王尔德童话四则(英文版)-第1部分

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《王尔德童话四则》
作者：＇英＇奥斯卡·王尔德（英文版）【完结】　


公主的生日
THE　BIRTHDAY　OF　THE　INFANTA



＇TO　MRS。　WILLIAM　H。　GRENFELL　OF　TAPLOW　COURT　…　LADY　DESBOROUGH＇





It　was　the　birthday　of　the　Infanta。　　She　was　just　twelve　years　of

age；　and　the　sun　was　shining　brightly　in　the　gardens　of　the　palace。



Although　she　was　a　real　Princess　and　the　Infanta　of　Spain；　she　had

only　one　birthday　every　year；　just　like　the　children　of　quite　poor

people；　so　it　was　naturally　a　matter　of　great　importance　to　the

whole　country　that　she　should　have　a　really　fine　day　for　the

occasion。　　And　a　really　fine　day　it　certainly　was。　　The　tall

striped　tulips　stood　straight　up　upon　their　stalks；　like　long　rows

of　soldiers；　and　looked　defiantly　across　the　grass　at　the　roses；

and　said：　　'We　are　quite　as　splendid　as　you　are　now。'　　The　purple

butterflies　fluttered　about　with　gold　dust　on　their　wings；　visiting

each　flower　in　turn；　the　little　lizards　crept　out　of　the　crevices

of　the　wall；　and　lay　basking　in　the　white　glare；　and　the

pomegranates　split　and　cracked　with　the　heat；　and　showed　their

bleeding　red　hearts。　　Even　the　pale　yellow　lemons；　that　hung　in

such　profusion　from　the　mouldering　trellis　and　along　the　dim

arcades；　seemed　to　have　caught　a　richer　colour　from　the　wonderful

sunlight；　and　the　magnolia　trees　opened　their　great　globe…like

blossoms　of　folded　ivory；　and　filled　the　air　with　a　sweet　heavy

perfume。



The　little　Princess　herself　walked　up　and　down　the　terrace　with　her

companions；　and　played　at　hide　and　seek　round　the　stone　vases　and

the　old　moss…grown　statues。　　On　ordinary　days　she　was　only　allowed

to　play　with　children　of　her　own　rank；　so　she　had　always　to　play

alone；　but　her　birthday　was　an　exception；　and　the　King　had　given

orders　that　she　was　to　invite　any　of　her　young　friends　whom　she

liked　to　come　and　amuse　themselves　with　her。　　There　was　a　stately

grace　about　these　slim　Spanish　children　as　they　glided　about；　the

boys　with　their　large…plumed　hats　and　short　fluttering　cloaks；　the

girls　holding　up　the　trains　of　their　long　brocaded　gowns；　and

shielding　the　sun　from　their　eyes　with　huge　fans　of　black　and

silver。　　But　the　Infanta　was　the　most　graceful　of　all；　and　the　most

tastefully　attired；　after　the　somewhat　cumbrous　fashion　of　the　day。

Her　robe　was　of　grey　satin；　the　skirt　and　the　wide　puffed　sleeves

heavily　embroidered　with　silver；　and　the　stiff　corset　studded　with

rows　of　fine　pearls。　　Two　tiny　slippers　with　big　pink　rosettes

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　her　pale　little　face；　she　had　a

beautiful　white　rose。



From　a　window　in　the　palace　the　sad　melancholy　King　watched　them。

Behind　him　stood　his　brother；　Don　Pedro　of　Aragon；　whom　he　hated；

and　his　confessor；　the　Grand　Inquisitor　of　Granada；　sat　by　his

side。　　Sadder　even　than　usual　was　the　King；　for　as　he　looked　at　the

Infanta　bowing　with　childish　gravity　to　the　assembling　counters；　or

laughing　behind　her　fan　at　the　grim　Duchess　of　Albuquerque　who

always　accompanied　her；　he　thought　of　the　young　Queen；　her　mother；

who　but　a　short　time　before　…　so　it　seemed　to　him　…　had　come　from

the　gay　country　of　France；　and　had　withered　away　in　the　sombre

splendour　of　the　Spanish　court；　dying　just　six　months　after　the

birth　of　her　child；　and　before　she　had　seen　the　almonds　blossom

twice　in　the　orchard；　or　plucked　the　second　year's　fruit　from　the

old　gnarled　fig…tree　that　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　now　grass…

