. And every m he called to the Mermaid, and every noon he called tain, and at night-time he spake her name. Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him, nor in any place of the sea could he fihough he sought for her in the rivers of the sea, and in the valleys that are uhe waves, in the sea that the night makes purple, and in the sea that the dawn leaves grey. And after the sed year was over, the Soul said to the young Fisherman at night-time, and as he sat itled house alone, Lo! now I have tempted thee with evil, and I have tempted thee with good, and thy love is strohan I am. Wherefore will I tempt thee no longer, but I pray thee to suffer me to ehy heart, that I may be oh thee even as before. Surely thou mayest enter, said the young Fisherman, for in the days when with thou didst gh the world thou must have much suffered. Alas! cried his Soul, I find no place of entrance, so passed about with love is this heart of thine. Yet I would that I could help thee, said the young Fisherman. And as he spake there came a great from the sea, even the cry that men hear when one of the Sea-folk is dead. And the young Fisherma up, a his wattled house, and ran down to the shore. And the black waves came hurrying to the shore, bearing with them a burden that was whiter than silver. White as the surf it was, and like a flower it tossed on the waves. And the surf took it from the waves, and the foam took it from the surf, and the shore received it, and lying at his feet the young Fisherman saw the body of the little Mermaid. Dead at his feet it was lying. Weeping as one smitten with pain he flung himself down beside it, and he kissed the cold red of the mouth, and toyed with the wet amber of the hair. He flung himself down beside it on the sand, weeping as orembling with joy, and in his brown arms he held it to his breast. Cold were the lips, yet he kissed them. Salt was the honey of the hair, yet he tasted it with a bitter joy. He kissed the closed eyelids, and the wild spray that lay upon their cups was less salt than his tears. And to the dead thing he made fession. Into the shells of its ears he poured the harsh wine of his tale. He put the little hands round his neck, and with his fingers he touched the thin reed of the throat. Bitter, bitter was his joy, and full of strange gladness was his pain. The black sea came nearer, and the white foam moaned like a leper. With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore. From the palace of the Sea-King came the again, and far out upon the sea the great Tritons blew hoarsely upon their horns. Flee away, said his Soul, for ever doth the sea e nigher, and if thou tarriest it will slay thee. Flee away, for I am afraid, seeing that thy heart is closed against me by reason of the greatness of thy love. Flee away to a place of safety. Surely thou wilt not sehout a heart into another world? But the young Fisherman listened not to his Soul, but called on the little Mermaid and said, Love is better than wisdom, and more precious than riches, and fairer than the feet of the daughters of men. The fires ot destroy it, nor the waters quench it. I called o dawn, and thou didst not e to my call. The moon heard thy name, yet hadst thou no heed of me. For evilly had I left thee, and to my own hurt had I wandered away. Yet ever did thy love abide with me, and ever was it strong, nor did aught prevail against it, though I have looked upon evil and looked upon good. And now that thou art dead, surely I will die with thee also. And his Soul besought him to depart, but he would not, so great was his love. And the sea came nearer, and sought to cover him with its waves, and when he khat the end was at hand he kissed with mad lips the cold lips of the Mermaid, and the heart that was within him brake. And as through the fulness of his love his heart did break, the Soul found arand entered in, and was one with him even as before. And the sea covered the young Fisherman with its waves. And in the m the Priest went forth to bless the sea, for it had been troubled. And with him went the monks and the musis, and the dle-bearers, and the swingers of sers, and a great pany. And when the Priest reached the shore he saw the young Fisherman lying drowned in the surf, and clasped in his arms was the body of the little Mermaid. And he drew back frowning, and having made the sign of the cross, he cried aloud and said, I will not bless the sea nor anything that is in it. Accursed be the Sea-folk, and accursed be all they who traffic with them. And as for him who for loves sake forsook God, and so lieth here with his leman slain by Gods judgment, take up his body and the body of his leman, and bury them in the er of the Field of the Fullers, a no mark above them, nn of any kind, that none may know the place of their resting. For accursed were they in their lives, and accursed shall they be in their deaths also. And the people did as he ahem, and in the er of the Field of the Fullers, where no sweet herbs grew, they dug a deep pit, and laid the dead things within it. And whehird year was over, and on a day that was a holy day, the Priest went up to the chapel, that he might show to the people