安徒生童话-第110部分

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pot；　and　perhaps　into　abuttonhole；　the　highest　honor　that　could　be　attained。　But　not　one　ofthem　was　put　into　a　pot；　much　less　into　a　buttonhole。　They　drank　inthe　sunlight　and　the　air；　lived　on　the　sunlight　by　day；　and　on　the　dewby　night；　bloomed…　were　visited　by　bees　and　hors；　who　lookedafter　the　honey；　the　dowry　of　the　flower；　and　they　took　the　honey；　andleft　the　flower　where　it　was。

〃The　thievish　rabble！〃　said　the　Thistle。　〃If　I　could　only　stabevery　one　of　them！　But　I　cannot。〃

The　flowers　hung　their　heads　and　faded；　but　after　a　time　newones　came。

〃You　e　in　good　time；〃　said　the　Thistle。　〃I　am　expecting　everymoment　to　get　across　the　fence。〃

A　few　innocent　daisies；　and　a　long　thin　dandelion；　stood　andlistened　in　deep　admiration；　and　believed　everything　they　heard。

The　old　Ass　of　the　milk…cart　stood　at　the　edge　of　thefield…road；　and　glanced　across　at　the　blooming　thistle　bush；　but　hishalter　was　too　short；　and　he　could　not　reach　it。

And　the　Thistle　thought　so　long　of　the　thistle　of　Scotland；　towhose　family　he　said　he　belonged；　that　he　fancied　at　last　that　hehad　e　from　Scotland；　and　that　his　parents　had　been　put　into　thenational　escutcheon。　That　was　a　great　thought；　but；　you　see；　a　greatthistle　has　a　right　to　a　great　thought。

〃One　is　often　of　so　grand　a　family；　that　one　may　not　know　it；〃said　the　tle；　who　grew　close　by。　He　had　a　kind　of　idea　that　hemight　be　made　into　cambric　if　he　were　rightly　treated。

And　the　summer　went　by；　and　the　autumn　went　by。　The　leaves　fellfrom　the　trees；　and　the　few　flowers　left　had　deeper　colors　and　lessscent。　The　gardener's　boy　sang　in　the　garden；　across　the　palings：

　　　〃Up　the　hill；　down　the　dale　we　wend；

That　is　life；　from　beginning　to　end。〃

The　young　fir　trees　in　the　forest　began　to　long　for　Christmas；　butit　was　a　long　time　to　Christmas　yet。

〃Here　I　am　standing　yet！〃　said　the　Thistle。　〃It　is　as　if　nobodythought　of　me；　and　yet　I　managed　the　match。　They　were　betrothed；　andthey　have　had　their　wedding；　it　is　now　a　week　ago。　I　won't　take　asingle　step…because　I　can't。〃

A　few　more　weeks　went　by。　The　Thistle　stood　there　with　his　lastsingle　flower　large　and　full。　This　flower　had　shot　up　from　near　theroots；　the　wind　blew　cold　over　it；　and　the　colors　vanished；　and　theflower　grew　in　size；　and　looked　like　a　silvered　sunflower。

One　day　the　young　pair；　now　man　and　wife；　came　into　the　garden。They　went　along　by　the　paling；　and　the　young　wife　looked　across　it。

〃There's　the　great　thistle　still　growing；〃　she　said。　〃It　has　noflowers　now。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　the　ghost　of　the　last　one　is　there　still；〃　said　he。And　he　pointed　to　the　silvery　remains　of　the　flower；　which　looked　likea　flower　themselves。

〃It　is　pretty；　certainly；〃　she　said。　〃Such　an　one　must　be　carvedon　the　frame　of　our　picture。〃

