the light princess(光明公主)-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
my father's kingdom that can't fall！〃
Here the poor princess looked almost sad。
〃I shall be most happy to fall in with you any time you like；〃 said the
prince； devotedly。
〃Thank you。 I don't know。 Perhaps it would not be proper。 But I
don't care。 At all events； as we have fallen in； let us have a swim
together。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 responded the prince。
And away they went； swimming； and diving； and floating； until at last
they heard cries along the shore； and saw lights glancing in all directions。
It was now quite late； and there was no moon。
〃I must go home；〃 said the princess。 〃I am very sorry； for this is
delightful。〃
26
… Page 27…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
〃So am I；〃 returned the prince。 〃But I am glad I haven't a home to go
toat least； I don't exactly know where it is。〃
〃I wish I hadn't one either；〃 rejoined the princess； 〃it is so stupid！ I
have a great mind；〃 she continued； 〃to play them all a trick。 Why
couldn't they leave me alone？ They won't trust me in the lake for a single
night！You see where that green light is burning？ That is the window of
my room。 Now if you would just swim there with me very quietly； and
when we are all but under the balcony； give me such a pushup you call
it…as you did a little while ago； I should be able to catch hold of the
balcony； and get in at the window； and then they may look for me till to…
morrow morning！〃
〃With more obedience than pleasure；〃 said the prince； gallantly； and
away they swam； very gently。
〃Will you be in the lake to…morrow night？〃 the prince ventured to ask。
〃To be sure I will。 I don't think so。 Perhaps；〃 was the princess's
somewhat strange answer。
But the prince was intelligent enough not to press her further； and
merely whispered； as he gave her the parting lift； 〃Don't tell。〃
The only answer the princess returned was a roguish look。 She was
already a yard above his head。 The look seemed to say； 〃Never fear。 It is
too good fun to spoil that way。〃
So perfectly like other people had she been in the water； that even yet
the prince could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw her ascend slowly；
grasp the balcony； and disappear through the window。 He turned； almost
expecting to see her still by his side。 But he was alone in the water。 So
he swam away quietly； and watched the lights roving about the shore for
hours after the princess was safe in her chamber。 As soon as they
disappeared； he landed in search of his tunic and sword； and； after some
trouble； found them again。 Then he made the best of his way round the
lake to the other side。 There the wood was wilder； and the shore steeper…
rising more immediately towards the mountains which surrounded the lake
on all sides； and kept sending it messages of silvery streams from morning
to night； and all night long。 He soon found a spot whence he could see
the green light in the princess's room； and where； even in the broad
27
… Page 28…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
daylight； he would be in no danger of being discovered from the opposite
shore。 It was a sort of cave in the rock； where he provided himself a bed
of withered leaves； and lay down too tired for hunger to keep him awake。
All night long he dreamed that he was swimming with the princess。
28
… Page 29…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
10。 Look at the Moon。
Early the next morning the prince set out to look for something to eat；
which he soon found at a forester's hut； where for many following days he
was supplied with all that a brave prince could consider necessary。 And
having plenty to keep him alive for the present； he would not think of
wants not yet in existence。 Whenever Care intruded； this prince always
bowed him out in the most princely manner。 When he returned from his
breakfast to his watch…cave； he saw the princess already floating about in
the lake； attended by the king and queen whom he knew by their crowns
and a great company in lovely little boats； with canopies of all the colours
of the rainbow； and flags and streamers of a great many more。 It was a
very bright day； and soon the prince； burned up with the heat； began to
long for the cold water and the cool princess。 But he had to endure till
twilight； for the boats had provisions on board； and it was not till the sun
went down that the gay party began to vanish。 Boat after boat drew away
to the shore； following that of the king and queen； till only one； apparently
the princess's own boat； remained。 But she did not want to go home even
yet； and the prince thought he saw her order the boat to the shore without
her。 At all events； it rowed away； and now； of all the radiant company； only
one white speck remained。 Then the prince began to sing。 And this is
what he sung：
〃Lady fair； Swan…white； Lift thine eyes； Banish night By the might Of
thine eyes。
Snowy arms； Oars of snow； Oar her hither； Plashing low。 Soft and slow；
Oar her hither。
Stream behind her O'er the lake； Radiant whiteness！ In her wake
Following； following for her sake。 Radiant whiteness！
Cling about her； Waters blue； Part not from her； But renew Cold and
true Kisses round her。
Lap me round； Waters sad； That have left her。 Make me glad； For ye
had Kissed her ere ye left her。〃
Before he had finished his song； the princess was just under the place
where he sat； and looking up to find him。 Her ears had led her truly。
29
… Page 30…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
〃Would you like a fall； princess？〃 said the prince； looking down。
〃Ah！ there you are！ Yes； if you please； prince；〃 said the princess；
looking up。
〃How do you know I am a prince； princess？〃 said the prince。
〃Because you are a very nice young man； prince；〃 said the princess。
〃Come up then； princess。〃
〃Fetch me； prince。〃
The prince took off his scarf； then his sword…belt； then his tunic； and
tied them all together； and let them down。 But the line was far too short。
He unwound his turban； and added it to the rest； when it was all but long
enough； and his purse completed it。 The princess just managed to lay
hold of the knot of money； and was beside him in a moment。 This rock
was much higher than the other； and the splash and the dive were
tremendous。 The princess was in ecstasies of delight； and their swim was
delicious。
Night after night they met； and swam about in the dark clear lake；
where such was the prince's gladness； that （whether the princess's way of
looking at things infected him； or he was actually getting light…headed） he
often fancied that he was swimming in the sky instead of the lake。 But
when he talked about being in heaven； the princess laughed at him
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
30
… Page 31…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
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。〃
31
… Page 32…
THE LIGHT PRINCESS
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
