安徒生童话-第125部分

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　deer　thathad　e　down　to　the　river　to　quench　her　thirst；　sprang　by　with　astartled　bound；　for　in　her　hand　the　maiden　bore　a　lighted　lamp。　Icould　see　the　blood　in　her　delicate　finger　tips；　as　she　spread　themfor　a　screen　before　the　dancing　flame。　She　came　down　to　the　stream；and　set　the　lamp　upon　the　water；　and　let　it　float　away。　The　flameflickered　to　and　fro；　and　seemed　ready　to　expire；　but　still　the　lampburned　on；　and　the　girl's　black　sparkling　eyes；　half　veiled　behindtheir　long　silken　lashes；　followed　it　with　a　gaze　of　earnestintensity。　She　knew　that　if　the　lamp　continued　to　burn　so　long　asshe　could　keep　it　in　sight；　her　betrothed　was　still　alive；　but　ifthe　lamp　was　suddenly　extinguished；　he　was　dead。　And　the　lamp　burnedbravely　on；　and　she　fell　on　her　knees；　and　prayed。　Near　her　in　thegrass　lay　a　speckled　snake；　but　she　heeded　it　not…　she　thought　only　ofBramah　and　of　her　betrothed。　'He　lives！'　she　shouted　joyfully；　'helives！'　And　from　the　mountains　the　echo　came　back　upon　her；　'helives！〃

　SECOND　EVENING

〃Yesterday；〃　said　the　Moon　to　me；　〃I　looked　down　upon　a　smallcourtyard　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　houses。　In　the　courtyard　sat　aclucking　hen　with　eleven　chickens；　and　a　pretty　little　girl　wasrunning　and　jumping　around　them。　The　hen　was　frightened；　and　screamed；and　spread　out　her　wings　over　the　little　brood。　Then　the　girl's　fathercame　out　and　scolded　her；　and　I　glided　away　and　thought　no　more　of　thematter。

〃But　this　evening；　only　a　few　minutes　ago；　I　looked　down　intothe　same　courtyard。　Everything　was　quiet。　But　presently　the　littlegirl　came　forth　again；　crept　quietly　to　the　hen…house；　pushed　back　thebolt；　and　slipped　into　the　apartment　of　the　hen　and　chickens。　Theycried　out　loudly；　and　came　fluttering　down　from　their　perches；　and　ranabout　in　dismay；　and　the　little　girl　ran　after　them。　I　saw　it　quiteplainly；　for　I　looked　through　a　hole　in　the　hen…house　wall。　I　wasangry　with　the　willful　child；　and　felt　glad　when　her　father　came　outand　scolded　her　more　violently　than　yesterday；　holding　her　roughlyby　the　arm；　she　held　down　her　head；　and　her　blue　eyes　were　full　oflarge　tears。　'What　are　you　about　here？'　he　asked。　She　wept　and　said；'I　wanted　to　kiss　the　hen　and　beg　her　pardon　for　frightening　heryesterday；　but　I　was　afraid　to　tell　you。'

〃And　the　father　kissed　the　innocent　child's　forehead；　and　I　kissedher　on　the　mouth　and　eyes。〃

　THIRD　EVENING

〃In　the　narrow　street　round　the　corner　yonder…　it　is　so　narrowthat　my　beams　can　only　glide　for　a　minute　along　the　walls　of　thehouse；　but　in　that　minute　I　see　enough　to　learn　what　the　world　is　madeof…　in　that　narrow　street　I　saw　a　woman。　Sixteen　years　ago　thatwoman　was　a　child；　playing　in　the　garden　of　the　old　parsonage；　inthe　country。　The　hedges　of　rose…bush　were　old；　and　the　flowers　werefaded。　They　straggled　wild　over　the　paths；　and　the　ragged　branchesgrew　up　among　the　boughs　of　the　apple　trees；　here　and　there　were　a　fewroses　still　in　bloom…　not　so　fair　as　the　queen　of　flowers　generallyappears；　but　still　they　had　colour　and　scent　too。　The　clergyman'slittle　daughter　appeared　to　me　a　far　lovelier　rose；　as　she　sat　onher　stool　under　the　straggling　hedge；　hugging　and　caressing　her　dollwith　the　battered　pasteboard　cheeks。

