安徒生童话-第70部分

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came　forth　a　bud。

One　morning；　when　the　stork…papa　was　flying　over　the　stem；　hesaw　that　the　power　of　the　sun's　rays　had　caused　the　bud　to　open；　andin　the　cup　of　the　flower　lay　a　charming　child…　a　little　maiden；looking　as　if　she　had　just　e　out　of　a　bath。　The　little　one　was　solike　the　Egyptian　princess；　that　the　stork；　at　the　first　moment；thought　it　must　be　the　princess　herself；　but　after　a　little　reflectionhe　decided　that　it　was　much　more　likely　to　be　the　daughter　of　theprincess　and　the　Marsh　King；　and　this　explained　also　her　beingplaced　in　the　cup　of　a　water…lily。　〃But　she　cannot　be　left　to　liehere；〃　thought　the　stork；　〃and　in　my　nest　there　are　already　so　many。But　stay；　I　have　thought　of　something：　the　wife　of　the　Viking　has　nochildren；　and　how　often　she　has　wished　for　a　little　one。　People　alwayssay　the　stork　brings　the　little　ones；　I　will　do　so　in　earnest　thistime。　I　shall　fly　with　the　child　to　the　Viking's　wife；　whatrejoicing　there　will　be！〃

And　then　the　stork　lifted　the　little　girl　out　of　the　flower…cup；flew　to　the　castle；　picked　a　hole　with　his　beak　in　thebladder…covered；　window；　and　laid　the　beautiful　child　in　the　bosomof　the　Viking's　wife。　Then　he　flew　back　quickly　to　the　stork…mamma　andtold　her　what　he　had　seen　and　done；　and　the　little　storks　listenedto　it　all；　for　they　were　then　quite　old　enough　to　do　so。　〃So　you　see；〃he　continued；　〃that　the　princess　is　not　dead；　for　she　must　have　senther　little　one　up　here；　and　now　I　have　found　a　home　for　her。〃

〃Ah；　I　said　it　would　be　so　from　the　first；〃　replied　thestork…mamma；　〃but　now　think　a　little　of　your　own　family。　Ourtravelling　time　draws　near；　and　I　sometimes　feel　a　little　irritationalready　under　the　wings。　The　cuckoos　and　the　nightingale　are　alreadygone；　and　I　heard　the　quails　say　they　should　go　too　as　soon　as　thewind　was　favorable。　Our　youngsters　will　go　through　all　themanoeuvres　at　the　review　very　well；　or　I　am　much　mistaken　in　them。〃

