安徒生童话-第117部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　what　endlessmisery　he　had　brought　upon　other　countries；　nor　did　they　hear　thesighs　and　lamentations　which　rose　up　from　the　debris　of　thedestroyed　cities。

The　prince　often　looked　with　delight　upon　his　gold　and　hismagnificent　edifices；　and　thought；　like　the　crowd：　〃What　a　mightyprince！　But　I　must　have　more…　much　more。　No　power　on　earth　mustequal　mine；　far　less　exceed　it。〃

He　made　war　with　all　his　neighbours；　and　defeated　them。　Theconquered　kings　were　chained　up　with　golden　fetters　to　his　chariotwhen　he　drove　through　the　streets　of　his　city。　These　kings　had　tokneel　at　his　and　his　courtiers'　feet　when　they　sat　at　table；　andlive　on　the　morsels　which　they　left。　At　last　the　prince　had　his　ownstatue　erected　on　the　public　places　and　fixed　on　the　royal　palaces；nay；　he　even　wished　it　to　be　placed　in　the　churches；　on　the　altars；but　in　this　the　priests　opposed　him；　saying：　〃Prince；　you　are　mightyindeed；　but　God's　power　is　much　greater　than　yours；　we　dare　not　obeyyour　orders。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　prince。　〃Then　I　will　conquer　God　too。〃　And　in　hishaughtiness　and　foolish　presumption　he　ordered　a　magnificent　ship　tobe　constructed；　with　which　he　could　sail　through　the　air；　it　wasgorgeously　fitted　out　and　of　many　colours；　like　the　tail　of　a　peacock；it　was　covered　with　thousands　of　eyes；　but　each　eye　was　the　barrelof　a　gun。　The　prince　sat　in　the　centre　of　the　ship；　and　had　only　totouch　a　spring　in　order　to　make　thousands　of　bullets　fly　out　in　alldirections；　while　the　guns　were　at　once　loaded　again。　Hundreds　ofeagles　were　attached　to　this　ship；　and　it　rose　with　the　swiftness　ofan　arrow　up　towards　the　sun。　The　earth　was　soon　left　far　below；　andlooked；　with　its　mountains　and　woods；　like　a　cornfield　where　theplough　had　made　furrows　which　separated　green　meadows；　soon　itlooked　only　like　a　map　with　indistinct　lines　upon　it；　and　at　last　itentirely　disappeared　in　mist　and　clouds。　Higher　and　higher　rose　theeagles　up　into　the　air；　then　God　sent　one　of　his　numberless　angelsagainst　the　ship。　The　wicked　prince　showered　thousands　of　bullets　uponhim；　but　they　rebounded　from　his　shining　wings　and　fell　down　likeordinary　hailstones。　One　drop　of　blood；　one　single　drop；　came　out　ofthe　white　feathers　of　the　angel's　wings　and　fell　upon　the　ship　inwhich　the　prince　sat；　burnt　into　it；　and　weighed　upon　it　likethousands　of　hundredweights；　dragging　it　rapidly　down　to　the　earthagain；　the　strong　wings　of　the　eagles　gave　way；　the　wind　roaredround　the　prince's　head；　and　the　clouds　around…　were　they　formed　bythe　smoke　rising　up　from　the　burnt　cities？…　took　strange　shapes；like　crabs　many；　many　miles　long；　which　stretched　their　claws　outafter　him；　and　rose　up　like　enormous　rocks；　from　which　rollingmasses　dashed　down；　and　became　fire…spitting　dragons。

The　prince　was　lying　half…dead　in　his　ship；　when　it　sank　at　lastwith　a　terrible　shock　into　the　branches　of　a　large　tree　in　the　wood。

