安徒生童话-第7部分

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　water…　infact；　did　everything　he　could　think　of；　in　order　not　to　fatiguehimself；　and　to　reserve　strength　enough　to　reach　land。　He　heardClara　sigh；　and　felt　her　shudder　convulsively；　and　he　pressed　her　moreclosely　to　him。　Now　and　then　a　wave　rolled　over　them；　the　currentlifted　them；　the　water；　although　deep；　was　so　clear　that　for　amoment　he　imagined　he　saw　the　shoals　of　mackerel　glittering；　orLeviathan　himself　ready　to　swallow　them。　Now　the　clouds　cast　ashadow　over　the　water；　then　again　came　the　playing　sunbeams；　flocks　ofloudly　screaming　birds　passed　over　him；　and　the　plump　and　lazy　wildducks　which　allow　themselves　to　be　drifted　by　the　waves　rose　upterrified　at　the　sight　of　the　swimmer。　He　began　to　feel　his　strengthdecreasing；　but　he　was　only　a　few　cable　lengths'　distance　from　theshore；　and　help　was　ing；　for　a　boat　was　approaching　him。　At　thismoment　he　distinctly　saw　a　white　staring　figure　under　the　water…　awave　lifted　him　up；　and　he　came　nearer　to　the　figure…　he　felt　aviolent　shock；　and　everything　became　dark　around　him。

On　the　sand　reef　lay　the　wreck　of　a　ship；　which　was　covered　withwater　at　high　tide；　the　white　figure　head　rested　against　the　anchor；the　sharp　iron　edge　of　which　rose　just　above　the　surface。　Jurgen　hade　in　contact　with　this；　the　tide　had　driven　him　against　it　withgreat　force。　He　sank　down　stunned　with　the　blow；　but　the　next　wavelifted　him　and　the　young　girl　up　again。　Some　fishermen；　ing　witha　boat；　seized　them　and　dragged　them　into　it。　The　blood　streameddown　over　Jurgen's　face；　he　seemed　dead；　but　still　held　the　young　girlso　tightly　that　they　were　obliged　to　take　her　from　him　by　force。　Shewas　pale　and　lifeless；　they　laid　her　in　the　boat；　and　rowed　as　quicklyas　possible　to　the　shore。　They　tried　every　means　to　restore　Clara　tolife；　but　it　was　all　of　no　avail。　Jurgen　had　been　swimming　for　somedistance　with　a　corpse　in　his　arms；　and　had　exhausted　his　strength　forone　who　was　dead。

Jurgen　still　breathed；　so　the　fishermen　carried　him　to　the　nearesthouse　upon　the　sand…hills；　where　a　smith　and　general　dealer　livedwho　knew　something　of　surgery；　and　bound　up　Jurgen's　wounds　in　atemporary　way　until　a　surgeon　could　be　obtained　from　the　nearesttown　the　next　day。　The　injured　man's　brain　was　affected；　and　in　hisdelirium　he　uttered　wild　cries；　but　on　the　third　day　he　lay　quietand　weak　upon　his　bed；　his　life　seemed　to　hang　by　a　thread；　and　thephysician　said　it　would　be　better　for　him　if　this　thread　broke。　〃Letus　pray　that　God　may　take　him；〃　he　said；　〃for　he　will　never　be　thesame　man　again。〃

But　life　did　not　depart　from　him…　the　thread　would　not　break；but　the　thread　of　memory　was　severed；　the　thread　of　his　mind　hadbeen　cut　through；　and　what　was　still　more　grievous；　a　body　remained…　aliving　healthy　body　that　wandered　about　like　a　troubled　spirit。

