安徒生童话-第9部分

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st；　before　she　hadfinished　her　work；　and　then　she　would　be　lost。　And　the　cock　crowed；and　the　day　dawned　in　the　east；　and　the　grave　was　only　half　dug。　Anicy　hand　passed　over　her　head　and　face；　and　down　towards　her　heart。〃Only　half　a　grave；〃　a　voice　wailed；　and　fled　away。　Yes；　it　fledaway　over　the　sea；　it　was　the　ocean　spectre；　and；　exhausted　andoverpowered；　Anne　Lisbeth　sunk　to　the　ground；　and　her　senses　left　her。

It　was　a　bright　day　when　she　came　to　herself；　and　two　men　wereraising　her　up；　but　she　was　not　lying　in　the　churchyard；　but　on　thesea…shore；　where　she　had　dug　a　deep　hole　in　the　sand；　and　cut　her　handwith　a　piece　of　broken　glass；　whose　sharp　stern　was　stuck　in　alittle　block　of　painted　wood。　Anne　Lisbeth　was　in　a　fever。Conscience　had　roused　the　memories　of　superstitions；　and　had　soacted　upon　her　mind；　that　she　fancied　she　had　only　half　a　soul；　andthat　her　child　had　taken　the　other　half　down　into　the　sea。　Never　wouldshe　be　able　to　cling　to　the　mercy　of　Heaven　till　she　had　recoveredthis　other　half　which　was　now　held　fast　in　the　deep　water。

Anne　Lisbeth　returned　to　her　home；　but　she　was　no　longer　the　womanshe　had　been。　Her　thoughts　were　like　a　confused；　tangled　skein；　onlyone　thread；　only　one　thought　was　clear　to　her；　namely　that　she　mustcarry　the　spectre　of　the　sea…shore　to　the　churchyard；　and　dig　agrave　for　him　there；　that　by　so　doing　she　might　win　back　her　soul。Many　a　night　she　was　missed　from　her　home；　and　was　always　found　on　thesea…shore　waiting　for　the　spectre。

In　this　way　a　whole　year　passed；　and　then　one　night　she　vanishedagain；　and　was　not　to　be　found。　The　whole　of　the　next　day　was　spent　ina　useless　search　after　her。

Towards　evening；　when　the　clerk　entered　the　church　to　toll　thevesper　bell；　he　saw　by　the　altar　Anne　Lisbeth；　who　had　spent　the　wholeday　there。　Her　powers　of　body　were　almost　exhausted；　but　her　eyesflashed　brightly；　and　on　her　cheeks　was　a　rosy　flush。　The　last　rays　ofthe　setting　sun　shone　upon　her；　and　gleamed　over　the　altar　upon　theshining　clasps　of　the　Bible；　which　lay　open　at　the　words　of　theprophet　Joel；　〃Rend　your　hearts　and　not　your　garments；　and　turn　untothe　Lord。〃

〃That　was　just　a　chance；〃　people　said；　but　do　things　happen　bychance？　In　the　face　of　Anne　Lisbeth；　lighted　up　by　the　evening　sun；could　be　seen　peace　and　rest。　She　said　she　was　happy　now；　for　shehad　conquered。　The　spectre　of　the　shore；　her　own　child；　had　e　toher　the　night　before；　and　had　said　to　her；　〃Thou　hast　dug　me　only　halfa　grave：　but　thou　hast　now；　for　a　year　and　a　day；　buried　me　altogetherin　thy　heart；　and　it　is　there　a　mother　can　best　hide　her　child！〃　Andthen　he　gave　her　back　her　lost　soul；　and　brought　her　into　thechurch。　〃Now　I　am　in　the　house　of　God；〃　she　said；　〃and　in　that　housewe　are　happy。〃

When　the　sun　set；　Anne　Lisbeth's　soul　had　risen　to　that　regionwhere　there　is　no　more　pain；　and　Anne　Lisbeth's　troubles　were　at　anend。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　BEAUTY　OF　FORM　AND　BEAUTY　OF　MIND

