023-第2部分

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eyes　as　a　token　that　she　had　obeyed。

But　the　old　mother　wept　to　think　such　innocent　blood　was　to
be　shed；　and　had　a　hind　brought　by　night　and　cut　out　her　tongue
and　eyes；　and　kept　them。　　Then　said　she　to　the　queen；　〃I　cannot
have　you　killed　as　the　king　commands；　but　here　you　may　stay
no　longer。　　Go　forth　into　the　wide　world　with　your　child；　and
never　come　here　again。〃　　The　poor　woman　tied　her　child　on　her　back；
and　went　away　with　eyes　full　of　tears。　　She　came　into　a　great　wild
forest；　and　then　she　fell　on　her　knees　and　prayed　to　God；　and　the
angel　of　the　Lord　appeared　to　her　and　led　her　to　a　little　house
on　which　was　a　sign　with　the　words；　here　all　dwell　free。　　A
snow…white　maiden　came　out　of　the　little　house　and　said；　welcome；
lady　queen；　and　conducted　her　inside。　　Then　she　unbound　the
little　boy　from　her　back；　and　held　him　to　her　breast　that　he　might
feed；　and　laid　him　in　a　beautifully…made　little　bed。　　Then
said　the　poor　woman；　〃From　whence　do　you　know　that　I　was　a　queen？〃

The　white　maiden　answered；　〃I　am　an　angel　sent　by　God；　to　watch
over　you　and　your　child。〃　　The　queen　stayed　seven　years　in　the
little　house；　and　was　well　cared　for；　and　by　God's　grace；　because
of　her　piety；　her　hands　which　had　been　cut　off；　grew　once　more。

At　last　the　king　came　home　again　from　his　journey；　and　his　first
wish　was　to　see　his　wife　and　the　child。　　Then　his　aged　mother
began　to　weep　and　said；　〃You　wicked　man；　why　did　you　write　to　me
that　I　was　to　take　those　two　innocent　lives；〃　and　she　showed　him
the　two　letters　which　the　evil　one　had　forged；　and　then
continued；　〃I　did　as　you　bade　me；　and　she　showed　the　tokens；　the
tongue　and　eyes。〃　　Then　the　king　began　to　weep　for　his　poor　wife
and　his　little　son　so　much　more　bitterly　than　she　was　doing；
that　the　aged　mother　had　compassion　on　him　and　said；　〃be　at　peace；
she　still　lives；　I　secretly　caused　a　hind　to　be　killed；　and
took　these　tokens　from　it；　but　I　bound　the　child　to　your　wife's
back　and　bade　her　go　forth　into　the　wide　world；　and　made　her
promise　never　to　come　back　here　again；　because　you　were　so
angry　with　her。〃　　Then　spoke　the　king；　〃I　will　go　as　far　as
the　sky　is　blue；　and　will　neither　eat　nor　drink　until　I　have
found　again　my　dear　wife　and　my　child；　if　in　the　meantime　they
have　not　been　killed；　or　died　of　hunger。〃

Thereupon　the　king　traveled　about　for　seven　long　years；　and
sought　her　in　every　cleft　of　the　rocks　and　in　every　cave；　but
he　found　her　not；　and　thought　she　had　died　of　want。　　During　the
whole　time　he　neither　ate　nor　drank；　but　God　supported　him。　　At
length　he　came　into　a　great　forest；　and　found　therein　the　little
house　whose　sign　was；　here　all　dwell　free。　　Then　forth　came
the　white　maiden；　took　him　by　the　hand；　led　him　in；　and　said；
〃Welcome；　lord　king；〃　and　asked　him　from　whence　he　came。　　He
answered；　〃Soon　shall　I　have　traveled　about　for　the　space　of
seven　years；　and　I　seek　my　wife　and　her　child；　but　cannot　find
them。〃　　The　angel　offered　him　meat　and　drink；　but　he　did　not
take　anything；　and　only　wished　to　rest　a　little。　　Then　he　lay
down　to　sleep；　and　laid　a　handkerchief　over　his　face。

Thereupon　the　angel　went　into　the　chamber　where　the　queen
sat　with　her　son；　whom　she　usually　called　Sorrowful；　and
said　to　her；　go　out　with　your　child；　your　husband　has　come。　　So
she　went　to　the　place　where　he　lay；　and　the　handkerchief
fell　from　his　face。　　Then　said　she；　〃Sorrowful；　pick　up　your
father's　handkerchief；　and　cover　his　face　again。〃　　The　child　picked
it　up；　and　put　it　over　his　face　again。　　The　king　in　his　sleep
heard　what　passed；　and　had　pleasure　in　letting　the　handkerchief
fall　once　more。　　But　the　child　grew　impatient；　and　said；
〃Dear　mother；　how　can　I　cover　my　father's　face　when　I　have　no
father　in　this　world。　　I　have　learnt　to　say　the　prayer　…　Our
Father；　which　art　in　heaven　…　you　have　told　me　that　my　father
was　in　heaven；　and　was　the　good　God；　and　how　can　I　know　a　wild
man　like　this。　　He　is　not　my　father。〃　　When　the　king　heard　that；
he　got　up；　and　asked　who　they　were。　　Then　said
she；　〃I　am　your　wife；　and　that　is　your　son；　Sorrowful〃。　　And　he
saw　her　living　hands；　and　said；　〃My　wife　had　silver　hands。〃　　She
answered；　〃The　good　God　has　caused　my　natural　hands　to　grow　again；〃
and　the　angel　went　into　the　inner　room；　and　brought　the　silver
hands；　and　showed　them　to　him。　　Hereupon　he　knew　for　a　certainty
that　it　was　his　dear　wife　and　his　dear　child；　and　he　kissed
them；　and　was　glad；　and　said；　〃A　heavy　stone　has　fallen　from　off
my　heart。〃　　Then　the　angel　of　God　ate　with　them　once　again；　and
after　that　they　went　home　to　the　king's　aged　mother。　　There　were
great　rejoicings　everywhere；　and　the　king　and　queen　were　married
again；　and　lived　contentedly　to　their　happy　end。