〃Ten　years　afterwards　I　saw　her　again。　I　beheld　her　in　asplendid　ballroom：　she　was　the　beautiful　bride　of　a　rich　merchant。　Irejoiced　at　her　happiness；　and　sought　her　on　calm　quiet　evenings…ah；　nobody　thinks　of　my　clear　eye　and　my　silent　glance！　Alas！　myrose　ran　wild；　like　the　rose　bushes　in　the　garden　of　the　parsonage。There　are　tragedies　in　every…day　life；　and　tonight　I　saw　the　lastact　of　one。

〃She　was　lying　in　bed　in　a　house　in　that　narrow　street：　she　wassick　unto　death；　and　the　cruel　landlord　came　up；　and　tore　away　thethin　coverlet；　her　only　protection　against　the　cold。　'Get　up！'　saidhe；　'your　face　is　enough　to　frighten　one。　Get　up　and　dress　yourself；give　me　money；　or　I'll　turn　you　out　into　the　street！　Quick…　get　up！'She　answered；　'Alas！　death　is　gnawing　at　my　heart。　Let　me　rest。'　Buthe　forced　her　to　get　up　and　bathe　her　face；　and　put　a　wreath　ofroses　in　her　hair；　and　he　placed　her　in　a　chair　at　the　window；　witha　candle　burning　beside　her；　and　went　away。

〃I　looked　at　her；　and　she　was　sitting　motionless；　with　her　handsin　her　lap。　The　wind　caught　the　open　window　and　shut　it　with　acrash；　so　that　a　pane　came　clattering　down　in　fragments；　but　still　shenever　moved。　The　curtain　caught　fire；　and　the　flames　played　abouther　face；　and　I　saw　that　she　was　dead。　There　at　the　open　window　satthe　dead　woman；　preaching　a　sermon　against　sin…　my　poor　faded　rose　outof　the　parsonage　garden！〃

　FOURTH　EVENING

〃This　evening　I　saw　a　German　play　acted；〃　said　the　Moon。　〃It　wasin　a　little　town。　A　stable　had　been　turned　into　a　theatre；　that　isto　say；　the　stable　had　been　left　standing；　and　had　been　turned　intoprivate　boxes；　and　all　the　timber　work　had　been　covered　withcoloured　paper。　A　little　iron　chandelier　hung　beneath　the　ceiling；　andthat　it　might　be　made　to　disappear　into　the　ceiling；　as　it　does　ingreat　theatres；　when　the　ting…ting　of　the　prompter's　bell　is　heard；a　great　inverted　tub　has　been　placed　just　above　it。

〃'Ting…ting！'　and　the　little　iron　chandelier　suddenly　rose　atleast　half　a　yard　and　disappeared　in　the　tub；　and　that　was　the　signthat　the　play　was　going　to　begin。　A　young　nobleman　and　his　lady；　whohappened　to　be　passing　through　the　little　town；　were　present　at　theperformance；　and　consequently　the　house　was　crowded。　But　under　thechandelier　was　a　vacant　space　like　a　little　crater：　not　a　singlesoul　sat　there；　for　the　tallow　was　dropping；　drip；　drip！　I　saweverything；　for　it　was　so　warm　in　there　that　every　loophole　had　beenopened。　The　male　and　female　servants　stood　outside；　peeping　throughthe　chinks；　although　a　real　policeman　was　inside；　threatening　themwith　a　stick。　Close　by　the　orchestra　could　be　seen　the　noble　youngcouple　in　two　old　arm…chairs；　which　were　usually　occupied　by　hisworship　the　mayor　and　his　lady；　but　these　latter　were　to…day　obligedto　content　themselves　with　wooden　forms；　just　as　if　they　had　beenordinary　citizens；　and　the　lady　observed　quietly　to　herself；　'Onesees；　now；　that　there　is　rank　above　rank；'　and　this　incident　gave　anair　of　extra　festivity　to　the　whole　proceedings。　The　chandelier　gavelittle　leaps；　the　crowd　got　their　knuckles　rapped；　and　I；　the　Moon；was　present　at　the　performance　from　beginning　to　end。〃

