"This is the very last day I will go fishing. If I catch nothing I will go and hang myself."
He cast his net, and this time he found a fine fish in it. When he had taken the fish in his hand, it opened its mouth and said to him:
"Take me home to your house; cut me in six pieces and stew2 me with salt and pepper, cinnamon and cloves3, laurel leaves and mint. Give two of the pieces to your wife, two to your mare4, and the other two to the plant in the garden."
The cobbler did exactly what the fish had told him to do, such was the faith he had in its words. And he was duly rewarded, for several months afterward6 his wife presented him with two fine boys, and his mare with two colts, whilst the plant in his garden grew two lances which, instead of flowers, bore two shields, on which were to be seen a silver fish on an azure7 ground.
Everything went on so prosperously that in course of time, one fine day, might be seen two gallant8 youths issuing from the cobbler's house, mounted upon two superb chargers, and bearing slender lances and brilliant shields.
These two brothers were so much alike that they were known as The Double Knight9; and each of them wishing, as was just, to preserve his own individuality, they determined to separate and each seek his own fortune. After embracing
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affectionately, the one took his way toward the West, and the other toward the East.
After travelling for some days the first arrived at Madrid, and found the royal city pouring bitter tears into the pure, sweet waters of her cherished river, the Manzanares. Everybody was weeping when our gallant youth arrived at the Spanish capital; he inquired the cause of this universal lamentation10, and was informed that every year a fiery11 dragon came and carried off a beautiful maiden12, and that this luckless year the lot had fallen upon their princess, the king's good and peerless daughter.
The knight at once inquired where the princess was to be found, and was informed, at about a quarter of a league's distance, where she was expecting the fiery one to appear and carry her off to his den5. Then the knight started off at once to the place indicated, and found the princess bathed in tears, and trembling from head to foot.
"Fly away!" cried the princess, when she saw the Knight of the Fish approach; "fly away, rash one! the monster is coming here, and if he sees you, heaven help you!"
"I shall not go away," responded the gallant youth, "because I have come to save you."
"To save me! Is that possible?"
"I am going to see," responded the valiant13 champion. "Are there any German merchants in the city?"
"Yes," answered the princess in astonishment14; "but why do you ask?"
He speedily returned with an immense mirror which he had purchased from a German dealer16. This he rested against the trunk of a tree, and covered it with the princess's veil, placing her in front of it, and instructing her that when the dragon was near to her she was to pull off the veil and slip behind the glass. So saying, the knight retired17 behind an adjacent wall.
In a little while the fiery dragon appeared, and gradually drew near to the fair one, eying her with all the insolence18 and effrontery19
[145]
possible. When he was quite close, the princess, as she had been instructed by her champion, withdrew the veil, and slipping behind the mirror, disappeared from before the eyes of the fiery dragon, which remained stupefied at finding his amorous20 glances directed at a dragon similar to himself. He made a movement; his resemblance did the same. His eyes sparkled red and brilliant as two rubies21; whilst those of his opponent gleamed like two carbuncles. This increased his fury; he erected22 his scales as a porcupine23 would its quills24, and those of his rival likewise stood up. He opened his tremendous mouth, which would have been without parallel but for that of his opponent, who, far from being intimidated25, opened an identical one. The dragon dashed furiously against his intrepid26 adversary27, giving such an awful blow with his head against the mirror that he was completely stunned28; and as he had broken the glass, and in every piece saw a piece of his own body, he fancied that with one blow he had dashed his rival to atoms.
The knight availed himself of this moment of confusion and stupefaction, and dashing forth29 impetuously from his retreat, with his good lance deprived the dragon of its life, and would have been ready to deprive it of a hundred lives had it possessed30 so many.
The delight and jubilation31 of the Madrid people may be imagined when they beheld32 the Knight of the Fish bearing on his saddle the beautiful princess, quite uninjured and as lively as a cricket, and the dragon, fastened by its neck to his sturdy charger, hanging dead and bloodless behind. It may, also, be readily guessed that after such an achievement they were unable to reward the gallant knight with anything but the princess's fair hand; and that they had wedding festivities, and banquets, and bull fights, and tilting33 matches, and all sorts of good things.
