安徒生童话-第109部分

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Sound　on；　ye　glorious　strains　of　the　hunter's　horn；　continueyour　stirring　tones；　for　the　evening　is　mild；　and　the　surface　of　thesea；　heaving　slowly　and　calmly；　is　smooth　as　a　mirror。

THE　END。
【　。txtbbs。　，　TXT论坛，TXT　BBS，搜刮各类TXT小说。欢迎您来推荐好书！】

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　SWAN'S　NEST

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

BETWEEN　the　Baltic　and　the　North　Sea　there　lies　an　old　swan'snest；　wherein　swans　are　born　and　have　been　born　that　shall　never　die。

In　olden　times　a　flock　of　swans　flew　over　the　Alps　to　the　greenplains　around　Milan；　where　it　was　delightful　to　dwell。　This　flightof　swans　men　called　the　Lombards。

Another　flock；　with　shining　plumage　and　honest　eyes；　soaredsouthward　to　Byzantium；　the　swans　established　themselves　there　closeby　the　Emperor's　throne；　and　spread　their　wings　over　him　as　shields　toprotect　him。　They　received　the　name　of　Varangians。

On　the　coast　of　France　there　sounded　a　cry　of　fear；　for　theblood…stained　swans　that　came　from　the　North　with　fire　under　theirwings；　and　the　people　prayed；　〃Heaven　deliver　us　from　the　wildNorthmen。〃

On　the　fresh　sward　of　England　stood　the　Danish　swan　by　the　openseashore；　with　the　crown　of　three　kingdoms　on　his　head；　and　hestretched　out　his　golden　sceptre　over　the　land。　The　heathens　on　thePomerian　coast　bent　the　knee；　and　the　Danish　swans　came　with　thebanner　of　the　Cross　and　with　the　drawn　sword。

〃That　was　in　the　very　old　times；〃　you　say。

In　later　days　two　mighty　swans　have　been　seen　to　fly　from　thenest。　A　light　shone　far　through　the　air；　far　over　the　lands　of　theearth；　the　swan；　with　the　strong　beating　of　his　wings；　scattered　thetwilight　mists；　and　the　starry　sky　was　seen；　and　it　was　as　if　itcame　nearer　to　the　earth。　That　was　the　swan　Tycho　Brahe。

〃Yes；　then；〃　you　say；　〃but　in　our　own　days？〃

We　have　seen　swan　after　swan　soar　by　in　glorious　flight。　One　lethis　pinions　glide　over　the　strings　of　the　golden　harp；　and　itresounded　through　the　North。　Norway's　mountains　seemed　to　risehigher　in　the　sunlight　of　former　days；　there　was　a　rustling　amongthe　pine　trees　and　the　birches；　the　gods　of　the　North；　the　heroes；　andthe　noble　women；　showed　themselves　in　the　dark　forest　depths。

We　have　seen　a　swan　beat　with　his　wings　upon　the　marble　crag；　sothat　it　burst；　and　the　forms　of　beauty　imprisoned　in　the　stone　steppedout　to　the　sunny　day；　and　men　in　the　lands　round　about　lifted　up　theirheads　to　behold　these　mighty　forms。

We　have　seen　a　third　swan　spinning　the　thread　of　thought　that　isfastened　from　country　to　country　round　the　world；　so　that　the　word　mayfly　with　lightning　speed　from　land　to　land。

And　our　Lord　loves　the　old　swan's　nest　between　the　Baltic　andthe　North　Sea。　And　when　the　mighty　birds　e　soaring　through　theair　to　destroy　it；　even　the　callow　young　stand　round　in　a　circle　onthe　margin　of　the　nest；　and　though　their　breasts　may　be　struck　so　thattheir　blood　flows；　they　bear　it；　and　strike　with　their　wings　and　theirclaws。

