少年国王

类别:文学名著 作者:奥斯卡·王尔德 本章:少年国王

    少年国王

    在加冕典礼的前一天晚上,少年国王独自一人坐在他那间漂亮的房子里。他的大臣们按

    照当时的礼节,头朝地向他鞠了躬,便告辞而去。他们来到皇宫的大厅中,向礼节教授学习

    最后的几堂课,因为他们当中有几个人的举止还没有经过教化,不用说,这是很不礼貌的事

    情。

    这位少年——他仅仅是个少年,不过才十六岁——对他们的离去一点也不觉得难过。他

    把身体向后靠去,坐在他那绣花沙发的软垫上,长长地舒了一口气,躺了下去,睁着两眼,

    张着嘴,真像一位褐色的林地农牧神,或一只被猎人刚刚抓获的森林中的小动物。

    说来也巧,他正是猎人们找到的,他们遇到他也差不多是凭运气。当时他光着脚,手里

    拿着笛子,正跟在把他养大的穷牧羊人的羊群后面,而且他一直把自己看作穷牧羊人的儿

    子。他的母亲原来是老国王的独生女儿。她偷偷地恋上了一个比她地位低得多的人一一有人

    说,那人是外地来的,他用笛子吹出魔术般的美妙声音,使年轻的公主钟情于他;另外有人

    说他是来自意大利里米尼的艺术家,公主对他很器重,也许是太看重他了。他不知怎的突然

    间从城市里消失了,他那幅没有完成的作品还留在大教堂里——那时小孩才一个星期大,他

    就从熟睡的孩子母亲身边偷偷抱走孩子,交给一对普通的农家夫妇去照管。这对夫妇自己没

    有孩子,住在密林的深处,从城里骑马要一天才能到达。不知是像宫廷的御医所宣布的那样

    因为悲伤过度,或者是像一些人所谈论的那样喝了放在香料酒中的一种意大利急性毒药,反

    正那位给予这孩子生命的苍白的少女在不到一小时的时间内就死去了。一位忠诚的差人带着

    孩子跨上马鞍走了,当他从疲惫的马背上俯下身来敲响牧羊人小茅屋简陋的房门时,公主的

    尸体正被下葬于一个打开的墓穴中,这个墓穴就挖在一个荒凉的教堂墓地里,那里靠近城

    门。据说在那个墓穴里还躺着另一具尸体,他是一位非常英俊的外地男人,他的双手被反绑

    着,打了个绳结,胸膛上留着好多血淋淋的伤口。

    至少,这正是人们私下悄悄相互传递的说法。然而令人确信的是老国王在临终时,不知

    是由于对自己犯下的大罪而悔恨,或是仅仅因为希望自己的王国不至于落入外人之手,就派

    人去找回那个少年,并当着宫中大臣的面,承认少年为自己的继位人。

    似乎就从少年被承认的那一刻起,他就表现出了对美丽事物的极大热情,这便注定了将

    对他的一生起到巨大的影响。那些陪伴他到预备的房间侍候他休息的仆人,常常讲起当他看

    见那些华丽的服装和贵重宝石时会兴奋地大叫起来,并且在脱去身上的粗皮衣和粗羊皮外套

    时简直是欣喜若狂。有时候他确也很怀念他那段自由自在的森林生活,且始终都对占去一天

    大部分时间的繁杂的宫廷礼节感到忿懑,但这却是座富丽的宫殿——人们把它叫做“逍遥

    宫”——此刻他一下子成了它的主人,对他来说,这就像是一个专为取悦他而新建成的时髦

    的新世界;只要他能够从议会厅或会见室里逃出来,他便会跑下那立着镀金铜狮的亮闪闪的

    斑岩石大台阶,从一个屋子转到另一个屋子,又从一条走廊来到另一条走廊,好像要一个人

    在美中间找到一付止痛药,或一种治病的良方似的。

    对于这种充满新发现的旅行,这是他对此的称谓——说真的,对他来说这可是真正地在

    神境中漫游了。有时候会有几位身着披风飘着艳丽丝带的金发宫廷侍卫陪伴着;但更多的时

    候,他常常是一个人,凭着感觉上的某种敏捷的本能,这差不多是一种先见之明吧,把握到

    艺术的秘密最好是在秘密中求得,况且美也同智慧一样,钟爱的是孤独的崇拜者。

    这段时期里流传着很多有关他的奇闻怪事。据说有一位胖乎乎的市政长官,代表全城市

    民出来发表了一大通华丽堂皇的言论,还说他看见他十分崇敬地跪在一幅刚从威尼斯带来的

    巨画面前,似乎要捍卫对新的众神的崇拜。还有那么一次他失踪了好几个小时,费了好大劲

    人们才在宫殿内北边小塔的一间小屋里找到了他,他正痴呆呆地凝视着一块刻有美少年阿多

    尼斯像的希腊宝石。还有人传说亲眼见他用自己的热唇去吻一座大理石古雕像的前额,那座

    古雕像是人们在修建石桥时在河床中发现的,除像上还刻着罗马皇帝哈得里安所拥有的俾斯

    尼亚国奴隶的名字。他还花了一整夜时间去观察月光照在安地民银像上的各种变化。

    一切稀罕的和昂贵的东西对他的确都有极大的吸引力,使他急切地想得到它们。为此他

    派出了许多商人,有的被派往北海,向那里的穷渔夫购买琥珀,有的到埃及去找寻那些只有

    在法老的墓穴中才能找到的绿宝石,据说这种宝石具有非同一般的魔力,还有的去波斯收购

