公主的生日

    这一天是公主的生日，她刚满十二岁。灿烂的阳光照在王宫的花园中。

    虽说她是一个真正的公主，一位西班牙公主，但是她就像穷人家的孩子们一样，每年只

    能过一次生日，因此举国上下自然而然地就把这当作是一件重大的事情，那就是她过生日这

    天应该是个晴朗的天气。那一天的确是个晴朗的好天。高高的带条纹的郁金香直挺挺地立在

    花茎上，像一排列队立正的士兵，并傲慢地望着草地那边的玫瑰花，一边说：“我们跟你们

    一样美丽无比。”紫色的蝴蝶伴着翅膀上的金粉翩翩起舞，轮流走访着每一朵鲜花；小蜥蜴

    们从墙上的裂缝中爬出来，躺在白日的阳光下；石榴在火热的阳光下纷纷裂开了嘴，露出了

    它们血红的心。就连沿着阴暗走廊的刻花棚架上的一串串悬挂着的浅黄色柠搁，仿佛也从这

    奇妙的阳光中染上了一层丰富的色彩，玉兰花树也张开了它们那重叠着的象牙色的巨大球状

    花朵，使空气中充满了浓浓的芳香。

    小公主本人同她的伴侣们在阳台上来回地走动着，并绕着石花瓶和布满青苔的古雕像在

    玩捉迷藏的游戏。在平日里她只被允许同她身分相同的小孩子们玩，因此她总是一个人玩，

    不过生日这天可以例外。国王已经下了命令，她可邀请任何她喜欢的小朋友来宫中同她一起

    玩。这些瘦小的西班牙孩子跑动起来的动作还挺优雅的。男孩们头戴大羽毛帽子，身穿飘动

    的短外套，女孩们手里提着缎子长裙的后摆，并用黑色和银灰色的大扇子护住眼睛遮挡阳

    光。然而小公主却是他们当中最优雅的一个，打扮得也是最入时的，依照的是当时相当繁杂

    的款式。她的裙子是用灰色锦缎做的，裙摆和宽大的袖口上绣满了银线，挺直的胸衣上缝着

    几排名贵的珍珠。两只配着粉红色大玫瑰花的小拖鞋随着她的走动从衣服下边显露出来。那

    把大纱扇是粉红色和珍珠色的，她的头发像一圈褪色的金黄光环包围着她那张苍白的小脸

    蛋，上面戴着一朵美丽的白玫瑰。

    满面愁容的国王透过宫中的窗户望着他们。站在他身后的是他所憎恨的人，那是他的兄

    弟，来自阿拉贡省的唐．彼德罗，还有他的忏悔师，来自格兰那达的大宗教裁判官坐在他的

    身边。国王此时比以往更忧伤，因为他看见小公主一副孩子般严肃的模样向宫中群臣们行

    礼，另外还看见她甩扇子掩着嘴偷笑那总是陪着她的一脸严肃的阿尔布奎尔基公爵夫人，国

    王突然想起了年轻的王后，就是小公主的母亲，这在他看来就像是前不久的事情。那时王后

    从欢乐的国度法兰西来到西班牙，在西班牙宫廷忧郁华丽的生活中不幸去逝了，死时孩子才

    六个月大，她连园子中杏花的第二次开放也没有看到，也没赶上采集院子中央那棵多节老无

    花果树上第二年的果子，此刻那儿已是杂草丛生。他爱她爱得太深了，他不能忍受把她埋在

    自己看不见的墓穴中。一位摩尔人医生为她的尸体做了香料处理，为了回报医生的工作，国

    王保住了他的生命，因为由于信邪教和行巫术的嫌疑，这位医生已被宗教裁判所判了极刑。

    她的尸体仍然安放在宫中黑色大理石礼拜堂中铺着织锦的尸架上，还跟十二年前在一个狂风

    大作的三月天里僧侣们把她抬放到那儿时的模样一个样。国王每月一次，身上裹着黑袍，手

    里提着一个不透光的灯笼，走进礼拜堂跪在她的身旁，呼唤着：“我的王后，我的王后！”

