“A king who is merciful to those who hurt him is a good and wise king,” said White Tail, as he came forward to pay homage5.
“Wisdom is greater than courage,” said Brindley, “but greater than either is mercy.”
“I believed pink noses were the signs of royalty6 in rabbits,” remarked Pink Nose, when his turn came next, “but pink eyes are more to be desired, and I shall teach my children the truth of this.”
“Surely,” said Rolly Polly, his eyes twinkling, “this is a great day for the rabbits of the North Woods, and anything I can say will never be remembered. But I hope my next dinner will disagree 93with me if I ever speak an ill word of our king.”
Brindley was smiling and chuckling7 too, when he walked up. The sudden happy turn of affairs was much to his liking8. “O Bumper, our white king!” he exclaimed. “The winter’s snow is not whiter than your coat, and your soul is whiter than either. May neither ever fade or grow tarnished9 in the use.”
Crooked Ears, who had come to the assembly with a grouch10, which he intended to vent11 upon Bumper, stood hesitating a moment before he bowed and took the king’s paw. Then he looked up and smiled. “Ears, O Bumper, are given to hear, and whether they are crooked or straight they should gather in the truth and not the lies. Mine have heard the truth to-day, and may they grow more crooked if they ever listen to the untruth again.”
Now, when the leaders had finished swearing their allegiance to Bumper, the others crowded forward, and for half an hour poor Bumper had a hard time of it. They wanted to shake his paw and feel of his soft fur, and gaze into his pink eyes, until it seemed as if their curiosity would never be satisfied. And Bumper was in more danger of being spoilt by flattery than ever before in his life! From a secret corner 94Fuzzy Wuzz watched him through her mild brown eyes, and at times she frowned. If her eyes could have spoken they would have said something like this: “Can he stand all that flattery and admiration12? I’m afraid for him.”
But Bumper did stand it, for when the visitors began to leave, one by one, and the burrow13 became emptied once more, he drew a heavy sigh of relief. He turned to Fuzzy Wuzz, who was still watching him, and said:
“It’s been an exciting day, Fuzzy Wuzz, hasn’t it? And I for one am glad it’s over, but gladder because all’s ended well. There’ll be no more trouble in the woods among our own people.”
Not a word about the remarkable14 tribute to his looks and wisdom, or anything about the high position they had placed him in. He was still plain Bumper when with his own family.
“O Bumper,” exclaimed Fuzzy Wuzz, “I was so afraid—afraid—”
“Afraid! Afraid of what, Fuzzy Wuzz?” he asked in surprise when she stopped.
Instead of answering directly, she laughed, and said:
“Oh, nothing! I meant I’m so happy!”
“Then I am too. Whatever makes you happy I like.”
95But while he smiled into her meek15 brown eyes, he happened to catch a glimpse of Spotted16 Tail crouching17 in a corner, looking so miserable18 and forlorn that his heart smote19 him.
He left Fuzzy Wuzz, and hopped20 directly over to him. “Spotted Tail,” he said, “will you be my friend?”
A look of surprise and wonder came into the sad eyes of the other, and for a moment he could not understand just what Bumper was asking.
“I don’t understand,” he stammered21 in confusion. “Oh, you mean will I promise never to betray you again? Yes, yes, I promise that, Bumper—promise never to speak ill of you again.”
“I didn’t mean that,” replied Bumper. “I asked if you would be my friend. You know what friendship means?—trust, faith, loyalty22, and all that?”
“Yes, I trust you,” stammered Spotted Tail. “How could it be otherwise after what you’ve done for me? And faith, yes, I have faith in you. I believe you’re a just and upright leader. As for loyalty, Bumper, you can ask for my life, and I’ll give it to you.”
Bumper smiled happily at these declarations of friendship, but still Spotted Tail hadn’t quite understood his meaning. How to make him believe 96that he forgave everything, and wanted to be his friend, troubled him.
“Come with me, Spotted Tail,” he said finally, extending a paw. “I want every one to see that we have forgiven and forgotten, and that we’re friends now.”
Then, to Spotted Tail’s surprise, Bumper led him up to Fuzzy Wuzz, and said: “Spotted Tail and I have made up all of our differences, and are going to be fast friends hereafter. Congratulate both of us, Fuzzy Wuzz.”
Fuzzy Wuzz was as wise and quick as she was good. She understood immediately, and, extending a paw, grasped one of Spotted Tail’s. “Let the past be as if it never were, Spotted Tail,” she said sweetly. “Bumper’s friends are my friends, and that makes us friends, doesn’t it?”
Spotted Tail nodded in embarrassment23. He was so stupefied with surprise that he hardly knew what to say. Then to Goggle24 Eyes and the others, Bumper took him in turn, and gave them to understand that anything they said against Spotted Tail they would be saying against him.
The Old Blind Rabbit was the last one they came to. Bumper repeated his words, but remained a little uncertain just how the stern old leader would accept the change. Old Blind Rabbit 97had a stern sense of justice, and this sudden forgiveness of Spotted Tail might not suit him. But finally a kindly25 smile spread over his face, and he laid a paw on the breast of each.
“I have lived to see justice interpreted, O Bumper,” he said. “There will be joy in all the North Woods now that we have a king who is as merciful as he is wise and just. May Spotted Tail learn wisdom from you. The past is forgotten. We live now only for the future.”
And when they had retired26 to a corner from the rest, Spotted Tail found his voice. It was low and husky.
“O Bumper, you have heaped coals of fire on my head!” he exclaimed. “You have made me ashamed of myself. I wronged you because I was envious27 and jealous of your power. I told Shrike to spread the news that you were a king come to make all the rabbits in the North Woods your slaves. Now they’re all your friends. But you have one slave. I, Bumper, am your slave. Ask anything of me, and I will do it.”
“Then I ask one thing, Spotted Tail,” was the reply, “and you’ve promised to grant it.”
“Yes, I have promised, not knowing what it is.”
“It is very simple, Spotted Tail. Never let me hear you call yourself my slave again. Instead, 98speak of me as your friend, and if you wish to gain my favors call yourself my friend. Is that too much to promise?”
“It’s not enough, O Bumper. But as you say. I’m your friend—now and forevermore. You believe me?”
“Yes, I know you speak the truth.”
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收听单词发音
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1
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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2
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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7
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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8
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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9
tarnished
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| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
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10
grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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11
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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12
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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13
burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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14
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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18
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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19
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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20
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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21
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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24
goggle
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| n.瞪眼，转动眼珠，护目镜；v.瞪眼看，转眼珠 | |
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25
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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26
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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