英語(yǔ)民間小故事：TheHermitsDaughter

英語(yǔ)民間小故事：TheHermitsDaughter。

NearatowninIndiacalledIkshumati,onabeautifulwideriver,withtreesbelongingtoagreatforestnearitsbanks,theredweltaholymannamedManaKanaka,whospentagreatpartofhislifeprayingtoGod.Hehadlosthiswifewhenhisonlychild,alovelygirlcalledKadali-Garbha,wasonlyafewmonthsold.Kadali-Garbhawasaveryhappygirl,withmanyfriendsinthewoodsroundherhome,notchildrenlikeherself,butwildcreatures,whoknewshewouldnotdothemanyharm.Theylovedherandshelovedthem.Thebirdsweresotamethattheywouldeatoutofherhand,andthedeerusedtofollowheraboutinthehopeofgettingthebreadshecarriedinherpocketforthem.Herfathertaughtherallsheknew,andthatwasagreatdeal;forshecouldreadquitelearnedbooksintheancientlanguageofhernativeland.BettereventhanwhatshefoundoutinthosebookswaswhatManaKanakatoldheraboutthelovingGodofallgodswhorulestheworldandallthatliveinit.Kadali-Garbhaalsolearntagreatdealthroughherfriendshipwithwildanimals.Sheknewwherethebirdsbuilttheirnests,wherethebabydeerwereborn,wherethesquirrelshidtheirnuts,andwhatfoodallthedwellersintheforestlikedbest.Shehelpedherfathertoworkintheirgardeninwhichalltheirownfoodwasgrown;andshelovedtocookthefruitandvegetablesforManaKanakaandherself.Herclothesweremadeofthebarkofthetreesintheforest,whichsheherselfwoveintothinsoftmaterialsuitableforwearinginahotclimate.

Kadali-Garbhanevereventhoughtaboutotherchildren,becauseshehadnotbeenusedtohavingthemwithher.Shewasjustashappyasthedaywaslong,andneverwishedforanychange.Butwhenshewasaboutsixteensomethinghappenedwhichquitealteredherwholelife.Onedayherfatherhadgoneintotheforesttocutwood,andhadleftheralone.Shehadfinishedtidyingthehouse,andgoteverythingreadyforthemiddaymeal,andwassittingatthedoorofherhome,readingtoherself,withbirdsflutteringaboutherheadandapetdoelyingbesideher,whensheheardthenoiseofahorse'sfeetapproaching.Shelookedup,andthereontheothersideofthefencewasaveryhandsomeyoungmanseatedonagreatblackhorse,whichhehadreinedupwhenhecaughtsightofher.Helookedatherwithoutspeaking,andshelookedbackathimwithherbigblackeyesfullofsurpriseathissuddenappearance.Shemadeabeautifulpicture,withthegreencreeperscoveringthehutbehindher,andthedoe,whichhadstartedupinfearofthehorse,pressingagainsther.

Themanwasthekingofthecountry,whosenamewasDridha-Varman.Hehadbeenhuntingandhadgotseparatedfromhisattendants.Hewasverymuchsurprisedtofindanyonelivingintheverydepthsoftheforest,andwasgoingtoasktheyounggirlwhoshewas,whenKadali-Garbhasawherfathercomingalongthepathleadingtohishome.Jumpingup,sherantomeethim,gladthathehadcome;forshehadneverbeforeseenayoungmanandwasasshyasanyofthewildcreaturesofthewoods.NowthatManaKanakawaswithher,shegotoverherfright,andfeltquitesafe,clingingtohisarmasheandthekingtalkedtogether.

CanyoudescribejusthowKadali-Garbhafeltwhenshesawtheking?

Doyouthinkitwouldhavebeenagoodorabadthingforhertolivealltherestofherlifeintheforest?

CHAPTERIII

ManaKanakaknewatoncethatthemanonthehorsewastheking;andagreatfearenteredhisheartwhenhesawhowDridha-Varmanlookedathisbelovedonlychild.

"Whoareyou,andwhoisthatlovelygirl?"askedtheking.AndManaKanakaanswered,"Iamonlyahumblewoodcutter;andthisismyonlychild,whosemotherhaslongbeendead."

"Hermothermusthavebeenaverylovelywoman,ifherdaughterislikeher,"saidtheking."NeverbeforehaveIseensuchperfectbeauty."

"Hermother,"repliedManaKanaka,"wasindeedwhatyousay;andhersoulwasasbeautifulasthebodyinwhichitdweltalltooshortatime."