Jurgen　remained　in　merchant　Bronne's　house。　〃He　was　hurt　whileendeavouring　to　save　our　child；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃and　now　he　isour　son。〃　People　called　Jurgen　insane；　but　that　was　not　exactly　thecorrect　term。　He　was　like　an　instrument　in　which　the　strings　are　looseand　will　give　no　sound；　only　occasionally　they　regained　their　powerfor　a　few　minutes；　and　then　they　sounded　as　they　used　to　do。　Hewould　sing　snatches　of　songs　or　old　melodies；　pictures　of　the　pastwould　rise　before　him；　and　then　disappear　in　the　mist；　as　it　were；　butas　a　general　rule　he　sat　staring　into　vacancy；　without　a　thought。　Wemay　conjecture　that　he　did　not　suffer；　but　his　dark　eyes　lost　theirbrightness；　and　looked　like　clouded　glass。

〃Poor　mad　Jurgen；〃　said　the　people。　And　this　was　the　end　of　a　lifewhose　infancy　was　to　have　been　surrounded　with　wealth　and　splendourhad　his　parents　lived！　All　his　great　mental　abilities　had　been　lost；nothing　but　hardship；　sorrow；　and　disappointment　had　been　his　fate。　Hewas　like　a　rare　plant；　torn　from　its　native　soil；　and　tossed　uponthe　beach　to　wither　there。　And　was　this　one　of　God's　creatures；fashioned　in　His　own　likeness；　to　have　no　better　fate？　Was　he　to　beonly　the　plaything　of　fortune？　No！　the　all…loving　Creator　wouldcertainly　repay　him　in　the　life　to　e　for　what　he　had　suffered　andlost　here。　〃The　Lord　is　good　to　all；　and　His　mercy　is　over　all　Hisworks。〃　The　pious　old　wife　of　the　merchant　repeated　these　words　fromthe　Psalms　of　David　in　patience　and　hope；　and　the　prayer　of　herheart　was　that　Jurgen　might　soon　be　called　away　to　enter　intoeternal　life。

In　the　churchyard　where　the　walls　were　surrounded　with　sandClara　lay　buried。　Jurgen　did　not　seem　to　know　this；　it　did　not　enterhis　mind；　which　could　only　retain　fragments　of　the　past。　EverySunday　he　went　to　church　with　the　old　people；　and　sat　theresilently；　staring　vacantly　before　him。　One　day；　when　the　Psalms　werebeing　sung；　he　sighed　deeply；　and　his　eyes　became　bright；　they　werefixed　upon　a　place　near　the　altar　where　he　had　knelt　with　his　friendwho　was　dead。　He　murmured　her　name；　and　became　deadly　pale；　andtears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。　They　led　him　out　of　church；　he　toldthose　standing　round　him　that　he　was　well；　and　had　never　been　ill；　he；who　had　been　so　grievously　afflicted；　the　outcast；　thrown　upon　theworld；　could　not　remember　his　sufferings。　The　Lord　our　Creator　is　wiseand　full　of　loving　kindness…　who　can　doubt　it？

In　Spain；　where　balmy　breezes　blow　over　the　Moorish　cupolas　andgently　stir　the　orange　and　myrtle　groves；　where　singing　and　thesound　of　the　castas　are　always　heard；　the　richest　merchant　in　theplace；　a　childless　old　man；　sat　in　a　luxurious　house；　while　childrenmarched　in　procession　through　the　streets　with　waving　flags　andlighted　tapers。　If　he　had　been　able　to　press　his　children　to　hisheart；　his　daughter；　or　her　child；　that　had；　perhaps　never　seen　thelight　of　day；　far　less　the　kingdom　of　heaven；　how　much　of　his　wealthwould　he　not　have　given！　〃Poor　child！〃　Yes；　poor　child…　a　child　still；yet　more　than　thirty　years　old；　for　Jurgen　had　arrived　at　this　agein　Old　Skjagen。

The　shifting　sands　had　covered　the　graves　in　the　courtyard；quite　up　to　the　church　walls；　but　still；　the　dead　must　be　buried　amongtheir　relatives　and　the　dear　ones　who　had　gone　before　them。　MerchantBronne　and　his　wife　now　rested　with　their　children　under　the　whitesand。

