妙笔文学

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第20部分（第1页）

them，　and　called　them　his　servants。　No　pity　had　he　for　the　poor，　or　for　those　who　were　blind　or　maimed　or　in　any　way　afflicted，　but　would　cast　stones　at　them　and　drive　them　forth　on　to　the　highway，　and　bid　them　beg　their　bread　elsewhere，　so　that　none　save　the　outlaws　came　twice　to　that　village　to　ask　for　alms。　Indeed，　he　was　as　one　enamoured　of　beauty，　and　would　mock　at　the　weakly　and　ill…favoured，　and　make　jest　of　them；and　himself　he　loved，　and　in　summer，　when　the　winds　were　still，　he　would　lie　by　the　well　in　the　priest‘s　orchard　and　look　down　at　the　marvel　of　his　own　face，　and　laugh　for　the　pleasure　he　had　in　his　fairness。

Often　did　the　Woodcutter　and　his　wife　chide　him，　and　say：　“We　did　not　deal　with　thee　as　thou　dealest　with　those　who　are　left　desolate，　and　have　none　to　succour　them。　Wherefore　art　thou　so　cruel　to　all　who　need　pity？”

Often　did　the　old　priest　send　for　him，　and　seek　to　teach　him　the　love　of　living　things，　saying　to　him：　“The　fly　is　thy　brother。　Do　it　no　harm。　The　wild　birds　that　roam　through　the　forest　have　their　freedom。　Snare　them　not　for　thy　pleasure。　God　made　the　blind…worm　and　the　mole，　and　each　has　its　place。　Who　art　thou　to　bring　pain　into　God’s　world？　Even　the　cattle　of　the　field　praise　Him。”

But　the　Star…Child　heeded　not　their　words，　but　would　frown　and　flout，　and　go　back　to　his　panions，　and　lead　them。　And　his　panions　followed　him，　for　he　was　fair，　and　fleet　of　foot，　and　could　dance，　and　pipe，　and　make　music。　And　wherever　the　Star…Child　led　them　they　followed，　and　whatever　the　Star…Child　bade　them　do，　that　did　they。　And　when　he　pierced　with　a　sharp　reed　the　dim　eyes　of　the　mole，　they　laughed，　and　when　he　cast　stones　at　the　leper　they　laughed　also。　And　in　all　things　he　ruled　them，　and　they　became　hard　of　heart　even　as　he　was。

Now　there　passed　one　day　through　the　village　a　poor　beggar…woman。　Her　garments　were　torn　and　ragged，　and　her　feet　were　bleeding　from　the　rough　road　on　which　she　had　travelled，　and　she　was　in　very　evil　plight。　And　being　weary　she　sat　her　down　under　a　chestnut…tree　to　rest。

But　when　the　Star…Child　saw　her，　he　said　to　his　panions，　“See！　There　sitteth　a　foul　beggar…woman　under　that　fair　and　green…leaved　tree。　e，　let　us　drive　her　hence，　for　she　is　ugly　and　ill…favoured。”

So　he　came　near　and　threw　stones　at　her，　and　mocked　her，　and　she　looked　at　him　with　terror　in　her　eyes，　nor　did　she　move　her　gaze　from　him。　And　when　the　Woodcutter，　who　was　cleaving　logs　in　a　haggard　hard　by，　saw　what　the　Star…Child　was　doing，　he　ran　up　and　rebuked　him，　and　said　to　him：　“Surely　thou　art　hard　of　heart　and　knowest　not　mercy，　for　what　evil　has　this　poor　woman　done　to　thee　that　thou　shouldst　treat　her　in　this　wise？”

And　the　Star…Child　grew　red　with　anger，　and　stamped　his　foot　upon　the　ground，　and　said，　“Who　art　thou　to　question　me　what　I　do？　I　am　no　son　of　thine　to　do　thy　bidding。　”

“Thou　speakest　truly，　”　answered　the　Woodcutter，“yet　did　I　show　thee　pity　when　I　found　thee　in　the　forest。”

