Изумрудный город страны Оз
20. How Dorothy Lunched With a King
"Becauseitisallunnatural,mydear.Rabbitsareoutofplaceinsuchluxury.WhenIwasyoungIlivedinaburrowintheforest.Iwassurroundedbyenemiesandoftenhadtorunformylife.Itwashardgettingenoughtoeat,attimes,andwhenIfoundabunchofcloverIhadtolistenandlookfordangerwhileIateit.WolvesprowledaroundtheholeinwhichIlivedandsometimesIdidn’tdarestiroutfordaysatatime.Oh,howhappyandcontentedIwasthen!Iwasarealrabbit,asnaturemademe--wildandfree!--andIevenenjoyedlisteningtothestartledthrobbingofmyownheart!"
"I’veoftenthought,"saidDorothy,whowasbusilyeating,"thatitwouldbefuntobearabbit."
"ItISfun--whenyou’rethegenuinearticle,"agreedhisMajesty."Butlookatmenow!Iliveinamarblepalaceinsteadofaholeintheground.IhaveallIwanttoeat,withoutthejoyofhuntingforit.EverydayImustdressinfineclothesandwearthathorriblecrowntillitmakesmyheadache.Rabbitscometomewithallsortsoftroubles,whenmyowntroublesaretheonlyonesIcareabout.WhenIwalkoutIcan’thopandrun;Imuststrutonmyrearlegsandwearanerminerobe!Andthesoldierssalutemeandthebandplaysandtheotherrabbitslaughandclaptheirpawsandcryout:’HailtotheKing!’Nowletmeaskyou,asafriendandayoungladyofgoodjudgment:isn’tallthispompandfoolishnessenoughtomakeadecentrabbitmiserable?"
"Once,"saidDorothy,reflectively,"menwerewildandunclothedandlivedincavesandhuntedforfoodaswildbeastsdo.
