安徒生童话-第31部分

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is　wife；　and；　perhaps；for　children。

〃I　have　allowed　myself　to　be　taken　in；〃　said　our　beetle　tohimself；　〃and　now　there's　nothing　to　be　done　but　to　take　them　in；　inreturn。〃

No　sooner　said　than　done。　Away　he　went；　and　stayed　away　all　dayand　all　night；　and　his　wife　remained　behind　a　forsaken　widow。

〃Oh；〃　said　the　other　beetles；　〃this　fellow　that　we　have　receivedinto　our　family　is　nothing　but　a　plete　vagabond。　He　has　gone　awayand　left　his　wife　a　burden　upon　our　hands。〃

〃Well；　she　can　be　unmarried　again；　and　remain　here　with　my　otherdaughters；〃　said　the　mother。　〃Fie　on　the　villain　that　forsook　her！〃

In　the　mean　time　the　beetle；　who　had　sailed　across　the　ditch　ona　cabbage　leaf；　had　been　journeying　on　the　other　side。　In　themorning　two　persons　came　up　to　the　ditch。　When　they　saw　him　theytook　him　up　and　turned　him　over　and　over；　looking　very　learned　all　thetime；　especially　one；　who　was　a　boy。　〃Allah　sees　the　black　beetle　inthe　black　stone；　and　the　black　rock。　Is　not　that　written　in　theKoran？〃　he　asked。

Then　he　translated　the　beetle's　name　into　Latin；　and　said　agreat　deal　upon　the　creature's　nature　and　history。　The　secondperson；　who　was　older　and　a　scholar；　proposed　to　carry　the　beetlehome；　as　they　wanted　just　such　good　specimens　as　this。　Our　beetleconsidered　this　speech　a　great　insult；　so　he　flew　suddenly　out　ofthe　speaker's　hand。　His　wings　were　dry　now；　so　they　carried　him　to　agreat　distance；　till　at　last　he　reached　a　hothouse；　where　a　sash　ofthe　glass　roof　was　partly　open；　so　he　quietly　slipped　in　and　buriedhimself　in　the　warm　earth。　〃It　is　very　fortable　here；〃　he　said　tohimself；　and　soon　after　fell　asleep。　Then　he　dreamed　that　theemperor's　horse　was　dying；　and　had　left　him　his　golden　shoes；　and　alsopromised　that　he　should　have　two　more。　All　this　was　very　delightful；and　when　the　beetle　woke　up　he　crept　forth　and　looked　around　him。　Whata　splendid　place　the　hothouse　was！　At　the　back；　large　palm…treeswere　growing；　and　the　sunlight　made　the　leaves…　look　quite　glossy；　andbeneath　them　what　a　profusion　of　luxuriant　green；　and　of　flowers　redlike　flame；　yellow　as　amber；　or　white　as　new…fallen　snow！　〃What　awonderful　quantity　of　plants；〃　cried　the　beetle；　〃how　good　they　willtaste　when　they　are　decayed！　This　is　a　capital　store…room。　Theremust　certainly　be　some　relations　of　mine　living　here；　I　will　justsee　if　I　can　find　any　one　with　whom　I　can　associate。　I'm　proud；certainly；　but　I'm　also　proud　of　being　so。　Then　he　prowled　about　inthe　earth；　and　thought　what　a　pleasant　dream　that　was　about　thedying　horse；　and　the　golden　shoes　he　had　inherited。　Suddenly　a　handseized　the　beetle；　and　squeezed　him；　and　turned　him　round　and　round。The　gardener's　little　son　and　his　playfellow　had　e　into　thehothouse；　and；　seeing　the　beetle；　wanted　to　have　some　fun　with　him。First；　he　was　wrapped；　in　a　vine…leaf；　and　put　into　a　warm　trousers'pocket。　He　twisted　and　turned　about　with　all　his　might；　but　he　got　agood　squeeze　from　the　boy's　hand；　as　a　hint　for　him　to　keep　quiet。Then　the　boy　went　quickly　towards　a　lake　that　lay　at　the　end　of　thegarden。　Here　the　beetle　was　put　into　an　old　broken　wooden　shoe；　inwhich　a　little　stick　had　been　fastened　upright　for　a　mast；　and　to　thismast　the　beetle　was　bound　with　a　piece　of　worsted。　Now　he　was　asailor；　and　had　to　sail　away。　The　lake　was　not　very　large；　but　tothe　beetle　it　seemed　an　ocean；　and　he　was　so　astonished　at　its　sizethat　he　fell　over　on　his　back；　and　kicked　out　his　legs。　Then　thelittle　ship　sailed　away；　sometimes　the　current　of　the　water　seized　it；but　whenever　it　went　too　far　from　the　shore　one　of　the　boys　turnedup　his　trousers；　and　went　in　after　it；　and　brought　it　back　to　land。But　at　last；　just　as　it　went　merrily　out　again；　the　two　boys　werecalled；　and　so　angrily；　that　they　hastened　to　obey；　and　ran　away　asfast　as　they　could　from　the　pond；　so　that　the　little　ship　was　leftto　its　fate。　It　was　carried　away　farther　and　farther　from　the　shore；till　it　reached　the　open　sea。　This　was　a　terrible　prospect　for　thebeetle；　for　he　could　not　escape　in　consequence　of　being　bound　to　themast。　Then　a　fly　came　and　paid　him　a　visit。　〃What　beautifulweather；〃　said　the　fly；　〃I　shall　rest　here　and　sun　myself。　You　musthave　a　pleasant　time　of　it。〃

