the light princess(光明公主)-第8节
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dreadfully。
When the moon came； she brought them fresh pleasure。 Everything
looked strange and new in her light； with an old； withered； yet unfading
newness。 When the moon was nearly full； one of their great delights was；
to dive deep in the water； and then； turning round； look up through it at the
great blot of light close above them； shimmering and trembling and
wavering； spreading and contracting； seeming to melt away； and again
grow solid。 Then they would shoot up through the blot； and lo！ there was
the moon； far off； clear and steady and cold； and very lovely； at the bottom
of a deeper and bluer lake than theirs； as the princess said。
The prince soon found out that while in the water the princess was
very like other people。 And besides this； she was not so forward in her
questions or pert in her replies at sea as on shore。 Neither did she laugh
so much； and when she did laugh； it was more gently。 She seemed
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altogether more modest and maidenly in the water than out of it。
But when the prince； who had really fallen in love when he fell in the
lake； began to talk to her about love； she always turned her head towards
him and laughed。 After a while she began to look puzzled； as if she were
trying to understand what he meant； but could notrevealing a notion that
he meant something。 But as soon as ever she left the lake； she was so
altered； that the prince said to himself； 〃If I marry her； I see no help for it：
we must turn merman and mermaid； and go out to sea at once。〃
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11。 Hiss！
The princess's pleasure in the lake had grown to a passion； and she
could scarcely bear to be out of it for an hour。 Imagine then her
consternation； when； diving with the prince one night； a sudden suspicion
seized her that the lake was not so deep as it used to be。 The prince could
not imagine what had happened。 She shot to the surface； and； without a
word； swam at full speed towards the higher side of the lake。 He
followed； begging to know if she was ill； or what was the matter。 She
never turned her head； or took the smallest notice of his question。
Arrived at the shore； she coasted the rocks with minute inspection。 But
she was not able to come to a conclusion； for the moon was very small；
and so she could not see well。 She turned therefore and swam home；
without saying a word to explain her conduct to the prince； of whose
presence she seemed no longer conscious。 He withdrew to his cave； in
great perplexity and distress。
Next day she made many observations； which； alas！ strengthened her
fears。 She saw that the banks were too dry； and that the grass on the
shore； and the trailing plants on the rocks； were withering away。 She
caused marks to be made along the borders； and examined them； day after
day； in all directions of the wind； till at last the horrible idea became a
certain factthat the surface of the lake was slowly sinking。
The poor princess nearly went out of the little mind she had。 It was
awful to her to see the lake； which she loved more than any living thing；
lie dying before her eyes。 It sank away； slowly vanishing。 The tops of
rocks that had never been seen till now； began to appear far down in the
clear water。 Before long they were dry in the sun。 It was fearful to
think of the mud that would soon lie there baking and festering； full of
lovely creatures dying； and ugly creatures coming to life； like the
unmaking of a world。 And how hot the sun would be without any lake！
She could not bear to swim in it any more； and began to pine away。 Her
life seemed bound up with it； and ever as the lake sank； she pined。
People said she would not live an hour after the lake was gone。
But she never cried。
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A Proclamation was made to all the kingdom； that whosoever should
discover the cause of the lake's decrease； would be rewarded after a
princely fashion。 Hum…Drum and Kopy…Keck applied themselves to their
physics and metaphysics； but in vain。 Not even they could suggest a
cause。
Now the fact was that the old princess was at the root of the mischief。
When she heard that her niece found more pleasure in the water than any
one else out of it； she went into a rage； and cursed herself for her want of
foresight。
〃But；〃 said she； 〃I will soon set all right。 The king and the people
shall die of thirst； their brains shall boil and frizzle in their skulls before I
will lose my revenge。〃
And she laughed a ferocious laugh； that made the hairs on the back of
her black cat stand erect with terror。
Then she went to an old chest in the room； and opening it； took out
what looked like a piece of dried seaweed。 This she threw into a tub of
water。 Then she threw some powder into the water； and stirred it with her
bare arm； muttering over it words of hideous sound； and yet more hideous
import。 Then she set the tub aside； and took from the chest a huge bunch
of a hundred rusty keys； that clattered in her shaking hands。 Then she sat
down and proceeded to oil them all。 Before she had finished； out from
the tub； the water of which had kept on a slow motion ever since she had
ceased stirring it； came the head and half the body of a huge gray snake。
But the witch did not look round。 It grew out of the tub； waving itself
backwards and forwards with a slow horizontal motion； till it reached the
princess； when it laid its head upon her shoulder； and gave a low hiss in
her ear。 She startedbut with joy； and seeing the head resting on her
shoulder； drew it towards her and kissed it。 Then she drew it all out of
the tub； and wound it round her body。 It was one of those dreadful
creatures which few have ever beheldthe White Snakes of Darkness。
Then she took the keys and went down to her cellar； and as she
unlocked the door she said to herself；
〃This is worth living for！〃 Locking the door behind her； she descended
a few steps into the cellar； and crossing it； unlocked another door into a
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dark； narrow passage。 She locked this also behind her； and descended a
few more steps。 If any one had followed the witch…princess； he would
have heard her unlock exactly one hundred doors； and descend a few steps
after unlocking each。 When she had unlocked the last； she entered a vast
cave； the roof of which was supported by huge natural pillars of rock。
Now this roof was the under side of the bottom of the lake。
She then untwined the snake from her body； and held it by the tail high
above her。 The hideous creature stretched up its head towards the roof of
the cavern； which it was just able to reach。 It then began to move its
head backwards and forwards； with a slow oscillating motion； as if
looking for something。 At the same moment the witch began to walk
round and round the cavern； coming nearer to the centre every circuit；
while the head of the snake described the same path over the roof that she
did over the floor； for she kept holding it up。 And still it kept slowly
oscillating。 Round and round the cavern they went； ever lessening the
circuit； till at last the snake made a sudden dart； and clung to the roof with
its mouth。
〃That's right； my beauty！〃 cried the princess； 〃drain it dry。〃
She let it go； left it hanging； and sat down on a great stone； with her
black cat