"Iwouldhaveyourdaughterformywife,"saidtheking;"andifyouwillgivehertome,sheshallhavenowishungratified.Sheshallhaveservantstowaitonherandotheryounggirlstobehercompanions;beautifulclothestowear,thebestoffoodtoeat,horsesandcarriagesasmanyasshewill,andnoworktodowithherownhands."

WhatKadali-Garbhadidwastoclingcloselytoherfather,hidingherfaceonhisarmandwhispering,"Iwillnotleaveyou：donotsendmeawayfromyou,dearfather."

ManaKanakastrokedherhair,andsaidinagentlevoice：

"But,dearchild,yourfatherisold,andmustleaveyousoon.Itisagreathonourforhislittlegirltobechosenbythekingforhisbride.Donotbeafraid,butlookathimandseehowhandsomeheisandhowkindhelooks."

ThenKadali-Garbhalookedattheking,whosmiledatherandlookedsocharmingthatherfearbegantoleaveher.Shestillclungtoherfather,butnolongerhidherface;andManaKanakabeggedKadali-Garbhatolethimsendheraway,sothathemighttalkwiththekingaloneaboutthewishhehadexpressedtomarryher.Thekingconsentedtothis,andKadali-Garbhagladlyranaway.Butwhenshereachedthedoorofherhome,shelookedback,andknewinherheartthatshealreadylovedthekinganddidnotwanthimtogoaway.

Itdidnottakelongforthematterofthemarriagetobesettled.ForManaKanaka,sadthoughhewastolosehisdearonlychild,wasgladthatsheshouldbeaqueen,andhavesomeonetotakecareofherwhenhewasgone.AfterthisfirstvisittothelittlehouseintheforestthekingcameeverydaytoseeKadali-Garbha,bringingallkindsofpresentsforher.Shelearnttolovehimsomuchthatshebecameaseagerashewasfortheweddingtobesoon.Whenthedaywasfixed,thekingsentseveralladiesofhiscourttodressthebrideinclothesmorebeautifulthatshehadeverdreamtof;andinthemshelookedmorelovelyeventhanthefirstdayherloverhadseenher.

Nowamongsttheseladieswasaverywisewomanwhocouldseewhatwasgoingtohappen;andsheknewthattherewouldbetroublesfortheyoungqueeninthepalace,becausemany

wouldbejealousofherhappiness.Shewasverymuchtakenwiththebeautifulinnocentgirl,andwantedtohelphersomuchthatshemanagedtogetheraloneforafewminutes,whenshesaidtoher："Iwantyoutopromisemesomething.Itistotakethispacketofmustardseeds,hideitinthebosomofyourdress,andwhenyouridetothepalacewithyourhusband,strewtheseedalongthepathasyougo.Youknowhowquicklymustardgrows.Well,itwillspringupsoon;andifyouwanttocomehomeagain,youcaneasilyfindthewaybyfollowingthegreenshoots.Alas,Ifeartheywillnothavetimetowitherbeforeyouneedtheirhelp!"

Kadali-Garbhalaughedwhenthewisewomantalkedabouttroublecomingtoher.Shewassohappy,shecouldnotbelieveshewouldwanttocomehomeagainsosoon."MyfathercancometomewhenIwanthim,"shesaid."Ineedonlytellmydearhusbandtosendforhim."Butforallthatshetookthepacketofseedsandhiditinherdress.

Aftertheweddingwasover,thekingmountedhisbeautifulhorse,andbendingdown,tookhisyoungwifeupbeforehim.Holdingherclosetohimwithhisrightarm,heheldthereinsinhislefthand;andawaytheywent,soonleavingalltheattendantsfarbehindthem,thequeenscatteringthemustardseedasshehadpromisedtodo.Whentheyarrivedatthepalacethereweregreatrejoicings,andeverybodyseemedcharmedwiththequeen,whowasfullofeagerinterestinallthatshesaw.

Forseveralweekstherewasnobodyinthewideworldsohappyandlight-heartedasthebride.Thekingspentmanyhoursadaywithher,andwasnevertiredoflisteningtoallshehadtotellhimaboutherlifeintheforestwithherfather.Everydayhegavehersomefreshproofofhislove,andheneverrefusedtodoanythingsheaskedhimtodo.Butpresentlyachangecame.Amongsttheladiesofthecourttherewasabeautifulwoman,whohadhopedtobequeenherself,andhatedKadali-Garbhasomuchthatshemadeuphermindtogetherintodisgracewiththeking.Sheaskedfirstonepowerfulpersonandthenanothertohelpher;buteverybodylovedthequeen,andthewickedwomanbegantobeafraidthatthoseshehadtoldaboutherwishtoharmherwouldwarntheking.SoshesoughtaboutforsomeonewhodidnotknowKadali-Garbha,andsuddenlyrememberedawisewomannamedAsoka-Mala,wholivedinacavenotfarfromthetown,towhommanypeopleusedtogoforadviceintheirdifficulties.Shewenttothiswomanonenight,andtoldheralongstoryinwhichtherewasnotonewordoftruth.Theyoungqueen,shesaid,didnotreallylovetheking;andwiththehelpofherfather,whowasamagician,shemeanttopoisonhim.Howcouldthisterriblethingbeprevented,sheasked;andshepromisedthatifonlyAsoka-MalawouldhelptosaveDridha-Varman,shewouldgiveheragreatdealofmoney.

