王尔德童话四则(英文版)-第16章

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heed　to　them；　but　went　and　sat　with　the　sellers　of　strange　gods；

who　by　reason　of　their　craft　are　abominated。　　When　I　told　them　what

I　had　done；　each　of　them　gave　me　a　god　and　prayed　me　to　leave　them。



'That　night；　as　I　lay　on　a　cushion　in　the　tea…house　that　is　in　the

Street　of　Pomegranates；　the　guards　of　the　Emperor　entered　and　led

me　to　the　palace。　　As　I　went　in　they　closed　each　door　behind　me；

and　put　a　chain　across　it。　　Inside　was　a　great　court　with　an　arcade

running　all　round。　　The　walls　were　of　white　alabaster；　set　here　and

there　with　blue　and　green　tiles。　　The　pillars　were　of　green　marble；

and　the　pavement　of　a　kind　of　peach…blossom　marble。　　I　had　never

seen　anything　like　it　before。



'As　I　passed　across　the　court　two　veiled　women　looked　down　from　a

balcony　and　cursed　me。　　The　guards　hastened　on；　and　the　butts　of

the　lances　rang　upon　the　polished　floor。　　They　opened　a　gate　of

wrought　ivory；　and　I　found　myself　in　a　watered　garden　of　seven

terraces。　　It　was　planted　with　tulip…cups　and　moonflowers；　and

silver…studded　aloes。　　Like　a　slim　reed　of　crystal　a　fountain　hung

in　the　dusky　air。　　The　cypress…trees　were　like　burnt…out　torches。

From　one　of　them　a　nightingale　was　singing。



'At　the　end　of　the　garden　stood　a　little　pavilion。　　As　we

approached　it　two　eunuchs　came　out　to　meet　us。　　Their　fat　bodies

swayed　as　they　walked；　and　they　glanced　curiously　at　me　with　their

yellow…lidded　eyes。　　One　of　them　drew　aside　the　captain　of　the

guard；　and　in　a　low　voice　whispered　to　him。　　The　other　kept

munching　scented　pastilles；　which　he　took　with　an　affected　gesture

out　of　an　oval　box　of　lilac　enamel。



'After　a　few　moments　the　captain　of　the　guard　dismissed　the

soldiers。　　They　went　back　to　the　palace；　the　eunuchs　following

slowly　behind　and　plucking　the　sweet　mulberries　from　the　trees　as

they　passed。　　Once　the　elder　of　the　two　turned　round；　and　smiled　at

me　with　an　evil　smile。



'Then　the　captain　of　the　guard　motioned　me　towards　the　entrance　of

the　pavilion。　　I　walked　on　without　trembling；　and　drawing　the　heavy

curtain　aside　I　entered　in。



'The　young　Emperor　was　stretched　on　a　couch　of　dyed　lion　skins；　and

a　gerfalcon　perched　upon　his　wrist。　　Behind　him　stood　a　brass…

turbaned　Nubian；　naked　down　to　the　waist；　and　with　heavy　earrings

in　his　split　ears。　　On　a　table　by　the　side　of　the　couch　lay　a

mighty　scimitar　of　steel。



'When　the　Emperor　saw　me　he　frowned；　and　said　to　me；　〃What　is　thy

name？　　Knowest　thou　not　that　I　am　Emperor　of　this　city？〃　　But　I

made　him　no　answer。



'He　pointed　with　his　finger　at　the　scimitar；　and　the　Nubian　seized

it；　and　rushing　forward　struck　at　me　with　great　violence。　　The

blade　whizzed　through　me；　and　did　me　no　hurt。　　The　man　fell

sprawling　on　the　floor；　and　when　he　rose　up　his　teeth　chattered

with　terror　and　he　hid　himself　behind　the　couch。



'The　Emperor　leapt　to　his　feet；　and　taking　a　lance　from　a　stand　of

arms；　he　threw　it　at　me。　　I　caught　it　in　its　flight；　and　brake　the

shaft　into　two　pieces。　　He　shot　at　me　with　an　arrow；　but　I　held　up

my　hands　and　it　stopped　in　mid…air。　　Then　he　drew　a　dagger　from　a

belt　of　white　leather；　and　stabbed　the　Nubian　in　the　throat　lest

the　slave　should　tell　of　his　dishonour。　　The　man　writhed　like　a

trampled　snake；　and　a　red　foam　bubbled　from　his　lips。



'As　soon　as　he　was　dead　the　Emperor　turned　to　me；　and　when　he　had

wiped　away　the　bright　sweat　from　his　brow　with　a　little　napkin　of