Centuries　will　pass　by；　swans　will　fly　forth　from　the　nest；　menwill　see　them　and　hear　them　in　the　world；　before　it　shall　be　said　inspirit　and　in　truth；　〃This　is　the　last　swan…　the　last　song　from　theswan's　nest。〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　SWINEHERD

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

ONCE　upon　a　time　lived　a　poor　prince；　his　kingdom　was　verysmall；　but　it　was　large　enough　to　enable　him　to　marry；　and　marry　hewould。　It　was　rather　bold　of　him　that　he　went　and　asked　theemperor's　daughter：　〃Will　you　marry　me？〃　but　he　ventured　to　do　so；　forhis　name　was　known　far　and　wide；　and　there　were　hundreds　of　princesseswho　would　have　gladly　accepted　him；　but　would　she　do　so？　Now　weshall　see。

On　the　grave　of　the　prince's　father　grew　a　rose…tree；　the　mostbeautiful　of　its　kind。　It　bloomed　only　once　in　five　years；　and　then　ithad　only　one　single　rose　upon　it；　but　what　a　rose！　It　had　such　a　sweetscent　that　one　instantly　forgot　all　sorrow　and　grief　when　one　smeltit。　He　had　also　a　nightingale；　which　could　sing　as　if　every　sweetmelody　was　in　its　throat。　This　rose　and　the　nightingale　he　wished　togive　to　the　princess；　and　therefore　both　were　put　into　big　silvercases　and　sent　to　her。

The　emperor　ordered　them　to　be　carried　into　the　great　hall　wherethe　princess　was　just　playing　〃Visitors　are　ing〃　with　herladies…in…waiting；　when　she　saw　the　large　cases　with　the　presentstherein；　she　clapped　her　hands　for　joy。

〃I　wish　it　were　a　little　pussy　cat；〃　she　said。　But　then　therose…tree　with　the　beautiful　rose　was　unpacked。

〃Oh；　how　nicely　it　is　made；〃　exclaimed　the　ladies。

〃It　is　more　than　nice；〃　said　the　emperor；　〃it　is　charming。〃

The　princess　touched　it　and　nearly　began　to　cry。

〃For　shame；　pa；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　not　artificial；　it　is　natural！〃

〃For　shame；　it　is　natural〃　repeated　all　her　ladies。

〃Let　us　first　see　what　the　other　case　contains　before　we　areangry；〃　said　the　emperor；　then　the　nightingale　was　taken　out；　and　itsang　so　beautifully　that　no　one　could　possibly　say　anything　unkindabout　it。

〃Superbe；　charmant；〃　said　the　ladies　of　the　court；　for　they　allprattled　French；　one　worse　than　the　other。

〃How　much　the　bird　reminds　me　of　the　musical　box　of　the　latelamented　empress；〃　said　an　old　courtier；　〃it　has　exactly　the　sametone；　the　same　execution。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　the　emperor；　and　began　to　cry　like　alittle　child。

〃I　hope　it　is　not　natural；〃　said　the　princess。

〃Yes；　certainly　it　is　natural；〃　replied　those　who　had　broughtthe　presents。

〃Then　let　it　fly；〃　said　the　princess；　and　refused　to　see　theprince。

But　the　prince　was　not　discouraged。　He　painted　his　face；　put　onmon　clothes；　pulled　his　cap　over　his　forehead；　and　came　back。

〃Good　day；　emperor；〃　he　said；　〃could　you　not　give　me　someemployment　at　the　court？〃

〃There　are　so　many；〃　replied　the　emperor；　〃who　apply　for　places；that　for　the　present　I　have　no　vacancy；　but　I　will　remember　you。　Butwait　a　moment；　it　just　es　into　my　mind；　I　require　somebody　tolook　after　my　pigs；　for　I　have　a　great　many。〃

Thus　the　prince　was　appointed　imperial　swineherd；　and　as　such　helived　in　a　wretchedly　small　room　near　the　pigsty；　there　he　workedall　day　long；　and　when　it　was　night　he　had　made　a　pretty　little　pot。There　were　little　bells　round　the　rim；　and　when　the　water　began　toboil　in　it；　the　bells　began　to　play　the　old　tune：

