Дні мрій
The Reluctant Dragon
Shemadenoobjection,however,toherlittlesonspendinghiseveningswiththedragonquietly,solongashewashomebynineo’clock:andmanyapleasantnighttheyhad,sittingonthesward,whilethedragontoldstoriesofold,oldtimes,whendragonswerequiteplentifulandtheworldwasalivelierplacethanitisnow,andlifewasfullofthrillsandjumpsandsurprises.
WhattheBoyhadfeared,however,sooncametopass.Themostmodestandretiringdragonintheworld,ifhe’sasbigasfourcart-horsesandcoveredwithbluescales,cannotkeepaltogetheroutofthepublicview.AndsointhevillagetavernofnightsthefactthatareallivedragonsatbroodinginthecaveontheDownswasnaturallyasubjectfortalk.Thoughthevillagerswereextremelyfrightened,theywereratherproudaswell.Itwasadistinctiontohaveadragonofyourown,anditwasfelttobeafeatherinthecapofthevillage.Still,allwereagreedthatthissortofthingcouldn’tbeallowedtogoon.
Thedreadfulbeastmustbeexterminated,thecountry-sidemustbefreedfromthispest,thisterror,thisdestroyingscourge.Thefactthatnotevenahenroostwastheworseforthedragon’sarrivalwasn’tallowedtohaveanythingtodowithit.Hewasadragon,andhecouldn’tdenyit,andifhedidn’tchoosetobehaveassuchthatwashisownlookout.Butinspiteofmuchvalianttalknoherowasfoundwillingtotakeswordandspearandfreethesufferingvillageandwindeathlessfame;andeachnight’sheateddiscussionalwaysendedinnothing.
