安徒生童话-第121部分

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〃They　also　go　in　undress；〃　replied　the　woman。　〃TheWill…o'…the…Wisp　can　assume　all　kinds　of　forms；　and　appear　in　everyplace。　He　goes　into　the　church；　but　not　for　the　sake　of　the　service；and　perhaps　he　may　enter　into　one　or　other　of　the　priests。　He　speaksin　the　Parliament；　not　for　the　benefit　of　the　country；　but　only　forhimself。　He's　an　artist　with　the　color…pot　as　well　as　in　thetheatre；　but　when　he　gets　all　the　power　into　his　own　hands；　then　thepot's　empty！　I　chatter　and　chatter；　but　it　must　e　out；　what'ssticking　in　my　throat；　to　the　disadvantage　of　my　own　family。　But　Imust　now　be　the　woman　that　will　save　a　good　many　people。　It　is　notdone　with　my　good　will；　or　for　the　sake　of　a　medal。　I　do　the　mostinsane　things　I　possibly　can；　and　then　I　tell　a　poet　about　it；　andthus　the　whole　town　gets　to　know　of　it　directly。〃

〃The　town　will　not　take　that　to　heart；〃　observed　the　man；　〃thatwill　not　disturb　a　single　person；　for　they　will　all　think　I'm　onlytelling　them　a　story　if　I　say；　'The　Will…o'…the…Wisp　is　in　the　town；says　the　Moor…woman。　Take　care　of　yourselves！'〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　THE　WINDMILL

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

A　WINDMILL　stood　upon　the　hill；　proud　to　look　at；　and　it　was　proudtoo。

〃I　am　not　proud　at　all；〃　it　said；　〃but　I　am　very　muchenlightened　without　and　within。　I　have　sun　and　moon　for　my　outwarduse；　and　for　inward　use　too；　and　into　the　bargain　I　have　stearinecandles；　train　oil　and　lamps；　and　tallow　candles。　I　may　well　saythat　I'm　enlightened。　I'm　a　thinking　being；　and　so　well　constructedthat　it's　quite　delightful。　I　have　a　good　windpipe　in　my　chest；　andI　have　four　wings　that　are　placed　outside　my　head；　just　beneath　myhat。　The　birds　have　only　two　wings；　and　are　obliged　to　carry　them　ontheir　backs。　I　am　a　Dutchman　by　birth；　that　may　be　seen　by　myfigure…　a　flying　Dutchman。　They　are　considered　supernatural　beings；I　know；　and　yet　I　am　quite　natural。　I　have　a　gallery　round　my　chest；and　house…room　beneath　it；　that's　where　my　thoughts　dwell。　Mystrongest　thought；　who　rules　and　reigns；　is　called　by　others　'TheMan　in　the　Mill。'　He　knows　what　he　wants；　and　is　lord　over　the　mealand　the　bran；　but　he　has　his　panion；　too；　and　she　calls　herself'Mother。'　She　is　the　very　heart　of　me。　She　does　not　run　about　stupidlyand　awkwardly；　for　she　knows　what　she　wants；　she　knows　what　she　cando；　she's　as　soft　as　a　zephyr　and　as　strong　as　a　storm；　she　knowshow　to　begin　a　thing　carefully；　and　to　have　her　own　way。　She　is　mysoft　temper；　and　the　father　is　my　hard　one。　They　are　two；　and　yet　one；they　each　call　the　other　'My　half。'　These　two　have　some　little　boys；young　thoughts；　that　can　grow。　The　little　ones　keep　everything　inorder。　When；　lately；　in　my　wisdom；　I　let　the　father　and　the　boysexamine　my　throat　and　the　hole　in　my　chest；　to　see　what　was　going　onthere；…　for　something　in　me　was　out　of　order；　and　it's　well　to　examineone's　self；…　the　little　ones　made　a　tremendous　noise。　The　youngestjumped　up　into　my　hat；　and　shouted　so　there　that　it　tickled　me。　Thelittle　thoughts　may　grow…　I　know　that　very　well；　and　out　in　theworld　thoughts　e　too；　and　not　only　of　my　kind；　for　as　far　as　Ican　see；　I　cannot　discern　anything　like　myself；　but　the　winglesshouses；　whose　throats　make　no　noise；　have　thoughts　too；　and　these　eto　my　thoughts；　and　make　love　to　them；　as　it　is　called。　It's　wonderfulenough…　yes；　there　are　many　wonderful　things。　Something　has　eover　me；　or　into　me；…　something　has　changed　in　the　mill…work。　It　seemsas　if　the　one　half；　the　father；　had　altered；　and　had　received　a　bettertemper　and　a　more　affectionate　helpmate…　so　young　and　good；　and　yetthe　same；　only　more　gentle　and　good　through　the　course　of　time。　Whatwas　bitter　has　passed　away；　and　the　whole　is　much　more　fortable。

