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diff --git a/496-h/496-h.htm b/496-h/496-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4721f98 --- /dev/null +++ b/496-h/496-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6151 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Little Lame Prince, by Miss Mulock + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Lame Prince, by +Miss Mulock--Pseudonym of Maria Dinah Craik + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Little Lame Prince + +Author: Miss Mulock--Pseudonym of Maria Dinah Craik + +Release Date: January 16, 2006 [EBook #496] +Last Updated: March 6, 2018 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Miss Mulock + </h2> + <h4> + [Pseudonym of Maria Dinah Craik] + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <b>THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> <b>THE INVISIBLE PRINCE</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> <b>PRINCE CHERRY</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> <b>THE PRINCE WITH THE NOSE</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> <b>THE FROG-PRINCE</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> <b>CLEVER ALICE</b> </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + <h3> + Yes, he was the most beautiful Prince that ever was born. + </h3> + <p> + Of course, being a prince, people said this; but it was true besides. When + he looked at the candle, his eyes had an expression of earnest inquiry + quite startling in a new born baby. His nose—there was not much of + it certainly, but what there was seemed an aquiline shape; his complexion + was a charming, healthy purple; he was round and fat, straight-limbed and + long—in fact, a splendid baby, and everybody was exceedingly proud + of him, especially his father and mother, the King and Queen of + Nomansland, who had waited for him during their happy reign of ten years—now + made happier than ever, to themselves and their subjects, by the + appearance of a son and heir. + </p> + <p> + The only person who was not quite happy was the King's brother, the heir + presumptive, who would have been king one day had the baby not been born. + But as his majesty was very kind to him, and even rather sorry for him—insomuch + that at the Queen's request he gave him a dukedom almost as big as a + county—the Crown-Prince, as he was called, tried to seem pleased + also; and let us hope he succeeded. + </p> + <p> + The Prince's christening was to be a grand affair. According to the custom + of the country, there were chosen for him four-and-twenty god-fathers and + godmothers, who each had to give him a name, and promise to do their + utmost for him. When he came of age, he himself had to choose the name—and + the godfather or god-mother—that he liked the best, for the rest of + his days. + </p> + <p> + Meantime all was rejoicing. Subscriptions were made among the rich to give + pleasure to the poor; dinners in town-halls for the workingmen; + tea-parties in the streets for their wives; and milk-and-bun feasts for + the children in the schoolrooms. For Nomansland, though I cannot point it + out in any map, or read of it in any history, was, I believe, much like + our own or many another country. + </p> + <p> + As for the palace—which was no different from other palaces—it + was clean “turned out of the windows,” as people say, with the + preparations going on. The only quiet place in it was the room which, + though the Prince was six weeks old, his mother the Queen had never + quitted. Nobody said she was ill, however—it would have been so + inconvenient; and as she said nothing about it herself, but lay pale and + placid, giving no trouble to anybody, nobody thought much about her. All + the world was absorbed in admiring the baby. + </p> + <p> + The christening-day came at last, and it was as lovely as the Prince + himself. All the people in the palace were lovely too—or thought + themselves so—in the elegant new clothes which the Queen, who + thought of everybody, had taken care to give them, from the + ladies-in-waiting down to the poor little kitchen-maid, who looked at + herself in her pink cotton gown, and thought, doubtless, that there never + was such a pretty girl as she. + </p> + <p> + By six in the morning all the royal household had dressed itself in its + very best; and then the little Prince was dressed in his best—his + magnificent christening robe; which proceeding his Royal Highness did not + like at all, but kicked and screamed like any common baby. When he had a + little calmed down, they carried him to be looked at by the Queen his + mother, who, though her royal robes had been brought and laid upon the + bed, was, as everybody well knew, quite unable to rise and put them on. + </p> + <p> + She admired her baby very much; kissed and blessed him, and lay looking at + him, as she did for hours sometimes, when he was placed beside her fast + asleep; then she gave him up with a gentle smile, and, saying she hoped he + would be very good, that it would be a very nice christening, and all the + guests would enjoy themselves, turned peacefully over on her bed, saying + nothing more to anybody. She was a very uncomplaining person, the Queen—and + her name was Dolorez. + </p> + <p> + Everything went on exactly as if she had been present. All, even the king + himself, had grown used to her absence; for she was not strong, and for + years had not joined in any gayeties. She always did her royal duties, but + as to pleasures, they could go on quite well without her, or it seemed so. + The company arrived: great and notable persons in this and neighboring + countries; also the four-and-twenty godfathers and godmothers, who had + been chosen with care, as the people who would be most useful to his royal + highness should he ever want friends, which did not seem likely. What such + want could possibly happen to the heir of the powerful monarch of + Nomansland? + </p> + <p> + They came, walking two and two, with their coronets on their heads—being + dukes and duchesses, princes and princesses, or the like; they all kissed + the child and pronounced the name each had given him. Then the + four-and-twenty names were shouted out with great energy by six heralds, + one after the other, and afterward written down, to be preserved in the + state records, in readiness for the next time they were wanted, which + would be either on his Royal Highness' coronation or his funeral. + </p> + <p> + Soon the ceremony was over, and everybody satisfied; except, perhaps, the + little Prince himself, who moaned faintly under his christening robes, + which nearly smothered him. + </p> + <p> + In truth, though very few knew, the Prince in coming to the chapel had met + with a slight disaster. His nurse,—not his ordinary one, but the + state nurse-maid,—an elegant and fashionable young lady of rank, + whose duty it was to carry him to and from the chapel, had been so + occupied in arranging her train with one hand, while she held the baby + with the other, that she stumbled and let him fall, just at the foot of + the marble staircase. + </p> + <p> + To be sure, she contrived to pick him up again the next minute; and the + accident was so slight it seemed hardly worth speaking of. Consequently + nobody did speak of it. The baby had turned deadly pale, but did not cry, + so no person a step or two behind could discover anything wrong; + afterward, even if he had moaned, the silver trumpets were loud enough to + drown his voice. It would have been a pity to let anything trouble such a + day of felicity. + </p> + <p> + So, after a minute's pause, the procession had moved on. Such a procession + t Heralds in blue and silver; pages in crimson and gold; and a troop of + little girls in dazzling white, carrying baskets of flowers, which they + strewed all the way before the nurse and child—finally the + four-and-twenty godfathers and godmothers, as proud as possible, and so + splendid to look at that they would have quite extinguished their small + godson—merely a heap of lace and muslin with a baby face inside—had + it not been for a canopy of white satin and ostrich feathers which was + held over him wherever he was carried. + </p> + <p> + Thus, with the sun shining on them through the painted windows, they + stood; the king and his train on one side, the Prince and his attendants + on the other, as pretty a sight as ever was seen out of fairyland. + </p> + <p> + “It's just like fairyland,” whispered the eldest little girl to the next + eldest, as she shook the last rose out of her basket; “and I think the + only thing the Prince wants now is a fairy god-mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Does he?” said a shrill but soft and not unpleasant voice behind; and + there was seen among the group of children somebody,—not a child, + yet no bigger than a child,—somebody whom nobody had seen before, + and who certainly had not been invited, for she had no christening clothes + on. + </p> + <p> + She was a little old woman dressed all in gray: gray gown; gray hooded + cloak, of a material excessively fine, and a tint that seemed perpetually + changing, like the gray of an evening sky. Her hair was gray, and her eyes + also—even her complexion had a soft gray shadow over it. But there + was nothing unpleasantly old about her, and her smile was as sweet and + childlike as the Prince's own, which stole over his pale little face the + instant she came near enough to touch him. + </p> + <p> + “Take care! Don't let the baby fall again.” + </p> + <p> + The grand young lady nurse started, flushing angrily. + </p> + <p> + “Who spoke to me? How did anybody know?—I mean, what business has + anybody——” Then frightened, but still speaking in a much + sharper tone than I hope young ladies of rank are in the habit of speaking—“Old + woman, you will be kind enough not to say 'the baby,' but 'the Prince.' + Keep away; his Royal Highness is just going to sleep.” + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless I must kiss him. I am his god-mother.” + </p> + <p> + “You!” cried the elegant lady nurse. + </p> + <p> + “You!” repeated all the gentlemen and ladies-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + “You!” echoed the heralds and pages—and they began to blow the + silver trumpets in order to stop all further conversation. + </p> + <p> + The Prince's procession formed itself for returning,—the King and + his train having already moved off toward the palace,—but on the + top-most step of the marble stairs stood, right in front of all, the + little old woman clothed in gray. + </p> + <p> + She stretched herself on tiptoe by the help of her stick, and gave the + little Prince three kisses. + </p> + <p> + “This is intolerable!” cried the young lady nurse, wiping the kisses off + rapidly with her lace handkerchief. “Such an insult to his Royal Highness! + Take yourself out of the way, old woman, or the King shall be informed + immediately.” + </p> + <p> + “The King knows nothing of me, more's the pity,” replied the old woman, + with an indifferent air, as if she thought the loss was more on his + Majesty's side than hers. “My friend in the palace is the King's wife.” + </p> + <p> + “King's have not wives, but queens,” said the lady nurse, with a + contemptuous air. + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” replied the old woman. “Nevertheless I know her Majesty + well, and I love her and her child. And—since you dropped him on the + marble stairs (this she said in a mysterious whisper, which made the young + lady tremble in spite of her anger)—I choose to take him for my own, + and be his godmother, ready to help him whenever he wants me.” + </p> + <p> + “You help him!” cried all the group breaking into shouts of laughter, to + which the little old woman paid not the slightest attention. Her soft gray + eyes were fixed on the Prince, who seemed to answer to the look, smiling + again and again in the causeless, aimless fashion that babies do smile. + </p> + <p> + “His Majesty must hear of this,” said a gentleman-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + “His Majesty will hear quite enough news in a minute or two,” said the old + woman sadly. And again stretching up to the little Prince, she kissed him + on the forehead solemnly. + </p> + <p> + “Be called by a new name which nobody has ever thought of. Be Prince + Dolor, in memory of your mother Dolorez.” + </p> + <p> + “In memory of!” Everybody started at the ominous phrase, and also at a + most terrible breach of etiquette which the old woman had committed. In + Nomansland, neither the king nor the queen was supposed to have any + Christian name at all. They dropped it on their coronation day, and it + never was mentioned again till it was engraved on their coffins when they + died. + </p> + <p> + “Old woman, you are exceedingly ill-bred,” cried the eldest + lady-in-waiting, much horrified. “How you could know the fact passes my + comprehension. But even if you did know it, how dared you presume to hint + that her most gracious Majesty is called Dolorez?” + </p> + <p> + “WAS called Dolorez,” said the old woman, with a tender solemnity. + </p> + <p> + The first gentleman, called the Gold-stick-in-waiting, raised it to strike + her, and all the rest stretched out their hands to seize her; but the gray + mantle melted from between their fingers like air; and, before anybody had + time to do anything more, there came a heavy, muffled, startling sound. + </p> + <p> + The great bell of the palace the bell which was only heard on the death of + some one of the royal family, and for as many times as he or she was years + old—began to toll. They listened, mute and horror-stricken. Some one + counted: one—two—three—four—up to nine-and-twenty—just + the Queen's age. + </p> + <p> + It was, indeed, the Queen. Her Majesty was dead! In the midst of the + festivities she had slipped away out of her new happiness and her old + sufferings, not few nor small. Sending away all her women to see the grand + sight,—at least they said afterward, in excuse, that she had done + so, and it was very like her to do it,—she had turned with her face + to the window, whence one could just see the tops of the distant mountains—the + Beautiful Mountains, as they were called—where she was born. So + gazing, she had quietly died. + </p> + <p> + When the little Prince was carried back to his mother's room, there was no + mother to kiss him. And, though he did not know it, there would be for him + no mother's kiss any more. As for his godmother,—the little old + woman in gray who called herself so,—whether she melted into air, + like her gown when they touched it, or whether she flew out of the chapel + window, or slipped through the doorway among the bewildered crowd, nobody + knew—nobody ever thought about her. + </p> + <p> + Only the nurse, the ordinary homely one, coming out of the Prince's + nursery in the middle of the night in search of a cordial to quiet his + continual moans, saw, sitting in the doorway, something which she would + have thought a mere shadow, had she not seen shining out of it two eyes, + gray and soft and sweet. She put her hand before her own, screaming + loudly. When she took them away the old woman was gone. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> + <p> + Everybody was very kind to the poor little prince. I think people + generally are kind to motherless children, whether princes or peasants. He + had a magnificent nursery and a regular suite of attendants, and was + treated with the greatest respect and state. Nobody was allowed to talk to + him in silly baby language, or dandle him, or, above all to kiss him, + though perhaps some people did it surreptitiously, for he was such a sweet + baby that it was difficult to help it. + </p> + <p> + It could not be said that the Prince missed his mother—children of + his age cannot do that; but somehow after she died everything seemed to go + wrong with him. From a beautiful baby he became sickly and pale, seeming + to have almost ceased growing, especially in his legs, which had been so + fat and strong. + </p> + <p> + But after the day of his christening they withered and shrank; he no + longer kicked them out either in passion or play, and when, as he got to + be nearly a year old, his nurse tried to make him stand upon them, he only + tumbled down. + </p> + <p> + This happened so many times that at last people began to talk about it. A + prince, and not able to stand on his own legs! What a dreadful thing! What + a misfortune for the country! + </p> + <p> + Rather a misfortune to him also, poor little boy! but nobody seemed to + think of that. And when, after a while, his health revived, and the old + bright look came back to his sweet little face, and his body grew larger + and stronger, though still his legs remained the same, people continued to + speak of him in whispers, and with grave shakes of the head. Everybody + knew, though nobody said it, that something, it was impossible to guess + what, was not quite right with the poor little Prince. + </p> + <p> + Of course, nobody hinted this to the King his father: it does not do to + tell great people anything unpleasant. And besides, his Majesty took very + little notice of his son, or of his other affairs, beyond the necessary + duties of his kingdom. + </p> + <p> + People had said he would not miss the Queen at all, she having been so + long an invalid, but he did. After her death he never was quite the same. + He established himself in her empty rooms, the only rooms in the palace + whence one could see the Beautiful Mountains, and was often observed + looking at them as if he thought she had flown away thither, and that his + longing could bring her back again. And by a curious coincidence, which + nobody dared inquire into, he desired that the Prince might be called, not + by any of the four-and-twenty grand names given him by his godfathers and + godmothers, but by the identical name mentioned by the little old woman in + gray—Dolor, after his mother Dolorez. + </p> + <p> + Once a week, according to established state custom, the Prince, dressed in + his very best, was brought to the King his father for half an hour, but + his Majesty was generally too ill and too melancholy to pay much heed to + the child. + </p> + <p> + Only once, when he and the Crown-Prince, who was exceedingly attentive to + his royal brother, were sitting together, with Prince Dolor playing in a + corner of the room, dragging himself about with his arms rather than his + legs, and sometimes trying feebly to crawl from one chair to another, it + seemed to strike the father that all was not right with his son. + </p> + <p> + “How old is his Royal Highness?” said he suddenly to the nurse. + </p> + <p> + “Two years, three months, and five days, please your Majesty.” + </p> + <p> + “It does not please me,” said the King, with a sigh. “He ought to be far + more forward than he is now ought he not, brother? You, who have so many + children, must know. Is there not something wrong about him?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no,” said the Crown-Prince, exchanging meaning looks with the nurse, + who did not understand at all, but stood frightened and trembling with the + tears in her eyes. “Nothing to make your Majesty at all uneasy. No doubt + his Royal Highness will outgrow it in time.” + </p> + <p> + “Outgrow—what?” + </p> + <p> + “A slight delicacy—ahem!—in the spine; something inherited, + perhaps, from his dear mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, she was always delicate; but she was the sweetest woman that ever + lived. Come here, my little son.” + </p> + <p> + And as the Prince turned round upon his father a small, sweet, grave face,—so + like his mother's,—his Majesty the King smiled and held out his + arms. But when the boy came to him, not running like a boy, but wriggling + awkwardly along the floor, the royal countenance clouded over. + </p> + <p> + “I ought to have been told of this. It is terrible—terrible! And for + a prince too. Send for all the doctors in my kingdom immediately.” + </p> + <p> + They came, and each gave a different opinion and ordered a different mode + of treatment. The only thing they agreed in was what had been pretty well + known before, that the Prince must have been hurt when he was an infant—let + fall, perhaps, so as to injure his spine and lower limbs. Did nobody + remember? + </p> + <p> + No, nobody. Indignantly, all the nurses denied that any such accident had + happened, was possible to have happened, until the faithful country nurse + recollected that it really had happened on the day of the christening. For + which unluckily good memory all the others scolded her so severely that + she had no peace of her life, and soon after, by the influence of the + young lady nurse who had carried the baby that fatal day, and who was a + sort of connection of the Crown-Prince—being his wife's second + cousin once removed—the poor woman was pensioned off and sent to the + Beautiful Mountains from whence she came, with orders to remain there for + the rest of her days. + </p> + <p> + But of all this the King knew nothing, for, indeed, after the first shock + of finding out that his son could not walk, and seemed never likely to he + interfered very little concerning him. The whole thing was too painful, + and his Majesty never liked painful things. Sometimes he inquired after + Prince Dolor, and they told him his Royal Highness was going on as well as + could be expected, which really was the case. For, after worrying the poor + child and perplexing themselves with one remedy after another, the + Crown-Prince, not wishing to offend any of the differing doctors, had + proposed leaving him to Nature; and Nature, the safest doctor of all, had + come to his help and done her best. + </p> + <p> + He could not walk, it is true; his limbs were mere useless appendages to + his body; but the body itself was strong and sound. And his face was the + same as ever—just his mother's face, one of the sweetest in the + world. + </p> + <p> + Even the King, indifferent as he was, sometimes looked at the little + fellow with sad tenderness, noticing how cleverly he learned to crawl and + swing himself about by his arms, so that in his own awkward way he was as + active in motion as most children of his age. + </p> + <p> + “Poor little man! he does his best, and he is not unhappy—not half + so unhappy as I, brother,” addressing the Crown-Prince, who was more + constant than ever in his attendance upon the sick monarch. “If anything + should befall me, I have appointed you Regent. In case of my death, you + will take care of my poor little boy?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, certainly; but do not let us imagine any such misfortune. I + assure your Majesty—everybody will assure you—that it is not + in the least likely.” + </p> + <p> + He knew, however, and everybody knew, that it was likely, and soon after + it actually did happen. The King died as suddenly and quietly as the Queen + had done—indeed, in her very room and bed; and Prince Dolor was left + without either father or mother—as sad a thing as could happen, even + to a prince. + </p> + <p> + He was more than that now, though. He was a king. In Nomansland, as in + other countries, the people were struck with grief one day and revived the + next. “The king is dead—long live the king!” was the cry that rang + through the nation, and almost before his late Majesty had been laid + beside the Queen in their splendid mausoleum, crowds came thronging from + all parts to the royal palace, eager to see the new monarch. + </p> + <p> + They did see him,—the Prince Regent took care they should,—sitting + on the floor of the council chamber, sucking his thumb! And when one of + the gentlemen-in-waiting lifted him up and carried him—fancy + carrying a king!—to the chair of state, and put the crown on his + head, he shook it off again, it was so heavy and uncomfortable. Sliding + down to the foot of the throne he began playing with the golden lions that + supported it, stroking their paws and putting his tiny fingers into their + eyes, and laughing—laughing as if he had at last found something to + amuse him. + </p> + <p> + “There's a fine king for you!” said the first lord-in-waiting, a friend of + the Prince Regent's (the Crown-Prince that used to be, who, in the deepest + mourning, stood silently beside the throne of his young nephew. He was a + handsome man, very grand and clever-looking). “What a king! who can never + stand to receive his subjects, never walk in processions, who to the last + day of his life will have to be carried about like a baby. Very + unfortunate!” + </p> + <p> + “Exceedingly unfortunate,” repeated the second lord. “It is always bad for + a nation when its king is a child; but such a child—a permanent + cripple, if not worse.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us hope not worse,” said the first lord in a very hopeless tone, and + looking toward the Regent, who stood erect and pretended to hear nothing. + “I have heard that these sort of children with very large heads, and great + broad fore-heads and staring eyes, are—well, well, let us hope for + the best and be prepared for the worst. In the meantime——” + </p> + <p> + “I swear,” said the Crown-Prince, coming forward and kissing the hilt of + his sword—“I swear to perform my duties as Regent, to take all care + of his Royal Highness—his Majesty, I mean,” with a grand bow to the + little child, who laughed innocently back again. “And I will do my humble + best to govern the country. Still, if the country has the slightest + objection——” + </p> + <p> + But the Crown-Prince being generalissimo, having the whole army at his + beck and call, so that he could have begun a civil war in no time, the + country had, of course, not the slightest objection. + </p> + <p> + So the King and Queen slept together in peace, and Prince Dolor reigned + over the land—that is, his uncle did; and everybody said what a + fortunate thing it was for the poor little Prince to have such a clever + uncle to take care of him. + </p> + <p> + All things went on as usual; indeed, after the Regent had brought his wife + and her seven sons, and established them in the palace, rather better than + usual. For they gave such splendid entertainments and made the capital so + lively that trade revived, and the country was said to be more flourishing + than it had been for a century. Whenever the Regent and his sons appeared, + they were received with shouts: “Long live the Crown-Prince!” “Long live + the royal family!” And, in truth, they were very fine children, the whole + seven of them, and made a great show when they rode out together on seven + beautiful horses, one height above another, down to the youngest, on his + tiny black pony, no bigger than a large dog. + </p> + <p> + As for the other child, his Royal Highness Prince Dolor,—for somehow + people soon ceased to call him his Majesty, which seemed such a ridiculous + title for a poor little fellow, a helpless cripple,—with only head + and trunk, and no legs to speak of,—he was seen very seldom by + anybody. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes people daring enough to peer over the high wall of the palace + garden noticed there, carried in a footman's arms, or drawn in a chair, or + left to play on the grass, often with nobody to mind him, a pretty little + boy, with a bright, intelligent face and large, melancholy eyes—no, + not exactly melancholy, for they were his mother's, and she was by no + means sad-minded, but thoughtful and dreamy. They rather perplexed people, + those childish eyes; they were so exceedingly innocent and yet so + penetrating. If anybody did a wrong thing—told a lie, for instance + they would turn round with such a grave, silent surprise the child never + talked much—that every naughty person in the palace was rather + afraid of Prince Dolor. + </p> + <p> + He could not help it, and perhaps he did not even know it, being no better + a child than many other children, but there was something about him which + made bad people sorry, and grumbling people ashamed of themselves, and + ill-natured people gentle and kind. + </p> + <p> + I suppose because they were touched to see a poor little fellow who did + not in the least know what had befallen him or what lay before him, living + his baby life as happy as the day is long. Thus, whether or not he was + good himself, the sight of him and his affliction made other people good, + and, above all, made everybody love him—so much so, that his uncle + the Regent began to feel a little uncomfortable. + </p> + <p> + Now, I have nothing to say against uncles in general. They are usually + very excellent people, and very convenient to little boys and girls. Even + the “cruel uncle” of the “Babes in the Wood” I believe to be quite an + exceptional character. And this “cruel uncle” of whom I am telling was, I + hope, an exception, too. + </p> + <p> + He did not mean to be cruel. If anybody had called him so, he would have + resented it extremely: he would have said that what he did was done + entirely for the good of the country. But he was a man who had always been + accustomed to consider himself first and foremost, believing that whatever + he wanted was sure to be right, and therefore he ought to have it. So he + tried to get it, and got it too, as people like him very often do. Whether + they enjoy it when they have it is another question. + </p> + <p> + Therefore he went one day to the council chamber, determined on making a + speech, and informing the ministers and the country at large that the + young King was in failing health, and that it would be advisable to send + him for a time to the Beautiful Mountains. Whether he really meant to do + this, or whether it occurred to him afterward that there would be an + easier way of attaining his great desire, the crown of Nomansland, is a + point which I cannot decide. + </p> + <p> + But soon after, when he had obtained an order in council to send the King + away, which was done in great state, with a guard of honor composed of two + whole regiments of soldiers,—the nation learned, without much + surprise, that the poor little Prince—nobody ever called him king + now—had gone a much longer journey than to the Beautiful Mountains. + </p> + <p> + He had fallen ill on the road and died within a few hours; at least so + declared the physician in attendance and the nurse who had been sent to + take care of him. They brought his coffin back in great state, and buried + it in the mausoleum with his parents. + </p> + <p> + So Prince Dolor was seen no more. The country went into deep mourning for + him, and then forgot him, and his uncle reigned in his stead. That + illustrious personage accepted his crown with great decorum, and wore it + with great dignity to the last. But whether he enjoyed it or not there is + no evidence to show. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> + <p> + And what of the little lame Prince, whom everybody seemed so easily to + have forgotten? + </p> + <p> + Not everybody. There were a few kind souls, mothers of families, who had + heard his sad story, and some servants about the palace, who had been + familiar with his sweet ways—these many a time sighed and said, + “Poor Prince Dolor!” Or, looking at the Beautiful Mountains, which were + visible all over Nomansland, though few people ever visited them, “Well, + perhaps his Royal Highness is better where he is than even there.” + </p> + <p> + They did not know—indeed, hardly anybody did know—that beyond + the mountains, between them and the sea, lay a tract of country, barren, + level, bare, except for short, stunted grass, and here and there a patch + of tiny flowers. Not a bush—not a tree not a resting place for bird + or beast was in that dreary plain. In summer the sunshine fell upon it + hour after hour with a blinding glare; in winter the winds and rains swept + over it unhindered, and the snow came down steadily, noiselessly, covering + it from end to end in one great white sheet, which lay for days and weeks + unmarked by a single footprint. + </p> + <p> + Not a pleasant place to live in—and nobody did live there, + apparently. The only sign that human creatures had ever been near the spot + was one large round tower which rose up in the center of the plain, and + might be seen all over it—if there had been anybody to see, which + there never was. Rose right up out of the ground, as if it had grown of + itself, like a mushroom. But it was not at all mushroom-like; on the + contrary, it was very solidly built. In form it resembled the Irish round + towers, which have puzzled people for so long, nobody being able to find + out when, or by whom, or for what purpose they were made; seemingly for no + use at all, like this tower. It was circular, of very firm brickwork, with + neither doors nor windows, until near the top, when you could perceive + some slits in the wall through which one might possibly creep in or look + out. Its height was nearly a hundred feet, and it had a battlemented + parapet showing sharp against the sky. + </p> + <p> + As the plain was quite desolate—almost like a desert, only without + sand, and led to nowhere except the still more desolate seacoast—nobody + ever crossed it. Whatever mystery there was about the tower, it and the + sky and the plain kept their secret to themselves. + </p> + <p> + It was a very great secret indeed,—a state secret,—which none + but so clever a man as the present King of Nomansland would ever have + thought of. How he carried it out, undiscovered, I cannot tell. People + said, long afterward, that it was by means of a gang of condemned + criminals, who were set to work, and executed immediately after they had + done, so that nobody knew anything, or in the least suspected the real + fact. + </p> + <p> + And what was the fact? Why, that this tower, which seemed a mere mass of + masonry, utterly forsaken and uninhabited, was not so at all. Within + twenty feet of the top some ingenious architect had planned a perfect + little house, divided into four rooms—as by drawing a cross within a + circle you will see might easily be done. By making skylights, and a few + slits in the walls for windows, and raising a peaked roof which was hidden + by the parapet, here was a dwelling complete, eighty feet from the ground, + and as inaccessible as a rook's nest on the top of a tree. + </p> + <p> + A charming place to live in! if you once got up there,—and never + wanted to come down again. + </p> + <p> + Inside—though nobody could have looked inside except a bird, and + hardly even a bird flew past that lonely tower—inside it was + furnished with all the comfort and elegance imaginable; with lots of books + and toys, and everything that the heart of a child could desire. For its + only inhabitant, except a nurse of course, was a poor solitary child. + </p> + <p> + One winter night, when all the plain was white with moonlight, there was + seen crossing it a great tall black horse, ridden by a man also big and + equally black, carrying before him on the saddle a woman and a child. The + woman—she had a sad, fierce look, and no wonder, for she was a + criminal under sentence of death, but her sentence had been changed to + almost as severe a punishment. She was to inhabit the lonely tower with + the child, and was allowed to live as long as the child lived—no + longer. This in order that she might take the utmost care of him; for + those who put him there were equally afraid of his dying and of his + living. + </p> + <p> + Yet he was only a little gentle boy, with a sweet, sleepy smile—he + had been very tired with his long journey—and clinging arms, which + held tight to the man's neck, for he was rather frightened, and the face, + black as it was, looked kindly at him. And he was very helpless, with his + poor, small shriveled legs, which could neither stand nor run away—for + the little forlorn boy was Prince Dolor. + </p> + <p> + He had not been dead at all—or buried either. His grand funeral had + been a mere pretense: a wax figure having been put in his place, while he + himself was spirited away under charge of these two, the condemned woman + and the black man. The latter was deaf and dumb, so could neither tell nor + repeat anything. