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Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin, 40. THE KINGDOMS

40. THE KINGDOMS

THERE was once a king of Prussia whose name was Frederick William.

On a fine morning in June he went out alone to walk in the green woods. He was tired of the noise of the city, and he was glad to get away from it.

So, as he walked among the trees, he often stopped to listen to the singing birds, or to look at the wild flowers that grew on every side. Now and then he stooped to pluck a violet, or a primrose, or a yellow buttercup. Soon his hands were full of pretty blossoms.

After a while he came to a little meadow in the midst of the wood. Some children were playing there. They were running here and there, and gathering the cowslips that were blooming among the grass.

It made the king glad to see the happy children, and hear their merry voices. He stood still for some time, and watched them as they played.

Then he called them around him, and all sat down together in the pleasant shade. The children did not know who the strange gentleman was; but they liked his kind face and gentle manners.

"Now, my little folks," said the king, "I want to ask you some questions, and the child who gives the best answer shall have a prize." Then he held up an orange so that all the children could see.

"You know that we all live in the kingdom of Prussia," he said; "but tell me, to what kingdom does this orange belong?" The children were puzzled. They looked at one another, and sat very still for a little while. Then a brave, bright boy spoke up and said,—

"It belongs to the vegetable kingdom, sir." "Why so, my lad?" asked the king.

"It is the fruit of a plant, and all plants belong to that kingdom," said the boy. The king was pleased. "You are quite right," he said; "and you shall have the orange for your prize." He tossed it gayly to the boy. "Catch it if you can!" he said.

Then he took a yellow gold piece from his pocket, and held it up so that it glittered in the sunlight.

"Now to what kingdom does this belong?" he asked.

Another bright boy answered quickly, "To the mineral kingdom, sir! All metals belong to that kingdom." "That is a good answer," said the king. "The gold piece is your prize." The children were delighted. With eager faces they waited to hear what the stranger would say next.

"I will ask you only one more question," said the king, "and it is an easy one." Then he stood up, and said, "Tell me, my little folks, to what kingdom do I belong?" The bright boys were puzzled now. Some thought of saying, "To the kingdom of Prussia." Some wanted to say, "To the animal kingdom." But they were a little afraid, and all kept still.

At last a tiny blue-eyed child looked up into the king's smiling face, and said in her simple way,— "I think to the kingdom of heaven." King Frederick William stooped down and lifted the little maiden in his arms. Tears were in his eyes as he kissed her, and said, "So be it, my child! So be it."

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40. THE KINGDOMS 40. LOS REINOS 40. OS REINOS 40. ЦАРСТВА

THERE was once a king of Prussia whose name was Frederick William.

On a fine morning in June he went out alone to walk in the green woods. He was tired of the noise of the city, and he was glad to get away from it. 彼は都会の喧噪にうんざりしていて、そこから逃れることができてうれしかった。

So, as he walked among the trees, he often stopped to listen to the singing birds, or to look at the wild flowers that grew on every side. Now and then he stooped to pluck a violet, or a primrose, or a yellow buttercup. Soon his hands were full of pretty blossoms.

After a while he came to a little meadow in the midst of the wood. Some children were playing there. They were running here and there, and gathering the cowslips that were blooming among the grass. Běhali sem a tam a sbírali krávy, které kvetly mezi trávou. あちらこちらを走り回り、草むらに咲いていたアゲハチョウを集めていました。

It made the king glad to see the happy children, and hear their merry voices. 王様は、幸せな子供たちを見て、彼らの陽気な声を聞いてうれしく思いました。 He stood still for some time, and watched them as they played.

Then he called them around him, and all sat down together in the pleasant shade. それから彼は彼らを彼の周りに呼び、みんな一緒に心地よい日陰に座りました。 The children did not know who the strange gentleman was; but they liked his kind face and gentle manners.

"Now, my little folks," said the king, "I want to ask you some questions, and the child who gives the best answer shall have a prize." 「さて、わが子たちよ。いくつか質問したいのですが、いちばんいい答えをした子には賞があります。」と王様は言いました。 Then he held up an orange so that all the children could see.

"You know that we all live in the kingdom of Prussia," he said; "but tell me, to what kingdom does this orange belong?" 「私たちは皆、プロイセン王国に住んでいることをご存知でしょう」と彼は言いました。 「でも教えてください、このオレンジはどこの王国のものですか?」 The children were puzzled. 子供たちは戸惑いました。 They looked at one another, and sat very still for a little while. 二人は顔を見合わせ、しばらくじっと座っていた。 Then a brave, bright boy spoke up and said,—

"It belongs to the vegetable kingdom, sir." 「それは植物王国に属しています。」 "Why so, my lad?" 「どうしてですか、坊や」 asked the king.

"It is the fruit of a plant, and all plants belong to that kingdom," said the boy. 「それは植物の果実で、すべての植物はその王国に属しています」と少年は言いました。 The king was pleased. 王は喜んだ。 "You are quite right," he said; "and you shall have the orange for your prize." 「その通りです」彼は言った。 「そして、あなたは賞品としてオレンジを手に入れるでしょう。」 He tossed it gayly to the boy. 彼はそれを陽気に少年に投げた。 "Catch it if you can!" he said.

Then he took a yellow gold piece from his pocket, and held it up so that it glittered in the sunlight. それから彼はポケットからイエローゴールドのピースを取り出し、太陽の光でキラキラと光るように持ち上げました。

"Now to what kingdom does this belong?" 「さて、これはどこの王国のものですか?」 he asked.

Another bright boy answered quickly, "To the mineral kingdom, sir! 別の頭の良い男の子がすぐに答えました、「鉱物王国へ! All metals belong to that kingdom." "That is a good answer," said the king. "The gold piece is your prize." The children were delighted. With eager faces they waited to hear what the stranger would say next. 彼らは熱心な顔をして、見知らぬ人が次に何を言うかを聞くのを待っていました.

"I will ask you only one more question," said the king, "and it is an easy one." Then he stood up, and said, "Tell me, my little folks, to what kingdom do I belong?" The bright boys were puzzled now. Some thought of saying, "To the kingdom of Prussia." Some wanted to say, "To the animal kingdom." But they were a little afraid, and all kept still. Ale trochu se báli a všichni zůstali v klidu.

At last a tiny blue-eyed child looked up into the king's smiling face, and said in her simple way,— "I think to the kingdom of heaven." "Myslím do království nebeského." 「私は天国に思います。」 King Frederick William stooped down and lifted the little maiden in his arms. Tears were in his eyes as he kissed her, and said, "So be it, my child! Když ji líbal, v očích měl slzy a řekl: „Buď tak, mé dítě! 彼が彼女にキスをしたとき、彼の目には涙が浮かんでいました。 Сльози стояли на його очах, коли він поцілував її і сказав: "Нехай буде так, дитя моє! So be it." そうだろう」