〃You　speak　without　knowing　the　facts；〃　replied　the　beetle；〃don't　you　see　that　I　am　a　prisoner？〃

〃Ah；　but　I'm　not　a　prisoner；〃　remarked　the　fly；　and　away　he　flew。

〃Well；　now　I　know　the　world；〃　said　the　beetle　to　himself；　〃it's　anabominable　world；　I'm　the　only　respectable　person　in　it。　First；　theyrefuse　me　my　golden　shoes；　then　I　have　to　lie　on　damp　linen；　and　tostand　in　a　draught；　and　to　crown　all；　they　fasten　a　wife　upon　me。Then；　when　I　have　made　a　step　forward　in　the　world；　and　found　out　afortable　position；　just　as　I　could　wish　it　to　be；　one　of　thesehuman　boys　es　and　ties　me　up；　and　leaves　me　to　the　mercy　of　thewild　waves；　while　the　emperor's　favorite　horse　goes　prancing　aboutproudly　on　his　golden　shoes。　This　vexes　me　more　than　anything。　Butit　is　useless　to　look　for　sympathy　in　this　world。　My　career　has　beenvery　interesting；　but　what's　the　use　of　that　if　nobody　knowsanything　about　it？　The　world　does　not　deserve　to　be　made　acquaintedwith　my　adventures；　for　it　ought　to　have　given　me　golden　shoes　whenthe　emperor's　horse　was　shod；　and　I　stretched　out　my　feet　to　beshod；　too。　If　I　had　received　golden　shoes　I　should　have　been　anornament　to　the　stable；　now　I　am　lost　to　the　stable　and　to　theworld。　It　is　all　over　with　me。〃

But　all　was　not　yet　over。　A　boat；　in　which　were　a　few　young　girls；came　rowing　up。　〃Look；　yonder　is　an　old　wooden　shoe　sailing　along；〃said　one　of　the　younger　girls。

