安徒生童话-第114部分

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ff。　Butafter　all　the　people　were　gone　away；　the　stranger；　who　came　with　John；said　that　he　could　soon　set　her　to　rights。　And　then　he　brought　out　hisbox　and　rubbed　the　doll　with　some　of　the　salve　with　which　he　had　curedthe　old　woman　when　she　broke　her　leg。　As　soon　as　this　was　done　thedoll's　back　became　quite　right　again；　her　head　and　shoulders　werefixed　on；　and　she　could　even　move　her　limbs　herself：　there　was　nowno　occasion　to　pull　the　wires；　for　the　doll　acted　just　like　a　livingcreature；　excepting　that　she　could　not　speak。　The　man　to　whom　the　showbelonged　was　quite　delighted　at　having　a　doll　who　could　dance　ofherself　without　being　pulled　by　the　wires；　none　of　the　other　dollscould　do　this。

During　the　night；　when　all　the　people　at　the　inn　were　gone　to　bed；some　one　was　heard　to　sigh　so　deeply　and　painfully；　and　the　sighingcontinued　for　so　long　a　time；　that　every　one　got　up　to　see　whatcould　be　the　matter。　The　showman　went　at　once　to　his　little　theatreand　found　that　it　proceeded　from　the　dolls；　who　all　lay　on　the　floorsighing　piteously；　and　staring　with　their　glass　eyes；　they　allwanted　to　be　rubbed　with　the　ointment；　so　that；　like　the　queen；　theymight　be　able　to　move　of　themselves。　The　queen　threw　herself　on　herknees；　took　off　her　beautiful　crown；　and；　holding　it　in　her　hand；cried；　〃Take　this　from　me；　but　do　rub　my　husband　and　his　courtiers。〃

The　poor　man　who　owned　the　theatre　could　scarcely　refrain　fromweeping；　he　was　so　sorry　that　he　could　not　help　them。　Then　heimmediately　spoke　to　John's　rade；　and　promised　him　all　the　money　hemight　receive　at　the　next　evening's　performance；　if　he　would　onlyrub　the　ointment　on　four　or　five　of　his　dolls。　But　thefellow…traveller　said　he　did　not　require　anything　in　return；　exceptingthe　sword　which　the　showman　wore　by　his　side。　As　soon　as　he　receivedthe　sword　he　anointed　six　of　the　dolls　with　the　ointment；　and　theywere　able　immediately　to　dance　so　gracefully　that　all　the　living　girlsin　the　room　could　not　help　joining　in　the　dance。　The　coachman　dancedwith　the　cook；　and　the　waiters　with　the　chambermaids；　and　all　thestrangers　joined；　even　the　tongs　and　the　fire…shovel　made　anattempt；　but　they　fell　down　after　the　first　jump。　So　after　all　itwas　a　very　merry　night。　The　next　morning　John　and　his　panion　leftthe　inn　to　continue　their　journey　through　the　great　pine…forests　andover　the　high　mountains。　They　arrived　at　last　at　such　a　great　heightthat　towns　and　villages　lay　beneath　them；　and　the　church　steepleslooked　like　little　specks　between　the　green　trees。　They　could　seefor　miles　round；　far　away　to　places　they　had　never　visited；　and　Johnsaw　more　of　the　beautiful　world　than　he　had　ever　known　before。　The　sunshone　brightly　in　the　blue　firmament　above；　and　through　the　clearmountain　air　came　the　sound　of　the　huntsman's　horn；　and　the　soft；sweet　notes　brought　tears　into　his　eyes；　and　he　could　not　helpexclaiming；　〃How　good　and　loving　God　is　to　give　us　all　this　beauty　andloveliness　in　the　world　to　make　us　happy！〃