the wounds of the Lord, and speak to them about the wrath of God. And when he had robed himself with his robes, aered in and bowed himself before the altar, he saw that the altar was covered with strange flowers that never had been seen before. Strange were they to look at, and of curious beauty, and their beauty troubled him, and their odour was sweet in his nostrils. And he felt glad, and uood not why he was glad. And after that he had opehe tabernacle, and insed the monstrahat was in it, and shown the fair wafer to the people, and hid it again behind the veil of veils, he began to speak to the people, desiring to speak to them of the wrath of God. But the beauty of the white flowers troubled him, and their odour was sweet in his nostrils, and there came another word into his lips, and he spake not of the wrath of God, but of the God whose name is Love. And why he so spake, he knew not. And when he had finished his word the people wept, and the Priest went back to the sacristy, and his eyes were full of tears. And the deas came in and began to unrobe him, and took from him the alb and the girdle, the maniple and the stole. Aood as one in a dream. And after that they had unrobed him, he looked at them and said, What are the flowers that stand oar, and whence do they e? And they answered him, What flowers they are we ot tell, but they e from the er of the Fullers Field. And the Priest trembled, auro his own house and prayed. And in the m, while it was still dawn, he went forth with the monks and the musis, and the dle-bearers and the swingers of sers, and a great pany, and came to the shore of the sea, and blessed the sea, and all the wild things that are in it. The Fauns also he blessed, and the little things that dan the woodland, and the bright-eyed things that peer through the leaves. All the things in Gods world he blessed, and the people were filled with joy and wonder. Yet never again in the er of the Fullers Field grew flowers of any kind, but the field remained barren even as before. Nor came the Sea-folk into the bay as they had been wont to do, for they went to another part of the sea. 星孩 星孩 从前有两个穷苦的樵夫正穿越一个大松林往家赶路。那是冬天的一个寒风刺骨的夜晚。 地上铺着厚厚的雪，树枝上积压着雪，在他们走过的时候，两旁的小树枝接连不断地被霜折 断，他们来到山涧的瀑布前时，霜也一动不动地停在空中，因为冰雪之王已经吻过她了。 这一夜实在是太冷了，就连鸟兽也不知道该怎么办才好。 “噢！”狼一边叫着，一边夹着尾巴从灌木林丛一拐一敲地走出来，“这真是倒霉的天 气，政府为什么不想想办法呢？” “喔！喔！喔！”绿色梅花雀喳喳地叫道，“年迈的地球已经死了，他们已经用白寿衣 把她给收殓了。” “地球要出嫁了，这是她的结婚礼服，”斑鸠们在一起彼此悄悄地说。他们的小红脚都 被冻坏了，不过他们觉得自己有责任用乐观浪漫的看法看待这一切。 “胡说！”狼咆哮着说。“我告诉你们这都是政府的过错，如果你们不相信我的话，我 会吃掉你们的。”狼有着完全务实的思想，他永远都不会找不到好的论点的。 “唔，就我个人而言，”啄木鸟说，他是一个天生的哲学家，“我关心的不是用作解释 的原子理论。如果一件事是什么样子，那么就本该如此，只是眼下实在是太冷了。”天气的 确是冷透了。住在高高杉树上的小松鼠们互相摩擦着鼻子来取暖，野兔们在自己的洞中龟缩 着身子，甚至不敢朝外而看上一眼。唯一好像欢喜这种天气的只有大角鸥了。他们的羽毛让 白霜冻得硬邦邦的，不过他们并不在意，他们不停地转动着他们那又大又黄的眼睛，隔着林 子彼此呼唤着，“吐威特！吐威特！吐威特！吐威特！今天的气候多么好呀！” 两个樵夫继续不停地往前赶着路，并起劲地朝自己的手指手上吹热气，脚上笨大的带铁 钉的靴子在雪块上踏行着。有一次他们陷进了一个深深的雪坑里去，等他们出来的时候浑身 上下白得就跟磨房的磨面师一样，这时石头也是很滑的；有一次他们在坚硬光滑的冰上跌倒 了，这冰是沼地上的水结成的，他们身上的柴捆跌落了，他们只好拾起来，重新捆绑好；还 有一次他们以为自己迷了路，心中害怕的不得了，因为他们深知雪对那些睡在她怀中的人是 很残酷的。不过他们信任那位好心的圣马丁（司旅行之神），他会照顾所有出门的人，于是 他们又照来路退回，小心翼翼地迈着脚步，最后他们终于来到了森林的出口处，并看见下面 山谷的远处亮着他们所在村庄的灯光。 发现自己已脱离了危境，他俩真是欣喜若狂，高兴得大笑起来，大地在他们眼中就好像 是一朵银白色的鲜花，月亮如同一朵金花。 然而笑过之后，他们又陷入了忧愁，因为他们想起了自己的穷困家境，一位樵夫对另一 个人说，“我们为什么要高兴呢，要知道生活是为有钱人准备的，不是为我们这样的穷人？ 我们还不如冻死在森林中呢，或者让什么野兽抓住我们把我咬死。” “真是如此，”他的伙伴回答说，“有些人享有的太多了，而另一些人却得到的太少 了。不公平已经把世界给瓜分了，除了忧愁之外，没有一件东西是公平分配的。” 可是就在他们相互悲叹各自的不幸生活时，一件奇怪的事情发生了。从天上掉下来一颗 非常明亮，非常美丽的星。它经过其它星星的身旁，从天边滑落了下来，他们惊讶地望着 它，在他们看来它似乎就落在小羊圈旁边不到一箭之遥的一丛柳树的后面。 “啊！谁要是找到它就可以得到一坛子黄金！”他们惊叫着，跑了出去，他们太想得到 黄金了。 其中一人跑得快一些，他超过了同伴，奋力穿过柳树丛，来到了树的另一边，呀！在雪 地上的确躺着一个黄金样的东西。他急忙赶过去，弯下身去用手去摸它，它是一件用金线织 的斗篷，上面精心地绣着好多星星，并叠成了许多折子。他大声地对自己的同伴说他已经找 到了从天上掉下来的财宝，等他的同伴走近时，他俩就在雪地上坐下来，把斗篷上的折子解 开，准备把金子拿出来平分。但是，啊呀！里面没有黄金，也没有白银，任何宝物都没有， 只有一个熟睡的孩子。 其中一人对另外一人说，“我们的希望竟是这样一个痛苦的结局，我们的运气不会好 了，一个孩子对一个人会有什么好处呢？让我们离开这儿，走我们的路吧，要知道我们都是 穷人，都有自己的孩子，我们不能把自己孩子的面包分给别人的。” 不过他的同伴却回答他，“不，把孩子丢在这儿冻死在雪中是一件不好的事情，尽管我 跟你一样的穷，还要养活好几口人，锅里又没有什么吃的东西，但是我还是要带他回家，我 的妻子会照顾他的。” 他非常慈爱地抱起小孩，用斗篷包住孩子以抵御严寒，然后就下山回村子里去了，他的 同伴对他的傻气和仁慈非常惊讶。 他们回到村里，他的同伴对他说，“你有了这个孩子，那么把斗篷给我吧，因为我们都 知道这应该平分的。” 然而他回答说，“不，因为这个斗篷既不是你的，也不是我的，它是孩子一人的。”他 与同伴道了别，来到自家的门前，敲了起来。 他的妻子打开门，看见自己的丈夫平安回到她的身边，她伸出双臂搂住他的脖子，吻着 他，并从他背后取下柴捆，刷去他靴子上的雪，吩咐他快进屋去。 不过他对她说，“我在森林中找到一样东西，我把他带回来好让你照顾他。”他站在门 口并不进来。 “它是什么呀？”她大声问道，“快给我看看，家里是空荡荡的，我们也需要好多东 西。”他把斗篷向后拉开，把熟睡的孩子抱给她看。 “唉哟，我的天！”她喃喃地说，“难道我们自己的孩子还不够多吗？干嘛非要带一个 换来的孩子回家？谁知道他会不会给我们带来厄运？我们又拿什么来喂他呢？”她对他生气 了。 “不对呀，他可是一个星孩呀，”他回答说，他便把发现孩子的奇异经历讲给她听了。 不过她一点也没有消气，而是挖苦他，气愤地说道：“我们孩子都没有面包吃，难道还 要养别人的孩子吗？谁又来照顾我们呢？谁又给我们食物吃呢？” “不要这样，上帝连麻雀都要照顾的，上帝还养它们呢，”他回答说。 “麻雀在冬天不是常会饿死吗？”她问道，“现在不就是冬天了吗？”她丈夫无言以 对，只是站在门口不进屋来。 一阵寒风从树林刮来吹进了敞开的房门，她打了一个寒濒，抖动起来，并对他说，“你 不想把门关上吗？屋里吹进一股寒风了，我觉得好冷。” “吹进铁石心肠人家的风不会总是寒冷的吧？”他反问道。女人没有回答他，只是朝炉 火靠得更近了。 过了一会儿她转过身来，望着他，她的眼里充满了泪水。他一下子冲了进来，把孩子放 在她怀中，她吻了吻孩子，又把他放在一张小床上面，那儿是他们家最小的孩子睡觉的地方。 第二天樵夫取下那件珍奇的金斗篷，把它放在一个大柜子中，他妻子也从孩子脖子上取 下戴着的琥珀项链，也放进了大柜中。 就这样，星孩跟樵夫的孩子一块儿长大了，他们坐在一起吃饭，又一起玩耍。他长得一 年比一年更英俊，住在村子里的人都为此而感到吃惊，因为别人都是黑皮肤，黑头发，唯独 他一个人长得又白又娇嫩，就像精细的象牙一样，他的卷发如同水仙花的花环。他的嘴唇也 像红色的花瓣，他的双眼犹如清水河旁的紫罗兰，他的身材恰似田野中还没有人来割过的水 仙草。 不过他的美貌却给他带来了坏运。因为他变得骄傲、残酷和自私了。对于樵夫的儿女以 及村子里的其他孩子们，他都一概瞧不起，并说他们出身低微，而他自己却是高贵的，是从 星星上蹦出来的，他自认是他们的主人，把他们都唤着是自己的奴隶。他一点也不同情穷 人，也不怜悯那些瞎子、残疾人以及任何有病苦的人，对待他们他反而扔石头，或赶他们到 公路上去，命令他们到别处去乞讨，因此只有那些二流子才会第二次到那个村子去要求救 济。他也的确是迷恋美的，嘲弄那些孱弱和丑陋的人，不把他们当回事。对他自己却是爱得 要命，在夏季无风的时候，他会躺在神父果园中的水井旁，朝井中望着自己脸蛋的动人之 处，并为自己的美丽而高兴得笑起来。 