〃The　days　go　on；　and　the　days　e　nearer　and　nearer　toclearness　and　to　joy；　and　then　a　day　will　e　when　it　will　be　overwith　me；　but　not　over　altogether。　I　must　be　pulled　down　that　I　maybe　built　up　again；　I　shall　cease；　but　yet　shall　live　on。　To　beequite　a　different　being；　and　yet　remain　the　same！　That's　difficult　forme　to　understand；　however　enlightened　I　may　be　with　sun；　moon；stearine；　train　oil；　and　tallow。　My　old　wood…work　and　my　oldbrick…work　will　rise　again　from　the　dust！

〃I　will　hope　that　I　may　keep　my　old　thoughts；　the　father　in　themill；　and　the　mother；　great　ones　and　little　ones…　the　family；　for　Icall　them　all；　great　and　little；　the　pany　of　thoughts；　because　Imust；　and　cannot　refrain　from　it。

〃And　I　must　also　remain　'myself；'　with　my　throat　in　my　chest；　mywings　on　my　head；　the　gallery　round　my　body；　else　I　should　not　knowmyself；　nor　could　the　others　know　me；　and　say；　'There's　the　mill　onthe　hill；　proud　to　look　at；　and　yet　not　proud　at　all。'〃

That　is　what　the　mill　said。　Indeed；　it　said　much　more；　but　that　isthe　most　important　part。

And　the　days　came；　and　the　days　went；　and　yesterday　was　the　lastday。

Then　the　mill　caught　fire。　The　flames　rose　up　high；　and　beat　outand　in；　and　bit　at　the　beams　and　planks；　and　ate　them　up。　The　millfell；　and　nothing　remained　of　it　but　a　heap　of　ashes。　The　smokedrove　across　the　scene　of　the　conflagration；　and　the　wind　carried　itaway。

Whatever　had　been　alive　in　the　mill　remained；　and　what　had　beengained　by　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　this　story。

The　miller's　family…　one　soul；　many　thoughts；　and　yet　only　one…built　a　new；　a　splendid　mill；　which　answered　its　purpose。　It　was　quitelike　the　old　one；　and　people　said；　〃Why；　yonder　is　the　mill　on　thehill；　proud　to　look　at！〃　But　this　mill　was　better　arranged；　moreaccording　to　the　time　than　the　last；　so　that　progress　might　be　made。The　old　beams　had　bee　worm…eaten　and　spongy…　they　lay　in　dust　andashes。　The　body　of　the　mill　did　not　rise　out　of　the　dust　as　they　hadbelieved　it　would　do。　They　had　taken　it　literally；　and　all　thingsare　not　to　be　taken　literally。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THERE　IS　NO　DOUBT　ABOUT　IT

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THAT　was　a　terrible　affair！〃　said　a　hen；　and　in　a　quarter　of　thetown；　too；　where　it　had　not　taken　place。　〃That　was　a　terrible　affairin　a　hen…roost。　I　cannot　sleep　alone　to…night。　It　is　a　good　thing　thatmany　of　us　sit　on　the　roost　together。〃　And　then　she　told　a　storythat　made　the　feathers　on　the　other　hens　bristle　up；　and　the　cock'sb　fall。　There　was　no　doubt　about　it。