    丝绒编织的地毯和彩陶,另外很多人就去印度采购薄纱和着色的象牙,月亮宝石和翡翠手

    镯,檀香和蓝色珐琅以及细毛织披巾。

    然而,最让他费心的还是在他登位加冕时穿的长袍。长袍是金线织的,另外还有嵌满了

    红宝石的王冠以及那根挂着一串串珍珠的权杖。其实,他今晚所想的就是这个,当时他躺在

    奢华的沙发上,望着大块的松木在壁炉中慢慢地燃尽。它们都是由那个时代最著名的艺术家

    亲手设计的,设计式样也早在几个月前就呈交给他过目了,他也下了命令要求工匠们不分昼

    夜地把它们赶制出来,还让人去满世界找寻那些能够配得上他们手艺的珠宝。他在想象中看

    见自己穿着华贵的皇袍站在大教堂中高高的祭坛上,他那孩子气的嘴唇上露出了笑容,那双

    森林人特有的黑眼睛也放射出明亮的光芒。

    过了一会儿他站起身来,靠在壁炉顶部雕花的庇檐上,目光环视着灯光昏暗的屋子。四

    周的墙上挂着代表“美的胜利”的华丽装饰物。一个大衣橱,上面嵌着玛瑙和琉璃,把一个

    墙角给填满了。面对窗户立着一个异常别致的柜子,上面的漆格层不是镀了金粉就是镶着金

    片,格层上摆放着一些精美的威尼斯玻璃高脚酒杯,还有一个黑纹玛瑙大杯子。绸子的床单

    上绣着一些浅白的罂粟花,它们好像是从睡眠的倦手中撒落下来的。刻有条形凹槽的高大的

    象牙柱撑起天鹅绒的华盖,华盖上面大簇的驼鸟毛像白色泡沫一般地向上伸展,一直达到银

    白色的回文装饰屋顶上。用青铜做的美少年纳西苏斯像满脸笑容地用双手举起一面亮光光的

    镜子。桌上放着一个紫晶做的平底盆。

    窗外,他可以看见教堂的大圆顶,隐隐约约的像个气泡浮动在阴暗的房屋上面。无精打

    采的哨兵们在靠近河边的雾蒙蒙的阳台上来回地走着。在远处的一座果园里,一只夜莺在唱

    歌。一缕浅浅的茉莉花香从开着的窗户飘了进来。他把自己的棕色卷发从前额朝后掠去,随

    后拿起一只琵琶,让手指随便地在弦上拨弄着。他的眼皮沉重地往下垂去,一股莫名的倦意

    袭上身来。在这以前他从来没有这么强烈地并且是如此兴奋地感受到美的东西的魔力和神秘。

    钟楼传来午夜钟声的时候,他按了一下铃,仆人们进来了,按繁杂的礼节为他脱去袍

    子,并往他手上洒上玫瑰香水,在他的枕头上撒上鲜花。待他们退出房间后没多久,他就入

    睡了。

    他睡着后做了一个梦,梦是这样的:

    他觉得自己正站在一间又长又矮的阁楼里,四周是一片织布机的转动声和敲击声。微弱

    的光线透过格栅窗射了进来,使他看见了那些俯在织机台上工作的织工们憔悴的身影。一些

    面带病容脸色苍白的孩子们蹲在巨大的横梁上而。每当梭子飞快地穿过经线的时候,织工们

    便把沉重的箱座抬起,梭子一停下来又立即放下筘座,把线压在一起。他们的脸上露出饥饿

    难忍的表情,一双双干枯的手不停地震动着,颤抖着。一些赢弱的妇女坐在一张桌边做着缝

    纫。房间里充满了刺鼻的臭气,空气既污浊又沉闷,四壁因潮湿而滴水不止。

    少年国王来到一位织工跟前,看着他工作。

    织工却怒冲冲地望着他说,“你为什么老看着我?你是不是主人派来监视我们干活的探

    子?”

    “谁是你们的主人?”少年国王问道。

    “我们的主人!”织工痛苦地大声说,“他是跟我一样的人。其实,我和他之间就这么

    点区别——他穿漂亮的衣服而我总是破衣烂衫,我饿得骨瘦如柴,他却饱得难受。”

    “这是个自由的国家,”少年国王说,“你不是任何人的奴隶。”

    “战争时代,”织工回答说,“强者把弱者变为奴隶,而在和平年代富人把穷人变成奴

    隶。我们必须靠干活来糊口,可是他们给的工资少得可怜,我们会给饿死的。我们整天为他

    们做苦役,他们的箱子里堆满了黄金,我们的子女还未长大成人就夭折了,我们所爱的那些

    人的脸变得愁苦而凶恶。我们榨出的葡萄汁,却让别人去品尝。我们种出的谷物,却不能端

    上我们的饭桌。我们戴着枷锁,尽管它们是无形的;而我们是奴隶,虽然人们说我们是自由

    人。”

    “所有的人都是这样的吗?”少年国王问道。

    “所有的人都这祥,”织工答道,“不论是年轻的或是年老的,不管是男人或是女人,

    小孩子或是终年艰辛的人们都一样。商人们压榨我们,我们还得照他们的话去做。牧师们骑

    马从我们身边走过,口中不停地数着念珠,没有一个人关心我们。穷困张着饥饿的双眼爬过

    阴暗的小巷,罪恶带着他的酒精面孔紧随其后。早晨唤醒我们的是悲痛,晚上伴我们入睡的

    是耻辱。但是这些与你有什么关系?你又不是我们中的一员。你的神情是多么的快乐啊!,

    说完他满脸不高兴地转过头去,并把梭子穿过织机,少年国王看见梭子上面织出的是一根金

    线。

    他心中猛地一惊,赶紧问织工,“你织的是什么袍子?”

