夜莺与玫瑰-第12部分

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ents。”
“But　I　like　arguments，”　said　the　Rocket。
“I　hope　not，”　said　the　Frog　placently。　“Arguments　are　extremely　vulgar，　for　everybody　in　good　society　holds　exactly　the　same　opinions。　Good…bye　a　second　time；　I　see　my　daughters　in　the　distance；”　and　the　little　Frog　swam　away。
“You　are　a　very　irritating　person，”　said　the　Rocket，　“and　very　ill…bred。　I　hate　people　who　talk　about　themselves，　as　you　do，　when　one　wants　to　talk　about　oneself，　as　I　do。　It　is　what　I　call　selfishness，　and　selfishness　is　a　most　detestable　thing，　especially　to　any　one　of　my　temperament，　for　I　am　well　known　for　my　sympathetic　nature。　In　fact，　you　should　take　example　by　me；　you　could　not　possibly　have　a　better　model。　Now　that　you　have　the　chance　you　had　better　avail　yourself　of　it，　for　I　am　going　back　to　Court　almost　immediately。　I　am　a　great　favourite　at　Court；　in　fact，　the　Prince　and　Princess　were　married　yesterday　in　my　honour。　Of　course　you　know　nothing　of　these　matters，　for　you　are　a　provincial。”
“There　is　no　good　talking　to　him，”　said　a　Dragon…fly，　who　was　sitting　on　the　top　of　a　large　brown　bulrush；　“no　good　at　all，　for　he　has　gone　away。”
“Well，　that　is　his　loss，　not　mine，”　answered　the　Rocket。　“I　am　not　going　to　stop　talking　to　him　merely　because　he　pays　no　attention。　I　like　hearing　myself　talk。　It　is　one　of　my　greatest　pleasures。　I　often　have　long　conversations　all　by　myself，　and　I　am　so　clever　that　sometimes　I　don’t　understand　a　single　word　of　what　I　am　saying。”
“Then　you　should　certainly　lecture　on　Philosophy，”　said　the　Dragon…fly；　and　he　spread　a　pair　of　lovely　gauze　wings　and　soared　away　into　the　sky。
“How　very　silly　of　him　not　to　stay　here！”　said　the　Rocket。　“I　am　sure　that　he　has　not　often　got　such　a　chance　of　improving　his　mind。　However，　I　don’t　care　a　bit。　Genius　like　mine　is　sure　to　be　appreciated　some　day；”　and　he　sank　down　a　little　deeper　into　the　mud。
After　some　time　a　large　White　Duck　swam　up　to　him。　She　had　yellow　legs，　and　webbed　feet，　and　was　considered　a　great　beauty　on　account　of　her　waddle。
“Quack，　quack，　quack，”　she　said。　“What　a　curious　shape　you　are！　May　I　ask　were　you　born　like　that，　or　is　it　the　result　of　an　accident？”
“It　is　quite　evident　that　you　have　always　lived　in　the　country，”　answered　the　Rocket，　“otherwise　you　would　know　who　I　am。　However，　I　excuse　your　ignorance。　It　would　be　unfair　to　expect　other　people　to　be　as　remarkable　as　oneself。　You　will　no　doubt　be　surprised　to　hear　that　I　can　fly　up　into　the　sky，　and　e　down　in　a　shower　of　golden　rain。”
“I　don’t　think　much　of　that，”　said　the　Duck，　“as　I　cannot　see　what　use　it　is　to　any　one。　Now，　if　you　could　plough　the　fields　like　the　ox，　or　draw　a　cart　like　the　horse，　or　look　after　the　sheep　like　the　collie…dog，　that　would　be　something。”
“My　good　creature，”　cried　the　Rocket　in　a　very　haughty　tone　of　voice，　“I　see　that　you　belong　to　the　lower　orders。　A　person　of　my　position　is　never　useful。　We　have　certain　acplishments，　and　that　is　more　than　sufficient。　I　have　no　sympathy　myself　with　industry　of　any　kind，　least　of　all　with　such　industries　as　you　seem　to　remend。　Indeed，　I　have　always　been　of　opinion　that　hard　work　is　simply　the　refuge　of　people　who　have　nothing　whatever　to　do。”
