安徒生童话-第116部分

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wims　as　well　oreven　better　than　the　others。　I　think　he　will　grow　up　pretty；　andperhaps　be　smaller；　he　has　remained　too　long　in　the　egg；　and　thereforehis　figure　is　not　properly　formed；〃　and　then　she　stroked　his　neckand　smoothed　the　feathers；　saying；　〃It　is　a　drake；　and　therefore　notof　so　much　consequence。　I　think　he　will　grow　up　strong；　and　able　totake　care　of　himself。〃

〃The　other　ducklings　are　graceful　enough；〃　said　the　old　duck。　〃Nowmake　yourself　at　home；　and　if　you　can　find　an　eel's　head；　you　canbring　it　to　me。〃

And　so　they　made　themselves　fortable；　but　the　poor　duckling；who　had　crept　out　of　his　shell　last　of　all；　and　looked　so　ugly；　wasbitten　and　pushed　and　made　fun　of；　not　only　by　the　ducks；　but　by　allthe　poultry。　〃He　is　too　big；〃　they　all　said；　and　the　turkey　cock；who　had　been　born　into　the　world　with　spurs；　and　fancied　himselfreally　an　emperor；　puffed　himself　out　like　a　vessel　in　full　sail；and　flew　at　the　duckling；　and　became　quite　red　in　the　head　withpassion；　so　that　the　poor　little　thing　did　not　know　where　to　go；　andwas　quite　miserable　because　he　was　so　ugly　and　laughed　at　by　the　wholefarmyard。　So　it　went　on　from　day　to　day　till　it　got　worse　and　worse。The　poor　duckling　was　driven　about　by　every　one；　even　his　brothers　andsisters　were　unkind　to　him；　and　would　say；　〃Ah；　you　ugly　creature；　Iwish　the　cat　would　get　you；〃　and　his　mother　said　she　wished　he　hadnever　been　born。　The　ducks　pecked　him；　the　chickens　beat　him；　andthe　girl　who　fed　the　poultry　kicked　him　with　her　feet。　So　at　last　heran　away；　frightening　the　little　birds　in　the　hedge　as　he　flew　overthe　palings。

〃They　are　afraid　of　me　because　I　am　ugly；〃　he　said。　So　he　closedhis　eyes；　and　flew　still　farther；　until　he　came　out　on　a　large　moor；inhabited　by　wild　ducks。　Here　he　remained　the　whole　night；　feelingvery　tired　and　sorrowful。

In　the　morning；　when　the　wild　ducks　rose　in　the　air；　they　staredat　their　new　rade。　〃What　sort　of　a　duck　are　you？〃　they　all　said；ing　round　him。

He　bowed　to　them；　and　was　as　polite　as　he　could　be；　but　he　did　notreply　to　their　question。　〃You　are　exceedingly　ugly；〃　said　the　wildducks；　〃but　that　will　not　matter　if　you　do　not　want　to　marry　one　ofour　family。〃

Poor　thing！　he　had　no　thoughts　of　marriage；　all　he　wanted　waspermission　to　lie　among　the　rushes；　and　drink　some　of　the　water　on　themoor。　After　he　had　been　on　the　moor　two　days；　there　came　two　wildgeese；　or　rather　goslings；　for　they　had　not　been　out　of　the　egglong；　and　were　very　saucy。　〃Listen；　friend；〃　said　one　of　them　to　theduckling；　〃you　are　so　ugly；　that　we　like　you　very　well。　Will　you　gowith　us；　and　bee　a　bird　of　passage？　Not　far　from　here　is　anothermoor；　in　which　there　are　some　pretty　wild　geese；　all　unmarried。　Itis　a　chance　for　you　to　get　a　wife；　you　may　be　lucky；　ugly　as　you　are。〃