    “这是少年国王加冕时穿的袍子,”他回答说,“你问这干什么?”

    这时少年国王大叫一声便醒了,天啊!他原来是在自己的房间里,透过窗户他看见蜜色

    的大月亮正挂在熹微的天空上。

    他又一次睡着了,再次做起了梦,梦是这样的:

    他觉得自己躺在一艘大帆船的甲板上面,一百个奴隶在为船划桨。船长就坐在他身边的

    地毯上。他黑得像一块乌木,头巾是深江色的丝绸做的。厚厚的耳垂上挂着一对硕大的银耳

    坠,他的手中象着一架象牙天平。

    奴隶们除了腰间的一块破烂的遮羞布外,全身上下光溜溜的,每个人都与旁边的另一个

    锁在一起。骄阳热辣辣地射在他们身上,黑人们在过道上跑来跑去的,同时皮鞭不停地抽打

    在他们身上。他们伸出干枯的双臂往水中划动着沉重的桨。咸咸的海水从桨上飞溅起来。

    最后他们来到一个小港湾,并开始测量水的深度。一阵微风从岸上吹来,给甲板和大三

    角帆上蒙上了一层细细的红沙。三个阿拉伯人骑着野毛驴赶来朝他们投来标枪。船长拿起一

    张弓,射中了他们其中一人的咽喉。他重重地跌进了海浪之中,他的同伴也仓皇逃占。一位

    面蒙黄色纱巾的女子骑着骆驼慢慢地跟在后面,还不时地回头看看那具死尸。

    黑人们抛了锚,降下了帆,纷纷来到舱底下,拿出一根长长的吊梯来,梯下绑着铅锤。

    船长把绳梯从船侧扔下去,把梯的两端系在两根铁柱上面。这时,黑人们抓住一位最年轻的

    奴隶,打开了他的脚镣,并往他的鼻孔和耳朵里灌满蜡,还在他的腰间捆上了一块石头。他

    疲惫地爬下绳梯,便消失在海水中了。在他入水的地方冒出了几个水泡。另外一些奴隶在一

    旁好奇地张望着。在船头上坐着一位驱赶鲨鱼的人,他在单调不停地击着鼓。

    过了一会儿潜水者从水中冒了上来,喘着粗气攀梯而上,右手拿着一颗珍珠。黑人们从

    他手中夺去珍珠,又把他抛到海里。而奴隶们已靠在桨旁入睡了。

    他上来了一次又一次,每次都带上一颗美丽的珍珠。船长把珍珠都过了秤,并把它们放

    进一只绿色皮革的小袋子中。

    少年国王想说点什么,可是他的舌头好像给粘在了上牙齿后面,他的嘴唇也动弹不了。

    黑人们在彼此谈着话,并开始为一串明珠争吵起来。两只白鹤围绕着帆船飞个不停。

    这时潜水者最后一次冒出水来,带上来的珍珠比奥马兹岛所有的珍珠都要美,因为它的

    形状如同一轮满月,白得超过了晨星的颜色。不过他的脸却苍白异常,他一头倒在甲板上,

    鲜血立即从他的耳朵和鼻孔中迸射而出。他只是颤抖了一下就再也动弹不了啦。黑人们耸耸

    肩,把他的尸体抛向船舷外的海水中。

    船长笑了,他伸出手去拿起那颗珍珠,他一边看着它,一边把它放在自己的前额上并鞠

    了一个躬。“它应该用来,”他说,“用来装饰少年国王的权杖。”说完他朝黑人们打了个

    手势示意起锚。

    少年国王听到这里,突然大叫一声,便醒了过来,透过窗户,他看见那些破晓的长手指

    正在摘取衰弱的繁星。

    他再一次入睡了,做了梦,梦是这样的:

    他觉得自己正徘徊在一个阴森森的树林中,树上悬挂着奇形的果子和美丽而有毒的鲜

    花。他经过的地方,毒蛇朝他嘶嘶地叫着,羽毛华丽的鹦鹉尖叫着从一根树枝飞到另一个枝

    头上。巨大的乌龟躺在热乎乎的泥潭中睡大觉。树上到处都是猴子和孔雀。

    他走着走着,一直来到树林的边缘,在那儿他看见有好大一群人在一条干枯的河床上做

    苦役。他们像蚂蚁般地蜂拥至岩石上。他们在地上挖了好些深洞,并下到洞里去。他们中的

    一些人用大斧头开山劈石,另一些人在沙滩上摸索着。他们连根拔起仙人掌,并踏过鲜红的

    花朵。他们忙来忙去,彼此叫喊着,没有一个人偷懒。

    死亡和贪婪从洞穴的阴暗处注视着他们,死亡开口说:“我已经疲倦了,把他们中的三

    分之一给我,我要走了。”

    不过贪婪却摇了摇头。“他们是我的仆人,”她回答说。

    死亡对她说,“你手中拿的是什么东西?”

    “我有三粒谷子,”她回答说,“那跟你有什么关系?”

