鹦鹉
鹦鹉 (第2/3页)
ohisdaughter,andaftermuchlast-minuteadvicetoher,hesetoutonhistrip.
Nosoonerwasthemerchantoutofsightthanthekingbegandevisingawaytojointhemaiden.Heenlistedanoldwomaninhisschemeandsenthertothegirlwithaletter.
Inthemeantimethemaidengotintoconversationwiththeparrot."Talktome,parrot."
"Iwilltellyouagoodstory.Onceuponatimetherewasakingwhohadadaughter.Shewasanonlychild,withnobrothersorsisters,nordidshehaveanyplaymates.Sotheymadeheradollthesamesizeasherself,withafaceandclothesexactlylikeherown.Everywhereshewentthedollwenttoo,andnoonecouldtellthemapart.Onedayasking,daughter,anddolldrovethroughthewoodsintheircarriage,theywereattackedbyenemieswhokilledthekingandcarriedoffhisdaughter,leavingthedollbehindintheabandonedcarriage.Themaidenscreamedandcriedso,theenemieslethergo,andshewanderedoffintothewoodsbyherself.Sheeventuallyreachedthecourtofacertainqueenandbecameaservant.Shewassuchaclevergirlthatthequeenlikedherbetterallthetime.Theotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedherdownfall.Youareaware,ofcourse,theysaid,thatthequeenlikesyouverymuchandtellsyoueverything.Buttheresonethingwhichweknowandyoudont.Shehadasonwhodied.Atthat,themaidenwenttothequeenandasked,Majesty,isittruethatyouhadasonwhodied?Uponhearingthosewords,thequeenalmostfainted.Heavenhelpanyonewhorecalledthatfact!Thepenaltyformentioningthatdeadsonwasnolessthandeath.Themaidentoowascondemnedtodie,butthequeentookpityonherandhadhershutupinadungeoninstead.Therethegirlgavewaytodespair,refusingallfoodandpassinghernightsweeping.Atmidnight,asshesatthereweeping,sheheardthedoorboltsslideback,andinwalkedfivemen:fourofthemweresorcerersandthefifthwasthequeensson,theirprisoner,whomtheyweretakingoutforexercise."
Atthatmoment,theparrotwasinterruptedbyaservantbearingaletterforthemerchantsdaughter.Itwasfromtheking,whohadfinallymanagedtogetittoher.Butthegirlwaseagertohearwhathappenednextinthetale,whichhadreachedthemostexcitingpart,soshesaid,"Iwillreceivenolettersuntilmyfatherreturns.Parrot,goonwithyourstory."
Theservanttooktheletteraway,andtheparrotcontinued."Inthemorningthejailersnoticedtheprisonerhadnoteatenathingandtheytoldthequeen.Thequeensentforher,andthemaidentoldherthathersonwasaliveandinthedungeonaprisoneroffoursorcerers,whotookhimouteverynightatmidnightforexercise.Thequeendispatchedtwelvesoldiersarmedwithcrowbars,whokilledthesorcerersandfreedherson.Thenshegavehimasahusbandtothemaidenwhohadsavedhim."
Theserantknockedagain,insistingthattheyoungladyreadthekingsletter."Verywell.Nowthatthestoryisover,Icanreadtheletter,"saidthemerchantsdaughter.
"Butitsnotfinishedyet,theresstillsomemoretocome,"theparrothastenedtosay."Justlistentothis:themaidenwasnotinterestedinmarryingthequeensson.Shesettledforapurseofmoneyandamansoutfitandmovedontoanothercity.Thesonofthiscityskingwasill,andnodoctorknewhowtocurehim.Frommidnighttodawnheravedlikeonepossessed.Themaidenshowedupinmansattire,claimingtobeaforeigndoctorandaskingtobeleftwiththeyouthforonenight.Thefirstthingshedidwaslookunderthebedandfindatrapdoor.Sheopeneditandwentdownintoalongcorridor,attheendofwhichalampwasburning."
Atthatmomenttheservantknockedandannouncedtherewasanoldwomantoseetheyounglady,whoseauntsheclaimedtobe.(Itwasnotanaunt,buttheoldwomansentbytheking.)Butthemerchantsdaughterwasdyingtoknowtheoutcomeofthetale,soshesaidshewasreceivingnoone."Goon,parrot,goonwithyourstory."
Thustheparrotcontinued."Themaidenwalkeddowntothat
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