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他身穿国王的衣服站在那里，珠宝镶嵌的神龛打开了盖子，从光芒四射的圣体匣的水晶
上放出异常神奇的光。他身着国王的衣服站在那儿，这里就充满了上帝的荣光，连壁龛中的
圣徒们也好像在动。身穿国王的华贵衣服，他站在了他们的面前，风琴奏出了乐曲，喇叭手
吹响了他们的喇叭，唱诗班的孩子们在放声歌唱。
百姓们敬畏地跪下身来，贵族们收回宝剑并向少年国王行礼，主教大人的脸色变得苍
白，双手颤抖不已。“给你加冕的人比我更伟大。”他大声说道，并跪倒在国王面前。
少年国王从高高的祭坛上走下来，穿过人群朝自己的房间走去。此时没有一个人敢看他
的脸，因为那容貌就跟天使一样。
the young king
it was the night before the day fixed for his coronation； and the
young king was sitting alone in his beautiful chamber。 his
courtiers had all taken their leave of him； bowing their heads to
the ground； according to the ceremonious usage of the day； and had
retired to the great hall of the palace； to receive a few last
lessons from the professor of etiquette； there being some of them
who had still quite natural manners； which in a courtier is； i need
hardly say； a very grave offence。
the lad … for he was only a lad； being but sixteen years of age …
was not sorry at their departure； and had flung himself back with a
deep sigh of relief on the soft cushions of his embroidered couch；
lying there； wild…eyed and open…mouthed； like a brown woodland
faun； or some young animal of the forest newly snared by the
hunters。
and； indeed； it was the hunters who had found him； ing upon him
almost by chance as； bare…limbed and pipe in hand； he was following
the flock of the poor goatherd who had brought him up； and whose
son he had always fancied himself to be。 the child of the old
kings only daughter by a secret marriage with one much beneath her
in station … a stranger； some said； who； by the wonderful magic of
his lute…playing； had made the young princess love him； while
others spoke of an artist from rimini； to whom the princess had
shown much； perhaps too much honour； and who had suddenly
disappeared from the city； leaving his work in the cathedral
unfinished … he had been； when but a week old； stolen away from his
mothers side； as she slept； and given into the charge of a mon
peasant and his wife； who were without children of their own； and
lived in a remote part of the forest； more than a days ride from
the town。 grief； or the plague； as the court physician stated； or；
as some suggested； a swift italian poison administered in a cup of
spiced wine； slew； within an hour of her wakening； the white girl
who had given him birth； and as the trusty messenger who bare the
child across his saddle…bow stooped from his weary horse and
knocked at the rude door of the goatherds hut； the body of the
princess was being lowered into an open grave that had been dug in
a deserted churchyard； beyond the city gates； a grave where it was
said that another body was also lying； that of a young man of
marvellous and foreign beauty； whose hands were tied behind him
with a knotted cord； and whose breast was stabbed with many red
wounds。
such； at least； was the story that men whispered to each other。
certain it was that the old king； when on his deathbed； whether
moved by remorse for his great sin； or merely desiring that the
kingdom should not pass away from his line； had had the lad sent
for； and； in the presence of the council； had acknowledged him as
his heir。
and it seems that from the very first moment of his recognition he
had shown signs of that strange passion for beauty that was
destined to have so great an influence over his life。 those who
acpanied him to the suite of rooms set apart for his service；
often spoke of the cry of pleasure that broke from his lips when he
saw the delicate raiment and rich jewels that had been prepared for
him； and of the almost fierce joy with which he flung aside his
rough leathern tunic and coarse sheepskin cloak。 he missed；
indeed； at times the fine freedom of his forest life； and was
always apt to chafe at the tedious court ceremonies that occupied
so much of each day； but the wonderful palace … joyeuse； as they
called it … of which he now found himself lord； seemed to him to be
a new world fresh…fashioned for his delight； and as soon as he
could escape from the council…board or audience…chamber； he would
run down the great staircase； with its lions of gilt bronze and its
steps of bright porphyry； and wander from room to room； and from
corridor to corridor； like one who was seeking to find in beauty an
anodyne from pain； a sort of restoration from sickness。
upon these journeys of discovery； as he would call them … and；
indeed； they were to him real voyages through a marvellous land； he
would sometimes be acpanied by the slim； fair…haired court
pages； with their floating mantles； and gay fluttering ribands； but
more often he would be alone； feeling through a certain quick
instinct； which was almost a divination； that the secrets of art
are best learned in secret； and that beauty； like wisdom； loves the
lonely worshipper。
many curious stories were related about him at this period。 it was
said that a stout burgo…master； who had e to deliver a florid
oratorical address on behalf of the citizens of the town； had
caught sight of him kneeling in real adoration before a great
picture that had just been brought from venice； and that seemed to
herald the worship of some new gods。 on another occasion he had
been missed for several hours； and after a lengthened search had
been discovered in a little chamber in one of the northern turrets
of the palace gazing； as one in a trance； at a greek gem carved
with the figure of adonis。 he had been seen； so the tale ran；
pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that
had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the
building of the stone bridge； and was inscribed with the name of
the bithynian slave of hadrian。 he had passed a whole night in
noting the effect of the moonlight on a silver image of endymion。
all r