登陆注册
15316000000099

第99章 How To Find Out A True Friend(3)

When they arrived at the town where the king dwelt they entered the small house over against the castle.The news of their coming spread very soon, and the king rejoiced greatly that the handsome young prince had come back again, and commanded great feasts to be prepared, for in a few days his daughter should marry the king's son.The young man himself could imagine no greater happiness, and when the marriage was over they spent some months at the court making merry.

At length the king's son said, 'My mother awaits me at home, full of care and anxiety.Here I must remain no longer, and to-morrow Iwill take my wife and my friend and start for home.' And the king was content that he should do so, and gave orders to prepare for their journey.

Now in his heart the king cherished a deadly hate towards the poor young man whom he had tried to kill, but who had returned to him living, and in order to do him hurt sent him on a message to some distant spot.'See that you are quick,' said he, 'for your friend will await your return before he starts.' The youth put spurs to his horse and departed, bidding the prince farewell, so that the king's message might be delivered the sooner.As soon as he had started the king went to the chamber of the prince, and said to him, 'If you do not start immediately, you will never reach the place where you must camp for the night.'

'I cannot start without my friend,' replied the king's son.

'Oh, he will be back in an hour,' replied the king, 'and I will give him my best horse, so that he will be sure to catch you up.' The king's son allowed himself to be persuaded and took leave of his father-in-law, and set out with his wife on his journey home.

Meanwhile the poor friend had been unable to get through his task in the short time appointed by the king, and when at last he returned the king said to him,'Your comrade is a long way off by now; you had better see if you can overtake him.'

So the young man bowed and left the king's presence, and followed after his friend on foot, for he had no horse.Night and day he ran, till at length he reached the place where the king's son had pitched his tent, and sank down before him, a miserable object, worn out and covered with mud and dust.But the king's son welcomed him with joy, and tended him as he would his brother.

And at last they came home again, and the queen was waiting and watching in the palace, as she had never ceased to do since her son had rode away.She almost died of joy at seeing him again, but after a little she remembered his sick friend, and ordered a bed to be made ready and the best doctors in all the country to be sent for.

When they heard of the queen's summons they flocked from all parts, but none could cure him.After everyone had tried and failed a servant entered and informed the queen that a strange old man had just knocked at the palace gate and declared that he was able to heal the dying youth.Now this was a holy man, who had heard of the trouble the king's son was in, and had come to help.

It happened that at this very time a little daughter was born to the king's son, but in his distress for his friend he had hardly a thought to spare for the baby.He could not be prevailed on to leave the sick bed, and he was bending over it when the holy man entered the room.'Do you wish your friend to be cured?' asked the new comer of the king's son.'And what price would you pay?'

'What price?' answered the king's son; 'only tell me what I can do to heal him.'

'Listen to me, then,' said the old man.'This evening you must take your child, and open her veins, and smear the wounds of your friend with her blood.And you will see, he will get well in an instant.'

At these words the king's son shrieked with horror, for he loved the baby dearly, but he answered, 'I have sworn that I would treat my friend as if he were my brother, and if there is no other way my child must be sacrificed.'

As by this time evening had already fallen he took the child and opened its veins, and smeared the blood over the wounds of the sick man, and the look of death departed from him, and he grew strong and rosy once more.But the little child lay as white and still as if she had been dead.They laid her in the cradle and wept bitterly, for they thought that by the next morning she would be lost to them.

At sunrise the old man returned and asked after the sick man.

'He is as well as ever,' answered the king's son.

'And where is your baby?'

'In the cradle yonder, and I think she is dead,' replied the father sadly.

'Look at her once more,' said the holy man, and as they drew near the cradle there lay the baby smiling up at them.

'I am St.James of Lizia,,' said the old man, 'and I have come to help you, for I have seen that you are a true friend.From henceforward live happily, all of you, together, and if troubles should draw near you send for me, and I will aid you to get through them.'

With these words he lifted his hand in blessing and vanished.

And they obeyed him, and were happy and content, and tried to make the people of the land happy and contented too.

[From Sicilianische Mahrehen Gonzenbach.]