His　fellow…traveller　stood　by　with　folded　hands；　gazing　on　thedark　wood　and　the　towns　bathed　in　the　warm　sunshine。　At　this　momentthere　sounded　over　their　heads　sweet　music。　They　looked　up；　anddiscovered　a　large　white　swan　hovering　in　the　air；　and　singing　asnever　bird　sang　before。　But　the　song　soon　became　weaker　and　weaker；the　bird's　head　drooped；　and　he　sunk　slowly　down；　and　lay　dead　attheir　feet。

〃It　is　a　beautiful　bird；〃　said　the　traveller；　〃and　these　largewhite　wings　are　worth　a　great　deal　of　money。　I　will　take　them　with　me。You　see　now　that　a　sword　will　be　very　useful。〃

So　he　cut　off　the　wings　of　the　dead　swan　with　one　blow；　andcarried　them　away　with　him。

They　now　continued　their　journey　over　the　mountains　for　manymiles；　till　they　at　length　reached　a　large　city；　containing　hundredsof　towers；　that　shone　in　the　sunshine　like　silver。　In　the　midst　of　thecity　stood　a　splendid　marble　palace；　roofed　with　pure　red　gold；　inwhich　dwelt　the　king。　John　and　his　panion　would　not　go　into　thetown　immediately；　so　they　stopped　at　an　inn　outside　the　town；　tochange　their　clothes；　for　they　wished　to　appear　respectable　as　theywalked　through　the　streets。　The　landlord　told　them　that　the　king　was　avery　good　man；　who　never　injured　any　one：　but　as　to　his　daughter；〃Heaven　defend　us！〃

She　was　indeed　a　wicked　princess。　She　possessed　beauty　enough…nobody　could　be　more　elegant　or　prettier　than　she　was；　but　what　ofthat？　for　she　was　a　wicked　witch；　and　in　consequence　of　her　conductmany　noble　young　princes　had　lost　their　lives。　Any　one　was　atliberty　to　make　her　an　offer；　were　he　a　prince　or　a　beggar；　itmattered　not　to　her。　She　would　ask　him　to　guess　three　things　which　shehad　just　thought　of；　and　if　he　succeed；　he　was　to　marry　her；　and　beking　over　all　the　land　when　her　father　died；　but　if　he　could　not　guessthese　three　things；　then　she　ordered　him　to　be　hanged　or　to　have　hishead　cut　off。　The　old　king；　her　father；　was　very　much　grieved　at　herconduct；　but　he　could　not　prevent　her　from　being　so　wicked；　because　heonce　said　he　would　have　nothing　more　to　do　with　her　lovers；　shemight　do　as　she　pleased。　Each　prince　who　came　and　tried　the　threeguesses；　so　that　he　might　marry　the　princess；　had　been　unable　tofind　them　out；　and　had　been　hanged　or　beheaded。　They　had　all　beenwarned　in　time；　and　might　have　left　her　alone；　if　they　would。　Theold　king　became　at　last　so　distressed　at　all　these　dreadfulcircumstances；　that　for　a　whole　day　every　year　he　and　his　soldiersknelt　and　prayed　that　the　princess　might　bee　good；　but　shecontinued　as　wicked　as　ever。　The　old　women　who　drank　brandy　wouldcolor　it　quite　black　before　they　drank　it；　to　show　how　they　mourned；and　what　more　could　they　do？

〃What　a　horrible　princess！〃　said　John；　〃she　ought　to　be　wellflogged。　If　I　were　the　old　king；　I　would　have　her　punished　in　someway。〃

Just　then　they　heard　the　people　outside　shouting；　〃Hurrah！〃　and；looking　out；　they　saw　the　princess　passing　by；　and　she　was　really　sobeautiful　that　everybody　forgot　her　wickedness；　and　shouted〃Hurrah！〃　Twelve　lovely　maidens　in　white　silk　dresses；　holdinggolden　tulips　in　their　hands；　rode　by　her　side　on　coal…black　horses。The　princess　herself　had　a　snow…white　steed；　decked　with　diamondsand　rubies。　Her　dress　was　of　cloth　of　gold；　and　the　whip　she　held　inher　hand　looked　like　a　sunbeam。　The　golden　crown　on　her　head　glitteredlike　the　stars　of　heaven；　and　her　mantle　was　formed　of　thousands　ofbutterflies'　wings　sewn　together。　Yet　she　herself　was　more　beautifulthan　all。