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the foot of the tower, there was light enough to see a + huge chain dangling from the parapet, but dangling only halfway. The + deaf-mute took from his saddle-wallet a sort of ladder, arranged in pieces + like a puzzle, fitted it together, and lifted it up to meet the chain. + Then he mounted to the top of the tower, and slung from it a sort of + chair, in which the woman and the child placed themselves and were drawn + up, never to come down again as long as they lived. Leaving them there, + the man descended the ladder, took it to pieces again and packed it in his + pack, mounted the horse and disappeared across the plain. + </p> + <p> + Every month they used to watch for him, appearing like a speck in the + distance. He fastened his horse to the foot of the tower, and climbed it, + as before, laden with provisions and many other things. He always saw the + Prince, so as to make sure that the child was alive and well, and then + went away until the following month. + </p> + <p> + While his first childhood lasted Prince Dolor was happy enough. He had + every luxury that even a prince could need, and the one thing wanting,—love,—never + having known, he did not miss. His nurse was very kind to him though she + was a wicked woman. But either she had not been quite so wicked as people + said, or she grew better through being shut up continually with a little + innocent child who was dependent upon her for every comfort and pleasure + of his life. + </p> + <p> + It was not an unhappy life. There was nobody to tease or ill-use him, and + he was never ill. He played about from room to room—there were four + rooms, parlor, kitchen, his nurse's bedroom, and his own; learned to crawl + like a fly, and to jump like a frog, and to run about on all-fours almost + as fast as a puppy. In fact, he was very much like a puppy or a kitten, as + thoughtless and as merry—scarcely ever cross, though sometimes a + little weary. + </p> + <p> + As he grew older, he occasionally liked to be quiet for a while, and then + he would sit at the slits of windows—which were, however, much + bigger than they looked from the bottom of the tower—and watch the + sky above and the ground below, with the storms sweeping over and the + sunshine coming and going, and the shadows of the clouds running races + across the blank plain. + </p> + <p> + By and by he began to learn lessons—not that his nurse had been + ordered to teach him, but she did it partly to amuse herself. She was not + a stupid woman, and Prince Dolor was by no means a stupid boy; so they got + on very well, and his continual entreaty, “What can I do? what can you + find me to do?” was stopped, at least for an hour or two in the day. + </p> + <p> + It was a dull life, but he had never known any other; anyhow, he + remembered no other, and he did not pity himself at all. Not for a long + time, till he grew quite a big little boy, and could read quite easily. + Then he suddenly took to books, which the deaf-mute brought him from time + to time—books which, not being acquainted with the literature of + Nomansland, I cannot describe, but no doubt they were very interesting; + and they informed him of everything in the outside world, and filled him + with an intense longing to see it. + </p> + <p> + From this time a change came over the boy. He began to look sad and thin, + and to shut himself up for hours without speaking. For his nurse hardly + spoke, and whatever questions he asked beyond their ordinary daily life + she never answered. She had, indeed, been forbidden, on pain of death, to + tell him anything about himself, who he was, or what he might have been. + </p> + <p> + He knew he was Prince Dolor, because she always addressed him as “My + Prince” and “Your Royal Highness,” but what a prince was he had not the + least idea. He had no idea of anything in the world, except what he found + in his books. + </p> + <p> + He sat one day surrounded by them, having built them up round him like a + little castle wall. He had been reading them half the day, but feeling all + the while that to read about things which you never can see is like + hearing about a beautiful dinner while you are starving. For almost the + first time in his life he grew melancholy; his hands fell on his lap; he + sat gazing out of the window-slit upon the view outside—the view he + had looked at every day of his life, and might look at for endless days + more. + </p> + <p> + Not a very cheerful view,—just the plain and the sky,—but he + liked it. He used to think, if he could only fly out of that window, up to + the sky or down to the plain, how nice it would be! Perhaps when he died—his + nurse had told him once in anger that he would never leave the tower till + he died—he might be able to do this. Not that he understood much + what dying meant, but it must be a change, and any change seemed to him a + blessing. + </p> + <p> + “And I wish I had somebody to tell me all about it—about that and + many other things; somebody that would be fond of me, like my poor white + kitten.” + </p> + <p> + Here the tears came into his eyes, for the boy's one friend, the one + interest of his life, had been a little white kitten, which the deaf-mute, + kindly smiling, once took out of his pocket and gave him—the only + living creature Prince Dolor had ever seen. + </p> + <p> + For four weeks it was his constant plaything and companion, till one + moonlight night it took a fancy for wandering, climbed on to the parapet + of the tower, dropped over and disappeared. It was not killed, he hoped, + for cats have nine lives; indeed, he almost fancied he saw it pick itself + up and scamper away; but he never caught sight of it more. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I wish I had something better than a kitten—a person, a real + live person, who would be fond of me and kind to me. Oh, I want somebody—dreadfully, + dreadfully!” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, there sounded behind him a slight tap-tap-tap, as of a stick + or a cane, and twisting himself round, he saw—what do you think he + saw? + </p> + <p> + Nothing either frightening or ugly, but still exceedingly curious. A + little woman, no bigger than he might himself have been had his legs grown + like those of other children; but she was not a child—she was an old + woman. Her hair was gray, and her dress was gray, and there was a gray + shadow over her wherever she moved. But she had the sweetest smile, the + prettiest hands, and when she spoke it was in the softest voice + imaginable. + </p> + <p> + “My dear little boy,”—and dropping her cane, the only bright and + rich thing about her, she laid those two tiny hands on his shoulders,—“my + own little boy, I could not come to you until you had said you wanted me; + but now you do want me, here I am.” + </p> + <p> + “And you are very welcome, madam,” replied the Prince, trying to speak + politely, as princes always did in books; “and I am exceedingly obliged to + you. May I ask who you are? Perhaps my mother?” For he knew that little + boys usually had a mother, and had occasionally wondered what had become + of his own. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the visitor, with a tender, half-sad smile, putting back the + hair from his forehead, and looking right into his eyes—“no, I am + not your mother, though she was a dear friend of mine; and you are as like + her as ever you can be.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you tell her to come and see me, then?” + </p> + <p> + “She cannot; but I dare say she knows all about you. And she loves you + very much—and so do I; and I want to help you all I can, my poor + little boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you call me poor?” asked Prince Dolor, in surprise. + </p> + <p> + The little old woman glanced down on his legs and feet, which he did not + know were different from those of other children, and then at his sweet, + bright face, which, though he knew not that either, was exceedingly + different from many children's faces, which are often so fretful, cross, + sullen. Looking at him, instead of sighing, she smiled. “I beg your + pardon, my Prince,” said she. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I am a prince, and my name is Dolor; will you tell me yours, madam?” + </p> + <p> + The little old woman laughed like a chime of silver bells. + </p> + <p> + “I have not got a name—or, rather, I have so many names that I don't + know which to choose. However, it was I who gave you yours, and you will + belong to me all your days. I am your godmother.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah!” cried the little Prince; “I am glad I belong to you, for I like + you very much. Will you come and play with me?” + </p> + <p> + So they sat down together and played. By and by they began to talk. + </p> + <p> + “Are you very dull here?” asked the little old woman. + </p> + <p> + “Not particularly, thank you, godmother. I have plenty to eat and drink, + and my lessons to do, and my books to read—lots of books.” + </p> + <p> + “And you want nothing?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing. Yes—perhaps——If you please, godmother, could + you bring me just one more thing?” + </p> + <p> + “What sort of thing!” + </p> + <p> + “A little boy to play with.” + </p> + <p> + The old woman looked very sad. “Just the thing, alas I which I cannot give + you. My child, I cannot alter your lot in any way, but I can help you to + bear it.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you. But why do you talk of bearing it? I have nothing to bear.” + </p> + <p> + “My poor little man!” said the old woman in the very tenderest tone of her + tender voice. “Kiss me!” + </p> + <p> + “What is kissing?” asked the wondering child. + </p> + <p> + His godmother took him in her arms and embraced him many times. By and by + he kissed her back again—at first awkwardly and shyly, then with all + the strength of his warm little heart. + </p> + <p> + “You are better to cuddle than even my white kitten, I think. Promise me + that you will never go away.” + </p> + <p> + “I must; but I will leave a present behind me,—something as good as + myself to amuse you,—something that will take you wherever you want + to go, and show you all that you wish to see.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” + </p> + <p> + “A traveling-cloak.” + </p> + <p> + The Prince's countenance fell. “I don't want a cloak, for I never go out. + Sometimes nurse hoists me on to the roof, and carries me round by the + parapet; but that is all. I can't walk, you know, as she does.” + </p> + <p> + “The more reason why you should ride; and besides, this traveling-cloak——” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!—she's coming.” + </p> + <p> + There sounded outside the room door a heavy step and a grumpy voice, and a + rattle of plates and dishes. + </p> + <p> + “It's my nurse, and she is bringing my dinner; but I don't want dinner at + all—I only want you. Will her coming drive you away, godmother?” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps; but only for a little while. Never mind; all the bolts and bars + in the world couldn't keep me out. I'd fly in at the window, or down + through the chimney. Only wish for me, and I come.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” said Prince Dolor, but almost in a whisper, for he was very + uneasy at what might happen next. His nurse and his godmother—what + would they say to one another? how would they look at one another?—two + such different faces: one harsh-lined, sullen, cross, and sad; the other + sweet and bright and calm as a summer evening before the dark begins. + </p> + <p> + When the door was flung open, Prince Dolor shut his eyes, trembling all + over; opening them again, he saw he need fear nothing—his lovely old + godmother had melted away just like the rainbow out of the sky, as he had + watched it many a time. Nobody but his nurse was in the room. + </p> + <p> + “What a muddle your Royal Highness is sitting in,” said she sharply. “Such + a heap of untidy books; and what's this rubbish?” knocking a little bundle + that lay beside them. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, nothing, nothing—give it me!” cried the Prince, and, darting + after it, he hid it under his pinafore, and then pushed it quickly into + his pocket. Rubbish as it was, it was left in the place where she sat, and + might be something belonging to her—his dear, kind godmother, whom + already he loved with all his lonely, tender, passionate heart. + </p> + <p> + It was, though he did not know this, his wonderful traveling-cloak. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> + <p> + And what of the traveling-cloak? What sort of cloak was it, and what A + good did it do the Prince? + </p> + <p> + Stay, and I'll tell you all about it. Outside it was the commonest-looking + bundle imaginable—shabby and small; and the instant Prince Dolor + touched it, it grew smaller still, dwindling down till he could put it in + his trousers pocket, like a handkerchief rolled up into a ball. He did + this at once, for fear his nurse should see it, and kept it there all day—all + night, too. Till after his next morning's lessons he had no opportunity of + examining his treasure. + </p> + <p> + When he did, it seemed no treasure at all; but a mere piece of cloth—circular + in form, dark green in color—that is, if it had any color at all, + being so worn and shabby, though not dirty. It had a split cut to the + center, forming a round hole for the neck—and that was all its + shape; the shape, in fact, of those cloaks which in South America are + called ponchos—very simple, but most graceful and convenient. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor had never seen anything like it. In spite of his + disappointment, he examined it curiously; spread it out on the door, then + arranged it on his shoulders. It felt very warm and comfortable; but it + was so exceedingly shabby—the only shabby thing that the Prince had + ever seen in his life. + </p> + <p> + “And what use will it be to me?” said he sadly. “I have no need of outdoor + clothes, as I never go out. Why was this given me, I wonder? and what in + the world am I to do with it? She must be a rather funny person, this dear + godmother of mine.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, because she was his godmother, and had given him the cloak, + he folded it carefully and put it away, poor and shabby as it was, hiding + it in a safe corner of his top cupboard, which his nurse never meddled + with. He did not want her to find it, or to laugh at it or at his + godmother—as he felt sure she would, if she knew all. + </p> + <p> + There it lay, and by and by he forgot all about it; nay, I am sorry to say + that, being but a child, and not seeing her again, he almost forgot his + sweet old godmother, or thought of her only as he did of the angels or + fairies that he read of in his books, and of her visit as if it had been a + mere dream of the night. + </p> + <p> + There were times, certainly, when he recalled her: of early mornings, like + that morning when she appeared beside him, and late evenings, when the + gray twilight reminded him of the color of her hair and her pretty soft + garments; above all, when, waking in the middle of the night, with the + stars peering in at his window, or the moonlight shining across his little + bed, he would not have been surprised to see her standing beside it, + looking at him with those beautiful tender eyes, which seemed to have a + pleasantness and comfort in them different from anything he had ever + known. + </p> + <p> + But she never came, and gradually she slipped out of his memory—only + a boy's memory, after all; until something happened which made him + remember her, and want her as he had never wanted anything before. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor fell ill. He caught—his nurse could not tell how—a + complaint common to the people of Nomansland, called the doldrums, as + unpleasant as measles or any other of our complaints; and it made him + restless, cross, and disagreeable. Even when a little better, he was too + weak to enjoy anything, but lay all day long on his sofa, fidgeting his + nurse extremely—while, in her intense terror lest he might die, she + fidgeted him still more. At last, seeing he really was getting well, she + left him to himself—which he was most glad of, in spite of his + dullness and dreariness. There he lay, alone, quite alone. + </p> + <p> + Now and then an irritable fit came over him, in which he longed to get up + and do something, or to go somewhere—would have liked to imitate his + white kitten—jump down from the tower and run away, taking the + chance of whatever might happen. + </p> + <p> + Only one thing, alas! was likely to happen; for the kitten, he remembered, + had four active legs, while he—— + </p> + <p> + “I wonder what my godmother meant when she looked at my legs and sighed so + bitterly? I wonder why I can't walk straight and steady like my nurse only + I wouldn't like to have her great, noisy, clumping shoes. Still it would + be very nice to move about quickly—perhaps to fly, like a bird, like + that string of birds I saw the other day skimming across the sky, one + after the other.” + </p> + <p> + These were the passage-birds—the only living creatures that ever + crossed the lonely plain; and he had been much interested in them, + wonder-ing whence they came and whither they were going. + </p> + <p> + “How nice it must be to be a bird! If legs are no good, why cannot one + have wings? People have wings when they die—perhaps; I wish I were + dead, that I do. I am so tired, so tired; and nobody cares for me. Nobody + ever did care for me, except perhaps my godmother. Godmother, dear, have + you quite forsaken me?” + </p> + <p> + He stretched himself wearily, gathered himself up, and dropped his head + upon his hands; as he did so, he felt somebody kiss him at the back of his + neck, and, turning, found that he was resting, not on the sofa pillows, + but on a warm shoulder—that of the little old woman clothed in gray. + </p> + <p> + How glad he was to see her! How he looked into her kind eyes and felt her + hands, to see if she were all real and alive! then put both his arms round + her neck, and kissed her as if he would never have done kissing. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, stop!” cried she, pretending to be smothered. “I see you have not + forgotten my teachings. Kissing is a good thing—in moderation. Only + just let me have breath to speak one word.” + </p> + <p> + “A dozen!” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, tell me all that has happened to you since I saw you—or, + rather, since you saw me, which is quite a different thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing has happened—nothing ever does happen to me,” answered the + Prince dolefully. + </p> + <p> + “And are you very dull, my boy?” + </p> + <p> + “So dull that I was just thinking whether I could not jump down to the + bottom of the tower, like my white kitten.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't do that, not being a white kitten.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish I were—I wish I were anything but what I am.” + </p> + <p> + “And you can't make yourself any different, nor can I do it either. You + must be content to stay just what you are.” + </p> + <p> + The little old woman said this—very firmly, but gently, too—with + her arms round his neck and her lips on his forehead. It was the first + time the boy had ever heard any one talk like this, and he looked up in + surprise—but not in pain, for her sweet manner softened the hardness + of her words. + </p> + <p> + “Now, my Prince,—for you are a prince, and must behave as such,—let + us see what we can do; how much I can do for you, or show you how to do + for yourself. Where is your traveling-cloak?” + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor blushed extremely. “I—I put it away in the cupboard; I + suppose it is there still.” + </p> + <p> + “You have never used it; you dislike it?” + </p> + <p> + He hesitated, no; wishing to be impolite. “Don't you think it's—just + a little old and shabby for a prince?” + </p> + <p> + The old woman laughed—long and loud, though very sweetly. + </p> + <p> + “Prince, indeed! Why, if all the princes in the world craved for it, they + couldn't get it, unless I gave it them. Old and shabby! It's the most + valuable thing imaginable! Very few ever have it; but I thought I would + give it to you, because—because you are different from other + people.” + </p> + <p> + “Am I?” said the Prince, and looked first with curiosity, then with a sort + of anxiety, into his godmother's face, which was sad and grave, with slow + tears beginning to steal down. + </p> + <p> + She touched his poor little legs. “These are not like those of other + little boys.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!—my nurse never told me that.” + </p> + <p> + “Very likely not. But it is time you were told; and I tell you, because I + love you.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me what, dear godmother?” + </p> + <p> + “That you will never be able to walk or run or jump or play—that + your life will be quite different from most people's lives; but it may be + a very happy life for all that. Do not be afraid.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not afraid,” said the boy; but he turned very pale, and his lips + began to quiver, though he did not actually cry—he was too old for + that, and, perhaps, too proud. + </p> + <p> + Though not wholly comprehending, he began dimly to guess what his + godmother meant. He had never seen any real live boys, but he had seen + pictures of them running and jumping; which he had admired and tried hard + to imitate but always failed. Now he began to understand why he failed, + and that he always should fail—that, in fact, he was not like other + little boys; and it was of no use his wishing to do as they did, and play + as they played, even if he had had them to play with. His was a separate + life, in which he must find out new work and new pleasures for himself. + </p> + <p> + The sense of THE INEVITABLE, as grown-up people call it—that we + cannot have things as we want them to be, but as they are, and that we + must learn to bear them and make the best of them—this lesson, which + everybody has to learn soon or late—came, alas! sadly soon, to the + poor boy. He fought against it for a while, and then, quite overcome, + turned and sobbed bitterly in his godmother's arms. + </p> + <p> + She comforted him—I do not know how, except that love always + comforts; and then she whispered to him, in her sweet, strong, cheerful + voice: “Never mind!” + </p> + <p> + “No, I don't think I do mind—that is, I WON'T mind,” replied he, + catching the courage of her tone and speaking like a man, though he was + still such a mere boy. + </p> + <p> + “That is right, my Prince!—that is being like a prince. Now we know + exactly where we are; let us put our shoulders to the wheel and——” + </p> + <p> + “We are in Hopeless Tower” (this was its name, if it had a name), “and + there is no wheel to put our shoulders to,” said the child sadly. + </p> + <p> + “You little matter-of-fact goose! Well for you that you have a godmother + called——” + </p> + <p> + “What?” he eagerly asked. + </p> + <p> + “Stuff-and-nonsense.” + </p> + <p> + “Stuff-and-nonsense! What a funny name!” + </p> + <p> + “Some people give it me, but they are not my most intimate friends. These + call me—never mind what,” added the old woman, with a soft twinkle + in her eyes. “So as you know me, and know me well, you may give me any + name you please; it doesn't matter. But I am your godmother, child. I have + few godchildren; those I have love me dearly, and find me the greatest + blessing in all the world.” + </p> + <p> + “I can well believe it,” cried the little lame Prince, and forgot his + troubles in looking at her—as her figure dilated, her eyes grew + lustrous as stars, her very raiment brightened, and the whole room seemed + filled with her beautiful and beneficent presence like light. + </p> + <p> + He could have looked at her forever—half in love, half in awe; but + she suddenly dwindled down into the little old woman all in gray, and, + with a malicious twinkle in her eyes, asked for the traveling-cloak. + </p> + <p> + “Bring it out of the rubbish cupboard, and shake the dust off it, quick!” + said she to Prince Dolor, who hung his head, rather ashamed. “Spread it + out on the floor, and wait till the split closes and the edges turn up + like a rim all round. Then go and open the skylight,—mind, I say + OPEN THE SKYLIGHT,—set yourself down in the middle of it, like a + frog on a water-lily leaf; say 'Abracadabra, dum dum dum,' and—see + what will happen!” + </p> + <p> + The Prince burst into a fit of laughing. It all seemed so exceedingly + silly; he wondered that a wise old woman like his godmother should talk + such nonsense. + </p> + <p> + “Stuff-and-nonsense, you mean,” said she, answering, to his great alarm, + his unspoken thoughts. “Did I not tell you some people called me by that + name? Never mind; it doesn't harm me.” + </p> + <p> + And she laughed—her merry laugh—as child-like as if she were + the Prince's age instead of her own, whatever that might be. She certainly + was a most extraordinary old woman. + </p> + <p> + “Believe me or not, it doesn't matter,” said she. “Here is the cloak: when + you want to go traveling on it, say 'Abracadabra, dum, dum, dum'; when you + want to come back again, say 'Abracadabra, tum tum ti.' That's all; + good-by.” + </p> + <p> + A puff of most pleasant air passing by him, and making him feel for the + moment quite strong and well, was all the Prince was conscious of. His + most extraordinary godmother was gone. + </p> + <p> + “Really now, how rosy your Royal Highness' cheeks have grown! You seem to + have got well already,” said the nurse, entering the room. + </p> + <p> + “I think I have,” replied the Prince very gently—he felt gently and + kindly even to his grim nurse. “And now let me have my dinner, and go you + to your sewing as usual.” + </p> + <p> + The instant she was gone, however, taking with her the plates and dishes, + which for the first time since his illness he had satisfactorily cleared, + Prince Dolor sprang down from his sofa, and with one or two of his + frog-like jumps reached the cupboard where he kept his toys, and looked + everywhere for his traveling-cloak. + </p> + <p> + Alas! it was not there. + </p> + <p> + While he was ill of the doldrums, his nurse, thinking it a good + opportunity for putting things to rights, had made a grand clearance of + all his “rubbish”—as she considered it: his beloved headless horses, + broken carts, sheep without feet, and birds without wings—all the + treasures of his baby days, which he could not bear to part with. Though + he seldom played with them now, he liked just to feel they were there. + </p> + <p> + They were all gone and with them the traveling-cloak. He sat down on the + floor, looking at the empty shelves, so beautifully clean and tidy, then + burst out sobbing as if his heart would break. + </p> + <p> + But quietly—always quietly. He never let his nurse hear him cry. She + only laughed at him, as he felt she would laugh now. + </p> + <p> + “And it is all my own fault!” he cried. “I ought to have taken better care + of my godmother's gift. Oh, godmother, forgive me! I'll never be so + careless again. I don't know what the cloak is exactly, but I am sure it + is something precious. Help me to find it again. Oh, don't let it be + stolen from me—don't, please!” + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed a silvery voice. “Why, that traveling-cloak is the + one thing in the world which nobody can steal. It is of no use to anybody + except the owner. Open your eyes, my Prince, and see what you shall see.” + </p> + <p> + His dear old godmother, he thought, and turned eagerly round. But no; he + only beheld, lying in a corner of the room, all dust and cobwebs, his + precious traveling-cloak. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor darted toward it, tumbling several times on the way, as he + often did tumble, poor boy! and pick himself up again, never complaining. + Snatching it to his breast, he hugged and kissed it, cobwebs and all, as + if it had been something alive. Then he began unrolling it, wondering each + minute what would happen. What did happen was so curious that I must leave + it for another chapter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> + <p> + If any reader, big or little, should wonder whether there is a meaning in + this story deeper than that of an ordinary fairy tale, I will own that + there is. But I have hidden it so carefully that the smaller people, and + many larger folk, will never find it out, and meantime the book may be + read straight on, like “Cinderella,” or “Blue-Beard,” or “Hop-o'my-Thumb,” + for what interest it has, or what amusement it may bring. + </p> + <p> + Having said this, I return to Prince Dolor, that little lame boy whom many + may think so exceedingly to be pitied. But if you had seen him as he sat + patiently untying his wonderful cloak, which was done up in a very tight + and perplexing parcel, using skillfully his deft little hands, and + knitting his brows with firm determination, while his eyes glistened with + pleasure and energy and eager anticipation—if you had beheld him + thus, you might have changed your opinion. + </p> + <p> + When we see people suffering or unfortunate, we feel very sorry for them; + but when we see them bravely bearing their sufferings and making the best + of their misfortunes, it is quite a different feeling. We respect, we + admire them. One can respect and admire even a little child. + </p> + <p> + When Prince Dolor had patiently untied all the knots, a remarkable thing + happened. The cloak began to undo itself. Slowly unfolding, it laid itself + down on the carpet, as flat as if it had been ironed; the split joined + with a little sharp crick-crack, and the rim turned up all round till it + was breast-high; for meantime the cloak had grown and grown, and become + quite large enough for one person to sit in it as comfortable as if in a + boat. + </p> + <p> + The Prince watched it rather anxiously; it was such an extraordinary, not + to say a frightening, thing. However, he was no coward, but a thorough + boy, who, if he had been like other boys, would doubtless have grown up + daring and adventurous—a soldier, a sailor, or the like. As it was, + he could only show his courage morally, not physically, by being afraid of + nothing, and by doing boldly all that it was in his narrow powers to do. + And I am not sure but that in this way he showed more real valor than if + he had had six pairs of proper legs. + </p> + <p> + He said to himself: “What a goose I am! As if my dear godmother would ever + have given me anything to hurt me. Here goes!” + </p> + <p> + So, with one of his active leaps, he sprang right into the middle of the + cloak, where he squatted down, wrapping his arms tight round his knees, + for they shook a little and his heart beat fast. But there he sat, steady + and silent, waiting for what might happen next. + </p> + <p> + Nothing did happen, and he began to think nothing would, and to feel + rather disappointed, when he recollected the words he had been told to + repeat—“Abracadabra, dum dum dum!” + </p> + <p> + He repeated them, laughing all the while, they seemed such nonsense. And + then—and then—— + </p> + <p> + Now I don't expect anybody to believe what I am going to relate, though a + good many wise people have believed a good many sillier things. And as + seeing's believing, and I never saw it, I cannot be expected implicitly to + believe it myself, except in a sort of a way; and yet there is truth in it—for + some people. + </p> + <p> + The cloak rose, slowly and steadily, at first only a few inches, then + gradually higher and higher, till it nearly touched the skylight. Prince + Dolor's head actually bumped against the glass, or would have done so had + he not crouched down, crying “Oh, please don't hurt me!” in a most + melancholy voice. + </p> + <p> + Then he suddenly remembered his godmother's express command—“Open + the skylight!” + </p> + <p> + Regaining his courage at once, without a moment's delay he lifted up his + head and began searching for the bolt—the cloak meanwhile remaining + perfectly still, balanced in the air. But the minute the window was + opened, out it sailed—right out into the clear, fresh air, with + nothing between it and the cloudless blue. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor had never felt any such delicious sensation before. I can + understand it. Cannot you? Did you never think, in watching the rooks + going home singly or in pairs, soaring their way across the calm evening + sky till they vanish like black dots in the misty gray, how pleasant it + must feel to be up there, quite out of the noise and din of the world, + able to hear and see everything down below, yet troubled by nothing and + teased by no one—all alone, but perfectly content? + </p> + <p> + Something like this was the happiness of the little lame Prince when he + got out of Hopeless Tower, and found himself for the first time in the + pure open air, with the sky above him and the earth below. + </p> + <p> + True, there was nothing but earth and sky; no houses, no trees, no rivers, + mountains, seas—not a beast on the ground, or a bird in the air. But + to him even the level plain looked beautiful; and then there was the + glorious arch of the sky, with a little young moon sitting in the west + like a baby queen. And the evening breeze was so sweet and fresh—it + kissed him like his godmother's kisses; and by and by a few stars came out—first + two or three, and then quantities—quantities! so that when he began + to count them he was utterly bewildered. + </p> + <p> + By this time, however, the cool breeze had become cold; the mist gathered; + and as he had, as he said, no outdoor clothes, poor Prince Dolor was not + very comfortable. The dews fell damp on his curls—he began to + shiver. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps I had better go home,” thought he. + </p> + <p> + But how? For in his excitement the other words which his godmother had + told him to use had slipped his memory. They were only a little different + from the first, but in that slight difference all the importance lay. As + he repeated his “Abracadabra,” trying ever so many other syllables after + it, the cloak only went faster and faster, skimming on through the dusky, + empty air. + </p> + <p> + The poor little Prince began to feel frightened. What if his wonderful + traveling-cloak should keep on thus traveling, perhaps to the world's end, + carrying with it a poor, tired, hungry boy, who, after all, was beginning + to think there was something very pleasant in supper and bed! + </p> + <p> + “Dear godmother,” he cried pitifully, “do help me! Tell me just this once + and I'll never forget again.” + </p> + <p> + Instantly the words came rushing into his head—“Abracadabra, tum tum + ti!” Was that it? Ah! yes—for the cloak began to turn slowly. He + repeated the charm again, more distinctly and firmly, when it gave a + gentle dip, like a nod of satisfaction, and immediately started back, as + fast as ever, in the direction of the tower. + </p> + <p> + He reached the skylight, which he found exactly as he had left it, and + slipped in, cloak and all, as easily as he had got out. He had scarcely + reached the floor, and was still sitting in the middle of his + traveling-cloak,—like a frog on a water-lily leaf, as his godmother + had expressed it,—when he heard his nurse's voice outside. + </p> + <p> + “Bless us! what has become of your Royal Highness all this time? To sit + stupidly here at the window till it is quite dark, and leave the skylight + open, too. Prince! what can you be thinking of? You are the silliest boy I + ever knew.” + </p> + <p> + “Am I?” said he absently, and never heeding her crossness; for his only + anxiety was lest she might find out anything. + </p> + <p> + She would have been a very clever person to have done so. The instant + Prince Dolor got off it, the cloak folded itself up into the tiniest + possible parcel, tied all its own knots, and rolled itself of its own + accord into the farthest and darkest corner of the room. If the nurse had + seen it, which she didn't, she would have taken it for a mere bundle of + rubbish not worth noticing. + </p> + <p> + Shutting the skylight with an angry bang, she brought in the supper and + lit the candles with her usual unhappy expression of countenance. But + Prince Dolor hardly saw it; he only saw, hid in the corner where nobody + else would see it, his wonderful traveling-cloak. And though his supper + was not particularly nice, he ate it heartily, scarcely hearing a word of + his nurse's grumbling, which to-night seemed to have taken the place of + her sullen silence. + </p> + <p> + “Poor woman!” he thought, when he paused a minute to listen and look at + her with those quiet, happy eyes, so like his mother's. “Poor woman! she + hasn't got a traveling-cloak!” + </p> + <p> + And when he was left alone at last, and crept into his little bed, where + he lay awake a good while, watching what he called his “sky-garden,” all + planted with stars, like flowers, his chief thought was—“I must be + up very early to-morrow morning, and get my lessons done, and then I'll go + traveling all over the world on my beautiful cloak.” + </p> + <p> + So next day he opened his eyes with the sun, and went with a good heart to + his lessons. They had hitherto been the chief amusement of his dull life; + now, I am afraid, he found them also a little dull. But he tried to be + good,—I don't say Prince Dolor always was good, but he generally + tried to be,—and when his mind went wandering after the dark, dusty + corner where lay his precious treasure, he resolutely called it back + again. + </p> + <p> + “For,” he said, “how ashamed my godmother would be of me if I grew up a + stupid boy!” + </p> + <p> + But the instant lessons were done, and he was alone in the empty room, he + crept across the floor, undid the shabby little bundle, his fingers + trembling with eagerness, climbed on the chair, and thence to the table, + so as to unbar the skylight,—he forgot nothing now,—said his + magic charm, and was away out of the window, as children say, “in a few + minutes less than no time.” + </p> + <p> + Nobody missed him. He was accustomed to sit so quietly always that his + nurse, though only in the next room, perceived no difference. And besides, + she might have gone in and out a dozen times, and it would have been just + the same; she never could have found out his absence. + </p> + <p> + For what do you think the clever godmother did? She took a quantity of + moonshine, or some equally convenient material, and made an image, which + she set on the window-sill reading, or by the table drawing, where it + looked so like Prince Dolor that any common observer would never have + guessed the deception; and even the boy would have been puzzled to know + which was the image and which was himself. + </p> + <p> + And all this while the happy little fellow was away, floating in the air + on his magic cloak, and seeing all sorts of wonderful things—or they + seemed wonderful to him, who had hitherto seen nothing at all. + </p> + <p> + First, there were the flowers that grew on the plain, which, whenever the + cloak came near enough, he strained his eyes to look at; they were very + tiny, but very beautiful—white saxifrage, and yellow lotus, and + ground-thistles, purple and bright, with many others the names of which I + do not know. No more did Prince Dolor, though he tried to find them out by + recalling any pictures he had seen of them. But he was too far off; and + though it was pleasant enough to admire them as brilliant patches of + color, still he would have liked to examine them all. He was, as a little + girl I know once said of a playfellow, “a very examining boy.” + </p> + <p> + “I wonder,” he thought, “whether I could see better through a pair of + glasses like those my nurse reads with, and takes such care of. How I + would take care of them, too, if I only had a pair!” + </p> + <p> + Immediately he felt something queer and hard fixing itself to the bridge + of his nose. It was a pair of the prettiest gold spectacles ever seen; and + looking downward, he found that, though ever so high above the ground, he + could see every minute blade of grass, every tiny bud and flower—nay, + even the insects that walked over them. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, thank you!” he cried, in a gush of gratitude—to anybody + or everybody, but especially to his dear godmother, who he felt sure had + given him this new present. He amused himself with it for ever so long, + with his chin pressed on the rim of the cloak, gazing down upon the grass, + every square foot of which was a mine of wonders. + </p> + <p> + Then, just to rest his eyes, he turned them up to the sky—the blue, + bright, empty sky, which he had looked at so often and seen nothing. + </p> + <p> + Now surely there was something. A long, black, wavy line, moving on in the + distance, not by chance, as the clouds move apparently, but deliberately, + as if it were alive. He might have seen it before—he almost thought + he had; but then he could not tell what it was. Looking at it through his + spectacles, he discovered that it really was alive; being a long string of + birds, flying one after the other, their wings moving steadily and their + heads pointed in one direction, as steadily as if each were a little ship, + guided invisibly by an unerring helm. + </p> + <p> + “They must be the passage-birds flying seaward!” cried the boy, who had + read a little about them, and had a great talent for putting two and two + together and finding out all he could. “Oh, how I should like to see them + quite close, and to know where they come from and whither they are going! + How I wish I knew everything in all the world!” + </p> + <p> + A silly speech for even an “examining” little boy to make; because, as we + grow older, the more we know the more we find out there is to know. And + Prince Dolor blushed when he had said it, and hoped nobody had heard him. + </p> + <p> + Apparently somebody had, however; for the cloak gave a sudden bound + forward, and presently he found himself high in the air, in the very + middle of that band of aerial travelers, who had mo magic cloak to travel + on—nothing except their wings. Yet there they were, making their + fearless way through the sky. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor looked at them as one after the other they glided past him; + and they looked at him—those pretty swallows, with their changing + necks and bright eyes—as if wondering to meet in mid-air such an + extraordinary sort of bird. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I wish I were going with you, you lovely creatures! I'm getting so + tired of this dull plain, and the dreary and lonely tower. I do so want to + see the world! Pretty swallows, dear swallows! tell me what it looks like—the + beautiful, wonderful world!” + </p> + <p> + But the swallows flew past him—steadily, slowly pursuing their + course as if inside each little head had been a mariner's compass, to + guide them safe over land and sea, direct to the place where they wished + to go. + </p> + <p> + The boy looked after them with envy. For a long time he followed with his + eyes the faint, wavy black line as it floated away, sometimes changing its + curves a little, but never deviating from its settled course, till it + vanished entirely out of sight. + </p> + <p> + Then he settled himself down in the center of the cloak, feeling quite sad + and lonely. + </p> + <p> + “I think I'll go home,” said he, and repeated his “Abracadabra, tum tum + ti!” with a rather heavy heart. The more he had, the more he wanted; and + it is not always one can have everything one wants—at least, at the + exact minute one craves for it; not even though one is a prince, and has a + powerful and beneficent godmother. + </p> + <p> + He did not like to vex her by calling for her and telling her how unhappy + he was, in spite of all her goodness; so he just kept his trouble to + himself, went back to his lonely tower, and spent three days in silent + melancholy, without even attempting another journey on his + traveling-cloak. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> + <p> + The fourth day it happened that the deaf-mute paid his accustomed visit, + after which Prince Dolor's spirits rose. They always did when he got the + new books which, just to relieve his conscience, the King of Nomansland + regularly sent to his nephew; with many new toys also, though the latter + were disregarded now. + </p> + <p> + “Toys, indeed! when I'm a big boy,” said the Prince, with disdain, and + would scarcely condescend to mount a rocking-horse which had come, somehow + or other,—I can't be expected to explain things very exactly,—packed + on the back of the other, the great black horse, which stood and fed + contentedly at the bottom of the tower. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor leaned over and looked at it, and thought how grand it must + be to get upon its back—this grand live steed—and ride away, + like the pictures of knights. + </p> + <p> + “Suppose I was a knight,” he said to himself; “then I should be obliged to + ride out and see the world.” + </p> + <p> + But he kept all these thoughts to himself, and just sat still, devouring + his new books till he had come to the end of them all. It was a repast not + unlike the Barmecide's feast which you read of in the “Arabian Nights,” + which consisted of very elegant but empty dishes, or that supper of Sancho + Panza in “Don Quixote,” where, the minute the smoking dishes came on the + table, the physician waved his hand and they were all taken away. + </p> + <p> + Thus almost all the ordinary delights of boy-life had been taken away + from, or rather never given to this poor little prince. + </p> + <p> + “I wonder,” he would sometimes think—“I wonder what it feels like to + be on the back of a horse, galloping away, or holding the reins in a + carriage, and tearing across the country, or jumping a ditch, or running a + race, such as I read of or see in pictures. What a lot of things there are + that I should like to do! But first I should like to go and see the world. + I'll try.” + </p> + <p> + Apparently it was his godmother's plan always to let him try, and try + hard, before he gained anything. This day the knots that tied up his + traveling-cloak were more than usually troublesome, and he was a full + half-hour before he got out into the open air, and found himself floating + merrily over the top of the tower. + </p> + <p> + Hitherto, in all his journeys, he had never let himself go out of sight of + home, for the dreary building, after all, was home—he remembered no + other; but now he felt sick of the very look of his tower, with its round + smooth walls and level battlements. + </p> + <p> + “Off we go!” cried he, when the cloak stirred itself with a slight, slow + motion, as if waiting his orders. “Anywhere anywhere, so that I am away + from here, and out into the world.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the cloak, as if seized suddenly with a new idea, bounded + forward and went skimming through the air, faster than the very fastest + railway train. + </p> + <p> + “Gee-up! gee-up!” cried Prince Dolor in great excitement. “This is as good + as riding a race.” + </p> + <p> + And he patted the cloak as if it had been a horse—that is, in the + way he supposed horses ought to be patted—and tossed his head back + to meet the fresh breeze, and pulled his coat collar up and his hat down + as he felt the wind grow keener and colder—colder than anything he + had ever known. + </p> + <p> + “What does it matter, though?” said he. “I'm a boy, and boys ought not to + mind anything.” + </p> + <p> + Still, for all his good-will, by and by, he began to shiver exceedingly; + also, he had come away without his dinner, and he grew frightfully hungry. + And to add to everything, the sunshiny day changed into rain, and being + high up, in the very midst of the clouds, he got soaked through and + through in a very few minutes. + </p> + <p> + “Shall I turn back?” meditated he. “Suppose I say 'Abracadabra?'” + </p> + <p> + Here he stopped, for already the cloak gave an obedient lurch, as if it + were expecting to be sent home immediately. + </p> + <p> + “No—I can't—I can't go back! I must go forward and see the + world. But oh! if I had but the shabbiest old rug to shelter me from the + rain, or the driest morsel of bread and cheese, just to keep me from + starving! Still, I don't much mind; I'm a prince, and ought to be able to + stand anything. Hold on, cloak, we'll make the best of it.” + </p> + <p> + It was a most curious circumstance, but no sooner had he said this than he + felt stealing over his knees something warm and soft; in fact, a most + beautiful bearskin, which folded itself round him quite naturally, and + cuddled him up as closely as if he had been the cub of the kind old + mother-bear that once owned it. Then feeling in his pocket, which suddenly + stuck out in a marvelous way, he found, not exactly bread and cheese, nor + even sandwiches, but a packet of the most delicious food he had ever + tasted. It was not meat, nor pudding, but a combination of both, and it + served him excellently for both. He ate his dinner with the greatest gusto + imaginable, till he grew so thirsty he did not know what to do. + </p> + <p> + “Couldn't I have just one drop of water, if it didn't trouble you too + much, kindest of godmothers?” + </p> + <p> + For he really thought this want was beyond her power to supply. All the + water which supplied Hopeless Tower was pumped up with difficulty from a + deep artesian well—there were such things known in Nomansland—which + had been made at the foot of it. But around, for miles upon miles, the + desolate plain was perfectly dry. And above it, high in the air, how could + he expect to find a well, or to get even a drop of water? + </p> + <p> + He forgot one thing—the rain. While he spoke, it came on in another + wild burst, as if the clouds had poured themselves out in a passion of + crying, wetting him certainly, but leaving behind, in a large glass vessel + which he had never noticed before, enough water to quench the thirst of + two or three boys at least. And it was so fresh, so pure—as water + from the clouds always is when it does not catch the soot from city + chimneys and other defilements—that he drank it, every drop, with + the greatest delight and content. + </p> + <p> + Also, as soon as it was empty the rain filled it again, so that he was + able to wash his face and hands and refresh himself exceedingly. Then the + sun came out and dried him in no time. After that he curled himself up + under the bear-skin rug, and though he determined to be the most + wide-awake boy imaginable, being so exceedingly snug and warm and + comfortable, Prince Dolor condescended to shut his eyes just for one + minute. The next minute he was sound asleep. + </p> + <p> + When he awoke, he found himself floating over a country quite unlike + anything he had ever seen before. + </p> + <p> + Yet it was nothing but what most of you children see every day and never + notice it—a pretty country landscape, like England, Scotland, + France, or any other land you choose to name. It had no particular + features—nothing in it grand or lovely—was simply pretty, + nothing more; yet to Prince Dolor, who had never gone beyond his lonely + tower and level plain, it appeared the most charming sight imaginable. + </p> + <p> + First, there was a river. It came tumbling down the hillside, frothing and + foaming, playing at hide-and-seek among the rocks, then bursting out in + noisy fun like a child, to bury itself in deep, still pools. Afterward it + went steadily on for a while, like a good grown-up person, till it came to + another big rock, where it misbehaved itself extremely. It turned into a + cataract, and went tumbling over and over, after a fashion that made the + prince—who had never seen water before, except in his bath or his + drinking-cup—clap his hands with delight. + </p> + <p> + “It is so active, so alive! I like things active and alive!” cried he, and + watched it shimmering and dancing, whirling and leaping, till, after a few + windings and vagaries, it settled into a respectable stream. After that it + went along, deep and quiet, but flowing steadily on, till it reached a + large lake, into which it slipped and so ended its course. + </p> + <p> + All this the boy saw, either with his own naked eye or through his gold + spectacles. He saw also as in a picture, beautiful but silent, many other + things which struck him with wonder, especially a grove of trees. + </p> + <p> + Only think, to have lived to his age (which he himself did not know, as he + did not know his own birthday) and never to have seen trees! As he floated + over these oaks, they seemed to him—trunk, branches, and leaves—the + most curious sight imaginable. + </p> + <p> + “If I could only get nearer, so as to touch them,” said he, and + immediately the obedient cloak ducked down; Prince Dolor made a snatch at + the topmost twig of the tallest tree, and caught a bunch of leaves in his + hand. + </p> + <p> + Just a bunch of green leaves—such as we see in myriads; watching + them bud, grow, fall, and then kicking them along on the ground as if they + were worth nothing. Yet how wonderful they are—every one of them a + little different. I don't suppose you could ever find two leaves exactly + alike in form, color, and size—no more than you could find two faces + alike, or two characters exactly the same. The plan of this world is + infinite similarity and yet infinite variety. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor examined his leaves with the greatest curiosity—and + also a little caterpillar that he found walking over one of them. He + coaxed it to take an additional walk over his finger, which it did with + the greatest dignity and decorum, as if it, Mr. Caterpillar, were the most + important individual in existence. It amused him for a long time; and when + a sudden gust of wind blew it overboard, leaves and all, he felt quite + disconsolate. + </p> + <p> + “Still there must be many live creatures in the world besides + caterpillars. I should like to see a few of them.” + </p> + <p> + The cloak gave a little dip down, as if to say “All right, my Prince,” and + bore him across the oak forest to a long fertile valley—called in + Scotland a strath and in England a weald, but what they call it in the + tongue of Nomansland I do not know. It was made up of cornfields, + pasturefields, lanes, hedges, brooks, and ponds. Also, in it were what the + prince desired to see—a quantity of living creatures, wild and tame. + Cows and horses, lambs and sheep, fed in the meadows; pigs and fowls + walked about the farm-yards; and in lonelier places hares scudded, rabbits + burrowed, and pheasants and partridges, with many other smaller birds, + inhabited the fields and woods. + </p> + <p> + Through his wonderful spectacles the Prince could see everything; but, as + I said, it was a silent picture; he was too high up to catch anything + except a faint murmur, which only aroused his anxiety to hear more. + </p> + <p> + “I have as good as two pairs of eyes,” he thought. “I wonder if my + godmother would give me a second pair of ears.” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had he spoken than he found lying on his lap the most curious + little parcel, all done up in silvery paper. And it contained—what + do you think? Actually a pair of silver ears, which, when he tried them + on, fitted so exactly over his own that he hardly felt them, except for + the difference they made in his hearing. + </p> + <p> + There is something which we listen to daily and never notice. I mean the + sounds of the visible world, animate and inanimate. Winds blowing, waters + flowing, trees stirring, insects whirring (dear me! I am quite + unconsciously writing rhyme), with the various cries of birds and beasts,—lowing + cattle, bleating sheep, grunting pigs, and cackling hens,—all the + infinite discords that somehow or other make a beautiful harmony. + </p> + <p> + We hear this, and are so accustomed to it that we think nothing of it; but + Prince Dolor, who had lived all his days in the dead silence of Hopeless + Tower, heard it for the first time. And oh! if you had seen his face. + </p> + <p> + He listened, listened, as if he could never have done listening. And he + looked and looked, as if he could not gaze enough. Above all, the motion + of the animals delighted him: cows walking, horses galloping, little lambs + and calves running races across the meadows, were such a treat for him to + watch—he that was always so quiet. But, these creatures having four + legs, and he only two, the difference did not strike him painfully. + </p> + <p> + Still, by and by, after the fashion of children,—and I fear, of many + big people too,—he began to want something more than he had, + something fresh and new. + </p> + <p> + “Godmother,” he said, having now begun to believe that, whether he saw her + or not, he could always speak to her with full confidence that she would + hear him—“Godmother, all these creatures I like exceedingly; but I + should like better to see a creature like myself. Couldn't you show me + just one little boy?” + </p> + <p> + There was a sigh behind him,—it might have been only the wind,—and + the cloak remained so long balanced motionless in air that he was half + afraid his godmother had forgotten him, or was offended with him for + asking too much. Suddenly a shrill whistle startled him, even through his + silver ears, and looking downward, he saw start up from behind a bush on a + common, something—— + </p> + <p> + Neither a sheep nor a horse nor a cow—nothing upon four legs. This + creature had only two; but they were long, straight, and strong. And it + had a lithe, active body, and a curly head of black hair set upon its + shoulders. It was a boy, a shepherd-boy, about the Prince's own age—but, + oh! so different. + </p> + <p> + Not that he was an ugly boy—though his face was almost as red as his + hands, and his shaggy hair matted like the backs of his own sheep. He was + rather a nice-looking lad; and seemed so bright and healthy and + good-tempered—“jolly” would be the word, only I am not sure if they + have such a one in the elegant language of Nomansland—that the + little Prince watched him with great admiration. + </p> + <p> + “Might he come and play with me? I would drop down to the ground to him, + or fetch him up to me here. Oh, how nice it would be if I only had a + little boy to play with me.” + </p> + <p> + But the cloak, usually so obedient to his wishes, disobeyed him now. There + were evidently some things which his godmother either could not or would + not give. The cloak hung stationary, high in air, never attempting to + descend. The shepherd-lad evidently took it for a large bird, and, shading + his eyes, looked up at it, making the Prince's heart beat fast. + </p> + <p> + However, nothing ensued. The boy turned round, with a long, loud whistle—seemingly + his usual and only way of expressing his feelings. He could not make the + thing out exactly—it was a rather mysterious affair, but it did not + trouble him much—he was not an “examining” boy. + </p> + <p> + Then, stretching himself, for he had been evidently half asleep, he began + flopping his shoulders with his arms to wake and warm himself; while his + dog, a rough collie, who had been guarding the sheep meanwhile, began to + jump upon him, barking with delight. + </p> + <p> + “Down, Snap, down: Stop that, or I'll thrash you,” the Prince heard him + say; though with such a rough, hard voice and queer pronunciation that it + was difficult to make the words out. “Hollo! Let's warm ourselves by a + race.” + </p> + <p> + They started off together, boy and dog—barking and shouting, till it + was doubtful which made the more noise or ran the faster. A regular + steeplechase it was: first across the level common, greatly disturbing the + quiet sheep; and then tearing away across country, scrambling through + hedges and leaping ditches, and tumbling up and down over plowed fields. + They did not seem to have anything to run for—but as if they did it, + both of them, for the mere pleasure of motion. + </p> + <p> + And what a pleasure that seemed! To the dog of course, but scarcely less + so to the boy. How he skimmed along over the ground—his cheeks + glowing, and his hair flying, and his legs—oh, what a pair of legs + he had! + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor watched him with great intentness, and in a state of + excitement almost equal to that of the runner himself—for a while. + Then the sweet, pale face grew a trifle paler, the lips began to quiver, + and the eyes to fill. + </p> + <p> + “How nice it must be to run like that!” he said softly, thinking that + never—no, never in this world—would he be able to do the same. + </p> + <p> + Now he understood what his godmother had meant when she gave him his + traveling-cloak, and why he had heard that sigh—he was sure it was + hers—when he had asked to see “just one little boy.” + </p> + <p> + “I think I had rather not look at him again,” said the poor little Prince, + drawing himself back into the center of his cloak, and resuming his + favorite posture, sitting like a Turk, with his arms wrapped round his + feeble, useless legs. + </p> + <p> + “You're no good to me,” he said, patting them mournfully. “You never will + be any good to me. I wonder why I had you at all. I wonder why I was born + at all, since I was not to grow up like other boys. Why not?” + </p> + <p> + A question so strange, so sad, yet so often occurring in some form or + other in this world—as you will find, my children, when you are + older—that even if he had put it to his mother she could only have + answered it, as we have to answer many as difficult things, by simply + saying, “I don't know.” There is much that we do not know and cannot + understand—we big folks no more than you little ones. We have to + accept it all just as you have to accept anything which your parents may + tell you, even though you don't as yet see the reason of it. You may + sometime, if you do exactly as they tell you, and are content to wait. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor sat a good while thus, or it appeared to him a good while, so + many thoughts came and went through his poor young mind—thoughts of + great bitterness, which, little though he was, seemed to make him grow + years older in a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + Then he fancied the cloak began to rock gently to and fro, with a soothing + kind of motion, as if he were in somebody's arms: somebody who did not + speak, but loved him and comforted him without need of words; not by + deceiving him with false encouragement or hope, but by making him see the + plain, hard truth in all its hardness, and thus letting him quietly face + it, till it grew softened down, and did not seem nearly so dreadful after + all. + </p> + <p> + Through the dreary silence and blankness, for he had placed himself so + that he could see nothing but the sky, and had taken off his silver ears + as well as his gold spectacles—what was the use of either when he + had no legs with which to walk or run?—up from below there rose a + delicious sound. + </p> + <p> + You have heard it hundreds of times, my children, and so have I. When I + was a child I thought there was nothing so sweet; and I think so still. It + was just the song of a skylark, mounting higher and higher from the + ground, till it came so close that Prince Dolor could distinguish his + quivering wings and tiny body, almost too tiny to contain such a gush of + music. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you beautiful, beautiful bird!” cried he; “I should dearly like to + take you in and cuddle you. That is, if I could—if I dared.” + </p> + <p> + But he hesitated. The little brown creature with its loud heavenly voice + almost made him afraid. Nevertheless, it also made him happy; and he + watched and listened—so absorbed that he forgot all regret and pain, + forgot everything in the world except the little lark. + </p> + <p> + It soared and soared, and he was just wondering if it would soar out of + sight, and what in the world he should do when it was gone, when it + suddenly closed its wings, as larks do when they mean to drop to the + ground. But, instead of dropping to the ground, it dropped right into the + little boy's breast. + </p> + <p> + What felicity! If it would only stay! A tiny, soft thing to fondle and + kiss, to sing to him all day long, and be his playfellow and companion, + tame and tender, while to the rest of the world it was a wild bird of the + air. What a pride, what a delight! To have something that nobody else had—something + all his own. As the traveling-cloak traveled on, he little heeded where, + and the lark still stayed, nestled down in his bosom, hopped from his hand + to his shoulder, and kissed him with its dainty beak, as if it loved him, + Prince Dolor forgot all his grief, and was entirely happy. + </p> + <p> + But when he got in sight of Hopeless Tower a painful thought struck him. + </p> + <p> + “My pretty bird, what am I to do with you? If I take you into my room and + shut you up there, you, a wild skylark of the air, what will become of + you? I am used to this, but you are not. You will be so miserable; and + suppose my nurse should find you—she who can't bear the sound of + singing? Besides, I remember her once telling me that the nicest thing she + ever ate in her life was lark pie!” + </p> + <p> + The little boy shivered all over at the thought. And, though the merry + lark immediately broke into the loudest carol, as if saying derisively + that he defied anybody to eat him, still, Prince Dolor was very uneasy. In + another minute he had made up his mind. + </p> + <p> + “No, my bird, nothing so dreadful shall happen to you if I can help it; I + would rather do without you altogether. Yes, I'll try. Fly away, my + darling, my beautiful! Good-by, my merry, merry bird.” + </p> + <p> + Opening his two caressing hands, in which, as if for protection, he had + folded it, he let the lark go. It lingered a minute, perching on the rim + of the cloak, and looking at him with eyes of almost human tenderness; + then away it flew, far up into the blue sky. It was only a bird. + </p> + <p> + But some time after, when Prince Dolor had eaten his supper—somewhat + drearily, except for the thought that he could not possibly sup off lark + pie now—and gone quietly to bed, the old familiar little bed, where + he was accustomed to sleep, or lie awake contentedly thinking—suddenly + he heard outside the window a little faint carol—faint but cheerful—cheerful + even though it was the middle of the night. + </p> + <p> + The dear little lark! it had not flown away, after all. And it was truly + the most extraordinary bird, for, unlike ordinary larks, it kept hovering + about the tower in the silence and darkness of the night, outside the + window or over the roof. Whenever he listened for a moment, he heard it + singing still. + </p> + <p> + He went to sleep as happy as a king. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> + <p> + “Happy as a king.” How far kings are happy I cannot say, no more than + could Prince Dolor, though he had once been a king himself. But he + remembered nothing about it, and there was nobody to tell him, except his + nurse, who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything + about his dead parents, or the king his uncle, or indeed any part of his + own history. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes he speculated about himself, whether he had had a father and + mother as other little boys had what they had been like, and why he had + never seen them. But, knowing nothing about them, he did not miss them—only + once or twice, reading pretty stories about little children and their + mothers, who helped them when they were in difficulty and comforted them + when they were sick, he feeling ill and dull and lonely, wondered what had + become of his mother and why she never came to see him. + </p> + <p> + Then, in his history lessons, of course he read about kings and princes, + and the governments of different countries, and the events that happened + there. And though he but faintly took in all this, still he did take it in + a little, and worried his young brain about it, and perplexed his nurse + with questions, to which she returned sharp and mysterious answers, which + only set him thinking the more. + </p> + <p> + He had plenty of time for thinking. After his last journey in the + traveling-cloak, the journey which had given him so much pain, his desire + to see the world somehow faded away. He contented himself with reading his + books, and looking out of the tower windows, and listening to his beloved + little lark, which had come home with him that day, and never left him + again. + </p> + <p> + True, it kept out of the way; and though his nurse sometimes dimly heard + it, and said “What is that horrid noise outside?” she never got the + faintest chance of making it into a lark pie. Prince Dolor had his pet all + to himself, and though he seldom saw it, he knew it was near him, and he + caught continually, at odd hours of the day, and even in the night, + fragments of its delicious song. + </p> + <p> + All during the winter—so far as there ever was any difference + between summer and winter in Hopeless Tower—the little bird cheered + and amused him. He scarcely needed anything more—not even his + traveling-cloak, which lay bundled up unnoticed in a corner, tied up in + its innumerable knots. + </p> + <p> + Nor did his godmother come near him. It seemed as if she had given these + treasures and left him alone—to use them or lose them, apply them or + misapply them, according to his own choice. That is all we can do with + children when they grow into big children old enough to distinguish + between right and wrong, and too old to be forced to do either. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor was now quite a big boy. Not tall—alas! he never could + be that, with his poor little shrunken legs, which were of no use, only an + encumbrance. But he was stout and strong, with great sturdy shoulders, and + muscular arms, upon which he could swing himself about almost like a + monkey. As if in compensation for his useless lower limbs, Nature had + given to these extra strength and activity. His face, too, was very + handsome; thinner, firmer, more manly; but still the sweet face of his + childhood—his mother's own face. + </p> + <p> + How his mother would have liked to look at him! Perhaps she did—who + knows? + </p> + <p> + The boy was not a stupid boy either. He could learn almost anything he + chose—and he did choose, which was more than half the battle. He + never gave up his lessons till he had learned them all—never thought + it a punishment that he had to work at them, and that they cost him a deal + of trouble sometimes. + </p> + <p> + “But,” thought he, “men work, and it must be so grand to be a man—a + prince too; and I fancy princes work harder than anybody—except + kings. The princes I read about generally turn into kings. I wonder”—the + boy was always wondering—“Nurse,”—and one day he startled her + with a sudden question,—“tell me—shall I ever be a king?” + </p> + <p> + The woman stood, perplexed beyond expression. So long a time had passed by + since her crime—if it were a crime—and her sentence, that she + now seldom thought of either. Even her punishment—to be shut up for + life in Hopeless Tower—she had gradually got used to. Used also to + the little lame Prince, her charge—whom at first she had hated, + though she carefully did everything to keep him alive, since upon him her + own life hung. + </p> + <p> + But latterly she had ceased to hate him, and, in a sort of way, almost + loved him—at least, enough to be sorry for him—an innocent + child, imprisoned here till he grew into an old man, and became a dull, + worn-out creature like herself. Sometimes, watching him, she felt more + sorry for him than even for herself; and then, seeing she looked a less + miserable and ugly woman, he did not shrink from her as usual. + </p> + <p> + He did not now. “Nurse—dear nurse,” said he, “I don't mean to vex + you, but tell me what is a king? shall I ever be one?” + </p> + <p> + When she began to think less of herself and more of the child, the woman's + courage increased. The idea came to her—what harm would it be, even + if he did know his own history? Perhaps he ought to know it—for + there had been various ups and downs, usurpations, revolutions, and + restorations in Nomansland, as in most other countries. Something might + happen—who could tell? Changes might occur. Possibly a crown would + even yet be set upon those pretty, fair curls—which she began to + think prettier than ever when she saw the imaginary coronet upon them. + </p> + <p> + She sat down, considering whether her oath, never to “say a word” to + Prince Dolor about himself, would be broken if she were to take a pencil + and write what was to be told. A mere quibble—a mean, miserable + quibble. But then she was a miserable woman, more to be pitied than + scorned. + </p> + <p> + After long doubt, and with great trepidation, she put her fingers to her + lips, and taking the Prince's slate—with the sponge tied to it, + ready to rub out the writing in a minute—she wrote: + </p> + <p> + “You are a king.” + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor started. His face grew pale, and then flushed all over; he + held himself erect. Lame as he was, anybody could see he was born to be a + king. + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” said the nurse, as he was beginning to speak. And then, terribly + frightened all the while,—people who have done wrong always are + frightened,—she wrote down in a few hurried sentences his history. + How his parents had died—his uncle had usurped his throne, and sent + him to end his days in this lonely tower. + </p> + <p> + “I, too,” added she, bursting into tears. “Unless, indeed, you could get + out into the world, and fight for your rights like a man. And fight for me + also, my Prince, that I may not die in this desolate place.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor old nurse!” said the boy compassionately. For somehow, boy as he + was, when he heard he was born to be a king, he felt like a man—like + a king—who could afford to be tender because he was strong. + </p> + <p> + He scarcely slept that night, and even though he heard his little lark + singing in the sunrise, he barely listened to it. Things more serious and + important had taken possession of his mind. + </p> + <p> + “Suppose,” thought he, “I were to do as she says, and go out in the world, + no matter how it hurts me—the world of people, active people, as + that boy I saw. They might only laugh at me—poor helpless creature + that I am; but still I might show them I could do something. At any rate, + I might go and see if there were anything for me to do. Godmother, help + me!” + </p> + <p> + It was so long since he had asked her help that he was hardly surprised + when he got no answer—only the little lark outside the window sang + louder and louder, and the sun rose, flooding the room with light. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor sprang out of bed, and began dressing himself, which was hard + work, for he was not used to it—he had always been accustomed to + depend upon his nurse for everything. + </p> + <p> + “But I must now learn to be independent,” thought he. “Fancy a king being + dressed like a baby!” + </p> + <p> + So he did the best he could,—awkwardly but cheerily,—and then + he leaped to the corner where lay his traveling-cloak, untied it as + before, and watched it unrolling itself—which it did rapidly, with a + hearty good-will, as if quite tired of idleness. So was Prince Dolor—or + felt as if he were. He jumped into the middle of it, said his charm, and + was out through the skylight immediately. + </p> + <p> + “Good-by, pretty lark!” he shouted, as he passed it on the wing, still + warbling its carol to the newly risen sun. “You have been my pleasure, my + delight; now I must go and work. Sing to old nurse till I come back again. + Perhaps she'll hear you—perhaps she won't—but it will do her + good all the same. Good-by!” + </p> + <p> + But, as the cloak hung irresolute in air, he suddenly remembered that he + had not determined where to go—indeed, he did not know, and there + was nobody to tell him. + </p> + <p> + “Godmother,” he cried, in much perplexity, “you know what I want,—at + least, I hope you do, for I hardly do myself—take me where I ought + to go; show me whatever I ought to see—never mind what I like to + see,” as a sudden idea came into his mind that he might see many painful + and disagreeable things. But this journey was not for pleasure as before. + He was not a baby now, to do nothing but play—big boys do not always + play. Nor men neither—they work. Thus much Prince Dolor knew—though + very little more. + </p> + <p> + As the cloak started off, traveling faster than he had ever known it to + do,—through sky-land and cloud land, over freezing mountain-tops, + and desolate stretches of forest, and smiling cultivated plains, and great + lakes that seemed to him almost as shoreless as the sea,—he was + often rather frightened. But he crouched down, silent and quiet; what was + the use of making a fuss? and, wrapping himself up in his bear-skin, + waited for what was to happen. + </p> + <p> + After some time he heard a murmur in the distance, increasing more and + more till it grew like the hum of a gigantic hive of bees. And, stretching + his chin over the rim of his cloak, Prince Dolor saw—far, far below + him, yet, with his gold spectacles and silver ears on, he could distinctly + hear and see—what? + </p> + <p> + Most of us have some time or other visited a great metropolis—have + wandered through its network of streets—lost ourselves in its crowds + of people—looked up at its tall rows of houses, its grand public + buildings, churches, and squares. Also, perhaps, we have peeped into its + miserable little back alleys, where dirty children play in gutters all day + and half the night—even young boys go about picking pockets, with + nobody to tell them it is wrong except the policeman, and he simply takes + them off to prison. And all this wretchedness is close behind the grandeur—like + the two sides of the leaf of a book. + </p> + <p> + An awful sight is a large city, seen any how from any where. But, suppose + you were to see it from the upper air, where, with your eyes and ears + open, you could take in everything at once? What would it look like? How + would you feel about it? I hardly know myself. Do you? + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor had need to be a king—that is, a boy with a kingly + nature—to be able to stand such a sight without being utterly + overcome. But he was very much bewildered—as bewildered as a blind + person who is suddenly made to see. + </p> + <p> + He gazed down on the city below him, and then put his hand over his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “I can't bear to look at it, it is so beautiful—so dreadful. And I + don't understand it—not one bit. There is nobody to tell me about + it. I wish I had somebody to speak to.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you? Then pray speak to me. I was always considered good at + conversation.” + </p> + <p> + The voice that squeaked out this reply was an excellent imitation of the + human one, though it came only from a bird. No lark this time, however, + but a great black and white creature that flew into the cloak, and began + walking round and round on the edge of it with a dignified stride, one + foot before the other, like any unfeathered biped you could name. + </p> + <p> + “I haven't the honor of your acquaintance, sir,” said the boy politely. + </p> + <p> + “Ma'am, if you please. I am a mother bird, and my name is Mag, and I shall + be happy to tell you everything you want to know. For I know a great deal; + and I enjoy talking. My family is of great antiquity; we have built in + this palace for hundreds—that is to say, dozens of years. I am + intimately acquainted with the king, the queen, and the little princes and + princesses—also the maids of honor, and all the inhabitants of the + city. I talk a good deal, but I always talk sense, and I daresay I should + be exceedingly useful to a poor little ignorant boy like you.” + </p> + <p> + “I am a prince,” said the other gently. + </p> + <p> + “All right. And I am a magpie. You will find me a most respectable bird.” + </p> + <p> + “I have no doubt of it,” was the polite answer—though he thought in + his own mind that Mag must have a very good opinion of herself. But she + was a lady and a stranger, so of course he was civil to her. + </p> + <p> + She settled herself at his elbow, and began to chatter away, pointing out + with one skinny claw, while she balanced herself on the other, every + object of interest, evidently believing, as no doubt all its inhabitants + did, that there was no capital in the world like the great metropolis of + Nomansland. + </p> + <p> + I have not seen it, and therefore cannot describe it, so we will just take + it upon trust, and suppose it to be, like every other fine city, the + finest city that ever was built. Mag said so—and of course she knew. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, there were a few things in it which surprised Prince Dolor—and, + as he had said, he could not understand them at all. One half the people + seemed so happy and busy—hurrying up and down the full streets, or + driving lazily along the parks in their grand carriages, while the other + half were so wretched and miserable. + </p> + <p> + “Can't the world be made a little more level? I would try to do it if I + were a king.” + </p> + <p> + “But you're not the king: only a little goose of a boy,” returned the + magpie loftily. “And I'm here not to explain things, only to show them. + Shall I show you the royal palace?” + </p> + <p> + It was a very magnificent palace. It had terraces and gardens, battlements + and towers. It extended over acres of ground, and had in it rooms enough + to accommodate half the city. Its windows looked in all directions, but + none of them had any particular view—except a small one, high up + toward the roof, which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains. But since + the queen died there it had been closed, boarded up, indeed, the magpie + said. It was so little and inconvenient that nobody cared to live in it. + Besides, the lower apartments, which had no view, were magnificent—worthy + of being inhabited by the king. + </p> + <p> + “I should like to see the king,” said Prince Dolor. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> + <p> + What, I wonder, would be people's idea of a king? What was Prince Dolor's? + </p> + <p> + Perhaps a very splendid personage, with a crown on his head and a scepter + in his hand, sitting on a throne and judging the people. Always doing + right, and never wrong—“The king can do no wrong” was a law laid + down in olden times. Never cross, or tired, or sick, or suffering; + perfectly handsome and well dressed, calm and good-tempered, ready to see + and hear everybody, and discourteous to nobody; all things always going + well with him, and nothing unpleasant ever happening. + </p> + <p> + This, probably, was what Prince Dolor expected to see. And what did he + see? But I must tell you how he saw it. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said the magpie, “no levee to-day. The King is ill, though his + Majesty does not wish it to be generally known—it would be so very + inconvenient. He can't see you, but perhaps you might like to go and take + a look at him in a way I often do? It is so very amusing.” + </p> + <p> + Amusing, indeed! + </p> + <p> + The prince was just now too much excited to talk much. Was he not going to + see the king his uncle, who had succeeded his father and dethroned + himself; had stepped into all the pleasant things that he, Prince Dolor, + ought to have had, and shut him up in a desolate tower? What was he like, + this great, bad, clever man? Had he got all the things he wanted, which + another ought to have had? And did he enjoy them? + </p> + <p> + “Nobody knows,” answered the magpie, just as if she had been sitting + inside the prince's heart, instead of on the top of his shoulder. “He is a + king, and that's enough. For the rest nobody knows.” + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, Mag flew down on to the palace roof, where the cloak had + rested, settling down between the great stacks of chimneys as comfortably + as if on the ground. She pecked at the tiles with her beak—truly she + was a wonderful bird—and immediately a little hole opened, a sort of + door, through which could be seen distinctly the chamber below. + </p> + <p> + “Now look in, my Prince. Make haste, for I must soon shut it up again.” + </p> + <p> + But the boy hesitated. “Isn't it rude?—won't they think us + intruding?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear no! there's a hole like this in every palace; dozens of holes, + indeed. Everybody knows it, but nobody speaks of it. Intrusion! Why, + though the royal family are supposed to live shut up behind stone walls + ever so thick, all the world knows that they live in a glass house where + everybody can see them and throw a stone at them. Now pop down on your + knees, and take a peep at his Majesty.” + </p> + <p> + His Majesty! + </p> + <p> + The Prince gazed eagerly down into a large room, the largest room he had + ever beheld, with furniture and hangings grander than anything he could + have ever imagined. A stray sunbeam, coming through a crevice of the + darkened windows, struck across the carpet, and it was the loveliest + carpet ever woven—just like a bed of flowers to walk over; only + nobody walked over it, the room being perfectly empty and silent. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the King?” asked the puzzled boy. + </p> + <p> + “There,” said Mag, pointing with one wrinkled claw to a magnificent bed, + large enough to contain six people. In the center of it, just visible + under the silken counterpane,—quite straight and still,—with + its head on the lace pillow, lay a small figure, something like wax-work, + fast asleep—very fast asleep! There was a number of sparkling rings + on the tiny yellow hands, that were curled a little, helplessly, like a + baby's, outside the coverlet; the eyes were shut, the nose looked sharp + and thin, and the long gray beard hid the mouth and lay over the breast. A + sight not ugly nor frightening, only solemn and quiet. And so very silent—two + little flies buzzing about the curtains of the bed being the only audible + sound. + </p> + <p> + “Is that the King?” whispered Prince Dolor. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied the bird. + </p> + <p> + He had been angry—furiously angry—ever since he knew how his + uncle had taken the crown, and sent him, a poor little helpless child, to + be shut up for life, just as if he had been dead. Many times the boy had + felt as if, king as he was, he should like to strike him, this great, + strong, wicked man. + </p> + <p> + Why, you might as well have struck a baby! How helpless he lay, with his + eyes shut, and his idle hands folded: they had no more work to do, bad or + good. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter with him?” asked the Prince. + </p> + <p> + “He is dead,” said the Magpie, with a croak. + </p> + <p> + No, there was not the least use in being angry with him now. On the + contrary, the Prince felt almost sorry for him, except that he looked so + peaceful with all his cares at rest. And this was being dead? So even + kings died? + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, he hadn't an easy life, folk say, for all his grandeur. + Perhaps he is glad it is over. Good-by, your Majesty.” + </p> + <p> + With another cheerful tap of her beak, Mistress Mag shut down the little + door in the tiles, and Prince Dolor's first and last sight of his uncle + was ended. + </p> + <p> + He sat in the center of his traveling-cloak, silent and thoughtful. + </p> + <p> + “What shall we do now?” said the magpie. “There's nothing much more to be + done with his majesty, except a fine funeral, which I shall certainly go + and see. All the world will. He interested the world exceedingly when he + was alive, and he ought to do it now he's dead—just once more. And + since he can't hear me, I may as well say that, on the whole, his majesty + is much better dead than alive—if we can only get somebody in his + place. There'll be such a row in the city presently. Suppose we float up + again and see it all—at a safe distance, though. It will be such + fun!” + </p> + <p> + “What will be fun?” + </p> + <p> + “A revolution.” + </p> + <p> + Whether anybody except a magpie would have called it “fun” I don't know, + but it certainly was a remarkable scene. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the cathedral bell began to toll and the minute-guns to fire, + announcing to the kingdom that it was without a king, the people gathered + in crowds, stopping at street corners to talk together. The murmur now and + then rose into a shout, and the shout into a roar. When Prince Dolor, + quietly floating in upper air, caught the sound of their different and + opposite cries, it seemed to him as if the whole city had gone mad + together. + </p> + <p> + “Long live the king!” “The king is dead—down with the king!” “Down + with the crown, and the king too!” “Hurrah for the republic!” “Hurrah for + no government at all!” + </p> + <p> + Such were the shouts which traveled up to the traveling-cloak. And then + began—oh, what a scene! + </p> + <p> + When you children are grown men and women—or before—you will + hear and read in books about what are called revolutions—earnestly I + trust that neither I nor you may ever see one. But they have happened, and + may happen again, in other countries besides Nomansland, when wicked kings + have helped to make their people wicked too, or out of an unrighteous + nation have sprung rulers equally bad; or, without either of these causes, + when a restless country has fancied any change better than no change at + all. + </p> + <p> + For me, I don't like changes, unless pretty sure that they are for good. + And how good can come out of absolute evil—the horrible evil that + went on this night under Prince Dolor's very eyes—soldiers shooting + down people by hundreds in the streets, scaffolds erected, and heads + dropping off—houses burned, and women and children murdered—this + is more than I can understand. + </p> + <p> + But all these things you will find in history, my children, and must by + and by judge for yourselves the right and wrong of them, as far as anybody + ever can judge. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor saw it all. Things happened so fast one after another that + they quite confused his faculties. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, let me go home,” he cried at last, stopping his ears and shutting his + eyes; “only let me go home!” for even his lonely tower seemed home, and + its dreariness and silence absolute paradise after all this. + </p> + <p> + “Good-by, then,” said the magpie, flapping her wings. She had been + chatting incessantly all day and all night, for it was actually thus long + that Prince Dolor had been hovering over the city, neither eating nor + sleeping, with all these terrible things happening under his very eyes. + “You've had enough, I suppose, of seeing the world?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I have—I have!” cried the prince, with a shudder. + </p> + <p> + “That is, till next time. All right, your royal highness. You don't know + me, but I know you. We may meet again some time.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at him with her clear, piercing eyes, sharp enough to see + through everything, and it seemed as if they changed from bird's eyes to + human eyes—the very eyes of his godmother, whom he had not seen for + ever so long. But the minute afterward she became only a bird, and with a + screech and a chatter, spread her wings and flew away. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor fell into a kind of swoon of utter misery, bewilderment, and + exhaustion, and when he awoke he found himself in his own room—alone + and quiet—with the dawn just breaking, and the long rim of yellow + light in the horizon glimmering through the window-panes. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> + <p> + When Prince Dolor sat up in bed, trying to remember where he was, whither + he had been, and what he had seen the day before, he perceived that his + room was empty. + </p> + <p> + Generally his nurse rather worried him by breaking his slumbers, coming in + and “setting things to rights,” as she called it. Now the dust lay thick + upon chairs and tables; there was no harsh voice heard to scold him for + not getting up immediately, which, I am sorry to say, this boy did not + always do. For he so enjoyed lying still, and thinking lazily about + everything or nothing, that, if he had not tried hard against it, he would + certainly have become like those celebrated + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Two little men + Who lay in their bed till the clock struck ten.” + </pre> + <p> + It was striking ten now, and still no nurse was to be seen. He was rather + relieved at first, for he felt so tired; and besides, when he stretched + out his arm, he found to his dismay that he had gone to bed in his + clothes. + </p> + <p> + Very uncomfortable he felt, of course; and just a little frightened. + Especially when he began to call and call again, but nobody answered. + Often he used to think how nice it would be to get rid of his nurse and + live in this tower all by himself—like a sort of monarch able to do + everything he liked, and leave undone all that he did not want to do; but + now that this seemed really to have happened, he did not like it at all. + </p> + <p> + “Nurse,—dear nurse,—please come back!” he called out. “Come + back, and I will be the best boy in all the land.” + </p> + <p> + And when she did not come back, and nothing but silence answered his + lamentable call, he very nearly began to cry. + </p> + <p> + “This won't do,” he said at last, dashing the tears from his eyes. “It's + just like a baby, and I'm a big boy—shall be a man some day. What + has happened, I wonder? I'll go and see.” + </p> + <p> + He sprang out of bed,—not to his feet, alas! but to his poor little + weak knees, and crawled on them from room to room. All the four chambers + were deserted—not forlorn or untidy, for everything seemed to have + been done for his comfort—the breakfast and dinner things were laid, + the food spread in order. He might live “like a prince,” as the proverb + is, for several days. But the place was entirely forsaken—there was + evidently not a creature but himself in the solitary tower. + </p> + <p> + A great fear came upon the poor boy. Lonely as his life had been, he had + never known what it was to be absolutely alone. A kind of despair seized + him—no violent anger or terror, but a sort of patient desolation. + </p> + <p> + “What in the world am I to do?” thought he, and sat down in the middle of + the floor, half inclined to believe that it would be better to give up + entirely, lay himself down, and die. + </p> + <p> + This feeling, however, did not last long, for he was young and strong, + and, I said before, by nature a very courageous boy. There came into his + head, somehow or other, a proverb that his nurse had taught him—the + people of Nomansland were very fond of proverbs: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “For every evil under the sun + There is a remedy, or there's none; + If there is one, try to find it— + If there isn't, never mind it.” + </pre> + <p> + “I wonder is there a remedy now, and could I find it?” cried the Prince, + jumping up and looking out of the window. + </p> + <p> + No help there. He only saw the broad, bleak, sunshiny plain—that is, + at first. But by and by, in the circle of mud that surrounded the base of + the tower, he perceived distinctly the marks of a horse's feet, and just + in the spot where the deaf-mute was accustomed to tie up his great black + charger, while he himself ascended, there lay the remains of a bundle of + hay and a feed of corn. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that's it. He has come and gone, taking nurse away with him. Poor + nurse! how glad she would be to go!” + </p> + <p> + That was Prince Dolor's first thought. His second—wasn't it natural?