But his powers were by no means exhausted7. He was a mighty8 king--the mightiest9 of all in the Enchanted10 Island, he believed--and ways to destroy his enemies were numerous.
"Send for a hundred of my Gray Men!" he suddenly cried; and a courtier ran at once to summon them. The Gray Men would obey his orders without question, he well knew. They were silent, stubborn, quick, and faithful to their king. Terribus had but to command and his will would be obeyed.
They entered the room so quietly that Nerle never knew they were there until he turned and found the hundred gray ones standing11 close together in the center of the hall. Then Prince Marvel came to Nerle's side and whispered something in his ear.
"Will you obey my orders?" they heard the king ask. And the Gray Men, with their eyes fixed12 upon their master, nodded all their hundred heads and put their hands upon the dangerous three-tined forks that were stuck in every one of the hundred belts.
Prince Marvel handed one end of a coiled rope to Nerle, and then they both sprang forward and ran around the spot where the hundred Gray Men stood huddled13 together. Then they were pulled closer together than before--closer, and still closer--for the prince and Nerle had surrounded them with the rope and were tying the two ends together in a tight knot. The rope cut into the waists of those on the outside, and they pressed inward against their fellows until there was scarcely space to stick a knife-blade between any two of them. When the prince had tied the rope firmly King Terribus, who had been looking on amazed, saw that his hundred Gray Men were fastened together like a bundle of kindling-wood, and were unable to stir hand or foot.
And, while he still gazed open-mouthed at the strange sight, Prince Marvel tilted14 the bundle of men up on its edge and rolled it out of the door. It went rolling swiftly through the courtyard and bounded down the castle steps, where the rope broke and the men fell sprawling15 in all directions on the marble walk.
King Terribus sighed, for such treatment of his Gray Men, whom he dearly loved, made him very unhappy.
But more than ever was he resolved to kill these impudent strangers, who, in the very heart of his kingdom where thousands bowed to his will, dared openly defy his power. So, after a moment's thought, Terribus beckoned16 to a dwarf17 who, robed in gay and glittering apparel, stood near his throne.
The little man bowed and hastened away, to return presently with twenty curiously21 crooked22 dwarfs23, each armed with a sling19 and a quiver full of slender, sharp-pointed darts24.
Now Nerle, when he beheld26 these terrible Dart Slingers, of whom he had heard many tales in his boyhood, began to shiver and shake with fright, so that his teeth rattled27 one upon another. And he reflected: "Soon shall I be content, for these darts will doubtless pierce every part of my body."
The dwarfs formed a line at one side of the gloomy throne-room, and Prince Marvel, who had been earnestly regarding them, caught Nerle by the arm and led him to the opposite wall.
"Stand close behind me and you will be safe," he whispered to his esquire.
Then each dwarf fixed a dart in his sling, and at a word from their chief they all drew back their arms and launched a shower of the sharp missiles at the strangers.
Swift and true they sped, each dart intended to pierce the body of the youthful knight28 who stood so calm before them. Prince Marvel had raised his right arm, and in his hand was a small leather sack, with a wide mouth. As the darts flew near him a strange thing happened: they each and all swerved29 from their true course and fell rattling30 into the leathern sack, to the wonder of the royal slingers and the dismay of King Terribus himself.
So again the dwarfs cast their darts, and again the leathern sack caught them every one. Another flight followed, and yet another, till the magic sack was packed full of the darts and not a dwarf had one remaining in his quiver.
Amid the awed32 silence of the beholders of this feat33 the merry laughter of Prince Marvel rang loud and clear; for the sight of the puzzled and terrified faces about him was very comical. Plucking a dart from the sack he raised his arm and cried:
"Now it is my turn. You shall have back your darts!"
"Hold!" shouted the king, in great fear. "Do not, I beg you, slay my faithful servants." And with a wave of his hand he dismissed the dwarfs, who were glad to rush from the room and escape.
Nerle wiped the tears from his eyes, for he was sorely disappointed at having again escaped all pain and discomfort34; but Prince Marvel seated himself quietly upon a stool and looked at the scowling35 face of King Terribus with real amusement.