The　Viking's　wife　was　above　measure　delighted　when　she　awoke　thenext　morning　and　found　the　beautiful　little　child　lying　in　herbosom。　She　kissed　it　and　caressed　it；　but　it　cried　terribly；　andstruck　out　with　its　arms　and　legs；　and　did　not　seem　to　be　pleased　atall。　At　last　it　cried　itself　to　sleep；　and　as　it　lay　there　so　stilland　quiet；　it　was　a　most　beautiful　sight　to　see。　The　Viking's　wife　wasso　delighted；　that　body　and　soul　were　full　of　joy。　Her　heart　felt　solight　within　her；　that　it　seemed　as　if　her　husband　and　his　soldiers；who　were　absent；　must　e　home　as　suddenly　and　unexpectedly　as　thelittle　child　had　done。　She　and　her　whole　household　therefore　busiedthemselves　in　preparing　everything　for　the　reception　of　her　lord。The　long；　colored　tapestry；　on　which　she　and　her　maidens　had　workedpictures　of　their　idols；　Odin；　Thor；　and　Friga；　was　hung　up。　Theslaves　polished　the　old　shields　that　served　as　ornaments；　cushionswere　placed　on　the　seats；　and　dry　wood　laid　on　the　fireplaces　in　thecentre　of　the　hall；　so　that　the　flames　might　be　fanned　up　at　amoment's　notice。　The　Viking's　wife　herself　assisted　in　the　work；　sothat　at　night　she　felt　very　tired；　and　quickly　fell　into　a　soundsleep。　When　she　awoke；　just　before　morning；　she　was　terribly　alarmedto　find　that　the　infant　had　vanished。　She　sprang　from　her　couch；lighted　a　pine…chip；　and　searched　all　round　the　room；　when；　at　last；in　that　part　of　the　bed　where　her　feet　had　been；　lay；　not　the　child；but　a　great；　ugly　frog。　She　was　quite　disgusted　at　this　sight；　andseized　a　heavy　stick　to　kill　the　frog；　but　the　creature　looked　ather　with　such　strange；　mournful　eyes；　that　she　was　unable　to　strikethe　blow。　Once　more　she　searched　round　the　room；　then　she　started　athearing　the　frog　utter　a　low；　painful　croak。　She　sprang　from　the　couchand　opened　the　window　hastily；　at　the　same　moment　the　sun　rose；　andthrew　its　beams　through　the　window；　till　it　rested　on　the　couchwhere　the　great　frog　lay。　Suddenly　it　appeared　as　if　the　frog'sbroad　mouth　contracted；　and　became　small　and　red。　The　limbs　movedand　stretched　out　and　extended　themselves　till　they　took　a　beautifulshape；　and　behold　there　was　the　pretty　child　lying　before　her；　and　theugly　frog　was　gone。　〃How　is　this？〃　she　cried；　〃have　I　had　a　wickeddream？　Is　it　not　my　own　lovely　cherub　that　lies　there。〃　Then　shekissed　it　and　fondled　it；　but　the　child　struggled　and　fought；　andbit　as　if　she　had　been　a　little　wild　cat。

The　Viking　did　not　return　on　that　day；　nor　the　next；　he　was；however；　on　the　way　home；　but　the　wind；　so　favorable　to　the　storks；was　against　him；　for　it　blew　towards　the　south。　A　wind　in　favor　of　oneis　often　against　another。

After　two　or　three　days　had　passed；　it　became　clear　to　theViking's　wife　how　matters　stood　with　the　child；　it　was　under　theinfluence　of　a　powerful　sorcerer。　By　day　it　was　charming　in　appearanceas　an　angel　of　light；　but　with　a　temper　wicked　and　wild；　while　atnight；　in　the　form　of　an　ugly　frog；　it　was　quiet　and　mournful；　witheyes　full　of　sorrow。　Here　were　two　natures；　changing　inwardly　andoutwardly　with　the　absence　and　return　of　sunlight。　And　so　ithappened　that　by　day　the　child；　with　the　actual　form　of　its　mother；possessed　the　fierce　disposition　of　its　father；　at　night；　on　thecontrary；　its　outward　appearance　plainly　showed　its　descent　on　thefather's　side；　while　inwardly　it　had　the　heart　and　mind　of　its　mother。Who　would　be　able　to　loosen　this　wicked　charm　which　the　sorcerer　hadworked　upon　it？　The　wife　of　the　Viking　lived　in　constant　pain　andsorrow　about　it。　Her　heart　clung　to　the　little　creature；　but　she　couldnot　explain　to　her　husband　the　circumstances　in　which　it　was　placed。He　was　expected　to　return　shortly；　and　were　she　to　tell　him；　hewould　very　likely；　as　was　the　custom　at　that　time；　expose　the　poorchild　in　the　public　highway；　and　let　any　one　take　it　away　who　would。The　good　wife　of　the　Viking　could　not　let　that　happen；　and　shetherefore　resolved　that　the　Viking　should　never　see　the　childexcepting　by　daylight。

One　morning　there　sounded　a　rushing　of　storks'　wings　over　theroof。　More　than　a　hundred　pair　of　storks　had　rested　there　during　thenight；　to　recover　themselves　after　their　excursion；　and　now　theysoared　aloft；　and　prepared　for　the　journey　southward。

