登陆注册
37336000000098

第98章 How To Find Out A True Friend(2)

'You are no friend of mine,' thought the king's son, and began to declare he felt so ill he could not continue his journey.When he had given the young man a good start he set off himself, but the way seemed even longer and duller than before.'Oh, if I could only meet with a true friend he should be as a brother to me,' he sighed sadly; and as the thought passed through his mind, he noticed a youth going the same road as himself.

The youth came up to him and said, 'Which way are you going, my fine fellow?' And for the third time the king's son explained all about his mother's vow.Why, that is just like me,' cried the youth.

'Then let us ride on together,' answered the king's son.

Now the miles seemed to slip by, for the new comer was so lively and entertaining that the king's son could not help hoping that he indeed might prove to be the true friend.

More quickly than he could have thought possible they reached an inn by the road-side, and turning to his companion the king's son said, 'I am hungry; let us go in and have something to eat.' So they went in and ordered dinner, and when they had finished the king's son drew out of his pocket the last apple, and cut it into two unequal parts, and held both out to the stranger.And the stranger took the little piece, and the heart of the king's son was glad within him, for at last he had found the friend he had been looking for.

'Good youth,' he cried, 'we will be brothers, and what is mine shall be thine, and what is thine shall be mine.And together we will push on to the shrine, and if one of us dies on the road the other shall carry his body there.' And the stranger agreed to all he said, and they rode forward together.

It took them a whole year to reach the shrine, and they passed through many different lands on their way.One day they arrived tired and half-starved in a big city, and said to one another, 'Let us stay here for a little and rest before we set forth again.' So they hired a small house close to the royal castle, and took up their abode there.

The following morning the king of the country happened to step on to his balcony, and saw the young men in the garden, and said to himself, 'Dear me, those are wonderfully handsome youths; but one is handsomer than the other, and to him will I give my daughter to wife;' and indeed the king's son excelled his friend in beauty.

In order to set about his plan the king asked both the young men to dinner, and when they arrived at the castle he received them with the utmost kindness, and sent for his daughter, who was more lovely than both the sun and moon put together.But at bed-time the king caused the other young man to be given a poisoned drink, which killed him in a few minutes, for he thought to himself, 'If his friend dies the other will forget his pilgrimage, and will stay here and marry my daughter.'

When the king's son awoke the next morning he inquired of the servants where his friend had gone, as he did not see him.'He died suddenly last night,' said they, 'and is to be buried immediately.'

But the king's son sprang up, and cried, 'If my friend is dead I can stay here no longer, and cannot linger an hour in this house.'

'Oh, give up your journey and remain here,' exclaimed the king, 'and you shall have my daughter for your wife.' 'No,' answered the king's son, 'I cannot stay; but, I pray you, grant my request, and give me a good horse, and let me go in peace, and when I have fulfilled my vow then I will return and marry your daughter.'

So the king, seeing no words would move him, ordered a horse to be brought round, and the king's son mounted it, and took his dead friend before him on the saddle, and rode away.

Now the young man was not really dead, but only in a deep sleep.

When the king's son reached the shrine of St.James he got down from his horse, took his friend in his arms as if he had been a child, and laid him before the altar.'St.James,' he said, 'I have fulfilled the vow my parents made for me.I have come myself to your shrine, and have brought my friend.I place him in your hands.

Restore him to life, I pray, for though he be dead yet has he fulfilled his vow also.' And, behold! while he yet prayed his friend got up and stood before him as well as ever.And both the young men gave thanks, and set their faces towards home.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 太上洞玄灵宝三元品戒功德轻重经

    太上洞玄灵宝三元品戒功德轻重经

    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。
  • 血满天

    血满天

    “血满天之时,就是回家之日”且看兰麟和小伙伴们穿越到异世界的精彩修仙之旅。
  • 我心匪石兮

    我心匪石兮

    他是她的竹马,她是他的青梅,明明是两小无猜,却因为两岁时她被人抱走,从此再无音讯。某一日酒会,他误打误撞认识了她,却不知当时明明两小无猜,而现在却形同陌路。他只顾家人叮嘱,寻寻觅觅找了她多年,却不知她被人救走,和他同在一座城中呼吸同一片空气。后来的他,遭遇家庭巨变,从军人变成了一个商人,从此和她多有照面。而她总是不知道,原来,她就在父母身边,靠的这样近,却忘记了自己的身世。席攸之寻找顾夕颜很多年,心中只盼望见从小和他订亲的那个女孩,只盼望能够退亲,从此再无瓜葛。两年过去。再见面时,只见她一脸嘲讽,“吸油纸,你怎么还忘不了你的青梅?”席攸之微微一笑,“用不着了,她一直都在我的身边。”
  • 班里学霸太多而穿上马甲的学渣

    班里学霸太多而穿上马甲的学渣

    男主转到新校,班里学霸如云,他戴上马甲,伪装成学渣确不料终有一天自己马甲被识破,于是成了班里的风云人物。
  • 你若安好,那还得了

    你若安好,那还得了

    当她爱了十三年的男人转身投向别人时,乔稚楚才知道,自己就是个悲哀的小丑。她发誓,不会让再自己活得这么卑微。她不再隐藏,开始蓄谋筹划,用尽手段,在他引以为傲的领域里翻云覆雨,让他不得不看到她的光芒,也终于让他离不开她。后来,他用一场盛世婚礼向全世界昭告他很爱很爱她。她饶有兴致地看着,低眉轻笑。“季先生,怎么办呢,乔小姐不想嫁给你了。”成为季太太,是她的初心。离开季先生,是她最正确的决定。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 丧尸道长

    丧尸道长

    穿着道袍提着剑,见到丧尸就是干!别说什么不科学,这是小说各位爷!
  • 老婆的101次求婚

    老婆的101次求婚

    【宠文,1v1】#惊!世界级影后微博告白十八线小明星#微博一夜瘫痪!黎酒捧着一束16枝白玫瑰花束,站在祁昱塬面前,“你是我最美丽的相遇,送给你。”祁昱塬面无表情地接过花。第二天,黎酒得知祁昱塬将自己送给他的白玫瑰做成了玫瑰月饼。……黎酒特地从缅甸挑选了20克拉红宝石,亲自雕刻打磨成独一无二的戒指,送给祁昱塬。后来,黎酒看到祁昱塬某个生日蛋糕的模型,和自己送给他的那枚戒指一模一样。……黎酒:谁给她看得撩汉手册?一点用都没有!扣工资!祁昱塬:还表现得不明显?美食诱惑不行吗!一心撩汉子缺根筋的隐形王者少女vs清冷吃货高级黑超神少年#你pick黎酒or祁昱塬#
  • 护命放生轨仪法

    护命放生轨仪法

    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。
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 末世星空死神

    末世星空死神

    因未知原因,灵气复苏,蓝星遭逢大变。一觉醒来的黎仙,推开门发现对面站着一名丧尸,露出了一个尴尬又不失礼貌的微笑:“不好意思,我可能没睡醒,您请便,我再睡会。”