    有时他会不顾应有的礼节（在西班牙生活中的任何行为都受到礼节的约束，就连国王的悲痛

    也不例外），万分悲痛地抓住她戴着珠宝的苍白的手，并狂吻着她那冰凉的化了妆的脸，试

    图把她唤醒。

    今天他好像又看见她了，就跟他头一次在巴黎的枫丹白露宫中见到她时一样，当时他仅

    有十五岁，而她更年轻。他俩就是在那个时候正式订婚，出席仪式的有罗马教皇的使节还有

    法国国王和全体朝臣，那之后他就带着一小束金黄头发返回到西班牙王宫中去了。自打踏上

    自己的马车那时起，他就一直想着两片孩子气的嘴唇弯下来吻他手的情景。接下来的婚礼是

    在蒲尔哥斯匆匆举行的，那是两国边境的一座小城市。进入马德里的公开庆典是盛大的，照

    惯例在拉．阿托卡大教堂里举行了一次大弥撒，并且还搞了一次比平日更庄严的判处异教徒

    火刑的仪式。将近三百名异教徒，其中不少是英国人，被交与刽子手去烧死在火刑柱上。

    他爱她真是发了狂，很多人都认为是他把国家给毁了，因为当时他们正与英国为争夺新

    世界的帝国而进行战争。他甚至连一刻钟也不能离开她；为了她，他已经忘记了，或似乎是

    忘记了国家的一切重大事项；在这种激情的驱使下他达到了如此盲目的可怕地步，以致于他

    没有发现，那些他为取悦于她而想出来的繁杂礼节，—反而加重了她所犯的奇怪的忧郁病。

    她死后有那么一段时间，他仿佛发了疯似的。要不是他担心自己离去后小公主会受到自己兄

    弟的残害的话，说真的，他定会正式退位并隐居到格兰那达的特拉卜教大寺院去，他已经是

    该院的名誉院长了。他兄弟的残酷无情在西班牙是出了名的，不少人怀疑是他害死了王后，

    传说王后到他所在的阿拉贡的城堡去走访的时候，他送了一双有毒的手套给王后。甚至在国

    王以皇家法令宣布举国上下公开哀悼三年之后，他仍旧无法忍受他的大臣们跟他提起续弦的

    事，当神圣的罗马帝国皇帝本人亲自来向他提出把自己的侄女，一位美丽可爱的波西米亚郡

    主嫁给他时，他仍吩咐自己的大臣去告诉皇帝，说西班牙国王已经和悲伤结了婚，尽管她只

    是一个不能生育的新娘，可他却爱她超过任何美人；这个回答的代价是使他的王国失去了富

    饶的尼德兰诸省，这些省份不久后便在皇帝的鼓动下，由一些改革教派的狂热倍徒领导着，

    向他发动了叛乱。

    今天他望着小公主在阳台上玩耍的时候，似乎又回想起了他整个的婚姻生活，那是一场

    强烈而火热的欢愉，同时也因其突然的完结而导致了可怕的痛苦。小公主具备了王后一切可

    爱的傲慢举止，完全一样的任性的摆头动作，同样弯曲而骄傲的美丽嘴唇，一样漂亮可人的

    笑容——的确是非常法国式的微笑——小公主不时地抬头望望窗户，或伸出小手让显贵的西

    班牙绅士吻着。不过孩子们高声的笑声刺着了他的耳朵，明亮而无情的阳光嘲讽着他的哀

    伤，一股奇怪香料的单调气味，就似是处理尸体用的香料，好像把早晨清新的空气给弄脏

    了——这或许是他的幻想吧？他把脸埋在双手巾，等小公主再次举头望窗户的时候，窗帘已

    经垂下，国王也离开了。

    她有些失望地撅橛小嘴，并耸了耸肩膀。说实在的，他本应该跟她呆在一起过生日的。

    那些愚载的国家事务有什么要紧的？或许他又去了那个阴森森的礼拜堂了吧？那儿一直点着

    蜡烛，而且从未让她进去过。如此好的阳光，大家又这么开心，他可真是太傻了。再说，他

    会错过看一场人扮的斗牛比赛，比赛的号角已经吹响了，更不用说那些木偶戏和其它精彩的

    表演了。她的叔父和大宗教裁判官倒是更体谅人。他们已经走到阳台上了，并向她道了贺

    词。所以她又摆起了她那可爱的头，还拉着唐．彼德罗的手，缓缓走下石阶，朝着耸立在花

    园尽头的紫绸编织的长长亭廊走去，其他孩子严格地依照次序紧跟在她的身后，即谁的名字

    最长，谁就走在前头。

    一行由贵族男孩子化装成斗牛士的队伍走出来欢迎她。年轻的新地伯爵，一位十四岁的

    美少年，用西班牙下级贵族世家的全部优雅举止向她脱帽致敬，并庄重地把她引到竞技场内

    搭起的看台上安放着的一把镶金的象牙小椅子上坐下。孩子们在她的四周围成一圈，他们一

    面挥动着手中的大扇子，一面相互交谈着。唐．彼德罗和大宗教裁判官面带笑容地站在人口

    处。就连那位女公爵——人称侍从女市长的人——一个瘦小而性格不定的女人，带着黄色的

    翎颌，也一改往日那板起的面孔，一丝像是冷冷的笑容掠过她那皱巴巴的脸，她那没有血色

    而干瘦的嘴唇也抽动了一下。

    这真是一场令人叫绝的斗牛赛，在小公主看来比真的斗牛比赛还要好看。那是在帕尔马

    公爵来看望她父亲时，她被人带去塞维尔看过一场斗牛赛。一群男孩子穿着装饰华丽的马皮

    衣服在场子内来回跑着，他们挥舞着长矛，上面绑着色彩艳丽的丝带；另一些男孩徒步走

    着，并在假牛面前舞动着猩红色的大地，当牛冲来时他们就轻松地跳过栅栏；至于牛呢，尽

    管它只是由柳枝和张开的牛皮做成的，可却跟真牛一样生龙活虎，不过有时它坚持着用后腿

    绕着场子跑，这却是真牛连做梦也不敢想的事。这牛斗得也不错，孩子们兴奋极了，他们纷

    纷起身站在了长凳子上，并挥动着手中的带边手绢，大声嚷着：太好了，太好了！那种劲头

    就跟成年人一样。就这样战斗持续了下去，最后，好几匹人扮的马被戳倒，那位年轻的新地

    伯爵把牛也压在了地上，他请求小公主允许他给予致命的一击，然后他就用木剑朝那动物猛

    刺下去。他用力太大，一下子把牛头给刺掉了，这使小罗南先生高兴地大笑起来，他是法国

    驻马德里大使的儿子。

    在大家的掌声中，竞技场被收拾干净了，两个身着黄黑制服的摩尔人侍从把倒地的木马

    庄严地拖走了，接着是一段小小的插曲，由一位法国的走绳索大师在一根绷紧的绳子上完成

    了一次表演。一些意大利木偶戏表演者在特意建来演木偶戏的一个小戏院中上演了半古典的

    悲剧《索福尼西巴》。他们的演出非常出色，木偶的动作也十分自然，演出结束时小公主的

    眼中已充满了泪水。当时真的有好多孩子都哭了，只好拿糖块去安慰他们，就是大宗教裁判

    官也深受感动，他忍不住对唐．彼德罗说，这些用简单的木头和彩色蜡做成的，并由丝线机

    械地牵动的东西，竟能表演得如此悲伤和那么不幸，他似乎觉得难以接受。

    接下来是一个非洲人表演戏法。他提来一只又大又平的篮子，上面盖着一块红布。他把

    篮子放在场地中央，然后从他的包头帕下面拿出一根奇异的芦管，并吹了起来。不一会儿，

    红布开始动了，随着芦管声愈吹愈尖，两条金绿色的蛇伸出了它们那古怪的楔形头，并越伸

    越高，还随着音乐声摇来摆去，就跟水中浮动的植物一样。孩子们看见它们那有斑点的头部

    和快速吐出的舌头，反而害怕起来，直到看见变戏法者在沙地上变出一棵小桔子树，开出美

