prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第21部分

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gwendolen　hesitated。

〃youll　stay　with　us；　sweetheart？〃　said　aslan。

〃oh；　may　i？　thank　you；　thank　you；〃　said　gwendolen。　instantly　she　joined　　hands　with　two　of　the　maenads；　who　whirled　her　round　in　a　merry　dance　and　helped　her　take　　off　some　of　the　unnecessary　and　unfortable　clothes　that　she　was　wearing。

wherever　they　went　in　the　little　town　of　beruna　it　was　the　same。　most　of　　the　people　fled；　a　few　joined　them。　when　they　left　the　town　they　were　a　larger　and　a　merrier　　pany。

they　swept　on　across　the　level　fields　on　the　north　bank；　or　left　bank；　of　　the　river。　at　every　farm　animals　came　out　to　join　them。　sad　old　donkeys　who　had　never　　known　joy　grew　suddenly　young　again；　chained　dogs　broke　their　chains；　horses　kicked　　their　carts　to　pieces　and　came　trotting　along　with　them　…　clop…clop　…　kicking　up　the　mud　　and　whinnying。

at　a　well　in　a　yard　they　met　a　man　who　was　beating　a　boy。　the　stick　burst　　into　flower　in　the　mans　hand。　he　tried　to　drop　it；　but　it　stuck　to　his　hand。　his　arm　　became　a　branch；　his　body　the　trunk　of　a　tree；　his　feet　took　root。　the　boy；　who　had　been　crying　　a　moment　before；　burst　out　laughing　and　joined　them。

at　a　little　town　half…way　to　beaversdam；　where　two　rivers　met；　they　came　to　　another　school；　where　a　tiredlooking　girl　was　teaching　arithmetic　to　a　number　of　　boys　who　looked　very　like　pigs。　she　looked　out　of　the　window　and　saw　the　divine　revellers　　singing　up　the　street　and　a　stab　of　joy　went　through　her　heart。　aslan　stopped　right　under　　the　window　and　looked　up　at　her。

〃oh；　dont；　dont；〃　she　said。　〃id　love　to。　but　i　mustnt。　i　must　stick　to　　my　work。　and　the　children　would　be　frightened　if　they　saw　you。鈥�

〃frightened？〃　said　the　most　pig…like　of　the　boys。　〃whos　she　talking　to　out　　of　the　window？　lets　tell　the　inspector　she　talks　to　people　out　of　the　window　when　　she　ought　to　be　teaching　us。鈥�

〃lets　go　and　see　who　it　is；〃　said　another　boy；　and　they　all　came　crowding　　to　the　window。

but　as　soon　as　their　mean　little　faces　looked　out；　bacchus　gave　a　great　cry　　of　euan；　euoi…oi…oi…of　and　the　boys　all　began　howling　with　fright　and　trampling　one　　another　down　to　get　out　of　the　door　and　jumping　out　of　the　windows。　and　it　was　said　　afterwards　（whether　truly　or　not）　that　those　particular　little　boys　were　never　seen　again；　but　　that　there　were　a　lot　of　very　fine　little　pigs　in　that　part　of　the　country　which　had　never　　been　there　before。

〃now；　dear　heart；〃　said　aslan　to　the　mistress；　and　she　jumped　down　and　　joined　them。

at　beaversdam　they　re…crossed　the　river　and　came　east　again　along　the　　southern　bank。

they　came　to　a　little　cottage　where　a　child　stood　in　the　doorway　crying。　　〃why　are　you　crying；　my　love？〃　asked　aslan。　the　child；　who　had　never　seen　a　picture　of　a　　lion；　was　not　afraid　of　him。　〃aunties　very　ill；〃　she　said。　〃shes　going　to　die。〃　then　　aslan　went　to　go　in　at　the　door　of　the　cottage；　but　it　was　too　small　for　him。　so；　when　he　had　　got　his　head　through；　he　pushed　with　his　shoulders　（lucy　and　susan　fell　off　when　he　did　　this）　and　lifted　the　whole　house　up　and　it　fell　backwards　and　apart。　and　there；　still　　in　her　bed；　though　the　bed　was　now　in　the　open　air；　lay　a　little　old　woman　who　looked　　as　if　she　had　dwarf　blood　in　her。　she　was　at　deaths　door；　but　when　she　opened　her　eyes　　and　saw　the　bright；　hairy　head　of　the　lion　staring　into　her　face；　she　did　not　scream　or　　faint。　she　said；　〃oh；　aslan！　i　knew　it　was　true。　ive　been　waiting　for　this　all　my　life。　　have　you　e　to　take　me　away？鈥�

