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The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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Of all his lessons with Doctor Cornelius the one that Caspian liked best was History. Up<br />

till now, except for Nurse's stories, he had known noth<strong>in</strong>g about the History <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>,<br />

and he was very surprised to learn that the royal family were newcomers <strong>in</strong> the country.<br />

"It was your Highness's ancestor, Caspian the First," said Doctor Cornelius, "who first<br />

conquered <strong>Narnia</strong> and made it his k<strong>in</strong>gdom. It was he who brought all your nation <strong>in</strong>to<br />

the country. You are not native <strong>Narnia</strong>ns at all. You are all Telmar<strong>in</strong>es - that is, you all<br />

came from the Land <strong>of</strong> Telmar, far beyond the Western Mounta<strong>in</strong>s. That is why Caspian<br />

the First is called Caspian the Conqueror."<br />

"Please, Doctor," asked Caspian one day, "who lived <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> before we all came here<br />

out <strong>of</strong> Telmar?"<br />

"No men - or very few - lived <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> before the Telmar<strong>in</strong>es took it," said Doctor<br />

Cornelius.<br />

"<strong>The</strong>n who did my great-great-grandcesters conquer?"<br />

"Whom, not who, your Highness," said Doctor Cornelius. "Perhaps it is time to turn from<br />

History to Grammar."<br />

"Oh please, not yet!" said Caspian.<br />

"I mean, wasn't there a battle? Why is he called Caspian the Conqueror if there was<br />

nobody to fight with him?"<br />

"I said there were very few men <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>," said the Doctor, look<strong>in</strong>g at the little boy very<br />

strangely through his great spectacles.<br />

For a moment Caspian was puzzled and then suddenly his heart gave a leap. "Do you<br />

mean," he gasped, "that there were other th<strong>in</strong>gs? Do you mean it was like <strong>in</strong> the stories?<br />

Were there-?"<br />

"Hush!" said Doctor Cornelius, lay<strong>in</strong>g his head very close to Caspian's. "Not a word<br />

more. Don't you know your Nurse was sent away for tell<strong>in</strong>g you about Old <strong>Narnia</strong>? <strong>The</strong><br />

K<strong>in</strong>g doesn't like it. If he found me tell<strong>in</strong>g you secrets, you'd be whipped and I should<br />

have my head cut <strong>of</strong>f."<br />

"But why?" asked Caspian.<br />

"1t is high time we turned to Grammar now," said Doctor Cornelius <strong>in</strong> a loud voice. "Will<br />

your Royal Highness be pleased to open Pulverulentus Siccus at the fourth page <strong>of</strong> his<br />

Grammatical garden or the Arbour <strong>of</strong> Accidence pleasantlie open'd to Tender Wits?"

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