And　when　the　woman　heard　these　words　she　gave　a　loud　cry，　and　fell　into　a　swoon。　And　the　Woodcutter　carried　her　to　his　own　house，　and　his　wife　had　care　of　her，　and　when　she　rose　up　from　the　swoon　into　which　she　had　fallen，　they　set　meat　and　drink　before　her，　and　bade　her　have　fort。

But　she　would　neither　eat　nor　drink，　but　said　to　the　Woodcutter，　“Didst　thou　not　say　that　the　child　was　found　in　the　forest？And　was　it　not　ten　years　from　this　day？”

And　the　Woodcutter　answered，　“Yea，　it　was　in　the　forest　that　I　found　him，　and　it　is　ten　years　from　this　day。”

“And　what　signs　didst　thou　find　with　him？”　she　cried。　“Bare　he　not　upon　his　neck　a　chain　of　amber？　Was　not　round　him　a　cloak　of　gold　tissue　broidered　with　stars？”

“Truly，”　answered　the　Woodcutter，　“it　was　even　as　thou　sayest。”　And　he　took　the　cloak　and　the　amber　chain　from　the　chest　where　they　lay，　and　showed　them　to　her。

And　when　she　saw　them　she　wept　for　joy，　and　said，“He　is　my　little　son　whom　I　lost　in　the　forest。　I　pray　thee　send　for　him　quickly，　for　in　search　of　him　have　I　wandered　over　the　whole　world。”

So　the　Woodcutter　and　his　wife　went　out　and　called　to　the　Star…Child，　and　said　to　him，　“Go　into　the　house，　and　there　shalt　thou　find　thy　mother，　who　is　waiting　for　thee。　”

So　he　ran　in，　filled　with　wonder　and　great　gladness。　But　when　he　saw　her　who　was　waiting　there，　he　laughed　scornfully　and　said，　“Why，　where　is　my　mother？　For　I　see　none　here　but　this　vile　beggar…woman。”

And　the　woman　answered　him，　“I　am　thy　mother。　”

“Thou　art　mad　to　say　so，”cried　the　Star…Child　angrily。　“I　am　no　son　of　thine，　for　thou　art　a　beggar，　and　ugly，　and　in　rags。　Therefore　get　thee　hence，　and　let　me　see　thy　foul　face　no　more。　”

“Nay，　but　thou　art　indeed　my　little　son，　whom　I　bare　in　the　forest，”　she　cried，　and　she　fell　on　her　knees，　and　held　out　her　arms　to　him。　“The　robbers　stole　thee　from　me，　and　left　thee　to　die，”　she　murmured，　“but　I　recognised　thee　when　I　saw　thee，　and　the　signs　also　have　I　recognised，　the　cloak　of　golden　tissue　and　the　amber　chain。　Therefore　I　pray　thee　e　with　me，　for　over　the　whole　world　have　I　wandered　in　search　of　thee。　e　with　me，　my　son，　for　I　have　need　of　thy　love。”

But　the　Star…Child　stirred　not　from　his　place，　but　shut　the　doors　of　his　heart　against　her，　nor　was　there　any　sound　heard　save　the　sound　of　the　woman　weeping　for　pain。

And　at　last　he　spoke　to　her，　and　his　voice　was　hard　and　bitter。　“If　in　very　truth　thou　art　my　mother，”　he　said，　“it　had　been　better　hadst　thou　stayed　away，　and　not　e　here　to　bring　me　to　shame，　seeing　that　I　thought　I　was　the　child　of　some　Star，　and　not　a　beggar’s　child，　as　thou　tellest　me　that　I　am。　Therefore　get　thee　hence，　and　let　me　see　thee　no　more。　”

“Alas！　my　son，　”　she　cried，　“wilt　thou　not　kiss　me　before　I　go？For　I　have　suffered　much　to　find　thee。”

“Nay，”　said　the　Star…Child，　“but　thou　art　too　foul　to　look　at，　and　rather　would　I　kiss　the　adder　or　the　toad　than　thee。”

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