Some days after the marriage the Knight of the Fish said to his wife that he would like to look over the palace, which was so extensive that it covered a league of ground. They inspected the place together, and the task occupied them four days. On the fourth day they ascended34 the roof, and the knight was struck with amazement35 at the prospect36. Never had he seen anything like it,
[146]
nor ever could he have seen its equal, even if he had visited all Spain and the Empire of Morocco as well.
"What castle is that?" inquired the Knight of the Fish, "which I see standing37 in the distance, so solitary38 and sombre."
"That," responded the princess, "is the castle of Albastretch; it is enchanted39, and no one is able to undo40 the enchantment41; and no one of all those who have gone to it has ever been known to return."
The knight listened intently to this, and as he was valiant and adventurous42, on the following morning he mounted his horse, seized his lance, and set out for the castle.
The castle was enough to set one's hair on end with fright to look at it; it was darker than a thunder-cloud, and as silent as death. But the Knight of the Fish knew nothing of fear, save by hearsay43, and never turned his back on foe44 until he had conquered; so he took his cornet and blew it lustily. The sound startled all the slumbering45 echoes of the castle, so that they repeated it by heart, now nearer and now farther, sometimes softer and then louder; but no one stirred in the castle.
"Ah! what a castle!" shouted the knight. "Is there no one to see to a knight who craves46 shelter? Is there no governor, nor squire47 nor even a groom48, to take my horse away?"
"Away! away! away!" clamoured the echoes.
"Why should I go away?" said the Knight of the Fish. "I shall not go back, no matter how much you sigh!"
The knight grasped his spear and struck a loud blow on the door.
Then the portcullis was raised, and in the opening appeared the tip of an enormous nose, located between the sunken eyes and fallen-in mouth of an old woman uglier than sin.
"To enter," replied the knight. "Are you not able to afford me the enjoyment52 of some rest at this hour of the night? Yes or no?"
"No! no! no!" said the echoes.
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Here the knight lifted his vizier, because he was warm; and the old woman, seeing how handsome he was, said to him:
"Come in, handsome youth; you shall be cared for and well looked after."
"After! after!" warned the echoes; but the knight was fear-less and entered, the old woman promising53 that he should fare well.
"Farewell, farewell!" sighed the echoes.
"Go on, old lady," said the knight.
"I am called Lady Berberisca," interposed the old woman, very crossly; "and I am the mistress of Albastretch."
"Won't you be silent, cursed chatterers?" exclaimed Lady Berberisca. "I am your humble55 servant," she continued, making a deep curtsey to the knight, "and if you like I will be your wife, and you shall live with me here as grand as a Pacha."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the echoes.
"Would you have me marry you? You must be a hundred. You are foolish, and mad as well."
"Well, well," said the echoes.
"Amen! amen!" sighed the echoes.
Lady Berberisca's pride was deeply wounded; she gave a hasty glance at the Knight of the Fish, and intimating to him that he should follow her, she showed him over the castle, where he beheld many strange things, but she did not afford him any opportunity of referring to them. The wicked old woman took him through an obscure corridor, where there was a trap-door, into which he fell and disappeared into an abyss, where his voice was added to the echoes, which were the voices of many other gallant and accomplished57 knights58, whom the shameless old Berberisca had punished in the same manner for having despised her venerable charms.
Let us now turn to the other Knight of the Fish, who, after long travels, arrived at Madrid. As he entered the city gates
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the sentinels presented arms, the drums beat the royal march and several of the palace servitors surrounded him, saying that the princess was in constant tears through his prolonged absence, fearing that some misfortune had happened to him in the enchanted castle of Albastretch.
"It is necessary that I should pass for my brother," thought the knight, "to whom, it would appear, some good fortune has occurred. I must be quiet, and we shall see what will come to pass."