When　John　saw　her；　his　face　became　as　red　as　a　drop　of　blood；and　he　could　scarcely　utter　a　word。　The　princess　looked　exactly　likethe　beautiful　lady　with　the　golden　crown；　of　whom　he　had　dreamed　onthe　night　his　father　died。　She　appeared　to　him　so　lovely　that　he　couldnot　help　loving　her。

〃It　could　not　be　true；〃　he　thought；　〃that　she　was　really　awicked　witch；　who　ordered　people　to　be　hanged　or　beheaded；　if　theycould　not　guess　her　thoughts。　Every　one　has　permission　to　go　and　askher　hand；　even　the　poorest　beggar。　I　shall　pay　a　visit　to　the　palace；〃he　said；　〃I　must　go；　for　I　cannot　help　myself。〃

Then　they　all　advised　him　not　to　attempt　it；　for　he　would　besure　to　share　the　same　fate　as　the　rest。　His　fellow…traveller　alsotried　to　persuade　him　against　it；　but　John　seemed　quite　sure　ofsuccess。　He　brushed　his　shoes　and　his　coat；　washed　his　face　and　hishands；　bed　his　soft　flaxen　hair；　and　then　went　out　alone　into　thetown；　and　walked　to　the　palace。

〃e　in；〃　said　the　king；　as　John　knocked　at　the　door。　John　openedit；　and　the　old　king；　in　a　dressing　gown　and　embroidered　slippers；came　towards　him。　He　had　the　crown　on　his　head；　carried　his　sceptre　inone　hand；　and　the　orb　in　the　other。　〃Wait　a　bit；〃　said　he；　and　heplaced　the　orb　under　his　arm；　so　that　he　could　offer　the　other　hand　toJohn；　but　when　he　found　that　John　was　another　suitor；　he　began　to　weepso　violently；　that　both　the　sceptre　and　the　orb　fell　to　the　floor；　andhe　was　obliged　to　wipe　his　eyes　with　his　dressing　gown。　Poor　old　king！〃Let　her　alone；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　fare　as　badly　as　all　the　others。e；　I　will　show　you。〃　Then　he　led　him　out　into　the　princess'spleasure　gardens；　and　there　he　saw　a　frightful　sight。　On　every　treehung　three　or　four　king's　sons　who　had　wooed　the　princess；　but　had　notbeen　able　to　guess　the　riddles　she　gave　them。　Their　skeletonsrattled　in　every　breeze；　so　that　the　terrified　birds　never　dared　toventure　into　the　garden。　All　the　flowers　were　supported　by　human　bonesinstead　of　sticks；　and　human　skulls　in　the　flower…pots　grinnedhorribly。　It　was　really　a　doleful　garden　for　a　princess。　〃Do　you　seeall　this？〃　said　the　old　king；　〃your　fate　will　be　the　same　as　those　whoare　here；　therefore　do　not　attempt　it。　You　really　make　me　veryunhappy；…　I　take　these　things　to　heart　so　very　much。〃