樵夫和他的妻子常常责备他，说：“我们并未像你对待那些孤苦的人那样对待过你，你 为什么会如此残酷地对待那些需要同情的可怜人呢？” 老神父也经常去找他，试图教他学会一些对事物的爱心，便对他说：“飞蝇也是你的弟 兄。不要去伤害它。那些在林中飞行的野鸟有它们自身的自由。不要以抓住它们来取乐。上 帝创造了蛇蜥和鼹鼠，它们各自都有存在的价值。你是什么人，可以给上帝的世界带来痛 苦？就连在农田中的生畜都知道赞美上帝。” 可是星孩并不理睬他的话，他皱紧眉头，一副很不高兴的样子，走回去找他的伙伴了， 去领着他们玩。他的伙伴们也都跟随着他，因为他长得美，且脚步轻快，能够跳舞，还会吹 笛和弹奏音乐，不论星孩领他们去什么地方，他们都会去，不论星孩吩咐他们做什么，他们 都会去做。他把一根尖芦苇刺进鼹鼠朦胧的眼睛里的时候，他们都开心地大笑，他用石头扔 麻疯病人时，他们也跟着大笑。无论他支配他们去干什么，他们都会变得跟他一样的铁石心 肠。 有一天，一个穷要饭的女人走过村子。她的衣服破破烂烂的，漫长的行程崎岖的道路把 她的双脚弄得血淋淋的，她的模样也十分狼狈。因为太疲倦了，她就坐在栗子树下休息了。 星孩看见她后，便对他的同伴们说，“快看！这么一个肮脏的讨饭女人竟然坐在那棵美 丽的绿叶子树下面。来吧，我们把她赶走，她真是又丑又烦人。” 于是他走了过去朝她扔石头，嘲弄她，她用惊恐的眼光望着熔，一个劲地直直地望着 他。樵夫正在附近的草料场里砍木头，看见了星孩的所做所为，他便跑上前来责备他，并对 他说：“你的心真是太狠了，没有一点怜悯之心，这个可怜的女人对你做了什么坏事，你要 如此地对待她呢？” 星孩气得一脸通红，用脚猛跺着地面，并说道，“你是什么人敢来问我做什么？我不是 你的儿子，不会听你的话的。” “你说的一点不假，”樵夫回答说，“但是当我在林中发现你时，我对你不也是动了怜 悯之心的吗？” 女人听到这些话后大叫了一声就昏倒在地上了。樵夫把她抱进了自己的家中，他的妻子 来照看她，等她从昏迷中醒过来之后，他们为她拿来了吃的和喝的，并吩咐她放宽心。 可是她既不肯吃，也不肯喝，只是对樵夫说，“你不是说那个孩子是从林中找到的吗？ 是不是十年前今天的事了？” 樵夫回答说，“是呀，我是在林中发现他的，就是十年前的今天。” “发现他时有什么记号吗？”她大声问道，“他的脖子上是不是带了一串琥珀项链？他 的身上不是包了一件绣着星星的金线斗篷吗？” “就是这样，”樵夫回答说，“就跟你说的一模一样。”他从柜子中拿出放在那儿的斗 篷和琥珀项链，给她看。 她一看见这些东西，高兴地哭了起来，说道，“他就是我丢失在林中的小儿子。我求你 快叫他来，为了寻找他，我已经走遍了整个世界。” 樵夫和他的妻子赶紧走出去，叫着星孩，并对他说，“快进屋里来，你会在那儿看见你 的母亲，她正等着你。” 星孩充满了惊奇和狂喜地跑进屋里。然而等他看见等他的人是她时，他便轻蔑地笑起 来，说，“喂，我母亲在什么地方？我怎么只看见这么个下贱的讨饭女人。” 女人回答说：“我是你的母亲。” “你是疯了才这么说的，”星孩愤愤地大声暖道。“我不是你的儿子，因为你是一个乞 丐，而且又丑又穿得破烂。所以你还是快滚吧，不要让我再看见你这张讨厌的脸。” “不，你可的确是我的小儿子呀，你是我在森林中生的。”她大声喊道，说着一下子跪 在地上，朝他伸出两只胳膊。“强盗们把你从我身边抱走，又把你扔在林里想让你死，”她 喃喃地说，“可是我一看见你，就认出了你，我还认得那些信物：全线织的斗篷和琥珀项 链。因此我求你跟我走吧，我已经走遍了整个世界，处处去寻找你。跟我走吧，我的儿，因 为我需要你的爱。” 不过星孩一动也不动一下，一点儿也不为她的话而动心，这时除了女人痛苦的哭声外， 别的什么也听不到。 最后他终于对她说道，那声调是非常生硬而残酷的。“假若你真是我的母亲，”他说， “那么你最后还是走得远远的，不要再到这儿来给我丢脸了，因为你知道我以为我是某个星 球的孩子，而不是一个乞丐的孩子，就像你刚才对我讲的那样。所以你还是离开这儿吧，不 要再让我看见你。” “唉哟！我的儿子，”她大声吼道，“在我离开之前你都不愿意吻我一下吗？因为我经 历了多少苦难才找到了你呀。” “不，”星孩说，“你可是太丑陋了呀，我宁愿去吻毒蛇，去吻蟾蜍，也不要吻你。” 于是那女人便站起身来，伤心地哭泣着走回到森林中去了，星孩看见她走了，他很高 兴，便跑回到他的同伴那儿，准备去跟他们一块儿玩。 可是当他们看见他跑过来时，都纷纷嘲笑他说，“你怎么跟蟾蜍一样丑陋，同毒蛇一样 可恶呢。你快滚开吧，因为我们不能忍受和你在一起玩，”于是他们把他赶出了花园。 星行皱了皱眉头，自言自语地说道，“他们对我讲的究竟是什么呀？我要到水井边去， 去那儿看看自己，水井会告诉我我是多么地漂亮。” 他便来到了水井边，朝井中望去，啊！他的脸就跟蟾蜍一模一样，他的身子也像毒蛇一 样地长了解。他一下子扑倒在草地上，痛哭起来，并自言自语地说，“这一定是我的罪恶给 我带来的报应。因为我不认我自己的母亲，并赶走了她，对她又傲慢又残酷。所以我要去， 要走遍全世界去寻找她，不找到她我就不休息。” 这时樵夫的小女儿朝他走了过来，她把手放在他的肩膀上，对他说，“你失去了美貌有 什么关系？你还是跟我们呆在一起吧，我不会挖苦你的。” 他对她说，“不，我对待我的母亲太残忍了，这种惩罚就是对我的恶行的报应。所以我 得马上就走，走遍全世界去寻找我的母亲，直到找到她，得到她对我的宽恕。” 所以他便朝森林跑去，呼唤着他的母亲，叫她回到自己的身边来，但是却没有一点回 应。一整天他都在唤她，太阳下山时，他躺下来在树叶铺成的床上睡觉，鸟儿和野兽见到他 也都纷纷逃开了，因为它们仍然记得他的残忍，他孤零零地一个呆着，只有蟾蜍会望望他， 还有迟钝的毒蛇在他面前爬过。 早晨他爬起身来，从树上摘下几个苦草梅吃，然后穿过大森林朝前走去，伤心地哭着。 不论他遇到什么，他都要上前询问，是否看见过他的母亲。 他对鼹鼠说，“. The Earth is going to be married, and this is her bridal dress, whispered the Turtle-doves to each other. Their little pi 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 Gover, and if you dont believe me I shall eat you. The Wolf had a thhly practical mind, and was a loss foument. Well, for my own part, said the Woodpecker, who was a born philosopher, I dont 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 ihe tall fir-tree, kept rubbing each others o 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 were quite stiff with rime, 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 ohe two Woodcutters, blowing lustily upon their fingers, and stamping with their huge iron-shod boots upon the caked snow. Ohey sank into a deep drift, and came out as white as millers are, wheones are grinding; and ohey 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 ohey thought that they had lost their way, and a great terror seized on them, for they khat 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, araced their steps, a warily, and at last they reached the outskirts of the forest, and saw, far down in the valley beh them, the lights of the village in which they dwelt. So overjoyed were they at their deliverahat 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 panion, 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 aiful star. It slipped down the side of the sky, passing by the other stars in its course, and, as they watched it w, it seemed to them to sink behind a clump of willow-trees that stood hard by a little sheepfold no more than a stohrow 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, an９9ｌｉb?d forced his way through the willows, and came out oher side, and lo! there was indeed a thing of gold lying on the white snow. So he hasteowards it, and stooping down placed his hands upon it, and it was a cloak of golden tissue, curiously wrought with stars, and ed in many folds. And he cried out to his rade that he had found the treasure that had fallen from the sky, and when his rade had e up, they sat them down in the snow, and loosehe folds of the cloak that they might divide the pieces of gold. But, alas! no gold was in it, nor silver, nor, indeed, treasure of any kind, but only a little child who was asleep. And one of them said to the other: This is a bitter ending to our hope, nor have we any good fortune, for what doth a child profit to a man? Let us leave it here, and go our way, seeing that we are poor men, and have children of our own whose bread we may not give to another. But his panion answered him: Nay, but it were an evil thing to leave the child to perish here in the snow, and though I am as poor