And　the　young　man　had　to　climb　across　the　palings　again；　and　tobreak　off　the　calyx　of　the　thistle。　It　pricked　his　fingers；　but　thenhe　had　called　it　a　ghost。　And　this　thistle…calyx　came　into　the　garden；and　into　the　house；　and　into　the　drawing…room。　There　stood　apicture…　〃Young　Couple。〃　A　thistle…flower　was　painted　in　thebuttonhole　of　the　bridegroom。　They　spoke　about　this；　and　also　aboutthe　thistle…flower　they　brought；　the　last　thistle…flower；　now　gleaminglike　silver；　whose　picture　was　carved　on　the　frame。

And　the　breeze　carried　what　was　spoken　away；　far　away。

〃What　one　can　experience！〃　said　the　Thistle　Bush。　〃My　first　bornwas　put　into　a　buttonhole；　and　my　youngest　has　been　put　in　a　frame。Where　shall　I　go？〃

And　the　Ass　stood　by　the　road…side；　and　looked　across　at　theThistle。

〃e　to　me；　my　nibble　darling！〃　said　he。　〃I　can't　get　across　toyou。〃

But　the　Thistle　did　not　answer。　He　became　more　and　morethoughtful…　kept　on　thinking　and　thinking　till　near　Christmas；　andthen　a　flower　of　thought　came　forth。

〃If　the　children　are　only　good；　the　parents　do　not　mind　standingoutside　the　garden　pale。〃

〃That's　an　honorable　thought；〃　said　the　Sunbeam。　〃You　shall　alsohave　a　good　place。〃

〃In　a　pot　or　in　a　frame？〃　asked　the　Thistle。

〃In　a　story；〃　replied　the　Sunbeam。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　THORNY　ROAD　OF　HONOR

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

AN　old　story　yet　lives　of　the　〃Thorny　Road　of　Honor；〃　of　amarksman；　who　indeed　attained　to　rank　and　office；　but　only　after　alifelong　and　weary　strife　against　difficulties。　Who　has　not；　inreading　this　story；　thought　of　his　own　strife；　and　of　his　own　numerous〃difficulties？〃　The　story　is　very　closely　akin　to　reality；　but　stillit　has　its　harmonious　explanation　here　on　earth；　while　reality　oftenpoints　beyond　the　confines　of　life　to　the　regions　of　eternity。　Thehistory　of　the　world　is　like　a　magic　lantern　that　displays　to　us；　inlight　pictures　upon　the　dark　ground　of　the　present；　how　thebenefactors　of　mankind；　the　martyrs　of　genius；　wandered　along　thethorny　road　of　honor。

From　all　periods；　and　from　every　country；　these　shining　picturesdisplay　themselves　to　us。　Each　only　appears　for　a　few　moments；　buteach　represents　a　whole　life；　sometimes　a　whole　age；　with　itsconflicts　and　victories。　Let　us　contemplate　here　and　there　one　ofthe　pany　of　martyrs…　the　pany　which　will　receive　new　membersuntil　the　world　itself　shall　pass　away。

We　look　down　upon　a　crowded　amphitheatre。　Out　of　the　〃Clouds〃　ofAristophanes；　satire　and　humor　are　pouring　down　in　streams　upon　theaudience；　on　the　stage　Socrates；　the　most　remarkable　man　in　Athens；　hewho　had　been　the　shield　and　defence　of　the　people　against　the　thirtytyrants；　is　held　up　mentally　and　bodily　to　ridicule…　Socrates；　whosaved　Alcibiades　and　Xenophon　in　the　turmoil　of　battle；　and　whosegenius　soared　far　above　the　gods　of　the　ancients。　He　himself　ispresent；　he　has　risen　from　the　spectator's　bench；　and　has　steppedforward；　that　the　laughing　Athenians　may　well　appreciate　thelikeness　between　himself　and　the　caricature　on　the　stage。　There　hestands　before　them；　towering　high　above　them　all。

Thou　juicy；　green；　poisonous　hemlock；　throw　thy　shadow　overAthens…　not　thou；　olive　tree　of　fame！

