Волшебник страны Оз
The Winged Monkeys
"Itcamedowngradually,andIwasnothurtabit. ButIfoundmyselfinthemidstofastrangepeople,who,seeingmecomefromtheclouds,thoughtIwasagreatWizard. OfcourseIletthemthinkso,becausetheywereafraidofme,andpromisedtodoanythingIwishedthemto.
"Justtoamusemyself,andkeepthegoodpeoplebusy,IorderedthemtobuildthisCity,andmyPalace; andtheydiditallwillinglyandwell. ThenIthought,asthecountrywassogreenandbeautiful,IwouldcallittheEmeraldCity; andtomakethenamefitbetterIputgreenspectaclesonallthepeople,sothateverythingtheysawwasgreen."
"Butisn’teverythingheregreen?"askedDorothy.
"Nomorethaninanyothercity,"repliedOz;"butwhenyouweargreenspectacles,whyofcourseeverythingyouseelooksgreentoyou. TheEmeraldCitywasbuiltagreatmanyyearsago,forIwasayoungmanwhentheballoonbroughtmehere,andIamaveryoldmannow. ButmypeoplehaveworngreenglassesontheireyessolongthatmostofthemthinkitreallyisanEmeraldCity, anditcertainlyisabeautifulplace,aboundinginjewelsandpreciousmetals,andeverygoodthingthatisneededtomakeonehappy. Ihavebeengoodtothepeople,andtheylikeme; buteversincethisPalacewasbuilt,Ihaveshutmyselfupandwouldnotseeanyofthem.
"OneofmygreatestfearswastheWitches,forwhileIhadnomagicalpowersatallIsoonfoundoutthattheWitcheswerereallyabletodowonderfulthings. Therewerefouroftheminthiscountry,andtheyruledthepeoplewholiveintheNorthandSouthandEastandWest. Fortunately,theWitchesoftheNorthandSouthweregood,andIknewtheywoulddomenoharm; buttheWitchesoftheEastandWestwereterriblywicked,andhadtheynotthoughtIwasmorepowerfulthantheythemselves,theywouldsurelyhavedestroyedme.
