登陆注册
5240600000006

第6章 Chapter Two The Coming of King Rinkitink(3)

"For four days I have lived in that narrow boat," said he, "with no other amusement than to watch the rowers and quarrel with Bilbil; so I am very glad to be on land again with such friendly and agreeable people."

"You do us great honor," said King Kitticut, with a polite bow.

"Not at all -- not at all, my brother. This Pingaree must be a wonderful island, for its pearls are the admiration of all the world; nor will I deny the fact that my kingdom would be a poor one without the riches and glory it derives from the trade in your pearls. So I have wished for many years to come here to see you, but my people said: 'No! Stay at home and behave yourself, or we'll know the reason why.'"

"Will they not miss Your Majesty from your palace at Gilgad?" inquired Kitticut.

"I think not," answered Rinkitink. "You see, one of my clever subjects has written a parchment entitled 'How to be Good,' and I believed it would benefit me to study it, as I consider the accomplishment of being good one of the fine arts. I had just scolded severely my Lord High Chancellor for coming to breakfast without combing his eyebrows, and was so sad and regretful at having hurt the poor man's feelings that I decided to shut myself up in my own room and study the scroll until I knew how to be good -- hee, heek, keek, eek, eek! --to be good! Clever idea, that, wasn't it? Mighty clever! And I issued a decree that no one should enter my room, under pain of my royal displeasure, until I was ready to come out. They're awfully afraid of my royal displeasure, although not a bit afraid of me.

Then I put the parchment in my pocket and escaped through the back door to my boat -- and here I am. Oo, hoo-hoo, keek-eek! Imagine the fuss there would be in Gilgad if my subjects knew where I am this very minute!"

"I would like to see that parchment," said the solemn-eyed Prince Inga, "for if it indeed teaches one to be good it must be worth its weight in pearls."

"Oh, it's a fine essay," said Rinkitink, "and beautifully written with a goosequill. Listen to this:

You'll enjoy it -- tee, hee, hee! -- enjoy it."

He took from his pocket a scroll of parchment tied with a black ribbon, and having carefully unrolled it, he proceeded to read as follows:

"'A Good Man is One who is Never Bad.' How's that, eh? Fine thought, what? 'Therefore, in order to be Good, you must avoid those Things which are Evil.' Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo! -- how clever! When I get back I shall make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, beyond question, he is the wisest man in my kingdom -as he has often told me himself." With this, Rinkitink lay back in his chair and chuckled his queer chuckle until he coughed, and coughed until he choked and choked until he sneezed. And he wrinkled his face in such a jolly, droll way that few could keep from laughing with him, and even the good Queen was forced to titter behind her fan.

When Rinkitink had recovered from his fit of laughter and had wiped his eyes upon a fine lace handkerchief, Prince Inga said to him:

"The parchment speaks truly."

"Yes, it is true beyond doubt," answered Rinkitink, "and if I could persuade Bilbil to read it he would be a much better goat than he is now. Here is another selection: 'To avoid saying Unpleasant Things, always Speak Agreeably.' That would hit Bilbil, to a dot. And here is one that applies to you, my Prince: 'Good Children are seldom punished, for the reason that they deserve no punishment.' Now, I think that is neatly put, and shows the author to be a deep thinker. But the advice that has impressed me the most is in the following paragraph: 'You may not find it as Pleasant to be Good as it is to be Bad, but Other People will find it more Pleasant.' Haw-hoo-ho! keek-eek! 'Other people will find it more pleasant!' -- hee, hee, heek, keek! -- 'more pleasant.' Dear me -- dear me! Therein lies a noble incentive to be good, and whenever I get time I'm surely going to try it."

Then he wiped his eyes again with the lace handkerchief and, suddenly remembering his dinner, seized his knife and fork and began eating.

