安徒生童话-第42部分

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And　then　they　kissed　each　other；　and　the　girl　wept；　and　gave　him　arose；　but　before　she　did　so；　she　pressed　a　kiss　upon　it　so　ferventlythat　the　flower　opened。　Then　the　little　elf　flew　in；　and　leaned　hishead　on　the　delicate；　fragrant　walls。　Here　he　could　plainly　hearthem　say；　〃Farewell；　farewell；〃　and　he　felt　that　the　rose　had　beenplaced　on　the　young　man's　breast。　Oh；　how　his　heart　did　beat！　Thelittle　elf　could　not　go　to　sleep；　it　thumped　so　loudly。　The　youngman　took　it　out　as　he　walked　through　the　dark　wood　alone；　and　kissedthe　flower　so　often　and　so　violently；　that　the　little　elf　was　almostcrushed。　He　could　feel　through　the　leaf　how　hot　the　lips　of　theyoung　man　were；　and　the　rose　had　opened；　as　if　from　the　heat　of　thenoonday　sun。

There　came　another　man；　who　looked　gloomy　and　wicked。　He　was　thewicked　brother　of　the　beautiful　maiden。　He　drew　out　a　sharp　knife；　andwhile　the　other　was　kissing　the　rose；　the　wicked　man　stabbed　him　todeath；　then　he　cut　off　his　head；　and　buried　it　with　the　body　in　thesoft　earth　under　the　linden…tree。

〃Now　he　is　gone；　and　will　soon　be　forgotten；〃　thought　the　wickedbrother；　〃he　will　never　e　back　again。　He　was　going　on　a　longjourney　over　mountains　and　seas；　it　is　easy　for　a　man　to　lose　his　lifein　such　a　journey。　My　sister　will　suppose　he　is　dead；　for　he　cannote　back；　and　she　will　not　dare　to　question　me　about　him。〃

Then　he　scattered　the　dry　leaves　over　the　light　earth　with　hisfoot；　and　went　home　through　the　darkness；　but　he　went　not　alone；　as　hethought；…　the　little　elf　acpanied　him。　He　sat　in　a　dry　rolled…uplinden…leaf；　which　had　fallen　from　the　tree　on　to　the　wicked　man'shead；　as　he　was　digging　the　grave。　The　hat　was　on　the　head　now；which　made　it　very　dark；　and　the　little　elf　shuddered　with　frightand　indignation　at　the　wicked　deed。

It　was　the　dawn　of　morning　before　the　wicked　man　reached　home；he　took　off　his　hat；　and　went　into　his　sister's　room。　There　lay　thebeautiful；　blooming　girl；　dreaming　of　him　whom　she　loved　so；　and　whowas　now；　she　supposed；　travelling　far　away　over　mountain　and　sea。Her　wicked　brother　stopped　over　her；　and　laughed　hideously；　asfiends　only　can　laugh。　The　dry　leaf　fell　out　of　his　hair　upon　thecounterpane；　but　he　did　not　notice　it；　and　went　to　get　a　littlesleep　during　the　early　morning　hours。　But　the　elf　slipped　out　of　thewithered　leaf；　placed　himself　by　the　ear　of　the　sleeping　girl；　andtold　her；　as　in　a　dream；　of　the　horrid　murder；　described　the　placewhere　her　brother　had　slain　her　lover；　and　buried　his　body；　and　toldher　of　the　linden…tree；　in　full　blossom；　that　stood　close　by。

〃That　you　may　not　think　this　is　only　a　dream　that　I　have　toldyou；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　find　on　your　bed　a　withered　leaf。〃

Then　she　awoke；　and　found　it　there。　Oh；　what　bitter　tears　sheshed！　and　she　could　not　open　her　heart　to　any　one　for　relief。

