01-the twelve dancing princesses-第1部分
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THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES
I
ONCE upon a time there lived in the village of Montignies…sur…
Roc a little cow…boy； without either father or mother。 His
real name was Michael； but he was always called the Star Gazer；
because when he drove his cows over the commons to seek for
pasture； he went along with his head in the air； gaping at nothing。
As he had a white skin； blue eyes； and hair that curled all over
his head； the village girls used to cry after him； ‘Well； Star Gazer；
what are you doing？' and Michael would answer； ‘Oh； nothing；'
and go on his way without even turning to look at them。
The fact was he thought them very ugly； with their sun…burnt
necks； their great red hands； their coarse petticoats and their
wooden shoes。 He had heard that somewhere in the world there
were girls whose necks were white and whose hands were small；
who were always dressed in the finest silks and laces； and were
called princesses； and while his companions round the fire saw
nothing in the flames but common everyday fancies； he dreamed
that he had the happiness to marry a princess。
II
One morning about the middle of August； just at mid…day when
the sun was hottest； Michael ate his dinner of a piece of dry bread；
and went to sleep under an oak。 And while he slept he dreamt
that there appeared before him a beautiful lady； dressed in a robe
of cloth of gold； who said to him： ‘Go to the castle of Beloeil； and
there you shall marry a princess。'
That evening the little cow…boy； who had been thinking a great
deal about the advice of the lady in the golden dress； told his dream
to the farm people。 But； as was natural； they only laughed at the
Star Gazer。
The next day at the same hour he went to sleep again under
the same tree。 The lady appeared to him a second time； and said：
‘Go to the castle of Beloeil； and you shall marry a princess。'
In the evening Michael told his friends that he had dreamed
the same dream again； but they only laughed at him more than
before。 ‘Never mind；' he thought to himself； ‘if the lady appears
to me a third time； I will do as she tells me。'
The following day； to the great astonishment of all the village；
about two o'clock in the afternoon a voice was heard singing：
‘Raleo； raleo；
How the cattle go！'
It was the little cow…boy driving his herd back to the byre。
The farmer began to scold him furiously； but he answered
quietly； ‘I am going away；' made his clothes into a bundle； said
good…bye to all his friends； and boldly set out to seek his fortunes。
There was great excitement through all the village； and on the
top of the hill the people stood holding their sides with laughing；
as they watched the Star Gazer trudging bravely along the valley
with his bundle at the end of his stick。
It was enough to make anyone laugh； certainly。
III
It was well known for full twenty miles round that there lived
in the castle of Beloeil twelve princesses of wonderful beauty； and
as proud as they were beautiful； and who were besides so very
sensitive and of such truly royal blood； that they would have felt
at once the presence of a pea in their beds； even if the mattresses
had been laid over it。
It was whispered about that they led exactly the lives that
princesses ought to lead； sleeping far into the morning； and never
getting up till mid…day。 They had twelve beds all in the same
room； but what was very extraordinary was the fact that though
they were locked in by triple bolts； every morning their satin shoes
were found worn into holes。
When they were asked what they had been doing all night；
they always answered that they had been asleep； and； indeed；
no noise was ever heard in the room； yet the shoes could not wear
themselves out alone！
At last the Duke of Beloeil ordered the trumpet to be sounded；
and a proclamation to be made that whoever could discover how
his daughters wore out their shoes should choose one of them for
his wife。
On hearing the proclamation a number of princes arrived at
the castle to try their luck。 They watched all night behind the
open door of the princesses； but when the morning came they had
all disappeared； and no one could tell what had become of them。
IV
When he reached the castle； Michael went straight to the
gardener and offered his services。 Now it happened that the
garden boy had just been sent away； and though the Star Gazer
did not look very sturdy； the gardener agreed to take him； as he
thought that his pretty face and golden curls would please the
princesses。
The first thing he was told was that when the princesses got
up he was to present each one with a bouquet； and Michael thought
that if he had nothing more unpleasant to do than that he should
get on very well。
Accordingly he placed himself behind the door of the princesses'