〃All　the　husbands　are　here；　and　ready！〃　they　cried；　〃wives　andchildren　also！〃

〃How　light　we　are！〃　screamed　the　young　storks　in　chorus。〃Something　pleasant　seems　creeping　over　us；　even　down　to　our　toes；as　if　we　were　full　of　live　frogs。　Ah；　how　delightful　it　is　to　travelinto　foreign　lands！〃

〃Hold　yourselves　properly　in　the　line　with　us；〃　cried　papa　andmamma。　〃Do　not　use　your　beaks　so　much；　it　tries　the　lungs。〃　And　thenthe　storks　flew　away。

About　the　same　time　sounded　the　clang　of　the　warriors'　trumpetsacross　the　heath。　The　Viking　had　landed　with　his　men。　They　werereturning　home；　richly　laden　with　spoil　from　the　Gallic　coast；　wherethe　people；　as　did　also　the　inhabitants　of　Britain；　often　cried　inalarm；　〃Deliver　us　from　the　wild　northmen。〃

Life　and　noisy　pleasure　came　with　them　into　the　castle　of　theViking　on　the　moorland。　A　great　cask　of　mead　was　drawn　into　thehall；　piles　of　wood　blazed；　cattle　were　slain　and　served　up；　that　theymight　feast　in　reality；　The　priest　who　offered　the　sacrifice　sprinkledthe　devoted　parishioners　with　the　warm　blood；　the　fire　crackled；　andthe　smoke　rolled　along　beneath　the　roof；　the　soot　fell　upon　themfrom　the　beams；　but　they　were　used　to　all　these　things。　Guests　wereinvited；　and　received　handsome　presents。　All　wrongs　and　unfaithfulnesswere　forgotten。　They　drank　deeply；　and　threw　in　each　other's　faces　thebones　that　were　left；　which　was　looked　upon　as　a　sign　of　goodfeeling　amongst　them。　A　bard；　who　was　a　kind　of　musician　as　well　aswarrior；　and　who　had　been　with　the　Viking　in　his　expedition；　andknew　what　to　sing　about；　gave　them　one　of　his　best　songs；　in　whichthey　heard　all　their　warlike　deeds　praised；　and　every　wonderful　actionbrought　forward　with　honor。　Every　verse　ended　with　this　refrain；…

　　　〃Gold　and　possessions　will　flee　away；

Friends　and　foes　must　die　one　day；

Every　man　on　earth　must　die；

But　a　famous　name　will　never　die。〃And　with　that　they　beat　upon　their　shields；　and　hammered　upon　thetable　with　knives　and　bones；　in　a　most　outrageous　manner。

The　Viking's　wife　sat　upon　a　raised　cross　seat　in　the　open　hall。She　wore　a　silk　dress；　golden　bracelets；　and　large　amber　beads。　Shewas　in　costly　attire；　and　the　bard　named　her　in　his　song；　and　spoke　ofthe　rich　treasure　of　gold　which　she　had　brought　to　her　husband。　Herhusband　had　already　seen　the　wonderfully　beautiful　child　in　thedaytime；　and　was　delighted　with　her　beauty；　even　her　wild　ways　pleasedhim。　He　said　the　little　maiden　would　grow　up　to　be　a　heroine；　with　thestrong　will　and　determination　of　a　man。　She　would　never　wink　her　eyes；even　if；　in　joke；　an　expert　hand　should　attempt　to　cut　off　hereye…brows　with　a　sharp　sword。

The　full　cask　of　mead　soon　became　empty；　and　a　fresh　one　wasbrought　in；　for　these　were　people　who　liked　plenty　to　eat　and　drink。The　old　proverb；　which　every　one　knows；　says　that　〃the　cattle　knowwhen　to　leave　their　pasture；　but　a　foolish　man　knows　not　the　measureof　his　own　appetite。〃　Yes；　they　all　knew　this；　but　men　may　know　whatis　right；　and　yet　often　do　wrong。　They　also　knew　〃that　even　thewele　guest　bees　wearisome　when　he　sits　too　long　in　the　house。〃But　there　they　remained；　for　pork　and　mead　are　good　things。　And　soat　the　Viking's　house　they　stayed；　and　enjoyed　themselves；　and　atnight　the　bondmen　slept　in　the　ashes；　and　dipped　their　fingers　inthe　fat；　and　licked　them。　Oh；　it　was　a　delightful　time！

