安徒生童话-第101部分

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r　a　clay　pipe；　he　is　blowing　bubbles。　Asthe　swing　goes　on；　the　bubbles　fly　upward；　reflecting　the　mostbeautiful　varying　colors。　The　last　still　hangs　from　the　bowl　of　thepipe；　and　sways　in　the　wind。　On　goes　the　swing；　and　then　a　littleblack　dog　es　running　up。　He　is　almost　as　light　as　the　bubble；　andhe　raises　himself　on　his　hind　legs；　and　wants　to　be　taken　into　theswing；　but　it　does　not　stop；　and　the　dog　falls；　then　he　barks　and　getsangry。　The　children　stoop　towards　him；　and　the　bubble　bursts。　Aswinging　plank；　a　light　sparkling　foam　picture；…　that　is　my　story。〃

〃It　may　be　all　very　pretty　what　you　are　telling　me；〃　said　littleGerda；　〃but　you　speak　so　mournfully；　and　you　do　not　mention　little　Kayat　all。〃

What　do　the　hyacinths　say？　〃There　were　three　beautiful　sisters；fair　and　delicate。　The　dress　of　one　was　red；　of　the　second　blue；　andof　the　third　pure　white。　Hand　in　hand　they　danced　in　the　brightmoonlight；　by　the　calm　lake；　but　they　were　human　beings；　not　fairyelves。　The　sweet　fragrance　attracted　them；　and　they　disappeared　in　thewood；　here　the　fragrance　became　stronger。　Three　coffins；　in　whichlay　the　three　beautiful　maidens；　glided　from　the　thickest　part　ofthe　forest　across　the　lake。　The　fire…flies　flew　lightly　over　them；like　little　floating　torches。　Do　the　dancing　maidens　sleep；　or　arethey　dead？　The　scent　of　the　flower　says　that　they　are　corpses。　Theevening　bell　tolls　their　knell。〃

〃You　make　me　quite　sorrowful；〃　said　little　Gerda；　〃your　perfume　isso　strong；　you　make　me　think　of　the　dead　maidens。　Ah！　is　little　Kayreally　dead　then？　The　roses　have　been　in　the　earth；　and　they　say　no。〃

〃Cling；　clang；〃　tolled　the　hyacinth　bells。　〃We　are　not　tolling　forlittle　Kay；　we　do　not　know　him。　We　sing　our　song；　the　only　one　weknow。〃

Then　Gerda　went　to　the　buttercups　that　were　glittering　amongst　thebright　green　leaves。

〃You　are　little　bright　suns；〃　said　Gerda；　〃tell　me　if　you　knowwhere　I　can　find　my　play…fellow。〃

And　the　buttercups　sparkled　gayly；　and　looked　again　at　Gerda。　Whatsong　could　the　buttercups　sing？　It　was　not　about　Kay。

〃The　bright　warm　sun　shone　on　a　little　court；　on　the　first　warmday　of　spring。　His　bright　beams　rested　on　the　white　walls　of　theneighboring　house；　and　close　by　bloomed　the　first　yellow　flower　of　theseason；　glittering　like　gold　in　the　sun's　warm　ray。　An　old　woman　satin　her　arm　chair　at　the　house　door；　and　her　granddaughter；　a　poorand　pretty　servant…maid　came　to　see　her　for　a　short　visit。　When　shekissed　her　grandmother　there　was　gold　everywhere：　the　gold　of　theheart　in　that　holy　kiss；　it　was　a　golden　morning；　there　was　gold　inthe　beaming　sunlight；　gold　in　the　leaves　of　the　lowly　flower；　and　onthe　lips　of　the　maiden。　There；　that　is　my　story；〃　said　the　buttercup。

〃My　poor　old　grandmother！〃　sighed　Gerda；　〃she　is　longing　to　seeme；　and　grieving　for　me　as　she　did　for　little　Kay；　but　I　shall　soon　gohome　now；　and　take　little　Kay　with　me。　It　is　no　use　asking　theflowers；　they　know　only　their　own　songs；　and　can　give　me　noinformation。〃