　FIFTH　EVENING

〃Yesterday；〃　began　the　Moon；　〃I　looked　down　upon　the　turmoil　ofParis。　My　eye　perated　into　an　apartment　of　the　Louvre。　An　oldgrandmother；　poorly　clad…　she　belonged　to　the　working　class…　wasfollowing　one　of　the　under…servants　into　the　great　emptythrone…room；　for　this　was　the　apartment　she　wanted　to　see…　that　shewas　resolved　to　see；　it　had　cost　her　many　a　little　sacrifice；　and　manya　coaxing　word；　to　perate　thus　far。　She　folded　her　thin　hands；and　looked　round　with　an　air　of　reverence；　as　if　she　had　been　in　achurch。

〃'Here　it　was！'　she　said；　'here！'　and　she　approached　the　throne；from　which　hung　the　rich　velvet　fringed　with　gold　lace。　'There；'　sheexclaimed；　'there！'　and　she　knelt　and　kissed　the　purple　carpet。　Ithink　she　was　actually　weeping。

〃'But　it　was　not　this　very　velvet！'　observed　the　footman；　and　asmile　played　about　his　mouth。　'True；　but　it　was　this　very　place；'replied　the　woman；　'and　it　must　have　looked　just　like　this。　'It　lookedso；　and　yet　it　did　not；'　observed　the　man：　'the　windows　were　beatenin；　and　the　doors　were　off　their　hinges；　and　there　was　blood　uponthe　floor。'　'But　for　all　that　you　can　say；　my　grandson　died　upon　thethrone　of　France。　Died！'　mournfully　repeated　the　old　woman。　I　do　notthink　another　word　was　spoken；　and　they　soon　quitted　the　hall。　Theevening　twilight　faded　and　my　light　shone　doubly　vivid　upon　the　richvelvet　that　covered　the　throne　of　France。

〃Now　who　do　you　think　this　poor　woman　was？　Listen；　I　will　tell　youa　story。

〃It　happened；　in　the　Revolution　of　July；　on　the　evening　of　themost　brilliantly　victorious　day；　when　every　house　was　a　fortress；every　window　a　breastwork。　The　people　stormed　the　Tuileries。　Evenwomen　and　children　were　to　be　found　among　the　batants。　Theyperated　into　the　apartments　and　halls　of　the　palace。　A　poorhalf…grown　boy　in　a　ragged　blouse　fought　among　the　older　insurgents。Mortally　wounded　with　several　bayo　thrusts；　he　sank　down。　Thishappened　in　the　throne…room。　They　laid　the　bleeding　youth　upon　thethrone　of　France；　wrapped　the　velvet　around　his　wounds；　and　hisblood　streamed　forth　upon　the　imperial　purple。　There　was　a　picture！The　splendid　hall；　the　fighting　groups！　A　torn　flag　upon　the　ground；the　tricolor　was　waving　above　the　bayos；　and　on　the　throne　laythe　poor　lad　with　the　pale　glorified　countenance；　his　eyes　turnedtowards　the　sky；　his　limbs　writhing　in　the　death　agony；　his　breastbare；　and　his　poor　tattered　clothing　half　hidden　by　the　rich　velvetembroidered　with　silver　lilies。　At　the　boy's　cradle　a　prophecy　hadbeen　spoken：　'He　will　die　on　the　throne　of　France！'　The　mother's　heartdreamt　of　a　second　Napoleon。

〃My　beams　have　kissed　the　wreath　of　immortelles　on　his　grave；and　this　night　they　kissed　the　forehead　of　the　old　grandame；　whilein　a　dream　the　picture　floated　before　her　which　thou　mayest　draw…the　poor　boy　on　the　throne　of　France。〃

