【英】《绿野仙踪》 第9集： The Emerald City of Oz

Even with their eyes protected, Dorothy and her friends were dazzled by the brightness of the Emerald City. The streets were full of beautiful houses built of green marble and full of sparkling emeralds. The street was of the same green marble and joined together with emeralds. Even the sky looked green and the sun’s rays were green.

There were many people dressed in green clothes with greenish skin. No one spoke to them. Everything in the shops was green, even candy and popcorn. Children paid for green lemonade with green pennies.

The Guardian led them to a big building in the middle of the city. It was the Palace of Oz. A soldier stood in front of the door. He wore a green uniform and had a long, green beard.

“These strangers demand to see the Great Oz,” the Guardian of the Gates said.

“I will take your message to him,” the soldier said.The group passed through the palace gates and waited in a big room with green carpet and furniture.

“I will go to the door of the Throne Room and tell Oz you are here,” the soldier said.

When he came back he said, “He said that he will see you. But each one must come in alone and only one can come each day. I will show you rooms where you can rest.”

“Thank you,” Dorothy said. “That is very kind of Oz.”

The soldier blew a green whistle. A young girl with a green silk gown, green hair, and green eyes bowed to Dorothy and said, “Follow me.” 

Dorothy said good-bye to her friends and took Toto in her arms. She followed the green girl to a beautiful room with a soft bed. A tiny fountain in the room shot green perfume into the air. In the closet were many green dresses that fit Dorothy.

The girl left Dorothy and went back to the others. The others were not as comfortable with their rooms, but they stayed where they were told.

The next morning the green girl had Dorothy dressed in a pretty green gown. She tied a green ribbon around Toto’s neck. Then, they walked to the Throne Room of the Great Oz.

When they came to the soldier they spoke to the day before, he told Dorothy, “At first Oz was angry and said I should send you away. When I told him about your silver shoes, he was very interested. And when I told him about the mark on your forehead, he said he would see you.”

A bell rang and the green girl said, “That is the signal. You must go into the Throne Room alone.”

She opened a little door and Dorothy went into a wonderful place. It was a big, round room with a high roof. The walls, ceiling, and floor were covered with large emeralds. A big throne of green marble 

stood in the middle of the room. In the center of the chair was an enormous head with no body, legs, or arms. There was no hair on the head.

The eyes turned to look at Dorothy. The mouth moved and a voice said, “I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you and why do you seek me?”

Dorothy took courage and said, “I am Dorothy, the Small and Meek. I’ve come to you for your help.”

The voice said, “Where did you get the silver shoes and the mark on your forehead?”

“I got the shoes from the Wicked Witch of the East. My house fell on her and killed her,” Dorothy said. “The mark is where the Good Witch of the North kissed me when she sent me to you.”

Oz asked, “What do you want me to do?”“Send me back to Kansas where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are,” Dorothy answered.

The eyes winked three times. “Why should I do this for you?”“Because you are strong and I am weak. Because you are a Great Wizard and I am just a little girl.”

The Head said, “You have no right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something for me. Help me and I will help you.”

“What do I need to do?” asked Dorothy. “Kill the Wicked Witch of the West,” Oz said. “I can’t!” Dorothy shouted in surprise.

“You killed the Witch of the East and wear her shoes. They have a powerful charm. When you can tell me the Witch of the West is dead, I will send you back to Kansas.”

Dorothy began to cry. “I’ve never killed anything on purpose.”

“Remember,” said the Head, “the Witch is very wicked and should be killed. Go and do not ask to see me again until it is done.”

Dorothy left the Throne Room and went back to where the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman waited.

“There is no hope for me,” she said. “Oz will not send me home until I kill the Wicked Witch of the West. I can never do that.”

Dorothy went to her room and cried herself to sleep. The next morning the soldier came to the Scarecrow and said, “Oz has sent for you.”

The Scarecrow followed him to the great Throne Room. On the throne he saw a lovely lady. She was dressed in green silk. On her green hair was a crown of jewels. From her shoulders grew green wings. They fluttered when the smallest breath of air reached them.

