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eth the life of the poor？ by your pomp we are nurtured； and
your vices give us bread。 to toil for a hard master is bitter； but
to have no master to toil for is more bitter still。 thinkest thou
that the ravens will feed us？ and what cure hast thou for these
things？ wilt thou say to the buyer； 〃thou shalt buy for so much；〃
and to the seller； 〃thou shalt sell at this price〃？ i trow not。
therefore go back to thy palace and put on thy purple and fine
linen。 what hast thou to do with us； and what we suffer？
are not the rich and the poor brothers？ asked the young king。
ay； answered the man； and the name of the rich brother is cain。
and the young kings eyes filled with tears； and he rode on through
the murmurs of the people； and the little page grew afraid and left
him。
and when he reached the great portal of the cathedral； the soldiers
thrust their halberts out and said； what dost thou seek here？
none enters by this door but the king。
and his face flushed with anger； and he said to them； i am the
king； and waved their halberts aside and passed in。
and when the old bishop saw him ing in his goatherds dress； he
rose up in wonder from his throne； and went to meet him； and said
to him； my son； is this a kings apparel？ and with what crown
shall i crown thee； and what sceptre shall i place in thy hand？
surely this should be to thee a day of joy； and not a day of
abasement。
shall joy wear what grief has fashioned？ said the young king。
and he told him his three dreams。
and when the bishop had heard them he knit his brows； and said； my
son； i am an old man； and in the winter of my days； and i know that
many evil things are done in the wide world。 the fierce robbers
e down from the mountains； and carry off the little children；
and sell them to the moors。 the lions lie in wait for the
caravans； and leap upon the camels。 the wild boar roots up the
corn in the valley； and the foxes gnaw the vines upon the hill。
the pirates lay waste the sea…coast and burn the ships of the
fishermen； and take their nets from them。 in the salt…marshes live
the lepers； they have houses of wattled reeds； and none may e
nigh them。 the beggars wander through the cities； and eat their
food with the dogs。 canst thou make these things not to be？ wilt
thou take the leper for thy bedfellow； and set the beggar at thy
board？ shall the lion do thy bidding； and the wild boar obey thee？
is not he who made misery wiser than thou art？ wherefore i praise
thee not for this that thou hast done； but i bid thee ride back to
the palace and make thy face glad； and put on the raiment that
beseemeth a king； and with the crown of gold i will crown thee； and
the sceptre of pearl will i place in thy hand。 and as for thy
dreams； think no more of them。 the burden of this world is too
great for one man to bear； and the worlds sorrow too heavy for one
heart to suffer。
sayest thou that in this house？ said the young king； and he
strode past the bishop； and climbed up the steps of the altar； and
stood before the image of christ。
he stood before the image of christ； and on his right hand and on
his left were the marvellous vessels of gold； the chalice with the
yellow wine； and the vial with the holy oil。 he knelt before the
image of christ； and the great candles burned brightly by the
jewelled shrine； and the smoke of the incense curled in thin blue
wreaths through the dome。 he bowed his head in prayer； and the
priests in their stiff copes crept away from the altar。
and suddenly a wild tumult came from the street outside； and in
entered the nobles with drawn swords and nodding plumes； and
shields of polished steel。 where is this dreamer of dreams？ they
cried。 where is this king who is apparelled like a beggar … this
boy who brings shame upon our state？ surely we will slay him； for
he is unworthy to rule over us。
and the young king bowed his head again； and prayed； and when he
had finished his prayer he rose up； and turning round he looked at
them sadly。
and lo！ through the painted windows came the sunlight streaming
upon him； and the sun…beams wove round him a tissued robe that was
fairer than the robe that had been fashioned for his pleasure。 the
dead staff blossomed； and bare lilies that were whiter than pearls。
the dry thorn blossomed； and bare roses that were redder than
rubies。 whiter than fine pearls were the lilies； and their stems
were of bright silver。 redder than male rubies were the roses； and
their leaves were of beaten gold。
he stood there in the raiment of a king； and the gates of the
jewelled shrine flew open； and from the crystal of the many…rayed
monstrance shone a marvellous and mystical light。 he stood there
in a kings raiment； and the glory of god filled the place； and the
saints in their carven niches seemed to move。 in the fair raiment
of a king he stood before them； and the organ pealed out its music；
and the trumpeters blew upon their trumpets； and the singing boys
sang。
and the people fell upon their knees in awe； and the nobles
sheathed their swords and did homage； and the bishops face grew
pale； and his hands trembled。 a greater than i hath crowned
thee； he cried； and he knelt before him。
and the young king came down from the high altar； and passed home
through the midst of the people。 but no man dared look upon his
face； for it was like the face of an angel。
．。
公主的生日
小说
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