《石榴之屋》第16章

undoubtedly　the　dancing　of　the　little　dwarf。 when　he　stumbled　into
the　arena；　waddling　on　his　crooked　legs　and　wagging　his　huge
misshapen　head　from　side　to　side；　the　children　went　off　into　a　loud
shout　of　delight；　and　the　infanta　herself　laughed　so　much　that　the
camerera　was　obliged　to　remind　her　that　although　there　were　many
precedents　in　spain　for　a　kings　daughter　weeping　before　her
equals；　there　were　none　for　a　princess　of　the　blood　royal　making　so
merry　before　those　who　were　her　inferiors　in　birth。 the　dwarf；
however；　was　really　quite　irresistible；　and　even　at　the　spanish
court；　always　noted　for　its　cultivated　passion　for　the　horrible；　so
fantastic　a　little　monster　had　never　been　seen。 it　was　his　first
appearance；　too。 he　had　been　discovered　only　the　day　before；
running　wild　through　the　forest；　by　two　of　the　nobles　who　happened
to　have　been　hunting　in　a　remote　part　of　the　great　cork…wood　that
surrounded　the　town；　and　had　been　carried　off　by　them　to　the　palace
as　a　surprise　for　the　infanta；　his　father；　who　was　a　poor　charcoal…
burner；　being　but　too　well　pleased　to　get　rid　of　so　ugly　and
useless　a　child。 perhaps　the　most　amusing　thing　about　him　was　his
plete　unconsciousness　of　his　own　grotesque　appearance。 indeed
he　seemed　quite　happy　and　full　of　the　highest　spirits。 when　the
children　laughed；　he　laughed　as　freely　and　as　joyously　as　any　of
them；　and　at　the　close　of　each　dance　he　made　them　each　the　funniest
of　bows；　smiling　and　nodding　at　them　just　as　if　he　was　really　one
of　themselves；　and　not　a　little　misshapen　thing　that　nature；　in
some　humourous　mood；　had　fashioned　for　others　to　mock　at。 as　for
the　infanta；　she　absolutely　fascinated　him。 he　could　not　keep　his
eyes　off　her；　and　seemed　to　dance　for　her　alone；　and　when　at　the
close　of　the　performance；　remembering　how　she　had　seen　the　great
ladies　of　the　court　throw　bouquets　to　caffarelli；　the　famous
italian　treble；　whom　the　pope　had　sent　from　his　own　chapel　to
madrid　that　he　might　cure　the　kings　melancholy　by　the　sweetness　of
his　voice；　she　took　out　of　her　hair　the　beautiful　white　rose；　and
partly　for　a　jest　and　partly　to　tease　the　camerera；　threw　it　to　him
across　the　arena　with　her　sweetest　smile；　he　took　the　whole　matter
quite　seriously；　and　pressing　the　flower　to　his　rough　coarse　lips
he　put　his　hand　upon　his　heart；　and　sank　on　one　knee　before　her；
grinning　from　ear　to　ear；　and　with　his　little　bright　eyes　sparkling
with　pleasure。
this　so　upset　the　gravity　of　the　infanta　that　she　kept　on　laughing
long　after　the　little　dwarf　had　ran　out　of　the　arena；　and　expressed
a　desire　to　her　uncle　that　the　dance　should　be　immediately
repeated。 the　camerera；　however；　on　the　plea　that　the　sun　was　too
hot；　decided　that　it　would　be　better　that　her　highness　should
return　without　delay　to　the　palace；　where　a　wonderful　feast　had
been　already　prepared　for　her；　including　a　real　birthday　cake　with
her　own　initials　worked　all　over　it　in　painted　sugar　and　a　lovely
silver　flag　waving　from　the　top。 the　infanta　accordingly　rose　up
with　much　dignity；　and　having　given　orders　that　the　little　dwarf
was　to　dance　again　for　her　after　the　hour　of　siesta；　and　conveyed
her　thanks　to　the　young　count　of　tierra…nueva　for　his　charming
reception；　she　went　back　to　her　apartments；　the　children　following
in　the　same　order　in　which　they　had　entered。
now　when　the　little　dwarf　heard　that　he　was　to　dance　a　second　time
before　the　infanta；　and　by　her　own　express　mand；　he　was　so　proud
that　he　ran　out　into　the　garden；　kissing　the　white　rose　in　an
absurd　ecstasy　of　pleasure；　and　making　the　most　uncouth　and　clumsy
gestures　of　delight。
the　flowers　were　quite　indignant　at　his　daring　to　intrude　into
their　beautiful　home；　and　when　they　saw　him　capering　up　and　down
the　walks；　and　waving　his　arms　above　his　head　in　such　a　ridiculous
manner；　they　could　not　restrain　their　feelings　any　longer。
he　is　really　far　too　ugly　to　be　allowed　to　play　in　any　place　where
we　are；　cried　the　tulips。
he　should　drink　poppy…juice；　and　go　to　sleep　for　a　thousand
years；　said　the　great　scarlet　lilies；　and　they　grew　quite　hot　and
angry。
he　is　a　perfect　horror！　screamed　the　cactus。 why；　he　is　twisted
and　stumpy；　and　his　head　is　pletely　out　of　proportion　with　his
legs。 really　he　makes　me　feel　prickly　all　over；　and　if　he　es
near　me　i　will　sting　him　with　my　thorns。
and　he　has　actually　got　one　of　my　best　blooms；　exclaimed　the
white　rose…tree。 i　gave　it　to　the　infanta　this　morning　myself；　as
a　birthday　present；　and　he　has　stolen　it　from　her。 and　she　called
out： thief；　thief；　thief！　at　the　top　of　her　voice。
even　the　red　geraniums；　who　did　not　usually　give　themselves　airs；
and　were　known　to　have　a　great　many　poor　relations　themselves；
curled　up　in　disgust　when　they　saw　him；　and　when　the　violets　meekly
remarked　that　though　he　was　certainly　extremely　plain；　still　he
could　not　help　it；　they　retorted　with　a　good　deal　of　justice　that
that　was　his　chief　defect；　and　that　there　was　no　reason　why　one
should　admire　a　person　because　he　was　incurable；　and；　indeed；　some
of　the　violets　themselves　felt　that　the　ugliness　of　the　little
dwarf　was　almost　ostentatious；　and　that　he　would　have　shown　much
better　taste　if　he　had　looked　sad；　or　at　least　pensive；　instead　of
jumping　about　merrily；　and　throwing　himself　into　such　grotesque　and
silly　attitudes。
as　for　the　old　sundial；　who　was　an　extremely　remarkable　individual；
and　had　once　told　the　time　of　day　to　no　less　a　person　than　the
emperor　charles　v。　himself；　he　was　so　taken　aback　by　the　little
dwarfs　appearance；　that　he　almost　forgot　to　mark　two　whole　minutes
with　his　long　shadowy　finger；　and　could　not　help　saying　to　the
great　milk…white　peacock；　who　was　sunning　herself　on　the
balustrade；　that　every　one　knew　that　the　children　of　kings　were
kings；　and　that　the　children　of　charcoal…burners　were　charcoal…
burners；　and　that　it　was　absurd　to　pretend　that　it　wasnt　so；　a
statement　with　which　the　peacock　entirely　agreed；　and　indeed
screamed　out；