安徒生童话-第123部分

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〃Oh；〃　he　thought；　〃she　knows　I　am　fond　of　her。〃　The　tears　he　couldnot　restrain　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　and　he　was　unable　to　utter　asingle　word；　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　been　struck　dumb。

When　he　left；　she　pressed　his　hand；　and　said；　〃You　have　a　kindheart；　Knud：　remain　always　as　you　are　now。〃　What　an　evening　ofhappiness　this　had　been；　to　sleep　after　it　was　impossible；　and　Knuddid　not　sleep。

At　parting；　Joanna's　father　had　said；　〃Now；　you　won't　quite　forgetus；　you　must　not　let　the　whole　winter　go　by　without　paying　usanother　visit；〃　so　that　Knud　felt　himself　free　to　go　again　thefollowing　Sunday　evening；　and　so　he　did。　But　every　evening　afterworking　hours…　and　they　worked　by　candle…light　then…　he　walked　outinto　the　town；　and　through　the　street　in　which　Joanna　lived；　to　lookup　at　her　window。　It　was　almost　always　lighted　up；　and　one　eveninghe　saw　the　shadow　of　her　face　quite　plainly　on　the　window　blind；that　was　a　glorious　evening　for　him。　His　master's　wife　did　not　likehis　always　going　out　in　the　evening；　idling；　wasting　time；　as　shecalled　it；　and　she　shook　her　head。

But　his　master　only　smiled；　and　said；　〃He　is　a　young　man；　my　dear；you　know。〃

〃On　Sunday　I　shall　see　her；〃　said　Knud　to　himself；　〃and　I　willtell　her　that　I　love　her　with　my　whole　heart　and　soul；　and　that　shemust　be　my　little　wife。　I　know　I　am　now　only　a　poor　journeymanshoemaker；　but　I　will　work　and　strive；　and　bee　a　master　in　time。Yes；　I　will　speak　to　her；　nothing　es　from　silent　love。　I　learntthat　from　the　gingerbread…cake　story。〃

Sunday　came；　but　when　Knud　arrived；　they　were　all　unfortunatelyinvited　out　to　spend　the　evening；　and　were　obliged　to　tell　him　so。

Joanna　pressed　his　hand；　and　said；　〃Have　you　ever　been　to　thetheatre？　you　must　go　once；　I　sing　there　on　Wednesday；　and　if　youhave　time　on　that　day；　I　will　send　you　a　ticket；　my　father　knows　whereyour　master　lives。〃　How　kind　this　was　of　her！　And　on　Wednesday；about　noon；　Knud　received　a　sealed　packet　with　no　address；　but　theticket　was　inside；　and　in　the　evening　Knud　went；　for　the　first　time　inhis　life；　to　a　theatre。　And　what　did　he　see？　He　saw　Joanna；　and　howbeautiful　and　charming　she　looked！　He　certainly　saw　her　beingmarried　to　a　stranger；　but　that　was　all　in　the　play；　and　only　apretence；　Knud　well　knew　that。　She　could　never　have　the　heart；　hethought；　to　send　him　a　ticket　to　go　and　see　it；　if　it　had　been　real。So　he　looked　on；　and　when　all　the　people　applauded　and　clapped　theirhands；　he　shouted　〃hurrah。〃　He　could　see　that　even　the　king　smiledat　Joanna；　and　seemed　delighted　with　her　singing。　How　small　Knud　felt；but　then　he　loved　her　so　dearly；　and　thought　she　loved　him；　and　theman　must　speak　the　first　word；　as　the　gingerbread　maiden　hadthought。　Ah；　how　much　there　was　for　him　in　that　childish　story。　Assoon　as　Sunday　arrived；　he　went　again；　and　felt　as　if　he　were　about　toenter　on　holy　ground。　Joanna　was　alone　to　wele　him；　nothing　couldbe　more　fortunate。

〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　e；〃　she　said。　I　was　thinking　of　sendingmy　father　for　you；　but　I　had　a　presentiment　that　you　would　be　herethis　evening。　The　fact　is；　I　wanted　to　tell　you　that　I　am　going　toFrance。　I　shall　start　on　Friday。　It　is　necessary　for　me　to　go　there；if　I　wish　to　bee　a　first…rate　performer。〃

Poor　Knud！　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　the　whole　room　was　whirlinground　with　him。　His　courage　failed；　and　he　felt　as　if　his　heartwould　burst。　He　kept　down　the　tears；　but　it　was　easy　to　see　howsorrowful　he　was。

〃You　honest；　faithful　soul；〃　she　exclaimed；　and　the　words　loosenedKnud's　tongue；　and　he　told　her　how　truly　he　had　loved　her；　and　thatshe　must　be　his　wife；　and　as　he　said　this；　he　saw　Joanna　change　color；and　turn　pale。　She　let　his　hand　fall；　and　said；　earnestly　andmournfully；　〃Knud；　do　not　make　yourself　and　me　unhappy。　I　willalways　be　a　good　sister　to　you；　one　in　whom　you　can　trust；　but　I　cannever　be　anything　more。〃　And　she　drew　her　white　hand　over　hisburning　forehead；　and　said；　〃God　gives　strength　to　bear　a　greatdeal；　if　we　only　strive　ourselves　to　endure。〃

At　this　moment　her　stepmother　came　into　the　room；　and　Joannasaid　quickly；　〃Knud　is　so　unhappy；　because　I　am　going　away；〃　and　itappeared　as　if　they　had　only　been　talking　of　her　journey。　〃e；　bea　man〃　she　added；　placing　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；　〃you　are　still　achild；　and　you　must　be　good　and　reasonable；　as　you　were　when　we　wereboth　children；　and　played　together　under　the　willow…tree。〃

Knud　listened；　but　he　felt　as　if　the　world　had　slid　out　of　itscourse。　His　thoughts　were　like　a　loose　thread　fluttering　to　and　fro　inthe　wind。　He　stayed；　although　he　could　not　tell　whether　she　hadasked　him　to　do　so。　But　she　was　kind　and　gentle　to　him；　she　poured　outhis　tea；　and　sang　to　him；　but　the　song　had　not　the　old　tone　in　it；although　it　was　wonderfully　beautiful；　and　made　his　heart　feel　readyto　burst。　And　then　he　rose　to　go。　He　did　not　offer　his　hand；　but　sheseized　it；　and　said…

〃Will　you　not　shake　hands　with　your　sister　at　parting；　my　oldplayfellow？〃　and　she　smiled　through　the　tears　that　were　rolling　downher　cheeks。　Again　she　repeated　the　word　〃brother；〃　which　was　a　greatconsolation　certainly；　and　thus　they　parted。

She　sailed　to　France；　and　Knud　wandered　about　the　muddy　streets　ofCopenhagen。　The　other　journeymen　in　the　shop　asked　him　why　he　lookedso　gloomy；　and　wanted　him　to　go　and　amuse　himself　with　them；　as　he　wasstill　a　young　man。　So　he　went　with　them　to　a　dancing…room。　He　saw　manyhandsome　girls　there；　but　none　like　Joanna；　and　here；　where　he　thoughtto　forget　her；　she　was　more　life…like　before　his　mind　than　ever。〃God　gives　us　strength　to　bear　much；　if　we　try　to　do　our　best；〃　shehad　said；　and　as　he　thought　of　this；　a　devout　feeling　came　into　hismind；　and　he　folded　his　hands。　Then；　as　the　violins　played　and　thegirls　danced　round　the　room；　he　started；　for　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　hewere　in　a　place　where　he　ought　not　to　have　brought　Joanna；　for　she　washere　with　him　in　his　heart；　and　so　he　went　out　at　once。　As　he　wentthrough　the　streets　at　a　quick　pace；　he　passed　the　house　where　sheused　to　live；　it　was　all　dark；　empty；　and　lonely。　But　the　world　wenton　its　course；　and　Knud　was　obliged　to　go　on　too。