as thou art, and have many mouths to feed, and but little in the pot, yet will I bring it home with me, and my wife shall have care of it. So very tenderly he took up the child, and ed the cloak around it to shield it from the harsh cold, and made his way down the hill to the village, his rade marvelling much at his foolishness and softness of heart. And when they came to the village, his comrade said to him, Thou hast the child, therefive me the cloak, for it is meet that we should share. But he answered him: Nay, for the cloak is her mine nor thine, but the childs only, and he bade him Godspeed, ao his own house and knocked. And when his wife opehe door and saw that her husband had returned safe to her, she put her arms round his ned kissed him, and took from his back the bundle of faggots, and brushed the snow off his boots, and bade him e in. But he said to her, I have found something in the forest, and I have brought it to thee to have care of it, airred not from the threshold. What is it? she cried. Show it to me, for the house is bare, and we have need of many things. And he drew the cloak back, and showed her the sleeping child. Alack, goodman! she murmured, have we not children of our own, that thou must needs bring a geling to sit by the hearth? And who knows if it will n us bad fortune? And how shall we tend it? And she was wroth against him. Nay, but it is a Star-Child, he answered; aold her the strange manner of the finding of it. But she would not be appeased, but mocked at him, and spoke angrily, and cried: Our children lack bread, and shall we feed the child of another? Who is there who careth for us? And who giveth us food? Nay, but God careth for the sparrows even, ah them, he answered. Do not the sparrows die of hunger in the winter? she asked. And is it not winter now? And the man answered nothing, but stirred not from the threshold. And a bitter wind from the forest came in through the open door, and made her tremble, and she shivered, and said to him: Wilt thou not close the door? There eth a bitter wind into the house, and I am cold. Into a house where a heart is hard eth there not always a bitter wind? he asked. And the woman answered him nothing, but crept closer to the fire. And after a time she turned round and looked at him, and her eyes were full of tears. And he came in swiftly, and placed the child in her arms, and she kissed it, and laid it in a little bed where the you of their own children was lying. And on the morrow the Woodcutter took the curious cloak of gold and placed it in a great chest, and a of amber that was round the childs neck his wife took a in the chest also. So the Star-Child was brought up with the children of the Woodcutter, and sat at the same board with them, and was their playmate. And every year he became more beautiful to look at, so that all those who dwelt in the village were filled with wonder, for, while they were swarthy and black-haired, he was white and delicate as sawn ivory, and his curls were like the rings of the daffodil. His lips, also, were like the petals of a red flower, and his eyes were like violets by a river of pure water, and his body like the narcissus of a field where the mower es not. Yet did his beauty work him evil. For he grew proud, and cruel, and selfish. The children of the Woodcutter, and the other children of the village, he despised, saying that they were of mean parentage, while he was noble, being sprang from a Star, and he made himself master over them, and called them his servants. No pity had he for the poor, or for those who were blind or maimed or in any way afflicted, but would cast sto them and drive them forth on to the highway, and bid them beg their bread elsewhere, so that none save the outlaws came twice to that village to ask for alms. Indeed, he was as one enamoured of beauty, and would mock at the weakly and ill-favoured, and make jest of them; and himself he loved, and in summer, when the winds were still, he would lie by the well in the priests orchard and look down at the marvel of his own face, and laugh for the pleasure he had in his fairness. Often did the Woodcutter and his wife chide him, and say: We did not deal with thee as thou dealest with those who are left desolate, and have o succour them. Wherefore art thou so cruel to all who need pity? Often did the old priest send for him, ao teach him the love of living things, saying to him: The fly is thy brother. Do it no harm. The wild birds that roam through the forest have their freedom. Shem not for thy pleasure. God made the blind-worm and the mole, and each has its place. Who art thou t pain into Gods world? Evetle of the field praise Him." But the Star-Child heeded not their words, but would frown and flout, and go back to his panions, ahem. And his panions followed him, for he was fair, and fleet of foot, and could dance, and pipe, and make music. And wherever the Star-Child led them they followed, and whatever the Star-Child bade them do, that did they. And when he pierced with a sharp reed the dim eyes of the mole, they laughed, and when he cast sto the leper they laughed also. And in all things he ruled them, and they became hard of