purfled　and　purple　silk；　he　said　to　me；　〃Art　thou　a　prophet；　that　I

may　not　harm　thee；　or　the　son　of　a　prophet；　that　I　can　do　thee　no

hurt？　　I　pray　thee　leave　my　city　to…night；　for　while　thou　art　in　it

I　am　no　longer　its　lord。〃



'And　I　answered　him；　〃I　will　go　for　half　of　thy　treasure。　　Give　me

half　of　thy　treasure；　and　I　will　go　away。〃



'He　took　me　by　the　hand；　and　led　me　out　into　the　garden。　　When　the

captain　of　the　guard　saw　me；　he　wondered。　　When　the　eunuchs　saw　me；

their　knees　shook　and　they　fell　upon　the　ground　in　fear。



'There　is　a　chamber　in　the　palace　that　has　eight　walls　of　red

porphyry；　and　a　brass…sealed　ceiling　hung　with　lamps。　　The　Emperor

touched　one　of　the　walls　and　it　opened；　and　we　passed　down　a

corridor　that　was　lit　with　many　torches。　　In　niches　upon　each　side

stood　great　wine…jars　filled　to　the　brim　with　silver　pieces。　　When

we　reached　the　centre　of　the　corridor　the　Emperor　spake　the　word

that　may　not　be　spoken；　and　a　granite　door　swung　back　on　a　secret

spring；　and　he　put　his　hands　before　his　face　lest　his　eyes　should

be　dazzled。



'Thou　couldst　not　believe　how　marvellous　a　place　it　was。　　There

were　huge　tortoise…shells　full　of　pearls；　and　hollowed　moonstones

of　great　size　piled　up　with　red　rubies。　　The　gold　was　stored　in

coffers　of　elephant…hide；　and　the　gold…dust　in　leather　bottles。

There　were　opals　and　sapphires；　the　former　in　cups　of　crystal；　and

the　latter　in　cups　of　jade。　　Round　green　emeralds　were　ranged　in

order　upon　thin　plates　of　ivory；　and　in　one　corner　were　silk　bags

filled；　some　with　turquoise…stones；　and　others　with　beryls。　　The

ivory　horns　were　heaped　with　purple　amethysts；　and　the　horns　of

brass　with　chalcedonies　and　sards。　　The　pillars；　which　were　of

cedar；　were　hung　with　strings　of　yellow　lynx…stones。　　In　the　flat

oval　shields　there　were　carbuncles；　both　wine…coloured　and　coloured

like　grass。　　And　yet　I　have　told　thee　but　a　tithe　of　what　was

there。



'And　when　the　Emperor　had　taken　away　his　hands　from　before　his　face

he　said　to　me：　　〃This　is　my　house　of　treasure；　and　half　that　is　in

it　is　thine；　even　as　I　promised　to　thee。　　And　I　will　give　thee

camels　and　camel　drivers；　and　they　shall　do　thy　bidding　and　take

thy　share　of　the　treasure　to　whatever　part　of　the　world　thou

desirest　to　go。　　And　the　thing　shall　be　done　to…night；　for　I　would

not　that　the　Sun；　who　is　my　father；　should　see　that　there　is　in　my

city　a　man　whom　I　cannot　slay。〃



'But　I　answered　him；　〃The　gold　that　is　here　is　thine；　and　the

silver　also　is　thine；　and　thine　are　the　precious　jewels　and　the

things　of　price。　　As　for　me；　I　have　no　need　of　these。　　Nor　shall　I

take　aught　from　thee　but　that　little　ring　that　thou　wearest　on　the

finger　of　thy　hand。〃



'And　the　Emperor　frowned。　　〃It　is　but　a　ring　of　lead；〃　he　cried；

〃nor　has　it　any　value。　　Therefore　take　thy　half　of　the　treasure　and

go　from　my　city。〃



'〃Nay；〃　I　answered；　〃but　I　will　take　nought　but　that　leaden　ring；

for　I　know　what　is　written　within　it；　and　for　what　purpose。〃



'And　the　Emperor　trembled；　and　besought　me　and　said；　〃Take　all　the

treasure　and　go　from　my　city。　　The　half　that　is　mine　shall　be　thine

also。〃



'And　I　did　a　strange　thing；　but　what　I　did　matters　not；　for　in　a

cave　that　is　but　a　day's　journey　from　this　place　have；　I　hidden　the

Ring　of　Riches。　　It　is　but　a　day's　journey　from　this　place；　and　it

waits　for　thy　coming。　　He　who　has　this　Ring　is　richer　than　all　the

kings　of　the　world。　　Come　therefore　and　take　it；　and　the　world's

riches　shall　be　thine。'