grown　courtyard。　　So　great　had　been　his　love　for　her　that　he　had

not　suffered　even　the　grave　to　hide　her　from　him。　　She　had　been

embalmed　by　a　Moorish　physician；　who　in　return　for　this　service　had

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

practices　had　been　already　forfeited；　men　said；　to　the　Holy　Office；

and　her　body　was　still　lying　on　its　tapestried　bier　in　the　black

marble　chapel　of　the　Palace；　just　as　the　monks　had　borne　her　in　on

that　windy　March　day　nearly　twelve　years　before。　　Once　every　month

the　King；　wrapped　in　a　dark　cloak　and　with　a　muffled　lantern　in　his

hand；　went　in　and　knelt　by　her　side　calling　out；　'MI　REINA！　　MI

REINA！'　and　sometimes　breaking　through　the　formal　etiquette　that　in

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

to　the　sorrow　of　a　King；　he　would　clutch　at　the　pale　jewelled　hands

in　a　wild　agony　of　grief；　and　try　to　wake　by　his　mad　kisses　the

cold　painted　face。



To…day　he　seemed　to　see　her　again；　as　he　had　seen　her　first　at　the

Castle　of　Fontainebleau；　when　he　was　but　fifteen　years　of　age；　and

she　still　younger。　　They　had　been　formally　betrothed　on　that

occasion　by　the　Papal　Nuncio　in　the　presence　of　the　French　King　and

all　the　Court；　and　he　had　returned　to　the　Escurial　bearing　with　him

a　little　ringlet　of　yellow　hair；　and　the　memory　of　two　childish

lips　bending　down　to　kiss　his　hand　as　he　stepped　into　his　carriage。

Later　on　had　followed　the　marriage；　hastily　performed　at　Burgos；　a

small　town　on　the　frontier　between　the　two　countries；　and　the　grand

public　entry　into　Madrid　with　the　customary　celebration　of　high

mass　at　the　Church　of　La　Atocha；　and　a　more　than　usually　solemn

AUTO…DA…FE；　in　which　nearly　three　hundred　heretics；　amongst　whom

were　many　Englishmen；　had　been　delivered　over　to　the　secular　arm　to

be　burned。



Certainly　he　had　loved　her　madly；　and　to　the　ruin；　many　thought；　of

his　country；　then　at　war　with　England　for　the　possession　of　the

empire　of　the　New　World。　　He　had　hardly　ever　permitted　her　to　be

out　of　his　sight；　for　her；　he　had　forgotten；　or　seemed　to　have

forgotten；　all　grave　affairs　of　State；　and；　with　that　terrible

blindness　that　passion　brings　upon　its　servants；　he　had　failed　to

notice　that　the　elaborate　ceremonies　by　which　he　sought　to　please

her　did　but　aggravate　the　strange　malady　from　which　she　suffered。

When　she　died　he　was；　for　a　time；　like　one　bereft　of　reason。

Indeed；　there　is　no　doubt　but　that　he　would　have　formally　abdicated

and　retired　to　the　great　Trappist　monastery　at　Granada；　of　which　he

was　already　titular　Prior；　had　he　not　been　afraid　to　leave　the

little　Infanta　at　the　mercy　of　his　brother；　whose　cruelty；　even　in

Spain；　was　notorious；　and　who　was　suspected　by　many　of　having

caused　the　Queen's　death　by　means　of　a　pair　of　poisoned　gloves　that

he　had　presented　to　her　on　the　occasion　of　her　visiting　his　castle

in　Aragon。　　Even　after　the　expiration　of　the　three　years　of　public

mourning　that　he　had　ordained　throughout　his　whole　dominions　by

royal　edict；　he　would　never　suffer　his　ministers　to　speak　about　any

new　alliance；　and　when　the　Emperor　himself　sent　to　him；　and　offered

him　the　hand　of　the　lovely　Archduchess　of　Bohemia；　his　niece；　in

marriage；　he　bade　the　ambassadors　tell　their　master　that　the　King

of　Spain　was　already　wedded　to　Sorrow；　and　that　though　she　was　but

a　barren　bride　he　loved　her　better　than　Beauty；　an　answer　that　cost

his　crown　the　rich　provinces　of　the　Netherlands；　which　soon　after；

at　the　Emperor's　instigation；　revolted　against　him　under　the

leadership　of　some　fanatics　of　the　Reformed　Church。



His　whole　married　life；　with　its　fierce；　fiery…coloured　joys　and

the　terrible　agony　of　its　sudden　ending；　seemed　to　come　back　to　him

to…day　as　he　watched　the　Infanta　playing　on　the　terrace。　　She　had

