《快乐王子童话集》

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快乐王子童话集- 第10部分


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“很显然你的本性中没有同情的成分,”河鼠说。

“我恐怕你还没有弄明白这故事中的教义,”红雀反驳说。

“什么?”河鼠大声暖道。

“教义。”

“你的意思是说这故事里还有一个教义?”

“当然了,”红雀说。

“噢,说真的,”河鼠气呼呼地说,“我认为你在讲故事之前就该告诉我那个。如果你

那样做了,我肯定不会听你的了。其实,我该像批评家那样说一声‘呸!’但是,我现在可

以这么说了。”于是他就大喊了一声“呸!”,并挥舞了一下自己的尾巴,就回到了山洞中

去。

“你觉得河鼠怎么样?”母鸭开口问道,她用了好几分钟才拍打着水走上岸来。“他也

有好些优点,不过就我而言,我有一个母亲的情怀,只要看见那些铁了心不结婚的单身汉总

忍不住要掉下眼泪来。”

“我真担心我把他给得罪了,”红雀回答说,“事实是我给他讲了一个带教义的故事。”

“啊,这事总是很危险的,”母鸭说。

我完全同意她的话。

the devoted friend

one morning the old water…rat put his head out of his hole。  he had

bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a

long bit of black india…rubber。  the little ducks were swimming

about in the pond; looking just like a lot of yellow canaries; and

their mother; who was pure white with real red legs; was trying to

teach them how to stand on their heads in the water。

〃you will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your

heads;〃 she kept saying to them; and every now and then she showed

them how it was done。  but the little ducks paid no attention to

her。  they were so young that they did not know what an advantage

it is to be in society at all。

〃what disobedient children!〃 cried the old water…rat; 〃they really

deserve to be drowned。〃

〃nothing of the kind;〃 answered the duck; 〃every one must make a

beginning; and parents cannot be too patient。〃

〃ah! i know nothing about the feelings of parents;〃 said the water…

rat; 〃i am not a family man。  in fact; i have never been married;

and i never intend to be。  love is all very well in its way; but

friendship is much higher。  indeed; i know of nothing in the world

that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship。〃

〃and what; pray; is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend?〃

asked a green linnet; who was sitting in a willow…tree hard by; and

had overheard the conversation。

〃yes; that is just what i want to know;〃 said the duck; and she

swam away to the end of the pond; and stood upon her head; in order

to give her children a good example。

〃what a silly question!〃 cried the water…rat。  〃i should expect my

devoted friend to be devoted to me; of course。〃

〃and what would you do in return?〃 said the little bird; swinging

upon a silver spray; and flapping his tiny wings。

〃i dont understand you;〃 answered the water…rat。

〃let me tell you a story on the subject;〃 said the linnet。

〃is the story about me?〃 asked the water…rat。  〃if so; i will

listen to it; for i am extremely fond of fiction。〃

〃it is applicable to you;〃 answered the linnet; and he flew down;

and alighting upon the bank; he told the story of the devoted

friend。

〃once upon a time;〃 said the linnet; 〃there was an honest little

fellow named hans。〃

〃was he very distinguished?〃 asked the water…rat。

〃no;〃 answered the linnet; 〃i dont think he was distinguished at

all; except for his kind heart; and his funny round good…humoured

face。  he lived in a tiny cottage all by himself; and every day he

worked in his garden。  in all the country…side there was no garden

so lovely as his。  sweet…william grew there; and gilly…flowers; and

shepherds…purses; and fair…maids of france。  there were damask

roses; and yellow roses; lilac crocuses; and gold; purple violets

and white。  columbine and ladysmock; marjoram and wild basil; the

cowslip and the flower…de…luce; the daffodil and the clove…pink

bloomed or blossomed in their proper order as the months went by;