But　the　young　Fisherman　laughed。　　'Love　is　better　than　Riches；'　he

cried；　'and　the　little　Mermaid　loves　me。'



'Nay；　but　there　is　nothing　better　than　Riches；'　said　the　Soul。



'Love　is　better；'　answered　the　young　Fisherman；　and　he　plunged　into

the　deep；　and　the　Soul　went　weeping　away　over　the　marshes。





And　after　the　third　year　was　over；　the　Soul　came　down　to　the　shore

of　the　sea；　and　called　to　the　young　Fisherman；　and　he　rose　out　of

the　deep　and　said；　'Why　dost　thou　call　to　me？'



And　the　Soul　answered；　'Come　nearer；　that　I　may　speak　with　thee；

for　I　have　seen　marvellous　things。'



So　he　came　nearer；　and　couched　in　the　shallow　water；　and　leaned　his

head　upon　his　hand　and　listened。



And　the　Soul　said　to　him；　'In　a　city　that　I　know　of　there　is　an　inn

that　standeth　by　a　river。　　I　sat　there　with　sailors　who　drank　of

two　different…coloured　wines；　and　ate　bread　made　of　barley；　and

little　salt　fish　served　in　bay　leaves　with　vinegar。　　And　as　we　sat

and　made　merry；　there　entered　to　us　an　old　man　bearing　a　leathern

carpet　and　a　lute　that　had　two　horns　of　amber。　　And　when　he　had

laid　out　the　carpet　on　the　floor；　he　struck　with　a　quill　on　the

wire　strings　of　his　lute；　and　a　girl　whose　face　was　veiled　ran　in

and　began　to　dance　before　us。　　Her　face　was　veiled　with　a　veil　of

gauze；　but　her　feet　were　naked。　　Naked　were　her　feet；　and　they

moved　over　the　carpet　like　little　white　pigeons。　　Never　have　I　seen

anything　so　marvellous；　and　the　city　in　which　she　dances　is　but　a

day's　journey　from　this　place。'



Now　when　the　young　Fisherman　heard　the　words　of　his　Soul；　he

remembered　that　the　little　Mermaid　had　no　feet　and　could　not　dance。

And　a　great　desire　came　over　him；　and　he　said　to　himself；　'It　is

but　a　day's　journey；　and　I　can　return　to　my　love；'　and　he　laughed；

and　stood　up　in　the　shallow　water；　and　strode　towards　the　shore。



And　when　he　had　reached　the　dry　shore　he　laughed　again；　and　held

out　his　arms　to　his　Soul。　　And　his　Soul　gave　a　great　cry　of　joy　and

ran　to　meet　him；　and　entered　into　him；　and　the　young　Fisherman　saw

stretched　before　him　upon　the　sand　that　shadow　of　the　body　that　is

the　body　of　the　Soul。



And　his　Soul　said　to　him；　'Let　us　not　tarry；　but　get　hence　at　once；

for　the　Sea…gods　are　jealous；　and　have　monsters　that　do　their

bidding。'





So　they　made　haste；　and　all　that　night　they　journeyed　beneath　the

moon；　and　all　the　next　day　they　journeyed　beneath　the　sun；　and　on

the　evening　of　the　day　they　came　to　a　city。



And　the　young　Fisherman　said　to　his　Soul；　'Is　this　the　city　in

which　she　dances　of　whom　thou　didst　speak　to　me？'



And　his　Soul　answered　him；　'It　is　not　this　city；　but　another。

Nevertheless　let　us　enter　in。'　　So　they　entered　in　and　passed

through　the　streets；　and　as　they　passed　through　the　Street　of　the

Jewellers　the　young　Fisherman　saw　a　fair　silver　cup　set　forth　in　a

booth。　　And　his　Soul　said　to　him；　'Take　that　silver　cup　and　hide

it。'