Asoka-Malaguessedatoncethatthestorywasnottrue,andthatitwasonlybecausethewomanwasjealousofthebeautifulyoungqueenthatshewishedtohurther.Butshelovedmoneyverymuch.Insteadthereforeofatoncerefusingtohaveanythingtodowiththematter,shesaid："Bringmefiftygoldpiecesnow,andpromisemeanotherfiftywhenthequeenissentawayfromthepalace,andIwilltellyouwhattodo."

Thewickedwomanpromisedallthisatonce.Theverynextnightshebroughtthefirstfiftypiecesofgoldtothecave,andAsoka-Malatoldherthatshemustgetthebarber,whosawthekingaloneeveryday,totellhimhehadfoundoutasecretaboutthequeen."Youmusttellthebarberallyouhavealreadytoldme.Butbeverycarefultogivesomeproofofyourstory.Forifyoudonotdoso,youwillonlyhavewastedthefiftygoldpiecesyouhavealreadygiventome;and,morethanthat,youwillbeterriblypunishedfortryingtohurtthequeen,whomeverybodyloves."

Thewickedwomanwentbacktothepalace,thinkingallthewaytoherself,"HowcanIgetaproofofwhatisnottrue?"Atlastanideacameintoherhead.Sheknewthatthequeenlovedtowanderintheforest,andthatshewasnotafraidofthewildcreatures,butseemedtounderstandtheirlanguage.ShewouldtellthebarberthatKadali-Garbhawasawitchandknewthesecretsofthewoods;thatshehadbeenseengatheringwildherbs,someofthempoisonous,andhadbeenheardmutteringstrangewordstoherselfasshedidso.

Earlythenextmorningthecruelwomanwenttoseethebarber,andpromisedhimarewardifhewouldtellthekingwhatshehadfoundoutabouthiswife."Hewon'tbelieveyouatfirst,"shesaid;"butyoumustgoontellinghimtillhedoes.Youareclever,enough,"sheadded,"tomakeupsomethinghewillbelieveifwhatIhavethoughtofisnogood."

Thebarber,whohadservedthekingformanyyears,wouldnotatfirstagreetohelptomakehimunhappy.Buthetoolikedmoneyverymuch,andintheendhepromisedtoseewhathecoulddoifhewaswellpaidforit.Hewas,asthewickedwomanhadsaid,cleverenough;andheknewfromlongexperiencejusthowtotalktohismaster.Hebeganbyaskingthekingifhehadheardofthelovelywomanwhowassometimesseenbythewoodmenwanderingaboutaloneintheforest,withwildcreaturesfollowingher.RememberinghowhehadfirstseenKadali-Garbha,Dridha-Varmanatonceguessedthatshewasthelovelywoman.Buthedidnottellthebarberso;forhewassoproudofhisdearwife'sbeautythathelikedtohearherpraised,andwantedthemantogoontalkingabouther.Hejustsaid："Whatisshelike?Isshetallorshort,fairordark?"Thebarberansweredthequestionsreadily.Thenhewentontosaythatitwaseasytoseethattheladywasascleverasshewasbeautiful;forsheknewnotonlyallaboutanimalsbutalsoaboutplants."Everyday,"hesaid,"shegathersquantitiesofherbs,andIhavebeentoldshemakeshealingmedicinesofthem.Someevengosofarastosayshealsomakespoisons.But,formypart,Idonotbelievethat;sheistoobeautifultobewicked."

Thekinglistened,andatinylittledoubtcreptintohismindabouthiswife.Shehadnevertoldhimabouttheherbsshegathered,althoughsheoftenchatteredaboutherfriendsintheforest.PerhapsafterallitwasnotKadali-Garbhathebarberwastalkingabout.Hewouldaskherifsheknewanythingaboutmakingmedicinesfromherbs.Hedidsowhentheywerealonetogether,andshesaidatonce,"Oh,yes!Myfathertaughtme.ButIhavenevermadeanysinceIwasmarried."