    “给我一粒,”死亡大声说,“去种在我的花园中,只要其中的一粒,我要走了。”

    “我什么也不会给你的,”贪婪说,说着她把手藏在自己衣服福边的里面。

    死亡笑了。他拿起一只杯子,并把它浸在水池中,等杯子出来时里面已生出了疟疾。疟

    疾从人群中走过,三分之一的人便倒下死去了。她的身后卷起一股寒气,她的身旁狂窜着无

    数条水蛇。

    贪婪看见三分之一的人都死去了,便捶胸大哭起来。她捶打着自己干枯的胸膛,哭叫着

    说:“你杀死了我三分之一的仆人,你快走吧。在鞑靼人的山上正举行着一场战争,双方的

    国王都在呼唤你去。阿富汗人杀掉了黑牛,正开往前线。他们用长矛敲击着自己的盾牌,还

    戴上了铁盔。我的山谷对你有什么用,你没有必要呆在这儿吧?你快走吧,不要再到这儿来

    了。”

    “不,”死亡回答说,“除非你再给我一粒谷子,否则我是不会走的。”

    贪婪一下子捏紧自己的手,牙齿也咬得紧绷绷的。“我不会给你任何东西的,”她喃喃

    地说。

    死亡笑了。他捡起一块黑色的石头,朝树林中扔去,从密林深处的野毒芹丛中走出了身

    穿火焰长袍的热病。她从人群中走过,去触摸他们,凡是被她碰着的人都死去了。她脚下踏

    过的青草也跟着枯萎了。

    贪婪颤抖起来,把泥土放在自己的头上。“你太残忍了,”她叫着说,“你太残忍了。

    在印度的好多城市里正闹着饥荒,撒马尔罕的蓄水池也干枯了。埃及的好多城市里也在闹饥

    荒,蝗虫也从沙漠飞来了。尼罗河水并没有冲上岸来,牧师们正痛骂他们自己的神爱西斯和

    阿西里斯。到那些需要你的人那儿去吧,放过我的仆人吧。”

    “不,”死亡回答说,“除非你给我一粒谷子,否则我是不会离开的。”

    “我什么东西也不会给你,”贪婪说。

    死亡再一次笑了,他将手放在嘴上在指缝中吹了一声口哨,只见一个女人从空中飞来。

    她的额头上印着“瘟疫”两个字,一群饥饿的老鹰在她身旁飞旋着。她用巨大的翅膀蓝住了

    整个山谷,没有一个人能逃脱她的魔掌。

    贪婪尖叫着穿过树林逃走了,死亡跨上他那匹红色的大马也飞驰而去,他的马跑得比风

    还快。

    从山谷底部的稀泥中爬出无数条龙和有鳞甲的怪兽,一群胡狼也沿着沙滩跑来,并用鼻

    孔贪婪地吸着空气。

    少年国王哭了,他说:“这些人是谁?他们在寻找什么东西?”

    “国王王冠上的红宝石,”站在他身后的一个人说。

    少年国王吃了一惊,转过头去,看见一个香客模样的人,那人手中拿着一面银镜。

    他脸色变得苍白起来,并开口问道:“哪一个国王?”

    香客回答说:“看着这面镜子,你会看见他的。”

    他朝镜子看去,见到的是他自己的面孔,他大叫了一声就惊醒了。灿烂的阳光泻入房

    屋,从外面花园和庭园的树上传来了鸟儿的歌唱。

    宫廷大臣和文武百官走进房来向他行礼,侍者给他拿来用金线篇织的长袍,还把王冠和

    权杖放在他面前。

    少年国王看着它们,它们美极了,比他以前见过的任何东西都要美。然而他还记得自己

    做的梦,于是便对大臣们说:“把这些东西都拿走,我不会穿戴它们的。”

    群臣都感到很惊讶,有些人甚至笑了,因为他们认为国王是在开玩笑。

    可是他再次严肃地对他们说:“把这些东西都拿开,不要让我见到它们。虽然今天是我

    加冕的日子,但是我不会穿戴它们的。因为我的这件长袍是在忧伤的织机上用痛苦的苍白的

    双手织出来的。红宝石的心是用鲜血染红的。珍珠的心上有死亡的阴影。”接着他对他们讲

    述了自己的三个梦。

    大臣们听完故事后,互相对视着,低声交谈说:“他一定是疯了,梦还不就是梦吗,幻

    觉只不过是幻觉罢了,它们不是真的,用不着在意。再说,那些为我们做工的人的生命又与

    我们有什么相干的?难道一个人没有看见播种就不能吃面包,没有与种葡萄的人交谈过就不

    能喝葡萄酒了吗?”宫廷大臣对少年国王说道:“陛下,我恳求您把这些忧伤的念头抛开,

    穿上这件美丽的袍子,戴上这顶王冠吧。如果您不穿上王袍,人民怎么会知道您就是国王

    呢?”

    少年国王望着他。“真是这样吗?”他问道,“如果我不穿王袍,他们就不会知道我是

    国王了吗?”

    “他们不会认识您的,陛下,”宫廷大臣大声说。

    “我从前还以为真有那么一些带帝王之相的人,”少年国王回答说,“不过也许正如你

    所说的,然而我还是不穿这身长袍,而且也不戴这顶王冠,我要像进宫时的那样走出宫去。”

    然后他吩咐他们都离去,只留一个侍者来陪他,这个侍者的年中洗了个澡,打开一个上

    了漆的箱子,从箱中他拿出皮衣和粗羊皮外套,这些都是当年他在山腰上放羊时穿过的。他

    穿上它们,手里又拿起那根粗大的牧羊杖。

    这位小侍者吃惊地睁大一双蓝色的眼睛,笑着对他说:“陛下,我看见你的长袍和权

    杖,可你的王冠在哪儿?”

