the light princess(光明公主)-第9节
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She let it go； left it hanging； and sat down on a great stone； with her
black cat； which had followed her all round the cave； by her side。 Then
she began to knit and mutter awful words。 The snake hung like a huge
leech； sucking at the stone； the cat stood with his back arched； and his tail
like a piece of cable； looking up at the snake； and the old woman sat and
knitted and muttered。 Seven days and seven nights they remained thus；
when suddenly the serpent dropped from the roof as if exhausted； and
shrivelled up till it was again like a piece of dried seaweed。 The witch
started to her feet； picked it up； put it in her pocket； and looked up at the
roof。 One drop of water was trembling on the spot where the snake had
been sucking。 As soon as she saw that； she turned and fled； followed by
her cat。 Shutting the door in a terrible hurry； she locked it； and having
muttered some frightful words； sped to the next； which also she locked and
muttered over； and so with all the hundred doors； till she arrived in her
own cellar。 Then she sat down on the floor ready to faint； but listening
with malicious delight to the rushing of the water； which she could hear
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distinctly through all the hundred doors。
But this was not enough。 Now that she had tasted revenge； she lost
her patience。 Without further measures； the lake would be too long in
disappearing。 So the next night； with the last shred of the dying old
moon rising； she took some of the water in which she had revived the
snake； put it in a bottle； and set out； accompanied by her cat。 Before
morning she had made the entire circuit of the lake； muttering fearful
words as she crossed every stream； and casting into it some of the water
out of her bottle。 When she had finished the circuit she muttered yet
again； and flung a handful of water towards the moon。 Thereupon every
spring in the country ceased to throb and bubble； dying away like the pulse
of a dying man。 The next day there was no sound of falling water to be
heard along the borders of the lake。 The very courses were dry； and the
mountains showed no silvery streaks down their dark sides。 And not
alone had the fountains of mother Earth ceased to flow； for all the babies
throughout the country were crying dreadfullyonly without tears。
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12。 Where Is the Prince？
Never since the night when the princess left him so abruptly had the
prince had a single interview with her。 He had seen her once or twice in
the lake； but as far as he could discover； she had not been in it any more at
night。 He had sat and sung； and looked in vain for his Nereid； while she；
like a true Nereid； was wasting away with her lake； sinking as it sank；
withering as it dried。 When at length he discovered the change that was
taking place in the level of the water； he was in great alarm and perplexity。
He could not tell whether the lake was dying because the lady had
forsaken it； or whether the lady would not come because the lake had
begun to sink。 But he resolved to know so much at least。
He disguised himself； and； going to the palace； requested to see the
lord chamberlain。 His appearance at once gained his request； and the
lord chamberlain； being a man of some insight； perceived that there was
more in the prince's solicitation than met the ear。 He felt likewise that no
one could tell whence a solution of the present difficulties might arise。
So he granted the prince's prayer to be made shoeblack to the princess。 It
was rather cunning in the prince to request such an easy post； for the
princess could not possibly soil as many shoes as other princesses。
He soon learned all that could be told about the princess。 He went
nearly distracted； but after roaming about the lake for days； and diving in
every depth that remained； all that he could do was to put an extra polish
on the dainty pair of boots that was never called for。
For the princess kept her room； with the curtains drawn to shut out the
dying lake； But she could not shut it out of her mind for a moment。 It
haunted her imagination so that she felt as if the lake were her soul； drying
up within her； first to mud； then to madness and death。 She thus brooded
over the change； with all its dreadful accompaniments； till she was nearly
distracted。 As for the prince； she had forgotten him。 However much
she had enjoyed his company in the water； she did not care for him
without it。 But she seemed to have forgotten her father and mother too。
The lake went on sinking。 Small slimy spots began to appear； which
glittered steadily amidst the changeful shine of the water。 These grew to
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THE LIGHT PRINCESS
broad patches of mud； which widened and spread； with rocks here and
there； and floundering fishes and crawling eels swarming。 The people
went everywhere catching these； and looking for anything that might have
dropped from the royal boats。
At length the lake was all but gone； only a few of the deepest pools
remaining unexhausted。
It happened one day that a party of youngsters found themselves on
the brink of one of these pools in the very centre of the lake。 it was a
rocky basin of considerable depth。 Looking in； they saw at the bottom
something that shone yellow in the sun。 A little boy jumped in and dived
for it。 It was a plate of gold covered with writing。 They carried it to the
king。 On one side of it stood these words：
〃Death alone from death can save。 Love is death； and so is brave
Love can fill the deepest grave。 Love loves on beneath the wave。〃
Now this was enigmatical enough to the king and courtiers。 But the
reverse of the plate explained it a little。 Its writing amounted to this：
〃If the lake should disappear； they must find the hole through which
the water ran。 But it would be useless to try to stop it by any ordinary
means。 There was but one effectual mode。The body of a living man
could alone stanch the flow。 The man must give himself of his own will；
and the lake must take his life as it filled。 Otherwise the offering would be
of no avail。 If the nation could not provide one hero； it was time it
should perish。〃
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13。 Here I Am。
This was a very disheartening revelation to the kingnot that he was
unwilling to sacrifice a subject； but that he was hopeless of finding a man
willing to sacrifice himself。 No time was to be lost； however； for the
princess was lying motionless on her bed； and taking no nourishment but
lake…water； which was now none of the best。 Therefore the king caused
the contents of the wonderful plate of gold to be published throughout the
country。
No one； however； came forward。
The prince； having gone several days' journey into the forest； to
consult a hermit whom he had met there on his way to Lagobel； knew
nothing of the oracle till his return。
When he had acquainted himself with all the particulars； he sat down
and thought；
〃She will die if I don't do it； and life would be nothing to me without
her； so I shall lose nothing by doing it。 And life will be as pleasant to her
as ever； for she will soon forget me。 And there will be so much more
beauty and happiness in the world！To be sure； I shall not see it。〃 （Here
the poor prince gave a sigh。） 〃