〃yes；　dearest；〃　said　aslan。　〃but　not　the　long　journey　yet。〃　and　as　he　　spoke；　like　the　flush　creeping　along　the　underside　of　a　cloud　at　sunrise；　the　colour　came　back　to　　her　white　face　and　her　eyes　grew　bright　and　she　sat　up　and　said；　〃why；　i　do　declare　i　feel　　that　better。　i　think　i　could　take　a　little　breakfast　this　morning。鈥�

〃here　you　are；　mother；〃　said　bacchus；　dipping　a　pitcher　in　the　cottage　well　　and　handing　it　to　her。　but　what　was　in　it　now　was　not　water　but　the　richest　wine；　red　as　　red…currant　jelly；　smooth　as　oil；　strong　as　beef；　warming　as　tea；　cool　as　dew。

〃eh；　youve　done　something　to　our　well；〃　said　the　old　woman。　〃that　makes　a　　nice　change；　that　does。〃　and　she　jumped　out　of　bed。

〃ride　on　me；〃　said　aslan；　and　added　to　susan　and　lucy；　〃you　two　queens　will　　have　to　run　now。鈥�

〃but　wed　like　that　just　as　well；〃　said　susan。　and　off　they　went　again。

and　so　at　last；　with　leaping　and　dancing　and　singing；　with　music　and　　laughter　and　roaring　and　barking　and　neighing；　they　all　came　to　the　place　where　mirazs　army　　stood　flinging　down　their　swords　and　holding　up　their　hands；　and　peters　army；　still　　holding　their　weapons　and　breathing　hard；　stood　round　them　with　stern　and　glad　faces。　and　　the　first　thing　that　happened　was　that　the　old　woman　slipped　off　aslans　back　and　ran　　across　to　caspian　and　they　embraced　one　another；　for　she　was　his　old　nurse。

w锛穡銆倄iaoshuo　txt锛�



CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

銆傚皬锛胯�达伎txt澶╁爞
aslan　makes　a　door　in　the　air　　at　the　sight　of　aslan　the　cheeks　of　the　telmarine　soldiers　became　the　　colour　of　cold　gravy；　their　knees　knocked　together；　and　many　fell　on　their　faces。　they　had　　not　believed　　

in　lions　and　this　made　their　fear　greater。　even　the　red　dwarfs；　who　knew　　that　he　came　as　a　friend；　stood　with　open　mouths　and　could　not　speak。　some　of　the　black　　dwarfs；　who　had　been　of　nikabriks　party；　began　to　edge　away。　but　all　the　talking　　beasts　surged　round　the　lion；　with　purrs　and　grunts　and　squeaks　and　whinneys　of　delight；　　fawning　on　him　with　their　tails；　rubbing　against　him；　touching　him　reverently　with　　their　noses　and　going　to　and　fro　under　his　body　and　between　his　legs。　if　you　have　ever　seen　　a　little　cat　loving　a　big　dog　whom　it　knows　and　trusts；　you　will　have　a　pretty　good　　picture　of　their　behaviour。　then　peter；　leading　caspian；　forced　his　way　through　the　crowd　of　　animals。

〃this　is　caspian；　sir；〃　he　said。　and　caspian　knelt　and　kissed　the　lions　　paw。

〃wele；　prince；〃　said　aslan。　〃do　you　feel　yourself　sufficient　to　take　up　　the　kingship　of　narnia？鈥�

〃i　…　i　dont　think　i　do；　sir；〃　said　caspian。　〃im　only　a　kid。鈥�

〃good；〃　said　aslan。　〃if　you　had　felt　yourself　sufficient；　it　would　have　　been　a　proof　that　you　were　not。　therefore；　under　us　and　under　the　high　king；　you　shall　be　　king　of　narnia；　lord　of　cair　paravel；　and　emperor　of　the　lone　islands。　you　and　your　heirs　　while　your　race　lasts。　and　your　coronation　…　but　what　have　we　here？〃　for　at　that　　moment　a　curious　little　procession　was　approaching　…　eleven　mice；　six　of　whom　carried　　between　them　something　on　a　litter　made　of　branches；　but　the　litter　was　no　bigger　than　a　　large　atlas。　no　one　has　ever　seen　mice　more　woebegone　than　these。　they　were　plastered　with　　mud　some　with　blood　too　…　and　their　ears　were　down　and　their　whiskers　drooped　and　　their　tails　dragged　in　the　grass；　and　their　leader　piped　on　his　slender　pipe　a　　melancholy　tune。　on　the　litter　lay　what　seemed　little　better　than　a　damp　heap　of　fur；　all　that　was　　left　of　reepicheep。　he　was　still　breathing；　but　more　dead　than　alive；　gashed　with　　innumerable　wounds；　one　paw　crushed；　and；　where　his　tail　had　been；　a　bandaged　stump。