Seven　cities　contended　for　the　honor　of　giving　birth　to　Homer…that　is　to　say；　they　contended　after　his　death！　Let　us　look　at　himas　he　was　in　his　lifetime。　He　wanders　on　foot　through　the　cities；and　recites　his　verses　for　a　livelihood；　the　thought　for　the　morrowturns　his　hair　gray！　He；　the　great　seer；　is　blind；　and　painfullypursues　his　way…　the　sharp　thorn　tears　the　mantle　of　the　king　ofpoets。　His　song　yet　lives；　and　through　that　alone　live　all　theheroes　and　gods　of　antiquity。

One　picture　after　another　springs　up　from　the　east；　from　the　west；far　removed　from　each　other　in　time　and　place；　and　yet　each　oneforming　a　portion　of　the　thorny　road　of　honor；　on　which　the　thistleindeed　displays　a　flower；　but　only　to　adorn　the　grave。

The　camels　pass　along　under　the　palm　trees；　they　are　richlyladen　with　indigo　and　other　treasures　of　value；　sent　by　the　ruler　ofthe　land　to　him　whose　songs　are　the　delight　of　the　people；　the　fame　ofthe　country。　He　whom　envy　and　falsehood　have　driven　into　exile　hasbeen　found；　and　the　caravan　approaches　the　little　town　in　which　he　hastaken　refuge。　A　poor　corpse　is　carried　out　of　the　town　gate；　and　thefuneral　procession　causes　the　caravan　to　halt。　The　dead　man　is　he　whomthey　have　been　sent　to　seek…　Firdusi…　who　has　wandered　the　Thorny　roadof　honor　even　to　the　end。

The　African；　with　blunt　features；　thick　lips；　and　woolly　hair；sits　on　the　marble　steps　of　the　palace　in　the　capital　of　Portugal；　andbegs。　He　is　the　submissive　slave　of　Camoens；　and　but　for　him；　andfor　the　copper　coins　thrown　to　him　by　the　passers…by；　his　master；the　poet　of　the　〃Lusiad；〃　would　die　of　hunger。　Now；　a　costlymonument　marks　the　grave　of　Camoens。

There　is　a　new　picture。

Behind　the　iron　grating　a　man　appears；　pale　as　death；　with　longunkempt　beard。

〃I　have　made　a　discovery；〃　he　says；　〃the　greatest　that　has　beenmade　for　centuries；　and　they　have　kept　me　locked　up　here　for　more　thantwenty　years！〃

Who　is　the　man？

〃A　madman；〃　replies　the　keeper　of　the　madhouse。　〃What　whimsicalideas　these　lunatics　have！　He　imagines　that　one　can　propel　things　bymeans　of　steam。〃

It　is　Solomon　de　Cares；　the　discoverer　of　the　power　of　steam；whose　theory；　expressed　in　dark　words；　is　not　understood　by　Richelieu；and　he　dies　in　the　madhouse。

Here　stands　Columbus；　whom　the　street　boys　used　once　to　follow　andjeer；　because　he　wanted　to　discover　a　new　world；　and　he　has　discoveredit。　Shouts　of　joy　greet　him　from　the　breasts　of　all；　and　the　clashof　bells　sounds　to　celebrate　his　triumphant　return；　but　the　clash　ofthe　bells　of　envy　soon　drowns　the　others。　The　discoverer　of　a　world…he　who　lifted　the　American　gold　land　from　the　sea；　and　gave　it　tohis　king…　he　is　rewarded　with　iron　chains。　He　wishes　that　these　chainsmay　be　placed　in　his　coffin；　for　they　witness　to　the　world　of　theway　in　which　a　man's　contemporaries　reward　good　service。

One　picture　after　another　es　crowding　on；　the　thorny　path　ofhonor　and　of　fame　is　over…filled。

Here　in　dark　night　sits　the　man　who　measured　the　mountains　inthe　moon；　he　who　forced　his　way　out　into　the　endless　space；　amongstars　and　plas；　he；　the　mighty　man　who　understood　the　spirit　ofnature；　and　felt　the　earth　moving　beneath　his　feet…　Galileo。　Blind　anddeaf　he　sits…　an　old　man　thrust　through　with　the　spear　of　suffering；and　amid　the　torments　of　neglect；　scarcely　able　to　lift　his　foot…　thatfoot　with　which；　in　the　anguish　of　his　soul；　when　men　denied　thetruth；　he　stamped　upon　the　ground；　with　the　exclamation；　〃Yet　itmoves！〃

