夜莺与玫瑰-第14部分

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e　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　King’s　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　goatherd’s　dress，　he　rose　up　in　wonder　from　his　throne，　and　went　to　meet　him，　and　said　to　him，　“My　son，　is　this　a　king’s　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　s　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　world’s　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　king’s　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　Bishop’s　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。
★、The　Star…Child
Once　upon　a　time　two　poor　Woodcutters　were　making　their　way　home　through　a　great　pine…forest。　It　was　winter，　and　a　night　of　bitter　cold。　The　snow　lay　thick　upon　the　ground，　and　upon　the　branches　of　the　trees：　the　frost　kept　snapping　the　little　twigs　on　either　side　of　them，　as　they　passed：　and　when　they　came　to　the　Mountain…Torrent　she　was　hanging　motionless　in　air，　for　the　Ice…King　had　kissed　her。
So　cold　was　it　that　even　the　animals　and　the　birds　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　it。
“Ugh！”　snarled　the　Wolf，　as　he　limped　through　the　brushwood　with　his　tail　between　his　legs，　“this　is　perfectly　monstrous　weather。　Why　doesn’t　the　Government　look　to　it？”
“Weet！　weet！　weet！”　twittered　the　green　Lins，　“the　old　Earth　is　dead　and　they　have　laid　her　out　in　her　white　shroud。”
“The　Earth　is　going　to　be　married，　and　this　is　her　bridal　dress，”　whispered　the　Turtle…doves　to　each　other。　Their　little　pink　feet　were　quite　frost…bitten，　but　they　felt　that　it　was　their　duty　to　take　a　romantic　view　of　the　situation。
“Nonsense！”　growled　the　Wolf。　“I　tell　you　that　it　is　all　the　fault　of　the　Government，　and　if　you　don’t　believe　me　I　shall　eat　you。”　The　Wolf　had　a　thoroughly　practical　mind，　and　was　never　at　a　loss　for　a　good　argument。
“Well，　for　my　own　part，　”　said　the　Woodpecker，　who　was　a　born　philosopher，　“I　don’t　care　an　atomic　theory　for　explan…ations。　If　a　thing　is　so，　it　is　so，　and　at　present　it　is　terribly　cold。”
Terribly　cold　it　certainly　was。　The　little　Squirrels，　who　lived　inside　the　tall　fir…tree，　kept　rubbing　each　other’s　noses　to　keep　themselves　warm，　and　the　Rabbits　curled　themselves　up　in　their　holes，　and　did　not　venture　even　to　look　out　of　doors。　The　only　people　who　seemed　to　enjoy　it　were　the　great　horned　Owls。　Their　feathers　were　quite　stiff　with　rime，　but　they　did　not　mind，　and　they　rolled　their　large　yellow　eyes，　and　called　out　to　each　other　across　the　forest，　“Tu…whit！　Tu…whoo！　Tu…whit！　Tu…whoo！　what　delightful　weather　we　are　having！”
On　and　on　went　the　two　Woodcutters，　blowing　lustily　upon　their　fingers，　and　stamping　with　their　huge　iron…shod　boots　upon　the　caked　snow。　Once　they　sank　into　a　deep　drift，　and　came　out　as　white　as　millers　are，　when　the　stones　are　grinding；　and　once　they　slipped　on　the　hard　smooth　ice　where　the　marsh…water　was　frozen，　and　their　faggots　fell　out　of　their　bundles，　and　they　had　to　pick　them　up　and　bind　them　together　again；　and　once　they　thought　that　they　had　lost　their　way，　and　a　great　terror　seized　on　them，　for　they　knew　that　the　Snow　is　cruel　to　those　who　sleep　in　her　arms。　But　they　put　their　trust　in　the　good　Saint　Martin，　who　watches　over　all　travellers，　and　retraced　their　steps，　and　went　warily，　and　at　last　they　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　forest，　and　saw，　far　down　in　the　valley　beneath　them，　the　lights　of　the　village　in　which　they　dwelt。