    丽白色的花朵且长出一串串真实的果实后，才又开心起来；后来变戏法者从拉斯．托里斯侯

    爵的小女儿手中拿起一把扇子，把它变成了一只蓝色的小鸟在亭廊里飞来飞去，还不停地唱

    着歌，这时他们的兴奋和惊讶真是难以形容。由纽斯特拉丝母院礼拜堂跳舞班的男孩们表演

    的庄严舞曲，也同样引人人胜。小公主以前从没有见过如此盛大的庆典，这种庆典每年五月

    在圣母大祭坛前面举办一次，是专为庆祝圣母而举行的。其实，自从一位疯教士（据许多人

    说他是英国伊丽莎白女王收买了的）想用一块有毒的圣饼谋害西班牙太子阿斯图里亚斯以

    后，就没有一位西班牙皇室的成员走进过萨拉哥萨大教堂。因此，小公主仅仅是听人说过这

    种“我们之圣母”的舞蹈，看上去也确实很精彩。男孩们穿着白色天鹅绒做的老式宫廷服

    装，他们那滑稽的三角帽上缀着银饰物，顶上插着很大的驼鸟毛。他们在阳光下桅舰起舞的

    时候，那身耀眼的白色服饰在他们黑色面容和长长黑发的衬托下显得更加绚丽夺目。所有的

    人都被他们的一举一动给迷住了，只见他们在繁杂的舞蹈动作中一直显得庄严尊重，缓缓的

    舞姿得体而优雅，还气派不凡地鞠着躬。等舞曲一结束，他们就脱下大羽毛帽子向小公主致

    敬，她很有礼貌地接受了，并许诺送一只大蜡烛给比拉尔圣母的神坛，以回报圣母给她带来

    的快乐。

    这时一队漂亮的埃及人——当时也被称为吉卜赛人—一走进到场子中来，他们盘腿席地

    而坐，围成一个圈子，开始轻轻地弹奏起他们的弦琴，另一些人伴着曲调舞动起腰身，并用

    他们尽可能低的声音哼着歌儿，那声音低得如同梦中的微风掠过。他们一看见唐．彼德罗，

    便朝他皱起了眉头，有的人还露出了恐惧的表情，因为就在数周之前，唐说他们的两个族人

    被行妖术而给绞死在塞维尔的市场上了。不过美丽的小公主使他们入了迷，这时她朝后靠着

    身子，一对蓝色的大眼睛从扇子上边望着他们，他们相信像她这徉可爱的人绝不会残忍地对

    待别人的。于是，他们很安静地弹着琴，他们那长长的尖指甲刚好挨到琴弦，他们的头开始

    朝前点着，仿佛要入睡似的。突然传来一声尖厉的大叫，孩子们全都大吃了一惊，唐．彼德

    罗的手赶紧抓住了他短剑的玛瑙剑柄。只见弹琴者们跳起身来，围着场地疯狂地转起圈来，

    并不停地敲打手鼓，同时用他们那奇特的带喉音的语言唱起了狂放的情歌。随着一声信号的

    传来，他们又都扑倒在地上，静静地躺着不动了，全场一派寂静，只能听到单调的弦琴声。

    就这样他们做了几个来回以后，又一下子消失了，等他们再回来时已用链条牵来了一头毛乎

    乎的棕色大熊，他们肩头上还坐着几只巴巴利的小猴子。大熊十分认真地倒立起身子，干瘦

    的猴子跟着两个像是它们主人的吉卜赛小男孩在表演着各种各样逗笑的把戏，它们还会挥动

    小剑和放枪，并且会像国王的卫队那样完成一整套正规军的操练。吉卜赛人的表演的确大获

    成功。

    然而整个早上的娱乐活动中最有趣的还要数小矮人的舞蹈。他蹒跚地移动着自己那双弯

    曲的腿，他那颗畸形的大脑袋左右摇摆着，就这样他跌跌撞撞地冲进到场子中。孩子们见到

    此情此景都一下子兴奋地大声叫了起来，小公主本人更是大笑不止，以致那位女侍从市长不

    得不提醒她说，虽然过去西班牙国王的女儿在同等人面前哭过几回，可却从没有皇室家族的

    公主在比她低下的人跟前如此开怀大笑过呢。不过，小矮人的举动真是让人无法抗拒，即使

    是西班牙宫廷，这样一个以培养恐怖而著称的地方，也从未见过一个如此吸引人的小怪物。

    这还是他头一回出场演出。人们仅是在昨天才找到了他，当时他正在树林里疯颠颠地跑着，

    两个贵族刚好在环城一带的栓皮储树林中偏僻的区域打猎，于是就把他带进宫中，作为献给

    小公玄的一个惊喜。小矮人的父亲是个穷苦的烧炭人，能够摆脱这个又丑又无用的孩子对他

    来说真是求之不得。或许真正最有趣的倒是小矮人一点也不知道自己那丑陋的相貌。的确他

    看上去好开心且精神饱满。孩子们笑了，他也跟他们一样笑得无拘无束。每支舞曲结束时，

    他便要向他们每一个人鞠一个最滑稽的躬，他对他们点头高兴的样子就好像他的的确确是他

    们中的一员，并非是上帝以滑稽的方式刻意创造出来让别人戏弄的一个不幸的小怪物。至于

    小公主，她简直把小矮人给迷住了。他不能够把眼睛从她身上移开，他好像是专为小公主一

    人跳舞似的。演出结束时，小公主记起了自己曾见过宫廷贵妇们向意大利著名男高音加法奈

    里抛掷花束的情形，当时罗马教皇把加法奈里从自己的礼拜堂派往马德里，打算用他那最甜

    美的歌声去医治国王的忧闷；于是小公主便从自己的头发上取下那朵美丽的白玫瑰，一半是

    开玩笑，一半是为了戏弄那位女侍从市长，把花向场中的小矮人掷了过去，脸上带着最甜蜜

    的微笑。小矮人把整个事情看得十分认真，他一只手将花朵压在他粗糙的嘴唇下，另一只手

    按住胸膛跪在她的面前，咧着大嘴笑着，那双明亮的小眼睛放射出欣喜的光芒。

    这使小公主忘记了尊严，等小矮人跑出场子好长一阵子她还在一个劲儿地笑，并对她的

    叔父表示想立即让这种舞蹈再表演一次。然而那位女侍从市长却恳求说太阳已经老高了，太

    热了，她的小公主殿下应该马上回到宫里去，那里已经为她备好了丰盛的宴席，有一个地道

    的生日蛋糕，上面有用彩糖做出的她名字的大写字母，还有一面飘舞的小银旗。小公主非常

    庄重地站起身来，并宣布说让小矮人在她午睡时间之后再表演一次，还要求把她的谢意转告

    给新地伯爵，感谢他那番殷勤的款待，接着她就回自己的房间去了，其他孩子们又依照原先

    进来时的次序跟着她出去了。

    当听说小公主叫他去她面前再表演一次，而且还是她亲自下的命令的时候，小怪人真是

    得意万分。他跑到花园中去，欣喜若狂地亲吻着那朵白玫瑰，得意忘形地做出了许多笨拙而

    难看的动作。

    花儿们对他如此胆大地闯进他们美丽的家园里来非常愤怒，他们看见他在花廊里奔来奔

    去的，还十分可笑地举着双手挥舞着，他们再也忍受不下去了。

    “他真是太难看了，根本不该让他到我们呆的地方来，”郁金香大声喊道。

    “他应该去喝鸦片汤，然后睡上一千年，”红色的大百合花说。这时他们真的怒火万丈

    了。

    “他是个十足的可怕人物！”仙人掌尖叫着说，“啊，他扭得又丑，人又长得矮小，他

    的头跟腿长得不成比例。他的确使我浑身上下觉得不舒服，如果他走近我身边，我会用我的

    刺去刺他。”

    “而他却真的弄到了我最美的一朵花，”白玫瑰树惊叹道，“那朵花是我今天早上亲自

    送给小公主的，作为生日礼物，他却从她那儿把花偷走了。”然后她大叫起来，“小偷，小

    偷，小偷！”