〃And　there's　a　poor　little　creature　bound　fast　in　it；〃　saidanother。

The　boat　now　came　close　to　our　beetle's　ship；　and　the　younggirls　fished　it　out　of　the　water。　One　of　them　drew　a　small　pair　ofscissors　from　her　pocket；　and　cut　the　worsted　without　hurting　thebeetle；　and　when　she　stepped　on　shore　she　placed　him　on　the　grass。〃There；〃　she　said；　〃creep　away；　or　fly；　if　thou　canst。　It　is　asplendid　thing　to　have　thy　liberty。〃　Away　flew　the　beetle；　straightthrough　the　open　window　of　a　large　building；　there　he　sank　down；　tiredand　exhausted；　exactly　on　the　mane　of　the　emperor's　favorite　horse；who　was　standing　in　his　stable；　and　the　beetle　found　himself　at　homeagain。　For　some　time　he　clung　to　the　mane；　that　he　might　recoverhimself。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃here　I　am；　seated　on　the　emperor's　favoritehorse；…　sitting　upon　him　as　if　I　were　the　emperor　himself。　But　whatwas　it　the　farrier　asked　me？　Ah；　I　remember　now；…　that's　a　goodthought；…　he　asked　me　why　the　golden　shoes　were　given　to　the　horse。The　answer　is　quite　clear　to　me；　now。　They　were　given　to　the　horseon　my　account。〃　And　this　reflection　put　the　beetle　into　a　good　temper。The　sun's　rays　also　came　streaming　into　the　stable；　and　shone　uponhim；　and　made　the　place　lively　and　bright。　〃Travelling　expands　themind　very　much；〃　said　the　beetle。　〃The　world　is　not　so　bad　afterall；　if　you　know　how　to　take　things　as　they　e。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　BELL

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　the　narrow　streets　of　a　large　town　people　often　heard　in　theevening；　when　the　sun　was　setting；　and　his　last　rays　gave　a　goldentint　to　the　chimney…pots；　a　strange　noise　which　resembled　the　sound　ofa　church　bell；　it　only　lasted　an　instant；　for　it　was　lost　in　thecontinual　roar　of　traffic　and　hum　of　voices　which　rose　from　thetown。　〃The　evening　bell　is　ringing；〃　people　used　to　say；　〃the　sun　issetting！〃　Those　who　walked　outside　the　town；　where　the　houses　wereless　crowded　and　interspersed　by　gardens　and　little　fields；　saw　theevening　sky　much　better；　and　heard　the　sound　of　the　bell　much　moreclearly。　It　seemed　as　though　the　sound　came　from　a　church；　deep　in　thecalm；　fragrant　wood；　and　thither　people　looked　with　devout　feelings。

A　considerable　time　elapsed：　one　said　to　the　other；　〃I　reallywonder　if　there　is　a　church　out　in　the　wood。　The　bell　has　indeed　astrange　sweet　sound！　Shall　we　go　there　and　see　what　the　cause　of　itis？〃　The　rich　drove；　the　poor　walked；　but　the　way　seemed　to　themextraordinarily　long；　and　when　they　arrived　at　a　number　of　willowtrees　on　the　border　of　the　wood　they　sat　down；　looked　up　into　thegreat　branches　and　thought　they　were　now　really　in　the　wood。　Aconfectioner　from　the　town　also　came　out　and　put　up　a　stall　there；then　came　another　confectioner　who　hung　a　bell　over　his　stall；　whichwas　covered　with　pitch　to　protect　it　from　the　rain；　but　the　clapperwas　wanting。

When　people　came　home　they　used　to　say　that　it　had　been　veryromantic；　and　that　really　means　something　else　than　merely　taking　tea。Three　persons　declared　that　they　had　gone　as　far　as　the　end　of　thewood；　they　had　always　heard　the　strange　sound；　but　there　it　seemedto　them　as　if　it　came　from　the　town。　One　of　them　wrote　verses　aboutthe　bell；　and　said　that　it　was　like　the　voice　of　a　mother　speakingto　an　intelligent　and　beloved　child；　no　tune；　he　said；　was　sweeterthan　the　sound　of　the　bell。

The　emperor　of　the　country　heard　of　it；　and　declared　that　he　whowould　really　find　out　where　the　sound　came　from　should　receive　thetitle　of　〃Bellringer　to　the　World；〃　even　if　there　was　no　bell　at　all。

