夜莺与玫瑰-第29部分

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　he　was　filled　with　joy，　and　seized　it，　and　said　to　the　Hare，　“The　service　that　I　did　to　thee　thou　hast　rendered　back　again　many　times　over，　and　the　kindness　that　I　showed　thee　thou　hast　repaid　a　hundred…fold。　”
“Nay，”　answered　the　Hare，　“but　as　thou　dealt　with　me，　so　I　did　deal　with　thee，　”　and　it　ran　away　swiftly，　and　the　Star…Child　went　towards　the　city。
Now　at　the　gate　of　the　city　there　was　seated　one　who　was　a　leper。　Over　his　face　hung　a　cowl　of　grey　linen，　and　through　the　eyelets　his　eyes　gleamed　like　red　coals。　And　when　he　saw　the　Star…Child　ing，　he　struck　upon　a　wooden　bowl，　and　clattered　his　bell，　and　called　out　to　him，　and　said，　“Give　me　a　piece　of　money，　or　I　must　die　of　hunger。　For　they　have　thrust　me　out　of　the　city，　and　there　is　no　one　who　has　pity　on　me。　”
“Alas！”　cried　the　Star…Child，　“I　have　but　one　piece　of　money　in　my　wallet，　and　if　I　bring　it　not　to　my　master　he　will　beat　me，　for　I　am　his　slave。　”
But　the　leper　entreated　him，　and　prayed　of　him，　till　the　Star…Child　had　pity，　and　gave　him　the　piece　of　white　gold。
And　when　he　came　to　the　Magician’s　house，　the　Magician　opened　to　him，　and　brought　him　in，　and　said　to　him，　“Hast　thou　the　piece　of　white　gold？”　And　the　Star…Child　answered，　“I　have　it　not。”　So　the　Magician　fell　upon　him，　and　beat　him，　and　set　before　him　an　empty　trencher，　and　said，　“Eat，　”　and　an　empty　cup，　and　said，　“Drink，　”　and　flung　him　again　into　the　dungeon。
And　on　the　morrow　the　Magician　came　to　him，　and　said，　“If　to…day　thou　bringest　me　not　the　piece　of　yellow　gold，　I　will　surely　keep　thee　as　my　slave，　and　give　thee　three　hundred　stripes。　”
So　the　Star…Child　went　to　the　wood，　and　all　day　long　he　searched　for　the　piece　of　yellow　gold，　but　nowhere　could　he　find　it。　And　at　sunset　he　sat　him　down　and　began　to　weep，　and　as　he　was　weeping　there　came　to　him　the　little　Hare　that　he　had　rescued　from　the　trap，　and　the　Hare　said　to　him，　“　Why　art　thou　weeping？　And　what　dost　thou　seek　in　the　wood？”
And　the　Star…Child　answered，　“I　am　seeking　for　a　piece　of　yellow　gold　that　is　hidden　here，　and　if　I　find　it　not　my　master　will　beat　me，　and　keep　me　as　a　slave。　”
“Follow　me，　”　cried　the　Hare，　and　it　ran　through　the　wood　till　it　came　to　a　pool　of　water。　And　at　the　bottom　of　the　pool　the　piece　of　yellow　gold　was　lying。
“How　shall　I　thank　thee？”　said　the　Star…Child，　“for　lo！　this　is　the　second　time　that　you　have　succoured　me。”
“Nay，　but　thou　hadst　pity　on　me　first，　”　said　the　Hare，　and　it　ran　away　swiftly。
And　the　Star…Child　took　the　piece　of　yellow　gold，　and　put　it　in　his　wallet，　and　hurried　to　the　city。　But　the　leper　saw　him　ing，　and　ran　to　meet　him，　and　knelt　down　and　cried，　“Give　me　a　piece　of　money　or　I　shall　die　of　hunger。”
And　the　Star…Child　said　to　him，　“I　have　in　my　wallet　but　one　piece　of　yellow　gold，　and　if　I　bring　it　not　to　my　master　he　will　beat　me　and　keep　me　as　his　slave。　”
But　the　leper　entreated　him　sore，　so　that　the　Star…Child　had　pity　on　him，　and　gave　him　the　piece　of　yellow　gold。
And　when　he　came　to　the　Magician’s　house，　the　Magician　opened　to　him，　and　brought　him　in，　and　said　to　him，　“Hast　thou　the　piece　of　yellow　gold？”　And　the　Star…Child　said　to　him，　“I　have　it　not。”　So　the　Magician　fell　upon　him，　and　beat　him，　and　loaded　him　with　chains，　and　cast　him　again　into　the　dungeon。
And　on　the　morrow　the　Magician　came　to　him，　and　said，　“If　to…day　thou　bringest　me　the　piece　of　red　gold　I　will　set　thee　free，　but　if　thou　bringest　it　not　I　will　surely　slay　thee。　”
So　the　Star…Child　went　to　the　wood，　and　all　day　long　he　searched　for　the　piece　of　red　gold，　but　nowhere　could　he　find　it。　And　at　evening　he　sat　him　down　and　wept，　and　as　he　was　weeping　there　came　to　him　the　little　Hare。
And　the　Hare　said　to　him，　“The　piece　of　red　gold　that　thou　seekest　is　in　the　cavern　that　is　behind　thee。　Therefore　weep　no　more　but　be　glad。”
“How　shall　I　reward　thee？”　cried　the　Star…Child，　“for　lo！　this　is　the　third　time　thou　hast　succoured　me。　”
“Nay，　but　thou　hadst　pity　on　me　first，　”　said　the　Hare，　and　it　ran　away　swiftly。