　SIXTH　EVENING

〃I've　been　in　Upsala；〃　said　the　Moon：　〃I　looked　down　upon　thegreat　plain　covered　with　coarse　grass；　and　upon　the　barren　fields。　Imirrored　my　face　in　the　Tyris　river；　while　the　steamboat　drove　thefish　into　the　rushes。　Beneath　me　floated　the　waves；　throwing　longshadows　on　the　so…called　graves　of　Odin；　Thor；　and　Friga。　In　thescanty　turf　that　covers　the　hill…side　names　have　been　cut。　There　is　nomonument　here；　no　memorial　on　which　the　traveller　can　have　his　namecarved；　no　rocky　wall　on　whose　surface　he　can　get　it　painted；　sovisitors　have　the　turf　cut　away　for　that　purpose。　The　naked　earthpeers　through　in　the　form　of　great　letters　and　names；　these　form　awork　over　the　whole　hill。　Here　is　an　immortality；　which　laststill　the　fresh　turf　grows！

〃Up　on　the　hill　stood　a　man；　a　poet。　He　emptied　the　mead　horn　withthe　broad　silver　rim；　and　murmured　a　name。　He　begged　the　winds　notto　betray　him；　but　I　heard　the　name。　I　knew　it。　A　count's　corosparkles　above　it；　and　therefore　he　did　not　speak　it　out。　I　smiled；for　I　knew　that　a　poet's　crown　adorns　his　own　name。　The　nobility　ofEleanora　d'Este　is　attached　to　the　name　of　Tasso。　And　I　also　knowwhere　the　Rose　of　Beauty　blooms！〃

Thus　spake　the　Moon；　and　a　cloud　came　between　us。　May　no　cloudseparate　the　poet　from　the　rose！

　SEVENTH　EVENING

〃Along　the　margin　of　the　shore　stretches　a　forest　of　firs　andbeeches；　and　fresh　and　fragrant　is　this　wood；　hundreds　of　nightingalesvisit　it　every　spring。　Close　beside　it　is　the　sea；　the　ever…changingsea；　and　between　the　two　is　placed　the　broad　high…road。　One　carriageafter　another　rolls　over　it；　but　I　did　not　follow　them；　for　my　eyeloves　best　to　rest　upon　one　point。　A　Hun's　Grave　lies　there；　and　thesloe　and　blackthorn　grow　luxuriantly　among　the　stones。　Here　is　truepoetry　in　nature。

〃And　how　do　you　think　men　appreciate　this　poetry？　I　will　tellyou　what　I　heard　there　last　evening　and　during　the　night。

〃First；　two　rich　landed　proprietors　came　driving　by。　'Those　areglorious　trees！'　said　the　first。　'Certainly；　there　are　ten　loads　offirewood　in　each；'　observed　the　other：　'it　will　be　a　hard　winter；and　last　year　we　got　fourteen　dollars　a　load'…　and　they　were　gone。'The　road　here　is　wretched；'　observed　another　man　who　drove　past。'That's　the　fault　of　those　horrible　trees；'　replied　his　neighbour；'there　is　no　free　current　of　air；　the　wind　can　only　e　from　thesea'…　and　they　were　gone。　The　stage　coach　went　rattling　past。　Allthe　passengers　were　asleep　at　this　beautiful　spot。　The　postillion　blewhis　horn；　but　he　only　thought；　'I　can　play　capitally。　It　sounds　wellhere。　I　wonder　if　those　in　there　like　it？'…　and　the　stage　coachvanished。　Then　two　young　fellows　came　gallopping　up　on　horseback。There's　youth　and　spirit　in　the　blood　here！　thought　I；　and；　indeed；they　looked　with　a　smile　at　the　moss…grown　hill　and　thick　forest。　'Ishould　not　dislike　a　walk　here　with　the　miller's　Christine；'　said　one…and　they　flew　past。

