04-the yellow dwarf-第3部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



that　I　hear？　What　have　you　promised？〃



〃Ah！　my　mother；〃　replied　Bellissima　sadly；　〃what　did

YOU　promise；　yourself？〃



The　King　of　the　Gold　Mines；　indignant　at　being　kept

from　his　happiness　by　this　wicked　old　woman；　went　up　to

her；　and　threatening　her　with　his　sword；　said：



〃Get　away　out　of　my　country　at　once；　and　for　ever；

miserable　creature；　lest　I　take　your　life；　and　so　rid　myself

of　your　malice。〃



He　had　hardly　spoken　these　words　when　the　lid　of　the

box　fell　back　on　the　floor　with　a　terrible　noise；　and　to　their

horror　out　sprang　the　Yellow　Dwarf；　mounted　upon　a

great　Spanish　cat。　〃Rash　youth！〃　he　cried；　rushing　between

the　Fairy　of　the　Desert　and　the　King。　〃Dare　to

lay　a　finger　upon　this　illustrious　Fairy！　Your　quarrel　is

with　me　only。　I　am　your　enemy　and　your　rival。　That

faithless　Princess　who　would　have　married　you　is　promised

to　me。　See　if　she　has　not　upon　her　finger　a　ring　made　of

one　of　my　hairs。　Just　try　to　take　it　off；　and　you　will　soon

find　out　that　I　am　more　powerful　than　you　are！〃



〃Wretched　little　monster！〃　said　the　King；　〃do　you　dare

to　call　yourself　the　Princess's　lover；　and　to　lay　claim　to

such　a　treasure？　Do　you　know　that　you　are　a　dwarf

that　you　are　so　ugly　that　one　cannot　bear　to　look　at　you

and　that　I　should　have　killed　you　myself　long　before

this　if　you　had　been　worthy　of　such　a　glorious　death？〃



The　Yellow　Dwarf；　deeply　enraged　at　these　words；　set

spurs　to　his　cat；　which　yelled　horribly；　and　leaped　hither

and　thitherterrifying　everybody　except　the　brave　King；

who　pursued　the　Dwarf　closely；　till　he；　drawing　a　great

knife　with　which　he　was　armed；　challenged　the　King　to

meet　him　in　single　combat；　and　rushed　down　into　the

courtyard　of　the　palace　with　a　terrible　clatter。　The　King；

quite　provoked；　followed　him　hastily；　but　they　had　hardly

taken　their　places　facing　one　another；　and　the　whole

Court　had　only　just　had　time　to　rush　out　upon　the

balconies　to　watch　what　was　going　on；　when　suddenly　the

sun　became　as　red　as　blood；　and　it　was　so　dark　that　they

could　scarcely　see　at　all。　The　thunder　crashed；　and　the

lightning　seemed　as　if　it　must　burn　up　everything；　the　two

basilisks　appeared；　one　on　each　side　of　the　bad　Dwarf；　like

giants；　mountains　high；　and　fire　flew　from　their　mouths

and　ears；　until　they　looked　like　flaming　furnaces。　None

of　these　things　could　terrify　the　noble　young　King；　and

the　boldness　of　his　looks　and　actions　reassured　those　who

were　looking　on；　and　perhaps　even　embarrassed　the　Yellow

Dwarf　himself；　but　even　HIS　courage　gave　way　when　he

saw　what　was　happening　to　his　beloved　Princess。　For　the

Fairy　of　the　Desert；　looking　more　terrible　than　before；

mounted　upon　a　winged　griffin；　and　with　long　snakes

coiled　round　her　neck；　had　given　her　such　a　blow　with　the

lance　she　carried　that　Bellissima　fell　into　the　Queen's

arms　bleeding　and　senseless。　Her　fond　mother；　feeling　as

