王尔德童话四则(英文版)-第5部分

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forced　his　way　through　the　willows；　and　came　out　on　the　other　side；

and　lo！　there　was　indeed　a　thing　of　gold　lying　on　the　white　snow。

So　he　hastened　towards　it；　and　stooping　down　placed　his　hands　upon

it；　and　it　was　a　cloak　of　golden　tissue；　curiously　wrought　with

stars；　and　wrapped　in　many　folds。　　And　he　cried　out　to　his　comrade

that　he　had　found　the　treasure　that　had　fallen　from　the　sky；　and

when　his　comrade　had　come　up；　they　sat　them　down　in　the　snow；　and

loosened　the　folds　of　the　cloak　that　they　might　divide　the　pieces

of　gold。　　But；　alas！　no　gold　was　in　it；　nor　silver；　nor；　indeed；

treasure　of　any　kind；　but　only　a　little　child　who　was　asleep。



And　one　of　them　said　to　the　other：　　'This　is　a　bitter　ending　to　our

hope；　nor　have　we　any　good　fortune；　for　what　doth　a　child　profit　to

a　man？　　Let　us　leave　it　here；　and　go　our　way；　seeing　that　we　are

poor　men；　and　have　children　of　our　own　whose　bread　we　may　not　give

to　another。'



But　his　companion　answered　him：　　'Nay；　but　it　were　an　evil　thing　to

leave　the　child　to　perish　here　in　the　snow；　and　though　I　am　as　poor

as　thou　art；　and　have　many　mouths　to　feed；　and　but　little　in　the

pot；　yet　will　I　bring　it　home　with　me；　and　my　wife　shall　have　care

of　it。'



So　very　tenderly　he　took　up　the　child；　and　wrapped　the　cloak　around

it　to　shield　it　from　the　harsh　cold；　and　made　his　way　down　the　hill

to　the　village；　his　comrade　marvelling　much　at　his　foolishness　and

softness　of　heart。



And　when　they　came　to　the　village；　his　comrade　said　to　him；　'Thou

hast　the　child；　therefore　give　me　the　cloak；　for　it　is　meet　that　we

should　share。'



But　he　answered　him：　　'Nay；　for　the　cloak　is　neither　mine　nor

thine；　but　the　child's　only；'　and　he　bade　him　Godspeed；　and　went　to

his　own　house　and　knocked。



And　when　his　wife　opened　the　door　and　saw　that　her　husband　had

returned　safe　to　her；　she　put　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed

him；　and　took　from　his　back　the　bundle　of　faggots；　and　brushed　the

snow　off　his　boots；　and　bade　him　come　in。



But　he　said　to　her；　'I　have　found　something　in　the　forest；　and　I

have　brought　it　to　thee　to　have　care　of　it；'　and　he　stirred　not

from　the　threshold。



'What　is　it？'　she　cried。　　'Show　it　to　me；　for　the　house　is　bare；

and　we　have　need　of　many　things。'　　And　he　drew　the　cloak　back；　and

showed　her　the　sleeping　child。



'Alack；　goodman！'　she　murmured；　'have　we　not　children　of　our　own；

that　thou　must　needs　bring　a　changeling　to　sit　by　the　hearth？　　And

who　knows　if　it　will　not　bring　us　bad　fortune？　　And　how　shall　we

tend　it？'　　And　she　was　wroth　against　him。



'Nay；　but　it　is　a　Star…Child；'　he　answered；　and　he　told　her　the

strange　manner　of　the　finding　of　it。



But　she　would　not　be　appeased；　but　mocked　at　him；　and　spoke

angrily；　and　cried：　　'Our　children　lack　bread；　and　shall　we　feed

the　child　of　another？　　Who　is　there　who　careth　for　us？　　And　who

giveth　us　food？'



'Nay；　but　God　careth　for　the　sparrows　even；　and　feedeth　them；'　he

answered。



'Do　not　the　sparrows　die　of　hunger　in　the　winter？'　she　asked。　　'And

is　it　not　winter　now？'