So　overjoyed　were　they　at　their　deliverance　that　they　laughed　aloud，　and　the　Earth　seemed　to　them　like　a　flower　of　silver，　and　the　Moon　like　a　flower　of　gold。
Yet，　after　that　they　had　laughed　they　became　sad，　for　they　remembered　their　poverty，　and　one　of　them　said　to　the　other，　“Why　did　we　make　merry，　seeing　that　life　is　for　the　rich，　and　not　for　such　as　we　are？　Better　that　we　had　died　of　cold　in　the　forest，　or　that　some　wild　beast　had　fallen　upon　us　and　slain　us。”
“Truly，　”　answered　his　panion，　“much　is　given　to　some，　and　little　is　given　to　others。　Injustice　has　parcelled　out　the　world，　nor　is　there　equal　division　of　aught　save　of　sorrow。”
But　as　they　were　bewailing　their　misery　to　each　other　this　strange　thing　happened。　There　fell　from　heaven　a　very　bright　and　beautiful　star。　It　slipped　down　the　side　of　the　sky，　passing　by　the　other　stars　in　its　course，　and，　as　they　watched　it　wondering，　it　seemed　to　them　to　sink　behind　a　clump　of　willow…trees　that　stood　hard　by　a　little　sheepfold　no　more　than　a　stone’s…throw　away。
“Why！　there　is　a　crook　of　gold　for　whoever　finds　it，”they　cried，　and　they　set　to　and　ran，　so　eager　were　they　for　the　gold。
And　one　of　them　ran　faster　than　his　mate，　and　outstripped　him，　and　forced　his　way　through　the　willows，　and　came　out　on　the　other　side，　and　lo！　there　was　indeed　a　thing　of　gold　lying　on　the　white　snow。　So　he　hastened　towards　it，　and　stooping　down　placed　his　hands　upon　it，　and　it　was　a　cloak　of　golden　tissue，　curiously　wrought　with　stars，　and　wrapped　in　many　folds。　And　he　cried　out　to　his　rade　that　he　had　found　the　treasure　that　had　fallen　from　the　sky，　and　when　his　rade　had　e　up，　they　sat　them　down　in　the　snow，　and　loosened　the　folds　of　the　cloak　that　they　might　divide　the　pieces　of　gold。　But，　alas！　no　gold　was　in　it，　nor　silver，　nor，　indeed，　treasure　of　any　kind，　but　only　a　little　child　who　was　asleep。
And　one　of　them　said　to　the　other：　“This　is　a　bitter　ending　to　our　hope，　nor　have　we　any　good　fortune，　for　what　doth　a　child　profit　to　a　man？　Let　us　leave　it　here，　and　go　our　way，　seeing　that　we　are　poor　men，　and　have　children　of　our　own　whose　bread　we　may　not　give　to　another。”
But　his　panion　answered　him：　“Nay，　but　it　were　an　evil　thing　to　leave　the　child　to　perish　here　in　the　snow，　and　though　I　am　as　poor　as　thou　art，　and　have　many　mouths　to　feed，　and　but　little　in　the　pot，　yet　will　I　bring　it　home　with　me，　and　my　wife　shall　have　care　of　it。”
So　very　tenderly　he　took　up　the　child，　and　wrapped　the　cloak　around　it　to　shield　it　from　the　harsh　cold，　and　made　his　way　down　the　hill　to　the　village，　his　rade　marvelling　much　at　his　foolishness　and　softness　of　heart。
And　when　they　came　to　the　village，　his　rade　said　to　him，　“Thou　hast　the　child，　therefore　give　me　the　cloak，　for　it　is　meet　that　we　should　share。”
But　he　answered　him：“Nay，　for　the　cloak　is　neither　mine　nor　thine，　but　the　child’s　only，”　and　he　bade　him　Godspeed，　and　went　to　his　own　house　and　knocked。
And　when　his　wife　opened　the　door　and　saw　that　her　husband　had　returned　safe　to　her，　she　put　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed　him，　and　took　from　his　back　the　bundle　of　faggots，　and　brushed　the　snow　off　his　boots，　and　bade　him　e　in。
But　he　said　to　her，　“I　have　found　something　in　the　forest，　and　I　have　brought　it　to　thee　to　have　care　of　it，”　and　he　stirred　not　from　the　threshold。
“What　is　it？”　she　cried。　“Show　it　to　me，　for　the　house　is　bare，　and　we　have　need　of　many　things。”　And　he　drew　the　cloak　back，　and　showed　her　the　sleeping　child。
