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！
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。
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。
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；
103
… Page 104…
The Little Lame Prince
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 inwho never took the least notice of them。
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。〃
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。
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？〃
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
〃Poor little beast！〃 cried she； patting him； 〃every bit of food in that
palace is poisoned： you shall not touch a morsel。〃
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
104
… Page 105…
The Little Lame Prince
the fairy Candide； and began to hope that she was taking him into favor
again。
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。
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。
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。
〃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。〃
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。
〃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。〃
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。
King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together for