〃Pop；　pop；〃　sounded　in　the　air；　and　the　two　wild　geese　fell　deadamong　the　rushes；　and　the　water　was　tinged　with　blood。　〃Pop；　pop；〃echoed　far　and　wide　in　the　distance；　and　whole　flocks　of　wild　geeserose　up　from　the　rushes。　The　sound　continued　from　every　direction；　forthe　sportsmen　surrounded　the　moor；　and　some　were　even　seated　onbranches　of　trees；　overlooking　the　rushes。　The　blue　smoke　from　theguns　rose　like　clouds　over　the　dark　trees；　and　as　it　floated　awayacross　the　water；　a　number　of　sporting　dogs　bounded　in　among　therushes；　which　bent　beneath　them　wherever　they　went。　How　they　terrifiedthe　poor　duckling！　He　turned　away　his　head　to　hide　it　under　hiswing；　and　at　the　same　moment　a　large　terrible　dog　passed　quite　nearhim。　His　jaws　were　open；　his　tongue　hung　from　his　mouth；　and　hiseyes　glared　fearfully。　He　thrust　his　nose　close　to　the　duckling；showing　his　sharp　teeth；　and　then；　〃splash；　splash；〃　he　went　intothe　water　without　touching　him；　〃Oh；〃　sighed　the　duckling；　〃howthankful　I　am　for　being　so　ugly；　even　a　dog　will　not　bite　me。〃　Andso　he　lay　quite　still；　while　the　shot　rattled　through　the　rushes；and　gun　after　gun　was　fired　over　him。　It　was　late　in　the　day　beforeall　became　quiet；　but　even　then　the　poor　young　thing　did　not　dare　tomove。　He　waited　quietly　for　several　hours；　and　then；　after　lookingcarefully　around　him；　hastened　away　from　the　moor　as　fast　as　he　could。He　ran　over　field　and　meadow　till　a　storm　arose；　and　he　could　hardlystruggle　against　it。　Towards　evening；　he　reached　a　poor　little　cottagethat　seemed　ready　to　fall；　and　only　remained　standing　because　it　couldnot　decide　on　which　side　to　fall　first。　The　storm　continued　soviolent；　that　the　duckling　could　go　no　farther；　he　sat　down　by　thecottage；　and　then　he　noticed　that　the　door　was　not　quite　closed　inconsequence　of　one　of　the　hinges　having　given　way。　There　was　thereforea　narrow　opening　near　the　bottom　large　enough　for　him　to　slip　through；which　he　did　very　quietly；　and　got　a　shelter　for　the　night。　A　woman；　atom　cat；　and　a　hen　lived　in　this　cottage。　The　tom　cat；　whom　themistress　called；　〃My　little　son；〃　was　a　great　favorite；　he　could　raisehis　back；　and　purr；　and　could　even　throw　out　sparks　from　his　fur　if　itwere　stroked　the　wrong　way。　The　hen　had　very　short　legs；　so　she　wascalled　〃Chickie　short　legs。〃　She　laid　good　eggs；　and　her　mistressloved　her　as　if　she　had　been　her　own　child。　In　the　morning；　thestrange　visitor　was　discovered；　and　the　tom　cat　began　to　purr；　and　thehen　to　cluck。

〃What　is　that　noise　about？〃　said　the　old　woman；　looking　roundthe　room；　but　her　sight　was　not　very　good；　therefore；　when　she　saw　theduckling　she　thought　it　must　be　a　fat　duck；　that　had　strayed　fromhome。　〃Oh　what　a　prize！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　hope　it　is　not　a　drake；　forthen　I　shall　have　some　duck's　eggs。　I　must　wait　and　see。〃　So　theduckling　was　allowed　to　remain　on　trial　for　three　weeks；　but　therewere　no　eggs。　Now　the　tom　cat　was　the　master　of　the　house；　and　the　henwas　mistress；　and　they　always　said；　〃We　and　the　world；〃　for　theybelieved　themselves　to　be　half　the　world；　and　the　better　half　too。　Theduckling　thought　that　others　might　hold　a　different　opinion　on　thesubject；　but　the　hen　would　not　listen　to　such　doubts。　〃Can　you　layeggs？〃　she　asked。　〃No。〃　〃Then　have　the　goodness　to　hold　yourtongue。〃　〃Can　you　raise　your　back；　or　purr；　or　throw　out　sparks？〃　saidthe　tom　cat。　〃No。〃　〃Then　you　have　no　right　to　express　an　opinionwhen　sensible　people　are　speaking。〃　So　the　duckling　sat　in　a　corner；feeling　very　low　spirited；　till　the　sunshine　and　the　fresh　air　cameinto　the　room　through　the　open　door；　and　then　he　began　to　feel　sucha　great　longing　for　a　swim　on　the　water；　that　he　could　not　helptelling　the　hen。