〃I　will　conquer　God！〃　said　the　prince。　〃I　have　sworn　it：　my　willmust　be　done！〃

And　he　spent　seven　years　in　the　construction　of　wonderful　ships　tosail　through　the　air；　and　had　darts　cast　from　the　hardest　steel　tobreak　the　walls　of　heaven　with。　He　gathered　warriors　from　allcountries；　so　many　that　when　they　were　placed　side　by　side　theycovered　the　space　of　several　miles。　They　entered　the　ships　and　theprince　was　approaching　his　own；　when　God　sent　a　swarm　of　gnats…　oneswarm　of　little　gnats。　They　buzzed　round　the　prince　and　stung　his　faceand　hands；　angrily　he　drew　his　sword　and　brandished　it；　but　he　onlytouched　the　air　and　did　not　hit　the　gnats。　Then　he　ordered　hisservants　to　bring　costly　coverings　and　wrap　him　in　them；　that　thegnats　might　no　longer　be　able　to　reach　him。　The　servants　carried　outhis　orders；　but　one　single　gnat　had　placed　itself　inside　one　of　thecoverings；　crept　into　the　prince's　ear　and　stung　him。　The　placeburnt　like　fire；　and　the　poison　entered　into　his　blood。　Mad　with　pain；he　tore　off　the　coverings　and　his　clothes　too；　flinging　them　far　away；and　danced　about　before　the　eyes　of　his　ferocious　soldiers；　who　nowmocked　at　him；　the　mad　prince；　who　wished　to　make　war　with　God；　andwas　overe　by　a　single　little　gnat。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　WILD　SWANS

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

FAR　away　in　the　land　to　which　the　swallows　fly　when　it　iswinter；　dwelt　a　king　who　had　eleven　sons；　and　one　daughter；　namedEliza。　The　eleven　brothers　were　princes；　and　each　went　to　schoolwith　a　star　on　his　breast；　and　a　sword　by　his　side。　They　wrote　withdiamond　pencils　on　gold　slates；　and　learnt　their　lessons　so　quicklyand　read　so　easily　that　every　one　might　know　they　were　princes。Their　sister　Eliza　sat　on　a　little　stool　of　plate…glass；　and　had　abook　full　of　pictures；　which　had　cost　as　much　as　half　a　kingdom。　Oh；these　children　were　indeed　happy；　but　it　was　not　to　remain　soalways。　Their　father；　who　was　king　of　the　country；　married　a　verywicked　queen；　who　did　not　love　the　poor　children　at　all。　They　knewthis　from　the　very　first　day　after　the　wedding。　In　the　palace　therewere　great　festivities；　and　the　children　played　at　receivingpany；　but　instead　of　having；　as　usual；　all　the　cakes　and　applesthat　were　left；　she　gave　them　some　sand　in　a　tea…cup；　and　told　them　topretend　it　was　cake。　The　week　after；　she　sent　little　Eliza　into　thecountry　to　a　peasant　and　his　wife；　and　then　she　told　the　king　somany　untrue　things　about　the　young　princes；　that　he　gave　himself　nomore　trouble　respecting　them。

