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at least； I hope you do； for I hardly do myselftake me where I ought to go；
show me whatever I ought to see never mind what I like to see；〃 as a
sudden idea came into his mind that he might see many painful and
disagreeable things。 But this journey was not for pleasure as before。 He
was not a baby now； to do nothing but playbig boys do not always play。
Nor men neitherthey work。 Thus much Prince Dolor knewthough very
little more。
As the cloak started off； traveling faster than he had ever known it to
do；through sky…land and cloud land； over freezing mountain…tops； and
desolate stretches of forest； and smiling cultivated plains； and great lakes
that seemed to him almost as shoreless as the sea；he was often rather
frightened。 But he crouched down； silent and quiet； what was the use of
making a fuss？ and； wrapping himself up in his bear…skin； waited for what
was to happen。
After some time he heard a murmur in the distance； increasing more
and more till it grew like the hum of a gigantic hive of bees。 And；
stretching his chin over the rim of his cloak； Prince Dolor sawfar； far
below him； yet； with his gold spectacles and silver ears on； he could
distinctly hear and seewhat？
Most of us have some time or other visited a great metropolishave
wandered through its network of streetslost ourselves in its crowds of
peoplelooked up at its tall rows of houses； its grand public buildings；
churches； and squares。 Also； perhaps； we have peeped into its miserable
little back alleys； where dirty children play in gutters all day and half the
night even young boys go about picking pockets； with nobody to tell
them it is wrong except the policeman； and he simply takes them off to
prison。 And all this wretchedness is close behind the grandeurlike the
two sides of the leaf of a book。
An awful sight is a large city； seen any how from any where。 But；
suppose you were to see it from the upper air； where； with your eyes and
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ears open； you could take in everything at once？ What would it look like？
How would you feel about it？ I hardly know myself。 Do you？
Prince Dolor had need to be a kingthat is； a boy with a kingly nature…
…to be able to stand such a sight without being utterly overcome。 But he
was very much bewilderedas bewildered as a blind person who is
suddenly made to see。
He gazed down on the city below him； and then put his hand over his
eyes。
〃I can't bear to look at it； it is so beautiful so dreadful。 And I don't
understand itnot one bit。 There is nobody to tell me about it。 I wish I had
somebody to speak to。〃
〃Do you？ Then pray speak to me。 I was always considered good at
conversation。〃
The voice that squeaked out this reply was an excellent imitation of
the human one； though it came only from a bird。 No lark this time；
however； but a great black and white creature that flew into the cloak； and
began walking round and round on the edge of it with a dignified stride；
one foot before the other； like any unfeathered biped you could name。
〃I haven't the honor of your acquaintance； sir；〃 said the boy politely。
〃Ma'am； if you please。 I am a mother bird； and my name is Mag； and I
shall be happy to tell you everything you want to know。 For I know a great
deal； and I enjoy talking。 My family is of great antiquity； we have built in
this palace for hundredsthat is to say； dozens of years。 I am intimately
acquainted with the king； the queen； and the little princes and princesses
also the maids of honor； and all the inhabitants of the city。 I talk a good
deal； but I always talk sense； and I daresay I should be ex… ceedingly
useful to a poor little ignorant boy like you。〃
〃I am a prince；〃 said the other gently。
〃All right。 And I am a magpie。 You will find me a most respectable
bird。〃
〃I have no doubt of it；〃 was the polite answer though he thought in
his own mind that Mag must have a very good opinion of herself。 But she
was a lady and a stranger； so of course he was civil to her。
She settled herself at his elbow； and began to chatter away； pointing
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The Little Lame Prince
out with one skinny claw； while she balanced herself on the other； every
object of interest； evidently believing； as no doubt all its inhabitants did；
that there was no capital in the world like the great metropolis of
Nomansland。
I have not seen it； and therefore cannot describe it； so we will just take
it upon trust； and suppose it to be； like every other fine city； the finest city
that ever was built。 Mag said so and of course she knew。
Nevertheless； there were a few things in it which surprised Prince
Dolorand； as he had said； he could not understand them at all。 One half
the people seemed so happy and busy hurrying up and down the full
streets； or driv… ing lazily along the parks in their grand carriages； while
the other half were so wretched and miserable。
〃Can't the world be made a little more level？ I would try to do it if I
were a king。〃
〃But you're not the king： only a little goose of a boy；〃 returned the
magpie loftily。 〃And I'm here not to explain things； only to show them。
Shall I show you the royal palace？〃
It was a very magnificent palace。 It had terraces and gardens；
battlements and towers。 It extended over acres of ground； and had in it
rooms enough to accommodate half the city。 Its windows looked in all
directions； but none of them had any particular viewexcept a small one；
high up toward the roof； which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains。
But since the queen died there it had been closed； boarded up； indeed； the
magpie said。 It was so little and inconvenient that nobody cared to live in
it。 Besides； the lower apartments； which had no view； were magnificent
worthy of being inhabited by the king。
〃I should like to see the king；〃 said Prince Dolor。
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CHAPTER VIII
What； I wonder； would be people's idea of a king？ What was Prince
Dolor's？
Perhaps a very splendid personage； with a crown on his head and a
scepter in his hand； sitting on a throne and judging the people。 Always
doing right； and never wrong 〃The king can do no wrong〃 was a law laid
down in olden times。 Never cross； or tired； or sick； or suffering； perfectly
handsome and well dressed； calm and good…tempered； ready to see and
hear everybody； and discourteous to nobody； all things always going well
with him； and nothing unpleasant ever happening。
This； probably； was what Prince Dolor expected to see。 And what did
he see？ But I must tell you how he saw it。
〃Ah；〃 said the magpie； 〃no levee to…day。 The King is ill； though his
Majesty does not wish it to be generally knownit would be so very
inconvenient。 He can't see you； but perhaps you might like to go and take
a look at him in a way I often do？ It is so very amusing。〃
Amusing； indeed！
The prince was just now too much excited to talk much。 Was he not
going to see the king his uncle； who had succeeded his father and
dethroned himself； had stepped into all the pleasant things that he； Prince
Dolor； ought to have had； and shut him up in a desolate tower？ What was
he like； this great； bad； clever man？ Had he got all the things he wanted；
which another ought to have had？ And did he enjoy them？
〃Nobody knows；〃 answered the magpie； just as if she had been sitting
inside the prince's heart； instead of on the top of his shoulder。 〃He is a king；
and that's enough。 For the rest nobody knows。〃
As she spoke； Mag flew down on to the palace roof； where the cloak
had rested； settling down between the great stacks of chimneys