　　　〃A　jolly　old　sow　once　lived　in　a　sty；

Three　little　piggies　had　she；〃　&c。But　what　was　more　wonderful　was　that；　when　one　put　a　finger　into　thesteam　rising　from　the　pot；　one　could　at　once　smell　what　meals　theywere　preparing　on　every　fire　in　the　whole　town。　That　was　indeed　muchmore　remarkable　than　the　rose。　When　the　princess　with　her　ladiespassed　by　and　heard　the　tune；　she　stopped　and　looked　quite　pleased；for　she　also　could　play　it…　in　fact；　it　was　the　only　tune　she　couldplay；　and　she　played　it　with　one　finger。

〃That　is　the　tune　I　know；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃He　must　be　awell…educated　swineherd。　Go　and　ask　him　how　much　the　instrument　is。〃

One　of　the　ladies　had　to　go　and　ask；　but　she　put　on　pattens。

〃What　will　you　take　for　your　pot？〃　asked　the　lady。

〃I　will　have　ten　kisses　from　the　princess；〃　said　the　swineherd。

〃God　forbid；〃　said　the　lady。

〃Well；　I　cannot　sell　it　for　less；〃　replied　the　swineherd。

〃What　did　he　say？〃　said　the　princess。

I　really　cannot　tell　you；〃　replied　the　lady。

〃You　can　whisper　it　into　my　ear。〃

〃It　is　very　naughty；〃　said　the　princess；　and　walked　off。

But　when　she　had　gone　a　little　distance；　the　bells　rang　again　sosweetly：

　　　〃A　jolly　old　sow　once　lived　in　a　sty；

Three　little　piggies　had　she；〃　&c。

〃Ask　him；〃　said　the　princess；　〃if　he　will　be　satisfied　with　tenkisses　from　one　of　my　ladies。〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　the　swineherd：　〃ten　kisses　from　theprincess；　or　I　keep　my　pot。〃

〃That　is　tiresome；〃　said　the　princess。　〃But　you　must　standbefore　me；　so　that　nobody　can　see　it。〃

The　ladies　placed　themselves　in　front　of　her　and　spread　outtheir　dresses；　and　she　gave　the　swineherd　ten　kisses　and　receivedthe　pot。

That　was　a　pleasure！　Day　and　night　the　water　in　the　pot　wasboiling；　there　was　not　a　single　fire　in　the　whole　town　of　which　theydid　not　know　what　was　preparing　on　it；　the　chamberlain's　as　well　asthe　shoemaker's。　The　ladies　danced　and　clapped　their　hands　for　joy。

〃We　know　who　will　eat　soup　and　pancakes；　we　know　who　will　eatporridge　and　cutlets；　oh；　how　interesting！〃

〃Very　interesting；　indeed；〃　said　the　mistress　of　the　household。〃But　you　must　not　betray　me；　for　I　am　the　emperor's　daughter。〃

〃Of　course　not；〃　they　all　said。

The　swineherd…　that　is　to　say；　the　prince…　but　they　did　not　knowotherwise　than　that　he　was　a　real　swineherd…　did　not　waste　a　singleday　without　doing　something；　he　made　a　rattle；　which；　when　turnedquickly　round；　played　all　the　waltzes；　galops；　and　polkas　knownsince　the　creation　of　the　world。

〃But　that　is　superbe；〃　said　the　princess　passing　by。　〃I　have　neverheard　a　more　beautiful　position。　Go　down　and　ask　him　what　theinstrument　costs；　but　I　shall　not　kiss　him　again。〃

〃He　will　have　a　hundred　kisses　from　the　princess；〃　said　thelady；　who　had　gone　down　to　ask　him。

