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dream days-第19部分

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as four cart…horses and covered with blue scales; cannot keep

altogether out of the public view。  And so in the village tavern

of nights the fact that a real live dragon sat brooding in the

cave on the Downs was naturally a subject for talk。  Though the

villagers were extremely frightened; they were rather proud as

well。  It was a distinction to have a dragon of your own; and it

was felt to be a feather in the cap of the village。  Still; all

were agreed that this sort of thing couldn't be allowed to go on。



The dreadful beast must be exterminated; the country…side must be

freed from this pest; this terror; this destroying scourge。  The

fact that not even a hen roost was the worse for the dragon's

arrival wasn't allowed to have anything to do with it。  He was a

dragon; and he couldn't deny it; and if he didn't choose to

behave as such that was his own lookout。  But in spite of

much valiant talk no hero was found willing to take sword and

spear and free the suffering village and win deathless fame; and

each night's heated discussion always ended in nothing。 

Meanwhile the dragon; a happy Bohemian; lolled on the turf;

enjoyed the sunsets; told antediluvian anecdotes to the Boy; and

polished his old verses while meditating on fresh ones。



One day the Boy; on walking in to the village; found everything

wearing a festal appearance which was not to be accounted for in

the calendar。  Carpets and gay…coloured stuffs were hung out of

the windows; the church…bells clamoured noisily; the little

street was flower…strewn; and the whole population jostled each

other along either side of it; chattering; shoving; and ordering

each other to stand back。  The Boy saw a friend of his own age in

the crowd and hailed him。



〃What's up?〃 he cried。  〃Is it the players; or bears; or a

circus; or what?〃



〃It's all right;〃 his friend hailed back。  〃He's a…coming。〃



〃WHO'S a…coming?〃 demanded the Boy; thrusting into the throng。



〃Why; St。 George; of course;〃 replied his friend。  〃He's heard

tell of our dragon; and he's comin' on purpose to slay the deadly

beast; and free us from his horrid yoke。  O my! won't there be a

jolly fight!〃



Here was news indeed!  The Boy felt that he ought to make quite

sure for himself; and he wriggled himself in between the legs of

his good…natured elders; abusing them all the time for their

unmannerly habit of shoving。  Once in the front rank; he

breathlessly awaited the arrival。



Presently from the far…away end of the line came the sound of

cheering。  Next; the measured tramp of a great war…horse

made his heart beat quicker; and then he found himself cheering

with the rest; as; amidst welcoming shouts; shrill cries of

women; uplifting of babies and waving of handkerchiefs; St。

George paced slowly up the street。  The Boy's heart stood still

and he breathed with sobs; the beauty and the grace of the hero

were so far beyond anything he had yet seen。  His fluted armour

was inlaid with gold; his plumed helmet hung at his saddle…bow;