Winter　came；　the　water　was　frozen；　and　everything　seemed　buried　ina　cold　grave。　But　when　spring　returned；　and　the　first　steamer　preparedto　sail；　Knud　was　seized　with　a　longing　to　wander　forth　into　theworld；　but　not　to　France。　So　he　packed　his　knapsack；　and　travelledthrough　Germany；　going　from　town　to　town；　but　finding　neither　restor　peace。　It　was　not　till　he　arrived　at　the　glorious　old　town　ofNuremberg　that　he　gained　the　mastery　over　himself；　and　rested　hisweary　feet；　and　here　he　remained。

Nuremberg　is　a　wonderful　old　city；　and　looks　as　if　it　had　been　cutout　of　an　old　picture…book。　The　streets　seem　to　have　arrangedthemselves　according　to　their　own　fancy；　and　as　if　the　houses　objectedto　stand　in　rows　or　rank　and　file。　Gables；　with　little　towers；ornamented　columns；　and　statues；　can　be　seen　even　to　the　city　gate；and　from　the　singular…shaped　roofs；　waterspouts；　formed　likedragons；　or　long　lean　dogs；　extend　far　across　to　the　middle　of　thestreet。　Here；　in　the　market…place；　stood　Knud；　with　his　knapsack　onhis　back；　close　to　one　of　the　old　fountains　which　are　so　beautifullyadorned　with　figures；　scriptural　and　historical；　and　which　spring　upbetween　the　sparkling　jets　of　water。　A　pretty　servant…maid　was　justfilling　her　pails；　and　she　gave　Knud　a　refreshing　draught；　she　had　ahandful　of　roses；　and　she　gave　him　one；　which　appeared　to　him　like　agood　omen　for　the　future。　From　a　neighboring　church　came　the　sounds　ofmusic；　and　the　familiar　tones　reminded　him　of　the　organ　at　home　atKjoge；　so　he　passed　into　the　great　cathedral。　The　sunshine　streamedthrough　the　painted　glass　windows；　and　between　two　lofty　slenderpillars。　His　thoughts　became　prayerful；　and　calm　peace　rested　on　hissoul。　He　next　sought　and　found　a　good　master　in　Nuremberg；　with　whomhe　stayed　and　learnt　the　German　language。