Now　many　went　out　into　the　wood　for　the　sake　of　this　splendidberth；　but　only　one　of　them　came　back　with　some　sort　of　explanation。None　of　them　had　gone　far　enough；　nor　had　he；　and　yet　he　said　that　thesound　of　the　bell　came　from　a　large　owl　in　a　hollow　tree。　It　was　awisdom　owl；　which　continually　knocked　its　head　against　the　tree；　buthe　was　unable　to　say　with　certainty　whether　its　head　or　the　hollowtrunk　of　the　tree　was　the　cause　of　the　noise。

He　was　appointed　〃Bellringer　to　the　World；〃　and　wrote　every　year　ashort　dissertation　on　the　owl；　but　by　this　means　people　did　not　beeany　wiser　than　they　had　been　before。

It　was　just　confirmation…day。　The　clergyman　had　delivered　abeautiful　and　touching　sermon；　the　candidates　were　deeply　moved　by　it；it　was　indeed　a　very　important　day　for　them；　they　were　all　at　oncetransformed　from　mere　children　to　grown…up　people；　the　childish　soulwas　to　fly　over；　as　it　were；　into　a　more　reasonable　being。

The　sun　shone　most　brightly；　and　the　sound　of　the　great　unknownbell　was　heard　more　distinctly　than　ever。　They　had　a　mind　to　gothither；　all　except　three。　One　of　them　wished　to　go　home　and　try　onher　ball　dress；　for　this　very　dress　and　the　ball　were　the　cause　of　herbeing　confirmed　this　time；　otherwise　she　would　not　have　been　allowedto　go。　The　second；　a　poor　boy；　had　borrowed　a　coat　and　a　pair　of　bootsfrom　the　son　of　his　landlord　to　be　confirmed　in；　and　he　had　toreturn　them　at　a　certain　time。　The　third　said　that　he　never　wentinto　strange　places　if　his　parents　were　not　with　him；　he　had　alwaysbeen　a　good　child；　and　wished　to　remain　so；　even　after　beingconfirmed；　and　they　ought　not　to　tease　him　for　this；　they；　however；did　it　all　the　same。　These　three；　therefore　did　not　go；　the　otherswent　on。　The　sun　was　shining；　the　birds　were　singing；　and　theconfirmed　children　sang　too；　holding　each　other　by　the　hand；　forthey　had　no　position　yet；　and　they　were　all　equal　in　the　eyes　ofGod。　Two　of　the　smallest　soon　became　tired　and　returned　to　the　town；two　little　girls　sat　down　and　made　garlands　of　flowers；　they；therefore；　did　not　go　on。　When　the　others　arrived　at　the　willow　trees；where　the　confectioner　had　put　up　his　stall；　they　said：　〃Now　we　areout　here；　the　bell　does　not　in　reality　exist…　it　is　only　somethingthat　people　imagine！〃

Then　suddenly　the　sound　of　the　bell　was　heard　so　beautifully　andsolemnly　from　the　wood　that　four　or　five　made　up　their　minds　to　gostill　further　on。　The　wood　was　very　thickly　grown。　It　was　difficult　toadvance：　wood　lilies　and　anemones　grew　almost　too　high；　floweringconvolvuli　and　brambles　were　hanging　like　garlands　from　tree　totree；　while　the　nightingales　were　singing　and　the　sunbeams　played。That　was　very　beautiful！　But　the　way　was　unfit　for　the　girls；　theywould　have　torn　their　dresses。　Large　rocks；　covered　with　moss　ofvarious　hues；　were　lying　about；　the　fresh　spring　water　rippled　forthwith　a　peculiar　sound。　〃I　don't　think　that　can　be　the　bell；〃　saidone　of　the　confirmed　children；　and　then　he　lay　down　and　listened。〃We　must　try　to　find　out　if　it　is！〃　And　there　he　remained；　and　let　theothers　walk　on。