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　a　sculptor；　named　Alfred；　who　having　won　thelarge　gold　medal　and　obtained　a　travelling　scholarship；　went　to　Italy；and　then　came　back　to　his　native　land。　He　was　young　at　that　time…indeed；　he　is　young　still；　although　he　is　ten　years　older　than　hewas　then。　On　his　return；　he　went　to　visit　one　of　the　little　towns　inthe　island　of　Zealand。　The　whole　town　knew　who　the　stranger　was；　andone　of　the　richest　men　in　the　place　gave　a　party　in　his　honor；　and　allwho　were　of　any　consequence；　or　who　possessed　some　property；　wereinvited。　It　was　quite　an　event；　and　all　the　town　knew　of　it；　so　thatit　was　not　necessary　to　announce　it　by　beat　of　drum。Apprentice…boys；　children　of　the　poor；　and　even　the　poor　peoplethemselves；　stood　before　the　house；　watching　the　lighted　windows；and　the　watchman　might　easily　fancy　he　was　giving　a　party　also；there　were　so　many　people　in　the　streets。　There　was　quite　an　air　offestivity　about　it；　and　the　house　was　full　of　it；　for　Mr。　Alfred；the　sculptor；　was　there。　He　talked　and　told　anecdotes；　and　every　onelistened　to　him　with　pleasure；　not　unmingled　with　awe；　but　none　feltso　much　respect　for　him　as　did　the　elderly　widow　of　a　naval　officer。She　seemed；　so　far　as　Mr。　Alfred　was　concerned；　to　be　like　a　pieceof　fresh　blotting…paper　that　absorbed　all　he　said　and　asked　formore。　She　was　very　appreciative；　and　incredibly　ignorant…　a　kind　offemale　Gaspar　Hauser。

〃I　should　like　to　see　Rome；〃　she　said；　〃it　must　be　a　lovelycity；　or　so　many　foreigners　would　not　be　constantly　arriving　there。Now；　do　give　me　a　description　of　Rome。　How　does　the　city　look　when　youenter　in　at　the　gate？〃

〃I　cannot　very　well　describe　it；〃　said　the　sculptor；　〃but　youenter　on　a　large　open　space；　in　the　centre　of　which　stands　an　obelisk；which　is　a　thousand　years　old。〃

〃An　organist！〃　exclaimed　the　lady；　who　had　never　heard　the　word'obelisk。'　Several　of　the　guests　could　scarcely　forbear　laughing；and　the　sculptor　would　have　had　some　difficulty　in　keeping　hiscountenance；　but　the　smile　on　his　lips　faded　away；　for　he　caught　sightof　a　pair　of　dark…blue　eyes　close　by　the　side　of　the　inquisitive　lady。They　belonged　to　her　daughter；　and　surely　no　one　who　had　such　adaughter　could　be　silly。　The　mother　was　like　a　fountain　ofquestions；　and　the　daughter；　who　listened　but　never　spoke；　mighthave　passed　for　the　beautiful　maid　of　the　fountain。　How　charming　shewas！　She　was　a　study　for　the　sculptor　to　contemplate；　but　not　toconverse　with；　for　she　did　not　speak；　or；　at　least；　very　seldom。

〃Has　the　pope　a　great　family？〃　inquired　the　lady。

The　young　man　answered　considerately；　as　if　the　question　hadbeen　a　different　one；　〃No；　he　does　not　e　from　a　great　family。〃

〃That　is　not　what　I　asked；〃　persisted　the　widow；　〃I　mean；　has　he　awife　and　children？〃

〃The　pope　is　not　allowed　to　marry；〃　replied　the　gentleman。

〃I　don't　like　that；〃　was　the　lady's　remark。

She　certainly　might　have　asked　more　sensible　questions；　but　if　shehad　not　been　allowed　to　say　just　what　she　liked；　would　her　daughterhave　been　there；　leaning　so　gracefully　on　her　shoulder；　and　lookingstraight　before　her；　with　a　smile　that　was　almost　mournful　on　herface？