The　window　stood　open　the　whole　day；　and　the　little　elf　couldeasily　have　reached　the　roses；　or　any　of　the　flowers；　but　he　could　notfind　it　in　his　heart　to　leave　one　so　afflicted。　In　the　window　stooda　bush　bearing　monthly　roses。　He　seated　himself　in　one　of　the　flowers；and　gazed　on　the　poor　girl。　Her　brother　often　came　into　the　room；and　would　be　quite　cheerful；　in　spite　of　his　base　conduct；　so　she　darenot　say　a　word　to　him　of　her　heart's　grief。

As　soon　as　night　came　on；　she　slipped　out　of　the　house；　and　wentinto　the　wood；　to　the　spot　where　the　linden…tree　stood；　and　afterremoving　the　leaves　from　the　earth；　she　turned　it　up；　and　therefound　him　who　had　been　murdered。　Oh；　how　she　wept　and　prayed　thatshe　also　might　die！　Gladly　would　she　have　taken　the　body　home　withher；　but　that　was　impossible；　so　she　took　up　the　poor　head　with　theclosed　eyes；　kissed　the　cold　lips；　and　shook　the　mould　out　of　thebeautiful　hair。

〃I　will　keep　this；〃　said　she；　and　as　soon　as　she　had　covered　thebody　again　with　the　earth　and　leaves；　she　took　the　head　and　a　littlesprig　of　jasmine　that　bloomed　in　the　wood；　near　the　spot　where　hewas　buried；　and　carried　them　home　with　her。　As　soon　as　she　was　inher　room；　she　took　the　largest　flower…pot　she　could　find；　and　inthis　she　placed　the　head　of　the　dead　man；　covered　it　up　with　earth；and　planted　the　twig　of　jasmine　in　it。

〃Farewell；　farewell；〃　whispered　the　little　elf。　He　could　not　anylonger　endure　to　witness　all　this　agony　of　grief；　he　therefore　flewaway　to　his　own　rose　in　the　garden。　But　the　rose　was　faded；　only　a　fewdry　leaves　still　clung　to　the　green　hedge　behind　it。