—was + a passionate indignation at her cruelty—at the cruelty of all the + world toward him, a poor little helpless boy. Then he determined, forsaken + as he was, to try and hold on to the last, and not to die as long as he + could possibly help it. + </p> + <p> + Anyhow, it would be easier to die here than out in the world, among the + terrible doings which he had just beheld—from the midst of which, it + suddenly struck him, the deaf-mute had come, contriving somehow to make + the nurse understand that the king was dead, and she need have no fear in + going back to the capital, where there was a grand revolution, and + everything turned upside down. So, of course, she had gone. “I hope she'll + enjoy it, miserable woman—if they don't cut off her head too.” + </p> + <p> + And then a kind of remorse smote him for feeling so bitterly toward her, + after all the years she had taken care of him—grudgingly, perhaps, + and coldly; still she had taken care of him, and that even to the last: + for, as I have said, all his four rooms were as tidy as possible, and his + meals laid out, that he might have no more trouble than could be helped. + </p> + <p> + “Possibly she did not mean to be cruel. I won't judge her,” said he. And + afterward he was very glad that he had so determined. + </p> + <p> + For the second time he tried to dress himself, and then to do everything + he could for himself—even to sweeping up the hearth and putting on + more coals. “It's a funny thing for a prince to have to do,” said he, + laughing. “But my godmother once said princes need never mind doing + anything.” + </p> + <p> + And then he thought a little of his godmother. Not of summoning her, or + asking her to help him,—she had evidently left him to help himself, + and he was determined to try his best to do it, being a very proud and + independent boy,—but he remembered her tenderly and regret-fully, as + if even she had been a little hard upon him—poor, forlorn boy that + he was. But he seemed to have seen and learned so much within the last few + days that he scarcely felt like a boy, but a man—until he went to + bed at night. + </p> + <p> + When I was a child, I used often to think how nice it would be to live in + a little house all by my own self—a house built high up in a tree, + or far away in a forest, or halfway up a hillside so deliciously alone and + independent. Not a lesson to learn—but no! I always liked learning + my lessons. Anyhow, to choose the lessons I liked best, to have as many + books to read and dolls to play with as ever I wanted: above all, to be + free and at rest, with nobody to tease or trouble or scold me, would be + charming. For I was a lonely little thing, who liked quietness—as + many children do; which other children, and sometimes grown-up people + even, cannot understand. And so I can understand Prince Dolor. + </p> + <p> + After his first despair, he was not merely comfortable, but actually happy + in his solitude, doing everything for himself, and enjoying everything by + himself—until bedtime. Then he did not like it at all. No more, I + suppose, than other children would have liked my imaginary house in a tree + when they had had sufficient of their own company. + </p> + <p> + But the Prince had to bear it—and he did bear it, like a prince—for + fully five days. All that time he got up in the morning and went to bed at + night without having spoken to a creature, or, indeed, heard a single + sound. For even his little lark was silent; and as for his + traveling-cloak, either he never thought about it, or else it had been + spirited away—for he made no use of it, nor attempted to do so. + </p> + <p> + A very strange existence it was, those five lonely days. He never entirely + forgot it. It threw him back upon himself, and into himself—in a way + that all of us have to learn when we grow up, and are the better for it; + but it is somewhat hard learning. + </p> + <p> + On the sixth day Prince Dolor had a strange composure in his look, but he + was very grave and thin and white. He had nearly come to the end of his + provisions—and what was to happen next? Get out of the tower he + could not: the ladder the deaf-mute used was always carried away again; + and if it had not been, how could the poor boy have used it? And even if + he slung or flung himself down, and by miraculous chance came alive to the + foot of the tower, how could he run away? + </p> + <p> + Fate had been very hard to him, or so it seemed. + </p> + <p> + He made up his mind to die. Not that he wished to die; on the contrary, + there was a great deal that he wished to live to do; but if he must die, + he must. Dying did not seem so very dreadful; not even to lie quiet like + his uncle, whom he had entirely forgiven now, and neither be miserable nor + naughty any more, and escape all those horrible things that he had seen + going on outside the palace, in that awful place which was called “the + world.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a great deal nicer here,” said the poor little Prince, and collected + all his pretty things round him: his favorite pictures, which he thought + he should like to have near him when he died; his books and toys—no, + he had ceased to care for toys now; he only liked them because he had done + so as a child. And there he sat very calm and patient, like a king in his + castle, waiting for the end. + </p> + <p> + “Still, I wish I had done something first—something worth doing, + that somebody might remember me by,” thought he. “Suppose I had grown a + man, and had had work to do, and people to care for, and was so useful and + busy that they liked me, and perhaps even forgot I was lame? Then it would + have been nice to live, I think.” + </p> + <p> + A tear came into the little fellow's eyes, and he listened intently + through the dead silence for some hopeful sound. + </p> + <p> + Was there one?—was it his little lark, whom he had almost forgotten? + No, nothing half so sweet. But it really was something—something + which came nearer and nearer, so that there was no mistaking it. It was + the sound of a trumpet, one of the great silver trumpets so admired in + Nomansland. Not pleasant music, but very bold, grand, and inspiring. + </p> + <p> + As he listened to it the boy seemed to recall many things which had + slipped his memory for years, and to nerve himself for whatever might be + going to happen. + </p> + <p> + What had happened was this. + </p> + <p> + The poor condemned woman had not been such a wicked woman after all. + Perhaps her courage was not wholly disinterested, but she had done a very + heroic thing. As soon as she heard of the death and burial of the King and + of the changes that were taking place in the country, a daring idea came + into her head—to set upon the throne of Nomansland its rightful + heir. Thereupon she persuaded the deaf-mute to take her away with him, and + they galloped like the wind from city to city, spreading everywhere the + news that Prince Dolor's death and burial had been an invention concocted + by his wicked uncle that he was alive and well, and the noblest young + prince that ever was born. + </p> + <p> + It was a bold stroke, but it succeeded. The country, weary perhaps of the + late King's harsh rule, and yet glad to save itself from the horrors of + the last few days, and the still further horrors of no rule at all, and + having no particular interest in the other young princes, jumped at the + idea of this Prince, who was the son of their late good King and the + beloved Queen Dolorez. + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah for Prince Dolor! Let Prince Dolor be our sovereign!” rang from + end to end of the kingdom. Everybody tried to remember what a dear baby he + once was—how like his mother, who had been so sweet and kind, and + his father, the finest-looking king that ever reigned. Nobody remembered + his lameness—or, if they did, they passed it over as a matter of no + consequence. They were determined to have him reign over them, boy as he + was—perhaps just because he was a boy, since in that case the great + nobles thought they should be able to do as they liked with the country. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, with a fickleness not confined to the people of Nomansland, + no sooner was the late King laid in his grave than they pronounced him to + have been a usurper; turned all his family out of the palace, and left it + empty for the reception of the new sovereign, whom they went to fetch with + great rejoicing, a select body of lords, gentlemen, and soldiers traveling + night and day in solemn procession through the country until they reached + Hopeless Tower. + </p> + <p> + There they found the Prince, sitting calmly on the floor—deadly + pale, indeed, for he expected a quite different end from this, and was + resolved, if he had to die, to die courageously, like a Prince and a King. + </p> + <p> + But when they hailed him as Prince and King, and explained to him how + matters stood, and went down on their knees before him, offering the crown + (on a velvet cushion, with four golden tassels, each nearly as big as his + head),—small though he was and lame, which lameness the courtiers + pretended not to notice,—there came such a glow into his face, such + a dignity into his demeanor, that he became beautiful, king-like. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he said, “if you desire it, I will be your king. And I will do my + best to make my people happy.” + </p> + <p> + Then there arose, from inside and outside the tower, such a shout as never + yet was heard across the lonely plain. + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor shrank a little from the deafening sound. “How shall I be + able to rule all this great people? You forget, my lords, that I am only a + little boy still.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so very little,” was the respectful answer. “We have searched in the + records, and found that your Royal Highness—your Majesty, I mean—is + fifteen years old.” + </p> + <p> + “Am I?” said Prince Dolor; and his first thought was a thoroughly childish + pleasure that he should now have a birthday, with a whole nation to keep + it. Then he remembered that his childish days were done. He was a monarch + now. Even his nurse, to whom, the moment he saw her, he had held out his + hand, kissed it reverently, and called him ceremoniously “his Majesty the + King.” + </p> + <p> + “A king must be always a king, I suppose,” said he half-sadly, when, the + ceremonies over, he had been left to himself for just ten minutes, to put + off his boy's clothes and be reattired in magnificent robes, before he was + conveyed away from his tower to the royal palace. + </p> + <p> + He could take nothing with him; indeed, he soon saw that, however politely + they spoke, they would not allow him to take anything. If he was to be + their king, he must give up his old life forever. So he looked with tender + farewell on his old books, old toys, the furniture he knew so well, and + the familiar plain in all its levelness—ugly yet pleasant, simply + because it was familiar. + </p> + <p> + “It will be a new life in a new world,” said he to himself; “but I'll + remember the old things still. And, oh! if before I go I could but once + see my dear old godmother.” + </p> + <p> + While he spoke he had laid himself down on the bed for a minute or two, + rather tired with his grandeur, and confused by the noise of the trumpets + which kept playing incessantly down below. He gazed, half sadly, up to the + skylight, whence there came pouring a stream of sunrays, with innumerable + motes floating there, like a bridge thrown between heaven and earth. + Sliding down it, as if she had been made of air, came the little old woman + in gray. + </p> + <p> + So beautiful looked she—old as she was—that Prince Dolor was + at first quite startled by the apparition. Then he held out his arms in + eager delight. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, godmother, you have not forsaken me!” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, my son. You may not have seen me, but I have seen you many a + time.” + </p> + <p> + “How?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, never mind. I can turn into anything I please, you know. And I have + been a bearskin rug, and a crystal goblet—and sometimes I have + changed from inanimate to animate nature, put on feathers, and made myself + very comfortable as a bird.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” laughed the prince, a new light breaking in upon him as he caught + the infection of her tone, lively and mischievous. “Ha! ha! a lark, for + instance?” + </p> + <p> + “Or a magpie,” answered she, with a capital imitation of Mistress Mag's + croaky voice. “Do you suppose I am always sentimental, and never funny? If + anything makes you happy, gay, or grave, don't you think it is more than + likely to come through your old godmother?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe that,” said the boy tenderly, holding out his arms. They + clasped one another in a close embrace. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Prince Dolor looked very anxious. “You will not leave me now that + I am a king? Otherwise I had rather not be a king at all. Promise never to + forsake me!” + </p> + <p> + The little old woman laughed gayly. “Forsake you? that is impossible. But + it is just possible you may forsake me. Not probable though. Your mother + never did, and she was a queen. The sweetest queen in all the world was + the Lady Dolorez.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me about her,” said the boy eagerly. “As I get older I think I can + understand more. Do tell me.” + </p> + <p> + “Not now. You couldn't hear me for the trumpets and the shouting. But when + you are come to the palace, ask for a long-closed upper room, which looks + out upon the Beautiful Mountains; open it and take it for your own. + Whenever you go there you will always find me, and we will talk together + about all sorts of things.” + </p> + <p> + “And about my mother?” + </p> + <p> + The little old woman nodded—and kept nodding and smiling to herself + many times, as the boy repeated over and over again the sweet words he had + never known or understood—“my mother—my mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Now I must go,” said she, as the trumpets blared louder and louder, and + the shouts of the people showed that they would not endure any delay. + “Good-by, good-by! Open the window and out I fly.” + </p> + <p> + Prince Dolor repeated gayly the musical rhyme—but all the while + tried to hold his godmother fast. + </p> + <p> + Vain, vain! for the moment that a knocking was heard at his door the sun + went behind a cloud, the bright stream of dancing motes vanished, and the + little old woman with them—he knew not where. + </p> + <p> + So Prince Dolor quitted his tower—which he had entered so mournfully + and ignominiously as a little helpless baby carried in the deaf-mute's + arms—quitted it as the great King of Nomansland. + </p> + <p> + The only thing he took away with him was something so insignificant that + none of the lords, gentlemen, and soldiers who escorted him with such + triumphant splendor could possibly notice it—a tiny bundle, which he + had found lying on the floor just where the bridge of sunbeams had rested. + At once he had pounced upon it, and thrust it secretly into his bosom, + where it dwindled into such small proportions that it might have been + taken for a mere chest-comforter, a bit of flannel, or an old + pocket-handkerchief. It was his traveling-cloak! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X + </h2> + <p> + Did Prince Dolar become a great king? Was he, though little more than a + boy, “the father of his people,” as all kings ought to be? Did his reign + last long—long and happy? and what were the principal events of it, + as chronicled in the history of Nomansland? + </p> + <p> + Why, if I were to answer all these questions I should have to write + another book. And I'm tired, children, tired—as grown-up people + sometimes are, though not always with play. (Besides, I have a small + person belonging to me, who, though she likes extremely to listen to the + word-of-mouth story of this book, grumbles much at the writing of it, and + has run about the house clapping her hands with joy when mamma told her + that it was nearly finished. But that is neither here nor there.) + </p> + <p> + I have related as well as I could the history of Prince Dolor, but with + the history of Nomansland I am as yet unacquainted. If anybody knows it, + perhaps he or she will kindly write it all down in another book. But mine + is done. + </p> + <p> + However, of this I am sure, that Prince Dolor made an excellent king. + Nobody ever does anything less well, not even the commonest duty of common + daily life, for having such a godmother as the little old woman clothed in + gray, whose name is—well, I leave you to guess. Nor, I think, is + anybody less good, less capable of both work and enjoyment in after-life, + for having been a little unhappy in his youth, as the prince had been. + </p> + <p> + I cannot take upon myself to say that he was always happy now—who + is?—or that he had no cares; just show me the person who is quite + free from them! But whenever people worried and bothered him—as they + did sometimes, with state etiquette, state squabbles, and the like, + setting up themselves and pulling down their neighbors—he would take + refuge in that upper room which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains, + and, laying his head on his godmother's shoulder, become calmed and at + rest. + </p> + <p> + Also, she helped him out of any difficulty which now and then occurred—for + there never was such a wise old woman. When the people of Nomansland + raised the alarm—as sometimes they did—for what people can + exist without a little fault-finding?—and began to cry out, + “Un-happy is the nation whose king is a child,” she would say to him + gently, “You are a child. Accept the fact. Be humble—be teachable. + Lean upon the wisdom of others till you have gained your own.” + </p> + <p> + He did so. He learned how to take advice before attempting to give it, to + obey before he could righteously command. He assembled round him all the + good and wise of his kingdom—laid all its affairs before them, and + was guided by their opinions until he had maturely formed his own. + </p> + <p> + This he did sooner than anybody would have imagined who did not know of + his godmother and his traveling-cloak—two secret blessings, which, + though many guessed at, nobody quite understood. Nor did they understand + why he loved so the little upper room, except that it had been his + mother's room, from the window of which, as people remembered now, she had + used to sit for hours watching the Beautiful Mountains. + </p> + <p> + Out of that window he used to fly—not very often; as he grew older, + the labors of state prevented the frequent use of his traveling-cloak; + still he did use it sometimes. Only now it was less for his own pleasure + and amusement than to see something or investigate something for the good + of the country. But he prized his godmother's gift as dearly as ever. It + was a comfort to him in all his vexations, an enhancement of all his joys. + It made him almost forget his lameness—which was never cured. + </p> + <p> + However, the cruel things which had been once foreboded of him did not + happen. His misfortune was not such a heavy one, after all. It proved to + be of much less inconvenience, even to himself, than had been feared. A + council of eminent surgeons and mechanicians invented for him a wonderful + pair of crutches, with the help of which, though he never walked easily or + gracefully, he did manage to walk so as to be quite independent. And such + was the love his people bore him that they never heard the sound of his + crutches on the marble palace floors without a leap of the heart, for they + knew that good was coming to them whenever he approached. + </p> + <p> + Thus, though he never walked in processions, never reviewed his troops + mounted on a magnificent charger, nor did any of the things which make a + show monarch so much appreciated, he was able for all the duties and a + great many of the pleasures of his rank. When he held his levees, not + standing, but seated on a throne ingeniously contrived to hide his + infirmity, the people thronged to greet him; when he drove out through the + city streets, shouts followed him wherever he went—every countenance + brightened as he passed, and his own, perhaps, was the brightest of all. + </p> + <p> + First, because, accepting his affliction as inevitable, he took it + patiently; second, because, being a brave man, he bore it bravely, trying + to forget himself, and live out of himself, and in and for other people. + Therefore other people grew to love him so well that I think hundreds of + his subjects might have been found who were almost ready to die for their + poor lame king. + </p> + <p> + He never gave them a queen. When they implored him to choose one, he + replied that his country was his bride, and he desired no other. But + perhaps the real reason was that he shrank from any change; and that no + wife in all the world would have been found so perfect, so lovable, so + tender to him in all his weaknesses as his beautiful old godmother. + </p> + <p> + His twenty-four other godfathers and godmothers, or as many of them as + were still alive, crowded round him as soon as he ascended the throne. He + was very civil to them all, but adopted none of the names they had given + him, keeping to the one by which he had been always known, though it had + now almost lost its meaning; for King Dolor was one of the happiest and + cheerfulest men alive. + </p> + <p> + He did a good many things, however, unlike most men and most kings, which + a little astonished his subjects. First, he pardoned the condemned woman + who had been his nurse, and ordained that from henceforth there should be + no such thing as the punishment of death in Nomansland. All capital + criminals were to be sent to perpetual imprisonment in Hopeless Tower and + the plain round about it, where they could do no harm to anybody, and + might in time do a little good, as the woman had done. + </p> + <p> + Another surprise he shortly afterward gave the nation. He recalled his + uncle's family, who had fled away in terror to another country, and + restored them to all their honors in their own. By and by he chose the + eldest son of his eldest cousin (who had been dead a year), and had him + educated in the royal palace, as the heir to the throne. This little + prince was a quiet, unobtrusive boy, so that everybody wondered at the + King's choosing him when there were so many more; but as he grew into a + fine young fellow, good and brave, they agreed that the King judged more + wisely than they. + </p> + <p> + “Not a lame prince, either,” his Majesty observed one day, watching him + affectionately; for he was the best runner, the highest leaper, the + keenest and most active sportsman in the country. “One cannot make one's + self, but one can sometimes help a little in the making of somebody else. + It is well.” + </p> + <p> + This was said, not to any of his great lords and ladies, but to a good old + woman—his first homely nurse whom he had sought for far and wide, + and at last found in her cottage among the Beautiful Mountains. He sent + for her to visit him once a year, and treated her with great honor until + she died. He was equally kind, though somewhat less tender, to his other + nurse, who, after receiving her pardon, returned to her native town and + grew into a great lady, and I hope a good one. But as she was so grand a + personage now, any little faults she had did not show. + </p> + <p> + Thus King Dolor's reign passed year after year, long and prosperous. + Whether he were happy—“as happy as a king”—is a question no + human being can decide. But I think he was, because he had the power of + making everybody about him happy, and did it too; also because he was his + godmother's godson, and could shut himself up with her whenever he liked, + in that quiet little room in view of the Beautiful Mountains, which nobody + else ever saw or cared to see. They were too far off, and the city lay so + low. But there they were, all the time. No change ever came to them; and I + think, at any day throughout his long reign, the King would sooner have + lost his crown than have lost sight of the Beautiful Mountains. + </p> + <p> + In course of time, when the little Prince, his cousin, was grown into a + tall young man, capable of all the duties of a man, his Majesty did one of + the most extraordinary acts ever known in a sovereign beloved by his + people and prosperous in his reign. He announced that he wished to invest + his heir with the royal purple—at any rate, for a time—while + he himself went away on a distant journey, whither he had long desired to + go. + </p> + <p> + Everybody marveled, but nobody opposed him. Who could oppose the good + King, who was not a young king now? And besides, the nation had a great + admiration for the young regent—and possibly a lurking pleasure in + change. + </p> + <p> + So there was a fixed day when all the people whom it would hold assembled + in the great square of the capital, to see the young prince installed + solemnly in his new duties, and undertaking his new vows. He was a very + fine young fellow; tall and straight as a poplar tree, with a frank, + handsome face—a great deal handsomer than the king, some people + said, but others thought differently. However, as his Majesty sat on his + throne, with his gray hair falling from underneath his crown, and a few + wrinkles showing in spite of his smile, there was something about his + countenance which made his people, even while they shouted, regard him + with a tenderness mixed with awe. + </p> + <p> + He lifted up his thin, slender hand, and there came a silence over the + vast crowd immediately. Then he spoke, in his own accustomed way, using no + grand words, but saying what he had to say in the simplest fashion, though + with a clearness that struck their ears like the first song of a bird in + the dusk of the morning. + </p> + <p> + “My people, I am tired: I want to rest. I have had a long reign, and done + much work—at least, as much as I was able to do. Many might have + done it better than I—but none with a better will. Now I leave it to + others; I am tired, very tired. Let me go home.” + </p> + <p> + There arose a murmur—of content or discontent none could well tell; + then it died down again, and the assembly listened silently once more. + </p> + <p> + “I am not anxious about you, my people—my children,” continued the + King. “You are prosperous and at peace. I leave you in good hands. The + Prince Regent will be a fitter king for you than I.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, no!” rose the universal shout—and those who had sometimes + found fault with him shouted louder than anybody. But he seemed as if he + heard them not. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes,” said he, as soon as the tumult had a little subsided: and his + voice sounded firm and clear; and some very old people, who boasted of + having seen him as a child, declared that his face took a sudden change, + and grew as young and sweet as that of the little Prince Dolor. “Yes, I + must go. It is time for me to go. Remember me sometimes, my people, for I + have loved you well. And I am going a long way, and I do not think I shall + come back any more.” + </p> + <p> + He drew a little bundle out of his breast pocket—a bundle that + nobody had ever seen before. It was small and shabby-looking, and tied up + with many knots, which untied themselves in an instant. With a joyful + countenance, he muttered over it a few half-intelligible words. Then, so + suddenly that even those nearest to his Majesty could not tell how it came + about, the King was away—away—floating right up in the air—upon + something, they knew not what, except that it appeared to be as safe and + pleasant as the wings of a bird. + </p> + <p> + And after him sprang a bird—a dear little lark, rising from whence + no one could say, since larks do not usually build their nests in the + pavement of city squares. But there it was, a real lark, singing far over + their heads, louder and clearer and more joyful as it vanished further + into the blue sky. + </p> + <p> + Shading their eyes, and straining their ears, the astonished people stood + until the whole vision disappeared like a speck in the clouds—the + rosy clouds that overhung the Beautiful Mountains. + </p> + <p> + King Dolor was never again beheld or heard of in his own country. But the + good he had done there lasted for years and years; he was long missed and + deeply mourned—at least, so far as anybody could mourn one who was + gone on such a happy journey. + </p> + <p> + Whither he went, or who went with him, it is impossible to say. But I + myself believe that his godmother took him on his traveling-cloak to the + Beautiful Mountains. What he did there, or where he is now, who can tell? + I cannot. But one thing I am quite sure of, that, wherever he is, he is + perfectly happy. + </p> + <p> + And so, when I think of him, am I. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE INVISIBLE PRINCE + </h2> + <p> + THERE were a king and queen who were dotingly fond of their only son, + notwithstanding that he was equally deformed in mind and person. The king + was quite sensible of the evil disposition of his son, but the queen in + her excessive fondness saw no fault whatever in her dear Furibon, as he + was named. The surest way to win her favor was to praise Furibon for + charms he did not possess. When he came of age to have a governor, the + king made choice of a prince who had an ancient right to the crown, but + was not able to support it. This prince had a son, named Leander, + handsome, accomplished, amiable—in every respect the opposite of + Prince Furibon. The two were frequently together, which only made the + deformed prince more repulsive. + </p> + <p> + One day, certain ambassadors having arrived from a far country, the prince + stood in a gallery to see them; when, taking Leander for the king's son, + they made their obeisance to him, treating Furibon as a mere dwarf, at + which the latter was so offended that he drew his sword, and would have + done them a mischief had not the king just then appeared. As it was, the + affair produced a quarrel, which ended in Leander's being sent to a + far-away castle belonging to his father. + </p> + <p> + There, however, he was quite happy, for he was a great lover of hunting, + fishing, and walking: he understood painting, read much, and played upon + several instruments, so that he was glad to be freed from the fantastic + humors of Furibon. One day as he was walking in the garden, finding the + heat increase, he retired into a shady grove and began to play upon the + flute to amuse himself. As he played, he felt something wind about his + leg, and looking down saw a great adder: he took his handkerchief, and + catching it by the head was going to kill it. But the adder, looking + steadfastly in his face, seemed to beg his pardon. At this instant one of + the gardeners happened to come to the place where Leander was, and spying + the snake, cried out to his master: “Hold him fast, sir; it is but an hour + since we ran after him to kill him: it is the most mischievous creature in + the world.” + </p> + <p> + Leander, casting his eyes a second time upon the snake, which was speckled + with a thousand extraordinary colors, perceived the poor creature still + looked upon him with an aspect that seemed to implore compassion, and + never tried in the least to defend itself. + </p> + <p> + “Though thou hast such a mind to kill it,” said he to the gardener, “yet, + as it came to me for refuge, I forbid thee to do it any harm; for I will + keep it, and when it has cast its beautiful skin I will let it go.” He + then returned home, and carrying the snake with him, put it into a large + chamber, the key of which he kept himself, and ordered bran, milk, and + flowers to be given to it, for its delight and sustenance; so that never + was snake so happy. Leander went sometimes to see it, and when it + perceived him it made haste to meet him, showing him all the little marks + of love and gratitude of which a poor snake was capable, which did not a + little surprise him, though he took no further notice of it. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime all the court ladies were extremely troubled at his + absence, and he was the subject of all their discourse. “Alas!” cried + they, “there is no pleasure at court since Leander is gone, of whose + absence the wicked Furibon is the cause!” Furibon also had his parasites, + for his power over the queen made him feared; they told him what the + ladies said, which enraged him to such a degree that in his passion he + flew to the queen's chamber, and vowed he would kill himself before her + face if she did not find means to destroy Leander. The queen, who also + hated Leander, because he was handsomer than her son, replied that she had + long looked upon him as a traitor, and therefore would willingly consent + to his death. To which purpose she advised Furibon to go a-hunting with + some of his confidants, and contrive it so that Leander should make one of + the party. