The beetle who went on his travels

THEBEETLEWHOWENTONHISTRAVELS故事

THEREwasonceanEmperorwhohadahorseshodwithgold.Hehadagoldenshoeoneachfoot,andwhywasthis?Hewasabeautifulcreature,withslenderlegs,bright,intelligenteyes,andamanethathungdownoverhisnecklikeaveil.Hehadcarriedhismasterthroughfireandsmokeinthebattle-field,withthebulletswhistlingroundhim;hehadkickedandbitten,andtakenpartinthefight,whentheenemyadvanced;and,withhismasteronhisback,hehaddashedoverthefallenfoe,andsavedthegoldencrownandtheEmperor’slife,whichwasofmorevaluethanthebrightestgold.ThisisthereasonoftheEmperor’shorsewearinggoldenshoes.
Abeetlecamecreepingforthfromthestable,wherethefarrierhadbeenshoeingthehorse."Greatones,first,ofcourse,"saidhe,"andthenthelittleones;butsizeisnotalwaysaproofofgreatness."Hestretchedouthisthinlegashespoke.
"Andpraywhatdoyouwant?"askedthefarrier.
"Goldenshoes,"repliedthebeetle.
"Why,youmustbeoutofyoursenses,"criedthefarrier.
"Goldenshoesforyou,indeed!"
"Yes,certainly;goldenshoes,"repliedthebeetle."AmInotjustasgoodasthatgreatcreatureyonder,whoiswaiteduponandbrushed,andhasfoodanddrinkplacedbeforehim?Anddon’tIbelongtotheroyalstables?""Butwhydoesthehorsehavegoldenshoes?"askedthefarrier;"ofcourseyouunderstandthereason?"
"Understand!Well,Iunderstandthatitisapersonalslighttome,"criedthebeetle."Itisdonetoannoyme,soIintendtogooutintotheworldandseekmyfortune."
"Goalongwithyou,"saidthefarrier.
"You’rearudefellow,"criedthebeetle,ashewalkedoutofthestable;andthenheflewforashortdistance,tillhefoundhimselfinabeautifulflower-garden,allfragrantwithrosesandlavender.Thelady-birds,withredandblackshellsontheirbacks,anddelicatewings,wereflyingabout,andoneofthemsaid,"Isitnotsweetandlovelyhere?Oh,howbeautifuleverythingis."
"Iamaccustomedtobetterthings,"saidthebeetle."Doyoucallthisbeautiful?Why,thereisnotevenadung-heap."Thenhewenton,andundertheshadowofalargehaystackhefoundacaterpillarcrawlingalong."Howbeautifulthisworldis!"saidthecaterpillar."Thesunissowarm,Iquiteenjoyit.AndsoonIshallgotosleep,anddieastheycallit,butIshallwakeupwithbeautifulwingstoflywith,likeabutterfly."
"Howconceitedyouare!"exclaimedthebeetle."Flyaboutasabutterfly,indeed!whatofthat.IhavecomeoutoftheEmperor’sstable,andnoonethere,noteventheEmperor’shorse,who,infact,wearsmycast-offgoldenshoes,hasanyideaofflying,exceptingmyself.Tohavewingsandfly!why,Icandothatalready;"andsosaying,hespreadhiswingsandflewaway."Idon’twanttobedisgusted,"hesaidtohimself,"andyetIcan’thelpit."Soonafter,hefelldownuponanextensivelawn,andforatimepretendedtosleep,butatlastfellasleepinearnest.Suddenlyaheavyshowerofraincamefallingfromtheclouds.Thebeetlewokeupwiththenoiseandwouldhavebeengladtocreepintotheearthforshelter,buthecouldnot.Hewastumbledoverandoverwiththerain,sometimesswimmingonhisstomachandsometimesonhisback;andasforflying,thatwasoutofthequestion.Hebegantodoubtwhetherheshouldescapewithhislife,soheremained,quietlylyingwherehewas.Afterawhiletheweatherclearedupalittle,andthebeetlewasabletorubthewaterfromhiseyes,andlookabouthim.Hesawsomethinggleaming,andhemanagedtomakehiswayuptoit.Itwaslinenwhichhadbeenlaidtobleachonthegrass.Hecreptintoafoldofthedamplinen,whichcertainlywasnotsocomfortableaplacetolieinasthewarmstable,buttherewasnothingbetter,soheremainedlyingthereforawholedayandnight,andtherainkeptonallthetime.Towardsmorninghecreptoutofhishiding-place,feelinginaverybadtemperwiththeclimate.