〃Alas！　how　soon　all　that　is　good　and　beautiful　passes　away；〃sighed　the　elf。

After　a　while　he　found　another　rose；　which　became　his　home；　foramong　its　delicate　fragrant　leaves　he　could　dwell　in　safety。　Everymorning　he　flew　to　the　window　of　the　poor　girl；　and　always　found　herweeping　by　the　flower　pot。　The　bitter　tears　fell　upon　the　jasmiwig；　and　each　day；　as　she　became　paler　and　paler；　the　sprigappeared　to　grow　greener　and　fresher。　One　shoot　after　another　sproutedforth；　and　little　white　buds　blossomed；　which　the　poor　girl　fondlykissed。　But　her　wicked　brother　scolded　her；　and　asked　her　if　she　wasgoing　mad。　He　could　not　imagine　why　she　was　weeping　over　thatflower…pot；　and　it　annoyed　him。　He　did　not　know　whose　closed　eyes　werethere；　nor　what　red　lips　were　fading　beneath　the　earth。　And　one　dayshe　sat　and　leaned　her　head　against　the　flower…pot；　and　the　little　elfof　the　rose　found　her　asleep。　Then　he　seated　himself　by　her　ear；talked　to　her　of　that　evening　in　the　arbor；　of　the　sweet　perfume　ofthe　rose；　and　the　loves　of　the　elves。　Sweetly　she　dreamed；　and　whileshe　dreamt；　her　life　passed　away　calmly　and　gently；　and　her　spirit　waswith　him　whom　she　loved；　in　heaven。　And　the　jasmine　opened　its　largewhite　bells；　and　spread　forth　its　sweet　fragrance；　it　had　no　other　wayof　showing　its　grief　for　the　dead。　But　the　wicked　brother　consideredthe　beautiful　blooming　plant　as　his　own　property；　left　to　him　by　hissister；　and　he　placed　it　in　his　sleeping　room；　close　by　his　bed；　forit　was　very　lovely　in　appearance；　and　the　fragrance　sweet　anddelightful。　The　little　elf　of　the　rose　followed　it；　and　flew　fromflower　to　flower；　telling　each　little　spirit　that　dwelt　in　them　thestory　of　the　murdered　young　man；　whose　head　now　formed　part　of　theearth　beneath　them；　and　of　the　wicked　brother　and　the　poor　sister。　〃Weknow　it；〃　said　each　little　spirit　in　the　flowers；　〃we　know　it；　forhave　we　not　sprung　from　the　eyes　and　lips　of　the　murdered　one。　We　knowit；　we　know　it；〃　and　the　flowers　nodded　with　their　heads　in　a　peculiarmanner。　The　elf　of　the　rose　could　not　understand　how　they　could　restso　quietly　in　the　matter；　so　he　flew　to　the　bees；　who　were　gatheringhoney；　and　told　them　of　the　wicked　brother。　And　the　bees　told　it　totheir　queen；　who　manded　that　the　next　morning　they　should　go　andkill　the　murderer。　But　during　the　night；　the　first　after　thesister's　death；　while　the　brother　was　sleeping　in　his　bed；　close　towhere　he　had　placed　the　fragrant　jasmine；　every　flower　cup　opened；　andinvisibly　the　little　spirits　stole　out；　armed　with　poisonous　spears。They　placed　themselves　by　the　ear　of　the　sleeper；　told　him　dreadfuldreams　and　then　flew　across　his　lips；　and　pricked　his　tongue　withtheir　poisoned　spears。　〃Now　have　we　revenged　the　dead；〃　said　they；　andflew　back　into　the　white　bells　of　the　jasmine　flowers。　When　themorning　came；　and　as　soon　as　the　window　was　opened；　the　rose　elf；　withthe　queen　bee；　and　the　whole　swarm　of　bees；　rushed　in　to　kill　him。　Buthe　was　already　dead。　People　were　standing　round　the　bed；　and　sayingthat　the　scent　of　the　jasmine　had　killed　him。　Then　the　elf　of　the　roseunderstood　the　revenge　of　the　flowers；　and　explained　it　to　the　queenbee；　and　she；　with　the　whole　swarm；　buzzed　about　the　flower…pot。　Thebees　could　not　be　driven　away。　Then　a　man　took　it　up　to　remove　it；　andone　of　the　bees　stung　him　in　the　hand；　so　that　he　let　the　flower…potfall；　and　it　was　broken　to　pieces。　Then　every　one　saw　the　whitenedskull；　and　they　knew　the　dead　man　in　the　bed　was　a　murderer。　And　thequeen　bee　hummed　in　the　air；　and　sang　of　the　revenge　of　the　flowers；and　of　the　elf　of　the　rose　and　said　that　behind　the　smallest　leafdwells　One；　who　can　discover　evil　deeds；　and　punish　them　also。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　ELFIN　HILL

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

A　FEW　large　lizards　were　running　nimbly　about　in　the　clefts　ofan　old　tree；　they　could　understand　one　another　very　well；　for　theyspoke　the　lizard　language。

〃What　a　buzzing　and　a　rumbling　there　is　in　the　elfin　hill；〃　saidone　of　the　lizards；　〃I　have　not　been　able　to　close　my　eyes　for　twonights　on　account　of　the　noise；　I　might　just　as　well　have　had　thetoothache；　for　that　always　keeps　me　awake。〃

〃There　is　something　going　on　within　there；〃　said　the　other　lizard；〃they　propped　up　the　top　of　the　hill　with　four　red　posts；　tillcock…crow　this　morning；　so　that　it　is　thoroughly　aired；　and　theelfin　girls　have　learnt　new　dances；　there　is　something。〃

