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CHAPTER VII
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HARDLY had Princess White Flame departed with the Earth Fairy when Prince Radiance returned to the garden.

Great was his astonishment1 to find the Princess no longer there. Believing, however, that she had gone but for a moment he sat down beneath the flame-red tree to wait for her return.

Many moments passed, and she did not come, and at last the Prince rose to[97] seek her through the garden, calling softly as he went, “Princess, dear Princess White Flame, where are you?”

But none answered him through the stillness, and again he cried, “White Flame, dear White Flame—it is I, Prince Radiance. Answer—ah answer me!” Yet up and down the blooming spaces of the garden he sought her, and called to her in vain. Presently he came to a wide avenue, and entering it found himself erelong before a great and shining palace. It was the Palace of Burning Coals, and through its open doors and windows he could see the Fire Fairies going to and fro about their appointed tasks. Hoping that here he might learn where to find the Princess, he ascended2 the steps to the bright door, and told his errand to the fairy who guarded it.

[98]“In this palace dwells the Princess,” answered the Fire Fairy. “She is King Red Flame’s daughter.”

“Take me to His Majesty3 then,” commanded Prince Radiance, “for I would have speech with him.”

So he was brought before King Red Flame without delay. In the great hall of the Palace sat the King. It was that time of evening when the Princess was wont4 to bear him company, but she had not yet come, and he was beginning to wonder why she tarried.

When Prince Radiance, guided by the Fire Fairy, was shown into the royal presence the King gave him hearty5 welcome. With transports of joy he learned how the Prince had heard and loved Princess White Flame in her garden, how he had gone to obtain the mystic Veil from the Wise One, and had been[99] successful where countless6 who had come there before him had failed. Great was the King’s surprise, however, when he learned that Prince Radiance had returned to the garden, only to find the Princess gone.

“It is not like my daughter to break a promise,” he said, “especially one of such great moment. Why she has done so, I cannot even guess, but I will send for her at once, and she shall speak for herself.”

A messenger was dispatched immediately to summon the Princess. He was gone for some time, but at length returned to say that nowhere in the palace had he been able to find her.

Then the King sent for Grey Smoke, for none knew so well as she where her young mistress was most likely to be found. Yet though Grey Smoke made[100] a most thorough search in every nook and corner of the palace, though she went to the top of its highest tower, and looked anxiously without in every direction, no where could she catch a glimpse of that pure white flame that was the spirit of the Princess, nor hear the music of her well-loved voice.

When she returned to her master to say that her quest also had been fruitless, the King became very much alarmed.

“Let the palace grounds be searched, once more,” he commanded. “Let no spot be overlooked. Let none rest until my daughter has been found.”

Anxiously the Fire Fairies one and all set forth7 to seek her. Yet more anxiously King Red Flame and Prince Radiance awaited their return.

Suddenly a tumult8 arose outside the[101] palace walls, and immediately after the Earth Fairy’s head-keeper, his eyes still half-blinded with soot9, stumbled into the King’s presence. Close behind him came a crowd of excited Fire Fairies. The head-keeper threw himself at King Red Flame’s feet. “Your Majesty! Oh, Your Majesty!” he moaned. “In some strange manner the wicked Earth Fairy has escaped, while we, her keepers, blinded with soot have been imprisoned10 in her stead. Forgive us, oh forgive us we beg, that this should ever have come to pass.”

“Escaped! The Earth Fairy escaped!” thundered King Red Flame, aghast at such evil tidings.

“Escaped. The Earth Fairy escaped!” shrieked11 all the fairies who were clustered in the palace hall. “Oh! Oh! That this should be!”

[102]Old Grey Smoke bowed her head between her shoulders. “If this be true,” mourned she, “then the Princess is indeed lost.”

Filled with consternation12 the King looked down upon the head-keeper still crouched13 at his feet. “Speak,” he commanded, “and tell me how this has come to pass.”