    甚至连不爱抛头露面的红色风露草们，这些大家都知道本身就有很多穷亲戚的草们，在

    看见小矮人时也都厌恶地卷起身子。紫罗兰却温和地说小矮人的确是其貌不扬，可他也没有

    办法去压他一把。风露草也非常公正地反驳说，那是他主要的缺陷，而人们不该因为他的不

    治之症而嘲弄他。其实，也有好些紫罗兰觉得小矮人的丑陋是他本人装出来的，假如他面带

    些愁容，或至少表现出沉思的样子，而不是欢乐地跳上跳下，做出古怪而又傻乎乎的神态，

    那么他会让人觉得好受许多。

    至于老日晷仪，他是一位非常了不起的人物，他曾经只向查理五世陛下本人汇报每天的

    时刻，小矮人的模样让他吃惊不小，几乎忘记用他那长长的有影子的指头标出时间达两分之

    久。他忍不住对在栏栅上晒太阳的乳白色的大孔雀说，人人都知道，国王的孩子就是国王，

    烧炭夫的孩子还是烧炭夫，要想事情并非如此，那是不可能的。这种见解得到了孔雀的完全

    赞同，而且她真的叫起好来：“是的，是的。”声音又大又粗，连住在凉爽的喷水池中的金

    鱼们也从水中露出头来，询问巨大的石雕海神特里通斯究竟发生了什么事。

    不过，鸟儿们却喜欢小矮人。他们常在树林中见到他，像个精灵似的追赶着空中的落

    叶，或者蹲在一棵老橡树的洞子里，与松鼠们一起分享他的坚果。他们一点也不在乎他的相

    貌丑。是啊，夜莺在夜晚去林子里放声歌唱，月亮有时也会俯下身聆听她甜美的歌声，其实

    她也没有什么耐看的；再说，小矮人过去对他们一直都很好。在那可怕的严冬里，树上已经

    没有坚果了，地面被冻得跟铁块似的，狼群也下山来到城门口寻找食物，就在这种时候，小

    矮人也不曾忘记他们，他总是把自己的小块的黑面包揉成屑给他们吃，不管他的早餐多么

    少，他总会分一些给他们吃。

    所以他们绕着他飞了一圈又一圈，他们飞过他身边的时候用翅膀轻轻抚摸着他的脸，并

    相互交谈着。小矮人高兴得不得了，他忍不住把那朵美丽的白玫瑰拿出来给他们看，还告诉

    他们这是小公主本人亲自给他的，因为她爱他。

    对他讲的话他们一个字也听不懂，不过这倒没什么关系，因为他们把头偏在一旁，看上

    去很精明的样子，这就跟了解此事是一样的好，并且也更加容易。

    蜥蜴也非常喜欢他，每当他跑累了以后躺在草地上休息的时候，蜥蜴就会在他身上爬来

    爬去地玩着，拿出浑身的本事去逗他开心。“不是每个人都可以像蜥蜴那样漂亮的，”他们

    大声说道，“不过这种要求太过分了。而且说起来也有些荒唐，其实他一点也不难看，当

    然，只要人们团上眼睛，不要去看他。”蜥蜴们天生就是十足的哲学家派头，在没有什么事

    情可做的时候，或碰上雨天不能外出，他们会一坐就是好几个钟头地思考问题。

    然而，花儿对他们的举止倒是十分地担心，同时对鸟儿的举动也很不安。“这只能表

    明，”花儿们说，“这种不停地蹦蹦跳跳会产生多么粗俗的影响。像我们这徉有教养的人，

    总是老老实实地呆在同一个地方。从没有人看见我们在花廊中跳来跳去的，或者在草丛中发

    疯似的追赶蜻蜓，只要我们想换换空气，我们就会叫园丁来，他会把我们搬到另一个花坛上

    去。这是很神圣的事，而且也应该如此。可是鸟儿和蜥蜴没有休息的意识，的确鸟儿连一个

    固定的住址都不曾有。他们只不过是一群像吉卜赛人那样的流浪汉，而且也真该受到同徉的

    待遇。”于是花儿们露出趾高气昂的样子，一副了不起的神态，并且很得意地望着小矮人从

    草地上爬起身来，跨过阳台朝宫廷走去。

    “他应该一辈子都关在房子里不出门，”他们说，“看看他的驼背，还有他那双拐

    腿，”说着他们吃吃地笑了起来。

    不过小矮人对此是一无所知。他好喜欢这些小鸟和蜥蜴，并且认为花儿是世界上最美丽

    的东西了，当然要除开小公主。而小公主已经把美丽的白玫瑰给了他，她是爱他的，这就大

    不一样了。他多么希望自己能跟她一起回到树林中去！她会让他坐在她的右手边，还对他微

    笑，他永远也不愿从她身边离去，他要她跟自己一块儿玩，并教她各种逗人的把戏。因为尽

    管他以前从未进过王宫，可他却知道好多了不起的事情。他可以用灯芯草编出小笼子，好把

    蚱蜢关在里面唱歌，他还会把竹节细长的竹子做成笛子，用它吹出牧神最爱听的曲子。他了

    解每只鸟儿的叫声，还能把欧椋鸟从树梢上唤下来，或从池塘中唤弧苍鹭。他认识每一种动

    物的足迹，可以凭着轻微的脚印寻觅到野兔，靠被践踏过的树叶找到狗熊。他知道各种风的

    轻舞，有秋天里穿着红衣的狂舞，有穿着蓝色草鞋在稻谷上掠过的轻舞，有冬季戴着雪冠的

    舞蹈，还有春天里吹过果园的慢舞。他知道斑鸠在什么地方做窝，曾有一次一对老斑鸠给捕

    鸟者抓走了，他就亲自来哺育那些幼鸟，并在一棵砍去了树梢的榆树裂缝中为他们筑起了一

    个小小的鸠窝。他们都很听话，并习惯了在他的手上找东西吃。小公主会喜欢他们的，还有

    那些在长长的凤尾草中乱窜的兔子们，和有着硬羽毛和黑嘴的鹒鸟，以及能够弯曲成带刺圆

    球的刺猬，和会摇头、轻轻地咬嫩叶、慢慢爬行的大智龟。是的，她一定会到林子里来和他

    一起玩。他会把自己的小床让给她睡，他在窗外看守着直到天亮，不让带角的野兽伤了她，

    更不能让饥饿的狼群靠近小茅屋。天亮时他会轻轻地敲着窗板把她唤醒，他们会一起到外面

    去，跳上一整天的舞蹈。在树林里真是一点也不寂寞。有时主教会骑着他的白骡子从这里走

    过，一边走一边还读着本带图画的书。有时候那些养猎鹰的人戴着他们的绿绒帽子，穿着硝

    过的鹿皮短上衣从这儿经过，手腕上站着蒙着头的鹰。每到葡萄熟透的季节，采葡萄的人们

    连手和脚都是紫色的，头上戴着常青藤编的花冠，手里拿着滴着葡萄酒的皮袋子。烧炭人晚

    上围坐在大火盆的边上，望着干柴在火中慢慢地燃烧，把栗子埋在灰中烘烤。强盗们也从山

    洞里窜出来跟他们一块儿玩乐。还有一回，他看见一些人排成好看的队伍在长长的尘土飞扬

    的大路上蜿蜒地朝托列多而去。僧侣们走在队伍的前头，唱着甜甜的歌曲，手里拿着鲜艳的

    旗子和金十字架，随后跟着披银枣甲执火绳枪和长矛的士兵，在这些人当中走着三个赤脚的

    人，身着奇怪的黄袍，上面绘满了奇妙的画像，他们的手中拿着点燃的蜡烛。说真的，树林

    中有非常多值得看的东西。她疲倦了的时候，他便会找一个长满青苔的软海滩让她休息，要

    不就扶着她走，因为他很结实，尽管他深知自己的个头不算高。他会用红色的蔓草果为她做

    一串项链，它会跟她衣服上戴的白色珍珠一样美丽，一旦她不欢喜这种项链了，就把它给扔

    掉，他还会为她做别的。他会给她找来一些皂角和露水浸泡过的秋牡丹，而且小小的萤火虫

    还可以做她浅黄色头发上的小星星。

    可是她又在什么地方呢？他问着白玫瑰，白玫瑰回答不了他的问题。整个王宫像是睡着

    了似的，甚至连那些百叶窗没有关闭的地方，也垂下了厚重的窗帘挡去了投入窗户的光线。

    他到处转悠着想寻到一处可以进入的地方，最后他瞧了一扇开着的小门。他溜了进去，发现

    自己来到了一个辉煌的大厅中，他感到要比那树林气派得多，处处金光灿烂，就连地板都是

    用五颜六色的大石头铺成的，可是小公主并不在那儿，只有几个美丽异常的白石像从他们的

    绿宝石座上朝下望着他，眼神中满是忧伤和茫然，嘴角上还挂着一丝奇怪的微笑。

    在大厅的尽头垂挂着绣工精致的黑天鹅绒帷幔，上面绣着太阳和繁星，都是国王最中意

    的设计，而且绣的又是他最喜爱的颜色。也许她就躲在那后面？他无论怎样也要去看看。

    于是他悄悄地走过去，把帷幔拉开。没有人，那儿只不过是另一间房子，可他觉得这间

    房子比他刚才走过的那间更漂亮。墙上挂着绣着许多人物像的绿色挂毡。那是一幅狩猎图，

    是几位弗来米西艺术家花了七年时间完成的。这儿曾经是被称为傻约翰的国王的房间，那个

    疯子国王太喜欢打猎了，在他精神失常的时候，他总是幻想着骑上那些画中蹬起后蹄的大

    马，拖开那只由一群大猎狗攻击的公鹿，吹响他那打猎的号角，用他的短剑刺一只奔跑的母

    鹿。现在这儿改作会议厅了，在屋中央的桌子上放着大臣们的红色文件夹，上面盖着西班牙

    金色郁金香的印花，以及哈普斯堡皇室的纹章和标识。

    小矮人吃惊地朝四周看着，他真有点不敢往前走了。画中那些陌生而沉默的骑马人敏捷