And　the　man　answered　nothing；　but　stirred　not　from　the　threshold。



And　a　bitter　wind　from　the　forest　came　in　through　the　open　door；

and　made　her　tremble；　and　she　shivered；　and　said　to　him：　　'Wilt

thou　not　close　the　door？　　There　cometh　a　bitter　wind　into　the

house；　and　I　am　cold。'



'Into　a　house　where　a　heart　is　hard　cometh　there　not　always　a

bitter　wind？'　he　asked。　　And　the　woman　answered　him　nothing；　but

crept　closer　to　the　fire。



And　after　a　time　she　turned　round　and　looked　at　him；　and　her　eyes

were　full　of　tears。　　And　he　came　in　swiftly；　and　placed　the　child

in　her　arms；　and　she　kissed　it；　and　laid　it　in　a　little　bed　where

the　youngest　of　their　own　children　was　lying。　　And　on　the　morrow

the　Woodcutter　took　the　curious　cloak　of　gold　and　placed　it　in　a

great　chest；　and　a　chain　of　amber　that　was　round　the　child's　neck

his　wife　took　and　set　it　in　the　chest　also。





So　the　Star…Child　was　brought　up　with　the　children　of　the

Woodcutter；　and　sat　at　the　same　board　with　them；　and　was　their

playmate。　　And　every　year　he　became　more　beautiful　to　look　at；　so

that　all　those　who　dwelt　in　the　village　were　filled　with　wonder；

for；　while　they　were　swarthy　and　black…haired；　he　was　white　and

delicate　as　sawn　ivory；　and　his　curls　were　like　the　rings　of　the

daffodil。　　His　lips；　also；　were　like　the　petals　of　a　red　flower；

and　his　eyes　were　like　violets　by　a　river　of　pure　water；　and　his

body　like　the　narcissus　of　a　field　where　the　mower　comes　not。



Yet　did　his　beauty　work　him　evil。　　For　he　grew　proud；　and　cruel；

and　selfish。　　The　children　of　the　Woodcutter；　and　the　other

children　of　the　village；　he　despised；　saying　that　they　were　of　mean

parentage；　while　he　was　noble；　being　sprang　from　a　Star；　and　he

made　himself　master　over　them；　and　called　them　his　servants。　　No

pity　had　he　for　the　poor；　or　for　those　who　were　blind　or　maimed　or

in　any　way　afflicted；　but　would　cast　stones　at　them　and　drive　them

forth　on　to　the　highway；　and　bid　them　beg　their　bread　elsewhere；　so

that　none　save　the　outlaws　came　twice　to　that　village　to　ask　for

alms。　　Indeed；　he　was　as　one　enamoured　of　beauty；　and　would　mock　at

the　weakly　and　ill…favoured；　and　make　jest　of　them；　and　himself　he

loved；　and　in　summer；　when　the　winds　were　still；　he　would　lie　by

the　well　in　the　priest's　orchard　and　look　down　at　the　marvel　of　his

own　face；　and　laugh　for　the　pleasure　he　had　in　his　fairness。



Often　did　the　Woodcutter　and　his　wife　chide　him；　and　say：　　'We　did

not　deal　with　thee　as　thou　dealest　with　those　who　are　left

desolate；　and　have　none　to　succour　them。　　Wherefore　art　thou　so

cruel　to　all　who　need　pity？'