The　old　moat　round　the　town　had　been　converted　into　a　number　oflittle　kitchen　gardens；　but　the　high　walls；　with　their　heavy…lookingtowers；　are　still　standing。　Inside　these　walls　the　ropemaker　twistedhis　ropes　along　a　walk　built　like　a　gallery；　and　in　the　cracks　andcrevices　of　the　walls　elderbushes　grow　and　stretch　their　greenboughs　over　the　small　houses　which　stand　below。　In　one　of　these　houseslived　the　master　for　whom　Knud　worked；　and　over　the　little　garretwindow　where　he　sat；　the　elder…tree　waved　its　branches。　Here　hedwelt　through　one　summer　and　winter；　but　when　spring　came　again；　hecould　endure　it　no　longer。　The　elder　was　in　blossom；　and　its　fragrancewas　so　homelike；　that　he　fancied　himself　back　again　in　the　gardensof　Kjoge。　So　Knud　left　his　master；　and　went　to　work　for　another　wholived　farther　in　the　town；　where　no　elder　grew。　His　workshop　was　quiteclose　to　one　of　the　old　stone　bridges；　near　to　a　water…mill；　roundwhich　the　roaring　stream　rushed　and　foamed　always；　yet　restrained　bythe　neighboring　houses；　whose　old；　decayed　balconies　hung　over；　andseemed　ready　to　fall　into　the　water。　Here　grew　no　elder；　here　wasnot　even　a　flower…pot；　with　its　little　green　plant；　but　justopposite　the　workshop　stood　a　great　willow…tree；　which　seemed　tohold　fast　to　the　house　for　fear　of　being　carried　away　by　the　water。　Itstretched　its　branches　over　the　stream　just　as　those　of　thewillow…tree　in　the　garden　at　Kjoge　had　spread　over　the　river。　Yes；he　had　indeed　gone　from　elder…mother　to　willow…father。　There　was　asomething　about　the　tree　here；　especially　in　the　moonlight　nights；that　went　direct　to　his　heart；　yet　it　was　not　in　reality　themoonlight；　but　the　old　tree　itself。　However；　he　could　not　endure　it：and　why？　Ask　the　willow；　ask　the　blossoming　elder！　At　all　events；　hebade　farewell　to　Nuremberg　and　journeyed　onwards。　He　never　spoke　ofJoanna　to　any　one；　his　sorrow　was　hidden　in　his　heart。　The　oldchildish　story　of　the　two　cakes　had　a　deep　meaning　for　him。　Heunderstood　now　why　the　gingerbread　man　had　a　bitter　almond　in　his　leftside；　his　was　the　feeling　of　bitterness；　and　Joanna；　so　mild　andfriendly；　was　represented　by　the　honeycake　maiden。　As　he　thoughtupon　all　this；　the　strap　of　his　knapsack　pressed　across　his　chest　sothat　he　could　hardly　breathe；　he　loosened　it；　but　gained　no　relief。　Hesaw　but　half　the　world　around　him；　the　other　half　he　carried　withhim　in　his　inward　thoughts；　and　this　is　the　condition　in　which　he　leftNuremberg。　Not　till　he　caught　sight　of　the　lofty　mountains　did　theworld　appear　more　free　to　him；　his　thoughts　were　attracted　to　outerobjects；　and　tears　came　into　his　eyes。　The　Alps　appeared　to　him　likethe　wings　of　earth　folded　together；　unfolded；　they　would　display　thevariegated　pictures　of　dark　woods；　foaming　waters；　spreading　clouds；and　masses　of　snow。　〃At　the　last　day；〃　thought　he；　〃the　earth　willunfold　its　great　wings；　and　soar　upwards　to　the　skies；　there　toburst　like　a　soap…bubble　in　the　radiant　glance　of　the　Deity。　Oh；〃sighed　he；　〃that　the　last　day　were　e！〃

Silently　he　wandered　on　through　the　country　of　the　Alps；　whichseemed　to　him　like　a　fruit　garden；　covered　with　soft　turf。　From　thewooden　balconies　of　the　houses　the　young　lacemakers　nodded　as　hepassed。　The　summits　of　the　mountains　glowed　in　the　red　evening　sunset；and　the　green　lakes　beneath　the　dark　trees　reflected　the　glow。　Then　hethought　of　the　sea　coast　by　the　bay　Kjoge；　with　a　longing　in　his　heartthat　was；　however；　without　pain。　There；　where　the　Rhine　rolls　onwardlike　a　great　billow；　and　dissolves　itself　into　snowflakes；　whereglistening　clouds　are　ever　changing　as　if　here　was　the　place　oftheir　creation；　while　the　rainbow　flutters　about　them　like　amany…colored　ribbon；　there　did　Knud　think　of　the　water…mill　atKjoge；　with　its　rushing；　foaming　waters。　Gladly　would　he　have　remainedin　the　quiet　Rhenish　town；　but　there　were　too　many　elders　andwillow…trees。

So　he　travelled　onwards；　over　a　grand；　lofty　chain　of　mountains；over　rugged；…　rocky　precipices；　and　along　roads　that　hung　on　themountain's　side　like　a　swallow's　nest。　The　waters　foamed　in　the　depthsbelow　him。　The　clouds　lay　beneath　him。　He　wandered　on；　treading　uponAlpine　roses；　thistles；　and　snow；　with　the　summer　sun　shining　uponhim；　till　at　length　he　bid　farewell　to　the　lands　of　the　north。　Then　hepassed　on　under　the　shade　of　blooming　chestnut…trees；　throughvineyards；　and　fields　of　Indian　corn；　till　conscious　that　themountains　were　as　a　wall　between　him　and　his　early　recollections；and　he　wished　it　to　be　so。