all　the　Queen's　pretty　petulance　of　manner；　the　same　wilful　way　of

tossing　her　head；　the　same　proud　curved　beautiful　mouth；　the　same

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

now　and　then　at　the　window；　or　stretched　out　her　little　hand　for

the　stately　Spanish　gentlemen　to　kiss。　　But　the　shrill　laughter　of

the　children　grated　on　his　ears；　and　the　bright　pitiless　sunlight

mocked　his　sorrow；　and　a　dull　odour　of　strange　spices；　spices　such

as　embalmers　use；　seemed　to　taint　…　or　was　it　fancy？　…　the　clear

morning　air。　　He　buried　his　face　in　his　hands；　and　when　the　Infanta

looked　up　again　the　curtains　had　been　drawn；　and　the　King　had

retired。



She　made　a　little　MOUE　of　disappointment；　and　shrugged　her

shoulders。　　Surely　he　might　have　stayed　with　her　on　her　birthday。

What　did　the　stupid　State…affairs　matter？　　Or　had　he　gone　to　that

gloomy　chapel；　where　the　candles　were　always　burning；　and　where　she

was　never　allowed　to　enter？　　How　silly　of　him；　when　the　sun　was

shining　so　brightly；　and　everybody　was　so　happy！　　Besides；　he　would

miss　the　sham　bull…fight　for　which　the　trumpet　was　already

sounding；　to　say　nothing　of　the　puppet…show　and　the　other　wonderful

things。　　Her　uncle　and　the　Grand　Inquisitor　were　much　more

sensible。　　They　had　come　out　on　the　terrace；　and　paid　her　nice

compliments。　　So　she　tossed　her　pretty　head；　and　taking　Don　Pedro

by　the　hand；　she　walked　slowly　down　the　steps　towards　a　long

pavilion　of　purple　silk　that　had　been　erected　at　the　end　of　the

garden；　the　other　children　following　in　strict　order　of　precedence；

those　who　had　the　longest　names　going　first。





A　procession　of　noble　boys；　fantastically　dressed　as　TOREADORS；

came　out　to　meet　her；　and　the　young　Count　of　Tierra…Nueva；　a

wonderfully　handsome　lad　of　about　fourteen　years　of　age；　uncovering

his　head　with　all　the　grace　of　a　born　hidalgo　and　grandee　of　Spain；

led　her　solemnly　in　to　a　little　gilt　and　ivory　chair　that　was

placed　on　a　raised　dais　above　the　arena。　　The　children　grouped

themselves　all　round；　fluttering　their　big　fans　and　whispering　to

each　other；　and　Don　Pedro　and　the　Grand　Inquisitor　stood　laughing

at　the　entrance。　　Even　the　Duchess　…　the　Camerera…Mayor　as　she　was

called　…　a　thin；　hard…featured　woman　with　a　yellow　ruff；　did　not

look　quite　so　bad…tempered　as　usual；　and　something　like　a　chill

smile　flitted　across　her　wrinkled　face　and　twitched　her　thin

bloodless　lips。



It　certainly　was　a　marvellous　bull…fight；　and　much　nicer；　the

Infanta　thought；　than　the　real　bull…fight　that　she　had　been　brought

to　see　at　Seville；　on　the　occasion　of　the　visit　of　the　Duke　of

Parma　to　her　father。　　Some　of　the　boys　pranced　about　on　richly…

caparisoned　hobby…horses　brandishing　long　javelins　with　gay

streamers　of　bright　ribands　attached　to　them；　others　went　on　foot

waving　their　scarlet　cloaks　before　the　bull；　and　vaulting　lightly

over　the　barrier　when　he　charged　them；　and　as　for　the　bull　himself；

he　was　just　like　a　live　bull；　though　he　was　only　made　of　wicker…

work　and　stretched　hide；　and　sometimes　insisted　on　running　round

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

doing。　　He　made　a　splendid　fight　of　it　too；　and　the　children　got　so

excited　that　they　stood　up　upon　the　benches；　and　waved　their　lace

handkerchiefs　and　cried　out：　　BRAVO　TORO！　　BRAVO　TORO！　just　as

sensibly　as　if　they　had　been　grown…up　people。　　At　last；　however；

after　a　prolonged　combat；　during　which　several　of　the　hobby…horses

were　gored　through　and　through；　and；　their　riders　dismounted；　the

young　Count　of　Tierra…Nueva　brought　the　bull　to　his　knees；　and

having　obtained　permission　from　the　Infanta　to　give　the　COUP　DE

GRACE；　he　plunged　his　wooden　sword　into　the　neck　of　the　animal　with

such　violence　that　the　head　came　right　off；　and　disclosed　the