Twofrogsweresittingonthelinen,andtheirbrighteyesactuallyglistenedwithpleasure.
"Wonderfulweatherthis,"criedoneofthem,"andsorefreshing.Thislinenholdsthewatertogethersobeautifully,thatmyhindlegsquiverasifIweregoingtoswim."
"Ishouldliketoknow,"saidanother,"Iftheswallowwhofliessofarinhermanyjourneystoforeignlands,evermetwithabetterclimatethanthis.Whatdeliciousmoisture!Itisaspleasantaslyinginawetditch.Iamsureanyonewhodoesnotenjoythishasnoloveforhisfatherland."
"HaveyoueverbeenintheEmperor’sstable?"askedthebeetle."Therethemoistureiswarmandrefreshing;that’stheclimateforme,butIcouldnottakeitwithmeonmytravels.Istherenotevenadunghillhereinthisgarden,whereapersonofrank,likemyself,couldtakeuphisabodeandfeelathome?"Butthefrogseitherdidnotorwouldnotunderstandhim.
"Ineveraskaquestiontwice,"saidthebeetle,afterhehadaskedthisonethreetimes,andreceivednoanswer.Thenhewentonalittlefartherandstumbledagainstapieceofbrokencrockery-ware,whichcertainlyoughtnottohavebeenlyingthere.Butasitwasthere,itformedagoodshelteragainstwindandweathertoseveralfamiliesofearwigswhodweltinit.Theirrequirementswerenotmany,theywereverysociable,andfullofaffectionfortheirchildren,somuchsothateachmotherconsideredherownchildthemostbeautifulandcleverofthemall.
"Ourdearsonhasengagedhimself,"saidonemother,"dearinnocentboy;hisgreatestambitionisthathemayonedaycreepintoaclergyman’sear.Thatisaveryartlessandloveablewish;andbeingengagedwillkeephimsteady.Whathappinessforamother!"
"Ourson,"saidanother,"hadscarcelycreptoutoftheegg,whenhewasoffonhistravels.Heisalllifeandspirits,Iexpecthewillwearouthishornswithrunning.Howcharmingthisisforamother,isitnotMr.Beetle?"forsheknewthestrangerbyhishornycoat.
"Youarebothquiteright,"saidhe;sotheybeggedhimtowalkin,thatistocomeasfarashecouldunderthebrokenpieceofearthenware.
"Nowyoushallalsoseemylittleearwigs,"saidathirdandafourthmother,"theyarelovelylittlethings,andhighlyamusing.Theyareneverill-behaved,exceptwhentheyareuncomfortableintheirinside,whichunfortunatelyoftenhappensattheirage."
Thuseachmotherspokeofherbaby,andtheirbabiestalkedaftertheirownfashion,andmadeuseofthelittlenipperstheyhaveintheirtailstonipthebeardofthebeetle.
"Theyarealwaysbusyaboutsomething,thelittlerogues,"saidthemother,beamingwithmaternalpride;butthebeetlefeltitabore,andhethereforeinquiredthewaytothenearestdung-heap.
"Thatisquiteoutinthegreatworld,ontheothersideoftheditch,"answeredanearwig,"Ihopenoneofmychildrenwillevergosofar,itwouldbethedeathofme."
"ButIshalltrytogetsofar,"saidthebeetle,andhewalkedoffwithouttakinganyformalleave,whichisconsideredapolitethingtodo.Whenhearrivedattheditch,hemetseveralfriends,allthembeetles;"Welivehere,"theysaid,"andweareverycomfortable.Mayweaskyoutostepdownintothisrichmud,youmustbefatiguedafteryourjourney."
"Certainly,"saidthebeetle,"Ishallbemosthappy;Ihavebeenexposedtotherain,andhavehadtolieuponlinen,andcleanlinessisathingthatgreatlyexhaustsme;Ihavealsopainsinoneofmywingsfromstandinginthedraughtunderapieceofbrokencrockery.Itisreallyquiterefreshingtobewithone’sownkindredagain."
"Perhapsyoucamefromadung-heap,"observedtheoldestofthem."No,indeed,Icamefromamuchgranderplace,"repliedthebeetle;"Icamefromtheemperor’sstable,whereIwasborn,withgoldenshoesonmyfeet.Iamtravellingonasecretembassy,butyoumustnotaskmeanyquestions,forIcannotbetraymysecret."
