The butterfly 蝴蝶

THEBUTTERFLY蝴蝶

THEREwasonceabutterflywhowishedforabride,and,asmaybesupposed,hewantedtochooseaveryprettyonefromamongtheflowers.Heglanced,withaverycriticaleye,atalltheflower-beds,andfoundthattheflowerswereseatedquietlyanddemurelyontheirstalks,justasmaidensshouldsitbeforetheyareengaged;buttherewasagreatnumberofthem,anditappearedasifhissearchwouldbecomeverywearisome.Thebutterflydidnotliketotaketoomuchtrouble,soheflewoffonavisittothedaisies.TheFrenchcallthisflower"Marguerite,"andtheysaythatthelittledaisycanprophesy.Loverspluckofftheleaves,andastheypluckeachleaf,theyaskaquestionabouttheirlovers;thus:"Doesheorsheloveme?-Ardently?Distractedly?Verymuch?Alittle?Notatall?"andsoon.Everyonespeaksthesewordsinhisownlanguage.ThebutterflycamealsotoMargueritetoinquire,buthedidnotpluckoffherleaves;hepressedakissoneachofthem,forhethoughttherewasalwaysmoretobedonebykindness.
"DarlingMargueritedaisy,"hesaidtoher,"youarethewisestwomanofalltheflowers.PraytellmewhichoftheflowersIshallchooseformywife.Whichwillbemybride?WhenIknow,Iwillflydirectlytoher,andpropose."ButMargueritedidnotanswerhim;shewasoffendedthatheshouldcallherawomanwhenshewasonlyagirl;andthereisagreatdifference.Heaskedherasecondtime,andthenathird;butsheremaineddumb,andanswerednotaword.Thenhewouldwaitnolonger,butflewaway,tocommencehiswooingatonce.Itwasintheearlyspring,whenthecrocusandthesnowdropwereinfullbloom."Theyareverypretty,"thoughtthebutterfly;"charminglittlelasses;buttheyareratherformal."Then,astheyoungladsoftendo,helookedoutfortheeldergirls.Henextflewtotheanemones;thesewererathersourtohistaste.Theviolet,alittletoosentimental.Thelime-blossoms,toosmall,andbesides,therewassuchalargefamilyofthem.Theapple-blossoms,thoughtheylookedlikeroses,bloomedto-day,butmightfalloffto-morrow,withthefirstwindthatblew;andhethoughtthatamarriagewithoneofthemmightlasttooshortatime.Thepea-blossompleasedhimmostofall;shewaswhiteandred,gracefulandslender,andbelongedtothosedomesticmaidenswhohaveaprettyappearance,andcanyetbeusefulinthekitchen.Hewasjustabouttomakeheranoffer,when,closebythemaiden,hesawapod,withawitheredflowerhangingattheend.
"Whoisthat?"heasked.
"Thatismysister,"repliedthepea-blossom.
"Oh,indeed;andyouwillbelikehersomeday,"saidhe;andheflewawaydirectly,forhefeltquiteshocked.Ahoneysucklehungforthfromthehedge,infullbloom;butthereweresomanygirlslikeher,withlongfacesandsallowcomplexions.No;hedidnotlikeher.Butwhichonedidhelike?
Springwentby,andsummerdrewtowardsitsclose;autumncame;buthehadnotdecided.Theflowersnowappearedintheirmostgorgeousrobes,butallinvain;theyhadnotthefresh,fragrantairofyouth.Fortheheartasksforfragrance,evenwhenitisnolongeryoung;andthereisverylittleofthattobefoundinthedahliasorthedrychrysanthemums;thereforethebutterflyturnedtothemintontheground.Youknow,thisplanthasnoblossom;butitissweetnessallover,-fulloffragrancefromheadtofoot,withthescentofaflowerineveryleaf."Iwilltakeher,"saidthebutterfly;andhemadeheranoffer.Butthemintstoodsilentandstiff,asshelistenedtohim.Atlastshesaid,-"Friendship,ifyouplease;nothingmore.Iamold,andyouareold,butwemayliveforeachotherjustthesame;astomarrying-no;don’tletusappearridiculousatourage."
Andsoithappenedthatthebutterflygotnowifeatall.Hehadbeentoolongchoosing,whichisalwaysabadplan.Andthebutterflybecamewhatiscalledanoldbachelor.Itwaslateintheautumn,withrainyandcloudyweather.Thecoldwindblewoverthebowedbacksofthewillows,sothattheycreakedagain.Itwasnottheweatherforflyingaboutinsummerclothes;butfortunatelythebutterflywasnotoutinit.Hehadgotashelterbychance.Itwasinaroomheatedbyastove,andaswarmassummer.Hecouldexisthere,hesaid,wellenough.
"Butitisnotenoughmerelytoexist,"saidhe,"Ineedfreedom,sunshine,andalittleflowerforacompanion."Thenheflewagainstthewindow-pane,andwasseenandadmiredbythoseintheroom,whocaughthim,andstuckhimonapin,inaboxofcuriosities.Theycouldnotdomoreforhim.
"NowIamperchedonastalk,liketheflowers,"saidthebutterfly."Itisnotverypleasant,certainly;Ishouldimagineitissomethinglikebeingmarried;forhereIamstuckfast."Andwiththisthoughtheconsoledhimselfalittle.
"Thatseemsverypoorconsolation,"saidoneoftheplantsintheroom,thatgrewinapot.
"Ah,"thoughtthebutterfly,"onecan’tverywelltrusttheseplantsinpots;theyhavetoomuchtodowithmankind."

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