heart even as he was. Now there passed one day through the village a pgar-woman. Her garments were torn and ragged, and her feet were bleeding from the rough road on which she had travelled, and she was in very evil plight. And being weary she sat her down under a chestnut-tree to rest. But whear-Child saw her, he said to his panions, See! There sitteth a foul beggar-woman uhat fair and green-leaved tree. e, let us drive her hence, for she is ugly and ill- favoured. So he came near and threw sto her, and mocked her, and she looked at him with terror in her eyes, nor did she move her gaze from him. And when the Woodcutter, who was cleaving logs in a haggard hard by, saw what the Star-Child was doing, he ran up and rebuked him, and said to him: Surely thou art hard of heart and k not mercy, for what evil has this poor woman doo thee that thou shouldst treat her in this wise? And the Star-Child grew red with anger, and stamped his foot upon the ground, and said, Who art thou to question me what I do? I am no son of thio do thy bidding. Thou speakest truly, answered the Wood-cutter, yet did I show thee pity when I found thee in the forest. And when the woman heard these words she gave a loud cry, and fell into a swoon. And the Woodcutter carried her to his own house, and his wife had care of her, and when she rose up from the swoon into which she had fallen, they set meat and drink before her, and bade her have fort. But she would her eat nor drink, but said to the Woodcutter, Didst thou not say that the child was found in the forest? And was it not ten years from this day? And the Woodcutter answered, Yea, it was in the forest that I found him, and it is ten years from this day. And what signs didst thou find with him? she cried. Bare he not upon his neck a of amber? Was not round him a cloak of gold tissue broidered with stars? Truly, answered the Woodcutter, it was even as thou sayest. Aook the cloak and the amber from the chest where they lay, and showed them to her. And when she saw them she wept for joy, and said, He is my little son whom I lost in the forest. I pray thee send for him quickly, for in search of him have I wandered over the whole world. So the Woodcutter and his wife went out and called to the Star- Child, and said to him, Go into the house, and there shalt thou find thy mother, who is waiting for thee. So he ran in, filled with wonder and great gladness. But when he saw her aiting there, he laughed sfully and said, Why, where is my mother? For I see none here but this vile beggar-woman. And the woman answered him, I am thy mother. Thou art mad to say so, cried the Star-Child angrily. I am no son of thine, for thou art a beggar, and ugly, and in rags. Therefet thee hence, a me see thy foul faore. Nay, but thou art indeed my little son, whom I bare in the forest, she cried, and she fell on her knees, and held out her arms to him. The robbers stole thee from me, ahee to die, she murmured, but I reised thee when I saw thee, and the signs also have I reised, the cloak of golden tissue and the amber . Therefore I pray thee e with me, for over the whole world have I wandered in search of thee. e with me, my son, for I have need of thy love. But the Star-Child stirred not from his place, but shut the doors of his heart against her, nor was there any sound heard save the sound of the woman weeping for pain. And at last he spoke to her, and his voice was hard and bitter. If iruth thou art my mother, he said, it had beeer hadst thou stayed away, and not e here t me to shame, seeing that I thought I was the child of some Star, and not a beggars child, as thou tellest me that I am. Therefet thee hence, a me see thee no more. Alas! my son, she cried, wilt thou not kiss me before I go? For I have suffered much to find thee. Nay, said the Star-Child, but thou art too foul to look at, and rather would I kiss the adder or the toad than thee. So the woman rose up, a away into the forest weeping bitterly, and whear-Child saw that she had gone, he was glad, and ran back to his playmates that he might play with them. But when they beheld him ing, they mocked him and said, Why, thou art as foul as the toad, and as loathsome as the adder. Get thee hence, for we will not suffer thee to play with us, and they drave him out of the garden. And the Star-Child frowned and said to himself, What is this that they say to me? I will go to the well of water and look into it, and it shall tell me of my beauty. So he went to the well of water and looked into it, and lo! his face was as the face of a toad, and his body was sealed like an adder. And he flung himself down on the grass a, and said to himself, Surely this has e upon me by reason of my sin. For I have denied my mother, and driven her away, and been proud, and cruel to her. Wherefore I will go and seek her through the whole world, nor will I rest till I have found her. And there came to him the little daughter of the Woodcutter, and she put her hand upon his shoulder and said, What doth it matter if thou hast lost thy eliness? Stay with us, and I will not mock at thee. And he said to her, Nay, but I have been cruel to my mother, and as a punishment has this evil