But　we　will　begin　at　the　beginning；　and　that　is　to　be　found　in　ahen…roost　in　another　part　of　the　town。　The　sun　was　setting；　and　thefowls　were　flying　on　to　their　roost；　one　hen；　with　white　feathersand　short　legs；　used　to　lay　her　eggs　according　to　the　regulations；　andwas；　as　a　hen；　respectable　in　every　way。　As　she　was　flying　upon　theroost；　she　plucked　herself　with　her　beak；　and　a　little　feather　cameout。

〃There　it　goes；〃　she　said；　〃the　more　I　pluck；　the　more　beautifuldo　I　get。〃　She　said　this　merrily；　for　she　was　the　best　of　the　hens；and；　moreover；　as　had　been　said；　very　respectable。　With　that　shewent　to　sleep。

It　was　dark　all　around；　and　hen　sat　close　to　hen；　but　the　onewho　sat　nearest　to　her　merry　neighbour　did　not　sleep。　She　had　heardand　yet　not　heard；　as　we　are　often　obliged　to　do　in　this　world；　inorder　to　live　at　peace；　but　she　could　not　keep　it　from　her　neighbouron　the　other　side　any　longer。　〃Did　you　hear　what　was　said？　I　mentionno　names；　but　there　is　a　hen　here　who　intends　to　pluck　herself　inorder　to　look　well。　If　I　were　a　cock；　I　should　despise　her。〃

Just　over　the　fowls　sat　the　owl；　with　father　owl　and　the　littleowls。　The　family　has　sharp　ears；　and　they　all　heard　every　word　thattheir　neighbour　had　said。　They　rolled　their　eyes；　and　mother　owl；beating　her　wings；　said：　〃Don't　listen　to　her！　But　I　suppose　you　heardwhat　was　said？　I　heard　it　with　my　own　ears；　and　one　has　to　hear　agreat　deal　before　they　fall　off。　There　is　one　among　the　fowls　whohas　so　far　forgotten　what　is　being　to　a　hen　that　she　plucks　out　allher　feathers　and　lets　the　cock　see　it。〃

〃Prenez　garde　aux　enfants！〃　said　father　owl；　〃children　shouldnot　hear　such　things。〃

〃But　I　must　tell　our　neighbour　owl　about　it；　she　is　such　anestimable　owl　to　talk　to。〃　And　with　that　she　flew　away。

〃Too…whoo！　Too…whoo！〃　they　both　hooted　into　the　neighbour'sdove…cot　to　the　doves　inside。　〃Have　you　heard？　Have　you　heard？Too…whoo！　There　is　a　hen　who　has　plucked　out　all　her　feathers　forthe　sake　of　the　cock；　she　will　freeze　to　death；　if　she　is　not　frozenalready。　Too…whoo！〃

〃Where？　where？〃　cooed　the　doves。

〃In　the　neighbour's　yard。　I　have　as　good　as　seen　it　myself。　Itis　almost　unbeing　to　tell　the　story；　but　there　is　no　doubt　aboutit。〃

〃Believe　every　word　of　what　we　tell　you；〃　said　the　doves；　andcooed　down　into　their　poultry…yard。　〃There　is　a　hen…　nay；　some　saythat　there　are　two…　who　have　plucked　out　all　their　feathers；　inorder　not　to　look　like　the　others；　and　to　attract　the　attention　of　thecock。　It　is　a　dangerous　game；　for　one　can　easily　catch　cold　and　diefrom　fever；　and　both　of　these　are　dead　already。〃

〃Wake　up！　wake　up！〃　crowed　the　cock；　and　flew　upon　his　board。Sleep　was　still　in　his　eyes；　but　yet　he　crowed　out：　〃Three　hens　havedied　of　their　unfortunate　love　for　a　cock。　They　had　plucked　out　alltheir　feathers。　It　is　a　horrible　story：　I　will　not　keep　it　tomyself；　but　let　it　go　farther。〃