It　was　in　the　spring…　the　season　of　storms。　The　sand　from　thedunes　was　whirled　up　in　clouds；　the　sea　was　rough；　and　flocks　of　birdsflew　like　clouds　in　the　storm；　screaming　across　the　sand…hills。Shipwreck　followed　upon　shipwreck　on　the　reefs　between　Old　Skagenand　the　Hunsby　dunes。

One　evening　Jurgen　sat　in　his　room　alone：　all　at　once　his　mindseemed　to　bee　clearer；　and　a　restless　feeling　came　over　him；　suchas　had　often；　in　his　younger　days；　driven　him　out　to　wander　over　thesand…hills　or　on　the　heath。　〃Home；　home！〃　he　cried。　No　one　heardhim。　He　went　out　and　walked　towards　the　dunes。　Sand　and　stones　blewinto　his　face；　and　whirled　round　him；　he　went　in　the　direction　ofthe　church。　The　sand　was　banked　up　the　walls；　half　covering　thewindows；　but　it　had　been　cleared　away　in　front　of　the　door；　and　theentrance　was　free　and　easy　to　open；　so　Jurgen　went　into　the　church。

The　storm　raged　over　the　town　of　Skjagen；　there　had　not　beensuch　a　terrible　tempest　within　the　memory　of　the　inhabitants；　nor　sucha　rough　sea。　But　Jurgen　was　in　the　temple　of　God；　and　while　thedarkness　of　night　reigned　outside；　a　light　arose　in　his　soul　thatwas　never　to　depart　from　it；　the　heavy　weight　that　pressed　on　hisbrain　burst　asunder。　He　fancied　he　heard　the　organ；　but　it　was　onlythe　storm　and　the　moaning　of　the　sea。　He　sat　down　on　one　of　the　seats；and　lo！　the　candies　were　lighted　one　by　one；　and　there　wasbrightness　and　grandeur　such　as　he　had　only　seen　in　the　Spanishcathedral。　The　portraits　of　the　old　citizens　became　alive；　steppeddown　from　the　walls　against　which　they　had　hung　for　centuries；　andtook　seats　near　the　church　door。　The　gates　flew　open；　and　all　the　deadpeople　from　the　churchyard　came　in；　and　filled　the　church；　whilebeautiful　music　sounded。　Then　the　melody　of　the　psalm　burst　forth；like　the　sound　of　the　waters；　and　Jurgen　saw　that　his　foster　parentsfrom　the　Hunsby　dunes　were　there；　also　old　merchant　Bronne　with　hiswife　and　their　daughter　Clara；　who　gave　him　her　hand。　They　both　wentup　to　the　altar　where　they　had　knelt　before；　and　the　priest　joinedtheir　hands　and　united　them　for　life。　Then　music　was　heard　again；　itwas　wonderfully　sweet；　like　a　child's　voice；　full　of　joy　andexpectation；　swelling　to　the　powerful　tones　of　a　full　organ；　sometimessoft　and　sweet；　then　like　the　sounds　of　a　tempest；　delightful　andelevating　to　hear；　yet　strong　enough　to　burst　the　stone　tombs　of　thedead。　Then　the　little　ship　that　hung　from　the　roof　of　the　choir　waslet　down　and　looked　wonderfully　large　and　beautiful　with　its　silkensails　and　rigging：

　〃The　ropes　were　of　silk；　the　anchor　of　gold；

　　And　everywhere　riches　and　pomp　untold；〃as　the　old　song　says。

The　young　couple　went　on　board；　acpanied　by　the　wholecongregation；　for　there　was　room　and　enjoyment　for　them　all。　Thenthe　walls　and　arches　of　the　church　were　covered　with　floweringjunipers　and　lime　trees　breathing　forth　fragrance；　the　branches　waved；creating　a　pleasant　coolness；　they　bent　and　parted；　and　the　shipsailed　between　them　through　the　air　and　over　the　sea。　Every　candlein　the　church　became　a　star；　and　the　wind　sang　a　hymn　in　which　theyall　joined。　〃Through　love　to　glory；　no　life　is　lost；　the　future　isfull　of　blessings　and　happiness。　Hallelujah！〃　These　were　the　lastwords　Jurgen　uttered　in　this　world；　for　the　thread　that　bound　hisimmortal　soul　was　severed；　and　nothing　but　the　dead　body　lay　in　thedark　church；　while　the　storm　raged　outside；　covering　it　with　loosesand。

