夜莺与玫瑰-第25部分

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e　heart　of　the　ruby，　and　Death　in　the　heart　of　the　pearl。”And　he　told　them　his　three　dreams。
And　when　the　courtiers　heard　them　they　looked　at　each　other　and　whispered，　saying：　“Surely　he　is　mad；　for　what　is　a　dream　but　a　dream，　and　a　vision　but　a　vision？　They　are　not　real　things　that　one　should　heed　them。　And　what　have　we　to　do　with　the　lives　of　those　who　toil　for　us？　Shall　a　man　not　eat　bread　till　he　has　seen　the　sower，　nor　drink　wine　till　he　has　talked　with　the　vinedresser？”
And　the　Chamberlain　spake　to　the　young　King，　and　said，　“My　lord，　I　pray　thee　set　aside　these　black　thoughts　of　thine，　and　put　on　this　fair　robe，　and　set　this　crown　upon　thy　head。　For　how　shall　the　people　know　that　thou　art　a　king，　if　thou　hast　not　a　king’s　raiment？”
And　the　young　King　looked　at　him。　“Is　it　so，　indeed？”he　questioned。　“Will　they　not　know　me　for　a　king　if　I　have　not　a　king’s　raiment？”
“They　will　not　know　thee，　my　lord，　”　cried　the　Chamber…lain。
“I　had　thought　that　there　had　been　men　who　were　kinglike，”　he　answered，　“but　it　may　be　as　thou　sayest。　And　yet　I　will　not　wear　this　robe，　nor　will　I　be　crowned　with　this　crown，　but　even　as　I　came　to　the　palace　so　will　I　go　forth　from　it。”
And　he　bade　them　all　leave　him，　save　one　page　whom　he　kept　as　his　panion，　a　lad　a　year　younger　than　himself。　Him　he　kept　for　his　service，　and　when　he　had　bathed　himself　in　clear　water，　he　opened　a　great　painted　chest，　and　from　it　he　took　the　leathern　tunic　and　rough　sheepskin　cloak　that　he　had　worn　when　he　had　watched　on　the　hillside　the　shaggy　goats　of　the　goatherd。　These　he　put　on，　and　in　his　hand　he　took　his　rude　shepherd’s　staff。
And　the　little　page　opened　his　big　blue　eyes　in　wonder，　and　said　smiling　to　him，　“My　lord，　I　see　thy　robe　and　thy　sceptre，　but　where　is　thy　crown？”
And　the　young　King　plucked　a　spray　of　wild　briar　that　was　climbing　over　the　balcony，　and　bent　it，　and　made　a　circlet　of　it，　and　set　it　on　his　own　head。
“This　shall　he　my　crown，”　he　answered。
And　thus　attired　he　passed　out　of　his　chamber　into　the　Great　Hall，　where　the　nobles　were　waiting　for　him。
And　the　nobles　made　merry，　and　some　of　them　cried　out　to　him，　“My　lord，　the　people　wait　for　their　king，　and　thou　showest　them　a　beggar，”　and　others　were　wroth　and　said，　“He　brings　shame　upon　our　state，　and　is　unworthy　to　be　our　master。”But　he　answered　them　not　a　word，　but　passed　on，　and　went　down　the　bright　porphyry　staircase，　and　out　through　the　gates　of　bronze，　and　mounted　upon　his　horse，　and　rode　towards　the　cathedral，　the　little　page　running　beside　him。
And　the　people　laughed　and　said，　“It　is　the　King’s　fool　who　is　riding　by，”　and　they　mocked　him。
And　he　drew　rein　and　said，“Nay，　but　I　am　the　King。”　And　he　told　them　his　three　dreams。
And　a　man　came　out　of　the　crowd　and　spake　bitterly　to　him，　and　said，“Sir，　knowest　thou　not　that　out　of　the　luxury　of　the　rich　eth　the　life　of　the　poor？　By　your　pomp　we　are　nurtured，　and　your　vices　give　us　bread。　To　toil　for　a　hard　master　is　bitter，　but　to　have　no　master　to　toil　for　is　more　bitter　still。　Thinkest　thou　that　the　ravens　will　feed　us？And　what　cure　hast　thou　for　these　things？　Wilt　thou　say　to　the　buyer，　‘Thou　shalt　buy　for　so　much，’　and　to　the　seller，　‘Thou　shalt　sell　at　this　price？’　I　trow　not。　Therefore　go　back　to　thy　Palace　and　put　on　thy　purple　and　fine　linen。　What　hast　thou　to　do　with　us，　and　what　we　suffer？”
“Are　not　the　rich　and　the　poor　brothers？”asked　the　young　King。
“Ay，　”　answered　the　man，　“and　the　name　of　the　rich　brother　is　Cain。”
And　the　young　King’s　eyes　filled　with　tears，　and　he　rode　on　through　the　murmurs　of　the　people，　and　the　little　page　grew　afraid　and　left　him。
And　when　he　reached　the　great　portal　of　the　cathedral，　the　soldiers　thrust　their　halberts　out　and　said，　“What　dost　thou　seek　here？None　enters　by　this　door　but　the　King。”
And　his　face　flushed　with　anger，　and　he　said　to　them，　“I　am　the　King，”　and　waved　their　halberts　aside　and　passed　in。