〃Let　it　go　farther；〃　shrieked　the　bats；　and　the　hens　clucked　andthe　cocks　crowed；　〃Let　it　go　farther！　Let　it　go　farther！〃　In　thisway　the　story　travelled　from　poultry…yard　to　poultry…yard；　and　at　lastcame　back　to　the　place　from　which　it　had　really　started。

〃Five　hens；〃　it　now　ran；　〃have　plucked　out　all　their　feathers　toshow　which　of　them　had　grown　leanest　for　love　of　the　cock；　and　thenthey　all　pecked　at　each　other　till　the　blood　ran　down　and　they　felldown　dead；　to　the　derision　and　shame　of　their　family；　and　to　the　greatloss　of　their　owner。〃

The　hen　who　had　lost　the　loose　little　feather　naturally　did　notrecognise　her　own　story；　and　being　a　respectable　hen；　said：　〃I　despisethose　fowls；　but　there　are　more　of　that　kind。　Such　things　ought　not　tobe　concealed；　and　I　will　do　my　best　to　get　the　story　into　thepapers；　so　that　it　bees　known　throughout　the　land；　the　hens　haverichly　deserved　it；　and　their　family　too。〃

It　got　into　the　papers；　it　was　printed；　and　there　is　no　doubtabout　it；　one　little　feather　may　easily　grow　into　five　hens。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　TWO　BROTHERS

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

ON　one　of　the　Danish　islands；　where　old　Thingstones；　the　seatsof　justice　of　our　forefathers；　still　stand　in　the　cornfields；　and　hugetrees　rise　in　the　forests　of　beech；　there　lies　a　little　town　whose　lowhouses　are　covered　with　red　tiles。　In　one　of　these　houses　strangethings　were　brewing　over　the　glowing　coals　on　the　open　hearth；　therewas　a　boiling　going　on　in　glasses；　and　a　mixing　and　distilling；while　herbs　were　being　cut　up　and　pounded　in　mortars。　An　elderly　manlooked　after　it　all。

〃One　must　only　do　the　right　thing；〃　he　said；　〃yes；　the　right…the　correct　thing。　One　must　find　out　the　truth　concerning　everycreated　particle；　and　keep　to　that。〃

In　the　room　with　the　good　housewife　sat　her　two　sons；　they　werestill　small；　but　had　great　thoughts。　Their　mother；　too；　had　alwaysspoken　to　them　of　right　and　justice；　and　exhorted　them　to　keep　tothe　truth；　which　she　said　was　the　countenance　of　the　Lord　in　thisworld。

The　elder　of　the　boys　looked　roguish　and　enterprising。　He　took　adelight　in　reading　of　the　forces　of　nature；　of　the　sun　and　the　moon；no　fairy　tale　pleased　him　so　much。　Oh；　how　beautiful　it　must　be；　hethought；　to　go　on　voyages　of　discovery；　or　to　find　out　how　toimitate　the　wings　of　birds　and　then　to　be　able　to　fly！　Yes；　to　findthat　out　was　the　right　thing。　Father　was　right；　and　mother　wasright…　truth　holds　the　world　together。

The　younger　brother　was　quieter；　and　buried　himself　entirely　inhis　books。　When　he　read　about　Jacob　dressing　himself　in　sheep…skins　topersonify　Esau；　and　so　to　usurp　his　brother's　birthright；　he　wouldclench　his　little　fist　in　anger　against　the　deceiver；　when　he　readof　tyrants　and　of　the　injustice　and　wickedness　of　the　world；　tearswould　e　into　his　eyes；　and　he　was　quite　filled　with　the　thoughtof　the　justice　and　truth　which　must　and　would　triumph。