    少年国王从攀附在阳台上的野荆棘上折下一枝,把它弯曲成一个圆圈,放在了自己的头

    上。

    “这就是我的王冠,”他回答说。

    这样穿戴好后,他走出房间来到大厅中,显贵们都在那儿等着他。

    显贵们觉得很可笑,他们中有的人还对他叫道:“陛下,臣民们等着见他们的国王,而

    您却让他们看到了一位乞丐。”另有一些人怒气冲冲地说:“他使我们的国家蒙羞,不配做

    我们的主人。”然而,他对他们一言不发,只是朝前走去,走下明亮的斑岩石阶,出了青铜

    大门,骑上自己的坐骑,朝教堂奔去,小侍者跟在他身旁跑着。

    百姓们笑了,他们说:“骑马走过的是国王的小丑。”他们嘲笑着他。

    而他却勒住马缅,开口说道:“不,我就是国王。”于是他把自己的三个梦讲给了他们

    听。

    一个人从人群中走出,他痛苦地对国王说道:“皇上,你不知道穷人的生活是从富人的

    奢侈中得来的吗?就是靠你们的富有我们才得以生存,是你们的恶习给我们带来了面包。给

    一个严厉的主子干活是很艰苦的,但若没有主子要我们于活那会更艰苦。你以为乌鸦会养活

    我们吗?对这些事你会有什么良方吗?你会对买主说,‘你要用这么多钱来买’,而同时又

    对卖主说,‘你要以这个价格卖’吗?我敢说你不会。所以回到你自己的宫中去,穿上你的

    高贵紫袍吧。你和我们以及我们遭受的痛苦有什么相干的?”

    “难道富人和穷人不是兄弟吗?”少年国王问道。

    “是啊,”那人回答说,“那个有钱兄长的名字叫该隐(即《圣经》中杀害弟弟的

    人)。”

    少年国王的眼里充满了泪水,他骑着马在百姓们的喃喃低语中走过,小侍者感到好害

    怕,就走开了。

    他来到教堂的大门口时,卫兵们举起他们手中的戟对他说:“你到这儿来干什么?除了

    国王以外任何人不得入内。”

    一听这话他气得满脸通红,便对他们说:“我就是国王。”说完把他们的戟推开,就走

    进去了。

    老主教看见他穿一身牧羊人的衣服走了进来,吃惊地从宝座上站起来,迎上前去,对他

    说:“我的孩子,这是国王的服饰吗?我用什么王冠为你加冕?又拿什么样的权杖放在你的

    手中呢?这对你当然应该是个快乐的日子,而不应是一个屈辱的日子。”

    “难道快乐要用愁苦来装门面吗?”少年国王说。然后他对老主教讲了自己的三个梦。

    主教听完了三个梦后,眉头紧锁,他说:“孩子,我是个老人,已进入垂暮之年,我知

    道在这个大千世界里还有很多邪恶的东西。凶狠的土匪从山上下来,掳去无数小孩,把他们

    卖给摩尔人。狮子躺在草丛中等待着过往的商队,准备扑咬骆驼。野猪将山谷中的庄稼连根

    拔起。狐狸咬着山上的葡萄藤。海盗们在海岸一带兴风作浪,焚烧渔船,还把渔民的渔网抢

    走。在盐泽地带住着麻疯病人,他们用芦苇杆盖起小屋,没有人愿意接近他们。乞丐们在大

    街上漂流,同狗一起争食吃。你能够让这些事情不出现吗?你愿意让麻疯病人同你一起睡

    觉,让乞丐同你一起进餐吗?你会叫狮子听你的话,野猪服从你的命令吗?难道制造出这些

    苦难的上帝还不如你聪明吗?因此,我不会为你所做的事而赞扬你的,我要求你骑马回你自

    己的王宫中,脸上要露出笑容,并穿上符合国王身分的衣服,我要用金王冠来为你加冕,我

    要把嵌满珍珠的权杖放在你的手中。至于你的那些梦,就不要再想它们了。这世上的负担已

    经太重了,是一个人难以承受的;人间的愁苦也太大了,不是一颗心所能负担的。”

    “你就是在这间房子里说这种话的吗?”少年国王说。他大步从主教身旁走过,登上祭

    坛的台梯,站到了基督像前。

    他站在基督像前,在他的左手边和右手边分别放着华丽的金盆,装黄酒的圣餐杯和装圣

    油的瓶子。他跪在基督像下,巨大的蜡烛在珠光宝气的神座旁明亮地燃烧着,燃香的烟雾绕

    成一圆圈蓝色的轻烟飘向屋梁。他低下头去进行祈祷,那些身着硬挺法衣的牧师们纷纷走下

    了祭坛。

    突然,从外面的大街上传来了喧哗声,一群头戴羽缨的贵族们走了进来,他们手中握着

    出鞘的宝剑和闪光的钢制盾牌。“做梦的那个人在什么地方?”他们大声嚷道,“那位国

    王,就是那位打扮得像个乞丐,给我们的国家带来耻辱的男孩在什么地方?我们一定要杀了

    他,因为他不配统治我们。”