laughing　face　of　little　Monsieur　de　Lorraine；　the　son　of　the　French

Ambassador　at　Madrid。



The　arena　was　then　cleared　amidst　much　applause；　and　the　dead

hobbyhorses　dragged　solemnly　away　by　two　Moorish　pages　in　yellow

and　black　liveries；　and　after　a　short　interlude；　during　which　a

French　posture…master　performed　upon　the　tightrope；　some　Italian

puppets　appeared　in　the　semi…classical　tragedy　of　SOPHONISBA　on　the

stage　of　a　small　theatre　that　had　been　built　up　for　the　purpose。

They　acted　so　well；　and　their　gestures　were　so　extremely　natural；

that　at　the　close　of　the　play　the　eyes　of　the　Infanta　were　quite

dim　with　tears。　　Indeed　some　of　the　children　really　cried；　and　had

to　be　comforted　with　sweetmeats；　and　the　Grand　Inquisitor　himself

was　so　affected　that　he　could　not　help　saying　to　Don　Pedro　that　it

seemed　to　him　intolerable　that　things　made　simply　out　of　wood　and

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

unhappy　and　meet　with　such　terrible　misfortunes。



An　African　juggler　followed；　who　brought　in　a　large　flat　basket

covered　with　a　red　cloth；　and　having　placed　it　in　the　centre　of　the

arena；　he　took　from　his　turban　a　curious　reed　pipe；　and　blew

through　it。　　In　a　few　moments　the　cloth　began　to　move；　and　as　the

pipe　grew　shriller　and　shriller　two　green　and　gold　snakes　put　out

their　strange　wedge…shaped　heads　and　rose　slowly　up；　swaying　to　and

fro　with　the　music　as　a　plant　sways　in　the　water。　　The　children；

however；　were　rather　frightened　at　their　spotted　hoods　and　quick

darting　tongues；　and　were　much　more　pleased　when　the　juggler　made　a

tiny　orange…tree　grow　out　of　the　sand　and　bear　pretty　white

blossoms　and　clusters　of　real　fruit；　and　when　he　took　the　fan　of

the　little　daughter　of　the　Marquess　de　Las…Torres；　and　changed　it

into　a　blue　bird　that　flew　all　round　the　pavilion　and　sang；　their

delight　and　amazement　knew　no　bounds。　　The　solemn　minuet；　too；

performed　by　the　dancing　boys　from　the　church　of　Nuestra　Senora　Del

Pilar；　was　charming。　　The　Infanta　had　never　before　seen　this

wonderful　ceremony　which　takes　place　every　year　at　Maytime　in　front

of　the　high　altar　of　the　Virgin；　and　in　her　honour；　and　indeed　none

of　the　royal　family　of　Spain　had　entered　the　great　cathedral　of

Saragossa　since　a　mad　priest；　supposed　by　many　to　have　been　in　the

pay　of　Elizabeth　of　England；　had　tried　to　administer　a　poisoned

wafer　to　the　Prince　of　the　Asturias。　　So　she　had　known　only　by

hearsay　of　'Our　Lady's　Dance；'　as　it　was　called；　and　it　certainly

was　a　beautiful　sight。　　The　boys　wore　old…fashioned　court　dresses

of　white　velvet；　and　their　curious　three…cornered　hats　were　fringed

with　silver　and　surmounted　with　huge　plumes　of　ostrich　feathers；

the　dazzling　whiteness　of　their　costumes；　as　they　moved　about　in

the　sunlight；　being　still　more　accentuated　by　their　swarthy　faces

and　long　black　hair。　　Everybody　was　fascinated　by　the　grave　dignity

with　which　they　moved　through　the　intricate　figures　of　the　dance；

and　by　the　elaborate　grace　of　their　slow　gestures；　and　stately

bows；　and　when　they　had　finished　their　performance　and　doffed　their

great　plumed　hats　to　the　Infanta；　she　acknowledged　their　reverence

with　much　courtesy；　and　made　a　vow　that　she　would　send　a　large　wax

candle　to　the　shrine　of　Our　Lady　of　Pilar　in　return　for　the

pleasure　that　she　had　given　her。



A　troop　of　handsome　Egyptians　…　as　the　gipsies　were　termed　in　those

days　…　then　advanced　into　the　arena；　and　sitting　down　cross…legs；

in　a　circle；　began　to　play　softly　upon　their　zithers；　moving　their

bodies　to　the　tune；　and　humming；　almost　below　their　breath；　a　low

dreamy　air。　　When　they　caught　sight　of　Don　Pedro　they　scowled　at

him；　and　some　of　them　looked　terrified；　for　only　a　few　weeks　before

he　had　had　two　of　their　tribe　hanged　for　sorcery　in　the　market…

