TYLTYL had enjoyed himself thoroughly1 in the Kingdom of the Future. He had seen many wonderful things and thousands of little playfellows and then, without taking the least pains or trouble, had found the Blue Bird in his arms in the most miraculous2 way. He had never pictured anything more beautiful, more blue or brilliant; and he still felt it fluttering against his heart and kept hugging his arms to his breast as though the Blue Bird were there. Alas3, it had vanished like a dream!
He was thinking sadly of this latest disappointment as he walked hand-in-hand with Light. They were back in the Temple and were going to the vaults4 where the Animals and Things had been shut up. What a sight met their eyes! The wretches5 had eaten and drunk such a lot that they were lying on the floor quite tipsy! Tyl? himself had lost all his dignity. He had rolled under the table and was snoring like a porpoise6. His instinct remained; and the sound of the door made him prick7 up his ears. He opened one eye, but his sight was troubled by all that he had had to drink and he did not know his little master when he saw him. He dragged himself to his feet with a great effort, turned round several times and then dropped on the floor again with a grunt8 of satisfaction.
Bread and the others were as bad; and the only exception was the Cat, who was sitting up prettily9 on a marble and gold bench and seemed in full possession of her senses. She sprang nimbly to the ground and stepped up to Tyltyl with a smile:
"I have been longing10 to see you," she said, "for I have been very unhappy among all these vulgar people. They first drank all the wine and then started shouting and singing and dancing, quarrelling and fighting and making such a noise that I was very glad when, at last, they fell into a tipsy sleep."
The children praised her warmly for her good behaviour. As a matter of fact, there was no great merit in this, for she could not stand anything stronger than milk; but we are seldom rewarded when by rights we ought to be and sometimes are when we have not deserved it.
After fondly kissing the children, Tylette asked a favour of Light: "I have had such a wretched time," she whined11. "Let me go out for a little while; it will do me good to be alone."
Light gave her consent without suspecting anything; and the Cat at once draped her cloak round her, put her hat straight, pulled up her soft grey boots over her knees, opened the door and ran and bounded out into the forest. we shall know, a little later, where treacherous12 Tylette was going so gaily13 and what was the horrid14 plot which she was mysteriously concocting15.
As on the other days, the Children had their dinner with Light in a large room all encrusted with diamonds. The servants bustled16 around them smiling and brought delicious dishes and cakes.
After dinner, our little friends began to yawn. They felt sleepy very early, after all their adventures; and, Light – ever kind and thoughtful made them live as they were accustomed to on earth. So as not to injure their health by altering their habits, she had set up their little beds in a part of the temple where the darkness would seem like night to them.
They went through any number of rooms to reach their bedroom. They had first to pass all the lights known to Man and then those which Man did not yet know.
There were great sumptuous17 apartments in splendid marble, lit up by rays so white and strong that the children were quite dazzled.
"That is the Light of the Rich," said Light to Tyltyl. "You see how dangerous it is. People run the risk of going blind when they live too much in its rays, which leave no room for soft and kindly18 shade."
And she hurried them on so that they might rest their eyes in the gentle Light of the Poor. Here, the Children suddenly felt as if they were in their parents' cottage, where everything was so humble19 and peaceful. The faint light was very pure and clear, but always flickering20 and ready to go out at the least breath.
Next they came to the beautiful Light of the Poets, which they liked immensely, for it had all the colours of the rainbow; and, when you passed through it, you saw lovely pictures, lovely flowers and lovely toys which you were unable to take hold of. Laughing merrily, the children ran after birds arid21 butterflies, but everything faded away as soon as it was touched.
"Well, I never!" said Tyltyl, as he came panting back to Light. "This beats everything!… I can't understand it!"
"You will understand later," she replied, "and, if you understand it properly, you will be among the very few human beings who know the Blue Bird when they see him."
After leaving the region of the Poets, our friends reached the Light of the Learned, which lies on the borders of the known and the unknown lights:
"Let's get on," said Tyltyl. "This is boring."
To tell the truth, he was a little bit frightened, for they were in a long row of cold and forbidding arches, which were streaked22 at every moment by dazzling lightning-flashes; and, at each flash, you saw out-of-the-way things that had no name as yet.
After these arches, they came to the Lights Unknown to Man; and Tyltyl, in spite of the sleep that pressed upon his eyelids23, could not help admiring the hall with its violet columns and the gallery with its red rays. And the violet of the columns was such a dark violet and the red of the rays such a pale red that it was hardly possible to see either of them.
At last, they arrived at the room of smooth, unflecked Black Light, which men call Darkness because their eyes are not yet able to make it out. And here the Children fell asleep without delay on two soft beds of clouds.
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1
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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2
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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porpoise
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| n.鼠海豚 | |
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prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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9
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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15
concocting
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的现在分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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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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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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22
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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