And　the　Star…Child　entered　the　cavern，　and　in　its　farthest　corner　he　found　the　piece　of　red　gold。　So　he　put　it　in　his　wallet，　and　hurried　to　the　city。　And　the　leper　seeing　him　ing，　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　road，　and　cried　out，　and　said　to　him，　“Give　me　the　piece　of　red　money，　or　I　must　die，　”　and　the　Star…Child　had　pity　on　him　again，　and　gave　him　the　piece　of　red　gold，　saying，　“Thy　need　is　greater　than　mine。”　Yet　was　his　heart　heavy，　for　he　knew　what　evil　fate　awaited　him。
But　lo！　as　he　passed　through　the　gate　of　the　city，　the　guards　bowed　down　and　made　obeisance　to　him，　saying，　“How　beautiful　is　our　lord！”　and　a　crowd　of　citizens　followed　him，　and　cried　out，　“Surely　there　is　none　so　beautiful　in　the　whole　world！”　so　that　the　Star…Child　wept，　and　said　to　himself，　“They　are　mocking　me，　and　making　light　of　my　misery。　”　And　so　large　was　the　concourse　of　the　people，　that　he　lost　the　threads　of　his　way，　and　found　himself　at　last　in　a　great　square，　in　which　there　was　a　palace　of　a　King。
And　the　gate　of　the　palace　opened，　and　the　priests　and　the　high　officers　of　the　city　ran　forth　to　meet　him，　and　they　abased　themselves　before　him，　and　said，　“Thou　art　our　lord　for　whom　we　have　been　waiting，　and　the　son　of　our　King。　”
And　the　Star…Child　answered　them　and　said，　“I　am　no　king’s　son，　but　the　child　of　a　poor　beggar…woman。　And　how　say　ye　that　I　am　beautiful，　for　I　know　that　I　am　evil　to　look　at？”
Then　he，　whose　armour　was　inlaid　with　gilt　flowers，　and　on　whose　helmet　crouched　a　lion　that　had　wings，　held　up　a　shield，　and　cried，　“How　saith　my　lord　that　he　is　not　beautiful？”
And　the　Star…Child　looked，　and　lo！　his　face　was　even　as　it　had　been，　and　his　eliness　had　e　back　to　him，　and　he　saw　that　in　his　eyes　which　he　had　not　seen　there　before。
And　the　priests　and　the　high　officers　knelt　down　and　said　to　him，　“It　was　prophesied　of　old　that　on　this　day　should　e　he　who　was　to　rule　over　us。　Therefore，　let　our　lord　take　this　crown　and　this　sceptre，　and　be　in　his　justice　and　mercy　our　King　over　us。”
But　he　said　to　them，　“I　am　not　worthy，　for　I　have　denied　the　mother　who　bare　me，　nor　may　I　rest　till　I　have　found　her，　and　known　her　forgiveness。　Therefore，　let　me　go，　for　I　must　wander　again　over　the　world，　and　may　not　tarry　here，　though　ye　bring　me　the　crown　and　the　sceptre。”　And　as　he　spake　he　turned　his　face　from　them　towards　the　street　that　led　to　the　gate　of　the　city，　and　lo！　amongst　the　crowd　that　pressed　round　the　soldiers，　he　saw　the　beggar…woman　who　was　his　mother，　and　at　her　side　stood　the　leper，　who　had　sat　by　the　road。
And　a　cry　of　joy　broke　from　his　lips，　and　he　ran　over，　and　kneeling　down　he　kissed　the　wounds　on　his　mother’s　feet，　and　wet　them　with　his　tears。　He　bowed　his　head　in　the　dust，　and　sobbing，　as　one　whose　heart　might　break，　he　said　to　her：　“Mother，　I　denied　thee　in　the　hour　of　my　pride。　Accept　me　in　the　hour　of　my　humility。　Mother，　I　gave　thee　hatred。　Do　thou　give　me　love。　Mother，　I　rejected　thee。　Receive　thy　child　now。　”But　the　beggar…woman　answered　him　not　a　word。
And　he　reached　out　his　hands，　and　clasped　the　white　feet　of　the　leper，　and　said　to　him：　“Thrice　did　I　give　thee　of　my　mercy。　Bid　my　mother　speak　to　me　once。　”　But　the　leper　answered　him　not　a　word。
And　he　sobbed　again　and　said：　“Mother，　my　suffering　is　greater　than　I　can　bear。　Give　me　thy　forgiveness，　and　let　me　go　back　to　the　forest。　”　And　the　beggar…woman　put　her　hand　on　his　head，　and　said　to　him，　“Rise，　”　and　the　leper　put　his　hand　on　his　head，　and　said　to　him，　“Rise，　”　also。
And　he　rose　up　from　his　feet，　and　looked　at　them，　and　lo！　they　were　a　King　and　a　Queen。
And　the　Queen　said　to　him，　“This　is　thy　father　whom　thou　hast　succoured。”
And　the　King　said，　“This　is　thy　mother　whose　feet　thou　hast　washed　with　thy　tears。　”　And　they　fell　on　his　neck　and　kissed　him，　and　brought　him　into　the　palace　and　clothed　him　in　fair　raiment，　and　set　the　crown　upon　his　head，　and　the　sceptre　in　his　hand，　and　over　the　city　that　stood　by　the　river　he　ruled，　and　was　its　lord。　Muc