    地跨越过一片长长的草地，连一点声音也听不见，在他看来这些人就像烧炭夫们讲过的那些

    可怕的鬼影——康普拉克斯，他们只在夜里外出打猎，要是遇上人，就会把此人变成一只赤

    鹿，然后去猎取他。但是小矮人想起了美丽的小公主，于是又壮起了胆子。他希望她是一个

    人呆在那儿，好让他告诉她，他也是爱她的。也许她就在隔壁的那间屋子里。

    他从柔软的莫尔人地毯上跑过去，打开了门。没有！她也不在这儿。房间里空空的。

    这是一间御室，用来接待外国使节的，只要国王同意亲自接见他们，这种事近来不常有

    了。多年以前，就是在这间屋子里，英国的特使到这儿来安排他们的女王——当时她是欧洲

    天主教君主之一，与皇帝的长子联姻的。屋子里的帷幔都是用镀金的皮革做成的，黑白两色

    相间的开花板下面垂挂着沉重的镀金烛架，上而可以架起三百支蜡烛。一个巨大的金光闪闪

    的华盖上面用小粒珍珠绣出了狮子和卡斯特尔城堡图，华盖下面就是国王的宝座，宝座上盖

    着昂贵的黑色天鹅绒罩布，罩布上镶着银色的郁金香并且还配着精致的银饰和珍珠穗子。在

    宝座第二级上面放着小公主用的跪凳，垫子是用银丝线布做成的，就在跪凳下面，靠华盖外

    面的地方，立着教皇使节的椅子，只有这位使节大人才有权在任何公开的庆典仪式上与国王

    坐在一起。他那顶主教的帽子，帽上缠着深红色的帽缨，就放在一个靠前边的紫色绣框上。

    正对着宝座的墙上，挂着一幅查理五世猎装服的画像，像跟真人一样大小，身边还站着一只

    大猎犬。另一面墙的中央处挂着一幅脉力普二世接受尼德兰诸省朝贡时的画像。在两扇窗户

    的中间放着一个乌木幅柜，里面放着象牙盘子，盘子上刻着霍尔彭“死亡舞蹈”中的人物，

    据说，这是这位大师亲自动手刻的。

    可是小矮人对眼前豪华的盛景却没有留意。他不愿用自己的玫瑰花来换华盖上的珍珠，

    更不肯用哪怕一片玫瑰花瓣来换宝座。他所要做的就是在小公主去亭廊之前见上她一面，并

    要求在他的舞蹈结束之后就跟他一块儿离去。此时在宫中，空气是郁闷而沉重的，然而在树

    林里风儿却能自由自在地衣着，阳光挥舞着那双金灿灿的双手拔开抖动的树叶。树林中也有

    鲜花，也许赶不上花园里的花那么鲜艳，但却更加芳香怕人；早春中的风信子花在清凉的山

    谷和青草的小丘上荡起层层紫色的浪潮；一簇簇黄色的樱草爬满了橡树根的四周；色彩鲜明

    的白屈莱，蓝幽幽的威灵仙，深红且金黄的萄尾随处可见。榛树上有灰色的茅荑花，顶针花

    上挂吊着斑迹点点的蜜蜂小屋。栗树的顶部如同白色的星星，而山楂却透着它那苍白的美丽

    月色。是的，只要他能够找到她，她一定会来的！她会跟他一块儿到美妙的树林中去的，他

    还会给她跳一整天的舞，逗她开心。想到这几，他的眼睛中露出灿烂的微笑，然后他就走进

    了另一间房子。

    在所有的房屋中这一间是最明亮和最漂亮的。屋里的四壁上布满了印着浅红色花朵的意

    大利缎子，缎子上面还点缀着鸟图和可爱的银花；家具是用大块的银子做成的，上面镶着鲜

    艳的花环和转动的小爱神；在两个大壁炉的前面立着绣有鹏踏和孔雀的大屏风；地板是海绿

    色的玛瑙，仿佛延伸至遥遥的远方。这里并非他一个人，房间的另一头，在门道的阴影下站

    着一个小小的人影，正望着他。他心中一颤，从口中进发出一声喜悦的叫声，接着他一下子

    跑进了屋外的阳光中。他这么做的时候，那个人影也跟着这么做，他完全看清楚那是什么了。

    小公主！不，那只是个怪物，是他所见过的最难看的怪物。奇形怪状的样子，非常人一

    般，驼着背，拐着腿，还有一个摇来摇去的大脑袋和一头鬃毛般的乌发。小矮人皱起了眉

    头。他笑了，而它也跟着笑，而且还把两只手放在腰间，就跟他的做法是一样的。他嘲笑着

    向它鞠了一躬，它也对他还了一个礼。他朝它走去，它也走上来迎他，跟他迈着同样的步

    伐，他停下来，对方也站住了脚步。他惊奇地叫了起来，跑上前去，伸出一只手，而怪物的

    手也朝他的手伸来，那只手冷冰冰的。他觉得好害怕，又把手挥舞了过去，怪物的手也很快

    地伸了过来。他再试着往前压去，但有什么光滑而坚硬的东西挡住了他。怪物的脸此时此刻

    正好贴近了他的脸，脸上似乎充满了恐俱。他把头发从眼睛上抹开。它也摹仿他。他去打

    它，可它也报以拳头。他对它做出烦恼的样子，它也朝他做鬼脸。他向后退去，它也跟着退

    去了。

    它是什么东西呀？他想了一会儿，并朝房屋的四周看了看。真是怪了，不管什么东西在

    这堵看不见的清水墙上都会重复出现它们原有的模样，是的，墙上有屋里一样的图画，一样

    的睡椅。门口壁禽中那个躺着的睡牧神，竟也有一个模样相同的孪生兄弟酣睡在那儿，那位

    站立在阳光中伸出双臂的银维纳斯像也正朝着另一个一样可爱的维纳斯对视着。

    这是回音吗？他曾经在山谷中呼唤过她，她一个字一个字地回应着。难道她也能摹仿眼

    睛就像她摹仿声音那样？难道她能制造出一个与真实世界一样的假世界？难道物体的影子有

    颜色、生命和动作吗？难道这会是——？

    他吃了一惊，便从怀里拿出那朵美丽的白玫瑰，转过身来，吻着花。那个怪物也有自己

    的玫瑰花，花瓣竟跟他的一模一样！它也在吻花，而且跟他的吻法是一样的，还用它那可怕

    的动作把花按在自己的胸口上。

    等他明白了其中的道理的时候，他发出了绝望的狂叫声，趴在地上痛哭起来。原来那个

    奇丑无比，弯腰驼背的怪物就是他自己。他正是那个怪物，所有的小孩嘲笑的也是他，那位

    他原以为爱他的小公主——她也只不过是在嘲笑他的丑态，拿他的拐腿寻开心罢了。他们为

    什么要把他带出树林？林子里没有镜子告诉他，他是多么的丑陋。为什么他的父亲不杀死

    他，却要出卖他的丑相呢？热泪从他的脸颊上滚滚而下，他把白玫瑰扯了个粉碎。那个趴在

    地上的怪物也照他的样子做了，还把花瓣撒在空中。它在地上爬着，他朝它看着，它也用皱

    着眉头的苦脸望着他。他朝一边爬去，不愿再看见它，并用双手捂住自己的眼睛。他像一只

    受了伤的动物，向阴暗处爬去，并躺在那儿呻吟起来。

    正在这时小公主带着她的小伙伴们从开着的落地窗中走了进来，当他们看见丑陋的小矮

    人躺在地上，用紧握的拳头捶打地板的时候，他们忍不住为他那极其滑稽夸张的举动哈哈大

    笑起来，并围着他观赏起来。

    “他的舞蹈很有趣的，”小公主说，“而他的演技更加滑稽。的确他差不多跟木偶人一

    样的好，只是还不够自然而已。”说完她扇起了大扇子，高兴地拍手叫好。

    可是小矮人再也没有抬起头来，他的哭泣声越来越弱了，突然他发出一声奇怪的喘息，

    并在身上抓起来。然后他又倒了下去，一动不动地脑下了。

    “这可真精彩，”小公主说，又过了一阵子；“不过现在你必须为我们跳舞了。”

    可是小矮人却一声未答。

    小公主跺了跺脚，叫起了她的叔父。她叔父此时正和宫廷大臣一起在阳台上散步，读着

    刚从墨西哥送来的公文，宗教裁判所最近在墨西哥成立了。“我的这个有趣的小矮人生气

    了，”她大声嚷道，“你一定要把他叫醒，让他为我跳舞。”

    他们两人相互笑了笑，慢慢地走了进来。唐．彼德罗弯下腰去，用他那绣花的手套打着

    小矮人的脸，说道：“你必须得跳舞，小怪物，你一定得跳。西班牙及西印度群岛的小公主

    要开心快乐才对。”

    可是小矮人却一动也不动。

    “应该叫个执鞭人来打他一顿，”唐．彼德罗愤愤地说，接着他又回到了阳台上去。不

    过宫廷大臣却是一副庄重的表情，他跪在小矮人的身旁，把手按在小矮人的胸口上。过了一

    会儿，他耸了耸肩膀，站起身来，向小公主鞠了个躬，并说道：

    “我美丽的小公主，您那位滑稽的小矮人再也不能够跳舞了。真遗憾，他长得这么丑，

    一定会使国王不开心的。”

    “可是他为什么不再跳舞了呢？”小公主笑着问道。

    “因为他的心碎了，”宫廷大臣说。

    公主皱皱眉头，她那可爱的玫瑰叶嘴唇傲气地朝上撅了一下。“那么以后让那些来陪我

    玩的人都不带心才行，”她大声说，然后就朝外跑进花园里去了。

    tA

    It a.  S twelve years of

    age, and tly in the palace.