Mr。　Alfred　again　spoke　of　Italy；　and　of　the　glorious　colors　inItalian　scenery；　the　purple　hills；　the　deep　blue　of　the　Mediterranean；the　azure　of　southern　skies；　whose　brightness　and　glory　could　onlybe　surpassed　in　the　north　by　the　deep…blue　eyes　of　a　maiden；　and　hesaid　this　with　a　peculiar　intonation；　but　she　who　should　haveunderstood　his　meaning　looked　quite　unconscious　of　it；　which　alsowas　charming。

〃Beautiful　Italy！〃　sighed　some　of　the　guests。

〃Oh；　to　travel　there！〃　exclaimed　others。

〃Charming！　Charming！〃　echoed　from　every　voice。

〃I　may　perhaps　win　a　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　the　lottery；〃said　the　naval　officer's　widow；　〃and　if　I　do；　we　will　travel…　I　and　mydaughter；　and　you；　Mr。　Alfred；　must　be　our　guide。　We　can　all　threetravel　together；　with　one　or　two　more　of　our　good　friends。〃　And　shenodded　in　such　a　friendly　way　at　the　pany；　that　each　imaginedhimself　to　be　the　favored　person　who　was　to　acpany　them　to　Italy。〃Yes；　we　must　go；〃　she　continued；　〃but　not　to　those　parts　wherethere　are　robbers。　We　will　keep　to　Rome。　In　the　public　roads　one　isalways　safe。〃

The　daughter　sighed　very　gently；　and　how　much　there　may　be　in　asigh；　or　attributed　to　it！　The　young　man　attributed　a　great　deal　ofmeaning　to　this　sigh。　Those　deep…blue　eyes；　which　had　been　lit　up　thisevening　in　honor　of　him；　must　conceal　treasures；　treasures　of　heartand　mind；　richer　than　all　the　glories　of　Rome；　and　so　when　he　left　theparty　that　night；　he　had　lost　it　pletely　to　the　young　lady。　Thehouse　of　the　naval　officer's　widow　was　the　one　most　constantly　visitedby　Mr。　Alfred；　the　sculptor。　It　was　soon　understood　that　his　visitswere　not　intended　for　that　lady；　though　they　were　the　persons　who　keptup　the　conversation。　He　came　for　the　sake　of　the　daughter。　They　calledher　Kaela。　Her　name　was　really　Karen　Malena；　and　these　two　names　hadbeen　contracted　into　the　one　name　Kaela。　She　was　really　beautiful；　butsome　said　she　was　rather　dull；　and　slept　late　of　a　morning。

〃She　has　been　accustomed　to　that；〃　her　mother　said。　〃She　is　abeauty；　and　they　are　always　easily　tired。　She　does　sleep　ratherlate；　but　that　makes　her　eyes　so　clear。〃

What　power　seemed　to　lie　in　the　depths　of　those　dark　eyes！　Theyoung　man　felt　the　truth　of　the　proverb；　〃Still　waters　run　deep：〃and　his　heart　had　sunk　into　their　depths。　He　often　talked　of　hisadventures；　and　the　mamma　was　as　simple　and　eager　in　her　questionsas　on　the　first　evening　they　met。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　hear　Alfreddescribe　anything。　He　showed　them　colored　plates　of　Naples；　andspoke　of　excursions　to　Mount　Vesuvius；　and　the　eruptions　of　firefrom　it。　The　naval　officer's　widow　had　never　heard　of　them　before。

〃Good　heavens！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃So　that　is　a　burning　mountain；　butis　it　not　very　dangerous　to　the　people　who　live　near　it？〃

〃Whole　cities　have　been　destroyed；〃　he　replied；　〃for　instance；Herculaneum　and　Pompeii。〃

〃Oh；　the　poor　people！　And　you　saw　all　that　with　your　own　eyes？〃

〃No；　I　did　not　see　any　of　the　eruptions　which　are　represented　inthose　pictures；　but　I　will　show　you　a　sketch　of　my　own；　whichrepresents　an　eruption　I　once　saw。〃

