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手中呢？这对你当然应该是个快乐的日子，而不应是一个屈辱的日子。”
“难道快乐要用愁苦来装门面吗？”少年国王说。然后他对老主教讲了自己的三个梦。
主教听完了三个梦后，眉头紧锁，他说：“孩子，我是个老人，已进入垂暮之年，我知
道在这个大千世界里还有很多邪恶的东西。凶狠的土匪从山上下来，掳去无数小孩，把他们
卖给摩尔人。狮子躺在草丛中等待着过往的商队，准备扑咬骆驼。野猪将山谷中的庄稼连根
拔起。狐狸咬着山上的葡萄藤。海盗们在海岸一带兴风作浪，焚烧渔船，还把渔民的渔网抢
走。在盐泽地带住着麻疯病人，他们用芦苇杆盖起小屋，没有人愿意接近他们。乞丐们在大
街上漂流，同狗一起争食吃。你能够让这些事情不出现吗？你愿意让麻疯病人同你一起睡
觉，让乞丐同你一起进餐吗？你会叫狮子听你的话，野猪服从你的命令吗？难道制造出这些
苦难的上帝还不如你聪明吗？因此，我不会为你所做的事而赞扬你的，我要求你骑马回你自
己的王宫中，脸上要露出笑容，并穿上符合国王身分的衣服，我要用金王冠来为你加冕，我
要把嵌满珍珠的权杖放在你的手中。至于你的那些梦，就不要再想它们了。这世上的负担已
经太重了，是一个人难以承受的；人间的愁苦也太大了，不是一颗心所能负担的。”
“你就是在这间房子里说这种话的吗？”少年国王说。他大步从主教身旁走过，登上祭
坛的台梯，站到了基督像前。
他站在基督像前，在他的左手边和右手边分别放着华丽的金盆，装黄酒的圣餐杯和装圣
油的瓶子。他跪在基督像下，巨大的蜡烛在珠光宝气的神座旁明亮地燃烧着，燃香的烟雾绕
成一圆圈蓝色的轻烟飘向屋梁。他低下头去进行祈祷，那些身着硬挺法衣的牧师们纷纷走下
了祭坛。
突然，从外面的大街上传来了喧哗声，一群头戴羽缨的贵族们走了进来，他们手中握着
出鞘的宝剑和闪光的钢制盾牌。“做梦的那个人在什么地方？”他们大声嚷道，“那位国
王，就是那位打扮得像个乞丐，给我们的国家带来耻辱的男孩在什么地方？我们一定要杀了
他，因为他不配统治我们。”
少年国王再一次低下头去祈祷，祷告完毕他便站起身来，转过头去悲伤地望着他们。
啊！看那，阳光透过彩色的玻璃窗照在他的身上，光线在他的四周织出一件金袍，比那
件为取悦于他而编织的王袍更加美丽。干枯的枝条怒放出鲜花，那是比珍珠还要洁白的百合
花。干枯的荆棘也开花了，开放出比红宝石还要红的红玫瑰。比上等珍珠还洁白的百合花，
它们的根茎是由亮闪闪纠银子做成的。比红宝石更红的玫魂，它们的叶子是由金子铸造的。
他身穿国王的衣服站在那里，珠宝镶嵌的神龛打开了盖子，从光芒四射的圣体匣的水晶
上放出异常神奇的光。他身着国王的衣服站在那儿，这里就充满了上帝的荣光，连壁龛中的
圣徒们也好像在动。身穿国王的华贵衣服，他站在了他们的面前，风琴奏出了乐曲，喇叭手
吹响了他们的喇叭，唱诗班的孩子们在放声歌唱。
百姓们敬畏地跪下身来，贵族们收回宝剑并向少年国王行礼，主教大人的脸色变得苍
白，双手颤抖不已。“给你加冕的人比我更伟大。”他大声说道，并跪倒在国王面前。
少年国王从高高的祭坛上走下来，穿过人群朝自己的房间走去。此时没有一个人敢看他
的脸，因为那容貌就跟天使一样。
the young king
it was the night before the day fixed for his coronation； and the
young king was sitting alone in his beautiful chamber。 his
courtiers had all taken their leave of him； bowing their heads to
the ground； according to the ceremonious usage of the day； and had
retired to the great hall of the palace； to receive a few last
lessons from the professor of etiquette； there being some of them
who had still quite natural manners； which in a courtier is； i need
hardly say； a very grave offence。
the lad … for he was only a lad； being but sixteen years of age …
was not sorry at their departure； and had flung himself back with a
deep sigh of relief on the soft cushions of his embroidered couch；
lying there； wild…eyed and open…mouthed； like a brown woodland
faun； or some young animal of the forest newly snared by the
hunters。
and； indeed； it was the hunters who had found him； ing upon him
almost by chance as； bare…limbed and pipe in hand； he was following
the flock of the poor goatherd who had brought him up； and whose
son he had always fancied himself to be。 the child of the old
kings only daughter by a secret marriage with one much beneath her
in station … a stranger； some said； who； by the wonderful magic of
his lute…playing； had made the young princess love him； while
others spoke of an artist from rimini； to whom the princess had
shown much； perhaps too much honour； and who had suddenly
disappeared from the city； leaving his work in the cathedral
unfinished … he had been； when but a week old； stolen away from his
mothers side； as she slept； and given into the charge of a mon
peasant and his wife； who were without children of their own； and
lived in a remote part of the forest； more than a days ride from
the town。 grief； or the plague； as the court physician stated； or；
as some suggested； a swift italian poison administered in a cup of
spiced wine； slew； within an hour of her wakening； the white girl
who had given him birth； and as the trusty messenger who bare the