〃I　believe　he　is　mad；〃　said　the　princess；　and　walked　off；　but　soonshe　stopped。　〃One　must　encourage　art；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　the　emperor'sdaughter！　Tell　him　I　will　give　him　ten　kisses；　as　I　did　the　other　day；the　remainder　one　of　my　ladies　can　give　him。

〃But　we　do　not　like　to　kiss　him〃　said　the　ladies。

〃That　is　nonsense；〃　said　the　princess；　〃if　I　can　kiss　him；　you　canalso　do　it。　Remember　that　I　give　you　food　and　employment。〃　And　thelady　had　to　go　down　once　more。

〃A　hundred　kisses　from　the　princess；〃　said　the　swineherd；　〃oreverybody　keeps　his　own。〃

〃Place　yourselves　before　me；〃　said　the　princess　then。　They　didas　they　were　bidden；　and　the　princess　kissed　him。

〃I　wonder　what　that　crowd　near　the　pigsty　means！〃　said　theemperor；　who　had　just　e　out　on　his　balcony。　He　rubbed　his　eyesand　put　his　spectacles　on。

〃The　ladies　of　the　court　are　up　to　some　mischief；　I　think。　I　shallhave　to　go　down　and　see。〃　He　pulled　up　his　shoes；　for　they　were　downat　the　heels；　and　he　was　very　quick　about　it。　When　he　had　e　downinto　the　courtyard　he　walked　quite　softly；　and　the　ladies　were　sobusily　engaged　in　counting　the　kisses；　that　all　should　be　fair；　thatthey　did　not　notice　the　emperor。　He　raised　himself　on　tiptoe。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　he　said；　when　he　saw　that　his　daughterwas　kissing　the　swineherd；　and　then　hit　their　heads　with　his　shoe　justas　the　swineherd　received　the　sixty…eighth　kiss。

〃Go　out　of　my　sight；〃　said　the　emperor；　for　he　was　very　angry；　andboth　the　princess　and　the　swineherd　were　banished　from　the　empire。There　she　stood　and　cried；　the　swineherd　scolded　her；　and　the　raincame　down　in　torrents。

〃Alas；　unfortunate　creature　that　I　am！〃　said　the　princess；　〃I　wishI　had　accepted　the　prince。　Oh；　how　wretched　I　am！〃

The　swineherd　went　behind　a　tree；　wiped　his　face；　threw　off　hispoor　attire　and　stepped　forth　in　his　princely　garments；　he　looked　sobeautiful　that　the　princess　could　not　help　bowing　to　him。

〃I　have　now　learnt　to　despise　you；〃　he　said。　〃You　refused　anhonest　prince；　you　did　not　appreciate　the　rose　and　the　nightingale；but　you　did　not　mind　kissing　a　swineherd　for　his　toys；　you　have　no　onebut　yourself　to　blame！〃

And　then　he　returned　into　his　kingdom　and　left　her　behind。　Shecould　now　sing　at　her　leisure：

　〃A　jolly　old　sow　once　lived　in　a　sty；

　　Three　little　piggies　has　she；〃　&c。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　THISTLE'S　EXPERIENCES

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

BELONGING　to　the　lordly　manor…house　was　beautiful；　well…keptgarden；　with　rare　trees　and　flowers；　the　guests　of　the　proprietordeclared　their　admiration　of　it；　the　people　of　the　neighborhood；from　town　and　country；　came　on　Sundays　and　holidays；　and　askedpermission　to　see　the　garden；　indeed；　whole　schools　used　to　pay　visitsto　it。

Outside　the　garden；　by　the　palings　at　the　road…side；　stood　a　greatmighty　Thistle；　which　spread　out　in　many　directions　from　the　root；so　that　it　might　have　been　called　a　thistle　bush。　Nobody　looked　at　it；except　the　old　Ass　which　drew　the　milk…maid's　cart。　This　Ass　used　tostretch　out　his　neck　towards　the　Thistle；　and　say；　〃You　are　beautiful；I　should　like　to　eat　you！〃　But　his　halter　was　not　long　enough　to　lethim　reach　it　and　eat　it。