And　then　she　tucked　up　her　little　dress；　that　she　might　runfaster；　but　the　narcissus　caught　her　by　the　leg　as　she　was　jumpingover　it；　so　she　stopped　and　looked　at　the　tall　yellow　flower；　andsaid；　〃Perhaps　you　may　know　something。〃

Then　she　stooped　down　quite　close　to　the　flower；　and　listened；　andwhat　did　he　say？

〃I　can　see　myself；　I　can　see　myself；〃　said　the　narcissus。　〃Oh；　howsweet　is　my　perfume！　Up　in　a　little　room　with　a　bow　window；　stands　alittle　dancing　girl；　half　undressed；　she　stands　sometimes　on　oneleg；　and　sometimes　on　both；　and　looks　as　if　she　would　tread　thewhole　world　under　her　feet。　She　is　nothing　but　a　delusion。　She　ispouring　water　out　of　a　tea…pot　on　a　piece　of　stuff　which　she　holdsin　her　hand；　it　is　her　bodice。　'Cleanliness　is　a　good　thing；'　shesays。　Her　white　dress　hangs　on　a　peg；　it　has　also　been　washed　in　thetea…pot；　and　dried　on　the　roof。　She　puts　it　on；　and　ties　asaffron…colored　handkerchief　round　her　neck；　which　makes　the　dresslook　whiter。　See　how　she　stretches　out　her　legs；　as　if　she　wereshowing　off　on　a　stem。　I　can　see　myself；　I　can　see　myself。〃

〃What　do　I　care　for　all　that；〃　said　Gerda；　〃you　need　not　tell　mesuch　stuff。〃　And　then　she　ran　to　the　other　end　of　the　garden。　The　doorwas　fastened；　but　she　pressed　against　the　rusty　latch；　and　it　gaveway。　The　door　sprang　open；　and　little　Gerda　ran　out　with　bare　feetinto　the　wide　world。　She　looked　back　three　times；　but　no　one　seemed　tobe　following　her。　At　last　she　could　run　no　longer；　so　she　sat　downto　rest　on　a　great　stone；　and　when　she　looked　round　she　saw　that　thesummer　was　over；　and　autumn　very　far　advanced。　She　had　known　nothingof　this　in　the　beautiful　garden；　where　the　sun　shone　and　the　flowersgrew　all　the　year　round。

〃Oh；　how　I　have　wasted　my　time？〃　said　little　Gerda；　〃it　is　autumn。I　must　not　rest　any　longer；〃　and　she　rose　up　to　go　on。　But　herlittle　feet　were　wounded　and　sore；　and　everything　around　her　looked　socold　and　bleak。　The　long　willow…leaves　were　quite　yellow。　Thedew…drops　fell　like　water；　leaf　after　leaf　dropped　from　the　trees；　thesloe…thorn　alone　still　bore　fruit；　but　the　sloes　were　sour；　and　setthe　teeth　on　edge。　Oh；　how　dark　and　weary　the　whole　world　appeared！

　FOURTH　STORY

THE　PRINCE　AND　PRINCESS

Gerda　was　obliged　to　rest　again；　and　just　opposite　the　place　whereshe　sat；　she　saw　a　great　crow　e　hopping　across　the　snow　toward　her。He　stood　looking　at　her　for　some　time；　and　then　he　wagged　his　head　andsaid；　〃Caw；　caw；　good…day；　good…day。〃　He　pronounced　the　words　asplainly　as　he　could；　because　he　meant　to　be　kind　to　the　little　girl；and　then　he　asked　her　where　she　was　going　all　alone　in　the　wide　world。

The　word　alone　Gerda　understood　very　well；　and　knew　how　much　itexpressed。　So　then　she　told　the　crow　the　whole　story　of　her　life　andadventures；　and　asked　him　if　he　had　seen　little　Kay。

The　crow　nodded　his　head　very　gravely；　and　said；　〃Perhaps　Ihave…　it　may　be。〃

〃No！　Do　you　think　you　have？〃　cried　little　Gerda；　and　she　kissedthe　crow；　and　hugged　him　almost　to　death　with　joy。