beeo me. Wherefore I must go hence, and wahrough the world till I find her, and she give me her fiveness. So he ran away into the forest and called out to his mother to e to him, but there was no answer. All day long he called to her, and, when the su he lay down to sleep on a bed of leaves, and the birds and the animals fled from him, for they remembered his cruelty, and he was alone save for the toad that watched him, and the slow adder that crawled past. And in the m he rose up, and plucked some bitter berries from the trees and ate them, and took his way through the great wood, weeping sorely. And of everything that he met he made inquiry if perce they had seen his mother. He said to the Mole, Thou st go beh the earth. Tell me, is my mother there? And the Mole answered, Thou hast blinded mine eyes. How should I know? He said to the Lihou st fly over the tops of the tall trees, and st see the whole world. Tell me, st thou see my mother? And the Li answered, Thou hast clipt my wings for thy pleasure. How should I fly? And to the little Squirrel who lived in the fir-tree, and was lonely, he said, Where is my mother? And the Squirrel answered, Thou hast slain mine. Dost thou seek to slay thine also? And the Star-Child wept and bowed his head, and prayed fiveness of Gods things, a on through the forest, seeking for the beggar-woman. And ohird day he came to the other side of the forest a down into the plain. And when he passed through the villages the children mocked him, and threw sto him, and the carlots would not suffer him even to sleep in the byres lest he might bring mildew oored , so foul was he to look at, and their hired men drave him away, and there was none who had pity on him. Nor could he hear anywhere of the beggar-woman who was his mother, though for the space of three years he wandered over the world, and often seemed to see her on the road in front of him, and would call to her, and run after her till the sharp flints made his feet to bleed. But overtake her he could not, and those who dwelt by the way did ever deny that they had seen her, or any like to her, and they made sport of his sorrow. For the space of three years he wandered over the world, and in the world there was her love nor loving-kindness nor charity for him, but it was even such a world as he had made for himself in the days of his great pride. And one evening he came to the gate of a strong-walled city that stood by a river, and, weary and footsore though he was, he made to enter in. But the soldiers who stood on guard dropped their halberts across the entrance, and said roughly to him, What is thy business iy? I am seeking for my mother, he answered, and I pray ye to suffer me to pass, for it may be that she is in this city. But they mocked at him, and one of them wagged a black beard, and set down his shield and cried, Of a truth, thy mother will not be merry when she sees thee, for thou art more ill-favoured than the toad of the marsh, or the adder that crawls in the fen. Get thee gone. Get thee gohy mother dwells not in this city. And another, who held a yellow banner in his hand, said to him, Who is thy mother, and wherefore art thou seeking for her? And he answered, My mother is a beggar even as I am, and I have treated her evilly, and I pray ye to suffer me to pass that she may give me her fiveness, if it be that she tarrieth in this city. But they would not, and pricked him with their spears. And, as he turned away weeping, one whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers, and on whose helmet couched a lion that had wings, came up and made inquiry of the soldiers who it was who had sought entrance. And they said to him, It is a beggar and the child of a beggar, and we have driven him away. Nay, he cried, laughing, but we will sell the foul thing for a slave, and his price shall be the price of a bowl of sweet wine. And an old and evil-visaged man who assing by called out, and said, I will buy him for that price, and, when he had paid the price, he took the Star-Child by the hand and led him into the city. And after that they had gohrough many streets they came to a little door that was set in a wall that was covered with a pomegraree. And the old man touched the door with a ring of graved jasper and it opened, and they went down five steps of brass into a garden filled with black poppies and green jars of burnt clay. And the old man took then from his turban a scarf of figured silk, and bound with it the eyes of the Star-Child, and drave him in front of him. And when the scarf was taken off his eyes, the Star-Child found himself in a dungeon, that was lit by a lantern of horn. And the old ma before him some mouldy bread on a trencher and said, Eat, and some brackish water in a cup and said, Drink, and when he had eaten and drunk, the old ma out, log the door behind him and fastening it with an iron . And on the morrow the old man, who was ihe subtlest of the magis of Libya and had learned his art from one who dwelt in the tombs of the Nile, came in to him and frow him, and said, In a wood that is nigh to the gate of this city of Giaours there are three pieces of gold. One is of white gold, and another