He　placed　a　pencil　sketch　on　the　table；　and　mamma；　who　had　beenover…powered　with　the　appearance　of　the　colored　plates；　threw　a　glanceat　the　pale　drawing　and　cried　in　astonishment；　〃What；　did　you　see　itthrow　up　white　fire？〃

For　a　moment；　Alfred's　respect　for　Kaela's　mamma　underwent　asudden　shock；　and　lessened　considerably；　but；　dazzled　by　the　lightwhich　surrounded　Kaela；　he　soon　found　it　quite　natural　that　the　oldlady　should　have　no　eye　for　color。　After　all；　it　was　of　very　littleconsequence；　for　Kaela's　mamma　had　the　best　of　all　possessions；namely；　Kaela　herself。

Alfred　and　Kaela　were　betrothed；　which　was　a　very　naturalresult；　and　the　betrothal　was　announced　in　the　newspaper　of　the　littletown。　Mama　purchased　thirty　copies　of　the　paper；　that　she　might　cutout　the　paragraph　and　send　it　to　friends　and　acquaintances。　Thebetrothed　pair　were　very　happy；　and　the　mother　was　happy　too。　She　saidit　seemed　like　connecting　herself　with　Thorwalsden。

〃You　are　a　true　successor　of　Thorwalsden；〃　she　said　to　Alfred；　andit　seemed　to　him　as　if；　in　this　instance；　mamma　had　said　a　cleverthing。　Kaela　was　silent；　but　her　eyes　shone；　her　lips　smiled；　everymovement　was　graceful；…　in　fact；　she　was　beautiful；　that　cannot　berepeated　too　often。　Alfred　decided　to　take　a　bust　of　Kaela　as　wellas　of　her　mother。　They　sat　to　him　accordingly；　and　saw　how　hemoulded　and　formed　the　soft　clay　with　his　fingers。

〃I　suppose　it　is　only　on　our　account　that　you　perform　thismon…place　work　yourself；　instead　of　leaving　it　to　your　servant　todo　all　that　sticking　together。〃

〃It　is　really　necessary　that　I　should　mould　the　clay　myself；〃　hereplied。

〃Ah；　yes；　you　are　always　so　polite；〃　said　mamma；　with　a　smile；　andKaela　silently　pressed　his　hand；　all　soiled　as　it　was　with　the　clay。

Then　he　unfolded　to　them　both　the　beauties　of　Nature；　in　all　herworks；　he　pointed　out　to　them　how；　in　the　scale　of　creation；　inanimatematter　was　inferior　to　animate　nature；　the　plant　above　the　mineral；the　animal　above　the　plant；　and　man　above　them　all。　He　strove　toshow　them　how　the　beauty　of　the　mind　could　be　displayed　in　the　outwardform；　and　that　it　was　the　sculptor's　task　to　seize　upon　that　beauty　ofexpression；　and　produce　it　in　his　works。　Kaela　stood　silent；　butnodded　in　approbation　of　what　he　said；　while　mamma…in…law　made　thefollowing　confession：…

〃It　is　difficult　to　follow　you；　but　I　go　hobbling　along　afteryou　with　my　thoughts；　though　what　you　say　makes　my　head　whirl　roundand　round。　Still　I　contrive　to　lay　hold　on　some　of　it。〃

Kaela's　beauty　had　a　firm　hold　on　Alfred；　it　filled　his　soul；and　held　a　mastery　over　him。　Beauty　beamed　from　Kaela's　every　feature；glittered　in　her　eyes；　lurked　in　the　corners　of　her　mouth；　andpervaded　every　movement　of　her　agile　fingers。　Alfred；　the　sculptor；saw　this。　He　spoke　only　to　her；　thought　only　of　her；　and　the　twobecame　one；　and　so　it　may　be　said　she　spoke　much；　for　he　was　alwaystalking　to　her；　and　he　and　she　were　one。　Such　was　the　betrothal；　andthen　came　the　wedding；　with　bride's…maids　and　wedding　presents；　allduly　mentioned　in　the　wedding　speech。　Mamma…in…law　had　set　upThorwalsden's　bust　at　the　end　of　the　table；　attired　in　adressing…gown；　it　was　her　fancy　that　he　should　be　a　guest。　Songswere　sung；　and　cheers　given；　for　it　was　a　gay　wedding；　and　they　were　ahandsome　pair。　〃Pygmalion　loved　his　Galatea；〃　said　one　of　the　songs。