〃Gently；　gently；〃　said　the　crow。　〃I　believe　I　know。　I　think　it　maybe　little　Kay；　but　he　has　certainly　forgotten　you　by　this　time　for　theprincess。〃

〃Does　he　live　with　a　princess？〃　asked　Gerda。

〃Yes；　listen；〃　replied　the　crow；　〃but　it　is　so　difficult　tospeak　your　language。　If　you　understand　the　crows'　language　then　Ican　explain　it　better。　Do　you？〃

〃No；　I　have　never　learnt　it；〃　said　Gerda；　but　my　grandmotherunderstands　it；　and　used　to　speak　it　to　me。　I　wish　I　had　learnt　it。〃

〃It　does　not　matter；〃　answered　the　crow；　〃I　will　explain　as　wellas　I　can；　although　it　will　be　very　badly　done；〃　and　he　told　her　whathe　had　heard。　〃In　this　kingdom　where　we　now　are；〃　said　he；　〃therelives　a　princess；　who　is　so　wonderfully　clever　that　she　has　read　allthe　newspapers　in　the　world；　and　forgotten　them　too；　although　she　isso　clever。　A　short　time　ago；　as　she　was　sitting　on　her　throne；　whichpeople　say　is　not　such　an　agreeable　seat　as　is　often　supposed；　shebegan　to　sing　a　song　which　mences　in　these　words：

　　　'Why　should　I　not　be　married？''Why　not　indeed？'　said　she；　and　so　she　determined　to　marry　if　shecould　find　a　husband　who　knew　what　to　say　when　he　was　spoken　to；　andnot　one　who　could　only　look　grand；　for　that　was　so　tiresome。　Thenshe　assembled　all　her　court　ladies　together　at　the　beat　of　the　drum；and　when　they　heard　of　her　intentions　they　were　very　much　pleased。　'Weare　so　glad　to　hear　it；'　said　they；　we　were　talking　about　it　ourselvesthe　other　day。'　You　may　believe　that　every　word　I　tell　you　is　true；〃said　the　crow；　〃for　I　have　a　tame　sweetheart　who　goes　freely　about　thepalace；　and　she　told　me　all　this。〃

Of　course　his　sweetheart　was　a　crow；　for　〃birds　of　a　feather　flocktogether；〃　and　one　crow　always　chooses　another　crow。

〃Newspapers　were　published　immediately；　with　a　border　of　hearts；and　the　initials　of　the　princess　among　them。　They　gave　notice　thatevery　young　man　who　was　handsome　was　free　to　visit　the　castle　andspeak　with　the　princess；　and　those　who　could　reply　loud　enough　to　beheard　when　spoken　to；　were　to　make　themselves　quite　at　home　at　thepalace；　but　the　one　who　spoke　best　would　be　chosen　as　a　husband　forthe　princess。　Yes；　yes；　you　may　believe　me；　it　is　all　as　true　as　I　sithere；〃　said　the　crow。　〃The　people　came　in　crowds。　There　was　a　greatdeal　of　crushing　and　running　about；　but　no　one　succeeded　either　on　thefirst　or　second　day。　They　could　all　speak　very　well　while　they　wereoutside　in　the　streets；　but　when　they　entered　the　palace　gates；　andsaw　the　guards　in　silver　uniforms；　and　the　footmen　in　their　goldenlivery　on　the　staircase；　and　the　great　halls　lighted　up；　they　becamequite　confused。　And　when　they　stood　before　the　throne　on　which　theprincess　sat；　they　could　do　nothing　but　repeat　the　last　words　shehad　said；　and　she　had　no　particular　wish　to　hear　her　own　words　overagain。　It　was　just　as　if　they　had　all　taken　something　to　make　themsleepy　while　they　were　in　the　palace；　for　they　did　not　recoverthemselves　nor　speak　till　they　got　back　again　into　the　street。　Therewas　quite　a　long　line　of　them　reaching　from　the　town…gate　to　thepalace。　I　went　myself　to　see　them；〃　said　the　crow。　〃They　were　hungryand　thirsty；　for　at　the　palace　they　did　not　get　even　a　glass　of　water。Some　of　the　wisest　had　taken　a　few　slices　of　bread　and　butter　withthem；　but　they　did　not　share　it　with　their　neighbors；　they　thoughtif　they　went　in　to　the　princess　looking　hungry；　there　would　be　abetter　chance　for　themselves。〃