〃Go　out　into　the　world　and　get　your　own　living；〃　said　the　queen。〃Fly　like　great　birds；　who　have　no　voice。〃　But　she　could　not　make　themugly　as　she　wished；　for　they　were　turned　into　eleven　beautiful　wildswans。　Then；　with　a　strange　cry；　they　flew　through　the　windows　ofthe　palace；　over　the　park；　to　the　forest　beyond。　It　was　earlymorning　when　they　passed　the　peasant's　cottage；　where　their　sisterEliza　lay　asleep　in　her　room。　They　hovered　over　the　roof；　twistedtheir　long　necks　and　flapped　their　wings；　but　no　one　heard　them　or　sawthem；　so　they　were　at　last　obliged　to　fly　away；　high　up　in　the　clouds；and　over　the　wide　world　they　flew　till　they　came　to　a　thick；　darkwood；　which　stretched　far　away　to　the　seashore。　Poor　little　Elizawas　alone　in　her　room　playing　with　a　green　leaf；　for　she　had　noother　playthings；　and　she　pierced　a　hole　through　the　leaf；　andlooked　through　it　at　the　sun；　and　it　was　as　if　she　saw　her　brothers'clear　eyes；　and　when　the　warm　sun　shone　on　her　cheeks；　she　thoughtof　all　the　kisses　they　had　given　her。　One　day　passed　just　likeanother；　sometimes　the　winds　rustled　through　the　leaves　of　therose…bush；　and　would　whisper　to　the　roses；　〃Who　can　be　morebeautiful　than　you！〃　But　the　roses　would　shake　their　heads；　and　say；〃Eliza　is。〃　And　when　the　old　woman　sat　at　the　cottage　door　onSunday；　and　read　her　hymn…book；　the　wind　would　flutter　the　leaves；　andsay　to　the　book；　〃Who　can　be　more　pious　than　you？〃　and　then　thehymn…book　would　answer　〃Eliza。〃　And　the　roses　and　the　hymn…book　toldthe　real　truth。　At　fifteen　she　returned　home；　but　when　the　queen　sawhow　beautiful　she　was；　she　became　full　of　spite　and　hatred　towardsher。　Willingly　would　she　have　turned　her　into　a　swan；　like　herbrothers；　but　she　did　not　dare　to　do　so　yet；　because　the　king　wishedto　see　his　daughter。　Early　one　morning　the　queen　went　into　thebath…room；　it　was　built　of　marble；　and　had　soft　cushions；　trimmed　withthe　most　beautiful　tapestry。　She　took　three　toads　with　her；　and　kissedthem；　and　said　to　one；　〃When　Eliza　es　to　the　bath；　seat　yourselfupon　her　head；　that　she　may　bee　as　stupid　as　you　are。〃　Then　shesaid　to　another；　〃Place　yourself　on　her　forehead；　that　she　maybee　as　ugly　as　you　are；　and　that　her　father　may　not　know　her。〃〃Rest　on　her　heart；〃　she　whispered　to　the　third；　〃then　she　will　haveevil　inclinations；　and　suffer　in　consequence。〃　So　she　put　the　toadsinto　the　clear　water；　and　they　turned　green　immediately。　She　nextcalled　Eliza；　and　helped　her　to　undress　and　get　into　the　bath。　AsEliza　dipped　her　head　under　the　water；　one　of　the　toads　sat　on　herhair；　a　second　on　her　forehead；　and　a　third　on　her　breast；　but　she　didnot　seem　to　notice　them；　and　when　she　rose　out　of　the　water；　therewere　three　red　poppies　floating　upon　it。　Had　not　the　creatures　beenvenomous　or　been　kissed　by　the　witch；　they　would　have　been　changedinto　red　roses。　At　all　events　they　became　flowers；　because　they　hadrested　on　Eliza's　head；　and　on　her　heart。　She　was　too　good　and　tooinnocent　for　witchcraft　to　have　any　power　over　her。　When　the　wickedqueen　saw　this；　she　rubbed　her　face　with　walnut…juice；　so　that　she　wasquite　brown；　then　she　tangled　her　beautiful　hair　and　smeared　it　withdisgusting　ointment；　till　it　was　quite　impossible　to　recognize　thebeautiful　Eliza。

When　her　father　saw　her；　he　was　much　shocked；　and　declared　she　wasnot　his　daughter。　No　one　but　the　watch…dog　and　the　swallows　knewher；　and　they　were　only　poor　animals；　and　could　say　nothing。　Then　poorEliza　wept；　and　thought　of　her　eleven　brothers；　who　were　all　away。Sorrowfully；　she　stole　away　from　the　palace；　and　walked；　the　wholeday；　over　fields　and　moors；　till　she　came　to　the　great　forest。　Sheknew　not　in　what　direction　to　go；　but　she　was　so　unhappy；　and　longedso　for　her　brothers；　who　had　been；　like　herself；　driven　out　into　theworld；　that　she　was　determined　to　seek　them。　She　had　been　but　ashort　time　in　the　wood　when　night　came　on；　and　she　quite　lost　thepath；　so　she　laid　herself　down　on　the　soft　moss；　offered　up　herevening　prayer；　and　leaned　her　head　against　the　stump　of　a　tree。　Allnature　was　still；　and　the　soft；　mild　air　fanned　her　forehead。　Thelight　of　hundreds　of　glow…worms　shone　amidst　the　grass　and　the　moss；like　green　fire；　and　if　she　touched　a　twig　with　her　hand；　ever　solightly；　the　brilliant　insects　fell　down　around　her；　likeshooting…stars。

