第 10 节
作者:浮游云中      更新:2021-02-21 16:36      字数:9322
  36
  … Page 37…
  The Grey Brethren
  high revel close to this place and celebrate the coming of age of his three
  sons。     These princes were all born at once; and the king has decided to
  divide his kingdom into three equal parts and leave his sons to rule while
  he retires to his country place to study science。             Now these Silver princes
  desire to marry three princesses; sisters born at once like themselves; but
  they   are   very   hard   to   find;   and   the   king   is   advertising   everywhere   for
  triplets。 When I heard this I set off at once to tell you。〃
  The    three   maidens     were    so  much     interested   and    excited   that  they
  forgot their troubles and began to sing。
  The cuckoo was pleased with his success; but told them they must go
  to bed and to sleep; and he would fetch them in the morning to show them
  the way to the King of Silverland's court。
  Next   morning;   although   he   arrived   quite   early;   the   maidens   were   up
  and ready for him; looking very pretty in their yellow frocks。                    The kind
  people of the house were quite sorry to part with their guests and begged
  them   to   come   again;   and   the   daffodil   maidens   set   off   in   high   spirits;
  following the cuckoo as he flew slowly ahead across the sunlit meadows。
  About noon they came in sight of the king's court。                   The gorgeous tents
  were of cloth of silver fastened with silver ropes; fountains were playing
  in the open spaces; and flags flying everywhere。               The daffodils attracted a
  great    deal   of  attention    as  they   made     their  way;   blushing     and   a  little
  frightened;   through   the   crowds   of   soldiers;   court   ladies   and   attendants。
  At   the   door   of   the   largest   and   most   gorgeous   tent   stood   three   beautiful
  princes dressed in silver。
  When they saw the maidens approaching;  hand in hand; they gave   a
  cry of joy and ran forward to greet them。
  〃Dear   beautiful   princesses;〃   they  cried;   〃welcome   to   our   court!   May
  we ask your names and the country you come from?〃
  The    cuckoo;     perched    on   a  tent…pole    hard    by;  answered     for   them。
  〃These      are   the  Princesses     Daffodil;     daughters     of  the   great   King    of
  Goldenland。        They have come very many days' journey to be present at
  your revels。〃
  Think of   the   cuckoo   telling   such   a   dreadful   story  and   those  naughty
  daffodils not contradicting him!
  37
  … Page 38…
  The Grey Brethren
  When the   princes heard the cuckoo's   words they  were almost   beside
  themselves       with   joy;  for;  as   it  happened;     there   was    a  real  King    of
  Goldenland (but the cuckoo did not know it); and he had three daughters
  of   the   same   age   whom   the   Silver   princes   were   anxious   to   see。     They
  dropped on one knee; kissed the maidens' hands very prettily; and then led
  them; blushing and delighted; into the royal tent。
  The king was out; but the queen received the daffodils very graciously。
  〃Triplet;〃 she said significantly; and it was the princes' turn to blush。
  Then   the   young   people   visited   all   the   beautiful   tents;   and   the   great
  ballroom where there was to be a ball that night; and the princes whispered
  to the maidens that they would dance with no one else。                    When they had
  tasted   the   cowslip   wine   from   the   fountains   and   eaten   lots   of   wonderful
  sweets the daffodils declared they were quite tired; so the princes put them
  into hammocks   with little   monkeys   to swing them;  and the   happy  hours
  wore on until the evening。
  The maidens had had a beautiful tent assigned to them by the queen;
  and they found lovely dresses of cloth of gold with shoes and stockings to
  match;   all   ready   for   them。    They   looked   so   beautiful   when   they   were
  dressed that the colour of their feet did not seem to matter at all。
  All that night they danced with the princes; and everyone was charmed
  with their beauty and grace; especially the king; who had not received a
  single answer to his advertisement。            At the great banquet which followed
  the ball the   betrothal   of the   Silver   princes to the   Golden princesses   was
  solemnly announced; and their health drunk amid great rejoicing。
  The dawn was red in the east before the festivities were over; and the
  daffodils went to bed happier than they had ever been before; happier than
  they ever would be again。            A new and awful trouble of which they had
  never dreamt was about to befall them。
  When      the  princes    came    to  meet   their   betrothed    next   morning     the
  maidens noticed that; although very affectionate; they were downcast and
  somewhat   silent。       At   last;   after   a   great   deal   of   questioning;   the   reason
  came   out。     The   king   and   queen   had   both   had   exactly  the   same   curious
  dream; and this strange   occurrence had upset   their majesties very  much。
  They both dreamt that one of the princesses; as they believed them to be;
  38
  … Page 39…
  The Grey Brethren
  had   six   toes   on   each   foot;   and   as   no   monstrosity   could   ever   share   the
  throne of Silverland they demanded to see the princesses' little feet with
  their own eyes; so as to be quite sure they all had only the right number of
  toes。
  When   the   princes   with   many   blushes   broke   this   news   to   their   lady…
  loves; they each gave a short loud scream and fainted。
  Their lovers; of course; put this down to extreme   modesty; and were
  much      affected   by   such   proper    conduct;    but   when    they   succeeded     in
  restoring them to consciousness they were not a little disturbed to find that
  the maidens positively refused to show their feet。
  Imagine     the   grief  of   the  poor   princes!    The     king   had   said   quite
  positively that not one of the princes should marry till he; the queen; and
  the councillors of the kingdom; had seen the bride's feet; and the maidens
  now declared that they would never never show them。
  Matters were in this awkward state when the cuckoo appeared on the
  scene。     He had as usual contrived to find out what was going on; and now
  announced that he had a private message for the Golden princesses; if they
  would take him to their tent。
  When they were alone the daffodils began to cry their eyes out; and the
  cuckoo to try and comfort them。
  〃Green   feet;〃   he   said;   〃are   very   uncommon   and   would   no   doubt   be
  welcomed as a great rarity。〃
  But the maidens sobbed on。
  〃The princes love you so much they will think your little feet the most
  beautiful colour in the world。〃
  But they would not listen。
  〃I heard the king and queen say that green was their favourite colour;〃
  he remarked next。
  This was   pure invention on the  cuckoo's part;  but the  daffodils   were
  somewhat cheered; and after a great deal of talking the cuckoo persuaded
  them to give in and consent to show their feet; as they could not possibly
  marry the  princes   without。        Besides; perhaps   when  the king   found their
  toes    were   all  right  he   would    think   the  colour   rather   ornamental     than
  otherwise。      So the princes were told to their great joy that the princesses
  39
  … Page 40…
  The Grey Brethren
  had    consented     to  show    their  feet;   and   the  king   and   queen;    on   being
  informed; summoned a Cabinet Council for the next morning so that their
  ministers might be present at the counting of the princesses' toes。
  Meantime the real Goldenland princesses had arrived near the camp;
  but   as   they  and   their   suite   were very  tired   they  resolved not   to visit   the
  Silver king till the next day; and commanded that no one should mention
  their arrival。
  That night the daffodils never slept; for fear once more took possession
  of them。     They scrubbed their feet; but the fairy's dye would not come off;
  then they scraped them; but that hurt very much and did no good。                    Finally
  they chalked them; but that was no use at all; so they had to give it up in
  despair; and hope for the best。
  Next   morning   two   of   the   court   ushers   came   to   escort   them   to   the
  C