Often　did　the　old　priest　send　for　him；　and　seek　to　teach　him　the

love　of　living　things；　saying　to　him：　　'The　fly　is　thy　brother。　　Do

it　no　harm。　　The　wild　birds　that　roam　through　the　forest　have　their

freedom。　　Snare　them　not　for　thy　pleasure。　　God　made　the　blind…worm

and　the　mole；　and　each　has　its　place。　　Who　art　thou　to　bring　pain

into　God's　world？　　Even　the　cattle　of　the　field　praise　Him。〃



But　the　Star…Child　heeded　not　their　words；　but　would　frown　and

flout；　and　go　back　to　his　companions；　and　lead　them。　　And　his

companions　followed　him；　for　he　was　fair；　and　fleet　of　foot；　and

could　dance；　and　pipe；　and　make　music。　　And　wherever　the　Star…Child

led　them　they　followed；　and　whatever　the　Star…Child　bade　them　do；

that　did　they。　　And　when　he　pierced　with　a　sharp　reed　the　dim　eyes

of　the　mole；　they　laughed；　and　when　he　cast　stones　at　the　leper

they　laughed　also。　　And　in　all　things　he　ruled　them；　and　they

became　hard　of　heart　even　as　he　was。





Now　there　passed　one　day　through　the　village　a　poor　beggar…woman。

Her　garments　were　torn　and　ragged；　and　her　feet　were　bleeding　from

the　rough　road　on　which　she　had　travelled；　and　she　was　in　very　evil

plight。　　And　being　weary　she　sat　her　down　under　a　chestnut…tree　to

rest。



But　when　the　Star…Child　saw　her；　he　said　to　his　companions；　'See！

There　sitteth　a　foul　beggar…woman　under　that　fair　and　green…leaved

tree。　　Come；　let　us　drive　her　hence；　for　she　is　ugly　and　ill…

favoured。'



So　he　came　near　and　threw　stones　at　her；　and　mocked　her；　and　she

looked　at　him　with　terror　in　her　eyes；　nor　did　she　move　her　gaze

from　him。　　And　when　the　Woodcutter；　who　was　cleaving　logs　in　a

haggard　hard　by；　saw　what　the　Star…Child　was　doing；　he　ran　up　and

rebuked　him；　and　said　to　him：　　'Surely　thou　art　hard　of　heart　and

knowest　not　mercy；　for　what　evil　has　this　poor　woman　done　to　thee

that　thou　shouldst　treat　her　in　this　wise？'



And　the　Star…Child　grew　red　with　anger；　and　stamped　his　foot　upon

the　ground；　and　said；　'e　what　I　do？　　I　am

no　son　of　thine　to　do　thy　bidding。'



'Thou　speakest　truly；'　answered　the　Wood…cutter；　'yet　did　I　show

thee　pity　when　I　found　thee　in　the　forest。'



And　when　the　woman　heard　these　words　she　gave　a　loud　cry；　and　fell

into　a　swoon。　　And　the　Woodcutter　carried　her　to　his　own　house；　and

his　wife　had　care　of　her；　and　when　she　rose　up　from　the　swoon　into

which　she　had　fallen；　they　set　meat　and　drink　before　her；　and　bade

her　have　comfort。



But　she　would　neither　eat　nor　drink；　but　said　to　the　Woodcutter；

'Didst　thou　not　say　that　the　child　was　found　in　the　forest？　　And

was　it　not　ten　years　from　this　day？'



And　the　Woodcutter　answered；　'Yea；　it　was　in　the　forest　that　I

found　him；　and　it　is　ten　years　from　this　day。'



'And　what　signs　didst　thou　find　with　him？'　she　cried。　　'Bare　he　not

upon　his　neck　a　chain　of　amber？　　Was　not　round　him　a　cloak　of　gold

tissue　broidered　with　stars？'



'Truly；'　answered　the　Woodcutter；　'it　was　even　as　thou　sayest。'

And　he　took　the　cloak　and　the　amber　chain　from　the　chest　where　they

lay；　and　showed　them　to　her。



And　when　she　saw　them　she　wept　for　joy；　and　said；　'He　is　my　little

son　whom　I　lost　in　the　forest。　　I　pray　thee　send　for　him　quickly；

for　in　search　of　him　have　I　wandered　over　the　whole　world。'



So　the　Woodcutter　and　his　wife　went　out　and　called　to　the　Star…

Child；　and　said　to　him；　'Go　into　the　house；　and　there　shalt　thou

find　thy　mother；　who　is　waiting　for　thee。'



So　he　ran　in；　filled　with　wonder　and　great　gladness。　　But　when　he

saw　her　who　was　waiting　there；　he　laughed　scornfully　and　said；

'Why；　where　is　my　mother？　　For　I　see　none　here　but　this　vile

beggar…woman。'