    少年国王再一次低下头去祈祷,祷告完毕他便站起身来,转过头去悲伤地望着他们。

    啊!看那,阳光透过彩色的玻璃窗照在他的身上,光线在他的四周织出一件金袍,比那

    件为取悦于他而编织的王袍更加美丽。干枯的枝条怒放出鲜花,那是比珍珠还要洁白的百合

    花。干枯的荆棘也开花了,开放出比红宝石还要红的红玫瑰。比上等珍珠还洁白的百合花,

    它们的根茎是由亮闪闪纠银子做成的。比红宝石更红的玫魂,它们的叶子是由金子铸造的。

    他身穿国王的衣服站在那里,珠宝镶嵌的神龛打开了盖子,从光芒四射的圣体匣的水晶

    上放出异常神奇的光。他身着国王的衣服站在那儿,这里就充满了上帝的荣光,连壁龛中的

    圣徒们也好像在动。身穿国王的华贵衣服,他站在了他们的面前,风琴奏出了乐曲,喇叭手

    吹响了他们的喇叭,唱诗班的孩子们在放声歌唱。

    百姓们敬畏地跪下身来,贵族们收回宝剑并向少年国王行礼,主教大人的脸色变得苍

    白,双手颤抖不已。“给你加冕的人比我更伟大。”他大声说道,并跪倒在国王面前。

    少年国王从高高的祭坛上走下来,穿过人群朝自己的房间走去。此时没有一个人敢看他

    的脸,因为那容貌就跟天使一样。

    thE YOUNG KING

    It  before tion, and the

    young King ting alone in iful chamber.  his

    courtiers aken to

    to the day, and had

    retired to t o receive a fe

    lessons from tiquette; them

    e natural manners, wier is, I need

    hardly say, a very grave offence.

    t sixteen years of age -

    sorry at ture, and h a

    deep sig cushions of his embroidered couch,

    lying thed, like a brown woodland

    Faun, or some young animal of t nehe

    ers.

    And, indeed, it ers who had found him, coming upon him

    almost by chance as, bare-limbed and pipe in hand, he was following

    t him up, and whose

    son o be.  the old

    Kings only daug marriage h her

    in station - a stranger, some said, whe wonderful magic of

    e-playing, he young Princess love him; while

    otist from Rimini, to whe Princess had

    soo much honour, and who had suddenly

    disappeared from ty, leaving hedral

    unfinis a olen away from his

    mot, and given into the charge of a common

    peasant and  cheir own, and

    lived in a remote part of t, more than a days ride from

    to pated, or,

    as some suggested, a s Italian poison administered in a cup of

    spiced e girl

    y messenger whe

    cooped from his weary horse and

    knocked at t, the

    Princess o an open grave t had been dug in

    a deserted cy gates, a grave w was

    said t anot of a young man of

    marvellous and foreign beauty, wied behind him

    ted cord, and abbed h many red

    wounds.

    Suc least, ory t men wo eacher.

    Certain it  ther

    moved by remorse for  sin, or merely desiring t the

    kingdom s pass away from

    for, and, in the Council, had acknowledged him as

    his heir.

    And it seems t from t moment of ion he

    strange passion for beauty t was

    destined to  an influence over hose who

    accompanied o te of rooms set apart for his service,

    often spoke of t broke from his lips when he

    sae raiment and ric had been prepared for

    fierce joy h which he flung aside his

    rougunic and coarse sheepskin cloak.  he missed,

    indeed, at times t life, and was

    al to c tedious Court ceremonies t occupied

    so muc they

    called it - of wo o be

    a new world fres; and as soon as he

    could escape from the council-board or audience-chamber, he would

    run do staircase, s lions of gilt bronze and its

    steps of brigo room, and from

    corridor to corridor, like one y an

    anodyne from pain, a sort of restoration from sickness.

    Upon them - and,

    indeed, to hrough a marvellous land, he

    imes be accompanied by t

    pages, ing mantles, and gay fluttering ribands; but

    more often ain quick

    instinct, ion, t ts of art

    are best learned in secret, and t Beauty, like isdom, loves the

    lonely worshipper.

    Many curious stories ed about  t was

    said t a stout Burgo-master, wo deliver a florid

    oratorical address on beizens of town, had

    caug of ion before a great

    picture t  been broug seemed to

    her occasion he had

    been missed for several er a lengthened search had

    been discovered in a little currets

    of trance, at a Greek gem carved

    ale ran,

    pressing o tique statue t

    he

    building of tone bridge, and he name of

    t in

    noting t of t on a silver image of Endymion.

    All rare and costly materials ainly a great fascination for

    o procure t away many

    mercs, some to traffic for amber he rough fisher-folk of

    to Egypt to look for t curious green

    turquoise o

    possess magical properties, some to Persia for silken carpets and

    painted pottery, and oto India to buy gauze and stained

    ivory, moonstones and bracelets of jade, sandal-wood and blue

    enamel and shawls of fine wool.

    But o  his

    coronation, tissued gold, and tudded crown,

    and tre s ro was

    of t o-night, as he lay back on his

    luxurious coucc pine was burning

    itself out on the

    famous artists of time, ted to

    tificers

    o toil nigo carry t, and t the whole

    o be searc heir

    tar of the

    cat of a King, and a smile played and

    lingered about  up  lustre his

    dark woodland eyes.