Thenthebeetlesteppeddownintotherichmud,wheresatthreeyoung-ladybeetles,whotittered,becausetheydidnotknowwhattosay.
"Noneofthemareengagedyet,"saidtheirmother,andthebeetlemaidenstitteredagain,thistimequiteinconfusion.
"Ihaveneverseengreaterbeauties,evenintheroyalstables,"exclaimedthebeetle,whowasnowrestinghimself."Don’tspoilmygirls,"saidthemother;"anddon’ttalktothem,pray,unlessyouhaveseriousintentions."Butofcoursethebeetle’sintentionswereserious,andafterawhileourfriendwasengaged.Themothergavethemherblessing,andalltheotherbeetlescried"hurrah."
Immediatelyafterthebetrothalcamethemarriage,fortherewasnoreasontodelay.Thefollowingdaypassedverypleasantly,andthenextwastolerablycomfortable;butonthethirditbecamenecessaryforhimtothinkofgettingfoodforhiswife,and,perhaps,forchildren.
"Ihaveallowedmyselftobetakenin,"saidourbeetletohimself,"andnowthere’snothingtobedonebuttotakethemin,inreturn."
Nosoonersaidthandone.Awayhewent,andstayedawayalldayandallnight,andhiswiferemainedbehindaforsakenwidow.
"Oh,"saidtheotherbeetles,"thisfellowthatwehavereceivedintoourfamilyisnothingbutacompletevagabond.Hehasgoneawayandlefthiswifeaburdenuponourhands."
"Well,shecanbeunmarriedagain,andremainherewithmyotherdaughters,"saidthemother."Fieonthevillainthatforsookher!"
Inthemeantimethebeetle,whohadsailedacrosstheditchonacabbageleaf,hadbeenjourneyingontheotherside.Inthemorningtwopersonscameuptotheditch.Whentheysawhimtheytookhimupandturnedhimoverandover,lookingverylearnedallthetime,especiallyone,whowasaboy."Allahseestheblackbeetleintheblackstone,andtheblackrock.IsnotthatwrittenintheKoran?"heasked.
Thenhetranslatedthebeetle’snameintoLatin,andsaidagreatdealuponthecreature’snatureandhistory.Thesecondperson,whowasolderandascholar,proposedtocarrythebeetlehome,astheywantedjustsuchgoodspecimensasthis.Ourbeetleconsideredthisspeechagreatinsult,soheflewsuddenlyoutofthespeaker’shand.Hiswingsweredrynow,sotheycarriedhimtoagreatdistance,tillatlasthereachedahothouse,whereasashoftheglassroofwaspartlyopen,sohequietlyslippedinandburiedhimselfinthewarmearth."Itisverycomfortablehere,"hesaidtohimself,andsoonafterfellasleep.Thenhedreamedthattheemperor’shorsewasdying,andhadlefthimhisgoldenshoes,andalso;promisedthatheshouldhavetwomore.Allthiswasverydelightful,andwhenthebeetlewokeuphecreptforthandlookedaroundhim.Whatasplendidplacethehothousewas!Attheback,largepalm-treesweregrowing;andthesunlightmadetheleaves-lookquiteglossy;andbeneaththemwhataprofusionofluxuriantgreen,andofflowersredlikeflame,yellowasamber,orwhiteasnew-fallensnow!"Whatawonderfulquantityofplants,"criedthebeetle;"howgoodtheywilltastewhentheyaredecayed!Thisisacapitalstore-room.Theremustcertainlybesomerelationsofminelivinghere;IwilljustseeifIcanfindanyonewithwhomIcanassociate.I’mproud,certainly;butI’malsoproudofbeingso.Thenheprowledaboutintheearth,andthoughtwhatapleasantdreamthatwasaboutthedyinghorse,andthegoldenshoeshehadinherited.Suddenlyahandseizedthebeetle,andsqueezedhim,andturnedhimroundandround.Thegardener’slittlesonandhisplayfellowhadcomeintothehothouse,and,seeingthebeetle,wantedtohavesomefunwithhim.First,hewaswrapped,inavine-leaf,andputintoawarmtrousers’pocket.Hetwistedandturnedaboutwithallhismight,buthegotagoodsqueezefromtheboy’shand,asahintforhimtokeepquiet.Thentheboywentquicklytowardsalakethatlayattheendofthegarden.Herethebeetlewasputintoanoldbrokenwoodenshoe,inwhichalittlestickhadbeenfasteneduprightforamast,andtothismastthebeetlewasboundwithapieceofworsted.Nowhewasasailor,andhadtosailaway.Thelakewasnotverylarge,buttothebeetleitseemedanocean,andhewassoastonishedatitssizethathefelloveronhisback,andkickedouthislegs.