The　next　day　was　Sunday；　and　the　congregation　and　their　pastorwent　to　the　church。　The　road　had　always　been　heavy；　but　now　it　wasalmost　unfit　for　use；　and　when　they　at　last　arrived　at　the　church；　agreat　heap　of　sand　lay　piled　up　in　front　of　them。　The　whole　church　waspletely　buried　in　sand。　The　clergyman　offered　a　short　prayer；　andsaid　that　God　had　closed　the　door　of　His　house　here；　and　that　thecongregation　must　go　and　build　a　new　one　for　Him　somewhere　else。　Sothey　sung　a　hymn　in　the　open　air；　and　went　home　again。

Jurgen　could　not　be　found　anywhere　in　the　town　of　Skjagen；　noron　the　dunes；　though　they　searched　for　him　everywhere。　They　came　tothe　conclusion　that　one　of　the　great　waves；　which　had　rolled　far　upon　the　beach；　had　carried　him　away；　but　his　body　lay　buried　in　agreat　sepulchre…　the　church　itself。　The　Lord　had　thrown　down　acovering　for　his　grave　during　the　storm；　and　the　heavy　mound　of　sandlies　upon　it　to　this　day。　The　drifting　sand　had　covered　the　vaultedroof　of　the　church；　the　arched　cloisters；　and　the　stone　aisles。　Thewhite　thorn　and　the　dog　rose　now　blossom　above　the　place　where　thechurch　lies　buried；　but　the　spire；　like　an　enormous　monument　over　agrave；　can　be　seen　for　miles　round。　No　king　has　a　more　splendidmemorial。　Nothing　disturbs　the　peaceful　sleep　of　the　dead。　I　was　thefirst　to　hear　this　story；　for　the　storm　sung　it　to　me　among　thesand…hills。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　ANNE　LISBETH

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

ANNE　LISBETH　was　a　beautiful　young　woman；　with　a　red　and　whiteplexion；　glittering　white　teeth；　and　clear　soft　eyes；　and　herfootstep　was　light　in　the　dance；　but　her　mind　was　lighter　still。　Shehad　a　little　child；　not　at　all　pretty；　so　he　was　put　out　to　benursed　by　a　laborer's　wife；　and　his　mother　went　to　the　count's　castle。She　sat　in　splendid　rooms；　richly　decorated　with　silk　and　velvet；not　a　breath　of　air　was　allowed　to　blow　upon　her；　and　no　one　wasallowed　to　speak　to　her　harshly；　for　she　was　nurse　to　the　count'schild。　He　was　fair　and　delicate　as　a　prince；　and　beautiful　as　anangel；　and　how　she　loved　this　child！　Her　own　boy　was　provided　for　bybeing　at　the　laborer's　where　the　mouth　watered　more　frequently　thanthe　pot　boiled；　and　where　in　general　no　one　was　at　home　to　take　careof　the　child。　Then　he　would　cry；　but　what　nobody　knows　nobody　caresfor；　so　he　would　cry　till　he　was　tired；　and　then　fall　asleep；　andwhile　we　are　asleep　we　can　feel　neither　hunger　nor　thirst。　Ah；　yes；sleep　is　a　capital　invention。