One　evening　he　was　lying　in　bed；　but　the　curtains　were　not　yetdrawn　close；　and　the　light　streamed　in　upon　him；　he　had　taken　his　bookinto　bed　with　him；　for　he　wanted　to　finish　reading　the　story　of　Solon。His　thoughts　lifted　and　carried　him　away　a　wonderful　distance；　itseemed　to　him　as　if　the　bed　had　bee　a　ship　flying　along　underfull　sail。　Was　he　dreaming；　or　what　was　happening？　It　glided　overthe　rolling　waves　and　across　the　ocean　of　time；　and　to　him　came　thevoice　of　Solon；　spoken　in　a　strange　tongue；　yet　intelligible　to　him；he　heard　the　Danish　motto：　〃By　law　the　land　is　ruled。〃

The　genius　of　the　human　race　stood　in　the　humble　room；　bent　downover　the　bed　and　imprinted　a　kiss　on　the　boy's　forehead：　〃Be　thoustrong　in　fame　and　strong　in　the　battle　of　life！　With　truth　in　thyheart　fly　toward　the　land　of　truth！〃

The　elder　brother　was　not　yet　in　bed；　he　was　standing　at　thewindow　looking　out　at　the　mist　which　rose　from　the　meadows。　Theywere　not　elves　dancing　out　there；　as　their　old　nurse　had　told　him；he　knew　better…　they　were　vapours　which　were　warmer　than　the　air；and　that　is　why　they　rose。　A　shooting　star　lit　up　the　sky；　and　theboy's　thoughts　passed　in　a　second　from　the　vapours　of　the　earth　upto　the　shining　meteor。　The　stars　gleamed　in　the　heavens；　and　it　seemedas　if　long　golden　threads　hung　down　from　them　to　the　earth。

〃Fly　with　me；〃　sang　a　voice；　which　the　boy　heard　in　his　heart。　Andthe　mighty　genius　of　mankind；　swifter　than　a　bird　and　than　an　arrow…swifter　than　anything　of　earthly　origin…　carried　him　out　into　space；where　the　heavenly　bodies　are　bound　together　by　the　rays　that　passfrom　star　to　star。　Our　earth　revolved　in　the　thin　air；　and　thecities　upon　it　seemed　to　lie　close　to　each　other。　Through　thespheres　echoed　the　words：

〃What　is　near；　what　is　far；　when　thou　art　lifted　by　the　mightygenius　of　mind？〃

And　again　the　boy　stood　by　the　window；　gazing　out；　whilst　hisyounger　brother　lay　in　bed。　Their　mother　called　them　by　their　names：〃Anders　Sandoe〃　and　〃Hans　Christian。〃

Denmark　and　the　whole　world　knows　them…　the　two　brothers　Oersted。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　TWO　MAIDENS

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

HAVE　you　ever　seen　a　maiden？　I　mean　what　our　pavers　call　a　maiden；a　thing　with　which　they　ram　down　the　paving…stones　in　the　roads。　Amaiden　of　this　kind　is　made　altogether　of　wood；　broad　below；　andgirt　round　with　iron　rings。　At　the　top　she　is　narrow；　and　has　astick　passed　across　through　her　waist；　and　this　stick　forms　the　armsof　the　maiden。

In　the　shed　stood　two　Maidens　of　this　kind。　They　had　their　placeamong　shovels；　hand…carts；　wheelbarrows；　and　measuring…tapes；　and　toall　this　pany　the　news　had　e　that　the　Maidens　were　no　longerto　be　called　〃maidens；〃　but　〃hand…rammers；〃　which　word　was　thenewest　and　the　only　correct　designation　among　the　pavers　for　the　thingwe　all　know　from　the　old　times　by　the　name　of　〃the　maiden。〃

Now；　there　are　among　us　human　creatures　certain　individuals　whoare　known　as　〃emancipated　women；〃　as；　for　instance；　principals　ofinstitutions；　dancers　who　stand　professionally　on　one　leg；milliners；　and　sick…nurses；　and　with　this　class　of　emancipated　womenthe　two　Maidens　in　the　shed　associated　t