同类推荐
  • 太上瑶台益算宝籍延年忏

    太上瑶台益算宝籍延年忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 典论

    典论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Miscellaneous Papers

    Miscellaneous Papers

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • El Verdugo

    El Verdugo

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 造像量度经

    造像量度经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一世书香

    一世书香

    贱民姚肆不堪忍受嗜血权贵的压迫,走上求学科考之路以图改写被欺凌的命运,无权无势还是女儿身的她,成为权贵眼中的笑柄,然世道再乱,不过人心,你有张良计我有过墙梯,进书院耍权贵破阴谋识诡计,她只一心爬出泥潭,然后对这个病态的乱世发起攻击。
  • 最强装逼升级系统

    最强装逼升级系统

    【火爆爽文,一日十更!】打人升级、打脸升级、打怪升级、打爆一切不服者!杀人?我用屠龙刀;赌石?我用透视眼;泡妞?我用迷情药水;装逼?呵呵,年轻人,当年我装逼的时候,你还是一滴液体!!
  • 使徒的地下城

    使徒的地下城

    使徒的故事远没有想象的那么简单,十二神的根源造就了使徒,同时也将使徒带入了命运的齿轮,泰拉在十二神的先是中灭亡,魔界也必将在使徒的灭亡中复生!好吧,关于这本书的主题其实就是设计技能树和地下城副本,作者是半个设定党。
  • 动动就健康

    动动就健康

    本书精选了88种行之有效的锻炼方法,并按照不同时间、地点等分类将所有的小动作配以清晰的指导步骤和插图,让你一目了然,真正做到动动就健康。本书还精心提供了近二百个不可不知的生活小常识,涉及到我们日常的方方面面,让你快意享受更舒适、更幸福的人生。
  • 陈云的故事

    陈云的故事

    《陈云的故事(修订版)》选取陈云一生中16个有代表性的主题,通过亲历者、见证者的回忆、评说,充分运用文物、档案、文献资料,以独特的视角和娓娓道来的方式,讲述陈云鲜为人知的故事,全面、真实地展现一代伟人崇高的精神风范、鲜明的革命风格、高尚的品德情操和独特的人格魅力。?
  • 易经的预测

    易经的预测

    据史籍记载,全世界最聪明的人都学习过《易经》:伏羲、周文王、孔子、秦始皇、汉武帝、唐太宗、苏轼……更令人称奇的是,足巨今300多年前,德国数学家菜布尼茨看到了一本《易经》,通过研究卦爻,发明了世界上第一台二进制计算机;瑞士心理学家古斯塔夫.琼认为《易经》是一眼取之不尽用之不竭的智慧源泉;诺贝尔物理学奖获得者内尔斯。波尔甚至把太极图印在自己的衣袖上……通过一代代密室暗传下来的易经预测学,被称为“群经之首”的《易经》运用已经发展到一个全新阶段。人生的计划怎样才能成功?怎样增进与我所爱的人之间的关系?什么样的工作能给我带来最大的满足和经济收入?
  • 综漫之攻略者

    综漫之攻略者

    回归之日,意外变身的冷雨将如何向仇人复仇,为了恢复男儿身只能穿越动漫世界,攻略动漫人物,收集爱之力,在攻略的路上,冷雨发现还可以通过一些方式收集爱之力,性格也变得腹黑起来,可是攻略的时候,却发现这背后根本没有这么简单,隐藏着一个惊天的秘密!本书是接变身之地下城邂待的剑仙的故事。春物篇已结束,刀剑已结束,约战续作中!
  • 极品农家

    极品农家

    斗极品亲戚其乐无穷! 本文讲述一个穿越女逆袭斗极品的重生故事! 一个穿越女没有节操的霸道成功之路!。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 本文根据菊花茶亲的真实故事改编。 感谢葱娘主编大人,制作的封面~~~万分的感谢!!! 本书的扣扣群,请见作者信息。
  • 成大事必备的148个成功法则(下)

    成大事必备的148个成功法则(下)

    由于所处环境和生活背景的不同,每个人对成功的理解也各不相同,然而殊途同归,目标都是一样的——实现自己的人生价值。本书收集了大量中外成功人士的例子,并对他们的成功经验加以分析研究,从而总结出了确保你人生成功的148个法则。遵照这些法则,一步一步完善自我,你就会逐渐实现你的成功之梦。
  • 学霸,不要逃

    学霸,不要逃

    你是大神,你冷酷,我化身为小太阳.总有一天扑倒你.大家都知道刘悠悠一直迷恋化学系大神沈涛,很多人都知道.当然姜以温也知道。