Before　him　lay　a　large　and　splendid　city；　called　Milan；　and　herehe　found　a　German　master　who　engaged　him　as　a　workman。　The　masterand　his　wife；　in　whose　workshop　he　was　employed；　were　an　old；　piouscouple；　and　the　two　old　people　became　quite　fond　of　the　quietjourneyman；　who　spoke　but　little；　but　worked　more；　and　led　a　pious；Christian　life；　and　even　to　himself　it　seemed　as　if　God　had　removedthe　heavy　burden　from　his　heart。　His　greatest　pleasure　was　to　climb；now　and　then；　to　the　roof　of　the　noble　church；　which　was　built　ofwhite　marble。　The　pointed　towers；　the　decorated　and　open　cloisters；the　stately　columns；　the　white　statues　which　smiled　upon　him　fromevery　corner　and　porch　and　arch；…　all；　even　the　church　itself；seemed　to　him　to　have　been　formed　from　the　snow　of　his　native　land。Above　him　was　the　blue　sky；　below　him；　the　city　and　the　wide…spreadingplains　of　Lombardy；　and　towards　the　north；　the　lofty　mountains；covered　with　perpetual　snow。　And　then　he　thought　of　the　church　ofKjoge；　with　its　red；　ivy…clad　walls；　but　he　had　no　longing　to　gothere；　here；　beyond　the　mountains；　he　would　die　and　be　buried。

Three　years　had　passed　away　since　he　left　his　home；　one　year　ofthat　time　he　had　dwelt　at　Milan。

One　day　his　master　took　him　into　the　town；　not　to　the　circus　inwhich　riders　performed；　but　to　the　opera；　a　large　building；　itself　asight　well　worth　seeing。　The　seven　tiers　of　boxes；　which　reachedfrom　the　ground　to　a　dizzy　height；　near　the　ceiling；　were　hung　withrich；　silken　curtains；　and　in　them　were　seated　elegantly…dressedladies；　with　bouquets　of　flowers　in　their　hands。　The　gentlemen　werealso　in　full　dress；　and　many　of　them　wore　decorations　of　gold　andsilver。　The　place　was　so　brilliantly　lighted　that　it　seemed　likesunshine；　and　glorious　music　rolled　through　the　building。　Everythinglooked　more　beautiful　than　in　the　theatre　at　Copenhagen；　but　thenJoanna　had　been　there；　and…　could　it　be？　Yes…　it　was　like　magic；…she　was　here　also：　for；　when　the　curtain　rose；　there　stood　Joanna；dressed　in　silk　and　gold；　and　with　a　golden　crown　upon　her　head。　Shesang；　he　thought；　as　only　an　angel　could　sing；　and　then　she　steppedforward　to　the　front　and　smiled；　as　only　Joanna　could　smile；　andlooked　directly　at　Knud。　Poor　Knud！　he　seized　his　master's　hand；　andcried　out　loud；　〃Joanna；〃　but　no　one　heard　him；　excepting　hismaster；　for　the　music　sounded　above　everything。

〃Yes；　yes；　it　is　Joanna；〃　said　his　master；　and　he　drew　forth　aprinted　bill；　and　pointed　to　her　name；　which　was　there　in　full。　Thenit　was　not　a　dream。　All　the　audience　applauded　her；　and　threwwreaths　of　flowers　at　her；　and　every　time　she　went　away　they　calledfor　her　again；　so　that　she　was　always　ing　and　going。　In　thestreet　the　people　crowded　round　her　carriage；　and　drew　it　awaythemselves　without　the　horses。　Knud　was　in　the　foremost　row；　andshouted　as　joyously　as　the　rest；　and　when　the　carriage　stoppedbefore　a　brilliantly　lighted　house；　Knud　placed　himself　close　to　thedoor　of　her　carriage。　It　flew　open；　and　she　stepped　out；　the　lightfe