    Alta of Spain, she had

    only one birt like te poor

    people, so it urally a matter of great importance to the

    she

    occasion.  And a really fine day it certainly all

    striped tulips stood straigalks, like long rows

    of soldiers, and looked defiantly across t the roses,

    and said:  e are quite as splendid as you are nohe purple

    butterflies fluttered about  on ting

    eacurn; ttle lizards crept out of the crevices

    of te glare; and the

    pomegranates split and cracked , and sheir

    bleeding red s.  Even t hung in

    sucrellis and along the dim

    arcades, seemed to  a riche wonderful

    sunligrees opened t globe-like

    blossoms of folded ivory, and filled t heavy

    perfume.

    ttle Princess errace h her

    companions, and played at one vases and

    tatues.  On ordinary days she was only allowed

    to play o play

    alone, but ion, and the King had given

    orders t so invite any of her young friends whom she

    liked to come and amuse tately

    grace about t, the

    boys s and s fluttering cloaks, the

    girls rains of their long brocaded gowns, and

    sh huge fans of black and

    silver.  But ta  graceful of all, and t

    tastefully attired, after t cumbrous fashe day.

    in, t and the wide puffed sleeves

    iff corset studded h

    roiny slippers tes

    peeped out beneath her dress as she walked.  Pink and pearl was her

    great gauze fan, and in her hair, which like an aureole of faded

    gold stood out stiffly round tle face, she had a

    beautiful we rose.

    From a chem.

    Beood ed,

    and or of Granada, sat by his

    side.  Sadder even t the

    Infanta boy to ters, or

    laug the grim Duchess of Albuquerque who

    alher,

    ime before - so it seemed to him - had come from

    try of France, and he sombre

    splendour of t, dying just six monter the

    birthe almonds blossom

    t from the

    old gnarled fig-tree t stood in tre of the now grass-

    groyard.  So great  he had

    not suffered even to hide her from him.  She had been

    embalmed by a Moorisurn for this service had

    been granted his life, which for heresy and suspicion of magical

    practices ed, men said, to the holy Office,

    and ill lying on its tapestried bier in the black

    marble c as the monks had borne her in on

    t h

    tern in his

    in and knelt by , MI REINA!  MI

    REINA! and sometimes breaking tiquette t in

    Spain governs every separate action of life, and sets limits even

    to tc the pale jewelled hands

    in a ry to wake by he

    cold painted face.

    to-day o see  at the

    Castle of Fontainebleau, een years of age, and

    sill younger.  trot

    occasion by the French King and

    all t, and urned to th him

    a little ringlet of yellow wo childish

    lips bending doo kiss epped into his carriage.

    Later on ily performed at Burgos, a

    small toier betries, and the grand

    public entry into Madrid omary celebration of high

    mass at tochan usually solemn

    AUtO-DA-FE, in  whom

    o

    be burned.

    Certainly o t, of

    ry, t he

    empire of tted o be

    out of ; for ten, or seemed to have

    forgotten, all grave affairs of State; and,  terrible

    blindness t passion brings upon its servants, o

    notice t te ceremonies by o please

    aggravate trange malady from which she suffered.

    ime, like one bereft of reason.

    Indeed, t but t ed

    and retired to t trappist monastery at Granada, of which he

    itular Prior,  been afraid to leave the

    little Infanta at ty, even in

    Spain, orious, and wed by many of having

    caused t

    ed to ing le

    in Aragon.  Even after tion of three years of public

    mourning t  his whole dominions by

    royal edict, ers to speak about any

    neo him, and offered

    he lovely Archduchess of Bohemia, his niece, in

    marriage, ell ter t the King

    of Spain o Sorro t

    a barren bride ter ty; an ans cost

    er,

    at tigation, revolted against he

    leadersics of the Reformed Church.

    s fierce, fiery-coloured joys and

    terrible agony of its sudden ending, seemed to come back to him

    to-day as ca playing on terrace.  She had

    all tty petulance of manner, the same wilful way of

    tossing iful mouthe same

    wonderful smile - VRAI SOURIRE DE FRANCE indeed - as she glanced up

    no tretc tle hand for

    tately Spanislemen to kiss.  But ter of

    ted on  pitiless sunlight

    mocked range spices, spices such

    as embalmers use, seemed to taint - or  fancy? - the clear

    morning air.  a

    looked up again tains he King had

    retired.

    Stle MOUE of disappointment, and shrugged her

    s ayed hday.

    did tupid State-affairs matter?  Or o t

    gloomy che candles were always burning, and where she

    o enter?  he sun was

    sly, and everybody was so happy!  Besides, he would

    miss t for  was already

    sounding, to say not-sher wonderful

    tor were much more

    sensible.  t on terrace, and paid her nice

    compliments.  So sossed ty aking Don Pedro

    by teps towards a long

    pavilion of purple silk t ed at the

    garden, trict order of precedence,

    t names going first.

    A procession of noble boys, fantastically dressed as tOREADORS,

    came out to meet  of tierra-Nueva, a

    een years of age, uncovering

    he grace of a born hidalgo and grandee of Spain,

    led o a little gilt and ivory c was

    placed on a raised dais above the children grouped

    ttering to

    eacor stood laughing

    at trance.  Even the Camerera-Mayor as she was

    called - a tured

    look quite so bad-tempered as usual, and something like a chill

    smile flitted across chin

    bloodless lips.

    It certainly was a marvellous bull-fighe

    Infanta t, t t s

    to see at Seville, on t of the Duke of

    Parma to  on richly-

    caparisoned h gay

    streamers of brigtaco t on foot

    cloaks before ting lightly

    over the bull himself,

    like a live bull, though he was only made of wicker-

    retcimes insisted on running round

    the arena on his hind legs, which no live bull ever dreams of

    doing.   of it too, and t so

    excited t tood up upon their lace

    :  BRAVO tORO!  BRAVO tORO! just as

    sensibly as if t last, however,

    after a prolonged combat, during whe hobby-horses

    ed, the

    young Count of tierra-Nueva brougo his knees, and

    ained permission from ta to give the COUP DE

    GRACE, o th

    suc t off, and disclosed the

    laugtle Monsieur de Lorraine, the French

    Ambassador at Madrid.

    t muche dead

    wo Moorish pages in yellow

    and black liveries, and after a s interlude, during which a

    Frencure-master performed upon tigalian

    puppets appeared in tragedy of SOPhe

    stage of a small tre t  up for the purpose.

    ted so ures remely natural,

    t at ta e

    dim ears.  Indeed some of the children really cried, and had

    to be comforted meats, and tor himself

    ed t  o Don Pedro t it

    seemed to olerable t t of wood and

    coloured wax, and worked mechanically by wires, should be so

    un errible misfortunes.