The Scarecrow bowed and the beautiful creature spoke. “I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you and why do you seek me?”

The Scarecrow expected to see a great head. He answered bravely, “I am only a scarecrow, stuffed with straw. I have no brains and I come to you asking that you will put brains in my head so I can become a man like any other.”

“Why should I do this for you?” the Lady asked.“Because you are wise and powerful and no one else can help me,” the Scarecrow said.

Oz said,“I promise, if you will kill the Wicked Witch of the West, I will give you a great many good brains that you will be the wisest man in all the Land of Oz.”

The Scarecrow was surprised. “But you asked Dorothy to kill her.”

“I don’t care who kills her,” the Lady said. “I will not grant your wish until she is dead. Go and do not come back until you have earned the brains you want.”

The Scarecrow went back to his friends and told them what Oz said.

The next morning, the soldier came to the Tin Woodman and said, “Oz has sent for you.”

The Tin Woodman followed him to the great Throne Room. He did not know if he would find the lovely Lady or the Head. He hoped it was the Lady, for he felt the Head had no heart and would not care, but a lady would be kindhearted.

But when he entered the Throne Room, Oz was a terrible Beast. It was as big as an elephant with the head of a rhinoceros. Its face had five eyes. It had five long arms and five long legs. Thick, woolly hair covered all of it. The Tin Woodman was glad he had no heart because it would have beat loud and fast from fear.

“I am Oz, the Great and Terrible,” the Beast said. His voice was a great roar. “Who are you and why do you seek me?”

“I am a woodman made of tin. I have no heart and cannot love. I ask you to give me a heart so I might be like other men.”

“Why should I do this?” shouted the Beast.“Because only you can grant my wish,” the 
Woodman said.

Oz growled low. “You must earn it.” “How?” asked the Woodman.“Help Dorothy kill the Wicked Witch of the West. When she is dead I will give you the biggest, kindest, and most loving heart in all the land.”

The Tin Woodman returned with sadness to his friends. They wondered about the different forms the Great Wizard could become.

The next morning the soldier led the Lion to the great Throne Room. The Lion looked around the room and saw on the throne a Ball of Fire. He could barely look at it. The heat was so hot it burned his whiskers when he tried to go near.

A quiet voice came from the Ball of Fire. “I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?”

The Lion said, “I am a cowardly lion who is afraid of everything. I beg you to give me courage so I may really become the King of Beasts.”

“Why should I give you courage?” Oz asked. “Because you are the greatest of all wizards and the only one with the power to do this.”

The Ball of Fire burned fiercely. “Bring me proof the Wicked Witch is dead and I will give you courage.”

The Lion was angry, but could say nothing. The Ball of Fire became so hot that the Lion turned tail and ran from the room. He told his friends of the terrible talk with the Wizard.

“What will we do now?” Dorothy asked. “We must go to the land of the Winkies, find the Wicked Witch, and destroy her,” the Lion said.


“What if we can’t?” Dorothy asked.“Then I will never have courage,” said the Lion.

“And I will never have brains,” said the Scarecrow.“And I will never have a heart,” said the Tin Woodman.“And I will never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry,” Dorothy said. She began to cry. Then she dried her eyes and said, “We must try it. But I do not want to kill anyone.”

“I will go,” the Lion said. “But I am too much of a coward to kill the Witch.”The Scarecrow said, “I will go, but I am too much of a fool to be of much help.”

“I haven’t the heart to hurt even a Witch,” said the Tin Woodman. “But I will go with you.”

They decided to begin their journey the next morning. The Woodman sharpened his ax and had his joints oiled. The Scarecrow stuffed himself with fresh straw. The green girl filled Dorothy’s basket with good things to eat and put a little bell around Toto’s neck with a green ribbon.

They went to bed early and slept until morning. They woke at the crowing of a green rooster and the cackling of a hen who laid a green egg.