“Well，　well，”　said　the　Duck，　who　was　of　a　very　peaceable　disposition，　and　never　quarrelled　with　any　one，　“everybody　has　different　tastes。　I　hope，　at　any　rate，　that　you　are　going　to　take　up　your　residence　here。”
“Oh！dear　no，”　cried　the　Rocket。　“I　am　merely　a　visitor，　a　distinguished　visitor。　The　fact　is　that　I　find　this　place　rather　tedious。　There　is　neither　society　here，　nor　solitude。　In　fact，　it　is　essentially　suburban。　I　shall　probably　go　back　to　Court，　for　I　know　that　I　am　destined　to　make　a　sensation　in　the　world。”
“I　had　thoughts　of　entering　public　life　once　myself，”　remarked　the　Duck；　“there　are　so　many　things　that　need　reforming。　Indeed，　I　took　the　chair　at　a　meeting　some　time　ago，　and　we　passed　resolutions　condemning　everything　that　we　did　not　like。　However，　they　did　not　seem　to　have　much　effect。　Now　I　go　in　for　domesticity，　and　look　after　my　family。”
“I　am　made　for　public　life，”　said　the　Rocket，　“and　so　are　all　my　relations，　even　the　humblest　of　them。　Whenever　we　appear　we　excite　great　attention。　I　have　not　actually　appeared　myself，　but　when　I　do　so　it　will　be　a　magnificent　sight。　As　for　domesticity，　it　ages　one　rapidly，　and　distracts　one’s　mind　from　higher　things。”
“Ah！　the　higher　things　of　life，　how　fine　they　are！”　said　the　Duck；　“and　that　reminds　me　how　hungry　I　feel；”　and　she　swam　away　down　the　stream，　saying，　“Quack，　quack，　quack。”
“e　back！　e　back！”　screamed　the　Rocket，　“I　have　a　great　deal　to　say　to　you；”　but　the　Duck　paid　no　attention　to　him。　“I　am　glad　that　she　has　gone，”　he　said　to　himself，　“she　has　a　decidedly　middle…class　mind；”　and　he　sank　a　little　deeper　still　into　the　mud，　and　began　to　think　about　the　loneliness　of　genius，　when　suddenly　two　little　boys　in　white　smocks　came　running　down　the　bank，　with　a　kettle　and　some　faggots。
“This　must　be　the　deputation，”　said　the　Rocket，　and　he　tried　to　look　very　dignified。
“Hallo！”　cried　one　of　the　boys，　“look　at　this　old　stick！　I　wonder　how　it　came　here；”　and　he　picked　the　rocket　out　of　the　ditch。
“Old　Stick！”　said　the　Rocket，　“impossible！　Gold　Stick，　that　is　what　he　said。　Gold　Stick　is　very　plimentary。　In　fact，　he　mistakes　me　for　one　of　the　Court　dignitaries！”
“Let　us　put　it　into　the　fire！”　said　the　other　boy，　“it　will　help　to　boil　the　kettle。”
So　they　piled　the　faggots　together，　and　put　the　Rocket　on　top，　and　lit　the　fire。
“This　is　magnificent，”　cried　the　Rocket，　“they　are　going　to　let　me　off　in　broad　day…light，　so　that　every　one　can　see　me。”
“We　will　go　to　sleep　now，”　they　said，　“and　when　we　wake　up　the　kettle　will　be　boiled；”　and　they　lay　down　on　the　grass，　and　shut　their　eyes。
The　Rocket　was　very　damp，　so　he　took　a　long　time　to　burn。　At　last，　however，　the　fire　caught　him。
“Now　I　am　going　off！”　he　cried，　and　he　made　himself　very　stiff　and　straight。　“I　know　I　shall　go　much　higher　than　the　stars，　much　higher　than　the　moon，　much　higher　than　the　sun。　In　fact，　I　shall　go　so　high　that—”
Fizz！　Fizz！　Fizz！　and　he　went　straight　up　into　the　air。
“Delightful！”　he　cried，　“I　shall　go　on　like　this　for　ever。　What　a　success　I　am！”
But　nobody　saw　him。
Then　he　began　to　feel　a　curious　tingling　sensation　all　over　him。
“Now　I　am　going　to　explode，”　he　cried。　“I　shall　set　the　whole　world　on　fire，　and　make　such　a　noise　that　nobody　will　talk　about　anything　else　for　a　whole　year。”　And　he　certainly　did　explode。　Bang！　Bang！　Bang！　went　the　gunpowder。　There　was　no　doubt　about　it。
But　nobody　heard　him，　not　even　the　two　little　boys，　for　they　were　sound　asleep。