Here　stands　a　woman　of　childlike　mind；　yet　full　of　faith　andinspiration。　She　carries　the　banner　in　front　of　the　bating　army；and　brings　victory　and　salvation　to　her　fatherland。　The　sound　ofshouting　arises；　and　the　pile　flames　up。　They　are　burning　the　witch；Joan　of　Arc。　Yes；　and　a　future　century　jeers　at　the　White　Lily。Voltaire；　the　satyr　of　human　intellect；　writes　〃La　Pucelle。〃

At　the　Thing　or　Assembly　at　Viborg；　the　Danish　nobles　burn　thelaws　of　the　king。　They　flame　up　high；　illuminating　the　period　andthe　lawgiver；　and　throw　a　glory　into　the　dark　prison　tower；　where　anold　man　is　growing　gray　and　bent。　With　his　finger　he　marks　out　agroove　in　the　stone　table。　It　is　the　popular　king　who　sits　there；　oncethe　ruler　of　three　kingdoms；　the　friend　of　the　citizen　and　thepeasant。　It　is　Christian　the　Second。　Enemies　wrote　his　history。　Let　usremember　his　improvements　of　seven　and　twenty　years；　if　we　cannotforget　his　crime。

A　ship　sails　away；　quitting　the　Danish　shores。　A　man　leans　againstthe　mast；　casting　a　last　glance　towards　the　Island　Hueen。　It　isTycho　Brahe。　He　raised　the　name　of　Denmark　to　the　stars；　and　wasrewarded　with　injury；　loss　and　sorrow。　He　is　going　to　a　strangecountry。

〃The　vault　of　heaven　is　above　me　everywhere；〃　he　says；　〃and　whatdo　I　want　more？〃

And　away　sails　the　famous　Dane；　the　astronomer；　to　live　honoredand　free　in　a　strange　land。

〃Ay；　free；　if　only　from　the　unbearable　sufferings　of　the　body！〃es　in　a　sigh　through　time；　and　strikes　upon　our　ear。　What　apicture！　Griffenfeldt；　a　Danish　Prometheus；　bound　to　the　rockyisland　of　Munkholm。

We　are　in　America；　on　the　margin　of　one　of　the　largest　rivers；an　innumerable　crowd　has　gathered；　for　it　is　said　that　a　ship　is　tosail　against　the　wind　and　weather；　bidding　defiance　to　the　elements。The　man　who　thinks　he　can　solve　the　problem　is　named　Robert　Fulton。The　ship　begins　its　passage；　but　suddenly　it　stops。　The　crowd　beginsto　laugh　and　whistle　and　hiss…　the　very　father　of　the　man　whistleswith　the　rest。

〃Conceit！　Foolery！〃　is　the　cry。　〃It　has　happened　just　as　hedeserved。　Put　the　crack…brain　under　lock　and　key！〃

Then　suddenly　a　little　nail　breaks；　which　had　stopped　themachine　for　a　few　moments；　and　now　the　wheels　turn　again；　the　floatsbreak　the　force　of　the　waters；　and　the　ship　continues　its　course；and　the　beam　of　the　steam　engine　shortens　the　distance　between　farlands　from　hours　into　minutes。

O　human　race；　canst　thou　grasp　the　happiness　of　such　a　minute　ofconsciousness；　this　peration　of　the　soul　by　its　mission；　the　momentin　which　all　dejection；　and　every　wound…　even　those　caused　by　one'sown　fault…　is　changed　into　health　and　strength　and　clearness…　whendiscord　is　converted　to　harmony…　the　minute　in　which　men　seem　torecognize　the　manifestation　of　the　heavenly　grace　in　one　man；　and　feelhow　this　one　imparts　it　to　all？

