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dorothy and the wizard in oz-第21部分

小说: dorothy and the wizard in oz 字数: 每页4000字

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impulsively toward the lovely Princess; who smiled most graciously

upon her guest。  Then the Wizard entered; and his presence relieved

the boy's embarrassment。  The little man was clothed in black velvet;

with many sparkling emerald ornaments decorating his breast;

but his bald head and wrinkled features made him appear more

amusing than impressive。



Ozma had been quite curious to meet the famous man who had built the

Emerald City and united the Munchkins; Gillikins; Quadlings and

Winkies into one people; so when they were all four seated at the

dinner table the Princess said:



〃Please tell me; Mr。 Wizard; whether you called yourself Oz after this

great country; or whether you believe my country is called Oz after

you。  It is a matter that I have long wished to enquire about; because

you are of a strange race and my own name is Ozma。  No; one; I am

sure; is better able to explain this mystery than you。〃



〃That is true;〃 answered the little Wizard; 〃therefore it will give me

pleasure to explain my connection with your country。  In the first

place; I must tell you that I was born in Omaha; and my father; who

was a politician; named me Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle

Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs; Diggs being the last name because he could

think of no more to go before it。  Taken altogether; it was a

dreadfully long name to weigh down a poor innocent child; and one of

the hardest lessons I ever learned was to remember my own name。  When

I grew up I just called myself O。 Z。; because the other initials were

P…I…N…H…E…A…D; and that spelled 'pinhead;' which was a reflection on

my intelligence。〃



〃Surely no one could blame you for cutting your name short;〃 said

Ozma; sympathetically。  〃But didn't you cut it almost too short?〃



〃Perhaps so;〃 replied the Wizard。  〃When a young man I ran away from

home and joined a circus。  I used to call myself a Wizard; and do

tricks of ventriloquism。〃



〃What does that mean?〃 asked the Princess。



〃Throwing my voice into any object I pleased; to make it appear that

the object was speaking instead of me。  Also I began to make balloon

ascensions。  On my balloon and on all the other articles I used in the

circus I painted the two initials: 'O。 Z。'; to show that those things

belonged to me。



〃One day my balloon ran away with me and brought me across the deserts

to this beautiful country。  When the people saw me come from the sky

they naturally thought me some superior creature; and bowed down

before me。  I told them I was a Wizard; and showed them some easy

tricks that amazed them; and when they saw the initials painted on the

balloon they called me Oz。〃



〃Now I begin to understand;〃 said the Princess; smiling。



〃At that time;〃 continued the Wizard; busily eating his soup while

talking; 〃there were four separate countries in this Land; each one of

the four being ruled by a Witch。  But the people thought my power was

greater than that of the Witches; and perhaps the Witches thought so

too; for they never dared oppose me。  I ordered the Emerald City to be

built just where the four countries cornered together; and when it was

completed I announced myself the Ruler of the Land of Oz; which

included all the four countries of the Munchkins; the Gillikins; the

Winkies and the Quadlings。  Over this Land I ruled in peace for many

years; until I grew old and longed to see my native city once again。

So when Dorothy was first blown to this place by a cyclone I arranged

to go away with her in a balloon; but the balloon escaped too soon and

carried me back alone。  After many adventures I reached Omaha; only to

find that all my old friends were dead or had moved away。  So; having

nothing else to do; I joined a circus again; and made my balloon

ascensions until the earthquake caught me。〃



〃That is quite a history;〃 said Ozma; 〃but there is a little more

history about the Land of Oz that you do not seem to

understandperhaps for the reason that no one ever told it you。  Many

years before you came here this Land was united under one Ruler; as it

is now; and the Ruler's name was always 'Oz;' which means in our

language 'Great and Good'; or; if the Ruler happened to be a woman;