much　hurt　by　the　blow　as　the　Princess　herself；　uttered

such　piercing　cries　and　lamentations　that　the　King；　hearing

them；　entirely　lost　his　courage　and　presence　of　mind。

Giving　up　the　combat；　he　flew　toward　the　Princess；　to

rescue　or　to　die　with　her；　but　the　Yellow　Dwarf　was　too

quick　for　him。　Leaping　with　his　Spanish　cat　upon　the

balcony；　he　snatched　Bellissima　from　the　Queen's　arms；

and　before　any　of　the　ladies　of　the　Court　could　stop　him

he　had　sprung　upon　the　roof　of　the　palace　and　disappeared

with　his　prize。



The　King；　motionless　with　horror；　looked　on　despairingly

at　this　dreadful　occurrence；　which　he　was　quite

powerless　to　prevent；　and　to　make　matters　worse　his

sight　failed　him；　everything　became　dark；　and　he　felt　himself

carried　along　through　the　air　by　a　strong　hand。



This　new　misfortune　was　the　work　of　the　wicked　Fairy

of　the　Desert；　who　had　come　with　the　Yellow　Dwarf　to

help　him　carry　off　the　Princess；　and　had　fallen　in　love

with　the　handsome　young　King　of　the　Gold　Mines　directly

she　saw　him。　She　thought　that　if　she　carried　him　off　to

some　frightful　cavern　and　chained　him　to　a　rock；　then　the

fear　of　death　would　make　him　forget　Bellissima　and　become

her　slave。　So；　as　soon　as　they　reached　the　place；　she

gave　him　back　his　sight；　but　without　releasing　him　from

his　chains；　and　by　her　magic　power　she　appeared　before

him　as　a　young　and　beautiful　fairy；　and　pretended　to　have

come　there　quite　by　chance。



〃What　do　I　see？　she　cried。　〃Is　it　YOU；　dear　Prince？

What　misfortune　has　brought　you　to　this　dismal　place？〃



The　King；　who　was　quite　deceived　by　her　altered

appearance；　replied：



〃Alas！　beautiful　Fairy；　the　fairy　who　brought　me　here

first　took　away　my　sight；　but　by　her　voice　I　recognized

her　as　the　Fairy　of　the　Desert；　though　what　she　should

have　carried　me　off　for　I　cannot　tell　you。〃



〃Ah！〃　cried　the　pretended　Fairy；　〃if　you　have　fallen

into　HER　hands；　you　won't　get　away　until　you　have　married

her。　She　has　carried　off　more　than　one　Prince　like　this；

and　she　will　certainly　have　anything　she　takes　a　fancy　to。〃

While　she　was　thus　pretending　to　be　sorry　for　the　King；

he　suddenly　noticed　her　feet；　which　were　like　those　of　a

griffin；　and　knew　in　a　moment　that　this　must　be　the　Fairy

of　the　Desert；　for　her　feet　were　the　one　thing　she　could

not　change；　however　pretty　she　might　make　her　face。



Without　seeming　to　have　noticed　anything；　he　said；　in

a　confidential　way：



〃Not　that　I　have　any　dislike　to　the　Fairy　of　the　Desert；

but　I　really　cannot　endure　the　way　in　which　she　protects

the　Yellow　Dwarf　and　keeps　me　chained　here　like　a

criminal。　It　is　true　that　I　love　a　charming　princess；　but

if　the　Fairy　should　set　me　free　my　gratitude　would　oblige

me　to　love　her　only。〃



〃Do　you　really　mean　what　you　say；　Prince？〃　said　the

Fairy；　quite　deceived。



〃Surely；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃how　could　I　deceive　you？