one flower taking another flowers place; so that there were always

beautiful things to look at; and pleasant odours to smell。

〃little hans had a great many friends; but the most devoted friend

of all was big hugh the miller。  indeed; so devoted was the rich

miller to little hans; that be would never go by his garden without

leaning over the wall and plucking a large nosegay; or a handful of

sweet herbs; or filling his pockets with plums and cherries if it

was the fruit season。

〃real friends should have everything in mon; the miller used

to say; and little hans nodded and smiled; and felt very proud of

having a friend with such noble ideas。

〃sometimes; indeed; the neighbours thought it strange that the rich

miller never gave little hans anything in return; though he had a

hundred sacks of flour stored away in his mill; and six milch cows;

and a large flock of woolly sheep; but hans never troubled his head

about these things; and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to

listen to all the wonderful things the miller used to say about the

unselfishness of true friendship。

〃so little hans worked away in his garden。  during the spring; the

summer; and the autumn he was very happy; but when the winter came;

and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market; he suffered

a good deal from cold and hunger; and often had to go to bed

without any supper but a few dried pears or some hard nuts。  in the

winter; also; he was extremely lonely; as the miller never came to

see him then。

〃there is no good in my going to see little hans as long as the

snow lasts; the miller used to say to his wife; for when people

are in trouble they should be left alone; and not be bothered by

visitors。  that at least is my idea about friendship; and i am sure

i am right。  so i shall wait till the spring es; and then i

shall pay him a visit; and he will be able to give me a large

basket of primroses and that will make him so happy。

〃you are certainly very thoughtful about others; answered the

wife; as she sat in her fortable armchair by the big pinewood

fire; very thoughtful indeed。  it is quite a treat to hear you

talk about friendship。  i am sure the clergyman himself could not

say such beautiful things as you do; though he does live in a

three…storied house; and wear a gold ring on his little finger。

〃but could we not ask little hans up here? said the millers

youngest son。  if poor hans is in trouble i will give him half my

porridge; and show him my white rabbits。

〃what a silly boy you are! cried the miller; i really dont know

what is the use of sending you to school。  you seem not to learn

anything。  why; if little hans came up here; and saw our warm fire;

and our good supper; and our great cask of red wine; he might get

envious; and envy is a most terrible thing; and would spoil

anybodys nature。  i certainly will not allow hans nature to be

spoiled。  i am his best friend; and i will always watch over him;

and see that he is not led into any temptations。  besides; if hans

came here; he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit;

and that i could not do。  flour is one thing; and friendship is

another; and they should not be confused。  why; the words are spelt

differently; and mean quite different things。  everybody can see

that。

〃how well you talk! said the millers wife; pouring herself out a

large glass of warm ale; really i feel quite drowsy。  it is just

like being in church。

〃lots of people act well; answered the miller; but very few

people talk well; which shows that talking is much the more

difficult thing of the two; and much the finer thing also; and he

looked sternly across the table at his little son; who felt so

ashamed of himself that he hung his head down; and grew quite

scarlet; and began to cry into his tea。  however; he was so young

that you must excuse him。〃

〃is that the end of the story?〃 asked the water…rat。

〃certainly not;〃 answered the linnet; 〃that is the beginning。〃

〃then you are quite behind the age;〃 said the water…rat。  〃every

good story…teller nowadays starts with the end; and then goes on to

the beginning; and concludes with the middle。  that is the new

method。  i heard all about it the other day from a critic who was

walking round the pond with a young man。  he spoke of the matter at

great length; and i am sure he must have been right; for he had

blue spectacles and a bald head; and whenever the young man made

any remark; he always answered pooh!  but pray go on with your

story。  i like the miller immensely。  i have all kinds of beautiful

sentiments myself; so there is a great sympathy between us。〃

〃well;〃 said the linnet; hopping now on one leg and now on the

other; 〃as soon as the winter was over; and the primroses began to

open their pale yellow stars; the miller said to his wife that he

would go down and see little hans。

〃why; what a good heart you have! cried his wife; you are always

thinking of others。  and mind you take the big basket with you for

the flowers。

〃so the miller tied the sails of the windmill together with a

strong iron chain; and went down the hill with the basket on his

arm。

〃good morning; little hans; said the miller。

〃good mornin
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