6. The Troubles of Nerle
That night Prince Marvel slept within the cave, surrounded by thefifty-nine reformed thieves, and suffered no harm at their hands. Inthe morning, accompanied by his esquire, Nerle, who was mounted upon aspirited horse brought him by Wul-Takim, he charged the honest men toremember their promises, bade them good by, and set out in search offurther adventure.
As they left the clearing by the narrow passage that led between theoverhanging rocks, the prince looked back and saw that the sign abovethe gate of the cave, which had told of the thieves' treasure house,had been changed. It now read as follows:
WUL-TAKIM KING OF HONEST MEN ------ HIS PLEASURE HOUSE WALK IN
"That is much better," laughed the prince. "I accomplished some goodby my adventure, anyway!"
Nerle did not reply. He seemed especially quiet and thoughtful as herode by his master's side, and after they had traveled some distance insilence Prince Marvel said:
"Tell me how you came to be in the cave of thieves, and perched uponthe casks where I found you."
"It is a sad story," returned Nerle, with a sigh; "but since yourequest me to tell it, the tale may serve to relieve the tedium of yourjourney.
"My father is a mighty baron, very wealthy and with a heart so kindthat he has ever taken pleasure in thrusting on me whatever gift hecould think of. I had not a single desire unsatisfied, for before Icould wish for anything it was given me.
"My mother was much like my father. She and her women were alwaysmaking jams, jellies, candies, cakes and the like for me to eat; so Inever knew the pleasure of hunger. My clothes were the gayest satinsand velvets, richly made and sewn with gold and silver braid; so it wasimpossible to wish for more in the way of apparel. They let me studymy lessons whenever I felt like it and go fishing or hunting as Ipleased; so I could not complain that I was unable to do just as Iwanted to. All the servants obeyed my slightest wish: if I wanted tosit up late at night no one objected; if I wished to lie in bed tillnoon they kept the house quiet so as not to disturb me.
"This condition of affairs, as you may imagine, grew more and moretedious and exasperating the older I became. Try as I might, I couldfind nothing to complain of. I once saw the son of one of our servantsreceive a flogging; and my heart grew light. I immediately begged myfather to flog me, by way of variety; and he, who could refuse menothing, at once consented. For this reason there was lesssatisfaction in the operation than I had expected, although for thetime being it was a distinct novelty.
"Now, no one could expect a high-spirited boy to put up with such alife as mine. With nothing to desire and no chance of doing anythingthat would annoy my parents, my days were dreary indeed."
He paused to wipe the tears from his eyes, and the prince murmured,sympathetically: "Poor boy! Poor boy!"
"Ah, you may well say that!" continued Nerle. "But one day a strangercame to my father's castle with tales of many troubles he had met with.He had been lost in a forest and nearly starved to death. He had beenrobbed and beaten and left wounded and sore by the wayside. He hadbegged from door to door and been refused food or assistance. Inshort, his story was so delightful that it made me envy him, and Iyearned to suffer as he had done. When I could speak with him alone Isaid: 'Pray tell me how I can manage to acquire the misfortunes youhave undergone. Here I have everything that I desire, and it makes mevery unhappy.'
"The stranger laughed at me, at first; and I found some pleasure in thehumiliation I then felt. But it did not last long, for presently hegrew sober and advised me to run away from home and seek adventure.
"'Once away from your father's castle,' said he, 'troubles will fallupon you thick enough to satisfy even your longings.'
"'That is what I am afraid of!' I answered. 'I don't want to besatisfied, even with troubles. What I seek is unsatisfied longings.'
"'Nevertheless,' said he, 'I advise you to travel. Everything willprobably go wrong with you, and then you will be happy.'
"I acted upon the stranger's advice and ran away from home the nextday. After journeying a long time I commenced to feel the pangs ofhunger, and was just beginning to enjoy myself when a knight rode byand gave me a supply of food. At this rebuff I could not restrain mytears, but while I wept my horse stumbled and threw me over his head.I hoped at first I had broken my neck, and was just congratulatingmyself upon the misfortune, when a witch-woman came along and rubbedsome ointment upon my bruises, in spite of my protests. To my greatgrief the pain left me, and I was soon well again. But, as a slightcompensation for my disappointment, my horse had run away; so I beganmy journey anew and on foot.
"That afternoon I stepped into a nest of wasps, but the thoughtlesscreatures flew away without stinging me. Then I met a fierce tiger,and my heart grew light and gay. 'Surely this will cause mesuffering!' I cried, and advanced swiftly upon the brute. But thecowardly tiger turned tail and ran to hide in the bushes, leaving meunhurt!
"Of course, my many disappointments were some consolation; but notmuch. That night I slept on the bare ground, and hoped I should catcha severe cold; but no such joy was to be mine.
"Yet the next afternoon I experienced my first pleasure. The thievescaught me, stripped off all my fine clothes and jewels and beat mewell. Then they carried me to their cave, dressed me in rags, andperched me on the top of the casks, where the slightest movement on mypart would send me tumbling among the sword points. This was reallydelightful, and I was quite happy until you came and released me.
"I thought then that I might gain some pleasure by provoking you toanger; and our fight was the result. That blow on the ear wasexquisite, and by forcing me to become your servant you have made me,for the first time in my life, almost contented. For I hope in yourcompany to experience a great many griefs and disappointments."
As Nerle concluded his story Prince Marvel turned to him and graspedhis hand.
"Accept my sympathy!" said he. "I know exactly how you feel, for myown life during the past few centuries has not been much different."
"The past few centuries!" gasped Nerle. "What do you mean?"
At this the prince blushed, seeing he had nearly disclosed his secret.But he said, quickly:
"Does it not seem centuries when one is unhappy?"
"It does, indeed!" responded Nerle, earnestly. "But please tell meyour story."
"Not now," said Prince Marvel, with a smile. "It will please you todesire in vain to hear a tale I will not tell. Yet I promise that onthe day we part company I shall inform you who I am."
The Enchanted Island of Yew Page 5