〃What　an　absurd　idea；〃　said　the　hen。　〃You　have　nothing　else　to　do；therefore　you　have　foolish　fancies。　If　you　could　purr　or　lay　eggs；they　would　pass　away。〃

〃But　it　is　so　delightful　to　swim　about　on　the　water；〃　said　theduckling；　〃and　so　refreshing　to　feel　it　close　over　your　head；　whileyou　dive　down　to　the　bottom。〃

〃Delightful；　indeed！〃　said　the　hen；　〃why　you　must　be　crazy！　Askthe　cat；　he　is　the　cleverest　animal　I　know；　ask　him　how　he　wouldlike　to　swim　about　on　the　water；　or　to　dive　under　it；　for　I　will　notspeak　of　my　own　opinion；　ask　our　mistress；　the　old　woman…　there　isno　one　in　the　world　more　clever　than　she　is。　Do　you　think　she　wouldlike　to　swim；　or　to　let　the　water　close　over　her　head？〃

〃You　don't　understand　me；〃　said　the　duckling。

〃We　don't　understand　you？　Who　can　understand　you；　I　wonder？　Do　youconsider　yourself　more　clever　than　the　cat；　or　the　old　woman？　I　willsay　nothing　of　myself。　Don't　imagine　such　nonsense；　child；　and　thankyour　good　fortune　that　you　have　been　received　here。　Are　you　not　in　awarm　room；　and　in　society　from　which　you　may　learn　something。　Butyou　are　a　chatterer；　and　your　pany　is　not　very　agreeable。　Believeme；　I　speak　only　for　your　own　good。　I　may　tell　you　unpleasanttruths；　but　that　is　a　proof　of　my　friendship。　I　advise　you；　therefore；to　lay　eggs；　and　learn　to　purr　as　quickly　as　possible。〃

〃I　believe　I　must　go　out　into　the　world　again；〃　said　the　duckling。

〃Yes；　do；〃　said　the　hen。　So　the　duckling　left　the　cottage；　andsoon　found　water　on　which　it　could　swim　and　dive；　but　was　avoided　byall　other　animals；　because　of　its　ugly　appearance。　Autumn　came；　andthe　leaves　in　the　forest　turned　to　orange　and　gold。　then；　as　winterapproached；　the　wind　caught　them　as　they　fell　and　whirled　them　inthe　cold　air。　The　clouds；　heavy　with　hail　and　snow…flakes；　hung　low　inthe　sky；　and　the　raven　stood　on　the　ferns　crying；　〃Croak；　croak。〃　Itmade　one　shiver　with　cold　to　look　at　him。　All　this　was　very　sad　forthe　poor　little　duckling。　One　evening；　just　as　the　sun　set　amidradiant　clouds；　there　came　a　large　flock　of　beautiful　birds　out　of　thebushes。　The　duckling　had　never　seen　any　like　them　before。　They　wereswans；　and　they　curved　their　graceful　necks；　while　their　softplumage　shown　with　dazzling　whiteness。　They　uttered　a　singular　cry；　asthey　spread　their　glorious　wings　and　flew　away　from　those　cold　regionsto　warmer　countries　across　the　sea。　As　they　mounted　higher　andhigher　in　the　air；　the　ugly　little　duckling　felt　quite　a　strangesensation　as　he　watched　them。　He　whirled　himself　in　the　water　like　awheel；　stretched　out　his　neck　towards　them；　and　uttered　a　cry　sostrange　that　it　frightened　himself。　Could　he　ever　forget　thosebeautiful；　happy　birds；　and　when　at　last　they　were　out　of　his　sight；he　dived　under　the　water；　and　rose　again　almost　beside　himself　withexcitement。　He　knew　not　the　names　of　these　birds；　nor　where　they　hadflown；　but　he　felt　towards　them　as　he　had　never　felt　for　any　otherbird　in　the　world。　He　was　not　envious　of　these　beautiful　creatures；but　wished　to　be　as　lovely　as　they。　Poor　ugly　creature；　how　gladlyhe　would　have　lived　even　with　the　ducks　had　they　only　given　himencouragement。　The　winter　grew　colder　and　colder；　he　was　obliged　toswim　about　on　the　water　to　keep　it　from　freezing；　but　every　nightthe　space　on　which　he　swam　became　smaller　and　smaller。　At　length　itfroze　so　hard　that　the　ice　in　the　water　crackled　as　he　moved；　andthe　duckling　had　to　paddle　with　his　legs　as　well　as　he　could；　tokeep　the　space　from　closing　up。　He　became　exhausted　at　last；　and　laystill　and　helpless；　frozen　fast　in　the　ice。