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said she, “you may find some way to punish him for pleasing + everybody.” + </p> + <p> + Furibon understood her, and accordingly went a-hunting; and Leander, when + he heard the horns and the hounds, mounted his horse and rode to see who + it was. But he was surprised to meet the prince so unexpectedly; he + alighted immediately and saluted him with respect; and Furibon received + him more graciously than usual and bade follow him. All of a sudden he + turned his horse and rode another way, making a sign to the ruffians to + take the first opportunity to kill him; but before he had got quite out of + sight, a lion of prodigious size, coming out of his den, leaped upon + Furibon; all his followers fled, and only Leander remained; who, attacking + the animal sword in hand, by his valor and agility saved the life of his + most cruel enemy, who had fallen in a swoon from fear. When he recovered, + Leander presented him his horse to remount. Now, any other than such a + wretch would have been grateful, but Furibon did not even look upon him; + nay, mounting the horse, he rode in quest of the ruffians, to whom he + repeated his orders to kill him. They accordingly surrounded Leander, who, + setting his back to a tree, behaved with so much bravery that he laid them + all dead at his feet. Furibon, believing him by this time slain, rode + eagerly up to the spot. When Leander saw him he advanced to meet him. + “Sir,” said he, “if it was by your order that these assassins came to kill + me, I am sorry I made any defense.” + </p> + <p> + “You are an insolent villain!” replied Furibon, “and if ever you come into + my presence again, you shall surely die.” + </p> + <p> + Leander made no answer, but retired sad and pensive to his own home, where + he spent the night in pondering what was best for him to do; for there was + no likelihood he should be able to defend himself against the power of the + king's son; therefore he at length concluded he would travel abroad and + see the world. Being ready to depart, he recollected his snake, and, + calling for some milk and fruits, carried them to the poor creature for + the last time; but on opening the door he perceived an extraordinary + luster in one corner of the room, and casting his eye on the place he was + surprised to see a lady, whose noble and majestic air made him immediately + conclude she was a princess of royal birth. Her habit was of purple satin, + embroidered with pearls and diamonds; she advanced toward him with a + gracious smile. + </p> + <p> + “Young prince,” said she, “you find no longer your pet snake, but me, the + fairy Gentilla, ready to requite your generosity. For know that we fairies + live a hundred years in flourishing youth, without diseases, without + trouble or pain; and this term being expired, we become snakes for eight + days. During that time it is not in our power to prevent any misfortune + that may befall us; and if we happen to be killed, we never revive again. + But these eight days being expired, we resume our usual form and recover + our beauty, our power, and our riches. Now you know how much I am obliged + to your goodness, and it is but just that I should repay my debt of + gratitude; think how I can serve you and depend on me.” + </p> + <p> + The young prince, who had never conversed with a fairy till now, was so + surprised that it was a long time before he could speak. But at length, + making a profound reverence, “Madam,” said he, “since I have had the honor + to serve you, I know not any other happiness that I can wish for.” + </p> + <p> + “I should be sorry,” replied she, “not to be of service to you in + something; consider, it is in my power to bestow on you long life, + kingdoms, riches; to give you mines of diamonds and houses full of gold; I + can make you an excellent orator, poet, musician, and painter; or, if you + desire it, a spirit of the air, the water, or the earth.” + </p> + <p> + Here Leander interrupted her. “Permit me, madam,” said he, “to ask you + what benefit it would be to me to be a spirit?” + </p> + <p> + “Much,” replied the fairy, “you would be invisible when you pleased, and + might in an instant traverse the whole earth; you would be able to fly + without wings, to descend into the abyss of the earth without dying, and + walk at the bottom of the sea without being drowned; nor doors, nor + windows, though fast shut and locked, could hinder you from entering + anywhere; and whenever you had a mind, you might resume your natural + form.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, madam!” cried Leander, “then let me be a spirit; I am going to + travel, and should prefer it above all those other advantages you have so + generously offered me.” + </p> + <p> + Gentilla thereupon stroking his face three times, “Be a spirit,” said she; + and then, embracing him, she gave him a little red cap with a plume of + feathers. “When you put on this cap you shall be invisible; but when you + take it off you shall again become visible.” + </p> + <p> + Leander, overjoyed, put his little red cap upon his head and wished + himself in the forest, that he might gather some wild roses which he had + observed there: his body immediately became as light as thought; he flew + through the window like a bird; though, in flying over the river, he was + not without fear lest he should fall into it, and the power of the fairy + not be able to save him. But he arrived in safety at the rose-bushes, + plucked the three roses, and returned immediately to his chamber; + presented his roses to the fairy, overjoyed that his first experiments had + succeeded so well. She bade him keep the roses, for that one of them would + supply him with money whenever he wanted it; that if he put the other into + his mistress' bosom, he would know whether she was faithful or not; and + that the third would keep him always in good health. Then, without staying + to receive his thanks, she wished him success in his travels and + disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Leander, infinitely pleased, settled his affairs, mounted the finest horse + in the stable, called Gris-de-line, and attended by some of his servants + in livery, made his return to court. Now you must know Furibon had given + out that had it not been for his courage Leander would have murdered him + when they were a-hunting; so the king, being importuned by the queen, gave + orders that Leander should be apprehended. But when he came, he showed so + much courage and resolution that Furibon ran to the queen's chamber and + prayed her to order him to be seized. The queen, who was extremely + diligent in everything that her son desired, went immediately to the king. + Furibon, being impatient to know what would be resolved, followed her; but + stopped at the door and laid his ear to the keyhole, putting his hair + aside that he might the better hear what was said. At the same time, + Leander entered the court-hall of the palace with his red cap upon his + head, and perceiving Furibon listening at the door of the king's chamber, + he took a nail and a hammer and nailed his ear to the door. Furibon began + to roar, so that the queen, hearing her son's voice, ran and opened the + door, and, pulling it hastily, tore her son's ear from his head. Half out + of her wits, she set him in her lap, took up his ear, kissed it, and + clapped it again upon its place; but the invisible Leander, seizing upon a + handful of twigs, with which they corrected the king's little dogs, gave + the queen several lashes upon her hands, and her son as many on the nose: + upon which the queen cried out, “Murder! murder!” and the king looked + about, and the people came running in; but nothing was to be seen. Some + cried that the queen was mad, and that her madness proceeded from her + grief to see that her son had lost one ear; and the king was as ready as + any to believe it, so that when she came near him he avoided her, which + made a very ridiculous scene. Leander, then leaving the chamber, went into + the garden, and there, assuming his own shape, he boldly began to pluck + the queen's cherries, apricots, strawberries, and flowers, though he knew + she set such a high value on them that it was as much as a man's life was + worth to touch one. The gardeners, all amazed, came and told their + majesties that Prince Leander was making havoc of all the fruits and + flowers in the queen's gardens. + </p> + <p> + “What insolence!” said the queen: then turning to Furibon, “my pretty + child, forget the pain of thy ear but for a moment, and fetch that vile + wretch hither; take our guards, both horse and foot, seize him, and punish + him as he deserves.” + </p> + <p> + Furibon, encouraged by his mother, and attended by a great number of armed + soldiers, entered the garden and saw Leander; who, taking refuge under a + tree, pelted them all with oranges. But when they came running toward him, + thinking to have seized him, he was not to be seen; he had slipped behind + Furibon, who was in a bad condition already. But Leander played him one + trick more; for he pushed him down upon the gravel walk, and frightened + him so that the soldiers had to take him up, carry him away, and put him + to bed. + </p> + <p> + Satisfied with this revenge, he returned to his servants, who waited for + him, and giving them money, sent them back to his castle, that none might + know the secret of his red cap and roses. As yet he had not determined + whither to go; however, he mounted his fine horse Gris-de-line, and, + laying the reins upon his neck, let him take his own road: at length he + arrived in a forest, where he stopped to shelter himself from the heat. He + had not been above a minute there before he heard a lamentable noise of + sighing and sobbing; and looking about him, beheld a man, who ran, + stopped, then ran again, sometimes crying, sometimes silent, then tearing + his hair, then thumping his breast like some unfortunate madman. Yet he + seemed to be both handsome and young: his garments had been magnificent, + but he had torn them all to tatters. The prince, moved with compassion, + made toward him, and mildly accosted him. “Sir,” said he, “your condition + appears so deplorable that I must ask the cause of your sorrow, assuring + you of every assistance in my power.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir,” answered the young man, “nothing can cure my grief; this day my + dear mistress is to be sacrificed to a rich old ruffian of a husband who + will make her miserable.” + </p> + <p> + “Does she love you, then?” asked Leander. + </p> + <p> + “I flatter myself so,” answered the young man. + </p> + <p> + “Where is she?” continued Leander. + </p> + <p> + “In the castle at the end of this forest,” replied the lover. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said Leander; “stay you here till I come again, and in a + little while I will bring you good news.” + </p> + <p> + He then put on his little red cap and wished himself in the castle. He had + hardly got thither before he heard all sorts of music; he entered into a + great room, where the friends and kindred of the old man and the young + lady were assembled. No one could look more amiable than she; but the + paleness of her complexion, the melancholy that appeared in her + countenance, and the tears that now and then dropped, as it were by + stealth from her eyes, betrayed the trouble of her mind. + </p> + <p> + Leander now became invisible, and placed himself in a corner of the room. + He soon perceived the father and mother of the bride; and coming behind + the mother's chair, whispered in her ear, “If you marry your daughter to + that old dotard, before eight days are over you shall certainly die.” The + woman, frightened to hear such a terrible sentence pronounced upon her, + and yet not know from whence it came, gave a loud shriek and dropped upon + the floor. Her husband asked what ailed her: she cried that she was a dead + woman if the marriage of her daughter went forward, and therefore she + would not consent to it for all the world. Her husband laughed at her and + called her a fool. But the invisible Leander accosting the man, threatened + him in the same way, which frightened him so terribly that he also + insisted on the marriage being broken off. When the lover complained, + Leander trod hard upon his gouty toes and rang such an alarm in his ears + that, not being able any longer to hear himself speak, away he limped, + glad enough to go. The real lover soon appeared, and he and his fair + mistress fell joyfully into one another's arms, the parents consenting to + their union. Leander, assuming his own shape, appeared at the hall door, + as if he were a stranger drawn thither by the report of this extraordinary + wedding. + </p> + <p> + From hence he traveled on, and came to a great city, where, upon his + arrival, he understood there was a great and solemn procession, in order + to shut up a young woman against her will among the vestal-nuns. The + prince was touched with compassion; and thinking the best use he could + make of his cap was to redress public wrongs and relieve the oppressed, he + flew to the temple, where he saw the young woman, crowned with flowers, + clad in white, and with her disheveled hair flowing about her shoulders. + Two of her brothers led her by each hand, and her mother followed her with + a great crowd of men and women. Leander, being invisible, cried out, + “Stop, stop, wicked brethren: stop, rash and inconsiderate mother; if you + proceed any further, you shall be squeezed to death like so many frogs.” + They looked about, but could not conceive from whence these terrible + menaces came. The brothers said it was only their sister's lover, who had + hid himself in some hole; at which Leander, in wrath, took a long cudgel, + and they had no reason to say the blows were not well laid on. The + multitude fled, the vestals ran away, and Leander was left alone with the + victim; immediately he pulled off his red cap and asked her wherein he + might serve her. She answered him that there was a certain gentleman whom + she would be glad to marry, but that he wanted an estate. Leander then + shook his rose so long that he supplied them with ten millions; after + which they were married and lived happily together. + </p> + <p> + But his last adventure was the most agreeable. Entering into a wide + forest, he heard lamentable cries. Looking about him every way, at length + he spied four men well armed, who were carrying away by force a young + lady, thirteen or fourteen years of age; upon which, making up to them as + fast as he could, “What harm has that girl done?” said he. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! ha! my little master,” cried he who seemed to be the ringleader of + the rest, “who bade you inquire?” + </p> + <p> + “Let her alone,” said Leander, “and go about your business.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, to be sure,” cried they, laughing; whereupon the prince, + alighting, put on his red cap, not thinking it otherwise prudent to attack + four who seemed strong enough to fight a dozen. One of them stayed to take + care of the young lady, while the three others went after Gris-de-line, + who gave them a great deal of unwelcome exercise. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the young lady continued her cries and complaints. “Oh, my dear + princess,” said she, “how happy was I in your palace! Did you but know my + sad misfortune, you would send your Amazons to rescue poor Abricotina.” + </p> + <p> + Leander, having listened to what she said, without delay seized the + ruffian that held her, and bound him fast to a tree before he had time or + strength to defend himself. He then went to the second, and taking him by + both arms, bound him in the same manner to another tree. In the meantime + Abricotina made the best of her good fortune and betook herself to her + heels, not knowing which way she went. But Leander, missing her, called + out to his horse Gris-de-line; who, by two kicks with his hoof, rid + himself of the two ruffians who had pursued him: one of them had his head + broken and the other three of his ribs. And now Leander only wanted to + overtake Abricotina; for he thought her so handsome that he wished to see + her again. He found her leaning against a tree. When she saw Gris-de-line + coming toward her, “How lucky am I!” cried she; “this pretty little horse + will carry me to the palace of pleasure.” Leander heard her, though she + saw him not: he rode up to her; Gris-de-line stopped, and when Abricotina + mounted him, Leander clasped her in his arms and placed her gently before + him. Oh, how great was Abricotina's fear to feel herself fast embraced, + and yet see nobody! She durst not stir, and shut her eyes for fear of + seeing a spirit. But Leander took off his little cap. “How comes it, fair + Abricotina,” said he, “that you are afraid of me, who delivered you out of + the hands of the ruffians?” + </p> + <p> + With that she opened her eyes, and knowing him again, “Oh, sir,” said she, + “I am infinitely obliged to you; but I was afraid, for I felt myself held + fast and could see no one.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely,” replied Leander, “the danger you have been in has disturbed you + and cast a mist before your eyes.” + </p> + <p> + Abricotina would not seem to doubt him, though she was otherwise extremely + sensible. And after they had talked for some time of indifferent things, + Leander requested her to tell him her age, her country, and by what + accident she fell into the hands of the ruffians. + </p> + <p> + “Know then, sir,” said she, “there was a certain very great fairy married + to a prince who wearied of her: she therefore banished him from her + presence, and established herself and daughter in the Island of Calm + Delights. The princess, who is my mistress, being very fair, has many + lovers—among others, one named Furibon, whom she detests; he it was + whose ruffians seized me to-day when I was wandering in search of a stray + parrot. Accept, noble prince, my best thanks for your valor, which I shall + never forget.” + </p> + <p> + Leander said how happy he was to have served her, and asked if he could + not obtain admission into the island. Abricotina assured him this was + impossible, and therefore he had better forget all about it. While they + were thus conversing, they came to the bank of a large river. Abricotina + alighted with a nimble jump from the horse. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, sir,” said she to the prince, making a profound reverence; “I + wish you every happiness.” + </p> + <p> + “And I,” said Leander, “wish that I may now and then have a small share in + your remembrance.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he galloped away and soon entered into the thickest part of the + wood, near a river, where he unbridled and unsaddled Gris-de-line; then, + putting on his little cap, wished himself in the Island of Calm Delights, + and his wish was immediately accomplished. + </p> + <p> + The palace was of pure gold, and stood upon pillars of crystal and + precious stones, which represented the zodiac and all the wonders of + nature; all the arts and sciences; the sea, with all the variety of fish + therein contained; the earth, with all the various creatures which it + produces; the chases of Diana and her nymphs; the noble exercises of the + Amazons; the amusements of a country life; flocks of sheep with their + shepherds and dogs; the toils of agriculture, harvesting, gardening. And + among all this variety of representations there was neither man nor boy to + be seen—not so much as a little winged Cupid; so highly had the + princess been incensed against her inconstant husband as not to show the + least favor to his fickle sex. + </p> + <p> + “Abricotina did not deceive me,” said Leander to himself; “they have + banished from hence the very idea of men; now let us see what they have + lost by it.” With that he entered into the palaces and at every step he + took he met with objects so wonderful that when he had once fixed his eyes + upon them he had much ado to take them off again. He viewed a vast number + of these apartments, some full of china, no less fine than curious; others + lined with porcelain, so delicate that the walls were quite transparent. + Coral, jasper, agates, and cornelians adorned the rooms of state, and the + presence-chamber was one entire mirror. The throne was one great pearl, + hollowed like a shell; the princess sat, surrounded by her maidens, none + of whom could compare with herself. In her was all the innocent sweetness + of youth, joined to the dignity of maturity; in truth, she was perfection; + and so thought the invisible Leander. + </p> + <p> + Not seeing Abricotina, she asked where she was. Upon that, Leander, being + very desirous to speak, assumed the tone of a parrot, for there were many + in the room, and addressed himself invisibly to the princess. + </p> + <p> + “Most charming princess,” said he, “Abricotina will return immediately. + She was in great danger of being carried away from this place but for a + young prince who rescued her.” + </p> + <p> + The princess was surprised at the parrot, his answer was so extremely + pertinent. + </p> + <p> + “You are very rude, little parrot,” said the princess; “and Abricotina, + when she comes, shall chastise you for it.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall not be chastised,” answered Leander, still counterfeiting the + parrot's voice; “moreover, she will let you know the great desire that + stranger had to be admitted into this palace, that he might convince you + of the falsehood of those ideas which you have conceived against his sex.” + </p> + <p> + “In truth, pretty parrot,” cried the princess, “it is a pity you are not + every day so diverting; I should love you dearly.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! if prattling will please you, princess,” replied Leander, “I will + prate from morning till night.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” continued the princess, “how shall I be sure my parrot is not a + sorcerer?” + </p> + <p> + “He is more in love than any sorcerer can be,” replied the prince. + </p> + <p> + At this moment Abricotina entered the room, and falling at her lovely + mistress' feet, gave her a full account of what had befallen her, and + described the prince in the most glowing colors. + </p> + <p> + “I should have hated all men,” added she, “had I not seen him! Oh, madam, + how charming he is! His air and all his behavior have something in them so + noble; and though whatever he spoke was infinitely pleasing, yet I think I + did well in not bringing him hither.” + </p> + <p> + To this the princess said nothing, but she asked Abricotina a hundred + other questions concerning the prince; whether she knew his name, his + country, his birth, from whence he came, and whither he was going; and + after this she fell into a profound thoughtfulness. + </p> + <p> + Leander observed everything, and continued to chatter as he had begun. + </p> + <p> + “Abricotina is ungrateful, madam,” said he; “that poor stranger will die + for grief if he sees you not.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, parrot, let him die,” answered the princess with a sigh; “and since + thou undertakest to reason like a person of wit, and not a little bird, I + forbid thee to talk to me any more of this unknown person.” + </p> + <p> + Leander was overjoyed to find that Abricotina's and the parrot's discourse + had made such an impression on the princess. He looked upon her with + pleasure and delight. “Can it be,” said he to himself, “that the + masterpiece of nature, that the wonder of our age, should be confined + eternally in an island, and no mortal dare to approach her? But,” + continued he, “wherefore am I concerned that others are banished hence, + since I have the happiness to be with her, to hear and to admire her; nay, + more, to love her above all the women in the universe?” + </p> + <p> + It was late, and the princess retired into a large room of marble and + porphyry, where several bubbling fountains, refreshed the air with an + agreeable coolness. As soon as she entered the music began, a sumptuous + supper was served up, and the birds from several aviaries on each side of + the room, of which Abricotina had the chief care, opened their little + throats in the most agreeable manner. + </p> + <p> + Leander had traveled a journey long enough to give him a good appetite, + which made him draw near the table, where the very smell of such viands + was agreeable and refreshing. The princess had a curious tabby-cat, for + which she had a great kindness. This cat one of the maids of honor held in + her arms, saying, “Madam, Bluet is hungry!” With that a chair was + presently brought for the cat; for he was a cat of quality, and had a + necklace of pearl about his neck. He was served on a golden plate with a + laced napkin before him; and the plate being supplied with meat, Bluet sat + with the solemn importance of an alderman. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! ho!” cried Leander to himself; “an idle tabby malkin, that perhaps + never caught a mouse in his life, and I dare say is not descended from a + better family than myself, has the honor to sit at table with my mistress: + I would fain know whether he loves her so well as I do.” + </p> + <p> + Saying this, he placed himself in the chair with the cat upon his knee, + for nobody saw him, because he had his little red cap on; finding Bluet's + plate well supplied with partridge, quails, and pheasants, he made so free + with them that whatever was set before Master Puss disappeared in a trice. + The whole court said no cat ever ate with a better appetite. There were + excellent ragouts, and the prince made use of the cat's paw to taste them; + but he sometimes pulled his paw too roughly, and Bluet, not understanding + raillery, began to mew and be quite out of patience. The princess + observing it, “Bring that fricassee and that tart to poor Bluet,” said + she; “see how he cries to have them.” + </p> + <p> + Leander laughed to himself at the pleasantness of this adventure; but he + was very thirsty, not being accustomed to make such large meals without + drinking. By the help of the cat's paw he got a melon, with which he + somewhat quenched his thirst; and when supper was quite over, he went to + the buffet and took two bottles of delicious wine. + </p> + <p> + The princess now retired into her boudoir, ordering Abricotina to follow + her and make fast the door; but they could not keep out Leander, who was + there as soon as they. However, the princess, believing herself alone with + her confidante: + </p> + <p> + “Abricotina,” said she, “tell me truly, did you exaggerate in your + description of the unknown prince, for methinks it is impossible he should + be as amiable as you say?” + </p> + <p> + “Madam,” replied the damsel, “if I have failed in anything, it was in + coming short of what was due to him.” + </p> + <p> + The princess sighed and was silent for a time; then resuming her speech: + “I am glad,” said she, “thou didst not bring him with thee.” + </p> + <p> + “But, madam,” answered Abricotina, who was a cunning girl, and already + penetrated her mistress' thoughts, “suppose he had come to admire the + wonders of these beautiful mansions, what harm could he have done us? Will + you live eternally unknown in a corner of the world, concealed from the + rest of human kind? Of what use is all your grandeur, pomp, magnificence, + if nobody sees it?” + </p> + <p> + “Hold thy peace, prattler,” replied the princess, “and do not disturb that + happy repose which I have enjoyed so long.” + </p> + <p> + Abricotina durst make no reply; and the princess, having waited her answer + for some time, asked her whether she had anything to say. Abricotina then + said she thought it was to very little purpose her mistress having sent + her picture to the courts of several princes, where it only served to make + those who saw it miserable; that every one would be desirous to marry her, + and as she could not marry them all, indeed none of them, it would make + them desperate. + </p> + <p> + “Yet, for all that,” said the princess, “I could wish my picture were in + the hands of this same stranger.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, madam,” answered Abricotina, “is not his desire to see you violent + enough already? Would you augment it?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” cried the princess; “a certain impulse of vanity, which I was never + sensible of till now, has bred this foolish fancy in me.” + </p> + <p> + Leander heard all this discourse, and lost not a tittle of what she said; + some of her expressions gave him hope, others absolutely destroyed it. The + princess presently asked Abricotina whether she had seen anything + extraordinary during her short travels. + </p> + <p> + “Madam,” said she, “I passed through one forest where I saw certain + creatures that resembled little children: they skip and dance upon the + trees like squirrels; they are very ugly, but have wonderful agility and + address.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish I had one of them,” said the princess; “but if they are so nimble + as you say they are, it is impossible to catch one.” + </p> + <p> + Leander, who passed through the same forest, knew what Abricotina meant, + and presently wished himself in the place. He caught a dozen of little + monkeys, some bigger, some less, and all of different colors, and with + much ado put them into a large sack; then, wishing himself at Paris, + where, he had heard, a man might have everything for money, he went and + bought a little gold chariot. He taught six green monkeys to draw it; they + were harnessed with fine traces of flame-colored morocco leather. He went + to another place, where he met with two monkeys of merit, the most + pleasant of which was called Briscambril, the other Pierceforest—both + very spruce and well educated. He dressed Briscambril like a king and + placed him in the coach; Pierceforest he made the coachman; the others + were dressed like pages; all which he put into his sack, coach and all. + </p> + <p> + The princess not being gone to bed, heard a rumbling of a little coach in + the long gallery; at the same time, her ladies came to tell her that the + king of the dwarfs was arrived, and the chariot immediately entered her + chamber with all the monkey train. The country monkeys began to show a + thousand tricks, which far surpassed those of Briscambril and + Pierceforest. To say the truth, Leander conducted the whole machine. He + drew the chariot where Briscambril sat arrayed as a king, and making him + hold a box of diamonds in his hand, he presented it with a becoming grace + to the princess. The princess' surprise may be easily imagined. Moreover, + Briscambril made a sign for Pierceforest to come and dance with him. The + most celebrated dancers were not to be compared with them in activity. But + the princess, troubled that she could not guess from whence this curious + present came, dismissed the dancers sooner than she would otherwise have + done, though she was extremely pleased with them. + </p> + <p> + Leander, satisfied with having seen the delight the princess had taken in + beholding the monkeys, thought of nothing now but to get a little repose, + which he greatly wanted. He stayed sometime in the great gallery; + afterward, going down a pair of stairs, and finding a door open, he + entered into an apartment the most delightful that ever was seen. There + was in it a bed of cloth-of-gold, enriched with pearls, intermixed with + rubies and emeralds: for by this time there appeared daylight sufficient + for him to view and admire the magnificence of this sumptuous furniture. + Having made fast the door, he composed himself to sleep. Next day he rose + very early, and looking about on every side, he spied a painter's pallet, + with colors ready prepared and pencils. Remembering what the princess had + said to Abricotina touching her own portrait, he immediately (for he could + paint as well as the most excellent masters) seated himself before a + mirror and drew his own picture first; then, in an oval, that of the + princess. He had all her features so strong in his imagination that he had + no occasion for her sitting; and as his desire to please her had set him + to work, never did portrait bear a stronger resemblance. He had painted + himself upon one knee, holding the princess' picture in one hand, and in + the other a label with this inscription, “She is better in my heart.” When + the princess went into her cabinet, she was amazed to see the portrait of + a man; and she fixed her eyes upon it with so much the more surprise, + because she also saw her own with it, and because the words which were + written upon the label afforded her ample room for curiosity. She + persuaded herself that it was Abricotina's doing; and all she desired to + know was whether the portrait was real or imaginary. Rising in haste, she + called Abricotina, while the invisible Leander, with his little red cap, + slipped into the cabinet, impatient to know what passed. The princess bade + Abricotina look upon the picture and tell her what she thought of it. + </p> + <p> + After she had viewed it, “I protest!” said she, “'tis the picture of that + generous stranger to whom I am indebted for my life. Yes, yes, I am sure + it is he; his very features, shape, and hair.