按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the prince。
〃What！〃 exclaimed the king； 〃a condition！ and with me！ How dare
you？〃
〃As you please；〃 returned the prince； coolly。 〃I wish your Majesty a
good morning。〃
〃You wretch！ I will have you put in a sack； and stuck in the hole。〃
〃Very well； your Majesty；〃 replied the prince； becoming a little more
respectful； lest the wrath of the king should deprive him of the pleasure of
dying for the princess。 〃But what good will that do your Majesty？
Please to remember that the oracle says the victim must offer himself。〃
〃Well； you have offered yourself；〃 retorted the king。
39
… Page 40…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
〃Yes； upon one condition。〃
〃Condition again！〃 roared the king； once more drawing his sword。
〃Begone！ Somebody else will be glad enough to take the honour off
your shoulders。〃
〃Your Majesty knows it will not be easy to get another to take my
place。〃
〃Well； what is your condition？〃 growled the king； feeling that the
prince was right。
〃Only this；〃 replied the prince： 〃that； as I must on no account die
before I am fairly drowned； and the waiting will be rather wearisome； the
princess； your daughter； shall go with me； feed me with her own hands；
and look at me now and then to comfort me； for you must confess it IS
rather hard。 As soon as the water is up to my eyes； she may go and be
happy； and forget her poor shoeblack。〃
Here the prince's voice faltered； and he very nearly grew sentimental；
in spite of his resolution。
〃Why didn't you tell me before what your condition was？ Such a
fuss about nothing！〃 exclaimed the king。
〃Do you grant it？〃 persisted the prince。 〃Of course I do；〃 replied the
king。
〃Very well。 I am ready。〃
〃Go and have some dinner； then； while I set my people to find the
place。〃
The king ordered out his guards； and gave directions to the officers to
find the hole in the lake at once。 So the bed of the lake was marked out
in divisions and thoroughly examined； and in an hour or so the hole was
discovered。 It was in the middle of a stone； near the centre of the lake； in
the very pool where the golden plate had been found。 It was a three…
cornered hole of no great size。 There was water all round the stone； but
very little was flowing through the hole。
40
… Page 41…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
14。 This Is Very Kind of You。
The prince went to dress for the occasion； for he was resolved to die
like a prince。
When the princess heard that a man had offered to die for her； she was
so transported that she jumped off the bed； feeble as she was； and danced
about the room for joy。 She did not care who the man was； that was
nothing to her。 The hole wanted stopping； and if only a man would do；
why； take one。 In an hour or two more everything was ready。 Her maid
dressed her in haste； and they carried her to the side of the lake。 When
she saw it she shrieked； and covered her face with her hands。 They bore
her across to the stone where they had already placed a little boat for her。
The water was not deep enough to float it； but they hoped it would be；
before long。 They laid her on cushions； placed in the boat wines and
fruits and other nice things； and stretched a canopy over all。
In a few minutes the prince appeared。 The princess recognized him
at once； but did not think it worth while to acknowledge him。
〃Here I am；〃 said the prince。 〃Put me in。〃
〃They told me it was a shoeblack；〃 said the princess。
〃So I am；〃 said the prince。 〃I blacked your little boots three times a
day； because they were all I could get of you。 Put me in。〃
The courtiers did not resent his bluntness； except by saying to each
other that he was taking it out in impudence。
But how was he to be put in？ The golden plate contained no
instructions on this point。 The prince looked at the hole； and saw but one
way。 He put both his legs into it； sitting on the stone； and； stooping
forward； covered the corner that remained open with his two hands。 In
this uncomfortable position he resolved to abide his fate； and turning to
the people； said；
〃Now you can go。〃
The king had already gone home to dinner。
〃Now you can go；〃 repeated the princess after him； like a parrot。
The people obeyed her and went。
Presently a little wave flowed over the stone； and wetted one of the
41
… Page 42…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
prince's knees。 But he did not mind it much。 He began to sing； and the
song he sang was this：
〃As a world that has no well； Darting bright in forest dell； As a
world without the gleam Of the downward…going stream； As a world
without the glance Of the ocean's fair expanse； As a world where never
rain Glittered on the sunny plain； Such； my heart； thy world would be； if
no love did flow in thee。
As a world without the sound Of the rivulets underground； Or the
bubbling of the spring Out of darkness wandering； Or the mighty rush and
flowing Of the river's downward going； Or the music…showers that drop
On the outspread beech's top； Or the ocean's mighty voice； When his lifted
waves rejoice； Such； my soul； thy world would be； if no love did sing in
thee。
Lady； keep thy world's delight； Keep the waters in thy sight。 Love hath
made me strong to go； For thy sake； to realms below； Where the water's
shine and hum Through the darkness never come； Let； I pray； one thought
of me Spring； a little well； in thee； Lest thy loveless soul be found Like a
dry and thirsty ground。〃
〃Sing again； prince。 It makes it less tedious；〃 said the princess。
But the prince was too much overcome to sing any more； and a long
pause followed。
〃This is very kind of you； prince；〃 said the princess at last； quite coolly；
as she lay in the boat with her eyes shut。
〃I am sorry I can't return the compliment；〃 thought the pr