"Areyousure?"askedtheking;andsheansweredlaughing,"Ofcourse,Iam：howcouldIbeanythingbutsure?Ihavenoneedtothinkofmedicine-making,nowIamthequeen."

Dridha-Varmansaidnomoreatthetime.Buthewastroubled;andwhenthebarbercameagain,hebeganatoncetoaskaboutthewomanwhohadbeenseeninthewoods.Thewickedmanwasdelighted,andmadeupalongstory.Hesaidoneofthewaitingwomenhadtoldhimofwhatshehadseen.Thewoman,hesaid,hadfollowedtheladyhomeoneday,andthathomewasnotfarfromthepalace.Shehadseenherbendingoverafireabovewhichhungagreatsauce-panfullofwater,intowhichsheflungsomeoftheherbsshehadgathered,singingasshedidso,inastrangelanguage.

"Coulditpossiblybe,"thoughttheking,"thatKadali-Garbhahaddeceivedhim?Wassheperhapsawitchafterall?"Herememberedthathereallydidnotknowwhoshewas,orwhoherfatherwas.Hehadlovedherdirectlyhesawher,justbecauseshewassobeautiful.Whatwashetodonow?Hewasquitesure,fromthedescriptionthebarberhadgivenofthewomanintheforest,thatshewashiswife.Hewouldwatchherhimselfinfuture,andsaynothingtoherthatwouldmakeherthinkhewasdoingso.

Althoughthekingsaidnothingtohiswifeaboutwhatthebarberhadtoldhim,hecouldnottreatherexactlyashedidbeforeheheardit,andsheverysoonbegantowonderwhatshehaddonetovexhim.Thefirstthingshenoticedwasthatoneoftheladiesofthecourtalwaysfollowedherwhenshewentintotheforest.Shedidnotlikethis;becauseshesodearlylovedtobealonewiththewildcreatures,andthey

didnotcometoherwhenanyoneelsewasnear.Shetoldtheladytogoaway,andshepretendedtodoso;butsheonlykeptalittlefurtheroff.Andthoughthequeencouldnolongerseeher,sheknewshewasthere,andsodidthebirdsandthedeer.Thiswentonforalittletime;andthenKadali-Garbhaaskedherhusbandtotelleveryonethatshewasnottobedisturbedwhenshewenttoseeherfriendsintheforest.

"Iamafraid,"saidtheking,"thatsomeharmwillcometoyou.Therearewildbeastsinthedepthsofthewoodwhomighthurtyou.AndwhatshouldIdoifanyharmcametomydearone?"

Kadali-GarbhawasgrievedwhenDridha-Varmansaidthis,forsheknewitwasnottrue;andshelookedathimsosadlythathefeltashamedofhavingdoubtedher.Allwouldperhapshavebeenwellevennow,ifhehadtoldherofthestoryhehadheardabouther,becausethenshecouldhaveprovedthatitwasnottrue.Buthedidnotdothat;heonlysaid,"Icannotletyoubealonesofarfromhome.Whynotbecontentwiththelovelygardensallroundthepalace?Ifyoustillwishtogotothewoods,Iwillsendoneofthegame-keeperswithyouinsteadoftheladywhohasbeenwatchingyou.Thenhecanprotectyouifanyharmfulcreatureshouldapproach."

"Ifmylorddoesnotwishmetobealoneintheforest,"answeredthequeen,"Iwillbecontentwiththegardens.Fornobirdsoranimalswouldcomenearmeifoneoftheirenemieswerewithme.But,"sheadded,ashereyesfilledwithtears,"willnotmylordtellmewhyhenolongertrustshiswife,wholoveshimwithallherheart?"

ThekingwasverymuchtouchedbywhatKadali-Garbhasaid,butstillcouldnotmakeuphismindtotellherthetruth.Soheonlyembracedherfondly,andsaidshewasagoodlittlewifetobesoreadytoobeyhim.Thequeenwentawayverysadly,wonderingtoherselfwhatshecoulddotoprovetoherdearlordthatshelovedhimasmuchasever.Shetookcarenevertogooutsidethepalacegardens,butshelongedverymuchforheroldfreedom,andbegantogrowpaleandthin.

Thewickedwomanwhohadtriedtodoherharmwasverymuchdisappointedthatshehadonlysucceededinmakingherunhappy;soshewentagaintoAsoka-Mala,andpromisedhermoremoneyifonlyshewouldthinkofsomeplantogetthekingtosendhiswifeaway.Thewisewomanconsideredalongtime,andthenshesaid："Youmustusethebarberagain.Hegoesfromhousetohouse,andhemusttellthekingthatthebeautifulwoman,whousedtoroamaboutintheforestcollectingherbs,hasbeenseenthereagaininthedeadofthenight,whenshecouldbesurenoonewouldfindoutwhatshewasdoing."