Then　all　that　was　left　of　him　was　the　stick，　and　this　fell　down　on　the　back　of　a　Goose　who　was　taking　a　walk　by　the　side　of　the　ditch。
“Good　heavens！”　cried　the　Goose。　“It　is　going　to　rain　sticks；”　and　she　rushed　into　the　water。
“I　knew　I　should　create　a　great　sensation，”　gasped　the　Rocket，　and　he　went　out。
★、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　King’s　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　mother’s　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　day’s　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　goatherd‘s　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　the　effect　of　the　moonlight　on　a　silver　image　of　Endymion。
All　rare　and　costly　materials　had　certainly　a　great　fascination　for　him，　and　in　his　eagerness　to　procure　them　he　had　sent　away　many　merchants，　some　to　traffic　for　amber　with　the　rough　fisher…folk　of　the　north　seas，　some　to　Egypt　to　look　for　that　curious　green　turquoise　which　is　found　only　in　the　tombs　of　kings，　and　is　said　to　possess　magical　properties，　some　to　Persia　for　silken　carpets　and　painted　pottery，　and　others　to　India　to　buy　gauze　and　stained　ivory，　moonstones　and　bracelets　of　jade，　sandal…wood　and　blue　enamel　and　shawls　of　fine　wool。
But　what　had　occupied　him　most　was　the　robe　he　was　to　wear　at　his　coronation，　the　robe　of　tissued　gold，　and　the　ruby…studded　crown，　and　the　sceptre　with　its　rows　and　rings　of　pearls。　Indeed，　it　was　of　this　that　he　was　thinking　tonight，　as　he　lay　back　on　his　luxurious　couch，　watching　the　great　pinewood　log　that　was　burning　itself　out　on　the　open　hearth。　The　designs，　which　were　from　the　hands　of　the　most　famous　artists　of　the　time，　had　been　submitted　to　him　many　months　before，　and　he　had　given　orders　that　the　artificers　were　to　toil　night　and　day　to　carry　them　out，　and　that　the　whole　world　was　to　be　searched　for　jewels　that　would　be　worthy　of　their　work。　He　saw　himself　in　fancy　standing　at　the　high　altar　of　the　cathedral　in　the　fair　raiment　of　a　King，　and　a　smile　played　and　lingered　about　his　boyish　lips，　and　lit　up　with　a　bright　lustre　his　dark　woodland　eyes。
After　some　time　he　rose　from　his　seat，　and　leaning　against　the　carved　penthouse　of　the　chimney，　looked　round　at　the　dimly…lit　room。　The　walls　were　hung　with　rich　tapestries　representing　the　Triumph　of　Beauty。　A　large　press，　inlaid　with　agate　and　lapis…lazuli，　filled　one　corner，　and　facing　the　window　stood　a　curiously　wrought　cabi　with　lacquer　panels　of　powdered　and　mosaiced　gold，　on　which　were　placed　some　delicate　goblets　of　Veian　glass，　and　a　cup　of　dark…veined　onyx。　Pale　poppies　were　broidered　on　the　silk　coverlet　of　the　bed，　as　though　they　had　fallen　from　the　tired　hands　of　sleep，　and　tall　reeds　of　fluted　ivory　bare　up　the　velvet　canopy，　from　which　great　tufts　of　ostrich　plumes　sprang，　like　white　foam，　to　the　pallid　silver　of　the　fretted　ceiling。　A　laughing　Narcissus　in　green　bronze　held　a　polished　mirror　above　its　head。　On　the　table　stood　a　flat　bowl　of　amethyst。
Outside　he　could　see　the　huge　dome　of　the　cathedral，　looming　like　a　bubble　over　the　shadowy　houses，　and　the　weary　sentinels　pacing　up　and　down　on　the　misty　terrace　by　the　river。　Far　away，　in　an　orchard，　a　nightingale　was　singing。　A　faint　perfume　of　jasmine　came　through　the　open　window。　He　brushed　his　brown　curls　back　from　his　forehead，　and　taking　up　a　lute，　let　his　fingers　st