“Surely Sire, it must have been the work of a spell,” began the head-keeper, “Nothing else could have brought such calamity14 upon us.” Then he went on to tell what had happened. As his tale proceeded the King listened intently, and all the Fire Fairies drew closer that they might not miss a word.

“And by what means have you now escaped?” demanded the King, as the head-keeper paused for breath.

“But a moment since, Your Majesty,[103] one of our number contrived15 to wrench16 away the lock of the cell-door, and immediately I hastened here to warn you that the Earth Fairy is abroad, and that the Princess may be in danger.”

“Alas!” groaned17 King Red Flame, “The Earth Fairy is doubtless already at work, for the Princess is nowhere to be found.”

Hearing this, the head-keeper began to beat himself upon the breast. “The Princess lost! The Princess White Flame lost, and we the cause!”

“Ay!” replied his master sternly, “you, the Earth Fairy’s careless keepers, were the cause. Had you not deserted18 your post, this great misfortune could never have fallen upon us.” He turned to a trusted servant. “Take away this faithless keeper,” he commanded, “and place him and his companions under[104] strict guard, there to remain until my daughter, Princess White Flame, is restored to me.”

So the keeper was taken away, still beating his breast, and crying aloud in vain remorse19.

All about the palace hall stood the Fire Fairies weeping and lamenting20, for the Princess was dearly loved.

Then the King turned to the old nurse. “Come, my good Grey Smoke,” said he, “give me of your wise counsel. How shall I best seek my beloved daughter?”

But before Grey Smoke could answer, Prince Radiance sprang to the King’s side, and laid his hand upon the monarch’s arm.

“Your Majesty,” he implored21, “remember that I, also, love the Princess. I claim the right to seek her, for have I[105] not the magic gifts of the Wise One, and shall not my love guide me to her rescue? Fear not. By the aid of these I will surely bring her back to the Palace of Burning Coals, not as you saw her last, indeed—but in her true form, freed forever from the Earth Fairy’s spell.”

Looking upon the ardent22 and hopeful face of the young Prince, hearing his earnest words, the heart of King Red Flame was deeply stirred, and strangely comforted. He stretched forth his arms, and drew him to his breast.

“Go, my son,” he said, tenderly. “Go, and all good fortune follow you. Bring back my beloved daughter to her home once more. So shall you gladden her father’s heart, and win happiness for yourself and her.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
2 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 majesty MAExL     
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权
参考例句:
  • The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
  • Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下,您必须赶快做出决定!
4 wont peXzFP     
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯
参考例句:
  • He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
  • It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。
5 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
6 countless 7vqz9L     
adj.无数的,多得不计其数的
参考例句:
  • In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
  • I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。
7 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
8 tumult LKrzm     
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹
参考例句:
  • The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
  • His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。
9 soot ehryH     
n.煤烟,烟尘;vt.熏以煤烟
参考例句:
  • Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
  • The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。
10 imprisoned bc7d0bcdd0951055b819cfd008ef0d8d     
下狱,监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁,合并执行。
  • They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。
11 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
12 consternation 8OfzB     
n.大为吃惊,惊骇
参考例句:
  • He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害,感到非常震惊。
  • Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。
13 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
14 calamity nsizM     
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件
参考例句:
  • Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
  • The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。
15 contrived ivBzmO     
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的
参考例句:
  • There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
  • The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。
16 wrench FMvzF     
v.猛拧;挣脱;使扭伤;n.扳手;痛苦,难受
参考例句:
  • He gave a wrench to his ankle when he jumped down.他跳下去的时候扭伤了足踝。
  • It was a wrench to leave the old home.离开这个老家非常痛苦。
17 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
19 remorse lBrzo     
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责
参考例句:
  • She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
  • He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。
20 lamenting 6491a9a531ff875869932a35fccf8e7d     
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢,后悔自己没有毁了那张字条,把钱昧下来! 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
21 implored 0b089ebf3591e554caa381773b194ff1     
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
  • She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。
22 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的
参考例句:
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。


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