As　years　went　on；　Anne　Lisbeth's　child　grew　apace　like　weeds；although　they　said　his　growth　had　been　stunted。　He　had　bee　quitea　member　of　the　family　in　which　he　dwelt；　they　received　money　tokeep　him；　so　that　his　mother　got　rid　of　him　altogether。　She　had　beequite　a　lady；　she　had　a　fortable　home　of　her　own　in　the　town；　andout　of　doors；　when　she　went　for　a　walk；　she　wore　a　bon；　but　shenever　walked　out　to　see　the　laborer：　that　was　too　far　from　the　town；and；　indeed；　she　had　nothing　to　go　for；　the　boy　now　belonged　tothese　laboring　people。　He　had　food；　and　he　could　also　do　somethingtowards　earning　his　living；　he　took　care　of　Mary's　red　cow；　for　heknew　how　to　tend　cattle　and　make　himself　useful。

The　great　dog　by　the　yard　gate　of　a　nobleman's　mansion　sitsproudly　on　the　top　of　his　kennel　when　the　sun　shines；　and　barks　atevery　one　that　passes；　but　if　it　rains；　he　creeps　into　his　house；and　there　he　is　warm　and　dry。　Anne　Lisbeth's　boy　also　sat　in　thesunshine　on　the　top　of　the　fence；　cutting　out　a　little　toy。　If　itwas　spring…time；　he　knew　of　three　strawberry…plants　in　blossom；which　would　certainly　bear　fruit。　This　was　his　most　hopeful　thought；though　it　often　came　to　nothing。　And　he　had　to　sit　out　in　the　rainin　the　worst　weather；　and　get　wet　to　the　skin；　and　let　the　cold　winddry　the　clothes　on　his　back　afterwards。　If　he　went　near　the　farmyardbelonging　to　the　count；　he　was　pushed　and　knocked　about；　for　the　menand　the　maids　said　he　was　so　horrible　ugly；　but　he　was　used　to　allthis；　for　nobody　loved　him。　This　was　how　the　world　treated　AnneLisbeth's　boy；　and　how　could　it　be　otherwise。　It　was　his　fate　to　bebeloved　by　no　one。　Hitherto　he　had　been　a　land　crab；　the　land　atlast　cast　him　adrift。　He　went　to　sea　in　a　wretched　vessel；　and　satat　the　helm；　while　the　skipper　sat　over　the　grog…can。　He　was　dirty　andugly；　half…frozen　and　half…starved；　he　always　looked　as　if　he　neverhad　enough　to　eat；　which　was　really　the　case。

Late　in　the　autumn；　when　the　weather　was　rough；　windy；　and　wet；and　the　cold　perated　through　the　thickest　clothing；　especially　atsea；　a　wretched　boat　went　out　to　sea　with　only　two　men　on　board；　or；more　correctly；　a　man　and　a　half；　for　it　was　the　skipper　and　hisboy。　There　had　only　been　a　kind　of　twilight　all　day；　and　it　soongrew　quite　dark；　and　so　bitterly　cold；　that　the　skipper　took　a　dram　towarm　him。　The　bottle　was　old；　and　the　glass　too。　It　was　perfect　in　theupper　part；　but　the　foot　was　broken　off；　and　it　had　therefore　beenfixed　upon　a　little　carved　block　of　wood；　painted　blue。　A　dram　is　agreat　fort；　and　two　are　better　still；　thought　the　skipper；　whilethe　boy　sat　at　the　helm；　which　he　held　fast　in　his　hard　seamedhands。　He　was　ugly；　and　his　hair　was　matted；　and　he　looked　crippledand　stunted；　they　called　him　the　field…laborer's　boy；　though　in　thechurch　register　he　was　entered　as　Anne　Lisbeth's　son。　The　wind　cutthrough　the　rigging；　and　the　boat　cut　through　the　sea。　The　sails；filled　by　the　wind；　swelled　out　and　carried　them　along　in　wild　career。It　was　wet　and　rough　above　and　below；　and　might　still　be　worse。Hold！　what　is　that？　What　has　struck　the　boat？　Was　it　a　waterspout；or　a　heavy　sea　rolling　suddenly　upon　them？

〃Heaven　help　us！〃　cried　the　boy　at　the　helm；　as　the　boat　heeledover　and　lay　on　its　beam　ends。　It　had　struck　on　a　rock；　which　rosefrom　the　depths　of　the　sea；　and　s