同类推荐
  • 包公案之百家公案

    包公案之百家公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 宋朝事实

    宋朝事实

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 寄续尊师

    寄续尊师

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 念昔游三首

    念昔游三首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 汉诗总说

    汉诗总说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 妙骨生香

    妙骨生香

    这是一个女扮男装的女主被送入京城为质后被暴君强取豪夺了的故事。二贱蠢萌质子X男神暴君。
  • 社学要略

    社学要略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • TFBOYS:仰望天空的你和我

    TFBOYS:仰望天空的你和我

    TFBOYS守护你的初心在这个世上没有所谓的一见钟情,也没有所谓的天长地久,做到相爱就好。湖边的老树下,有我们曾经的约定——不老不死,不生不灭我们称为-风之约定-(此文稍虐,结局是美好的)
  • 弥瑟传说

    弥瑟传说

    白麓的梦想是成为弥瑟大陆上最出色的游历者,她来自于英雄的故乡,一座不起眼的小村庄,皮皮诺伊。在探寻未知的旅途上她结识了不寻常的伙伴,高贵的溯阿,强大的龙族,堕落的渡吞。他们来自四方,却与她交汇在一起。但路的坎坷超乎了她的想象,她发现自己的生命起源是如此的不寻常,在这片大陆上隐藏了太多秘密,甚至连自己的根源都开始变得琢磨不定。她开始想继续走完这条路,直到触摸真相的那一刻。
  • 麦星上的飞人

    麦星上的飞人

    有一天,一块带有芯片的天花板无意间成了一名麦星飞人,为了救助采集稀缺海水的外星科学家,他不得不滞留在麦星上。乐天(麦星飞人)来到这个星球上的神树俱乐部中,此地实际上是麦星球的一个生产基地。他必须靠聪明才智通关取宝,才能回归地球。游戏难度逐渐地升高,一时真假难辨。其中,还隐藏着一个威胁麦星和地球的大阴谋。在外星生物合成人的帮助下,乐天用他的智慧和单纯情感基因成功地解除了里面的隐患,他的身上,体现出了一种大无畏的勇士精神,最后,成功地回到了地球。
  • 淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 那段青春患过伤风

    那段青春患过伤风

    楚楚在英国留学时认识了段理,意外得知段理曾经暗恋过一个女生四年,感动之余成为了他的恋人,然后又分手了。事后她发现自己怀有身孕,不得已只好回国去找段理,而段理却已结婚,楚楚身边也开始出现各种追求者,他们的爱情结局最终会是如何呢?
  • 三生三世弥天劫

    三生三世弥天劫

    不过一场劫,伤了爱晚的心,男主一次一次的虐她,不是不爱,只是爱晚了。妖、人、鬼、魔、四上神极力挽救天劫,最后一世的他们,却在度蜜月。你扔掉的你我的红线,却不知那是你我的红线。第一世,我们在一起度过很久,我却在最后你为我牺牲的时候爱上你,我想起了过往的一切,两百年的交心,想起了我与魔君之子的过往,奈何未集全你的魄。第二世,我拼尽全力,为你夺得帝位,统一天下,你是怎样对我的?少了一魄的你,是如此的?我走了,在你生命最后,我再回来。没了我,你的暴政终激起民愤。在暖玉濡内,你终于完完全全的回到了我身边,原来,你一直在我身边,原来,我竟是魔君之女......
  • 刻魔

    刻魔

    绵绵的细雨,废弃的大楼,坍塌的楼梯,灰色的衣角扬起,来人拾起一张残缺的纸页,轻念出声。“公元2018年10月9日,仙武六年七月二十一日,阴,队长白落,陨。阴影分属证史部第六十七小队除我以外,全体牺牲。”
  • 老婆别下手

    老婆别下手

    天天做梦,像连续剧一样,梦见着同一个男人。她恐惧着,大汗淋漓地醒来,发现,一切不过是梦一场。伴随着这场荒诞的梦,她遭遇到一系列的变故,被未婚夫抛弃,房子被卖,父亲另娶,她几乎就要走投无路了,居然还有一个莫名其妙的小女孩拉着她的衣服不撒手,叫她妈咪!!全世界都灰暗了,梦里的那个男人,却真的走到了她的身边……是梦,是真?女孩说:妈咪,请不要再犹豫了!就让我帮你吧!我们一起把这个帅哥医生拐回家!!