    After some time , and leaning against the

    carved pent t

    room.  tapestries representing the

    triumpy.  A large press, inlaid e and lapis-

    lazuli, filled one corner, and facing tood a curiously

    h lacquer panels of powdered and mosaiced gold,

    on s of Venetian glass, and a

    cup of dark-veined onyx.  Pale poppies he silk

    coverlet of tired hands

    of sleep, and tall reeds of fluted ivory bare up t canopy,

    from ufts of ostrice foam,

    to tted ceiling.  A laughing Narcissus

    in green bronze s he

    table stood a flat bo.

    Outside hedral, looming like a

    bubble over tinels pacing up

    and doy terrace by the river.  Far away, in an

    orcingale  perfume of jasmine

    came the open window.  he brushed his brown curls back from

    aking up a lute, let ray across

    trange languor came

    over  so keenly, or h such

    exquisite joy, tery of beautiful things.

    sounded from tower ouched a bell, and

    ered and disrobed h much ceremony, pouring

    rose-er over rewing flowers on his pillow.  A

    fes after t t the room, he fell asleep.

    And as  his was his dream.

    t anding in a long, lotic, amidst the

    peered in

    ted he

    heir cases.  Pale, sickly-looking children

    les dashed

    ted up ttens, and whe

    stles stopped t ttens fall and pressed threads

    togethin

    rembled.  Some ed at a

    table sewing.  A he air was foul

    and reamed h damp.

    t over to one of tood by him

    and ched him.

    And t  thou

    c t on us by our master?

    er? asked the young King.

    Our master! cried tterly.  he is a man like

    myself.  Indeed, t t he

    while I am weak

    from  a little from overfeeding.

    t no mans

    slave.

    In rong make slaves of the weak,

    and in peace t o

    live, and t oil for

    their coffers, and our

    cime, and those we

    love become read out ther

    drinks ty.  e

    hough men

    call us free.

    Is it so h all? he asked,

    It is so he young as well

    as he

    little cricken in years.

    ts grind us do needs do their bidding.

    t rides by and tells his beads, and no man has care of us.

    ty h her hungry eyes, and

    Sin h his sodden face follows close behind her.  Misery wakes us

    in ts  nig w are

    to t not one of us.  too

    urned atle across

    t it hread

    of gold.

    And a great terror seized upon o the weaver,

    robe is t t weaving?

    It is tion of the young King, he answered;

    to thee?

    And the young King gave a loud cry and woke, and lo! he was in his

    own c honey-coloured

    moon he dusky air.

    And his was his dream.

    t  was

    being rowed by a  by he

    master of ted.  he was black as ebony, and his

    turban  earrings of silver dragged down

    thick lobes of his ears, and in his hands he had a pair of

    ivory scales.

    t for a ragged loin-cloth, and each man

    brighem,

    and th

    c the

    er.  t spray flehe blades.

    At last ttle bay, and began to take soundings.  A

    lig

    lateen sail .  ted on wild

    asses rode out and t ter of the galley

    took a painted bo.

    o the surf, and his companions galloped away.  A

    woman wrapped in a yellow veil followed slowly on a camel, looking

    back no the dead body.

    As soon as t anche

    negroes  into t up a long rope-ladder,

    ed er of t over

    t to tanche

    negroes seized t of the slaves and knocked his gyves

    off, and filled rils and ied a big

    stone round .   he ladder, and

    disappeared into the sea.  A few bubbles rose where he sank.  Some

    of t the prow of

    t a sing monotonously upon a drum.

    After some time t of ter, and clung

    panting to t he negroes

    seized it from  he slaves fell asleep

    over their oars.

    Again and again ime t

    iful pearl.  ter of them,

    and put to a little bag of green leather.

    tried to speak, but ongue seemed to cleave to

    to move.  the negroes

    ctered to eaco quarrel over a string of

    brighe vessel.

    t time, and t he

    broug

    ar.

    But rangely pale, and as he

    blood gusrils.  tle,

    and till.  their shoulders, and

    the body overboard.

    And ter of t, ook

    t  to his forehead and

    bo sre of the young

    King, and o to drahe anchor.

    And w cry, and woke,

    and the dawn

    clutc tars.

    And his was his dream.

    t h

    strange fruits and iful poisonous flohe adders

    by, and t parrots flew screaming

    from branco brancortoises lay asleep upon t mud.

    trees were full of apes and peacocks.

    On and on , till skirts of the wood, and

    titude of men toiling in the bed of a

    dried-up river.  ts.  they dug deep

    pits in t doo t the

    rocks  axes; othe sand.

    tore up tus by its roots, and trampled on t

    blossoms.  t, calling to eacher, and no man

    was idle.

    From tchem, and

    Deat me go.

    But Avarice ss, she answered.

    And Deato   thy hand?

    I  is t to

    thee?

    Give me one of to plant in my garden; only

    one of them, and I will go away.

    I  give thing, said Avarice, and she hid her hand

    in t.

    And Deatook a cup, and dipped it into a pool of

    er, and out of t

    multitude, and a t followed her,

    and ter-snakes ran by her side.

    And itude was dead she

    beat  and .  S her barren bosom, and cried

    aloud.  t slain a ts, s

    tains of tartary, and the kings

    of eaco the black

    ox, and are marco battle.  ten upon their

    s on ts of iron.

    is my valley to t t tarry in it?  Get

    thee gone, and come here no more.

    Nay, ans till t given me a grain of corn

    I  go.

    But Avarice s eet

    give ttered.

    And Deatook up a black stone, and t into the

    forest, and out of a t of wild hemlock came Fever in a robe

    of flame.  Situde, and touchem, and

    eac souch her

    feet as she walked.