Once　more　in　the　same　year　the　Viking　went　forth；　though　thestorms　of　autumn　had　already　menced　to　roar。　He　went　with　hiswarriors　to　the　coast　of　Britain；　he　said　that　it　was　but　an　excursionof　pleasure　across　the　water；　so　his　wife　remained　at　home　with　thelittle　girl。　After　a　while；　it　is　quite　certain　the　foster…motherbegan　to　love　the　poor　frog；　with　its　gentle　eyes　and　its　deepsighs；　even　better　than　the　little　beauty　who　bit　and　fought　withall　around　her。

The　heavy；　damp　mists　of　autumn；　which　destroy　the　leaves　of　thewood；　had　already　fallen　upon　forest　and　heath。　Feathers　of　pluckedbirds；　as　they　call　the　snow；　flew　about　in　thick　showers；　andwinter　was　ing。　The　sparrows　took　possession　of　the　stork's　nest；and　conversed　about　the　absent　owners　in　their　own　fashion；　andthey；　the　stork　pair　and　all　their　young　ones；　where　were　they　stayingnow？　The　storks　might　have　been　found　in　the　land　of　Egypt；　wherethe　sun's　rays　shone　forth　bright　and　warm；　as　it　does　here　atmidsummer。　Tamarinds　and　acacias　were　in　full　bloom　all　over　thecountry；　the　crescent　of　Mahomet　glittered　brightly　from　the　cupolasof　the　mosques；　and　on　the　slender　pinnacles　sat　many　of　the　storks；resting　after　their　long　journey。　Swarms　of　them　took　dividedpossession　of　the　nests…　nests　which　lay　close　to　each　other　betweenthe　venerable　columns；　and　crowded　the　arches　of　temples　inforgotten　cities。　The　date　and　the　palm　lifted　themselves　as　ascreen　or　as　a　sun…shade　over　them。　The　gray　pyramids　looked　likebroken　shadows　in　the　clear　air　and　the　far…off　desert；　where　theostrich　wheels　his　rapid　flight；　and　the　lion；　with　his　subtle　eyes；gazes　at　the　marble　sphinx　which　lies　half　buried　in　sand。　Thewaters　of　the　Nile　had　retreated；　and　the　whole　bed　of　the　river　wascovered　with　frogs；　which　was　a　most　acceptable　prospect　for　the　storkfamilies。　The　young　storks　thought　their　eyes　deceived　them；everything　around　appeared　so　beautiful。

〃It　is　always　like　this　here；　and　this　is　how　we　live　in　ourwarm　country；〃　said　the　stork…mamma；　and　the　thought　made　the　youngones　almost　beside　themselves　with　pleasure。

〃Is　there　anything　more　to　see？〃　they　asked；　〃are　we　going　fartherinto　the　country？〃

〃There　is　nothing　further　for　us　to　see；〃　answered　thestork…mamma。　〃Beyond　this　delightful　region　there　are　immense　forests；where　the　branches　of　the　trees　entwine　round　each　other；　whileprickly；　creeping　plants　cover　the　paths；　and　only　an　elephant　couldforce　a　passage　for　himself　with　his　great　feet。　The　snakes　are　toolarge；　and　the　lizards　too　lively　for　us　to　catch。　Then　there　is　thedesert；　if　you　went　there；　your　eyes　would　soon　be　full　of　sand　withthe　lightest　breeze；　and　if　it　should　blow　great　guns；　you　wouldmost　likely　find　yourself　in　a　sand…drift。　Here　is　the　best　placefor　you；　where　there　are　frogs　and　locusts；　here　I　shall　remain；　andso　must　you。〃　And　so　they　stayed。

