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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。
the birthday of the infanta
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
panions； 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 e 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 acpanied her； he thought of the young queen； her mother；
who but a short time before … so it seemed to him … had e 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 years 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 tha