They　came　to　a　hut　built　of　the　bark　of　trees　and　branches；　alarge　crab…apple　tree　spread　its　branches　over　it；　as　if　it　intendedto　pour　all　its　fruit　on　the　roof；　upon　which　roses　were　blooming；　thelong　boughs　covered　the　gable；　where　a　little　bell　was　hanging。　Wasthis　the　one　they　had　heard？　All　agreed　that　it　must　be　so；　except　onewho　said　that　the　bell　was　too　small　and　too　thin　to　be　heard　atsuch　a　distance；　and　that　it　had　quite　a　different　sound　to　that　whichhad　so　touched　men's　hearts。

He　who　spoke　was　a　king's　son；　and　therefore　the　others　saidthat　such　a　one　always　wishes　to　be　cleverer　than　other　people。

Therefore　they　let　him　go　alone；　and　as　he　walked　on；　the　solitudeof　the　wood　produced　a　feeling　of　reverence　in　his　breast；　but　stillhe　heard　the　little　bell　about　which　the　others　rejoiced；　andsometimes；　when　the　wind　blew　in　that　direction；　he　could　hear　thesounds　from　the　confectioner's　stall；　where　the　others　were　singing　attea。　But　the　deep　sounds　of　the　bell　were　much　stronger；　soon　itseemed　to　him　as　if　an　organ　played　an　acpaniment…　the　sound　camefrom　the　left；　from　the　side　where　the　heart　is。　Now　something　rustledamong　the　bushes；　and　a　little　boy　stood　before　the　king's　son；　inwooden　shoes　and　such　a　short　jacket　that　the　sleeves　did　not　reach　tohis　wrists。　They　knew　each　other：　the　boy　was　the　one　who　had　not　beenable　to　go　with　them　because　he　had　to　take　the　coat　and　boots　back　tohis　landlord's　son。　That　he　had　done；　and　had　started　again　in　hiswooden　shoes　and　old　clothes；　for　the　sound　of　the　bell　was　tooenticing…　he　felt　he　must　go　on。

〃We　might　go　together；〃　said　the　king's　son。　But　the　poor　boy　withthe　wooden　shoes　was　quite　ashamed；　he　pulled　at　the　short　sleevesof　his　jacket；　and　said　that　he　was　afraid　he　could　not　walk　sofast；　besides；　he　was　of　opinion　that　the　bell　ought　to　be　sought　atthe　right；　for　there　was　all　that　was　grand　and　magnificent。

〃Then　we　shall　not　meet；〃　said　the　king's　son；　nodding　to　the　poorboy；　who　went　into　the　deepest　part　of　the　wood；　where　the　thorns　torehis　shabby　clothes　and　scratched　his　hands；　face；　and　feet　untilthey　bled。　The　king's　son　also　received　several　good　scratches；　butthe　sun　was　shining　on　his　way；　and　it　is　he　whom　we　will　nowfollow；　for　he　was　a　quick　fellow。　〃I　will　and　must　find　the　bell；〃　hesaid；　〃if　I　have　to　go　to　the　end　of　the　world。〃

Ugly　monkeys　sat　high　in　the　branches　and　clenched　their　teeth。〃Shall　we　beat　him？〃　they　said。　〃Shall　we　thrash　him？　He　is　a　king'sson！〃

But　he　walked　on　undaunted；　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　wood；　wherethe　most　wonderful　flowers　were　growing；　there　were　standing　whitestar　lilies　with　blood…red　stamens；　sky…blue　tulips　shining　when　thewind　moved　them；　apple…trees　covered　with　apples　like　large　glitteringsoap　bubbles：　only　think　how　resplendent　these　trees　were　in　thesunshine！　All　around　were　beautiful　green　meadows；　where　hart　and　hindplayed　in　the　grass。　There　grew　magnificent　oaks　and　beech…trees；and　if　the　bark　was　split　of　any　of　them；　long　blades　of　grass　grewout　of　the　clefts；　there　were　also　large　smooth　lakes　in　the　wood；on　which　the　swans　were　swimming　about　a