    And Avarice s as

    cruel, s cruel.  the walled

    cities of India, and terns of Samarcand here

    is famine in ties of Egypt, and ts have come

    up from t.  t overflos banks, and the

    priests  to those who

    need ts.

    Nay, ans till t given me a grain of corn

    I  go.

    I  give thing, said Avarice.

    And Deatled through his fingers, and a

    ten upon her

    foreures wheeled round her.  She

    covered t alive.

    And Avarice fled s, and Death leaped

    upon er

    the wind.

    And out of t ttom of t dragons and

    rotting along

    trils.

    And t, and said:  hese men, and for

    hey seeking?

    For rubies for a kings crown, answered one wood behind him.

    And tarted, and, turning round, he saw a man

    ed as a pilgrim and holding in his hand a mirror of silver.

    And  king?

    And t see

    him.

    And he mirror, and, seeing his own face, he gave a

    great cry and  sunligreaming into the

    room, and from trees of the birds

    were singing.

    And tate came in and made

    obeisance to  issued

    gold, and set tre before him.

    And t tiful.  More

    beautiful  t  he

    remembered o ake these

    t hem.

    And tiers hey

    t t ing.

    But ernly to take things

    ahe day of my

    coronation, I  he loom of Sorrow, and

    by te here is

    Blood in t of t of the

    pearl.  And old three dreams.

    And wiers  eacher and

    a

    dream, and a vision but a vision?  t real t

    one s o do he lives of

    toil for us?  S eat bread till he has seen

    till alked he vinedresser?

    And to the young King, and said, My lord, I

    pray t aside ts of t on this

    fair robe, and set the

    people kno t a king, if t not a kings

    raiment?

    And t  so, indeed? he

    questioned.  ill t know me for a king if I  a

    kings raiment?

    t knohe Chamberlain.

    I  t there had been men who were kinglike, he

    ans it may be as t.  And yet I  wear

    t even as I

    came to t.

    And  as his

    companion, a lad a year younger t for his

    service, and wer, he opened a

    great painted c, and from it ook tunic and

    roug che

    s of t on, and in

    ook aff.

    And ttle page opened his big blue eyes in wonder, and said

    smiling to re, but where

    is thy crown?

    And t was climbing

    over t it, and made a circlet of it, and set it

    on his own head.

    this shall he my crown, he answered.

    And ttired  of o t hall,

    wing for him.

    And t to him, My

    lord, t for t them a

    beggar, and oth and said, he brings shame upon our

    state, and is uno be our master.  But

    a  passed on, and  do porpaircase,

    and out tes of bronze, and mounted upon his horse,

    and rode totle page running beside him.

    And t is the Kings fool who is

    riding by, and they mocked him.

    And  I am told

    three dreams.

    And a man came out of tterly to him, and

    said, Sir, kno t t out of the rich

    cometured, and

    your vices give us bread.  to toil for a er is bitter, but

    to er to toil for is more bitter still.  t thou

    t t cure  these

    t to t;t buy for so muc;

    and to t;t sell at t;?  I tro.

    to t on thy purple and fine

    linen.

    to do  we suffer?

    Are not the young King.

    Ay, ansher is Cain.

    And tears, and hrough

    ttle page gre

    him.

    And al of the soldiers

    t ts out and said,  dost thou seek here?

    None enters by t the King.

    And o the

    King, and s aside and passed in.

    And wherds dress, he

    rose up in o meet him, and said

    to  crown

    s sceptre shy hand?

    Surely to t a day of

    abasement.

    S Grief he young King.

    And old hree dreams.

    And w his brows, and said, My

    son, I am an old man, and in ter of my days, and I kno

    many evil the fierce robbers

    come doains, and carry off ttle children,

    and sell to t for the

    caravans, and leap upon ts up the

    corn in the hill.

    tes lay e t and burn the

    fisake ts from t-marshes live

    ttled reeds, and none may come

    nigies, and eat their

    food  t to be?  ilt

    take t t thy

    board?  Shee?

    Is not ?  herefore I praise

    t for t t done, but I bid to

    t on t t

    beseemethee, and

    tre of pearl hy

    dreams, too

    great for one man to bear, and too heavy for one

    to suffer.

    Sayest t in the young King, and he

    strode past teps of tar, and

    stood before t.

    ood before t, and on  hand and on

    he

    yello before the

    image of C, and t candles burned brighe

    jewelled shin blue

    he

    priests in tiff copes crept aar.

    And suddenly a umult came from treet outside, and in

    entered th drawn swords and nodding plumes, and

    seel.  hey

    cried.  his

    boy e?  Surely we will slay him, for

    o rule over us.

    And the young King bowed his head again, and prayed, and when he

    urning round

    them sadly.

    And lo! ted  streaming

    upon issued robe t was

    fairer t he

    dead staff blossomed, and bare lilies t han pearls.

    t han

    rubies.  er tems

    were of brighe roses, and

    ten gold.

    ood t of a king, and tes of the

    jehe many-rayed

    monstrance sical ligood there

    in a kings raiment, and the

    saints in to move.  In t

    of a king ood before t its music,

    and trumpeters blerumpets, and the singing boys

    sang.

    And the nobles

    she Bishops face grew

    pale, and rembled.  A greater th crowned

    t before him.

    And tar, and passed home

    t of t no man dared look upon his

    face, for it he face of an angel.


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