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受了伤的动物，向阴暗处爬去，并躺在那儿呻吟起来。
正在这时小公主带着她的小伙伴们从开着的落地窗中走了进来，当他们看见丑陋的小矮
人躺在地上，用紧握的拳头捶打地板的时候，他们忍不住为他那极其滑稽夸张的举动哈哈大
笑起来，并围着他观赏起来。
“他的舞蹈很有趣的，”小公主说，“而他的演技更加滑稽。的确他差不多跟木偶人一
样的好，只是还不够自然而已。”说完她扇起了大扇子，高兴地拍手叫好。
可是小矮人再也没有抬起头来，他的哭泣声越来越弱了，突然他发出一声奇怪的喘息，
并在身上抓起来。然后他又倒了下去，一动不动地脑下了。
“这可真精彩，”小公主说，又过了一阵子；“不过现在你必须为我们跳舞了。”
可是小矮人却一声未答。
小公主跺了跺脚，叫起了她的叔父。她叔父此时正和宫廷大臣一起在阳台上散步，读着
刚从墨西哥送来的公文，宗教裁判所最近在墨西哥成立了。“我的这个有趣的小矮人生气
了，”她大声嚷道，“你一定要把他叫醒，让他为我跳舞。”
他们两人相互笑了笑，慢慢地走了进来。唐．彼德罗弯下腰去，用他那绣花的手套打着
小矮人的脸，说道：“你必须得跳舞，小怪物，你一定得跳。西班牙及西印度群岛的小公主
要开心快乐才对。”
可是小矮人却一动也不动。
“应该叫个执鞭人来打他一顿，”唐．彼德罗愤愤地说，接着他又回到了阳台上去。不
过宫廷大臣却是一副庄重的表情，他跪在小矮人的身旁，把手按在小矮人的胸口上。过了一
会儿，他耸了耸肩膀，站起身来，向小公主鞠了个躬，并说道：
“我美丽的小公主，您那位滑稽的小矮人再也不能够跳舞了。真遗憾，他长得这么丑，
一定会使国王不开心的。”
“可是他为什么不再跳舞了呢？”小公主笑着问道。
“因为他的心碎了，”宫廷大臣说。
公主皱皱眉头，她那可爱的玫瑰叶嘴唇傲气地朝上撅了一下。“那么以后让那些来陪我
玩的人都不带心才行，”她大声说，然后就朝外跑进花园里去了。
the birthday of the infanta
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
panions； 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 e 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 acpanied her； he thought of the young queen； her mother；
who but a short time before … so it seemed to him … had e 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 years 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