You　see　it　is　so　much　more　flattering　to　my　vanity　to　be

loved　by　a　fairy　than　by　a　simple　princess。　But；　even　if

I　am　dying　of　love　for　her；　I　shall　pretend　to　hate　her　until

I　am　set　free。〃



The　Fairy　of　the　Desert；　quite　taken　in　by　these　words；

resolved　at　once　to　transport　the　Prince　to　a　pleasanter

place。　So；　making　him　mount　her　chariot；　to　which　she

had　harnessed　swans　instead　of　the　bats　which　generally

drew　it；　away　she　flew　with　him。　But　imagine　the　distress

of　the　Prince　when；　from　the　giddy　height　at　which　they

were　rushing　through　the　air；　he　saw　his　beloved　Princess

in　a　castle　built　of　polished　steel；　the　walls　of　which

reflected　the　sun's　rays　so　hotly　that　no　one　could　approach

it　without　being　burnt　to　a　cinder！　Bellissima　was　sitting

in　a　little　thicket　by　a　brook；　leaning　her　head　upon　her

hand　and　weeping　bitterly；　but　just　as　they　passed　she

looked　up　and　saw　the　King　and　the　Fairy　of　the　Desert。

Now；　the　Fairy　was　so　clever　that　she　could　not　only　seem

beautiful　to　the　King；　but　even　the　poor　Princess　thought

her　the　most　lovely　being　she　had　ever　seen。



〃What！〃　she　cried；　〃was　I　not　unhappy　enough　in　this

lonely　castle　to　which　that　frightful　Yellow　Dwarf

brought　me？　Must　I　also　be　made　to　know　that　the　King

of　the　Gold　Mines　ceased　to　love　me　as　soon　as　he　lost

sight　of　me？　But　who　can　my　rival　be；　whose　fatal　beauty

is　greater　than　mine？〃



While　she　was　saying　this；　the　King；　who　really　loved

her　as　much　as　ever；　was　feeling　terribly　sad　at　being　so

rapidly　torn　away　from　his　beloved　Princess；　but　he　knew

too　well　how　powerful　the　Fairy　was　to　have　any　hope　of

escaping　from　her　except　by　great　patience　and　cunning。



The　Fairy　of　the　Desert　had　also　seen　Bellissima；　and

she　tried　to　read　in　the　King's　eyes　the　effect　that　this

unexpected　sight　had　had　upon　him。



〃No　one　can　tell　you　what　you　wish　to　know　better　than

I　can；〃　said　he。　〃This　chance　meeting　with　an　unhappy

princess　for　whom　I　once　had　a　passing　fancy；　before　I

was　lucky　enough　to　meet　you；　has　affected　me　a　little；　I

admit；　but　you　are　so　much　more　to　me　than　she　is　that

I　would　rather　die　than　leave　you。〃



〃Ah；　Prince；〃　she　said；　〃can　I　believe　that　you　really

love　me　so　much？〃



〃Time　will　show；　madam；〃　replied　the　King；　〃but　if　you

wish　to　convince　me　that　you　have　some　regard　for　me；　do

not；　I　beg　of　you；　refuse　to　aid　Bellissima。〃



〃Do　you　know　what　you　are　asking？〃　said　the　Fairy　of

the　Desert；　frowning；　and　looking　at　him　suspiciously。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　employ　my　art　against　the　Yellow

Dwarf；　who　is　my　best　friend；　and　take　away　from　him　a

proud　princess　whom　I　can　but　look　upon　as　my　rival？〃



The　King　sighed；　but　made　no　answerindeed；　what

was　there　to　be　said　to　such　a　clear…sighted　person？　At

last　they　reached　a　vast　meadow；　gay　with　all　sorts　of

flowers；　a　deep　river　surrounded　it；　and　many　little　brooks

murmured　softly　under　the　shady　trees；　where　it　was

always　cool　and　fresh。　A　little　way　off　stood　a　splendid

palace；　the　walls　of　which　were　of　transparent　emeralds。

As　soon　as　the　swans　which　drew　the　Fairy's　chariot　had

alighted　under　a　porch；　which　was　paved　with　diamonds

and　had　arches　of　rubies；　they　were　greeted　on　all　sides　by

thousands　of　beautiful　beings；　who　came　to　meet　them

joyfully；　singing　these　words：



　　〃When　Love　within　a　heart　would　reign；

　　　　　　　Useless　to　strive　against　him　'tis。

　　The　proud　but　feel　a　sharper　pain；

　　　　　　　And　make　a　greater　triumph　his。〃





The　Fairy　of　the　Desert　was　delighted　to　hear　them

sing　of　her　triumphs；　she　led　the　King　into　the　most

splendid　room　that　can　be　imagined；　and　left　him　alone

for　a　little　while；　just　that　he　might　not　feel　that　he　was

a　prisoner；　but　he　felt　sure　that　she　had　not　really　gone

quite　away；　but　was　watching　him　from　some　hiding…

place。　So　walking　up　to　a　great　mirror；　he　said　to　it；

〃Trusty　counsellor；　let　me　see　what　I　can　do　to　make

myself　agreeable　to　the　charming　Fairy　of　the　Desert；　for　I

can　think　of　nothing　but　how　to　please　her。〃



And　he　at　once　set　to　work　to　curl