Early　in　the　morning；　a　peasant；　who　was　passing　by；　saw　whathad　happened。　He　broke　the　ice　in　pieces　with　his　wooden　shoe；　andcarried　the　duckling　home　to　his　wife。　The　warmth　revived　the　poorlittle　creature；　but　when　the　children　wanted　to　play　with　him；　theduckling　thought　they　would　do　him　some　harm；　so　he　started　up　interror；　fluttered　into　the　milk…pan；　and　splashed　the　milk　about　theroom。　Then　the　woman　clapped　her　hands；　which　frightened　him　stillmore。　He　flew　first　into　the　butter…cask；　then　into　the　meal…tub；and　out　again。　What　a　condition　he　was　in！　The　woman　screamed；　andstruck　at　him　with　the　tongs；　the　children　laughed　and　screamed；　andtumbled　over　each　other；　in　their　efforts　to　catch　him；　but　luckily　heescaped。　The　door　stood　open；　the　poor　creature　could　just　manage　toslip　out　among　the　bushes；　and　lie　down　quite　exhausted　in　the　newlyfallen　snow。

It　would　be　very　sad；　were　I　to　relate　all　the　misery　andprivations　which　the　poor　little　duckling　endured　during　the　hardwinter；　but　when　it　had　passed；　he　found　himself　lying　one　morningin　a　moor；　amongst　the　rushes。　He　felt　the　warm　sun　shining；　and　heardthe　lark　singing；　and　saw　that　all　around　was　beautiful　spring。　Thenthe　young　bird　felt　that　his　wings　were　strong；　as　he　flapped　themagainst　his　sides；　and　rose　high　into　the　air。　They　bore　himonwards；　until　he　found　himself　in　a　large　garden；　before　he　well　knewhow　it　had　happened。　The　apple…trees　were　in　full　blossom；　and　thefragrant　elders　bent　their　long　green　branches　down　to　the　streamwhich　wound　round　a　smooth　lawn。　Everything　looked　beautiful；　in　thefreshness　of　early　spring。　From　a　thicket　close　by　came　threebeautiful　white　swans；　rustling　their　feathers；　and　swimming　lightlyover　the　smooth　water。　The　duckling　remembered　the　lovely　birds；　andfelt　more　strangely　unhappy　than　ever。

〃I　will　fly　to　those　royal　birds；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃and　they　willkill　me；　because　I　am　so　ugly；　and　dare　to　approach　them；　but　itdoes　not　matter：　better　be　killed　by　them　than　pecked　by　the　ducks；beaten　by　the　hens；　pushed　about　by　the　maiden　who　feeds　thepoultry；　or　starved　with　hunger　in　the　winter。〃