All　night　long　she　dreamt　of　her　brothers。　She　and　they　werechildren　again；　playing　together。　She　saw　them　writing　with　theirdiamond　pencils　on　golden　slates；　while　she　looked　at　the　beautifulpicture…book　which　had　cost　half　a　kingdom。　They　were　not　writinglines　and　letters；　as　they　used　to　do；　but　descriptions　of　the　nobledeeds　they　had　performed；　and　of　all　they　had　discovered　and　seen。In　the　picture…book；　too；　everything　was　living。　The　birds　sang；　andthe　people　came　out　of　the　book；　and　spoke　to　Eliza　and　herbrothers；　but；　as　the　leaves　turned　over；　they　darted　back　again　totheir　places；　that　all　might　be　in　order。

When　she　awoke；　the　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens；　yet　she　could　notsee　him；　for　the　lofty　trees　spread　their　branches　thickly　over　herhead；　but　his　beams　were　glancing　through　the　leaves　here　and　there；like　a　golden　mist。　There　was　a　sweet　fragrance　from　the　fresh　greenverdure；　and　the　birds　almost　perched　upon　her　shoulders。　She　heardwater　rippling　from　a　number　of　springs；　all　flowing　in　a　lake　withgolden　sands。　Bushes　grew　thickly　round　the　lake；　and　at　one　spot　anopening　had　been　made　by　a　deer；　through　which　Eliza　went　down　tothe　water。　The　lake　was　so　clear　that；　had　not　the　wind　rustled　thebranches　of　the　trees　and　the　bushes；　so　that　they　moved；　they　wouldhave　appeared　as　if　painted　in　the　depths　of　the　lake；　for　everyleaf　was　reflected　in　the　water；　whether　it　stood　in　the　shade　orthe　sunshine。　As　soon　as　Eliza　saw　her　own　face；　she　was　quiteterrified　at　finding　it　so　brown　and　ugly；　but　when　she　wetted　herlittle　hand；　and　rubbed　her　eyes　and　forehead；　the　white　skingleamed　forth　once　more；　and；　after　she　had　undressed；　and　dippedherself　in　the　fresh　water；　a　more　beautiful　king's　daughter　could　notbe　found　in　the　wide　world。　As　soon　as　she　had　dressed　herselfagain；　and　braided　her　long　hair；　she　went　to　the　bubbling　spring；　anddrank　some　water　out　of　the　hollow　of　her　hand。　Then　she　wanderedfar　into　the　forest；　not　knowing　whither　she　went。　She　thought　ofher　brothers；　and　felt　sure　that　God　would　not　forsake　her。　It　isGod　who　makes　the　wild　apples　grow　in　the　wood；　to　satisfy　the　hungry；and　He　now　led　her　to　one　of　these　trees；　which　was　so　loaded　withfruit；　that　the　boughs　bent　beneath　the　weight。　Here　she　held　hernoonday　repast；　placed　props　under　the　boughs；　and　then　went　intothe　gloomiest　depths　of　the　forest。　It　was　so　still　that　she　couldhear　the　sound　of　her　own　footsteps；　as　well　as　the　rustling　ofevery　withered　leaf　which　she　crushed　under　her　feet。　Not　a　bird　wasto　be　seen；　not　a　sunbeam　could　perate　through　the　large；　darkboughs　of　the　trees。　Their　lofty　trunks　stood　so　close　together；　that；when　she　looked　before　her；　it　seemed　as　if　she　were　enclosed　withintrellis…work。　Such　solitude　she　had　never　known　before。　The　nightwas　very　dark。　Not　a　single　glow…worm　glittered　in　the　moss。