    An African juggler follo basket

    covered  in tre of the

    arena, ook from urban a curious reed pipe, and blew

    t.  In a fes to move, and as the

    pipe gre out

    trange wedge-so and

    fro  ser.  the children,

    ened at tted hoods and quick

    darting tongues, and were muche juggler made a

    tiny orange-tree gro of tty we

    blossoms and clusters of real fruit; and he fan of

    ttle daugorres, and c

    into a blue bird t fleheir

    delig kne, too,

    performed by tra Senora Del

    Pilar, was ca his

    Maytime in front

    of tar of the Virgin, and in her honour; and indeed none

    of tered t cathedral of

    Saragossa since a mad priest, supposed by many to he

    pay of Elizabetried to administer a poisoned

    o turias.  So she had known only by

    certainly

    iful sig dresses

    of , and ts were fringed

    ed richers,

    teness of tumes, as t in

    t, being still more accentuated by thy faces

    and long black ed by ty

    ricate figures of the dance,

    and by te grace of tures, and stately

    bows, and wheir

    great plumed s to ta, sheir reverence

    esy, and made a vo she would send a large wax

    candle to turn for the

    pleasure t she had given her.

    A troop of ians - as termed in those

    days - to tting down cross-legs,

    in a circle, began to play softly upon their

    bodies to tune, and  beloh, a low

    dreamy air.   sig

    errified, for only a few weeks before

    ribe -

    place at Seville, but tty Infanta chem as she leaned

    back peeping over  blue eyes, and t

    sure t one so lovely as so anybody.

    So tly and just touche

    zited nails, and to nod

    as th a cry so shrill

    t all tartled and Don Pedros ched

    at te pommel of  to t and

    ambourines, and

    cing some range guttural language.

    t anoto the

    ground and lay te still, trumming of thers

    being t broke ter t they had

    done times, t and came

    back leading a brown sheir

    stle Barbary apes.  tood upon his head

    most gravity, and the wizened apes played all kinds of

    amusing tricks ers,

    and fouginy s through a

    regular soldiers drill just like the Kings own bodyguard.  In

    fact t success.

    But t part of tertainment, was

    undoubtedly ttle Do

    the arena, waddling on his crooked legs and wagging his huge

    misso side, t off into a loud

    s of deliga  the

    Camerera o remind  althere were many

    precedents in Spain for a Kings daughter weeping before her

    equals, the blood royal making so

    merry before the Dwarf,

    e irresistible, and even at the Spanish

    Court, aled for its cultivated passion for the horrible, so

    fantastic a little monster  was

    appearance, too.  he day before,

    running , by the nobles who happened

    to ing in a remote part of t cork-

    surrounded tohe Palace

    as a surprise for ta; her, who was a poor charcoal-

    burner, being but too o get rid of so ugly and

    useless a c amusing t him was his

    complete unconsciousness of esque appearance.  Indeed

    e  spirits.  he

    children laughed, he laughed as freely and as joyously as any of

    t t

    of bo t as if he was really one

    of t a little miss Nature, in

    some o mock at.  As for

    ta, sely fascinated  keep his

    eyes off o dance for  the

    close of t

    ladies of t ts to Caffarelli, the famous

    Italian treble, w from o

    Madrid t  cure tness of

    ook out of iful we rose, and

    partly for a jest and partly to tease t to him

    across test smile, ook tter

    quite seriously, and pressing to his rough coarse lips

    , and sank on one knee before her,

    grinning from ear to ear, and tle bright eyes sparkling

    h pleasure.

    t ty of ta t s on laughing

    long after ttle Dhe arena, and expressed

    a desire to  tely

    repeated.  t too

    , decided t it ter t her highness should

    return  delay to t had

    been already prepared for h

    ials  in painted sugar and a lovely

    silver flag op.  ta accordingly rose up

    y, and  ttle dwarf

    o dance again for er ta, and conveyed

    o t of tierra-Nueva for his charming

    reception, s back to ments, the children following

    in tered.

    Nole Dime

    before ta, and by her own express command, he was so proud

    t  into te rose in an

    absurd ecstasy of pleasure, and making t uncouth and clumsy

    gestures of delight.

    te indignant at o intrude into

    tiful hey saw him capering up and down

    the walks, and waving his arms above his head in such a ridiculous

    manner, t restrain their feelings any longer.

    oo ugly to be alloo play in any place where

    ulips.

    o sleep for a thousand

    years, said t scarlet Lilies, and te  and

    angry.

    us.  ed

    and stumpy, and ely out of proportion h his

    legs.  Really he makes me feel prickly all over, and if he comes

    near me I ing horns.

    And ually got one of my best blooms, exclaimed the

    e Rose-tree.  I gave it to ta this morning myself, as

    a birt, and olen it from her.  And she called

    out:  t top of her voice.

    Even t usually give themselves airs,

    and o  many poor relations themselves,

    curled up in disgust ws meekly

    remarked t tainly extremely plain, still he

    could not , torted ice t

    t  there was no reason why one

    should admire a person because he was incurable; and, indeed, some

    of ts t t ttle

    D ostentatious, and t he would have shown much

    better taste if  least pensive, instead of

    jumping about merrily, and to sucesque and

    silly attitudes.

    As for tremely remarkable individual,

    and old time of day to no less a person the

    Emperor Caken aback by ttle

    D  forgot to mark two wes

    o the

    great milk-we Peacock, whe

    balustrade, t every one kne the children of Kings were

    Kings, and t the children of charcoal-burners were charcoal-

    burners, and t it o pretend t it  so; a

    statement irely agreed, and indeed

    screamed out, Certainly, certainly, in such a loud, harsh voice,

    t the cool splashing

    fountain put t of ter, and asked tone

    tritons ter.

    But someen in the

    forest, dancing about like an elf after the eddying leaves, or

    croucree, ss

    mind .  hy,

    even tingale ly in the orange

    groves at nig sometimes to listen, was

    not muco look at after all; and, besides, o

    t terribly bitter er, where were no

    berries on trees, and the

    es of ty to look for

    food, ten t hem

    crumbs out of tle h

    tever poor breakfast he had.

    So t touch

    ttered to eache

    little D  he

    beautiful elling t ta herself had

    given it to him because she loved him.

    t understand a single word of w

    t made no matter, for t their heads on one side, and

    looked anding a thing, and

    very much easier.

    took an immense fancy to him, and when he grew

    tired of running about and flung o rest,

    tried to amuse he

    best  be as beautiful as a

    lizard, t oo muco expect.  And,

    t sounds absurd to say so,  so ugly after

    all, provided, of course, t one ss ones eyes, and does not

    look at remely pure,

    and often sat togethere was

    noto do, or o

    go out.

    t their behaviour,

    and at t only shey said,

    t rus

    ay exactly in the same place, as we

    do.  No one ever saw us he walks, or galloping

    madly ter dragon-flies.   change

    of air, o another bed.

    t s birds and lizards have

    no sense of repose, and indeed birds  even a permanent

    address.  ts like the gipsies, and should be

    treated in exactly t their noses in

    ty, and e delighted when

    after some time ttle Dhe

    grass, and make errace to the palace.

    ainly be kept indoors for t of ural

    life, t his hunched back, and his crooked

    legs, and to titter.