NowitsohappenedthatKadali-Garbhawasoftenunabletosleepbecauseofhergriefthatthekingdidnotlovehersomuchasheusedtodo.Onenightshegotsotiredoflyingawakethatshegotupveryquietly,soasnottodisturbherhusband,andputtingonhersari,shewentoutintothegardens,hopingthatthefreshairmighthelphertosleep.Presentlythekingtoowokeup,andfindingthathiswifewasnolongerbesidehim,hebecameveryuneasy,andwasabouttogoandseekher,whenshecameback.Heaskedherwhereshe

hadbeen;andshetoldhimexactlywhathadhappened,butshedidnotexplainwhyshecouldnotsleep.

Whenthebarberwasshavingthekingthenextmorning,hetoldhimhehadheardthatpeopleweresayingthebeautifulwomanhadbeenseenagainonenight,gatheringherbsandmutteringtoherself."Theytalk,mylord,"saidtheman,"ofyourownnamehavingbeenonherlips;andthosewholoveandhonouryouareanxiousforyoursafety.Maybethewomanisindeedawitch,whoforsomereasonofherownwilltrytopoisonyou."

NowDridha-VarmanrememberedthatKadali-Garbhahadlefthimthenightbefore,"andperhaps,"hethought,"atothertimeswhenIwasasleep."Hecouldscarcelywaituntilthebarberhadfinishedshavinghim,soeagerwashetofindoutthetruth.Hehurriedtohiswife'sprivateroom,butshewasnotthere;andherladiestoldhimshehadnotbeenseenbythemthatday.Thistroubledhimterribly,andherousedthewholepalacetoseekher.Messengersweresoonhurryingtoandfro,butnotatraceofhercouldbefound.Dridha-VarmanwasnowquitesurethatthewomanthebarberhadtalkedaboutwasKadali-Garbha,thewifehehadsolovedandtrusted."Perhaps,"hethought,"shehasleftpoisoninmyfood,andhasgoneawaysoasnottoseemedie."Hewouldneithereatnordrink,andheorderedalltheladieswhosedutyitwastowaitonthequeentobelockeduptillshewasfound.Amongstthemwasthewickedwomanwhohaddoneallthemischiefbecauseofherjealousyofthebeautifulyoungqueen,andverymuchshewishedshehadnevertriedtoharmher.

Inhertroubleaboutthelossoftheking'sloveKadali-Garbhalongedforherfather,forshefeltsurehewouldbeabletohelpher.Soshedeterminedtogotohim.Withtheaidofthewisewomanwhohadgivenherthepacketofmustardseed,andwhohadbeenherbestfriendatcourt,shedisguisedherselfasamessenger,and,mountedonastronglittlepony,shespedalongthepathmarkedoutbytheyoungshootsofmustard,reachingheroldhomeintheforestbeforethenightfell.GreatindeedwasthejoyofManaKanakaatthesightofhisbelovedchild,andverysoonshehadpouredoutallhersorrowtohim.Thehermitwasatfirstverymuchenragedwithhisson-in-lawforthewayinwhichhehadtreatedKadali-Garbha,anddeclaredthathewoulduseallthepowershehadtopunishhim."Never,"hesaid,"shallheseeyourdearfaceagain;butIwillgotohimandcalldownonhimallmannerofmisfortunes.Youknownot,dearchild,Ihaveneverwishedyoutoknow,thatIamamagicianandcanmaketheverybeastsofthefieldandthewindsofheavenobeyme.Iknowfullwellwhohasmadethismischiefbetweenyouandyourhusband,andIwillseethatpunishmentovertakesthem."

"No,no,father,"criedKadali-Garbha;"Iwillnothaveanyharmdonetomydearone,forIlovehimwithallmyheart.AllIaskofyouistoprovetohimthatIaminnocentofwhateverfaulthethinksIhavecommitted,andtomakehimloveandtrustmeagain."

ItwashardworktopersuadeManaKanakatopromisenottoharmtheking,butintheendheyielded.Togetherthefatheranddaughterrodebacktothepalace,andtogethertheywerebroughtbeforeDridha-Varman,who,inspiteoftheangerhehadfeltagainsthiswife,wasoverjoyedtoseeher.WhenhelookedatherclingingtoManaKanaka'sarm,asshehaddonethefirsttimetheymet,allhisoldlovereturned,andhewouldhaveta