第7章 兩位王妃（The Two Princesses）

在沙瓦基斯城裡住著一個王子，不論男子、婦女、兒童，人人都愛他，甚至田野裡的動物也都來向他致敬。 但老百姓都說："他的妻子，即王妃，卻不愛他；不，她甚至恨他。 有一天，毗鄰的城市裡的一位王妃，來訪問沙瓦基斯城裡的王妃。她們坐在一起談話，講到了她們的丈夫。 沙瓦基斯城裡的王妃激動地說道："我真羨慕你和你丈夫——王子一一共同生活的幸福，儘管你們已經結婚好些年頭了。我憎恨我的丈夫。他不是只屬於我一個人的，我確實是世界上最最不幸的女人了。" 要訪的王妃便凝視著對方，說道："我的朋友歷，事實的真相是你愛你的丈夫。是的，你對他還有一份尚未用盡用掉的熱情，那可是一個女人身心裡的生命，好比花園裡的春天。然而可憐我，也可憐我的丈夫把，因為我們不過是在默默無言的忍耐中互相容忍著罷了。而你和其他的人還以為這就是幸福哩。"

The Two Princesses In the city of Shawakis lived a prince, and he was loved by everyone, men and women and children. Even the animals of the field came unto him in greeting. But all the people said that his wife, the princess, loved him not; nay, that she even hated him. And upon a day the princess of a neighbouring city came to visit the princess of Shawakis. And they sat and talked together, and their words led to their husbands.

And the princess of Sharakis said with passion, "I envy you your happiness with the prince, your husband, though you have been married these many years. I hate my husband. He belongs not to me alone, and I am indeed a woman most unhappy." Then the visiting princess gazed at her and said, "My friend, the truth is that you love your husband. Aye, and you still have him for a passion unspent, and that is life in woman like unto Spring in a garden. But pity me, and my husband, for we do but endure one another in silent patience. And yet you and others deem this happiness."