And　when　the　old　Bishop　saw　him　ing　in　his　goatherd’s　dress，　he　rose　up　in　wonder　from　his　throne，　and　went　to　meet　him，　and　said　to　him，　“My　son，　is　this　a　king’s　apparel？　And　with　what　crown　shall　I　crown　thee，　and　what　sceptre　shall　I　place　in　thy　hand？　Surely　this　should　be　to　thee　a　day　of　joy，　and　not　a　day　of　abasement。”
“Shall　Joy　wear　what　Grief　has　fashioned？”　said　the　young　King。　And　he　told　him　his　three　dreams。
And　when　the　Bishop　had　heard　them　he　knit　his　brows，　and　said，　“My　son，　I　am　an　old　man，　and　in　the　winter　of　my　days，　and　I　know　that　many　evil　things　are　done　in　the　wide　world。　The　fierce　robbers　e　down　from　the　mountains，　and　carry　off　the　little　children，　and　sell　them　to　the　Moors。　The　lions　lie　in　wait　for　the　caravans，　and　leap　upon　the　camels。　The　wild　boar　roots　up　the　corn　in　the　valley，　and　the　foxes　gnaw　the　vines　upon　the　hill。　The　pirates　lay　waste　the　sea…coast　and　burn　the　ships　of　the　fishermen，　and　take　their　s　from　them。　In　the　salt…marshes　live　the　lepers；they　have　houses　of　wattled　reeds，　and　none　may　e　nigh　them。　The　beggars　wander　through　the　cities，　and　eat　their　food　with　the　dogs。　Canst　thou　make　these　things　not　to　be？　Wilt　thou　take　the　leper　for　thy　bedfellow，　and　set　the　beggar　at　thy　board？　Shall　the　lion　do　thy　bidding，　and　the　wild　boar　obey　thee？　Is　not　He　who　made　misery　wiser　than　thou　art？　Wherefore　I　praise　thee　not　for　this　that　thou　hast　done，　but　I　bid　thee　ride　back　to　the　Palace　and　make　thy　face　glad，　and　put　on　the　raiment　that　beseemeth　a　king，　and　with　the　crown　of　gold　I　will　crown　thee，　and　the　sceptre　of　pearl　will　I　place　in　thy　hand。　And　as　for　thy　dreams，　think　no　more　of　them。　The　burden　of　this　world　is　too　great　for　one　man　to　bear，　and　the　world’s　sorrow　too　heavy　for　one　heart　to　suffer。　”
“Sayest　thou　that　in　this　house？”said　the　young　King，　and　he　strode　past　the　Bishop，　and　climbed　up　the　steps　of　the　altar，　and　stood　before　the　image　of　Christ。
He　stood　before　the　image　of　Christ，　and　on　his　right　hand　and　on　his　left　were　the　marvellous　vessels　of　gold，　the　chalice　with　the　yellow　wine，　and　the　vial　with　the　holy　oil。　He　knelt　before　the　image　of　Christ，　and　the　great　candles　burned　brightly　by　the　jewelled　shrine，　and　the　smoke　of　the　incense　curled　in　thin　blue　wreaths　through　the　dome。　He　bowed　his　head　in　prayer，　and　the　priests　in　their　stiff　copes　crept　away　from　the　altar。
And　suddenly　a　wild　tumult　came　from　the　street　outside，　and　in　entered　the　nobles　with　drawn　swords　and　nodding　plumes，　and　shields　of　polished　steel。　“Where　is　this　dreamer　of　dreams？”　they　cried。　“Where　is　this　King　who　is　apparelled　like　a　beggar—this　boy　who　brings　shame　upon　our　state？　Surely　we　will　slay　him，　for　he　is　unworthy　to　rule　over　us。　”
And　the　young　King　bowed　his　head　again，　and　prayed，　and　when　he　had　finished　his　prayer　he　rose　up，　and　turning　round　he　looked　at　them　sadly。
And　lo！　through　the　painted　windows　came　the　sunlight　streaming　upon　him，　and　the　sun…beams　wove　round　him　a　tissued　robe　that　was　fairer　than　the　robe　that　had　been　fashioned　for　his　pleasure。　The　dead　staff　blossomed，　and　bare　lilies　that　were　whiter　than　pearls。　The　dry　thorn　blossomed，　and　bare　roses　that　were　redder　than　rubies。　Whiter　than　fine　pearls　were　the　lilies，　and　their　stems　were　of　bright　silver。　Redder　than　male　rubies　were　the　roses，　and　their　leaves　were　of　beaten　gold。
He　stood　there　in　the　raiment　of　a　king，　and　the　gates　of　the　jewelled　shrine　flew　open，　and　from　the　crystal　of　the　many…rayed　monstrance　shone　a　marvellous　and　mystical　light。　He　stood　there　in　a　king’s　raiment，　and　the　Glory　of　God　filled　the　place，　and　the　saints　in　their　carven　niches　seemed　to　move。　In　the　fair　raiment　of　a　king　he　stood　before　them，　and　the　organ　pealed　out　its　music，　and　the　trumpeters　blew　upon　their　trumpets，　and　the　singing　boys　sang。
And　the　people　fell　upon　their　knees　in　awe，　and　the　nobles　sheathed　their　swords　and　did　homage，　and　the　Bishop’s　face　grew　pale，　and　his　hands　trembled。　“A　greater　than　I　hath　crowned　thee，”　he　cried，　and　he　knelt　before　him。
And　the　young　King　came　down　from　the　high　altar，　and　passed　home