place　at　Seville；　but　the　pretty　Infanta　charmed　them　as　she　leaned

back　peeping　over　her　fan　with　her　great　blue　eyes；　and　they　felt

sure　that　one　so　lovely　as　she　was　could　never　be　cruel　to　anybody。

So　they　played　on　very　gently　and　just　touching　the　cords　of　the

zithers　with　their　long　pointed　nails；　and　their　heads　began　to　nod

as　though　they　were　falling　asleep。　　Suddenly；　with　a　cry　so　shrill

that　all　the　children　were　startled　and　Don　Pedro's　hand　clutched

at　the　agate　pommel　of　his　dagger；　they　leapt　to　their　feet　and

whirled　madly　round　the　enclosure　beating　their　tambourines；　and

chaunting　some　wild　love…song　in　their　strange　guttural　language。

Then　at　another　signal　they　all　flung　themselves　again　to　the

ground　and　lay　there　quite　still；　the　dull　strumming　of　the　zithers

being　the　only　sound　that　broke　the　silence。　　After　that　they　had

done　this　several　times；　they　disappeared　for　a　moment　and　came

back　leading　a　brown　shaggy　bear　by　a　chain；　and　carrying　on　their

shoulders　some　little　Barbary　apes。　　The　bear　stood　upon　his　head

with　the　utmost　gravity；　and　the　wizened　apes　played　all　kinds　of

amusing　tricks　with　two　gipsy　boys　who　seemed　to　be　their　masters；

and　fought　with　tiny　swords；　and　fired　off　guns；　and　went　through　a

regular　soldier's　drill　just　like　the　King's　own　bodyguard。　　In

fact　the　gipsies　were　a　great　success。



But　the　funniest　part　of　the　whole　morning's　entertainment；　was

undoubtedly　the　dancing　of　the　little　Dwarf。　　When　he　stumbled　into

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

misshapen　head　from　side　to　side；　the　children　went　off　into　a　loud

shout　of　delight；　and　the　Infanta　herself　laughed　so　much　that　the

Camerera　was　obliged　to　remind　her　that　although　there　were　many

precedents　in　Spain　for　a　King's　daughter　weeping　before　her

equals；　there　were　none　for　a　Princess　of　the　blood　royal　making　so

merry　before　those　who　were　her　inferiors　in　birth。　　The　Dwarf；

however；　was　really　quite　irresistible；　and　even　at　the　Spanish

Court；　always　noted　for　its　cultivated　passion　for　the　horrible；　so

fantastic　a　little　monster　had　never　been　seen。　　It　was　his　first

appearance；　too。　　He　had　been　discovered　only　the　day　before；

running　wild　through　the　forest；　by　two　of　the　nobles　who　happened

to　have　been　hunting　in　a　remote　part　of　the　great　cork…wood　that

surrounded　the　town；　and　had　been　carried　off　by　them　to　the　Palace

as　a　surprise　for　the　Infanta；　his　father；　who　was　a　poor　charcoal…

burner；　being　but　too　well　pleased　to　get　rid　of　so　ugly　and

useless　a　child。　　Perhaps　the　most　amusing　thing　about　him　was　his

complete　unconsciousness　of　his　own　grotesque　appearance。　　Indeed

he　seemed　quite　happy　and　full　of　the　highest　spirits。　　When　the

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

them；　and　at　the　close　of　each　dance　he　made　them　each　the　funniest

of　bows；　smiling　and　nodding　at　them　just　as　if　he　was　really　one

of　themselves；　and　not　a　little　misshapen　thing　that　Nature；　in

some　humourous　mood；　had　fashioned　for　others　to　mock　at。　　As　for

the　Infanta；　she　absolutely　fascinated　him。　　He　could　not　keep　his

eyes　off　her；　and　seemed　to　dance　for　her　alone；　and　when　at　the

close　of　the　performance；　remembering　how　she　had　seen　the　great

ladies　of　the　Court　throw　bouquets　to　Caffarelli；　the　famous

Italian　treble；　whom　the　Pope　had　sent　from　his　own　chapel　to

Madrid　that　he　might　cure　the　King's　melancholy　by　the　sweetness　of

his　voice；　she　took　out　of　her　hair　the　beautiful　white　rose；　and

partly　for　a　jest　and　partly　to　tease　the　Camerera；　threw　it　to　him

across　the　arena　with　her　sweetest　smile；　he　took　the　whole　matter

quite　seriously；　and　pressing　the　flower　to　his　rough　coarse　lips

he　put　his　hand　upon　his　heart；　and　sank　on　one　knee　before　her；