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou pretendest surprise,” said the princess, “but I know it was thou + thyself who put it there.” + </p> + <p> + “Who! I, madam?” replied Abricotina. “I protest I never saw the picture + before in my life. Should I be so bold as to conceal from your knowledge a + thing that so nearly concerns you? And by what miracle could I come by it? + I never could paint, nor did any man ever enter this place; yet here he is + painted with you?” + </p> + <p> + “Some spirit, then, must have brought it hither,” cried the princess. + </p> + <p> + “How I tremble for fear, madam!” said Abricotina. “Was it not rather some + lover? And therefore, if you will take my advice, let us burn it + immediately.” + </p> + <p> + “'Twere a pity to burn it,” cried the princess, sighing; “a finer piece, + methinks, cannot adorn my cabinet.” And saying these words, she cast her + eyes upon it. But Abricotina continued obstinate in her opinion that it + ought to be burned, as a thing that could not come there but by the power + of magic. + </p> + <p> + “And these words—'She is better in my heart,'” said the princess; + “must we burn them too?” + </p> + <p> + “No favor must be shown to anything,” said Abricotina, “not even to your + own portrait.” + </p> + <p> + Abricotina ran away immediately for some fire, while the princess went to + look out at the window. Leander, unwilling to let his performance be + burned, took this opportunity to convey it away without being perceived. + He had hardly quitted the cabinet, when the princess turned about to look + once more upon that enchanting picture, which had so delighted her. But + how was she surprised to find it gone! She sought for it all the room + over; and Abricotina, returning, was no less surprised than her mistress; + so that this last adventure put them both in the most terrible fright. + </p> + <p> + Leander took great delight in hearing and seeing his incomparable + mistress; even though he had to eat every day at her table with the + tabby-cat, who fared never the worse for that; but his satisfaction was + far from being complete, seeing he durst neither speak nor show himself; + and he knew it was not a common thing for ladies to fall in love with + persons invisible. + </p> + <p> + The princess had a universal taste for amusement. One day, she was saying + to her attend-ants that it would give her great pleasure to know how the + ladies were dressed in all the courts of the universe. There needed no + more words to send Leander all over the world. He wished himself in China, + where he bought the richest stuffs he could lay his hands on, and got + patterns of all the court fashions. From thence he flew to Siam, where he + did the same; in three days he traveled over all the four parts of the + world, and from time to time brought what he bought to the Palace of Calm + Delights, and hid it all in a chamber, which he kept always locked. When + he had thus collected together all the rarities he could meet with—for + he never wanted money, his rose always supplying him—he went and + bought five or six dozen of dolls, which he caused to be dressed at Paris, + the place in the world where most regard is paid to fashions. They were + all dressed differently, and as magnificent as could be, and Leander + placed them all in the princess' closet. When she entered it, she was + agreeably surprised to see such company of little mutes, every one decked + with watches bracelets, diamond buckles, or necklaces; and the most + remarkable of them held a picture box in its hand, which the princess + opening, found it contained Leander's portrait. She gave a loud shriek, + and looking upon Abricotina, “There have appeared of late,” said she, “so + many wonders in this place, that I know not what to think of them: my + birds are all grown witty; I cannot so much as wish, but presently I have + my desires; twice have I now seen the portrait of him who rescued thee + from the ruffians; and here are silks of all sorts, diamonds, + embroideries, laces, and an infinite number of other rarities. What fairy + is it that takes such care to pay me these agreeable civilities?” + </p> + <p> + Leander was overjoyed to hear and see her so much interested about his + picture, and calling to mind that there was in a grotto which she often + frequented a certain pedestal, on which a Diana, not yet finished, was to + be erected, on this pedestal he resolved to place himself, crowned with + laurel, and holding a lyre in his hand, on which he played like another + Apollo. He most anxiously waited the princess' retiring to the grotto, + which she did every day since her thoughts had taken up with this unknown + person; for what Abricotina had said, joined to the sight of the picture, + had almost destroyed her repose: her lively humor changed into a pensive + melancholy, and she grew a great lover of solitude. When she entered the + grotto, she made a sign that nobody should follow her, so that her young + damsels dispersed themselves into the neighboring walks. The princess + threw herself upon a bank of green turf, sighed, wept, and even talked, + but so softly that Leander could not hear what she said. He had put his + red cap on, that she might not see him at first; but having taken it off, + she beheld him standing on the pedestal. At first she took him for a real + statue, for he observed exactly the attitude in which he had placed + himself, without moving so much as a finger. She beheld with a kind of + pleasure intermixed with fear, but pleasure soon dispelled her fear, and + she continued to view the pleasing figure, which so exactly resembled + life. The prince having tuned his lyre, began to play; at which the + princess, greatly surprised, could not resist the fear that seized her; + she grew pale and fell into a swoon. Leander leaped from the pedestal, and + putting on his little red cap, that he might not be perceived, took the + princess in his arms and gave her all the assistance that his zeal and + tenderness could inspire. At length she opened her charming eyes and + looked about in search of him, but she could perceive nobody; yet she felt + somebody who held her hands, kissed them, and bedewed them with his tears. + It was a long time before she durst speak, and her spirits were in a + confused agitation between fear and hope. She was afraid of the spirit, + but loved the figure of the unknown. At length she said: “Courtly + invisible, why are you not the person I desire you should be?” At these + words Leander was going to declare himself, but durst not do it yet. + “For,” thought he, “if I again affright the object I adore and make her + fear me, she will not love me.” This consideration caused him to keep + silence. + </p> + <p> + The princess, then, believing herself alone, called Abricotina and told + her all the wonders of the animated statue; that it had played divinely, + and that the invisible person had given her great assistance when she lay + in a swoon. + </p> + <p> + “What pity 'tis,” said she, “that this person should be so frightful, for + nothing can be more amiable or acceptable than his behavior!” + </p> + <p> + “Who told you, madam,” answered Abricotina, “that he is frightful? If he + is the youth who saved me, he is beautiful as Cupid himself.” + </p> + <p> + “If Cupid and the unknown are the same,” replied the princess, blushing, + “I could be content to love Cupid; but alas! how far am I from such a + happiness! I love a mere shadow; and this fatal picture, joined to what + thou hast told me, have inspired me with inclinations so contrary to the + precepts which I received from my mother that I am daily afraid of being + punished for them.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! madam,” said Abricotina, interrupting her, “have you not troubles + enough already? Why should you anticipate afflictions which may never come + to pass?” + </p> + <p> + It is easy to imagine what pleasure Leander took in this conversation. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the little Furibon, still enamored of the princess whom he + had never seen, expected with impatience the return of the four servants + whom he had sent to the Island of Calm Delights. One of them at last came + back, and after he had given the prince a particular account of what had + passed, told him that the island was defended by Amazons, and that unless + he sent a very powerful army, it would be impossible to get into it. The + king his father was dead, and Furibon was now lord of all: disdaining, + therefore, any repulse, he raised an army of four hundred thousand men, + and put himself at the head of them, appearing like another Tom Thumb upon + a war-horse. Now, when the Amazons perceived his mighty host, they gave + the princess notice of its who immediately dispatched away her trusty + Abricotina to the kingdom of the fairies, to beg her mother's instructions + as to what she should do to drive the little Furibon from her territories. + But Abricotina found the fairy in an angry humor. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing that my daughter does,” said she, “escapes my knowledge. The + Prince Leander is now in her palace; he loves her, and she has a + tenderness for him. All my cares and precepts have not been able to guard + her from the tyranny of love, and she is now under its fatal dominion. But + it is the decree of destiny, and I must submit; therefore, Abricotina, + begone! nor let me hear a word more of a daughter whose behavior has so + much displeased me.” + </p> + <p> + Abricotina returned with these ill tidings, whereat the princess was + almost distracted; and this was soon perceived by Leander, who was near + her, though she did not see him. He beheld her grief with the greatest + pain. However, he durst not then open his lips; but recollecting that + Furibon was exceedingly covetous, he thought that, by giving him a sum of + money, he might perhaps prevail with him to retire. Thereupon, he dressed + himself like an Amazon, and wished himself in the forest, to catch his + horse. He had no sooner called him than Gris-de-line came leaping, + prancing, and neighing for joy, for he was grown quite weary of being so + long absent from his dear master; but when he beheld him dressed as a + woman he hardly knew him. However, at the sound of his voice, he suffered + the prince to mount, and they soon arrived in the camp at Furibon, where + they gave notice that a lady was come to speak with him from the Princess + of Calm Delights. Immediately the little fellow put on his royal robes, + and having placed himself upon his throne, he looked like a great toad + counterfeiting a king. + </p> + <p> + Leander harangued him, and told him that the princess, preferring a quiet + and peaceable life to the fatigues of war, had sent to offer his majesty + as much money as he pleased to demand, provided he would suffer her to + continue in peace; but if he refused her proposal, she would omit no means + that might serve for her defense. Furibon replied that he took pity on + her, and would grant her the honor of his protection; but that he demanded + a hundred thousand millions of pounds, and without which he would not + return to his kingdom. Leander answered that such a vast sum would be too + long a-counting, and therefore, if he would say how many rooms full he + desired to have, the princess was generous and rich enough to satisfy him. + Furibon was astonished to hear that, instead of entreating, she would + rather offer more; and it came into his wicked mind to take all the money + he could get, and then seize the Amazon and kill her, that she might never + return to her mistress. He told Leander, therefore, that he would have + thirty chambers of gold, all full to the ceiling. Leander, being conducted + into the chambers, took his rose and shook it, till every room was filled + with all sorts of coin. Furibon was in an ecstasy, and the more gold he + saw the greater was his desire to get hold of the Amazon; so that when all + the rooms were full, he commanded his guards to seize her, alleging she + had brought him counterfeit money. Immediately Leander put on his little + red cap and disappeared. The guards, believing that the lady had escaped, + ran out and left Furibon alone; when Leander, availing himself of the + opportunity, took the tyrant by the hair, and twisted his head off with + the same ease he would a pullet's; nor did the little wretch of a king see + that hand that killed him. + </p> + <p> + Leander having got his enemy's head, wished himself in the Palace of Calm + Delights, where he found the princess walking, and with grief considering + the message which her mother had sent her, and on the means to repel + Furibon. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly she beheld a head hanging in the air, with nobody to hold it. + This prodigy astonished her so that she could not tell what to think of + it; but her amazement was increased when she saw the head laid at her + feet, and heard a voice utter these words: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Charming Princess, cease your fear + Of Furibon; whose head see here.” + </pre> + <p> + Abricotina, knowing Leander's voice, cried: + </p> + <p> + “I protest, madam, the invisible person who speaks is the very stranger + that rescued me.” + </p> + <p> + The princess seemed astonished, but yet pleased. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said she, “if it be true that the invisible and the stranger are the + same person, I confess I shall be glad to make him my acknowledgments.” + </p> + <p> + Leander, still invisible, replied, “I will yet do more to deserve them;” + and so saying he returned to Furibon's army, where the report of the + king's death was already spread throughout the camp. As soon as Leander + appeared there in his usual habit, everybody knew him; all the officers + and soldiers surrounded him, uttering the loudest acclamations of joy. In + short, they acknowledged him for their king, and that the crown of right + belonged to him, for which he thanked them, and, as the first mark of his + royal bounty, divided the thirty rooms of gold among the soldiers. This + done he returned to his princess, ordering his army to march back into his + kingdom. + </p> + <p> + The princess was gone to bed. Leander, therefore, retired into his own + apartment, for he was very sleepy—so sleepy that he forgot to bolt + his door; and so it happened that the princess, rising early to taste the + morning air, chanced to enter into this very chamber, and was astonished + to find a young prince asleep upon the bed. She took a full view of him, + and was convinced that he was the person whose picture she had in her + diamond box. “It is impossible,” said she, “that this should be a spirit; + for can spirits sleep? Is this a body composed of air and fire, without + substance, as Abricotina told me?” She softly touched his hair, and heard + him breathe, and looked at him as if she could have looked forever. While + she was thus occupied, her mother, the fairy entered with such a noise + that Leander started out of his sleep. But how deeply was he afflicted to + behold his beloved princess in the most deplorable condition! Her mother + dragged her by the hair and loaded her with a thousand bitter reproaches. + In what grief and consternation were the two young lovers, who saw + themselves now upon the point of being separated forever! The princess + durst not open her lips, but cast her eyes upon Leander, as if to beg his + assistance. He judged rightly that he ought not to deal rudely with a + power superior to his own, and therefore he sought, by his eloquence and + submission, to move the incensed fairy. He ran to her, threw himself at + her feet, and besought her to have pity upon a young prince who would + never change in his affection for her daughter. The princess, encouraged, + also embraced her mother's knees, and declared that without Leander she + should never be happy. + </p> + <p> + “Happy!” cried the fairy; “you know not the miseries of love nor the + treacheries of which lovers are capable. They bewitch us only to poison + our lives; I have known it by experience; and will you suffer the same?” + </p> + <p> + “Is there no exception, madam?” replied Leander, and his countenance + showed him to be one. + </p> + <p> + But neither tears nor entreaties could move the implacable fairy; and it + is very probable that she would have never pardoned them, had not the + lovely Gentilla appeared at that instant in the chamber, more brilliant + than the sun. Embracing the old fairy: + </p> + <p> + “Dear sister,” said she, “I am persuaded you cannot have forgotten the + good office I did you when, after your unhappy marriage, you besought a + readmittance into Fairyland; since then I never desired any favor at your + hands, but now the time is come. Pardon, then, this lovely princess; + consent to her nuptials with this young prince. I will engage he shall be + ever constant to her; the thread of their days shall be spun of gold and + silk; they shall live to complete your happiness; and I will never forget + the obligation you lay upon me.” + </p> + <p> + “Charming Gentilla,” cried the fairy, “I consent to whatever you desire. + Come, my dear children, and receive my love.” So saying, she embraced them + both. + </p> + <p> + Abricotina, just then entering, cast her eyes upon Leander; she knew him + again, and saw he was perfectly happy, at which she, too, was quite + satisfied. + </p> + <p> + “Prince,” condescendingly said the fairy-mother, “I will remove the Island + of Calm Delights into your own kingdom, live with you myself, and do you + great services.” + </p> + <p> + Whether or not Prince Leander appreciated this offer, he bowed low, and + assured his mother-in-law that no favor could be equal to the one he had + that day received from her hands. This short compliment pleased the fairy + exceedingly, for she belonged to those ancient days when people used to + stand a whole day upon one leg complimenting one another. The nuptials + were performed in a most splendid manner, and the young prince and + princess lived together happily many years, beloved by all around them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE CHERRY + </h2> + <p> + LONG ago there lived a monarch, who was such a very, honest man that his + subjects entitled him the Good King. One day, when he was out hunting, a + little white rabbit, which had been half-killed by his hounds, leaped + right into his majesty's arms. Said he, caressing it: “This poor creature + has put itself under my protection, and I will allow no one to injure it.” + So he carried it to his palace, had prepared for it a neat little + rabbit-hutch, with abundance of the daintiest food, such as rabbits love, + and there he left it. + </p> + <p> + The same night, when he was alone in his chamber, there appeared to him a + beautiful lady. She was dressed neither in gold, nor silver, nor brocade; + but her flowing robes were white as snow, and she wore a garland of white + roses on her head. The Good King was greatly astonished at the sight; for + his door was locked, and he wondered how so dazzling a lady could possibly + enter; but she soon removed his doubts. + </p> + <p> + “I am the fairy Candide,” said she, with a smiling and gracious air. + “Passing through the wood where you were hunting, I took a desire to know + if you were as good as men say you are I therefore changed myself into a + white rabbit and took refuge in your arms. You saved me and now I know + that those who are merciful to dum beasts will be ten times more so to + human beings. You merit the name your subjects give you: you are the Good + King. I thank you for your protection, and shall be always one of your + best friends. You have but to say what you most desire, and I promise you + your wish shall be granted.” + </p> + <p> + “Madam,” replied the king, “if you are a fairy, you must know, without my + telling you, the wish of my heart. I have one well-beloved son, Prince + Cherry: whatever kindly feeling you have toward me, extend it to him.” + </p> + <p> + “Willingly,” said Candide. “I will make him the handsomest, richest, or + most powerful prince in the world: choose whichever you desire for him.” + </p> + <p> + “None of the three,” returned the father. “I only wish him to be good—the + best prince in the whole world. Of what use would riches, power, or beauty + be to him if he were a bad man?” + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” said the fairy; “but I can not make him good: he must do + that himself. I can only change his external fortunes; for his personal + character, the utmost I can promise is to give him good counsel, reprove + him for his faults, and even punish him, if he will not punish himself. + You mortals can do the same with your children.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes!” said the king, sighing. Still, he felt that the kindness of a + fairy was something gained for his son, and died not long after, content + and at peace. + </p> + <p> + Prince Cherry mourned deeply, for he dearly loved his father, and would + have gladly given all his kingdoms and treasures to keep him in life a + little longer. Two days after the Good King was no more, Prince Cherry was + sleeping in his chamber, when he saw the same dazzling vision of the fairy + Candide. + </p> + <p> + “I promised your father,” said she, “to be your best friend, and in pledge + of this take what I now give you;” and she placed a small gold ring upon + his finger. “Poor as it looks, it is more precious than diamonds; for + whenever you do ill it will prick your finger. If, after that warning, you + still continue in evil, you will lose my friendship, and I shall become + your direst enemy.”' + </p> + <p> + So saying, she disappeared, leaving Cherry in such amazement that he would + have believed it all a dream, save for the ring on his finger. + </p> + <p> + He was for a long time so good that the ring never pricked him at all; and + this made him so cheerful and pleasant in his humor that everybody called + him “Happy Prince Cherry.” But one unlucky day he was out hunting and + found no sport, which vexed him so much that he showed his ill temper by + his looks and ways. He fancied his ring felt very tight and uncomfortable, + but as it did not prick him he took no heed of this: until, re-entering + his palace, his little pet dog, Bibi, jumped up upon him and was sharply + told to get away. The creature, accustomed to nothing but caresses, tried + to attract his attention by pulling at his garments, when Prince Cherry + turned and gave it a severe kick. At this moment he felt in his finger a + prick like a pin. + </p> + <p> + “What nonsense!” said he to himself. “The fairy must be making game of me. + Why, what great evil have I done! I, the master of a great empire, cannot + I kick my own dog?” + </p> + <p> + A voice replied, or else Prince Cherry imagined it, “No, sire; the master + of a great empire has a right to do good, but not evil. I—a fairy—am + as much above you as you are above your dog. I might punish you, kill you, + if I chose; but I prefer leaving you to amend your ways. You have been + guilty of three faults today—bad temper, passion, cruelty: do better + to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + The prince promised, and kept his word a while; but he had been brought up + by a foolish nurse, who indulged him in every way and was always telling + him that he would be a king one day, when he might do as he liked in all + things. He found out now that even a king cannot always do that; it vexed + him and made him angry. His ring began to prick him so often that his + little finger was continually bleeding. He disliked this, as was natural, + and soon began to consider whether it would not be easier to throw the + ring away altogether than to be constantly annoyed by it. It was such a + queer thing for a king to have a spot of blood on his finger! At last, + unable to put up with it any more, he took his ring off and hid it where + he would never see it; and believed himself the happiest of men, for he + could now do exactly what he liked. He did it, and became every day more + and more miserable. + </p> + <p> + One day he saw a young girl, so beautiful that, being always accustomed to + have his own way, he immediately determined to espouse her. He never + doubted that she would be only too glad to be made a queen, for she was + very poor. But Zelia—that was her name—answered, to his great + astonishment, that she would rather not marry him. + </p> + <p> + “Do I displease you?” asked the prince, into whose mind it had never + entered that he could displease anybody. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, my prince,” said the honest peasant maiden. “You are very + handsome, very charming; but you are not like your father the Good King. I + will not be your queen, for you would make me miserable.” + </p> + <p> + At these words the prince's love seemed all to turn to hatred: he gave + orders to his guards to convey Zelia to a prison near the palace, and then + took counsel with his foster brother, the one of all his ill companions + who most incited him to do wrong. + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” said this man, “if I were in your majesty's place, I would never + vex myself about a poor silly girl. Feed her on bread and water till she + comes to her senses; and if she still refuses you, let her die in torment, + as a warning to your other subjects should they venture to dispute your + will. You will be disgraced should you suffer yourself to be conquered by + a simple girl.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said Prince Cherry, “shall I not be disgraced if I harm a creature + so perfectly innocent?” + </p> + <p> + “No one is innocent who disputes your majesty's authority,” said the + courtier, bowing; “and it is better to commit an injustice than allow it + to be supposed you can ever be contradicted with impunity.” + </p> + <p> + This touched Cherry on his weak point—his good impulses faded; he + resolved once more to ask Zelia if she would marry him, and if she again + refused, to sell her as a slave. Arrived at the cell in which she was + confined, what was his astonishment to find her gone! He knew not whom to + accuse, for he had kept the key in his pocket the whole time. At last, the + foster-brother suggested that the escape of Zelia might have been + contrived by an old man, Suliman by name, the prince's former tutor, who + was the only one who now ventured to blame him for anything that he did. + Cherry sent immediately, and ordered his old friend to be brought to him, + loaded heavily with irons. Then, full of fury, he went and shut himself up + in his own chamber, where he went raging to and fro, till startled by a + noise like a clap of thunder. The fairy Candide stood before him. + </p> + <p> + “Prince,” said she, in a severe voice, “I promised your father to give you + good counsels and to punish you if you refused to follow them. My counsels + were forgotten, my punishment despised. Under the figure of a man, you + have been no better than the beasts you chase: like a lion in fury, a wolf + in gluttony, a serpent in revenge, and a bull in brutality. Take, + therefore, in your new form the likeness of all these animals.” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had Prince Cherry heard these words than to his horror he found + himself transformed into what the Fairy had named. He was a creature with + the head of a lion, the horns of a bull, the feet of a wolf, and the tail + of a serpent. At the same time he felt himself transported to a distant + forest, where, standing on the bank of a stream, he saw reflected in the + water his own frightful shape, and heard a voice saying: + </p> + <p> + “Look at thyself, and know thy soul has become a thousand times uglier + even than thy body.” + </p> + <p> + Cherry recognized the voice of Candide, and in his rage would have sprung + upon her and devoured her; but he saw nothing and the same voice said + behind him: + </p> + <p> + “Cease thy feeble fury, and learn to conquer thy pride by being in + submission to thine own subjects.” + </p> + <p> + Hearing no more, he soon quitted the stream, hoping at least to get rid of + the sight of himself; but he had scarcely gone twenty paces when he + tumbled into a pitfall that was laid to catch bears; the bear-hunters, + descending from some trees hard by, caught him, chained him, and only too + delighted to get hold of such a curious-looking animal, led him along with + them to the capital of his own kingdom. + </p> + <p> + There great rejoicings were taking place, and the bear-hunters, asking + what it was all about, were told that it was because Prince Cherry, the + torment of his subjects, had just been struck dead by a thunderbolt—just + punishment of all his crimes. Four courtiers, his wicked companions, had + wished to divide his throne between them; but the people had risen up + against them and offered the crown to Suliman, the old tutor whom Cherry + had ordered to be arrested. + </p> + <p> + All this the poor monster heard. He even saw Suliman sitting upon his own + throne and trying to calm the populace by representing to them that it was + not certain Prince Cherry was dead; that he might return one day to + reassume with honor the crown which Suliman only consented to wear as a + sort of viceroy. + </p> + <p> + “I know his heart,” said the honest and faithful old man; “it is tainted, + but not corrupt. If alive, he may reform yet, and be all his father over + again to you, his people, whom he has caused to suffer so much.” + </p> + <p> + These words touched the poor beast so deeply that he ceased to beat + himself against the iron bars of the cage in which the hunters carried him + about, became gentle as a lamb, and suffered himself to be taken quietly + to a menagerie, where were kept all sorts of strange and ferocious animals + a place which he had himself often visited as a boy, but never thought he + should be shut up there himself. + </p> + <p> + However, he owned he had deserved it all, and began to make amends by + showing himself very obedient to his keeper. This man was almost as great + a brute as the animals he had charge of, and when he was in ill humor he + used to beat them without rhyme or reason. One day, while he was sleeping, + a tiger broke loose and leaped upon him, eager to devour him. Cherry at + first felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of being revenged; then, + seeing how helpless the man was, he wished himself free, that he might + defend him. Immediately the doors of his cage opened. The keeper, waking + up, saw the strange beast leap out, and imagined, of course, that he was + going to be slain at once. Instead, he saw the tiger lying dead, and the + strange beast creeping up and laying itself at his feet to be caressed. + But as he lifted up his hand to stroke it, a voice was heard saying, “Good + actions never go unrewarded;” and instead of the frightful monster, there + crouched on the ground nothing but a pretty little dog. + </p> + <p> + Cherry, delighted to find himself thus metamorphosed, caressed the keeper + in every possible way, till at last the man took him up into his arms and + carried him to the king, to whom he related this wonderful story, from + beginning to end. The queen wished to have the charming little dog; and + Cherry would have been exceedingly happy could he have forgotten that he + was originally a man and a king. He was lodged most elegantly, had the + richest of collars to adorn his neck, and heard himself praised + continually. But his beauty rather brought him into trouble, for the + queen, afraid lest he might grow too large for a pet, took advice of + dog-doctors, who ordered that he should be fed entirely upon bread, and + that very sparingly; so poor Cherry was sometimes nearly starved. + </p> + <p> + One day, when they gave him his crust for breakfast, a fancy seized him to + go and eat it in the palace garden; so he took the bread in his mouth and + trotted away toward a stream which he knew, and where he sometimes stopped + to drink. But instead of the stream he saw a splendid palace, glittering + with gold and precious stones. Entering the doors was a crowd of men and + women, magnificently dressed; and within there was singing and dancing and + good cheer of all sorts. Yet, however grandly and gayly the people went + in, Cherry noticed that those who came out were pale, thin, ragged, + half-naked, covered with wounds and sores. Some of them dropped dead at + once; others dragged themselves on a little way and then lay down, dying + of hunger, and vainly begged a morsel of bread from others who were + entering in—who never took the least notice of them. + </p> + <p> + Cherry perceived one woman, who was trying feebly to gather and eat some + green herbs. “Poor thing!” said he to himself; “I know what it is to be + hungry, and I want my breakfast badly enough; but still it will kill me to + wait till dinner time, and my crust may save the life of this poor woman.” + </p> + <p> + So the little dog ran up to her and dropped his bread at her feet; she + picked it up and ate it with avidity. Soon she looked quite recovered, and + Cherry, delighted, was trotting back again to his kennel, when he heard + loud cries, and saw a young girl dragged by four men to the door of the + palace, which they were trying to compel her to enter. Oh, how he wished + himself a monster again, as when he slew the tiger!