And　the　woman　answered　him；　'I　am　thy　mother。'



'Thou　art　mad　to　say　so；'　cried　the　Star…Child　angrily。　　'I　am　no

son　of　thine；　for　thou　art　a　beggar；　and　ugly；　and　in　rags。

Therefore　get　thee　hence；　and　let　me　see　thy　foul　face　no　more。'



'Nay；　but　thou　art　indeed　my　little　son；　whom　I　bare　in　the

forest；'　she　cried；　and　she　fell　on　her　knees；　and　held　out　her

arms　to　him。　　'The　robbers　stole　thee　from　me；　and　left　thee　to

die；'　she　murmured；　'but　I　recognised　thee　when　I　saw　thee；　and　the

signs　also　have　I　recognised；　the　cloak　of　golden　tissue　and　the

amber　chain。　　Therefore　I　pray　thee　come　with　me；　for　over　the

whole　world　have　I　wandered　in　search　of　thee。　　Come　with　me；　my

son；　for　I　have　need　of　thy　love。'



But　the　Star…Child　stirred　not　from　his　place；　but　shut　the　doors

of　his　heart　against　her；　nor　was　there　any　sound　heard　save　the

sound　of　the　woman　weeping　for　pain。



And　at　last　he　spoke　to　her；　and　his　voice　was　hard　and　bitter。

'If　in　very　truth　thou　art　my　mother；'　he　said；　'it　had　been　better

hadst　thou　stayed　away；　and　not　come　here　to　bring　me　to　shame；

seeing　that　I　thought　I　was　the　child　of　some　Star；　and　not　a

beggar's　child；　as　thou　tellest　me　that　I　am。　　Therefore　get　thee

hence；　and　let　me　see　thee　no　more。'



'Alas！　my　son；'　she　cried；　'wilt　thou　not　kiss　me　before　I　go？　　For

I　have　suffered　much　to　find　thee。'



'Nay；'　said　the　Star…Child；　'but　thou　art　too　foul　to　look　at；　and

rather　would　I　kiss　the　adder　or　the　toad　than　thee。'



So　the　woman　rose　up；　and　went　away　into　the　forest　weeping

bitterly；　and　when　the　Star…Child　saw　that　she　had　gone；　he　was

glad；　and　ran　back　to　his　playmates　that　he　might　play　with　them。



But　when　they　beheld　him　coming；　they　mocked　him　and　said；　'Why；

thou　art　as　foul　as　the　toad；　and　as　loathsome　as　the　adder。　　Get

thee　hence；　for　we　will　not　suffer　thee　to　play　with　us；'　and　they

drave　him　out　of　the　garden。



And　the　Star…Child　frowned　and　said　to　himself；　'What　is　this　that

they　say　to　me？　　I　will　go　to　the　well　of　water　and　look　into　it；

and　it　shall　tell　me　of　my　beauty。'



So　he　went　to　the　well　of　water　and　looked　into　it；　and　lo！　his

face　was　as　the　face　of　a　toad；　and　his　body　was　sealed　like　an

adder。　　And　he　flung　himself　down　on　the　grass　and　wept；　and　said

to　himself；　'Surely　this　has　come　upon　me　by　reason　of　my　sin。　　For

I　have　denied　my　mother；　and　driven　her　away；　and　been　proud；　and

cruel　to　her。　　Wherefore　I　will　go　and　seek　her　through　the　whole

world；　nor　will　I　rest　till　I　have　found　her。'



And　there　came　to　him　the　little　daughter　of　the　Woodcutter；　and

she　put　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and　said；　'What　doth　it　matter

if　thou　hast　lost　thy　comeliness？　　Stay　with　us；　and　I　will　not

mock　at　thee。'



And　he　said　to　her；　'Nay；　but　I　have　been　cruel　to　my　mother；　and

as　a　punishment　has　this　evil　been　sent　to　me。　　Wherefore　I　must　go

hence；　and　wander　through　the　world　till　I　find　her；　and　she　give

me　her　forgiveness。'