The　parents　sat　in　the　nest　on　the　slender　minaret；　and　rested；yet　still　were　busily　employed　in　cleaning　and　smoothing　theirfeathers；　and　in　sharpening　their　beaks　against　their　red　stockings；then　they　would　stretch　out　their　necks；　salute　each　other；　andgravely　raise　their　heads　with　the　high…polished　forehead；　and　soft；smooth　feathers；　while　their　brown　eyes　shone　with　intelligence。　Thefemale　young　ones　strutted　about　amid　the　moist　rushes；　glancing　atthe　other　young　storks　and　making　acquaintances；　and　swallowing　a　frogat　every　third　step；　or　tossing　a　little　snake　about　with　their　beaks；in　a　way　they　considered　very　being；　and　besides　it　tasted　verygood。　The　young　male　storks　soon　began　to　quarrel；　they　struck　at　eachother　with　their　wings；　and　pecked　with　their　beaks　till　the　bloodcame。　And　in　this　manner　many　of　the　young　ladies　and　gentlemen　werebetrothed　to　each　other：　it　was；　of　course；　what　they　wanted；　andindeed　what　they　lived　for。　Then　they　returned　to　a　nest；　and　therethe　quarrelling　began　afresh；　for　in　hot　countries　people　are　almostall　violent　and　passionate。　But　for　all　that　it　was　pleasant；especially　for　the　old　people；　who　watched　them　with　great　joy：　allthat　their　young　ones　did　suited　them。　Every　day　here　there　wassunshine；　plenty　to　eat；　and　nothing　to　think　of　but　pleasure。　Butin　the　rich　castle　of　their　Egyptian　host；　as　they　called　him；pleasure　was　not　to　be　found。　The　rich　and　mighty　lord　of　the　castlelay　on　his　couch；　in　the　midst　of　the　great　hall；　with　its　manycolored　walls　looking　like　the　centre　of　a　great　tulip；　but　he　wasstiff　and　powerless　in　all　his　limbs；　and　lay　stretched　out　like　amummy。　His　family　and　servants　stood　round　him；　he　was　not　dead；although　he　could　scarcely　be　said　to　live。　The　healing　moor…flowerfrom　the　north；　which　was　to　have　been　found　and　brought　to　him　by　herwho　loved　him　so　well；　had　not　arrived。　His　young　and　beautifuldaughter　who；　in　swan's　plumage；　had　flown　over　land　and　seas　to　thedistant　north；　had　never　returned。　She　is　dead；　so　the　twoswan…maidens　had　said　when　they　came　home；　and　they　made　up　quite　astory　about　her；　and　this　is　what　they　told；…

〃We　three　flew　away　together　through　the　air；〃　said　they：　〃ahunter　caught　sight　of　us；　and　shot　at　us　with　an　arrow。　The　arrowstruck　our　young　friend　and　sister；　and　slowly　singing　her　farewellsong　she　sank　down；　a　dying　swan；　into　the　forest　lake。　On　theshores　of　the　lake；　under　a　spreading　birch…tree；　we　laid　her　in　thecold　earth。　We　had　our　revenge；　we　bound　fire　under　the　wings　of　aswallow；　who　had　a　nest　on　the　thatched　roof　of　the　huntsman。　Thehouse　took　fire；　and　burst　into　flames；　the　hunter　was　burnt　withthe　house；　and　the　light　was　reflected　over　the　sea　as　far　as　thespreading　birch；　beneath　which　we　laid　her　sleeping　dust。　She　willnever　return　to　the　land　of　Egypt。〃　And　then　they　both　wept。　Andstork…papa；　who　heard　the　story；　snapped　with　his　beak　so　that　itmight　be　heard　a　long　way　off。

'Deceit　and　lies！〃　cried　he；　〃I　should　like　to　run　my　b