Thus　the　thorny　path　of　honor　shows　itself　as　a　glory；　surroundingthe　earth　with　its　beams。　Thrice　happy　he　who　is　chosen　to　be　awanderer　there；　and；　without　merit　of　his　own；　to　be　placed　betweenthe　builder　of　the　bridge　and　the　earth…　between　Providence　and　thehuman　race。

On　mighty　wings　the　spirit　of　history　floats　through　the　ages；　andshows…　giving　courage　and　fort；　and　awakening　gentle　thoughts…　onthe　dark　nightly　background；　but　in　gleaming　pictures；　the　thorny　pathof　honor；　which　does　not；　like　a　fairy　tale；　end　in　brilliancy　and　joyhere　on　earth；　but　stretches　out　beyond　all　time；　even　into　eternity！

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　TINDER…BOX

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

A　SOLDIER　came　marching　along　the　high　road：　〃Left；　right…　left；right。〃　He　had　his　knapsack　on　his　back；　and　a　sword　at　his　side；　hehad　been　to　the　wars；　and　was　now　returning　home。

As　he　walked　on；　he　met　a　very　frightful…looking　old　witch　inthe　road。　Her　under…lip　hung　quite　down　on　her　breast；　and　she　stoppedand　said；　〃Good　evening；　soldier；　you　have　a　very　fine　sword；　and　alarge　knapsack；　and　you　are　a　real　soldier；　so　you　shall　have　asmuch　money　as　ever　you　like。〃

〃Thank　you；　old　witch；〃　said　the　soldier。

〃Do　you　see　that　large　tree；〃　said　the　witch；　pointing　to　a　treewhich　stood　beside　them。　〃Well；　it　is　quite　hollow　inside；　and　youmust　climb　to　the　top；　when　you　will　see　a　hole；　through　which　you　canlet　yourself　down　into　the　tree　to　a　great　depth。　I　will　tie　a　roperound　your　body；　so　that　I　can　pull　you　up　again　when　you　call　outto　me。〃

〃But　what　am　I　to　do；　down　there　in　the　tree？〃　asked　the　soldier。

〃Get　money；〃　she　replied；　〃for　you　must　know　that　when　you　reachthe　ground　under　the　tree；　you　will　find　yourself　in　a　large　hall；lighted　up　by　three　hundred　lamps；　you　will　then　see　three　doors；which　can　be　easily　opened；　for　the　keys　are　in　all　the　locks。　Onentering　the　first　of　the　chambers；　to　which　these　doors　lead；　youwill　see　a　large　chest；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　andupon　it　a　dog　seated；　with　a　pair　of　eyes　as　large　as　teacups。　But　youneed　not　be　at　all　afraid　of　him；　I　will　give　you　my　blue　checkedapron；　which　you　must　spread　upon　the　floor；　and　then　boldly　seizehold　of　the　dog；　and　place　him　upon　it。　You　can　then　open　the　chest；and　take　from　it　as　many　pence　as　you　please；　they　are　only　copperpence；　but　if　you　would　rather　have　silver　money；　you　must　go　into　thesecond　chamber。　Here　you　will　find　another　dog；　with　eyes　as　big　asmill…wheels；　but　do　not　let　that　trouble　you。　Place　him　upon　my　apron；and　then　take　what　money　you　please。　If；　however；　you　like　goldbest；　enter　the　third　chamber；　where　there　is　another　chest　full　ofit。　The　dog　who　sits　on　this　chest　is　very　dreadful；　his　eyes　are　asbig　as　a　tower；　but　do　not　mind　him。　If　he　also　is　placed　upon　myapron；　he　cannot　hurt　you；　and　you　may　take　from　the　chest　what　goldyou　will。〃

〃This　is　not　a　bad　story；〃　said　the　soldier；　〃but　what　am　I　togive　you；　you　old　witch？　for；　of　course；　you　do　not　mean　to　tell　mea