There　was　great　pany　at　the　manor…house…　some　very　noble　peoplefrom　the　capital；　young　pretty　girls；　and　among　them　a　young　ladywho　came　from　a　long　distance。　She　had　e　from　Scotland；　and　wasof　high　birth；　and　was　rich　in　land　and　in　gold…　a　bride　worthwinning；　said　more　than　one　of　the　young　gentlemen；　and　their　ladymothers　said　the　same　thing。

The　young　people　amused　themselves　on　the　lawn；　and　played　atball；　they　wandered　among　the　flowers；　and　each　of　the　young　girlsbroke　off　a　flower；　and　fastened　it　in　a　young　gentleman's　buttonhole。But　the　young　Scotch　lady　looked　round；　for　a　long　time；　in　anundecided　way。　None　of　the　flowers　seemed　to　suit　her　taste。　Thenher　eye　glanced　across　the　paling…　outside　stood　the　great　thistlebush；　with　the　reddish…blue；　sturdy　flowers；　she　saw　them；　she　smiled；and　asked　the　son　of　the　house　to　pluck　one　for　her。

〃It　is　the　flower　of　Scotland；〃　she　said。　〃It　blooms　in　thescutcheon　of　my　country。　Give　me　yonder　flower。〃

And　he　brought　the　fairest　blossom；　and　pricked　his　fingers　aspletely　as　if　it　had　grown　on　the　sharpest　rose　bush。

She　placed　the　thistle…flower　in　the　buttonhole　of　the　youngman；　and　he　felt　himself　highly　honored。　Each　of　the　other　younggentlemen　would　willingly　have　given　his　own　beautiful　flower　tohave　worn　this　one；　presented　by　the　fair　hand　of　the　Scottish　maiden。And　if　the　son　of　the　house　felt　himself　honored；　what　were　thefeelings　of　the　Thistle　bush？　It　seemed　to　him　as　if　dew　andsunshine　were　streaming　through　him。

〃I　am　something　more　than　I　knew　of；〃　said　the　Thistle　toitself。　〃I　suppose　my　right　place　is　really　inside　the　palings；　andnot　outside。　One　is　often　strangely　placed　in　this　world；　but　now　Ihave　at　least　managed　to　get　one　of　my　people　within　the　pale；　andindeed　into　a　buttonhole！〃

The　Thistle　told　this　event　to　every　blossom　that　unfolded　itself；and　not　many　days　had　gone　by　before　the　Thistle　heard；　not　frommen；　not　from　the　twittering　of　the　birds；　but　from　the　air　itself；which　stores　up　the　sounds；　and　carries　them　far　around…　out　of　themost　retired　walks　of　the　garden；　and　out　of　the　rooms　of　the　house；in　which　doors　and　windows　stood　open；　that　the　young　gentleman　whohad　received　the　thistle…flower　from　the　hand　of　the　fair　Scottishmaiden　had　also　now　received　the　heart　and　hand　of　the　lady　inquestion。　They　were　a　handsome　pair…　it　was　a　good　match。

〃That　match　I　made　up！〃　said　the　Thistle；　and　he　thought　of　theflower　he　had　given　for　the　buttonhole。　Every　flower　that　opened　heardof　this　occurrence。

〃I　shall　certainly　be　transplanted　into　the　garden；〃　thought　theThistle；　and　perhaps　put　into　a　pot；　which　crowds　one　in。　That　is　saidto　be　the　greatest　of　all　honors。〃

And　the　Thistle　pictured　this　to　himself　in　such　a　livelymanner；　that　at　last　he　said；　with　full　conviction；　〃I　am　to　betransplanted　into　a　pot。〃

Then　he　promised　every　little　thistle　flower　which　unfolded　itselfthat　it　also　should　be　put　into　a　pot；　and　perhaps　into　abuttonhole；　the　highest　honor　that　could　be　attaine