The monarch36 of Spor had never before been so foiled and scorned by any living creature. Defeated and humbled37 before his own people, he bowed his crimson head on his hands and sullenly38 regarded his foe39 with his top eye. Then it was that the idea came to him that no ordinary mortal could have thwarted40 him so easily, and he began to fear he was dealing--perhaps unawares--with some great magician or sorcerer. That a fairy should have assumed a mortal form he never once considered, for such a thing was until then unheard of in the Enchanted Island of Yew41. But with the knowledge that he had met his master, whoever he might prove to be, and that further attempts upon the stranger's life might lead to his own undoing42, King Terribus decided43 to adopt a new line of conduct, hoping to accomplish by stratagem44 what he could not do by force. To be sure, there remained his regiment45 of Giants, the pride of his kingdom; but Terribus dreaded46 to meet with another defeat; and he was not at all sure, after what had happened, that the giants would succeed in conquering or destroying the strangers.
"After all," he thought, "my only object in killing47 them was to prevent their carrying news of my monstrous48 appearance to the outside world; so if I can but manage to keep them forever in my kingdom it will answer my purpose equally well."
As the result of this thought he presently raised his head and spoke49 to Prince Marvel in a quiet and even cheerful voice.
"Enough of these rude and boisterous50 games," said he, with a smile that showed his white teeth in a repulsive51 manner. "They may have seemed to my people an ill welcome to my good friend, Prince Marvel; yet they were only designed to show the powers of the mighty magician who has become my guest. Nay52, do not deny it, Prince; from the first I guessed your secret, and to prove myself right I called my servants to oppose you, being sure they could not do you an injury. But no more of such fooling,--and pray forgive my merry game at your expense. Henceforth we shall be friends, and you are heartily53 welcome to the best my kingdom affords."
With this speech Terribus stepped down from his throne and approached Prince Marvel with outstretched hand. The prince was not at all deceived, but he was pleased to see how cunningly the king excused his attempts to kill him. So he laughed and touched the hand Terribus extended, for this fairy prince seemed to have no anger against any mortal who ventured to oppose him.
The strangers were now conducted, with every mark of respect, to a beautiful suite54 of apartments in the castle, wherein were soft beds with velvet55 spreads, marble baths with perfumed waters, and a variety of silken and brocaded costumes from which they might select a change of raiment.
No sooner had they bathed and adorned56 themselves fittingly than they were summoned to the king's banquet hall, being escorted thither57 by twelve young maidens58 bearing torches with lavender-colored flames.
The night had fallen upon the mountains outside, but the great banquet hall was brilliant with the glow of a thousand candles, and seated at the head of the long table was King Terribus.
Yet here, as in the throne-room, the ruler of Spor was dressed in simplest garments, and his seat was a rough block of stone. All about him were lords and ladies in gorgeous array; the walls were hung with rare embroideries59; the table was weighted with gold platters and richly carved goblets60 filled with sweet nectars. But the king himself, with his horrid61, ugly head, was like a great blot62 on a fair parchment, and even Prince Marvel could not repress a shudder63 as he gazed upon him.
Terribus placed his guest upon his right hand and loaded him with honors. Nerle stood behind the prince's chair and served him faithfully, as an esquire should. But the other servants treated Nerle with much deference64, noting in him an air of breeding that marked him the unusual servant of an unusual master.
Indeed, most curious were the looks cast on these marvelous men who had calmly walked into the castle of mighty Terribus and successfully defied his anger; for in spite of his youthful appearance and smiling face every attendant at the banquet feared Prince Marvel even more than they feared their own fierce king.
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1
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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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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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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7
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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8
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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10
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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11
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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12
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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13
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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14
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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16
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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18
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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20
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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21
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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22
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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23
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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24
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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25
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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26
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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27
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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29
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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31
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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32
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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34
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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35
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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36
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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37
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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38
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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39
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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40
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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41
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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42
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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43
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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44
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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45
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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46
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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47
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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48
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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51
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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52
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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53
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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54
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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55
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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56
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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58
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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59
embroideries
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| 刺绣( embroidery的名词复数 )； 刺绣品； 刺绣法 | |
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60
goblets
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| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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61
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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62
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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63
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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64
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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