room； with the twelve bouquets in a basket。 He gave one to each
of the sisters； and they took them without even deigning to look at
the lad； except Lina the youngest； who fixed her large black eyes
as soft as velvet on him； and exclaimed； ‘Oh； how pretty he isour
new flower boy！' The rest all burst out laughing； and the eldest
pointed out that a princess ought never to lower herself by looking
at a garden boy。
Now Michael knew quite well what had happened to all the
princes； but notwithstanding； the beautiful eyes of the Princess
Lina inspired him with a violent longing to try his fate。
Unhappily he did not dare to come forward； being afraid that he
should only be jeered at； or even turned away from the castle on
account of his impudence。
V
Nevertheless； the Star Gazer had another dream。 The lady in
the golden dress appeared to him once more； holding in one hand
two young laurel trees； a cherry laurel and a rose laurel； and in
the other hand a little golden rake； a little golden bucket； and a
silken towel。 She thus addressed him：
‘Plant these two laurels in two large pots； rake them over with
the rake； water them with the bucket； and wipe them with the towel。
When they have grown as tall as a girl of fifteen； say to each of
them； ‘‘My beautiful laurel； with the golden rake I have raked you；
with the golden bucket I have watered you； with the silken towel I
have wiped you。'' Then after that ask anything you choose； and the
laurels will give it to you。'
Michael thanked the lady in the golden dress； and when he
woke he found the two laurel bushes beside him。 So he carefully
obeyed the orders he had been given by the lady。
The trees grew very fast； and when they were as tall as a girl
of fifteen he said to the cherry laurel； ‘My lovely cherry laurel；
with the golden rake I have raked thee； with the golden bucket I
have watered thee； with the silken towel I have wiped thee。
Teach me how to become invisible。' Then there instantly
appeared on the laurel a pretty white flower； which Michael
gathered and stuck into his button…hole。
VI
That evening； when the princesses went upstairs to bed； he
followed them barefoot； so that he might make no noise； and hid
himself under one of the twelve beds； so as not to take up much room。
The princesses began at once to open their wardrobes and boxes。
They took out of them the most magnificent dresses； which they
put on before their mirrors； and when they had finished； turned
themselves all round to admire their appearances。
Michael could see nothing from his hiding…place； but he could
hear everything； and he listened to the princesses laughing and
jumping with pleasure。 At last the eldest said； ‘Be quick； my
sisters； our partners will be impatient。' At the end of an hour；
when the Star Gazer heard no more noise； he peeped out and saw
the twelve sisters in splendid garments； with their satin shoes on
their feet； and in their hands the bouquets he had brought them。
‘Are you ready？' asked the eldest。
‘Yes；' replied the other eleven in chorus； and they took their
places one by one behind her。
Then the eldest Princess clapped her hands three times and a
trap door opened。 All the princesses disappeared down a secret
staircase； and Michael hastily followed them。
As he was following on the steps of the Princess Lina； he
carelessly trod on her dress。
‘There is somebody behind me；' cried the Princess； ‘they are
holding my dress。'
‘You foolish thing；' said her eldest sister； ‘you are always afraid
of something。 It is only a nail which caught you。'
VII
They went down； down； down； till at last they came to a passage
with a door at one end； which was only fastened with a latch。 The
eldest Princess opened it； and they found themselves immediately
in a lovely little wood； where the leaves were spangled with drops
of silver which shone in the brilliant light of the moon。
They next crossed another wood where the leaves were sprinkled
with gold； and after that another still； where the leaves glittered
with diamonds。
At last the Star Gazer perceived a large lake； and on the shores
of the lake twelve little boats with awnings； in which were seated
twelve princes； who； grasping their oars； awaited the princesses。
Each princess entered one of the boats； and Michael slipped into
that which held the youngest。 The boats glided along rapidly； but
Lina's； from being heavier； was always behind the rest。 ‘We never
went so slowly before；' said the Princess； ‘what can be the reason？'
‘I don't know；' answered the Prince。 ‘I assure you I am rowing
as hard as I can。'
On the other side of the lake the garden boy saw a beautiful
castle splendidly illuminated； whence came the lively music of
fiddles； kettle…drums； and trumpets。
In a moment they touched land； and the company jumped out
of the boats； and the princes； after having securely fastened their