Sorrowfully　she　laid　herself　down　to　sleep；　and；　after　a　while；　itseemed　to　her　as　if　the　branches　of　the　trees　parted　over　her　head；and　that　the　mild　eyes　of　angels　looked　down　upon　her　from　heaven。When　she　awoke　in　the　morning；　she　knew　not　whether　she　had　dreamtthis；　or　if　it　had　really　been　so。　Then　she　continued　her　wandering；but　she　had　not　gone　many　steps　forward；　when　she　met　an　old　womanwith　berries　in　her　basket；　and　she　gave　her　a　few　to　eat。　ThenEliza　asked　her　if　she　had　not　seen　eleven　princes　riding　throughthe　forest。

〃No；〃　replied　the　old　woman；　〃But　I　saw　yesterday　eleven　swans；with　gold　crowns　on　their　heads；　swimming　on　the　river　close　by。〃　Thenshe　led　Eliza　a　little　distance　farther　to　a　sloping　bank；　and　atthe　foot　of　it　wound　a　little　river。　The　trees　on　its　banksstretched　their　long　leafy　branches　across　the　water　towards　eachother；　and　where　the　growth　prevented　them　from　meeting　naturally；　theroots　had　torn　themselves　away　from　the　ground；　so　that　the　branchesmight　mingle　their　foliage　as　they　hung　over　the　water。　Eliza　bade　theold　woman　farewell；　and　walked　by　the　flowing　river；　till　shereached　the　shore　of　the　open　sea。　And　there；　before　the　youngmaiden's　eyes；　lay　the　glorious　ocean；　but　not　a　sail　appeared　onits　surface；　not　even　a　boat　could　be　seen。　How　was　she　to　go　farther？She　noticed　how　the　countless　pebbles　on　the　sea…shore　had　beensmoothed　and　rounded　by　the　action　of　the　water。　Glass；　iron；stones；　everything　that　lay　there　mingled　together；　had　taken　itsshape　from　the　same　power；　and　felt　as　smooth；　or　even　smoother　thanher　own　delicate　hand。　〃The　water　rolls　on　without　weariness；〃　shesaid；　till　all　that　is　hard　bees　smooth；　so　will　I　be　unweariedin　my　task。　Thanks　for　your　lessons；　bright　rolling　waves；　my　hearttells　me　you　will　lead　me　to　my　dear　brothers。〃　On　the　foam…coveredsea…weeds；　lay　eleven　white　swan　feathers；　which　she　gathered　up　andplaced　together。　Drops　of　water　lay　upon　them；　whether　they　weredew…drops　or　tears　no　one　could　say。　Lonely　as　it　was　on　thesea…shore；　she　did　not　observe　it；　for　the　ever…moving　sea　showed　morechanges　in　a　few　hours　than　the　most　varying　lake　could　produce　duringa　whole　year。　If　a　black　heavy　cloud　arose；　it　was　as　if　the　sea　said；〃I　can　look　dark　and　angry　too；〃　and　then　the　wind　blew；　and　the　wavesturned　to　white　foam　as　they　rolled。　When　the　wind　slept；　and　theclouds　glowed　with　the　red　sunlight；　then　the　sea　looked　like　a　roseleaf。　But　however　quietly　its　white　glassy　surface　rested；　there　wasstill　a　motion　on　the　shore；　as　its　waves　rose　and　fell　like　thebreast　of　a　sleeping　child。　When　the　sun　was　about　to　set；　Eliza　saweleven　white　swans　with　golden　crowns　on　their　heads；　flying　towardsthe　land；　one　behind　the　other；　like　a　long　white　ribbon。　Then　Elizawent　down　the　slope　from　the　shore