《PRINCE CASPIAN》第35章

ld　not　speak。　some　of　the　black dwarfs；　who　had　been　of　nikabriks　party；　began　to　edge　away。　but　all　the　talking beasts　surged　round　the　lion；　with　purrs　and　grunts　and　squeaks　and　whinneys　of　delight； fawning　on　him　with　their　tails；　rubbing　against　him；　touching　him　reverently　with their　noses　and　going　to　and　fro　under　his　body　and　between　his　legs。　if　you　have　ever　seen a　little　cat　loving　a　big　dog　whom　it　knows　and　trusts；　you　will　have　a　pretty　good picture　of　their　behaviour。　then　peter；　leading　caspian；　forced　his　way　through　the　crowd　of animals。
〃this　is　caspian；　sir；〃　he　said。　and　caspian　knelt　and　kissed　the　lions paw。
〃wele；　prince；〃　said　aslan。　〃do　you　feel　yourself　sufficient　to　take　up the　kingship　of　narnia？”
〃i　…　i　dont　think　i　do；　sir；〃　said　caspian。　〃im　only　a　kid。”
〃good；〃　said　aslan。　〃if　you　had　felt　yourself　sufficient；　it　would　have been　a　proof　that　you　were　not。　therefore；　under　us　and　under　the　high　king；　you　shall　be king　of　narnia；　lord　of　cair　paravel；　and　emperor　of　the　lone　islands。　you　and　your　heirs while　your　race　lasts。　and　your　coronation　…　but　what　have　we　here？〃　for　at　that moment　a　curious　little　procession　was　approaching　…　eleven　mice；　six　of　whom　carried between　them　something　on　a　litter　made　of　branches；　but　the　litter　was　no　bigger　than　a large　atlas。　no　one　has　ever　seen　mice　more　woebegone　than　these。　they　were　plastered　with mud　some　with　blood　too　…　and　their　ears　were　down　and　their　whiskers　drooped　and their　tails　dragged　in　the　grass；　and　their　leader　piped　on　his　slender　pipe　a melancholy　tune。　on　the　litter　lay　what　seemed　little　better　than　a　damp　heap　of　fur；　all　that　was left　of　reepicheep。　he　was　still　breathing；　but　more　dead　than　alive；　gashed　with innumerable　wounds；　one　paw　crushed；　and；　where　his　tail　had　been；　a　bandaged　stump。
〃now；　lucy；〃　said　aslan。
lucy　had　her　diamond　bottle　out　in　a　moment。　though　only　a　drop　was　needed on　each　of　reepicheeps　wounds；　the　wounds　were　so　many　that　there　was　a　long　and anxious　silence　before　she　had　finished　and　the　master　mouse　sprang　from　the litter。　his　hand　went　at　once　to　his　sword　hilt；　with　the　other　he　twirled　his　whiskers。　he bowed。
〃hail；　aslan！〃　came　his　shrill　voice。　〃i　have　the　honour　…〃　but　then　he suddenly　stopped。
the　fact　was　that　he　still　had　no　tail　…　whether　that　lucy　had　forgotten　it or　that　her　cordial；　though　it　could　heal　wounds；　could　not　make　things　grow　again。 reepicheep　became　aware　of　his　loss　as　he　made　his　bow；　perhaps　it　altered　something in　his　balance。
he　looked　over　his　right　shoulder。　failing　to　see　his　tail；　he　strained　his neck　further　till　he　had　to　turn　his　shoulders　and　his　whole　body　followed。　but　by　that　time his　hind…quarters　had　turned　too　and　were　out　of　sight。　then　he　strained　his　neck looking　over　his　shoulder　again；　with　the　same　result。　only　after　he　had　turned　pletely round　three　times　did　he　realize　the　dreadful　truth。
〃i　am　confounded；〃　said　reepicheep　to　aslan。　〃i　am　pletely　out　of countenance。　i　must　crave　your　indulgence　for　appearing　in　this　unseemly　fashion。”