John　kissed　the　good　old　king's　hand；　and　said　he　was　sure　itwould　be　all　right；　for　he　was　quite　enchanted　with　the　beautifulprincess。　Then　the　princess　herself　came　riding　into　the　palace　yardwith　all　her　ladies；　and　he　wished　her　〃Good　morning。〃　She　lookedwonderfully　fair　and　lovely　when　she　offered　her　hand　to　John；　andhe　loved　her　more　than　ever。　How　could　she　be　a　wicked　witch；　as　allthe　people　asserted？　He　acpanied　her　into　the　hall；　and　thelittle　pages　offered　them　gingerbread　nuts　and　sweetmeats；　but　the　oldking　was　so　unhappy　he　could　eat　nothing；　and　besides；　gingerbreadnuts　were　too　hard　for　him。　It　was　decided　that　John　should　e　tothe　palace　the　next　day；　when　the　judges　and　the　whole　of　thecounsellors　would　be　present；　to　try　if　he　could　guess　the　firstriddle。　If　he　succeeded；　he　would　have　to　e　a　second　time；　but　ifnot；　he　would　lose　his　life；…　and　no　one　had　ever　been　able　to　guesseven　one。　However；　John　was　not　at　all　anxious　about　the　result　of　histrial；　on　the　contrary；　he　was　very　merry。　He　thought　only　of　thebeautiful　princess；　and　believed　that　in　some　way　he　should　have　help；but　how　he　knew　not；　and　did　not　like　to　think　about　it；　so　hedanced　along　the　high…road　as　he　went　back　to　the　inn；　where　he　hadleft　his　fellow…traveller　waiting　for　him。　John　could　not　refrain　fromtelling　him　how　gracious　the　princess　had　been；　and　how　beautifulshe　looked。　He　longed　for　the　next　day　so　much；　that　he　might　go　tothe　palace　and　try　his　luck　at　guessing　the　riddles。　But　his　radeshook　his　head；　and　looked　very　mournful。　〃I　do　so　wish　you　to　dowell；〃　said　he；　〃we　might　have　continued　together　much　longer；　and　nowI　am　likely　to　lose　you；　you　poor　dear　John！　I　could　shed　tears；　but　Iwill　not　make　you　unhappy　on　the　last　night　we　may　be　together。　Wewill　be　merry；　really　merry　this　evening；　to…morrow；　after　you　aregone；　shall　be　able　to　weep　undisturbed。〃

It　was　very　quickly　known　among　the　inhabitants　of　the　town　thatanother　suitor　had　arrived　for　the　princess；　and　there　was　greatsorrow　in　consequence。　The　theatre　remained　closed；　the　women　who　soldsweetmeats　tied　crape　round　the　sugar…sticks；　and　the　king　and　thepriests　were　on　their　knees　in　the　church。　There　was　a　greatlamentation；　for　no　one　expected　John　to　succeed　better　than　those　whohad　been　suitors　before。

In　the　evening　John's　rade　prepared　a　large　bowl　of　punch；and　said；　〃Now　let　us　be　merry；　and　drink　to　the　health　of　theprincess。〃　But　after　drinking　two　glasses；　John　became　so　sleepy；　thathe　could　not　keep　his　eyes　open；　and　fell　fast　asleep。　Then　hisfellow…traveller　lifted　him　gently　out　of　his　chair；　and　laid　him　onthe　bed；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　quite　dark；　he　took　the　two　large　wingswhich　he　had　cut　from　the　dead　swan；　and　tied　them　firmly　to　his　ownshoulders。　Then　he　put　into　his　pocket　the　largest　of　the　three　rodswhich　he　had　obtained　from　the　old　woman　who　had　fallen　and　broken　herleg。　After　this　he　opened　the　window；　and　flew　away　over　the　town；straight　towards　the　palace；　and　seated　himself　in　a　corner；　under　thewindow　which　looked　into　the　bedroom　of　the　princess。

The　town　was　perfectly　still　when　the　clocks　struck　a　quarter　totwelve。　Presently　the　window　opened；　and　the　princess；　who　had　largeblack　wings　to　her　shoulders；　and　a　long　white　mantle；　flew　awayover　the　city　towards　a　high　mountain。　The　fellow…traveller；　who　hadmade　himself　invisible；　so　that　she　could　not　possibly　see　him；　flewafter　her　through　the　air；　and　whipped　the　princess　with　his　rod；　sothat　the　blood　came　whenever　he　struck　her。　Ah；　it　was　a　strangeflight　through　the　air！　The　wind　caught　her　mantle；　so　that　itspread　out　on　all　sides；　like　the　large　sail　of　a　ship；　and　the　moonshone　through　it。　〃How　it　hails；　to　be　sure！〃　said　the　princess；　ateach　blow　she　received　from　the　rod；　and　it　served　her　right　to　bewhipped。