“Alack，　goodman！”　she　murmured，　“have　we　not　children　of　our　own，　that　thou　must　needs　bring　a　changeling　to　sit　by　the　hearth？　And　who　knows　if　it　will　not　bring　us　bad　fortune？　And　how　shall　we　tend　it？”　And　she　was　wroth　against　him。
“Nay，　but　it　is　a　Star…Child，”　he　answered；　and　he　told　her　the　strange　manner　of　the　finding　of　it。
But　she　would　not　be　appeased，　but　mocked　at　him，　and　spoke　angrily，　and　cried：　“Our　children　lack　bread，　and　shall　we　feed　the　child　of　another？　Who　is　there　who　careth　for　us？　And　who　giveth　us　food？”
“Nay，　but　God　careth　for　the　sparrows　even，　and　feedeth　them，”he　answered。
“　Do　not　the　sparrows　die　of　hunger　in　the　winter？”　she　asked。“And　is　it　not　winter　now？”
And　the　man　answered　nothing，　but　stirred　not　from　the　threshold。
And　a　bitter　wind　from　the　forest　came　in　through　the　open　door，　and　made　her　tremble，　and　she　shivered，　and　said　to　him：“　Wilt　thou　not　close　the　door？　There　eth　a　bitter　wind　into　the　house，　and　I　am　cold。”
“Into　a　house　where　a　heart　is　hard　eth　there　not　always　a　bitter　wind？”　he　asked。　And　the　woman　answered　him　nothing，　but　crept　closer　to　the　fire。
And　after　a　time　she　turned　round　and　looked　at　him，　and　her　eyes　were　full　of　tears。　And　he　came　in　swiftly，　and　placed　the　child　in　her　arms，　and　she　kissed　it，　and　laid　it　in　a　little　bed　where　the　youngest　of　their　own　children　was　lying。　And　on　the　morrow　the　Woodcutter　took　the　curious　cloak　of　gold　and　placed　it　in　a　great　chest，　and　a　chain　of　amber　that　was　round　the　child’s　neck　his　wife　took　and　set　it　in　the　chest　also。
So　the　Star…Child　was　brought　up　with　the　children　of　the　Woodcutter，　and　sat　at　the　same　board　with　them，　and　was　their　playmate。　And　every　year　he　became　more　beautiful　to　look　at，　so　that　all　those　who　dwelt　in　the　village　were　filled　with　wonder，　for，　while　they　were　swarthy　and　black…haired，　he　was　white　and　delicate　as　sawn　ivory，　and　his　curls　were　like　the　rings　of　the　daffodil。　His　lips，　also，　were　like　the　petals　of　a　red　flower，　and　his　eyes　were　like　violets　by　a　river　of　pure　water，　and　his　body　like　the　narcissus　of　a　field　where　the　mower　es　not。
Yet　did　his　beauty　work　him　evil。　For　he　grew　proud，　and　cruel，　and　selfish。　The　children　of　the　Woodcutter，　and　the　other　children　of　the　village，　he　despised，　saying　that　they　were　of　mean　parentage，　while　he　was　noble，　being　sprang　from　a　Star，　and　he　made　himself　master　over　them，　and　called　them　his　servants。　No　pity　had　he　for　the　poor，　or　for　those　who　were　blind　or　maimed　or　in　any　way　afflicted，　but　would　cast　stones　at　them　and　drive　them　forth　on　to　the　highway，　and　bid　them　beg　their　bread　elsewhere，　so　that　none　save　the　outlaws　came　twice　to　that　village　to　ask　for　alms。　Indeed，　he　was　as　one　enamoured　of　beauty，　and　would　mock　at　the　weakly　and　ill…favoured，　and　make　jest　of　them；and　himself　he　loved，　and　in　summer，　when　the　winds　were　still，　he　would　lie　by　the　well　in　the　priest‘s　orchard　and　look　down　at　the　marvel　of　his　own　face，　and　laugh　for　the　pleasure　he　had　in　his　fairness。
Often　did　the　Woodcutter　and　his　wife　chide　him，　and　say：　“We　did　not　deal　with　thee　as　thou　dealest　with　those　who　are　left　desolate，　and　have　none　to　succour　them。　Wherefore　art　thou　so　cruel　to　all　who　need　pity？”
Often　did　the　old　priest　send　for　him，　and　seek　to　teach　him　the　love　of　living　things，　saying　to　him：　“The　fly　is　thy　brother。　Do　it　no　harm。　The　wild　birds　that　roam　through　the　forest　have　their　freedom。　Snare　them　not　for　thy　pleasure。　God　made