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test gusto imaginable； till he grew so thirsty he did not know what to do。
〃Couldn't I have just one drop of water； if it didn't trouble you too much； kindest of godmothers？〃
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 wellthere were such things known in Nomanslandwhich 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？
He forgot one thingthe 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 pureas water from the clouds always is when it does not catch the soot from city chimneys and other defilementsthat he drank it； every drop； with the greatest delight and content。
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。
When he awoke； he found himself floating over a country quite unlike anything he had ever seen before。
Yet it was nothing but what most of you children see every day and never notice ita pretty country landscape； like England； Scotland； France； or any other land you choose to name。 It had no particular featuresnothing in it grand or lovelywas 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。
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 princewho had never seen water before； except in his bath or his drinking…cupclap his hands with delight。
〃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。
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。
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 himtrunk； branches； and leavesthe most curious sight imaginable。
〃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。
Just a bunch of green leavessuch 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 areevery one of them a little different。 I don't suppose you could ever find two leaves exactly alike in form； color； and sizeno 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。
Prince Dolor examined his leaves with the greatest curiosityand 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。
〃Still there must be many live creatures in the world besides caterpillars。 I should like to see a few of them。〃
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 valleycalled 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。
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。
〃I have as good as two pairs of eyes；〃 he thought。 〃I wonder if my godmother would give me a second pair of ears。〃
Scarcely had he spoken than he found lying on his lap the most curious little parcel； all done up in silvery paper。 And it containedwhat 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。
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。
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。
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 watchhe that was always so quiet。 But； these creatures having four legs； and he only two； the difference did not strike him painfully。
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 ne