They carried him almost in triumph to the palace, where he found it easy to accept all the caresses59 and congratulations bestowed60 upon him by the king and the princess. They were eager to learn about his adventures, and what he had seen at the castle; but to the princess's inquiries61 he answered:
"I am not permitted to say a word about that until after I have been there once more."
"Are you thinking of revisiting that accursed castle? You are the only one who has yet returned from it."
"It is unavoidable; I am obliged to go there."
When they retired to rest, the knight placed his sword in the bed.
"Why do you do that?" inquired the princess.
"Because I have sworn not to sleep in a bed until after I have revisited Albastretch."
And on the following day he mounted his steed and took his way to the enchanted castle, much fearing that some misfortune had happened to his brother there. He arrived at the castle, and quickly saw the old woman's fiery nose appear at the portcullis.
No sooner did she see the knight than she became livid with fright, for she thought he was the dead knight come to life again. She began to invoke62 the object of her devotions, Beelzebub, most devoutly63, and promised him all kinds of gifts if he would take from her view that vision of flesh and blood, drawn64 up from the abode65 of the dead.
"Ancient lady!" cried the recent arrival, "I have come to ask where a knight is who has been here?"
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"Here! here! here!" responded the echoes.
"And what have you done with this knight, so accomplished in all things, and so skilled?"
"Killed! killed!" groaned the echoes.
On hearing this, and seeing the old hag running off, the Knight of the Fish, beside himself with rage, ran after her, and pierced her through with his sword, which remained fast in her body, so that she jumped about at the point of it like a parched66 pea in a frying-pan.
"Where is my brother, ugly old traitress?" demanded the knight.
"I can tell you," responded the witch, "but as I am at death's door, I will not let you know until you have resuscitated67 me."
"But how can I do this, perfidious68 witch?"
"Go to the garden," responded the old woman, "cut some evergreens69, everlastings70, and dragon's blood; with these plants make a decoction in a caldron, and then sprinkle some of it over me."
After saying this the old woman died, without uttering a prayer. The knight did all that the witch instructed him to do, and effectually resuscitated her, but uglier than ever, for her nose remained deadly white, and looked like an elephant's tusk71. Then she was forced to tell the knight where his brother was; and down in the abyss he not only found him, but many other victims of the wicked Berberisca. He sprinkled them all with the decoction in the caldron, and they were all brought to life again, and to each person came an echo which had been his voice; and the first words they all uttered were:
"Accursed witch, merciless Berberisca!"
Then all those gallant knights, and many beautiful ladies whom the fiery old dragon—who was the witch's son—had carried there, gave thanks to the Knight of the Fish; and one of the most beautiful of the ladies gave him her hand; on seeing which, the wicked Berberisca died again with envy and spite.
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收听单词发音
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1
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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cloves
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| n.丁香（热带树木的干花，形似小钉子，用作调味品，尤用作甜食的香料）( clove的名词复数 )；蒜瓣(a garlic ~|a ~of garlic) | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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6
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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7
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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8
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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10
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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11
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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12
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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13
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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14
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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15
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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16
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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17
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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18
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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19
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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20
amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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21
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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22
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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23
porcupine
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| n.豪猪， 箭猪 | |
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24
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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25
intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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26
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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27
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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28
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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30
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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31
jubilation
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| n.欢庆，喜悦 | |
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32
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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33
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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34
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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36
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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37
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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38
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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39
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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40
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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41
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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42
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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43
hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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44
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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45
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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46
craves
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| 渴望，热望( crave的第三人称单数 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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47
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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48
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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49
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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50
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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51
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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52
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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53
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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54
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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55
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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56
amend
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| vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿 | |
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57
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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58
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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59
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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60
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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62
invoke
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| v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求 | |
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63
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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64
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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65
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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66
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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67
resuscitated
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| v.使（某人或某物）恢复知觉，苏醒( resuscitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
perfidious
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| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
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69
evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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70
everlastings
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| 永久，无穷（everlasting的复数形式） | |
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71
tusk
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| n.獠牙，长牙，象牙 | |
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