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《王尔德童话四则》
作者：＇英＇奥斯卡·王尔德（英文版）【完结】
公主的生日
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE INFANTA
＇TO MRS。 WILLIAM H。 GRENFELL OF TAPLOW COURT … LADY DESBOROUGH＇
It was the birthday of the Infanta。 She was just twelve years of
age； and the sun was shining brightly in the gardens of the palace。
Although she was a real Princess and the Infanta of Spain； she had
only one birthday every year； just like the children of quite poor
people； so it was naturally a matter of great importance to the
whole country that she should have a really fine day for the
occasion。 And a really fine day it certainly was。 The tall
striped tulips stood straight up upon their stalks； like long rows
of soldiers； and looked defiantly across the grass at the roses；
and said： 'We are quite as splendid as you are now。' The purple
butterflies fluttered about with gold dust on their wings； visiting
each flower in turn； the little lizards crept out of the crevices
of the wall； and lay basking in the white glare； and the
pomegranates split and cracked with the heat； and showed their
bleeding red hearts。 Even the pale yellow lemons； that hung in
such profusion from the mouldering trellis and along the dim
arcades； seemed to have caught a richer colour from the wonderful
sunlight； and the magnolia trees opened their great globe…like
blossoms of folded ivory； and filled the air with a sweet heavy
perfume。
The little Princess herself walked up and down the terrace with her
companions； and played at hide and seek round the stone vases and
the old moss…grown statues。 On ordinary days she was only allowed
to play with children of her own rank； so she had always to play
alone； but her birthday was an exception； and the King had given
orders that she was to invite any of her young friends whom she
liked to come and amuse themselves with her。 There was a stately
grace about these slim Spanish children as they glided about； the
boys with their large…plumed hats and short fluttering cloaks； the
girls holding up the trains of their long brocaded gowns； and
shielding the sun from their eyes with huge fans of black and
silver。 But the Infanta was the most graceful of all； and the most
tastefully attired； after the somewhat cumbrous fashion of the day。
Her robe was of grey satin； the skirt and the wide puffed sleeves
heavily embroidered with silver； and the stiff corset studded with
rows of fine pearls。 Two tiny slippers with big pink rosettes
peeped out beneath her dress as she walked。 Pink and pearl was her
great gauze fan； and in her hair； which like an aureole of faded
gold stood out stiffly round her pale little face； she had a
beautiful white rose。
From a window in the palace the sad melancholy King watched them。
Behind him stood his brother； Don Pedro of Aragon； whom he hated；
and his confessor； the Grand Inquisitor of Granada； sat by his
side。 Sadder even than usual was the King； for as he looked at the
Infanta bowing with childish gravity to the assembling counters； or
laughing behind her fan at the grim Duchess of Albuquerque who
always accompanied her； he thought of the young Queen； her mother；
who but a short time before … so it seemed to him … had come from
the gay country of France； and had withered away in the sombre
splendour of the Spanish court； dying just six months after the
birth of her child； and before she had seen the almonds blossom
twice in the orchard； or plucked the second year's fruit from the
old gnarled fig…tree that stood in the centre of the now grass…
grown courtyard。 So great had been his love for her that he had
not suffered even the grave to hide her from him。 She had been
embalmed by a Moorish physician； who in return for this service had
been granted his life； which for heresy and suspicion of magical
practices had been already forfeited； men said； to the Holy Office；
and her body was still lying on its tapestried bier in the black
marble chapel of the Palace； just as the monks had borne her in on
that windy March day nearly twelve years before。 Once every month
the King； wrapped in a dark cloak and with a muffled lantern in his
hand； went in and knelt by her side calling out； 'MI REINA！ MI
REINA！' and sometimes breaking through the formal etiquette that in
Spain governs every separate action of life； and sets limits even
to the sorrow of a King； he would clutch at the pale jewelled hands
in a wild agony of grief； and try to wake by his mad kisses the
cold painted face。
To…day he seemed to see her again； as he had seen her first at the
Castle of Fontainebleau； when he was but fifteen years of age； and
she still younger。 They had been formally betrothed on that
occasion by the Papal Nuncio in the presence of the French King and
all the Court； and he had returned to the Escurial bearing with him
a little ringlet of yellow hair； and the memory of two childish
lips bending down to kiss his hand as he stepped into his carriage。
Later on had followed the marriage； hastily performed at Burgos； a
small town on the frontier between the two countries； and the grand
public entry into Madrid with the customary celebration of high
mass at the Church of La Atocha； and a more than usually solemn
AUTO…DA…FE； in which nearly three hundred heretics； amongst whom
were many Englishmen； had been delivered over to the secular arm to
be burned。
Certainly he had loved her madly； and to the ruin； many thought； of
his country； then at war with England for the possession of the
empire of the New World。 He had hardly ever permitted her to be
out of his sight； for her； he had forgotten； or seemed to have
forgotten； all grave affairs of State； and； with that terrible
blindness that passion brings upon its servants； he had failed to
notice that the elaborate ceremonies by which he sought to please
her did but aggravate the strange malady from which she suffered。
When she died he was； for a time； like one bereft of reason。
Indeed； there is no doubt but that he would have formally abdicated
and retired to the great Trappist monastery at Granada； of which he
was already titular Prior； had he not been afraid to leave the
little Infanta at the mercy of his brother； whose cruelty； even in
Spain； was notorious； and who was suspected by many of having
caused the Queen's death by means of a pair of poisoned gloves that
he had presented to her on the occasion of her visiting his castle
in Aragon。 Even after the expiration of the three years of public
mourning that he had ordained throughout his whole dominions by
royal edict； he would never suffer his ministers to speak about any
new alliance； and when the Emperor himself sent to him； and offered
him the hand of the lovely Archduchess of Bohemia； his niece； in
marriage； he bade the ambassadors tell their master that the King
of Spain was already wedded to Sorrow； and that though she was but
a barren bride he loved her better than Beauty； an answer that cost
his crown the rich provinces of the Netherlands； which soon after；
at the Emperor's instigation； revolted against him under the
leadership of some fanatics of the Reformed Church。
His whole married life； with its fierce； fiery…coloured joys and
the terrible agony of its sudden ending； seemed to come back to him
to…day as he watched the Infanta playing on the terrace。 She had
all the Queen's pretty petulance of manner； the same wilful way of
tossing her head； the same proud curved beautiful mouth； the same
wonderful smile … VRAI SOURIRE DE FRANCE indeed … as she glanced up
now and then at the window； or stretched out her little hand for
the stately Spanish gentlemen to kiss。 But the shrill laughter of
the children grated on his ears； and the bright pitiless sunlight
mocked his sorrow； and a dull odour of strange spices； spices such
as embalmers use； seemed to taint … or was it fancy？ … the clear
morning air。 He buried his face in his hands； and when the Infanta
looked up again the curtains had been drawn； and the King had
retired。
She made a little MOUE of disappointment； and shrugged her
shoulders。 Surely he might have stayed with her on her birthday。
What did the stupid State…affairs matter？ Or had he gone to that
gloomy chapel； where the candles were always burning； and where she
was never allowed to enter？ How silly of him； when the sun was
shining so brightly； and everybody was so happy！ Besides； he would
miss the sham bull…fight for which the trumpet was already
sounding； to say nothing of the puppet…show and the other wonderful
things。 Her uncle and the Grand Inquisitor were much more
sensible。 They had come out on the terrace； and paid her nice
compliments。 So she tossed her pretty head； and taking Don Pedro
by the hand； she walked slowly down the steps towards a long
pavilion of purple silk that had been erected at the end of the
garden； the other children following in strict order of precedence