〃But　Kay！　tell　me　about　little　Kay！〃　said　Gerda；　〃was　he　amongstthe　crowd？〃

〃Stop　a　bit；　we　are　just　ing　to　him。　It　was　on　the　third　day；there　came　marching　cheerfully　along　to　the　palace　a　little　personage；without　horses　or　carriage；　his　eyes　sparkling　like　yours；　he　hadbeautiful　long　hair；　but　his　clothes　were　very　poor。〃

〃That　was　Kay！〃　said　Gerda　joyfully。　〃Oh；　then　I　have　foundhim；〃　and　she　clapped　her　hands。

〃He　had　a　little　knapsack　on　his　back；〃　added　the　crow。

〃No；　it　must　have　been　his　sledge；〃　said　Gerda；　〃for　he　wentaway　with　it。〃

〃It　may　have　been　so；〃　said　the　crow；　〃I　did　not　look　at　it　veryclosely。　But　I　know　from　my　tame　sweetheart　that　he　passed　through　thepalace　gates；　saw　the　guards　in　their　silver　uniform；　and　the　servantsin　their　liveries　of　gold　on　the　stairs；　but　he　was　not　in　the　leastembarrassed。　'It　must　be　very　tiresome　to　stand　on　the　stairs；'　hesaid。　'I　prefer　to　go　in。〃　The　rooms　were　blazing　with　light。Councillors　and　ambassadors　walked　about　with　bare　feet；　carryinggolden　vessels；　it　was　enough　to　make　any　one　feel　serious。　Hisboots　creaked　loudly　as　he　walked；　and　yet　he　was　not　at　all　uneasy。〃

〃It　must　be　Kay；〃　said　Gerda；　〃I　know　he　had　new　boots　on；　Ihave　heard　them　creak　in　grandmother's　room。〃

〃They　really　did　creak；〃　said　the　crow；　〃yet　he　went　boldly　upto　the　princess　herself；　who　was　sitting　on　a　pearl　as　large　as　aspinning　wheel；　and　all　the　ladies　of　the　court　were　present　withtheir　maids；　and　all　the　cavaliers　with　their　servants；　and　each　ofthe　maids　had　another　maid　to　wait　upon　her；　and　the　cavaliers'servants　had　their　own　servants；　as　well　as　a　page　each。　They　allstood　in　circles　round　the　princess；　and　the　nearer　they　stood　tothe　door；　the　prouder　they　looked。　The　servants'　pages；　who　alwayswore　slippers；　could　hardly　be　looked　at；　they　held　themselves　up　soproudly　by　the　door。〃

〃It　must　be　quite　awful；〃　said　little　Gerda；　〃but　did　Kay　winthe　princess？〃

〃If　I　had　not　been　a　crow；〃　said　he；　〃I　would　have　married　hermyself；　although　I　am　engaged。　He　spoke　just　as　well　as　I　do；　when　Ispeak　the　crows'　language；　so　I　heard　from　my　tame　sweetheart。　Hewas　quite　free　and　agreeable　and　said　he　had　not　e　to　woo　theprincess；　but　to　hear　her　wisdom；　and　he　was　as　pleased　with　her　asshe　was　with　him。〃

〃Oh；　certainly　that　was　Kay；〃　said　Gerda；　〃he　was　so　clever；　hecould　work　mental　arithmetic　and　fractions。　Oh；　will　you　take　me　tothe　palace？〃

〃It　is　very　easy　to　ask　that；〃　replied　the　crow；　〃but　how　are　weto　manage　it？　However；　I　will　speak　about　it　to　my　tame　sweetheart；and　ask　her　advice；　for　I　must　tell　you　it　will　be　very　difficult　togain　permission　for　a　little　girl　like　you　to　enter　the　palace。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　but　I　shall　gain　permission　easily；〃　said　Gerda；　〃forwhen　Kay　hears　that　I　am　here；　he　will　e　out　and　fetch　me　inimmediately。〃