Thenthelittleshipsailedaway;sometimesthecurrentofthewaterseizedit,butwheneveritwenttoofarfromtheshoreoneoftheboysturneduphistrousers,andwentinafterit,andbroughtitbacktoland.Butatlast,justasitwentmerrilyoutagain,thetwoboyswerecalled,andsoangrily,thattheyhastenedtoobey,andranawayasfastastheycouldfromthepond,sothatthelittleshipwaslefttoitsfate.
Itwascarriedawayfartherandfartherfromtheshore,tillitreachedtheopensea.Thiswasaterribleprospectforthebeetle,forhecouldnotescapeinconsequenceofbeingboundtothemast.Thenaflycameandpaidhimavisit."Whatbeautifulweather,"saidthefly;"Ishallresthereandsunmyself.Youmusthaveapleasanttimeofit."
"Youspeakwithoutknowingthefacts,"repliedthebeetle;"don’tyouseethatIamaprisoner?"
"Ah,butI’mnotaprisoner,"remarkedthefly,andawayheflew.
"Well,nowIknowtheworld,"saidthebeetletohimself;"it’sanabominableworld;I’mtheonlyrespectablepersoninit.First,theyrefusememygoldenshoes;thenIhavetolieondamplinen,andtostandinadraught;andtocrownall,theyfastenawifeuponme.Then,whenIhavemadeastepforwardintheworld,andfoundoutacomfortableposition,justasIcouldwishittobe,oneofthesehumanboyscomesandtiesmeup,andleavesmetothemercyofthewildwaves,whiletheemperor’sfavoritehorsegoesprancingaboutproudlyonhisgoldenshoes.Thisvexesmemorethananything.Butitisuselesstolookforsympathyinthisworld.Mycareerhasbeenveryinteresting,butwhat’stheuseofthatifnobodyknowsanythingaboutit?Theworlddoesnotdeservetobemadeacquaintedwithmyadventures,foritoughttohavegivenmegoldenshoeswhentheemperor’shorsewasshod,andIstretchedoutmyfeettobeshod,too.IfIhadreceivedgoldenshoesIshouldhavebeenanornamenttothestable;nowIamlosttothestableandtotheworld.Itisalloverwithme."
Butallwasnotyetover.Aboat,inwhichwereafewyounggirls,camerowingup."Look,yonderisanoldwoodenshoesailingalong,"saidoneoftheyoungergirls."Andthere’sapoorlittlecreatureboundfastinit,"saidanother.
Theboatnowcameclosetoourbeetle’sship,andtheyounggirlsfisheditoutofthewater.Oneofthemdrewasmallpairofscissorsfromherpocket,andcuttheworstedwithouthurtingthebeetle,andwhenshesteppedonshoresheplacedhimonthegrass."There,"shesaid,"creepaway,orfly,ifthoucanst.Itisasplendidthingtohavethyliberty."Awayflewthebeetle,straightthroughtheopenwindowofalargebuilding;therehesankdown,tiredandexhausted,exactlyonthemaneoftheemperor’sfavoritehorse,whowasstandinginhisstable;andthebeetlefoundhimselfathomeagain.Forsometimeheclungtothemane,thathemightrecoverhimself."Well,"hesaid,"hereIam,seatedontheemperor’sfavoritehorse,-sittinguponhimasifIweretheemperorhimself.Butwhatwasitthefarrieraskedme?Ah,Iremembernow,-that’sagoodthought,-heaskedmewhythegoldenshoesweregiventothehorse.Theanswerisquitecleartome,now.Theyweregiventothehorseonmyaccount."Andthisreflectionputthebeetleintoagoodtemper.Thesun’sraysalsocamestreamingintothestable,andshoneuponhim,andmadetheplacelivelyandbright."Travellingexpandsthemindverymuch,"saidthebeetle."Theworldisnotsobadafterall,ifyouknowhowtotakethingsastheycome.

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