〃Ah；　that　is　some　of　your　mythologies；〃　said　mamma…in…law。

Next　day　the　youthful　pair　started　for　Copenhagen；　where　they　wereto　live；　mamma…in…law　acpanied　them；　to　attend　to　the　〃coarsework；〃　as　she　always　called　the　domestic　arrangements。　Kaela　lookedlike　a　doll　in　a　doll's　house；　for　everything　was　bright　and　new；and　so　fine。　There　they　sat；　all　three；　and　as　for　Alfred；　a　proverbmay　describe　his　position…　he　looked　like　a　swan　amongst　the　geese。The　magic　of　form　had　enchanted　him；　he　had　looked　at　the　casketwithout　caring　to　inquire　what　it　contained；　and　that　omission　oftenbrings　the　greatest　unhappiness　into　married　life。　The　casket　may　beinjured；　the　gilding　may　fall　off；　and　then　the　purchaser　regretshis　bargain。

In　a　large　party　it　is　very　disagreeable　to　find　a　button　givingway；　with　no　studs　at　hand　to　fall　back　upon；　but　it　is　worse　still　ina　large　pany　to　be　conscious　that　your　wife　and　mother…in…law　aretalking　nonsense；　and　that　you　cannot　depend　upon　yourself　toproduce　a　little　ready　wit　to　carry　off　the　stupidity　of　the　wholeaffair。

The　young　married　pair　often　sat　together　hand　in　hand；　he　wouldtalk；　but　she　could　only　now　and　then　let　fall　a　word　in　the　samemelodious　voice；　the　same　bell…like　tones。　It　was　a　mental　relief　whenSophy；　one　of　her　friends；　came　to　pay　them　a　visit。　Sophy　was　not；pretty。　She　was；　however；　quite　free　from　any　physical　deformity；although　Kaela　used　to　say　she　was　a　little　crooked；　but　no　eye；save　an　intimate　acquaintance；　would　have　noticed　it。　She　was　a　verysensible　girl；　yet　it　never　occurred　to　her　that　she　might　be　adangerous　person　in　such　a　house。　Her　appearance　created　a　newatmosphere　in　the　doll's　house；　and　air　was　really　required；　theyall　owned　that。　They　felt　the　want　of　a　change　of　air；　andconsequently　the　young　couple　and　their　mother　travelled　to　Italy。

〃Thank　heaven　we　are　at　home　again　within　our　own　four　walls；〃said　mamma…in…law　and　daughter　both；　on　their　return　after　a　year'sabsence。

〃There　is　no　real　pleasure　in　travelling；〃　said　mamma；　〃to　tellthe　truth；　it's　very　wearisome；　I　beg　pardon　for　saying　so。　I　was　soonvery　tired　of　it；　although　I　had　my　children　with　me；　and；　besides；it's　very　expensive　work　travelling；　very　expensive。　And　all　thosegalleries　one　is　expected　to　see；　and　the　quantity　of　things　you　areobliged　to　run　after！　It　must　be　done；　for　very　shame；　you　are　sure　tobe　asked　when　you　e　back　if　you　have　seen　everything；　and　will　mostlikely　be　told　that　you've　omitted　to　see　what　was　best　worth　seeingof　all。　I　got　tired　at　last　of　those　endless　Madonnas；　I　began　tothink　I　was　turning　into　a　Madonna　myself。〃

〃And　then　the　living；　mamma；〃　said　Kaela。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　she　replied；　〃no　such　a　thing　as　a　respectable　meatsoup…　their　cookery　is　miserable　stuff