and his thick fair hair framed a face gracious and gentle beyond

expression till you caught the sternness in his eyes。  He drew

rein in front of the little inn; and the villagers crowded round

with greetings and thanks and voluble statements of their wrongs

and grievances and oppressions。  The Boy heard the grave gentle

voice of the Saint; assuring them that all would be well

now; and that he would stand by them and see them righted

and free them from their foe; then he dismounted and passed

through the doorway and the crowd poured in after him。  But the

Boy made off up the hill as fast as he could lay his legs to the

ground。



〃It's all up; dragon!〃 he shouted as soon as he was within sight

of the beast。  〃He's coming!  He's here now!  You'll have to pull

yourself together and DO something at last!〃



The dragon was licking his scales and rubbing them with a bit of

house…flannel the Boy's mother had lent him; till he shone like a

great turquoise。



〃Don't be VIOLENT; Boy;〃 he said without looking round。  〃Sit

down and get your breath; and try and remember that the noun

governs the verb; and then perhaps you'll be good enough to tell

me WHO'S coming?〃



〃That's right; take it coolly;〃 said the Boy。  〃Hope you'll be

half as cool when I've got through with my news。  It's only St。

George who's coming; that's all; he rode into the village half…

an…hour ago。  Of course you can lick hima great big fellow like

you!  But I thought I'd warn you; 'cos he's sure to be round

early; and he's got the longest; wickedest…looking spear you ever

did see!〃  And the Boy got up and began to jump round in sheer

delight at the prospect of the battle。



〃O deary; deary me;〃 moaned the dragon; 〃this is too awful。  I

won't see him; and that's flat。  I don't want to know the fellow

at all。  I'm sure he's not nice。  You must tell him to go away at

once; please。  Say he can write if he likes; but I can't give him

an interview。  I'm not seeing anybody at present。〃



〃Now dragon; dragon;〃 said the Boy imploringly; 〃don't be

perverse and wrongheaded。  You've GOT to fight him some time

or other; you know; 'cos he's St。 George and you're the dragon。 

Better get it over; and then we can go on with the sonnets。  And

you ought to consider other people a little; too。  If it's been

dull up here for you; think how dull it's been for me!〃



〃My dear little man;〃 said the dragon solemnly; 〃just understand;

once for all; that I can't fight and I won't fight。  I've never

fought in my life; and I'm not going to begin now; just to give

you a Roman holiday。  In old days I always let the other

fellowsthe EARNEST fellowsdo all the fighting; and no

doubt that's why I have the pleasure of being here now。〃



〃But if you don't fight he'll cut your head off!〃 gasped the Boy;

miserable at the prospect of losing both his fight and his

friend。



〃Oh; I think not;〃 said the dragon in his lazy way。  〃You'll be

able to arrange something。  I've every confidence in you; you're

such a MANAGER。  Just run down; there's a dear chap; and make

it all right。  I leave it entirely to you。〃



The Boy made his way back to the village in a state of great

despondency。  First of all; there wasn't going to be any fight;

next; his dear and honoured friend the dragon hadn't shown up in

quite such a heroic light as he would have liked; and lastly;

whether the dragon was a hero at heart or not; it made no

difference; for St。 George would most undoubtedly cut his head

off。  〃Arrange things indeed!〃 he said bitterly to himself。  〃The

dragon treats the whole affair as if it was an invitation to tea

and croquet。〃



The villagers were straggling homewards as he passed up the

street; all of them in the highest spirits; and gleefully

discussing the splendid fight that was in store。  The Boy pursued

his way to the inn; and passed into the principal chamber; where

St。 George now sat alone; musing over the chances of the fight;

and the sad stories of rapine and of wrong that had so lately

been poured into his sympathetic ears。



〃May I come in; St。 George?〃 said the Boy politely; as he paused

at the door。  〃I want to talk to you about this little matter of

the dragon; if you're not tired of it by this time。〃



〃Yes; come in; Boy;〃 said the Saint kindly。  〃Another tale of

misery and wrong; I fear me。  Is it a kind parent; then; of whom

the tyrant has bereft you?  Or some tender sister or brother? 

Well; it shall soon be avenged。〃



〃Nothing of the sort;〃 said the Boy。  〃There's a misunderstanding

somewhere; and I want to put it right。  The fact is; this is

a GOOD dragon。〃



〃Exactly;〃 said St。 George; smiling pleasantly; 〃I quite

understand。  A good DRAGON。  Believe me; I do not in the least

regret that he is an adversary worthy of my steel; and no feeble

specimen of his noxious tribe。〃



〃But he's NOT a noxious tribe;〃 cried the Boy distressedly。 

〃Oh dear; oh dear; how STUPID men are when they get an idea

into their heads!  I tell you he's a GOOD dragon; and a friend

of mine; and tells me the most beautiful stories you ever heard;

all about old times and when he was little。  And he's been so

kind to mother; and mother'd do anything for him。  And father

likes him too; though father doesn't hold with art and poetry

much; and always falls asleep when the dragon starts talking

about STYLE。  But the fact is; nobody can help liking him when

once they know him。  He's so engaging and so trustful; and

as simple as a child!〃



〃Sit down; and draw your chair up;〃 said St。 George。  〃I like a

fellow who sticks up for his friends; and I'm sure the dragon has

his good points; if he's got a friend like you。  But that's not

the question。  All this evening I've been listening; with grief

and anguish unspeakable; to tales of murder; theft; and wrong;

rather too highly coloured; perhaps; not always quite convincing;

but f
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