is of yellow gold, and the gold of the third one is red. To-day thou shalt brihe piece of white gold, and if thest it not back, I will beat thee with a huripes. Get thee away quickly, and at su I will be waiting for thee at the door of the garden. See that thest the white gold, or it shall go ill with thee, for thou art my slave, and I have bought thee for the price of a bowl of sweet wine. And he bound the eyes of the Star-Child with the scarf of figured silk, and led him through the house, and through the garden of poppies, and up the five steps of brass. And having opehe little door with his ri him ireet. And the Star-Child went out of the gate of the city, and came to the wood of which the Magi had spoken to him. Now this wood was very fair to look at from without, and seemed full of singing birds and of sweet-sted flowers, and the Star- Child e gladly. Yet did its beauty profit him little, for wherever he went harsh briars and thorns shot up from the ground and enpassed him, and evil les stung him, and the thistle pierced him with her daggers, so that he was in sore distress. Nor could he anywhere find the piece of white gold of which the Magi had spoken, though he sought for it from morn to noon, and from noon to su. And at su he set his face towards home, weeping bitterly, for he knew what fate was in store for him. But when he had reached the outskirts of the wood, he heard from a thicket a cry as of some one in pain. And fetting his own sorrow he ran back to the place, and saw there a little Hare caught in a trap that some hunter had set for it. And the Star-Child had pity on it, and released it, and said to it, I am myself but a slave, yet may I give thee thy freedom. And the Hare answered him, and said: Surely thou hast given me freedom, and what shall I give thee iurn? And the Star-Child said to it, I am seeking for a piece of white gold, nor I anywhbbr>?9９ｌiｂ?ere find it, and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me. e thou with me, said the Hare, and I will lead thee to it, for I know where it is hidden, and for urpose. So the Star-Child went with the Hare, and lo! in the cleft of a great oak-tree he saw the piece of white gold that he was seeking. And he was filled with joy, and seized it, and said to the Hare, The service that I did to thee thou hast rendered back again many times over, and the kihat I showed thee thou hast repaid a hundred-fold. Nay, answered the Hare, but as thou dealt with me, so I did deal with thee, and it ran away swiftly, and the Star-Child went towards the city. Now at the gate of the city there was seated one who er. Over his face hung a cowl of grey linen, and through the eyelets his eyes gleamed like red coals. And when he saw the Star-Child ing, he struck upon a wooden bowl, and clattered his bell, and called out to him, and said, Give me a pieoney, or I must die of hunger. For they have thrust me out of the city, and there is no one who has pity on me. Alas! cried the Star-Child, I have but one pieoney in my wallet, and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me, for I am his slave. But the leper eed him, and prayed of him, till the Star-Child had pity, and gave him the piece of white gold. And when he came to the Magis house, the Magi opeo him, and brought him in, and said to him, Hast thou the piece of white gold? And the Star-Child answered, I have it not. So the Magi fell upon him, a him, a before him ay trencher, and said, Eat, and ay cup, and said, Drink, and flung him again into the dungeon. And on the morrow the Magi came to him, and said, If to-day thest me not the piece of yellow gold, I will surely keep thee as my slave, and give thee three huripes. So the Star-Child went to the wood, and all day long he searched for the piece of yellow gold, but nowhere could he find it. And at su he sat him down and began to weep, and as he was weeping there came to him the little Hare that he had rescued from the trap, And the Hare said to him, Why art thou weeping? And what dost thou seek in the wood? And the Star-Child answered, I am seeking for a piece of yellow gold that is hidden here, and if I find it not my master will beat me, and keep me as a slave. Follow me, cried the Hare, and it ran through the wood till it came to a pool of water. And at the bottom of the pool the piece of yellow gold was lying. How shall I thank thee? said the Star-Child, for lo! this is the sed time that you have succoured me. Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first, said the Hare, and it ran away swiftly. And the Star-Child took the piece of yellow gold, and put it in his wallet, and hurried to the city. But the leper saw him ing, and ran to meet him, and k down and cried, Give me a piece of money or I shall die of hunger. And the Star-Child said to him, I have in my wallet but one piece of yellow gold, and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me and keep me as his slave. But the leper eed him sore, so that the Star-Child had pity on him, and gave him the piece of yellow gold. And when he came to the Magis house, the Magi opeo him, and brought him in, and said to him, Hast thou the piece of yellow gold? And the Star-Child said to him, I have it not. So the Magi fell upon him, a him, and loaded him with s, and cast him again into the dungeon. And on the morrow the Magi came to him, and said, If to-day thest me the piece old I will set thee free, but if thest it not I will surely slay thee. So the Star-Child went to the wood, and all day long he searched for the piece old, but nowhere could he find it. And at eveni him down a, and as he was weeping there came to him the little Hare. And the Hare said to him, The piece old that thou seekest is in the cavern that is behind thee. Therefore weep no more but be glad. How shall I reward thee? cried the Star-Child, for lo! this is the third time thou hast succoured me. Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first, said the Hare, and it ran away swiftly. And the Star-Child ehe cavern, and in its farthest er he found the piece old. So he put it in his wallet, and hurried to the city. And the leper seeing him ing, stood in the tre of the road, and cried out, and said to him, Give me the piece of red money, or I must die, and the Star-Child had pity on him again, and gave him the piece old, saying, Thy need is greater than mine. Yet was his heart heavy, for he knew what evil fate awaited him. But lo! as he passed through the gate of the city, the guards bowed down and made obeisao him, saying, How beautiful is our lord! and a crowd of citizens followed him, and cried out, Surely there is none so beautiful in the whole world! so that the Star- Child wept, and said to himself, They are mog me, and making light of my misery. And se was the course of the people, that he lost the threads of his way, and found himself at last in a great square, in which there alace of a King. And the gate of the palace opened, and the priests and the high officers of the city ran forth to meet him, and they abased themselves before him, and said, Thou art our lord for whom we have been waiting, and the son of our King. And the Star-Child answered them and said, I am no kings son, but the child of a pgar-woman. And how say ye that I am beautiful, for I know that I am evil to look at? Then he, whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers, and on whose helmet crouched a lion that had wings, held up a shield, and cried, How saith my lord that he is not beautiful? And the Star-Child looked, and lo! his face was even as it had been, and his eliness had e ba, and he saw that in his eyes which he had not seen there before. And the priests and the high officers k down and said to him, It rophesied of old that on this day should e he who was to rule over us. Therefore, let our lord take this and this sceptre, and be in his justid mercy our King over us. But he said to them, I am not worthy, for I have dehe mother who bare me, nor may I rest till I have found her, and known her fiveness. Therefore, let me go, for I must wander again over the world, and may not tarry here, though ye brihe and the sceptre. And as he spake he turned his face from them towards the street that led to the gate of the city, and lo! amongst the crowd that pressed round the soldiers, he saw the beggar-woman who was his mother, and at her side stood the leper, who had sat by the road. And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and he ran over, and kneeling down he kissed the wounds on his mothers feet, ahem with his tears. He bowed his head in the dust, and sobbing, as one whose heart might break, he said to her: Mother, I dehee in the hour of my pride. Accept me in the hour of my humility. Mother, I gave thee hatred. Do thou give me love. Mother, I rejected thee. Receive thy child now. But the beggar-woman answered him not a word. And he reached out his hands, and clasped the white feet of the leper, and said to him: Thrice did I give thee of my mercy. Bid my mother speak to me once. But the leper answered him not a word. And he sobbed again and said: Mother, my suffering is greater than I bear. Give me thy fiveness, a me go back to the forest. And the beggar-ut her hand on his head, and said to him, Rise, and the leper put his hand on his head, and said to him, Rise, also. And he rose up from his feet, and looked at them, and lo! they were a King and a Queen. And the Queen said to him, This is thy father whom thou hast succoured. And the King said, This is thy mother whose feet thou hast washed with thy tears. And they fell on his ned kissed him, and brought him into the palad clothed him in fair raiment, and set the upon his head, and the sceptre in his hand, and over the city that stood by the river he ruled, and was its lord. Much justid mercy did he show to all, and the evil Magi he banished, and to the Woodcutter and his wife he sent many rich gifts, and to their children he gave high honour. Nor would he suffer any to be cruel to bird or beast, but taught love and loving-kindness and charity, and to the poor he gave bread, and to the naked he gave raiment, and there ead plenty in the land. Yet ruled he not long, so great had been his suffering, and so bitter the fire of his testing, for after the space of three years he died. And he who came after him ruled evilly. End天涯在线书库《www.tianyabook.com》