—for the young + girl was no other than his beloved Zelia. Alas! what could a poor little + dog do to defend her? But he ran forward and barked at the men, and bit + their heels, until at last they chased him away with heavy blows. And then + he lay down outside the palace door, determined to watch and see what had + become of Zelia. + </p> + <p> + Conscience pricked him now. “What!” thought he, “I am furious against + these wicked men, who are carrying her away; and did I not do the same + myself? Did I not cast her into prison, and intend to sell her as a slave? + Who knows how much more wickedness I might not have done to her and + others, if Heaven's justice had not stopped me in time?” + </p> + <p> + While he lay thinking and repenting, he heard a window open and saw Zelia + throw out of it a bit of dainty meat. Cherry, who felt hungry enough by + this time, was just about to eat it, when the woman to whom he had given + his crust snatched him up in her arms. + </p> + <p> + “Poor little beast!” cried she, patting him, “every bit of food in that + palace is poisoned: you shall not touch a morsel.” + </p> + <p> + And at the same time the voice in the air repeated again, “Good actions + never go unrewarded;” and Cherry found himself changed into a beautiful + little white pigeon. He remembered with joy that white was the color of + the fairy Candide, and began to hope that she was taking him into favor + again. + </p> + <p> + So he stretched his wings, delighted that he might now have a chance of + approaching his fair Zelia. He flew up to the palace windows, and, finding + one of them open, entered and sought everywhere, but he could not find + Zelia. Then, in despair, he flew out again, resolved to go over the world + until he beheld her once more. + </p> + <p> + He took flight at once and traversed many countries, swiftly as a bird + can, but found no trace of his beloved. At length in a desert, sitting + beside an old hermit in his cave and par-taking with him his frugal + repast, Cherry saw a poor peasant girl and recognized Zelia. Transported + with joy, he flew in, perched on her shoulder, and expressed his delight + and affection by a thousand caresses. + </p> + <p> + She, charmed with the pretty little pigeon, caressed it in her turn, and + promised it that if it would stay with her she would love it always. + </p> + <p> + “What have you done, Zelia?” said the hermit, smiling; and while he spoke + the white pigeon vanished, and there stood Prince Cherry in his own + natural form. “Your enchantment ended, prince, when Zelia promised to love + you. Indeed, she has loved you always, but your many faults constrained + her to hide her love. These are now amended, and you may both live happy + if you will, because your union is founded upon mutual esteem.” + </p> + <p> + Cherry and Zelia threw themselves at the feet of the hermit, whose form + also began to change. His soiled garments became of dazzling whiteness, + and his long beard and withered face grew into the flowing hair and lovely + countenance of the fairy Candide. + </p> + <p> + “Rise up, my children,” said she; “I must now transport you to your palace + and restore to Prince Cherry his father's crown, of which he is now + worthy.” + </p> + <p> + She had scarcely ceased speaking when they found themselves in the chamber + of Suliman, who, delighted to find again his beloved pupil and master, + willingly resigned the throne, and became the most faithful of his + subjects. + </p> + <p> + King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together for many years, and it is + said that the former was so blameless and strict in all his duties that + though he constantly wore the ring which Candide had restored to him, it + never once pricked his finger enough to make it bleed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE PRINCE WITH THE NOSE + </h2> + <p> + THERE was once a king who was passionately in love with a beautiful + princess, but she could not be married because a magician had enchanted + her. The king went to a good fairy to inquire what he should do. Said the + fairy, after receiving him graciously: “Sir, I will tell you a great + secret. The princess has a great cat whom she loves so well that she cares + for nothing and nobody else; but she will be obliged to marry any person + who is adroit enough to walk upon the cat's tail.” + </p> + <p> + “That will not be very difficult,” thought the king to himself, and + departed, resolving to trample the cat's tail to pieces rather than not + succeed in walking upon it. He went immediately to the palace of his fair + mistress and the cat; the animal came in front of him, arching its back in + anger as it was wont to do. The king lifted up his foot, thinking nothing + would be so easy as to tread on the tail, but he found himself mistaken. + Minon—that was the creature's name—twisted itself round so + sharply that the king only hurt his own foot by stamping on the floor. For + eight days did he pursue the cat everywhere: up and down the palace he was + after it from morning till night, but with no better success; the tail + seemed made of quicksilver, so very lively was it. At last the king had + the good fortune to catch Minon sleeping, when tramp! tramp! he trod on + the tail with all his force. + </p> + <p> + Minon woke up, mewed horribly, and immediately changed from a cat into a + large, fierce-looking man, who regarded the king with flashing eyes. + </p> + <p> + “You must marry the princess,” cried he, “because you have broken the + enchantment in which I held her; but I will be revenged on you. You shall + have a son with a nose as long as—that;” he made in the air a curve + of half a foot; “yet he shall believe it is just like all other noses, and + shall be always unfortunate till he has found out it is not. And if you + ever tell anybody of this threat of mine, you shall die on the spot.” So + saying the magician disappeared. + </p> + <p> + The king, who was at first much terrified, soon began to laugh at this + adventure. “My son might have a worse misfortune than too long a nose,” + thought he. “At least it will hinder him neither in seeing nor hearing. I + will go and find the princess and marry her at once.” + </p> + <p> + He did so, but he only lived a few months after, and died before his + little son was born, so that nobody knew anything about the secret of the + nose. + </p> + <p> + The little prince was so much wished for that when he came into the world + they agreed to call him Prince Wish. He had beautiful blue eyes and a + sweet little mouth, but his nose was so big that it covered half his face. + The queen, his mother, was inconsolable; but her ladies tried to satisfy + her by telling her that the nose was not nearly so large as it seemed, + that it would grow smaller as the prince grew bigger, and that if it did + not a large nose was indispensable to a hero. All great soldiers, they + said, had great noses, as everybody knew. The queen was so very fond of + her son that she listened eagerly to all this comfort. Shortly she grew so + used to the princes's nose that it did not seem to her any larger than + ordinary noses of the court; where, in process of time, everybody with a + long nose was very much admired, and the unfortunate people who had only + snubs were taken very little notice of. + </p> + <p> + Great care was observed in the education of the prince; and as soon as he + could speak they told him all sorts of amusing tales, in which all the bad + people had short noses, and all the good people had long ones. No person + was suffered to come near him who had not a nose of more than ordinary + length; nay, to such an extent did the countries carry their fancy, that + the noses of all the little babies were ordered to be pulled out as far as + possible several times a day, in order to make them grow. But grow as they + would, they never could grow as long as that of Prince Wish. When he was + old enough his tutor taught him history; and whenever any great king or + lovely princess was referred to, the tutor always took care to mention + that he or she had a long nose. All the royal apartments were filled with + pictures and portraits having this peculiarity, so that at last Prince + Wish began to regard the length of his nose as his greatest perfection, + and would not have had it an inch less even to save his crown. + </p> + <p> + When he was twenty years old his mother and his people wished him to + marry. They procured for him the likenesses of many princesses, but the + one he preferred was Princess Darling, daughter of a powerful monarch and + heiress to several kingdoms. Alas! with all her beauty, this princess had + one great misfortune, a little turned-up nose, which, every one else said + made her only the more bewitching. But here, in the kingdom of Prince + Wish, the courtiers were thrown by it into the utmost perplexity. They + were in the habit of laughing at all small noses; but how dared they make + fun of the nose of Princess Darling? Two unfortunate gentlemen, whom + Prince Wish had overheard doing so, were ignominiously banished from the + court and capital. + </p> + <p> + After this, the courtiers became alarmed, and tried to correct their habit + of speech; but they would have found themselves in constant difficulties, + had not one clever person struck out a bright idea. He said that though it + was indispensably necessary for a man to have a great nose, women were + very different; and that a learned man had discovered in a very old + manuscript that the celebrated Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, the beauty of + the ancient world, had a turned-up nose. At this information Prince Wish + was so delighted that he made the courtier a very handsome present, and + immediately sent off ambassadors to demand Princess Darling in marriage. + </p> + <p> + She accepted his offer at once, and returned with the ambassadors. He made + all haste to meet and welcome her, but when she was only three leagues + distant from his capital, before he had time even to kiss her hand, the + magician who had once assumed the shape of his mother's cat, Minon, + appeared in the air and carried her off before the lover's very eyes. + </p> + <p> + Prince Wish, almost beside himself with grief, declared that nothing + should induce him to return to his throne and kingdom till he had found + Darling. He would suffer none of his courtiers or attendants to follow + him; but bidding them all adieu, mounted a good horse, laid the reins on + the animal's neck, and let him take him wherever he would. + </p> + <p> + The horse entered a wide-extended plain, and trotted on steadily the whole + day without finding a single house. Master and beast began almost to faint + with hunger; and Prince Wish might have wished himself at home again, had + he not discovered, just at dusk, a cavern, where there sat, beside a + bright lantern, a little woman who might have been more than a hundred + years old. + </p> + <p> + She put on her spectacles the better to look at the stranger, and he + noticed that her nose was so small that the spectacles would hardly stay + on; then the prince and the fairy—for she was a fairy—burst + into laughter. + </p> + <p> + “What a funny nose!” cried the one. + </p> + <p> + “Not so funny as yours, madam,” returned the other. “But pray let us leave + our noses alone, and be good enough to give me something to eat, for I am + dying with hunger, and so is my poor horse.” + </p> + <p> + “With all my heart,” answered the fairy. “Although your nose is + ridiculously long, you are no less the son of one of my best friends. I + loved your father like a brother; he had a very handsome nose.” + </p> + <p> + “What is wanting to my nose?” asked Wish rather savagely. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! nothing at all. On the contrary, there is a great deal too much of + it; but never mind, one may be a very honest man, and yet have too big a + nose. As I said, I was a great friend of your father's; he came often to + see me. I was very pretty then, and oftentimes he used to say to me, 'My + sister——'” + </p> + <p> + “I will hear the rest, madam, with pleasure, when I have supped; but will + you condescend to remember that I have tasted nothing all day?” + </p> + <p> + “Poor boy,” said the fairy, “I will give you some supper directly; and + while you eat it I will tell you my history in six words, for I hate much + talking. A long tongue is as insupportable as a long nose; and I remember + when I was young how much I used to be admired because I was not a talker; + indeed, some one said to the queen my mother—for poor as you see me + now, I am the daughter of a great king, who always——” + </p> + <p> + “Ate when he was hungry, I hope,” interrupted the prince, whose patience + was fast departing. + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” said the imperturbable old fairy; “and I will bring you + your supper directly, only I wish first just to say that the king my + father——” + </p> + <p> + “Hang the king your father!” Prince Wish was about to exclaim, but he + stopped himself, and only observed that however the pleasure of her + conversation might make him forget his hunger, it could not have the same + effect upon his horse, who was really starving. + </p> + <p> + The fairy, pleased at his civility, called her servants and bade them + supply him at once with all he needed. “And,” added she, “I must say you + are very polite and very good-tempered, in spite of your nose.” + </p> + <p> + “What has the old woman to do with my nose?” thought the prince. “If I + were not so very hungry, I would soon show her what she is—a regular + old gossip and chatterbox. She to fancy she talks little, indeed! One must + be very foolish not to know one's own defects. This comes of being born a + princess. Flatterers have spoiled her and persuaded her that she talks + little. Little, indeed! I never knew anybody chatter so much.” + </p> + <p> + While the prince thus meditated, the servants were laying the table, the + fairy asking them a hundred unnecessary questions, simply for the pleasure + of hearing herself talk. “Well,” thought Wish, “I am delighted that I came + hither, if only to learn how wise I have been in never listening to + flatterers, who hide from us our faults, or make us believe they are + perfections. But they could never deceive me. I know all my own weak + points, I trust.” As truly he believed he did. + </p> + <p> + So he went on eating contentedly, nor stopped till the old fairy began to + address him. + </p> + <p> + “Prince,” said she, “will you be kind enough to turn a little? Your nose + casts such a shadow that I cannot see what is on my plate. And, as I was + saying, your father admired me and always made me welcome at court. What + is the court etiquette there now? Do the ladies still go to assemblies, + promenades, balls?—I beg your pardon for laughing, but how very long + your nose is.” + </p> + <p> + “I wish you would cease to speak of my nose,” said the prince, becoming + annoyed. “It is what it is, and I do not desire it any shorter.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I see that I have vexed you,” returned the fairy. “Nevertheless, I am + one of your best friends, and so I shall take the liberty of always——” + She would doubtless have gone on talking till midnight; but the prince, + unable to bear it any longer, here interrupted her, thanked her for her + hospitality, bade her a hasty adieu, and rode away. + </p> + <p> + He traveled for a long time, half over the world, but he heard no news of + Princess Darling. However, in each place he went to, he heard one + remarkable fact—the great length of his own nose. The little boys in + the streets jeered at him, the peasants stared at him, and the more polite + ladies and gentlemen whom he met in society used to try in vain to keep + from laughing, and to get out of his way as soon as they could. So the + poor prince became gradually quite forlorn and solitary; he thought all + the world was mad, but still he never thought of there being anything + queer about his own nose. At last the old fairy, who, though she was a + chatterbox, was very good-natured; saw that he was almost breaking his + heart. She felt sorry for him and wished to help him in spite of himself, + for she knew the enchantment which hid from him the Princess Darling could + never be broken till he had discovered his own defect. So she went in + search of the princess, and being more powerful than the magician, since + she was a good fairy and he was an evil magician, she got her away from + him and shut her up in a palace of crystal, which she placed on the road + which Prince Wish had to pass. + </p> + <p> + He was riding along, very melancholy, when he saw the palace; and at its + entrance was a room, made of the purest glass, in which sat his beloved + princess, smiling and beautiful as ever. He leaped from his horse and ran + toward her. She held out her hand for him to kiss, but he could not get at + it for the glass. Transported with eagerness and delight, he dashed his + sword through the crystal and succeeded in breaking a small opening, to + which she put up her beautiful rosy mouth. But it was in vain; Prince Wish + could not approach it. He twisted his neck about, and turned his head on + all sides, till at length, putting up his hand to his face, he discovered + the impediment. + </p> + <p> + “It must be confessed,” exclaimed he, “that my nose is too long.” + </p> + <p> + That moment the glass walls all split asunder, and the old fairy appeared, + leading Princess Darling. + </p> + <p> + “Avow, prince,” said she, “that you are very much obliged to me, for now + the enchantment is ended. You may marry the object of your choice. But,” + added she, smiling, “I fear I might have talked to you forever on the + subject of your nose, and you would not have believed me in its length, + till it became an obstacle to your own inclinations. Now behold it!” and + she held up a crystal mirror. “Are you satisfied to be no different from + other people?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly,” said Prince Wish, who found his nose had shrunk to an + ordinary length. And taking the Princess Darling by the hand, he kissed + her courteously, affectionately, and satisfactorily. Then they departed to + their own country, and lived very happily all their days. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FROG-PRINCE + </h2> + <p> + IN times of yore, when wishes were both heard and granted, lived a king + whose daughters were all beautiful but the youngest was so lovely that the + sun himself, who has seen so much, wondered at her beauty every time he + looked in her face. Now, near the king's castle was a large dark forest; + and in the forest, under an old linden tree, was a deep well. When the day + was very hot, the king's daughter used to go to the wood and seat herself + at the edge of the cool well; and when she became wearied, she would take + a golden ball, throw it up in the air, and catch it again. This was her + favorite amusement. Once it happened that her golden ball, instead of + falling back into the little hand that she stretched out for it, dropped + on the ground, and immediately rolled away into the water. The king's + daughter followed it with her eyes, but the ball had vanished, and the + well was so deep that no one could see down to the bottom. Then she began + to weep, wept louder and louder every minute, and could not console + herself at all. + </p> + <p> + While she was thus lamenting some one called to her: “What is the matter + with you, king's daughter? You weep so that you would touch the heart of a + stone.” + </p> + <p> + She looked around to see whence the voice came, and saw a frog stretching + his thick ugly head out of the water. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! it is you, old water-paddler!” said she. “I am crying for my golden + ball, which has fallen into the well.” + </p> + <p> + “Be content,” answered the frog; “I dare say I can give you some good + advice; but what will you give me if I bring back your plaything to you?” + </p> + <p> + “Whatever you like, dear frog,” said she, “my clothes, my pearls and + jewels, even the golden crown I wear.” + </p> + <p> + The frog answered, “Your clothes, your pearls and jewels, even your golden + crown, I do not care for; but if you will love me, and let me be your + companion and play-fellow, sit near you at your little table, eat from + your little golden plate, drink from your little cup, and sleep in your + little bed—if you will promise me this, then I will bring you back + your golden ball from the bottom of the well.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes!” said she; “I promise you every-thing, if you will only bring me + back my golden ball.” + </p> + <p> + She thought to herself, meanwhile: “What nonsense the silly frog talks! He + sits in the water with the other frogs, and croaks, and cannot be + anybody's playfellow!” + </p> + <p> + But the frog, as soon as he had received the promise dipped his head under + the water and sank down. In a little while up he came again with the ball + in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The king's daughter was overjoyed + when she beheld her pretty plaything again, picked it up, and ran away + with it. + </p> + <p> + “Wait! wait!” cried the frog; “take me with you. I cannot run as fast as + you.” + </p> + <p> + Alas! of what use was it that he croaked after her as loud as he could. + She would not listen to him, but hastened home, and soon forgot the poor + frog, who was obliged to plunge again to the bottom of his well. + </p> + <p> + The next day, when she was sitting at dinner with the king and all the + courtiers, eating from her little gold plate, there came a sound of + something creeping up the marble staircase—splish, splash; and when + it had reached the top, it knocked at the door and cried, “Youngest king's + daughter, open to me.” + </p> + <p> + She ran, wishing to see who was outside; but when she opened the door and + there sat the frog, she flung it hastily to again and sat down at table, + feeling very, very uncomfortable. The king saw that her heart was beating + violently, and said, “How, my child, why are you afraid? Is a giant + standing outside the door to carry you off?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no!” answered she, “it is no giant, but a nasty frog, who yesterday, + when I was playing in the wood near the well, fetched my golden ball out + of the water. For this I promised him he should be my companion, but I + never thought he could come out of his well. Now he is at the door, and + wants to come in.” + </p> + <p> + Again, the second time there was a knock, and a voice cried: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Youngest king's daughter, + Open to me; + Know you what yesterday + You promised me, + By the cool water? + Youngest king's daughter, + Open to me.” + </pre> + <p> + Then said the king, “What you promised you must perform. Go and open the + door.” + </p> + <p> + She went and opened the door; the frog hopped in, always following and + following her till he came up to her chair. There he sat and cried out, + “Lift me up to you on the table.” + </p> + <p> + She refused, till the king, her father, commanded her to do it. When the + frog was on the table, he said, “Now push your little golden plate nearer + to me, that we may eat together.” She did as he desired, but one could + easily see that she did it unwillingly. The frog seemed to enjoy his + dinner very much, but every morsel she ate stuck in the throat of the poor + little princess. + </p> + <p> + Then said the frog, “I have eaten enough, and am tired; carry me to your + little room, and make your little silken bed smooth, and we will lay + ourselves down to sleep together.” + </p> + <p> + At this the daughter of the king began to weep; for she was afraid of the + cold frog, who wanted to sleep in her pretty clean bed. + </p> + <p> + But the king looked angrily at her, and said again: “What you have + promised you must perform. The frog is your companion.” + </p> + <p> + It was no use to complain; whether she liked it or not, she was obliged to + take the frog with her up to her little bed. So she picked him up with two + fingers, hating him bitterly the while, and carried him upstairs: but when + she got into bed, instead of lifting him up to her, she threw him with all + her strength against the wall, saying, “Now you nasty frog, there will be + an end of you.” + </p> + <p> + But what fell down from the wall was not a dead frog, but a living young + prince, with beautiful and loving eyes, who at once became, by her own + promise and her father's will, her dear companion and husband. He told her + how he had been cursed by a wicked sorceress, and that no one but the + king's youngest daughter could release him from his enchantment and take + him out of the well. + </p> + <p> + The next day a carriage drove up to the palace gates with eight white + horses, having white feathers on their heads and golden reins. Behind it + stood the servant of the young prince, called the faithful Henry. This + faithful Henry had been so grieved when his master was changed into a frog + that he had been compelled to have three iron bands fastened round his + heart, lest it should break. Now the carriage came to convey the prince to + his kingdom, so the faithful Henry lifted in the bride and bridegroom and + mounted behind, full of joy at his lord's release. But when they had gone + a short distance, the prince heard behind him a noise as if something was + breaking. He cried out, “Henry, the carriage is breaking!” + </p> + <p> + But Henry replied: “No, sir, it is not the carriage but one of the bands + from my heart, with which I was forced to bind it up, or it would have + broken with grief while you sat as a frog at the bottom of the well.” + </p> + <p> + Twice again this happened, and the prince always thought the carriage was + breaking; but it was only the bands breaking off from the heart of the + faithful Henry, out of joy that his lord, the frog-prince, was a frog no + more. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CLEVER ALICE + </h2> + <p> + ONCE upon a time there was a man who had a daughter who was called “Clever + Alice,” and when she was grown up, her father said, “We must see about her + marrying.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” replied her mother, “whenever a young man shall appear who is + worthy of her.” + </p> + <p> + At last a certain youth, by name Hans, came from a distance to make a + proposal of marriage; but he required one condition, that the clever Alice + should be very prudent. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said her father, “no fear of that! she has got a head full of + brains;” and the mother added, “ah, she can see the wind blow up the + street, and hear the flies cough!” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” replied Hans; “but remember, if she is not very prudent, I + will not take her.” Soon afterward they sat down to dinner, and her mother + said, “Alice, go down into the cellar and draw some beer.” + </p> + <p> + So Clever Alice took the jug down from the wall, and went into the cellar, + jerking the lid up and down on her way, to pass away the time. As soon as + she got downstairs she drew a stool and placed it before the cask, in + order that she might not have to stoop, for she thought stooping might in + some way injure her back and give it an undesirable bend. Then she placed + the can before her and turned the tap, and while the beer was running, as + she did not wish her eyes to be idle, she looked about upon the wall above + and below. Presently she perceived, after much peeping into this corner + and that corner, a hatchet, which the bricklayers had left behind? + sticking out of the ceiling right above her head. At the sight of this + Clever Alice began to cry, saying, “Oh! if I marry Hans, and we have a + child, and he grows up, and we send him into the cellar to draw beer, the + hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him,” and so she sat there + weeping with all her might over the impending misfortune. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the good folks upstairs were waiting for the beer, but as Clever + Alice did not come, her mother told the maid to go and see what she was + stopping for. The maid went down into the cellar and found Alice sitting + before the cask crying heartily, and she asked, “Alice, what are you + weeping about?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she replied, “have I not cause? If I marry Hans, and we have a + child, and he grows up, and we send him here to draw beer, that hatchet + will fall upon his head and kill him.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said the maid, “what a clever Alice we have!” And sitting down, she + began to weep, too, for the misfortune that was to happen. + </p> + <p> + After a while, when the servant did not return, the good folks above began + to feel very thirsty; so the husband told the boy to go down into the + cellar and see what had become of Alice and the maid. The boy went down, + and there sat Clever Alice and the maid both crying, so he asked the + reason; and Alice told him the same tale, of the hatchet that was to fall + on her child, if she married Hans, and if they had a child. When she had + finished, the boy exclaimed, “What a clever Alice we have!” and fell + weeping and howling with the others. + </p> + <p> + Upstairs they were still waiting, and the husband said, when the boy did + not return, “Do you go down, wife, into the cellar and see why Alice stays + so long.” So she went down, and finding all three sitting there crying, + asked the reason, and Alice told her about the hatchet which must + inevitably fall upon the head of her son. Then the mother likewise + exclaimed, “Oh, what a clever Alice we have!” and, sitting down, began to + weep as much as any of the rest. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the husband waited for his wife's return; but at last he felt so + very thirsty that he said, “I must go myself down into the cellar and see + what is keeping our Alice.” As soon as he entered the cellar, there he + found the four sitting and crying together, and when he heard the reason, + he also exclaimed, “Oh, what a clever Alice we have!” and sat down to cry + with the whole strength of his lungs. + </p> + <p> + All this time the bridegroom above sat waiting, but when nobody returned, + he thought they must be waiting for him, and so he went down to see what + was the matter. When he entered, there sat the five crying and groaning, + each one in a louder key than his neighbor. + </p> + <p> + “What misfortune has happened?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, dear Hans!” cried Alice, “if you and I should marry one another, and + have a child, and he grew up, and we, perhaps, send him down to this + cellar to tap the beer, the hatchet which has been left sticking up there + may fall on his head, and so kill him; and do you not think this is enough + to weep about?” + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Hans, “more prudence than this is not necessary for my + housekeeping; because you are such a clever Alice, I will have you for my + wife.” And, taking her hand, he led her home, and celebrated the wedding + directly. + </p> + <p> + After they had been married a little while, Hans, said one morning, “Wife, + I will go out to work and earn some money; do you go into the field and + gather some corn wherewith to make bread.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” she answered, “I will do so, dear Hans.” And when he was gone, she + cooked herself a nice mess of pottage to take with her. As she came to the + field, she said to herself, “What shall I do? Shall I cut first, or eat + first? Aye, I will eat first!” Then she ate up the contents of her pot, + and when it was finished, she thought to herself, “Now, shall I reap first + or sleep first? Well, I think I will have a nap!” and so she laid herself + down among the corn, and went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Hans returned home, but Alice did not come, and so he said, “Oh, + what a prudent Alice I have! She is so industrious that she does not even + come home to eat anything.” By and by, however, evening came on, and still + she did not return; so Hans went out to see how much she had reaped; but, + behold, nothing at all, and there lay Alice fast asleep among the corn! So + home he ran very fast, and brought a net with little bells hanging on it, + which he threw over her head while she still slept on. When he had done + this, he went back again and shut to the house door, and, seating himself + on his stool, began working very industriously. + </p> + <p> + At last, when it was nearly dark, the clever Alice awoke, and as soon as + she stood up, the net fell all over her hair, and the bells jingled at + every step she took. This quite frightened her, and she began to doubt + whether she were really Clever Alice, and said to herself, “Am I she, or + am I not?” This was a question she could not answer, and she stood still a + long while considering about it. At last she thought she would go home and + ask whether she was really herself—supposing somebody would be able + to tell her. + </p> + <p> + When she came up to the house door it was shut; so she tapped at the + window, and asked, “Hans, is Alice within?” “Yes,” he replied, “she is.” + At which answer she became really terrified, and exclaiming, “Ah, heaven, + then I am not Alice!” she ran up to another house, intending to ask the + same question. But as soon as the folks within heard the jingling of the + bells in her net, they refused to open their doors, and nobody would + receive her. So she ran straight away from the village, and no one has + ever seen her since. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Lame Prince, by +Miss Mulock--Pseudonym of Maria Dinah Craik + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE *** + +***** This file should be named 496-h.htm or 496-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/496/ + +Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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