〃Wait　for　me　here　by　the　palings；〃　said　the　crow；　wagging　his　headas　he　flew　away。

It　was　late　in　the　evening　before　the　crow　returned。　〃Caw；　caw；〃he　said；　she　sends　you　greeting；　and　here　is　a　little　roll　which　shetook　from　the　kitchen　for　you；　there　is　plenty　of　bread　there；　and　shethinks　you　must　be　hungry。　It　is　not　possible　for　you　to　enter　thepalace　by　the　front　entrance。　The　guards　in　silver　uniform　and　theservants　in　gold　livery　would　not　allow　it。　But　do　not　cry；　we　willmanage　to　get　you　in；　my　sweetheart　knows　a　little　back…staircase　thatleads　to　the　sleeping　apartments；　and　she　knows　where　to　find　thekey。〃

Then　they　went　into　the　garden　through　the　great　avenue；　where　theleaves　were　falling　one　after　another；　and　they　could　see　the　light　inthe　palace　being　put　out　in　the　same　manner。　And　the　crow　led　littleGerda　to　the　back　door；　which　stood　ajar。　Oh！　how　little　Gerda's　heartbeat　with　anxiety　and　longing；　it　was　just　as　if　she　were　going　todo　something　wrong；　and　yet　she　only　wanted　to　know　where　little　Kaywas。　〃It　must　be　he；〃　she　thought；　〃with　those　clear　eyes；　and　thatlong　hair。〃　She　could　fancy　she　saw　him　smiling　at　her；　as　he　usedto　at　home；　when　they　sat　among　the　roses。　He　would　certainly　beglad　to　see　her；　and　to　hear　what　a　long　distance　she　had　e　for　hissake；　and　to　know　how　sorry　they　had　been　at　home　because　he　did　note　back。　Oh　what　joy　and　yet　fear　she　felt！　They　were　now　on　thestairs；　and　in　a　small　closet　at　the　top　a　lamp　was　burning。　In　themiddle　of　the　floor　stood　the　tame　crow；　turning　her　head　from　side　toside；　and　gazing　at　Gerda；　who　curtseyed　as　her　grandmother　had　taughther　to　do。

〃My　betrothed　has　spoken　so　very　highly　of　you；　my　little　lady；〃said　the　tame　crow；　〃your　life…history；　Vita；　as　it　may　be　called；is　very　touching。　If　you　will　take　the　lamp　I　will　walk　before　you。　Wewill　go　straight　along　this　way；　then　we　shall　meet　no　one。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　as　if　somebody　were　behind　us；〃　said　Gerda；　assomething　rushed　by　her　like　a　shadow　on　the　wall；　and　then　horseswith　flying　manes　and　thin　legs；　hunters；　ladies　and　gentlemen　onhorseback；　glided　by　her；　like　shadows　on　the　wall。

〃They　are　only　dreams；〃　said　the　crow；　〃they　are　ing　to　fetchthe　thoughts　of　the　great　people　out　hunting。〃

〃All　the　better；　for　we　shall　be　able　to　look　at　them　in　theirbeds　more　safely。　I　hope　that　when　you　rise　to　honor　and　favor；　youwill　show　a　grateful　heart。〃

〃You　may　be　quite　sure　of　that；〃　said　the　crow　from　the　forest。

They　now　came　into　the　first　hall；　the　walls　of　which　were　hungwith　rose…colored　satin；　embroidered　with　artificial　flowers。　Here　thedreams　again　flitted　by　them　but　so　quickly　that　Gerda　could　notdistinguish　the　royal　persons。　Each　hall　appeared　more　splendid　thanthe　last；　it　was　enought　to　bewilder　any　one。　At　length　they　reached　abedroom。　The　ceiling　was　like　a　great　palm…tree；　with　glass　leavesof　the　most　costly　crystal；　and　over　the　centre　of　the　floor　two　beds；each　resembling　a　lily；　hung　from　a　stem　of　gold。　One；　in　which　theprincess　lay；　was　white；　the　other　was　red；　and　in　this　Gerda　had　tosee