〃I　spoke　about　it　to　an　earth…worm　of　my　acquaintance；〃　said　athird　lizard；　〃the　earth…worm　had　just　e　from　the　elfin　hill；　wherehe　has　been　groping　about　in　the　earth　day　and　night。　He　has　heard　agreat　deal；　although　he　cannot　see；　poor　miserable　creature；　yet　heunderstands　very　well　how　to　wriggle　and　lurk　about。　They　expectfriends　in　the　elfin　hill；　grand　pany；　too；　but　who　they　are　theearth…worm　would　not　say；　or；　perhaps；　he　really　did　not　know。　All　thewill…o'…the…wisps　are　ordered　to　be　there　to　hold　a　torch　dance；　as　itis　called。　The　silver　and　gold　which　is　plentiful　in　the　hill　willbe　polished　and　placed　out　in　the　moonlight。〃

〃Who　can　the　strangers　be？〃　asked　the　lizards；　〃what　can　thematter　be？　Hark；　what　a　buzzing　and　humming　there　is！〃

Just　at　this　moment　the　elfin　hill　opened；　and　an　old　elfinmaiden；　hollow　behind；　came　tripping　out；　she　was　the　old　elf　king'shousekeeper；　and　a　distant　relative　of　the　family；　therefore　shewore　an　amber　heart　on　the　middle　of　her　forehead。　Her　feet　moved　veryfast；　〃trip；　trip；〃　good　gracious；　how　she　could　trip　right　down　tothe　sea　to　the　night…raven。

〃You　are　invited　to　the　elf　hill　for　this　evening；〃　said　she；　〃butwill　you　do　me　a　great　favor　and　undertake　the　invitations？　youought　to　do　something；　for　you　have　no　housekeeping　to　attend　to　asI　have。　We　are　going　to　have　some　very　grand　people；　conjurors；　whohave　always　something　to　say；　and　therefore　the　old　elf　king　wishes　tomake　a　great　display。〃

〃Who　is　to　be　invited？〃　asked　the　raven。

〃All　the　world　may　e　to　the　great　ball；　even　human　beings；　ifthey　can　only　talk　in　their　sleep；　or　do　something　after　ourfashion。　But　for　the　feast　the　pany　must　be　carefully　selected；we　can　only　admit　persons　of　high　rank；　I　have　had　a　dispute　myselfwith　the　elf　king；　as　he　thought　we　could　not　admit　ghosts。　The　mermanand　his　daughter　must　be　invited　first；　although　it　may　not　beagreeable　to　them　to　remain　so　long　on　dry　land；　but　they　shall　have　awet　stone　to　sit　on；　or　perhaps　something　better；　so　I　think　they　willnot　refuse　this　time。　We　must　have　all　the　old　demons　of　the　firstclass；　with　tails；　and　the　hobgoblins　and　imps；　and　then　I　think　weought　not　to　leave　out　the　death…horse；　or　the　grave…pig；　or　eventhe　church　dwarf；　although　they　do　belong　to　the　clergy；　and　are　notreckoned　among　our　people；　but　that　is　merely　their　office；　they　arenearly　related　to　us；　and　visit　us　very　frequently。〃

〃Croak；〃　said　the　night…raven　as　he　flew　away　with　theinvitations。

The　elfin　maidens　we're　already　dancing　on　the　elf　hill；　andthey　danced　in　shawls　woven　from　moonshine　and　mist；　which　look　verypretty　to　those　who　like　such　things。　The　large　hall　within　the　elfhill　was　splendidly　decorated；　the　floor　had　been　washed　withmoonshine；　and　the　walls　had　been　rubbed　with　magic　ointment；　sothat　they　glowed　like　tulip…leaves　in　the　light。　In　the　kitchen　werefrogs　roasting　on　the　spit；　and　dishes　preparing　of　snail　skins；with　children's　fingers　in　them；　salad　of　mushroom　seed；　hemlock；noses　and　marrow　of　mice；　beer　from　the　marsh　woman's　brewery；　andsparkling　salt…petre　wine　from　the　grave　cellars。　These　were　allsubstantial　food。　Rusty　nails　and　church…window　glass　formed　thedessert。　The　old　elf　king　had　his　gold　crown　polished　up　with　powderedslate…pencil；　it　was　like　that　used　by　the　first　form；　and　verydifficult　for　an　elf　king　to　obtain。　In　the　bedrooms；　curtains　werehung　up　and　fastened　with　the　slime　of　snails；　there　was；　indeed；　abuzzing　and　humming　everywhere。