child across his saddle…bow stooped from his weary horse and
knocked at the rude door of the goatherds hut； the body of the
princess was being lowered into an open grave that had been dug in
a deserted churchyard； beyond the city gates； a grave where it was
said that another body was also lying； that of a young man of
marvellous and foreign beauty； whose hands were tied behind him
with a knotted cord； and whose breast was stabbed with many red
wounds。
such； at least； was the story that men whispered to each other。
certain it was that the old king； when on his deathbed； whether
moved by remorse for his great sin； or merely desiring that the
kingdom should not pass away from his line； had had the lad sent
for； and； in the presence of the council； had acknowledged him as
his heir。
and it seems that from the very first moment of his recognition he
had shown signs of that strange passion for beauty that was
destined to have so great an influence over his life。 those who
acpanied him to the suite of rooms set apart for his service；
often spoke of the cry of pleasure that broke from his lips when he
saw the delicate raiment and rich jewels that had been prepared for
him； and of the almost fierce joy with which he flung aside his
rough leathern tunic and coarse sheepskin cloak。 he missed；
indeed； at times the fine freedom of his forest life； and was
always apt to chafe at the tedious court ceremonies that occupied
so much of each day； but the wonderful palace … joyeuse； as they
called it … of which he now found himself lord； seemed to him to be
a new world fresh…fashioned for his delight； and as soon as he
could escape from the council…board or audience…chamber； he would
run down the great staircase； with its lions of gilt bronze and its
steps of bright porphyry； and wander from room to room； and from
corridor to corridor； like one who was seeking to find in beauty an
anodyne from pain； a sort of restoration from sickness。
upon these journeys of discovery； as he would call them … and；
indeed； they were to him real voyages through a marvellous land； he
would sometimes be acpanied by the slim； fair…haired court
pages； with their floating mantles； and gay fluttering ribands； but
more often he would be alone； feeling through a certain quick
instinct； which was almost a divination； that the secrets of art
are best learned in secret； and that beauty； like wisdom； loves the
lonely worshipper。
many curious stories were related about him at this period。 it was
said that a stout burgo…master； who had e to deliver a florid
oratorical address on behalf of the citizens of the town； had
caught sight of him kneeling in real adoration before a great
picture that had just been brought from venice； and that seemed to
herald the worship of some new gods。 on another occasion he had
been missed for several hours； and after a lengthened search had
been discovered in a little chamber in one of the northern turrets
of the palace gazing； as one in a trance； at a greek gem carved
with the figure of adonis。 he had been seen； so the tale ran；
pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that
had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the
building of the stone bridge； and was inscribed with the name of
the bithynian slave of hadrian。 he had passed a whole night in
noting