〃The　flowers　scented　the　air；　every　breath　of　air　was　hushed；　itseemed　as　if　the　sea　were　a　part　of　the　sky　that　stretched　above　thedeep　valley。　A　carriage　rolled　by。　Six　people　were　sitting　in　it。　Fourof　them　were　asleep；　the　fifth　was　thinking　of　his　new　summer　coat；which　would　suit　him　admirably；　the　sixth　turned　to　the　coachman　andasked　him　if　there　were　anything　remarkable　connected　with　yonder　heapof　stones。　'No；'　replied　the　coachman；　'it's　only　a　heap　of　stones；but　the　trees　are　remarkable。'　'How　so？'　'Why　I'll　tell　you　how　theyare　very　remarkable。　You　see；　in　winter；　when　the　snow　lies　very　deep；and　has　hidden　the　whole　road　so　that　nothing　is　to　be　seen；　thosetrees　serve　me　for　a　landmark。　I　steer　by　them；　so　as　not　to　driveinto　the　sea；　and　you　see　that　is　why　the　trees　are　remarkable。'

〃Now　came　a　painter。　He　spoke　not　a　word；　but　his　eyes　sparkled。He　began　to　whistle。　At　this　the　nightingales　sang　louder　than　ever。'Hold　your　tongues！'　he　cried　testily；　and　he　made　accurate　notes　ofall　the　colours　and　transitions…　blue；　and　lilac；　and　dark　brown。'That　will　make　a　beautiful　picture；'　he　said。　He　took　it　in　just　as　amirror　takes　in　a　view；　and　as　he　worked　he　whistled　a　march　ofRossini。　And　last　of　all　came　a　poor　girl。　She　laid　aside　the　burdenshe　carried；　and　sat　down　to　rest　upon　the　Hun's　Grave。　Her　palehandsome　face　was　bent　in　a　listening　attitude　towards　the　forest。　Hereyes　brightened；　she　gazed　earnestly　at　the　sea　and　the　sky；　her　handswere　folded；　and　I　think　she　prayed；　'Our　Father。'　She　herself　couldnot　understand　the　feeling　that　swept　through　her；　but　I　know　thatthis　minute；　and　the　beautiful　natural　scene；　will　live　within　hermemory　for　years；　far　more　vividly　and　more　truly　than　the　paintercould　portray　it　with　his　colours　on　paper。　My　rays　followed　hertill　the　morning　dawn　kissed　her　brow。〃

　EIGHTH　EVENING

Heavy　clouds　obscured　the　sky；　and　the　Moon　did　not　make　hisappearance　at　all。　I　stood　in　my　little　room；　more　lonely　than　ever；and　looked　up　at　the　sky　where　he　ought　to　have　shown　himself。　Mythoughts　flew　far　away；　up　to　my　great　friend；　who　every　eveningtold　me　such　pretty　tales；　and　showed　me　pictures。　Yes；　he　has　hadan　experience　indeed。　He　glided　over　the　waters　of　the　Deluge；　andsmiled　on　Noah's　ark　just　as　he　lately　glanced　down　upon　me；　andbrought　fort　and　promise　of　a　new　world　that　was　to　spring　forthfrom　the　old。　When　the　Children　of　Israel　sat　weeping　by　the　waters　ofBabylon；　he　glanced　mournfully　upon　the　willows　where　hung　thesilent　harps。　When　Romeo　climbed　the　balcony；　and　the　promise　oftrue　love　fluttered　like　a　cherub　toward　heaven；　the　round　Moonhung；　half　hidden　among　the　dark　cypresses；　in　the　lucid　air。　He　sawthe　captive　giant　at　St。　Helena；　looking　from　the　lonely　rock　acrossthe　wide　ocean；　while　great　thoughts　swept　through　his　soul。　Ah！what　tales　the　Moon　can　tell。　Human　life　is　like　a　story　to　him。To…night　I　shall　not　see　thee　again；　old　friend。　Tonight　I　can　draw　nopicture　of　the　memories　of　thy　visit。　And；　as　I　looked　dreamilytowards　the　clouds；　the　sky　became　bright。　There　was　a　glancing　light；and　a　beam　from　the　Moon　fell　upon　me。　It　vanished　again；　and　darkclouds　flew　past：　but　still　it　was　a　greeting；　a　friendly　good…nightoffere