〃Now　we　must　fumigate　the　place　with　burnt　horse…hair　and　pig'sbristles；　and　then　I　think　I　shall　have　done　my　part；〃　said　the　elfman…servant。

〃Father；　dear；〃　said　the　youngest　daughter；　〃may　I　now　hear　whoour　high…born　visitors　are？〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　I　must　tell　you　now；〃　he　replied；　〃two　of　mydaughters　must　prepare　themselves　to　be　married；　for　the　marriagescertainly　will　take　place。　The　old　goblin　from　Norway；　who　lives　inthe　ancient　Dovre　mountains；　and　who　possesses　many　castles　built　ofrock　and　freestone；　besides　a　gold　mine；　which　is　better　than　all；so　it　is　thought；　is　ing　with　his　two　sons；　who　are　both　seekinga　wife。　The　old　goblin　is　a　true…hearted；　honest；　old　Norwegiangraybeard；　cheerful　and　straightforward。　I　knew　him　formerly；　whenwe　used　to　drink　together　to　our　good　fellowship：　he　came　here　once　tofetch　his　wife；　she　is　dead　now。　She　was　the　daughter　of　the　king　ofthe　chalk…hills　at　Moen。　They　say　he　took　his　wife　from　chalk；　I　shallbe　delighted　to　see　him　again。　It　is　said　that　the　boys　areill…bred；　forward　lads；　but　perhaps　that　is　not　quite　correct；　andthey　will　bee　better　as　they　grow　older。　Let　me　see　that　you　knowhow　to　teach　them　good　manners。〃

〃And　when　are　they　ing？〃　asked　the　daughter。

〃That　depends　upon　wind　and　weather；〃　said　the　elf　king；　〃theytravel　economically。　They　will　e　when　there　is　the　chance　of　aship。　I　wanted　them　to　e　over　to　Sweden；　but　the　old　man　was　notinclined　to　take　my　advice。　He　does　not　go　forward　with　the　times；　andthat　I　do　not　like。〃

Two　will…o'…the…wisps　came　jumping　in；　one　quicker　than　the　other；so　of　course；　one　arrived　first。　〃They　are　ing！　they　are　ing！〃he　cried。

〃Give　me　my　crown；〃　said　the　elf　king；　〃and　let　me　stand　in　themoonshine。〃

The　daughters　drew　on　their　shawls　and　bowed　down　to　the　ground。There　stood　the　old　goblin　from　the　Dovre　mountains；　with　his　crown　ofhardened　ice　and　polished　fir…cones。　Besides　this；　he　wore　abear…skin；　and　great；　warm　boots；　while　his　sons　went　with　theirthroats　bare　and　wore　no　braces；　for　they　were　strong　men。

〃Is　that　a　hill？〃　said　the　youngest　of　the　boys；　pointing　to　theelf　hill；　〃we　should　call　it　a　hole　in　Norway。〃

〃Boys；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃a　hole　goes　in；　and　a　hill　standsout；　have　you　no　eyes　in　your　heads？〃

Another　thing　they　wondered　at　was；　that　they　were　able　withouttrouble　to　understand　the　language。

〃Take　care；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃or　people　will　think　you　havenot　been　well　brought　up。〃

Then　they　entered　the　elfin　hill；　where　the　select　and　grandpany　were　assembled；　and　so　quickly　had　they　appeared　that　theyseemed　to　have　been　blown　together。　But　for　each　guest　the　neatest　andpleasantest　arrangement　had　been　made。　The　sea　folks　sat　at　table　ingreat　water…tubs；　and　they　said　it　was　just　like　being　at　home。　Allbehaved　themselves　properly　excepting　the　two　young　northern　goblins；they　put　their　legs　on　the　table　and　thought　they　were　all　right。

〃Feet　off　the　table…cloth！〃　said　the　old　goblin。　They　obeyed；but　not　immediately。