her name was always 'Ozma。'  But once upon a time four Witches leagued

together to depose the king and rule the four parts of the kingdom

themselves; so when the Ruler; my grandfather; was hunting one day; one

Wicked Witch named Mombi stole him and carried him away; keeping him a

close prisoner。  Then the Witches divided up the kingdom; and ruled

the four parts of it until you came here。  That was why the people

were so glad to see you; and why they thought from your initials that

you were their rightful ruler。〃



〃But; at that time;〃 said the Wizard; thoughtfully; 〃there were two

Good Witches and two Wicked Witches ruling in the land。〃



〃Yes;〃 replied Ozma; 〃because a good Witch had conquered Mombi in the

North and Glinda the Good had conquered the evil Witch in the South。

But Mombi was still my grandfather's jailor; and afterward my father's

jailor。  When I was born she transformed me into a boy; hoping that

no one would ever recognize me and know that I was the rightful

Princess of the Land of Oz。  But I escaped from her and am now

the Ruler of my people。〃



〃I am very glad of that;〃 said the Wizard; 〃and hope you will consider

me one of your most faithful and devoted subjects。〃



〃We owe a great deal to the Wonderful Wizard;〃 continued the Princess;

〃for it was you who built this splendid Emerald City。〃



〃Your people built it;〃 he answered。  〃I only bossed the job; as we

say in Omaha。〃



〃But you ruled it wisely and well for many years;〃 said she; 〃and made

the people proud of your magical art。  So; as you are now too old to

wander abroad and work in a circus; I offer you a home here as long

as you live。  You shall be the Official Wizard of my kingdom; and be

treated with every respect and consideration。〃



〃I accept your kind offer with gratitude; gracious Princess;〃 the

little man said; in a soft voice; and they could all see that

tear…drops were standing in his keen old eyes。  It meant a good deal

to him to secure a home like this。



〃He's only a humbug Wizard; though;〃 said Dorothy; smiling at him。



〃And that is the safest kind of a Wizard to have;〃 replied Ozma; promptly。



〃Oz can do some good tricks; humbug or no humbug;〃 announced Zeb; who

was now feeling more at ease。



〃He shall amuse us with his tricks tomorrow;〃 said the Princess。  〃I

have sent messengers to summon all of Dorothy's old friends to meet

her and give her welcome; and they ought to arrive very soon; now。〃



Indeed; the dinner was no sooner finished than in rushed the

Scarecrow; to hug Dorothy in his padded arms and tell her how glad he

was to see her again。  The Wizard was also most heartily welcomed by

the straw man; who was an important personage in the Land of Oz。



〃How are your brains?〃 enquired the little humbug; as he grasped the

soft; stuffed hands of his old friend。



〃Working finely;〃 answered the Scarecrow。  〃I'm very certain; Oz; that

you gave me the best brains in the world; for I can think with them

day and night; when all other brains are fast asleep。〃



〃How long did you rule the Emerald City; after I left here?〃 was the

next question。



〃Quite awhile; until I was conquered by a girl named General Jinjur。

But Ozma soon conquered her; with the help of Glinda the Good; and

after that I went to live with Nick Chopper; the Tin Woodman。〃



Just then a loud cackling was heard outside; and; when a servant threw

open the door with a low bow; a yellow hen strutted in。  Dorothy

sprang forward and caught the fluffy fowl in her arms; uttering at the

same time a glad cry。



〃Oh; Billina!〃 she said; 〃how fat and sleek you've grown。〃



〃Why shouldn't I?〃 asked the hen; in a sharp; clear voice。  〃I live on

the fat of the landdon't I; Ozma?〃



〃You have everything you wish for;〃 said the Princess。



Around Billina's neck was a string of beautiful pearls; and on her

legs were bracelets of emeralds。  She nestled herself comfortably in

Dorothy's lap until the kitten gave a snarl of jealous anger and

leaped up with a sharp claw fiercely bared to strike Billina a blow。

But the little girl gave the angry kitten such a severe cuff that it

jumped down again without daring to scratch。



〃How horrid of you; Eureka!〃 cried Dorothy。  〃Is that the way to treat

my friends?〃



〃You have queer friends; seems to me;〃 replied the kitten;

in a surly tone。



〃Seems to me the same way;〃 said Billina; scornfully; 〃if that beastly

cat is one of them。〃



〃Look here!〃 said Dorothy; sternly。  〃I won't have any quarrelling in

the Land of Oz; I can tell you!  Everybody lives in peace here; and

loves everybody else; and unless you two; Billina and Eureka; make up

and be friends; I'll take my Magic Belt and

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