Путешествие в Страну Оз

           Hesquatteddowninthecenteroftheroomandalittlebrowndonkeyranandbroughtabiggoldcrownwhichitplacedonthemonarch’shead,andagoldenstaffwithajeweledballattheendofit,whichtheKingheldbetweenhisfronthoofsashesatupright.

           "Nowthen,"saidhisMajesty,wavinghislongearsgentlytoandfro,"tellmewhyyouarehere,andwhatyouexpectmetodoforyou."HeeyedButton-Brightrathersharply,asifafraidofthelittleboy’squeerhead,thoughitwastheshaggymanwhoundertooktoreply.

           "MostnobleandsupremerulerofDunkiton,"hesaid,tryingnottolaughinthesolemnKing’sface,"wearestrangerstravelingthroughyourdominionsandhaveenteredyourmagnificentcitybecausetheroadledthroughit,andtherewasnowaytogoaround.AllwedesireistopayourrespectstoyourMajesty—thecleverestkinginalltheworld,I’msure—andthentocontinueonourway."

           ThispolitespeechpleasedtheKingverymuch;indeed,itpleasedhimsomuchthatitprovedanunluckyspeechfortheshaggyman.PerhapstheLoveMagnethelpedtowinhisMajesty’saffectionsaswellastheflattery,buthoweverthismaybe,thewhitedonkeylookedkindlyuponthespeakerandsaid:

           "Onlyadonkeyshouldbeabletousesuchfine,bigwords,andyouaretoowiseandadmirableinallwaystobeamereman.Also,IfeelthatIloveyouaswellasIdomyownfavoredpeople,soIwillbestowuponyouthegreatestgiftwithinmypower—adonkey’shead."

           Ashespokehewavedhisjeweledstaff.Althoughtheshaggymancriedoutandtriedtoleapbackwardandescape,itprovedofnouse.