Then　he　flew　to　the　water；　and　swam　towards　the　beautiful　swans。The　moment　they　espied　the　stranger；　they　rushed　to　meet　him　withoutstretched　wings。

〃Kill　me；〃　said　the　poor　bird；　and　he　bent　his　head　down　to　thesurface　of　the　water；　and　awaited　death。

But　what　did　he　see　in　the　clear　stream　below？　His　own　image；　nolonger　a　dark；　gray　bird；　ugly　and　disagreeable　to　look　at；　but　agraceful　and　beautiful　swan。　To　be　born　in　a　duck's　nest；　in　afarmyard；　is　of　no　consequence　to　a　bird；　if　it　is　hatched　from　aswan's　egg。　He　now　felt　glad　at　having　suffered　sorrow　and　trouble；because　it　enabled　him　to　enjoy　so　much　better　all　the　pleasure　andhappiness　around　him；　for　the　great　swans　swam　round　the　new…er；and　stroked　his　neck　with　their　beaks；　as　a　wele。

Into　the　garden　presently　came　some　little　children；　and　threwbread　and　cake　into　the　water。

〃See；〃　cried　the　youngest；　〃there　is　a　new　one；〃　and　the　rest　weredelighted；　and　ran　to　their　father　and　mother；　dancing　and　clappingtheir　hands；　and　shouting　joyously；　〃There　is　another　swan　e；　a　newone　has　arrived。〃

Then　they　threw　more　bread　and　cake　into　the　water；　and　said；　〃Thenew　one　is　the　most　beautiful　of　all；　he　is　so　young　and　pretty。〃And　the　old　swans　bowed　their　heads　before　him。

Then　he　felt　quite　ashamed；　and　hid　his　head　under　his　wing；　forhe　did　not　know　what　to　do；　he　was　so　happy；　and　yet　not　at　all　proud。He　had　been　persecuted　and　despised　for　his　ugliness；　and　now　he　heardthem　say　he　was　the　most　beautiful　of　all　the　birds。　Even　theelder…tree　bent　down　its　bows　into　the　water　before　him；　and　the　sunshone　warm　and　bright。　Then　he　rustled　his　feathers；　curved　hisslender　neck；　and　cried　joyfully；　from　the　depths　of　his　heart；　〃Inever　dreamed　of　such　happiness　as　this；　while　I　was　an　uglyduckling。〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　WICKED　PRINCE

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　lived　once　upon　a　time　a　wicked　prince　whose　heart　andmind　were　set　upon　conquering　all　the　countries　of　the　world；　and　onfrightening　the　people；　he　devastated　their　countries　with　fire　andsword；　and　his　soldiers　trod　down　the　crops　in　the　fields　anddestroyed　the　peasants'　huts　by　fire；　so　that　the　flames　licked　thegreen　leaves　off　the　branches；　and　the　fruit　hung　dried　up　on　thesinged　black　trees。　Many　a　poor　mother　fled；　her　naked　baby　in　herarms；　behind　the　still　smoking　walls　of　her　cottage；　but　also　therethe　soldiers　followed　her；　and　when　they　found　her；　she　served　asnew　nourishment　to　their　diabolical　enjoyments；　demons　could　notpossibly　have　done　worse　things　than　these　soldiers！　The　prince　was　ofopinion　that　all　this　was　right；　and　that　it　was　only　the　naturalcourse　which　things　ought　to　take。　His　power　increased　day　by　day；　hisname　was　feared　by　all；　and　fortune　favoured　his　deeds。

He　brought　enormous　wealth　home　from　the　conquered　towns；　andgradually　accumulated　in　his　residence　riches　which　could　nowhere　beequalled。　He　erected　magnificent　palaces；　churches；　and　halls；　and　allwho　saw　these　splendid　buildings　and　great　treasures　exclaimedadmiringly：　〃What　a　mighty　prince！〃　But　they　did　not　know　what　endlessmisery　he　had　brought　upon　other　countries；　nor　did　they　hear　thesighs　and　lamentations