So　he　ran　away　into　the　forest　and　called　out　to　his　mother　to　come

to　him；　but　there　was　no　answer。　　All　day　long　he　called　to　her；

and；　when　the　sun　set　he　lay　down　to　sleep　on　a　bed　of　leaves；　and

the　birds　and　the　animals　fled　from　him；　for　they　remembered　his

cruelty；　and　he　was　alone　save　for　the　toad　that　watched　him；　and

the　slow　adder　that　crawled　past。



And　in　the　morning　he　rose　up；　and　plucked　some　bitter　berries　from

the　trees　and　ate　them；　and　took　his　way　through　the　great　wood；

weeping　sorely。　　And　of　everything　that　he　met　he　made　inquiry　if

perchance　they　had　seen　his　mother。



He　said　to　the　Mole；　'Thou　canst　go　beneath　the　earth。　　Tell　me；　is

my　mother　there？'



And　the　Mole　answered；　'Thou　hast　blinded　mine　eyes。　　How　should　I

know？'



He　said　to　the　Linnet；　'Thou　canst　fly　over　the　tops　of　the　tall

trees；　and　canst　see　the　whole　world。　　Tell　me；　canst　thou　see　my

mother？'



And　the　Linnet　answered；　'Thou　hast　clipt　my　wings　for　thy

pleasure。　　How　should　I　fly？'



And　to　the　little　Squirrel　who　lived　in　the　fir…tree；　and　was

lonely；　he　said；　'Where　is　my　mother？'



And　the　Squirrel　answered；　'Thou　hast　slain　mine。　　Dost　thou　seek

to　slay　thine　also？'



And　the　Star…Child　wept　and　bowed　his　head；　and　prayed　forgiveness

of　God's　things；　and　went　on　through　the　forest；　seeking　for　the

beggar…woman。　　And　on　the　third　day　he　came　to　the　other　side　of

the　forest　and　went　down　into　the　plain。



And　when　he　passed　through　the　villages　the　children　mocked　him；

and　threw　stones　at　him；　and　the　carlots　would　not　suffer　him　even

to　sleep　in　the　byres　lest　he　might　bring　mildew　on　the　stored

corn；　so　foul　was　he　to　look　at；　and　their　hired　men　drave　him

away；　and　there　was　none　who　had　pity　on　him。　　Nor　could　he　hear

anywhere　of　the　beggar…woman　who　was　his　mother；　though　for　the

space　of　three　years　he　wandered　over　the　world；　and　often　seemed

to　see　her　on　the　road　in　front　of　him；　and　would　call　to　her；　and

run　after　her　till　the　sharp　flints　made　his　feet　to　bleed。　　But

overtake　her　he　could　not；　and　those　who　dwelt　by　the　way　did　ever

deny　that　they　had　seen　her；　or　any　like　to　her；　and　they　made

sport　of　his　sorrow。



For　the　space　of　three　years　he　wandered　over　the　world；　and　in　the

world　there　was　neither　love　nor　loving…kindness　nor　charity　for

him；　but　it　was　even　such　a　world　as　he　had　made　for　himself　in　the

days　of　his　great　pride。





And　one　evening　he　came　to　the　gate　of　a　strong…walled　city　that

stood　by　a　river；　and；　weary　and　footsore　though　he　was；　he　made　to

enter　in。　　But　the　soldiers　who　stood　on　guard　dropped　their

halberts　across　the　entrance；　and　said　roughly　to　him；　'What　is　thy

business　in　the　city？'



'I　am　seeking　for　my　mother；'　he　answered；　'and　I　pray　ye　to　suffer

me　to　pass；　for　it　may　be　that　she　is　in　this　city。'



But　they　mocked　at　him；　and　one　of　them　wagged　a　black　beard；　and

set　down　his　shield　and　cried；　'Of　a　truth；　thy　mother　will　not　be

merry　when　she　sees　thee；　for　thou　art　more　ill…favoured　than　the

toad　of　the　marsh；　or　the　adder　that　crawls　in　the　fen。　　Get　thee

gone。　　Get　thee　gone。　　Thy　mother　dwells　not　in　this　city。'