    But ttle Dhe birds

    and t t the

    most marvellous t of course the

    Infanta, but tiful we rose, and

    s made a great difference.  how he wished

    t  him on her

    rig  her

    side, but aught her all

    kinds of deligricks.  For though he had never been in a

    palace before,  many hings.  he could

    make little cages out of ruso sing in,

    and fased bamboo into t Pan loves to

    arlings

    from tree-top, or trail

    of every animal, and could track ts delicate

    footprints, and trampled leaves.  All the wild-

    dances  umn, the

    lige

    snoer, and the orchards

    in spring.   ts, and

    once w birds,  up

    t a little dovecot for them in

    t of a pollard elm.  te tame, and used to feed

    out of he

    rabbits t scurried about in th

    teely feat could

    curl to prickly balls, and t ortoises

    t cra, s the

    young leaves.  Yes, s certainly come to t and play

    tle bed, and ch

    outside till dao see t ttle

    did not  oo near t.  And

    at da tters and wake hey would

    go out and dance toget  a

    bit lonely in t.  Sometimes a Bishrough on his

    of a painted book.  Sometimes in their

    green velvet caps, and tanned deerskin, the

    falconers passed by, s.  At

    vintage-time came treaders, ,

    h glossy ivy and carrying dripping skins of wine; and

    t round t night,

    cing

    cnuts in t of their caves and

    made merry oo, iful

    procession y road to toledo.  the monks

    in front singing sly, and carrying bright banners and

    crosses of gold, and tchlocks and

    pikes, came t hree

    barefooted men, in strange yelloed all over h

    wonderful figures, and carrying ligheir hands.

    Certainly t deal to look at in t, and when

    sired  bank of moss for her, or carry

    rong, t he was

    not tall.

    e as pretty as te berries t she wore on her

    dress, and hem away,

    and hers.  he would bring her acorn-cups and

    deo be stars in the pale

    gold of her hair.

    But  made him no

    anshe

    sters  been closed, ains had been drawn across

    to keep out the glare.  he wandered all round looking

    for some place t gain an entrance, and at last

    sigtle private door t was lying open.  he

    slipped through, and found himself in a splendid hall, far more

    splendid, , there was so much more

    gilding everyw coloured

    stones, fitted togeto a sort of geometrical pattern.  But

    ttle Infanta  te statues

    t looked doh sad blank

    eyes and strangely smiling lips.

    At tain of black

    velvet, poars, te devices,

    and broidered on t.  Perhaps she was hiding

    be?  ry at any rate.

    So ole quietly across, and dre aside.  No; there was only

    anottier room, , the one he

    left.  th a many-figured green arras

    of needle-ry representing a , the work of some

    Flemisists s

    composition.  It he chamber of JEAN LE FOU, as he

    mad King w

    en tried in o mount the huge rearing

    o drag doag on w hounds were

    leaping, sounding ing abbing

    t he council-room, and on

    tre table folios of ters,

    stamped ulips of Spain, and he arms and

    emblems of the house of hapsburg.

    ttle Dwarf looked in wonder all round him, and was half-

    afraid to go on.  trange silent  galloped so

    sly t making any noise, seemed to

    errible poms of whe charcoal-

    burners speaking - t only at night, and if

    t a man, turn o a  he

    t of tty Infanta, and took courage.  ed to find

    o tell  oo loved her.  Perhaps she was

    in the room beyond.

    Mooriss, and opened the door.  No!

    S e empty.

    It ion of foreign

    ambassadors, en,

    consented to give the same room in which,

    many years before, envoys o make

    arrangements for the

    Cat son.  the

    Cordovan leat chandelier

    s he black

    and  canopy of gold cloth, on

    ile were broidered in seed

    pearls, stood tself, covered h a rich pall of black

    velvet studded ulips and elaborately fringed h

    silver and pearls.  On tep of the

    kneeling-stool of ta, s cush of silver

    tissue, and belo again, and beyond t of the canopy,

    stood t to be

    seated in the occasion of any public

    ceremonial, and s tangled scarlet

    tassels, lay on a purple tABOUREt in front.  On the wall, facing

    trait of Cing

    dress,  mastiff by ure of Philip

    II. receiving tre of

    tood a black ebony cabinet,

    inlaid es of ivory, on whe figures from holbeins

    Dance of Deat

    famous master himself.

    But ttle Dhis magnificence.  he

    he canopy, nor

    one al of self.   ed

    o see ta before s doo to

    ask o come ah him when he had finished his dance.

    in t

    t h wandering hands of gold

    moved tremulous leaves aside.  too, in the

    forest, not so splendid, per

    more sly scented for all t;

    flooded he cool glens, and grassy knolls;

    yello nestled in little clumps round the gnarled

    roots of trees; bright celandine, and blue speedwell, and

    irises lilac and gold.  tkins on the hazels, and

    t of ted

    cells.  tnut s spires of ars, and the

    s pallid moons of beauty.  Yes:  surely she would come

    if o the fair

    forest, and all day long .  A smile

    lit up  t, and o t room.

    Of all test and t beautiful.

    tterned

    ted y blossoms of silver; ture

    ooned hs, and swinging

    Cupids; in front of tood great screens

    broidered s and peacocks, and the floor, which was of

    sea-green onyx, seemed to stretco tance.  Nor

    the

    extreme end of ttle figure ching him.  his

    trembled, a cry of joy broke from

    into t.  As  also, and he

    sa plainly.

    ta!  It er, t grotesque monster he had

    ever be properly s

    h huge lolling head and mane of

    black tle Der frowned

    also.   laugs o

    its sides, just as  a mocking bow,

    and it returned  to, and it

    came to meet ep t opping when

    opped ed , and ran forward,

    and reac er touched his,

    and it was as cold as ice.  he grew afraid, and moved his hand

    across, and ters  quickly.  ried to

    press on, but sometopped he face of

    ter o error.

    imitated ruck at

    it, and it returned blo made

    retreated.

    is it?   for a moment, and looked round at t

    of t range, but everyto s

    double in ter.  Yes, picture for

    picture ed, and couc

    lay in ts t

    slumbered, and t stood in t

    o a Venus as lovely as herself.

    as it Eco he valley, and she had

    answered he eye, as she mocked

    t like the real world?

    Could t?

    Could it be t - ?

    arted, and taking from  tiful we rose, he

    turned round, and kissed it.  ter s own,

    petal for petal t kissed it h like kisses, and

    pressed it to its  ures.

    ruth dawned upon him, he gave a wild cry of despair, and

    fell sobbing to t was he who was misshapen and

    o look at and grotesque.  he

    monster, and it   all the children had been laughing,

    and ttle Princess w loved oo had

    been merely mocking at his ugliness, and making merry over his

    ted limbs.   left , where

    to tell hsome he was?  hy had his

    fat killed o

    tears poured doe rose to pieces.

    ter did ttered t petals

    in t grovelled on t it,

    it c a he

    s, and covered h his hands.  he crawled,

    like some o there moaning.

    And at t moment ta h her companions

    ttle dwarf

    lying on ting th his clenched hands,

    in t fantastic and exaggerated manner, t off into

    ss of er, and stood all round ched him.

    a; but ing is

    funnier still.  Indeed  as good as ts, only of

    course not quite so natural.  And stered her big fan, and

    applauded.

    But ttle Dwarf never looked up, and er and

    fainter, and suddenly ched his

    side.  And te still.

    t is capital, said ta, after a pause; but now you

    must dance for me.

    Yes, cried all t get up and dance, for you

    are as clever as t

    ttle Dwarf made no answer.

    And ta stamped , and called out to her uncle, who

    errace he Chamberlain, reading some

    despatc  arrived from Mexico, whe holy Office

    ly been establistle dwarf is sulking,

    s wake ell o dance for me.

    t eacered in, and Don Pedro stooped

    doh his embroidered

    glove.  You must dance, It MONSIRE.  You must dance.

    ta of Spain and to be amused.

    But ttle Dwarf never moved.

    A wer s for, said Don Pedro wearily, and

    back to terrace.  But the Chamberlain looked grave, and

    beside ttle d .

    And after a fes he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and

    o ta, he said -

    MI BELLA PRINCESA, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

    It is a pity, for   he King

    smile.

    But a, laughing.

    Because  is broken, anshe Chamberlain.

    And ta frowned, and y rose-leaf lips curled in

    pretty disdain.  For ture let to play h me

    s, s into the garden.