〃it　bees　you　very　well；　small　one；〃　said　aslan。
〃all　the　same；〃　replied　reepicheep；　〃if　anything　could　be　done。。。　perhaps her　majesty？”
and　here　he　bowed　to　lucy。
〃but　what　do　you　want　with　a　tail？〃　asked　aslan。
〃sir；〃　said　the　mouse；　〃i　can　eat　and　sleep　and　die　for　my　king　without one。　but　a　tail　is　the　honour　and　glory　of　a　mouse。”
〃i　have　sometimes　wondered；　friend；〃　said　aslan；　〃whether　you　do　not　think too　much　about　your　honour。”
〃highest　of　all　high　kings；〃　said　reepicheep；　〃permit　me　to　remind　you　that a　very　small　size　has　been　bestowed　on　us　mice；　and　if　we　did　not　guard　our　dignity； some　（who　weigh　worth　by　inches）　would　allow　themselves　very　unsuitable　pleasantries at　our　expense。　that　is　why　i　have　been　at　some　pains　to　make　it　known　that　no　one who　does　not　wish　to　feel　this　sword　as　near　his　heart　as　i　can　reach　shall　talk　in my　presence　about　traps　or　toasted　cheese　or　candles：　no；　sir　…　not　the　tallest　fool　in narnia！〃　here　he　glared　very　fiercely　up　at　wimbleweather；　but　the　giant；　who　was　always　a stage　behind　everyone　else；　had　not　yet　discovered　what　was　being　talked　about　down　at his　feet；　and　so　missed　the　point。
〃why　have　your　followers　all　drawn　their　swords；　may　i　ask？〃　said　aslan。
〃may　it　please　your　high　majesty；〃　said　the　second　mouse；　whose　name　was peepiceek；　〃we　are　all　waiting　to　cut　off　our　own　tails　if　our　chief　must　go　without his。　we　will　not　bear　the　shame　of　wearing　an　honour　which　is　denied　to　the　high　mouse。”
〃ah！〃　roared　aslan。　〃you　have　conquered　me。　you　have　great　hearts。　not　for the　sake　of　your　dignity；　reepicheep；　but　for　the　love　that　is　between　you　and　your people；　and　still　more　for　the　kindness　your　people　showed　me　long　ago　when　you　ate　away　the cords　that　bound　me　on　the　stone　table　（and　it　was　then；　though　you　have　long forgotten　it；　that　you　began　to　be　talking　mice）；　you　shall　have　your　tail　again。”
before　aslan　had　finished　speaking　the　new　tail　was　in　its　place。　then；　at aslans　mand；　peter　bestowed　the　knighthood　of　the　order　of　the　lion　on　caspian； and　caspian；　as　soon　as　he　was　knighted；　himself　bestowed　it　on　trufflehunter and　trumpkin　and　reepicheep；　and　made　doctor　cornelius　his　lord　chancellor；　and confirmed　the　bulgy　bear　in　his　hereditary　office　of　marshal　of　the　lists。　and　there　was great　applause。
after　this　the　telmarine　soldiers；　firmly　but　without　taunts　or　blows；　were taken　across　the　ford　and　all　put　under　lock　and　key　in　the　town　of　beruna　and　given beef　and　beer。
they　made　a　great　fuss　about　wading　in　the　river；　for　they　all　hated　and feared　running　water　just　as　much　as　they　hated　and　feared　woods　and　animals。　but　in　the end　the　nuisance　was　over：　and　then　the　nicest　parts　of　that　long　day　began。
lucy；　sitting　close　to　aslan　and　divinely　fortable；　wondered　what　the trees　were　doing。　at　first　she　thought　they　were　merely　dancing；　they　were　certainly going　round　slowly　in　two　circles；　one　from　left　to　right　and　the　other　from　right　to left。　then　she　noticed　that　they　kept　throwing　something　down　in　th