And　another；　who　held　a　yellow　banner　in　his　hand；　said　to　him；

'Who　is　thy　mother；　and　wherefore　art　thou　seeking　for　her？'



And　he　answered；　'My　mother　is　a　beggar　even　as　I　am；　and　I　have

treated　her　evilly；　and　I　pray　ye　to　suffer　me　to　pass　that　she　may

give　me　her　forgiveness；　if　it　be　that　she　tarrieth　in　this　city。'

But　they　would　not；　and　pricked　him　with　their　spears。



And；　as　he　turned　away　weeping；　one　whose　armour　was　inlaid　with

gilt　flowers；　and　on　whose　helmet　couched　a　lion　that　had　wings；

came　up　and　made　inquiry　of　the　soldiers　who　it　was　who　had　sought

entrance。　　And　they　said　to　him；　'It　is　a　beggar　and　the　child　of　a

beggar；　and　we　have　driven　him　away。'



'Nay；'　he　cried；　laughing；　'but　we　will　sell　the　foul　thing　for　a

slave；　and　his　price　shall　be　the　price　of　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine。'



And　an　old　and　evil…visaged　man　who　was　passing　by　called　out；　and

said；　'I　will　buy　him　for　that　price；'　and；　when　he　had　paid　the

price；　he　took　the　Star…Child　by　the　hand　and　led　him　into　the

city。



And　after　that　they　had　gone　through　many　streets　they　came　to　a

little　door　that　was　set　in　a　wall　that　was　covered　with　a

pomegranate　tree。　　And　the　old　man　touched　the　door　with　a　ring　of

graved　jasper　and　it　opened；　and　they　went　down　five　steps　of　brass

into　a　garden　filled　with　black　poppies　and　green　jars　of　burnt

clay。　　And　the　old　man　took　then　from　his　turban　a　scarf　of　figured

silk；　and　bound　with　it　the　eyes　of　the　Star…Child；　and　drave　him

in　front　of　him。　　And　when　the　scarf　was　taken　off　his　eyes；　the

Star…Child　found　himself　in　a　dungeon；　that　was　lit　by　a　lantern　of

horn。



And　the　old　man　set　before　him　some　mouldy　bread　on　a　trencher　and

said；　'Eat；'　and　some　brackish　water　in　a　cup　and　said；　'Drink；'

and　when　he　had　eaten　and　drunk；　the　old　man　went　out；　locking　the

door　behind　him　and　fastening　it　with　an　iron　chain。





And　on　the　morrow　the　old　man；　who　was　indeed　the　subtlest　of　the

magicians　of　Libya　and　had　learned　his　art　from　one　who　dwelt　in

the　tombs　of　the　Nile；　came　in　to　him　and　frowned　at　him；　and　said；

'In　a　wood　that　is　nigh　to　the　gate　of　this　city　of　Giaours　there

are　three　pieces　of　gold。　　One　is　of　white　gold；　and　another　is　of

yellow　gold；　and　the　gold　of　the　third　one　is　red。　　To…day　thou

shalt　bring　me　the　piece　of　white　gold；　and　if　thou　bringest　it　not

back；　I　will　beat　thee　with　a　hundred　stripes。　　Get　thee　away

quickly；　and　at　sunset　I　will　be　waiting　for　thee　at　the　door　of

the　garden。　　See　that　thou　bringest　the　white　gold；　or　it　shall　go

ill　with　thee；　for　thou　art　my　slave；　and　I　have　bought　thee　for

the　price　of　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine。'　　And　he　bound　the　eyes　of　the

Star…Child　with　the　scarf　of　figured　silk；　and　led　him　through　the

house；　and　through　the　garden　of　poppies；　and　up　the　five　steps　of

brass。　　And　having　opened　the　little　door　with　his　ring　he　set　him

in　the　street。





And　the　Star…Child　went　out　of　the　gate　of　the　city；　and　came　to

the　wood　of　which　the　Magician　had　spoken　to　him。



Now　this　wood　was　very　fair　to　look　at　from　without；　and　seemed

full　of　singing　birds　and　of　sweet…scented　flowers；　an