At　last　she　reached　the　side　of　the　mountain；　and　knocked。　Themountain　opened　with　a　noise　like　the　roll　of　thunder；　and　theprincess　went　in。　The　traveller　followed　her；　no　one　could　see　him；　ashe　had　made　himself　invisible。　They　went　through　a　long；　wide　passage。A　thousand　gleaming　spiders　ran　here　and　there　on　the　walls；　causingthem　to　glitter　as　if　they　were　illuminated　with　fire。　They　nextentered　a　large　hall　built　of　silver　and　gold。　Large　red　and　blueflowers　shone　on　the　walls；　looking　like　sunflowers　in　size；　but　noone　could　dare　to　pluck　them；　for　the　stems　were　hideous　poisonoussnakes；　and　the　flowers　were　flames　of　fire；　darting　out　of　theirjaws。　Shining　glow…worms　covered　the　ceiling；　and　sky…blue　batsflapped　their　transparent　wings。　Altogether　the　place　had　afrightful　appearance。　In　the　middle　of　the　floor　stood　a　thronesupported　by　four　skeleton　horses；　whose　harness　had　been　made　byfiery…red　spiders。　The　throne　itself　was　made　of　milk…white　glass；　andthe　cushions　were　little　black　mice；　each　biting　the　other's　tail。Over　it　hung　a　canopy　of　rose…colored　spider's　webs；　spotted　withthe　prettiest　little　green　flies；　which　sparkled　like　precious　stones。On　the　throne　sat　an　old　magician　with　a　crown　on　his　ugly　head；　and　asceptre　in　his　hand。　He　kissed　the　princess　on　the　forehead；　seatedher　by　his　side　on　the　splendid　throne；　and　then　the　musicmenced。　Great　black　grasshoppers　played　the　mouth　organ；　and　theowl　struck　herself　on　the　body　instead　of　a　drum。　It　was　altogethera　ridiculous　concert。　Little　black　goblins　with　false　lights　intheir　caps　danced　about　the　hall；　but　no　one　could　see　thetraveller；　and　he　had　placed　himself　just　behind　the　throne　where　hecould　see　and　hear　everything。　The　courtiers　who　came　in　afterwardslooked　noble　and　grand；　but　any　one　with　mon　sense　could　see　whatthey　really　were；　only　broomsticks；　with　cabbages　for　heads。　Themagician　had　given　them　life；　and　dressed　them　in　embroidered　robes。It　answered　very　well；　as　they　were　only　wanted　for　show。　Afterthere　had　been　a　little　dancing；　the　princess　told　the　magician　thatshe　had　a　new　suitor；　and　asked　him　what　she　could　think　of　for　thesuitor　to　guess　when　he　came　to　the　castle　the　next　morning。

〃Listen　to　what　I　say；〃　said　the　magician；　〃you　must　choosesomething　very　easy；　he　is　less　likely　to　guess　it　then。　Think　ofone　of　your　shoes；　he　will　never　imagine　it　is　that。　Then　cut　his　headoff；　and　mind　you　do　not　forget　to　bring　his　eyes　with　you　to…morrownight；　that　I　may　eat　them。〃

The　princess　curtsied　low；　and　said　she　would　not　forget　the　eyes。

The　magician　then　opened　the　mountain　and　she　flew　home　again；　butthe　traveller　followed　and　flogged　her　so　much　with　the　rod；　thatshe　sighed　quite　deeply　about　the　heavy　hail…storm；　and　made　as　muchhaste　as　she　could　to　get　back　to　her　bedroom　through　the　window