〃now；　lucy；〃　said　aslan。

lucy　had　her　diamond　bottle　out　in　a　moment。　though　only　a　drop　was　needed　　on　each　of　reepicheeps　wounds；　the　wounds　were　so　many　that　there　was　a　long　and　　anxious　silence　before　she　had　finished　and　the　master　mouse　sprang　from　the　　litter。　his　hand　went　at　once　to　his　sword　hilt；　with　the　other　he　twirled　his　whiskers。　he　　bowed。

〃hail；　aslan！〃　came　his　shrill　voice。　〃i　have　the　honour　…〃　but　then　he　　suddenly　stopped。

the　fact　was　that　he　still　had　no　tail　…　whether　that　lucy　had　forgotten　it　　or　that　her　cordial；　though　it　could　heal　wounds；　could　not　make　things　grow　again。　　reepicheep　became　aware　of　his　loss　as　he　made　his　bow；　perhaps　it　altered　something　　in　his　balance。

he　looked　over　his　right　shoulder。　failing　to　see　his　tail；　he　strained　his　　neck　further　till　he　had　to　turn　his　shoulders　and　his　whole　body　followed。　but　by　that　time　　his　hind…quarters　had　turned　too　and　were　out　of　sight。　then　he　strained　his　neck　　looking　over　his　shoulder　again；　with　the　same　result。　only　after　he　had　turned　pletely　　round　three　times　did　he　realize　the　dreadful　truth。

〃i　am　confounded；〃　said　reepicheep　to　aslan。　〃i　am　pletely　out　of　　countenance。　i　must　crave　your　indulgence　for　appearing　in　this　unseemly　fashion。鈥�

〃it　bees　you　very　well；　small　one；〃　said　aslan。

〃all　the　same；〃　replied　reepicheep；　〃if　anything　could　be　done。。。　perhaps　　her　majesty？鈥�

and　here　he　bowed　to　lucy。

〃but　what　do　you　want　with　a　tail？〃　asked　aslan。

〃sir；〃　said　the　mouse；　〃i　can　eat　and　sleep　and　die　for　my　king　without　　one。　but　a　tail　is　the　honour　and　glory　of　a　mouse。鈥�

〃i　have　sometimes　wondered；　friend；〃　said　aslan；　〃whether　you　do　not　think　　too　much　about　your　honour。鈥�

〃highest　of　all　high　kings；〃　said　reepicheep；　〃permit　me　to　remind　you　that　　a　very　small　size　has　been　bestowed　on　us　mice；　and　if　we　did　not　guard　our　dignity；　　some　（who　weigh　worth　by　inches）　would　allow　themselves　very　unsuitable　pleasantries　　at　our　expense。　that　is　why　i　have　been　at　some　pains　to　make　it　known　that　no　one　　who　does　not　wish　to　feel　this　sword　as　near　his　heart　as　i　can　reach　shall　talk　in　　my　presence　about　traps　or　toasted　cheese　or　candles：　no；　sir　…　not　the　tallest　fool　in　　narnia！〃　here　he　glared　very　fiercely　up　at　wimbleweather；　but　the　giant；　who　was　always　a　　stage　behind　everyone　else；　had　not　yet　discovered　what　was　being　talked　about　down　at　　his　feet；　and　so　missed　the　point。

〃why　have　your　followers　all　drawn　their　swords；　may　i　ask？〃　said　aslan。

〃may　it　please　your　high　majesty；〃　said　the　second　mouse；　whose　name　was　　peepiceek；　〃we　are　all　waiting　to　cut　off　our　own　tails　if　our　chief　must　go　without　　his。　we　will　not　bear　the　shame　of　wearing　an　honour　which　is　denied　to　the　high　mouse。鈥�

〃ah！〃　roared　aslan。　〃you　have　conquered　me。　you　have　great　hearts。　not　for　　the　sake　of　your　dignity；　reepicheep；　but　for　the　love　that　is　between　you　and　your　　people；　and　still　more　for　the　kindness　your　people　showed　me　long　ago　when　you　ate　away　the　　cords　that　bound　me　on　the　stone　table　（and　it　was　then；　though　you　have　long　　forgotten　it；　that　y