安徒生童话-第111部分

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〃This　is　not　a　bad　story；〃　said　the　soldier；　〃but　what　am　I　togive　you；　you　old　witch？　for；　of　course；　you　do　not　mean　to　tell　meall　this　for　nothing。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　witch；　〃but　I　do　not　ask　for　a　single　penny。　Onlypromise　to　bring　me　an　old　tinder…box；　which　my　grandmother　leftbehind　the　last　time　she　went　down　there。〃

〃Very　well；　I　promise。　Now　tie　the　rope　round　my　body。〃

〃Here　it　is；〃　replied　the　witch；　〃and　here　is　my　blue　checkedapron。〃

As　soon　as　the　rope　was　tied；　the　soldier　climbed　up　the　tree；　andlet　himself　down　through　the　hollow　to　the　ground　beneath；　and　here　hefound；　as　the　witch　had　told　him；　a　large　hall；　in　which　manyhundred　lamps　were　all　burning。　Then　he　opened　the　first　door。　〃Ah！〃there　sat　the　dog；　with　the　eyes　as　large　as　teacups；　staring　at　him。

〃You're　a　pretty　fellow；〃　said　the　soldier；　seizing　him；　andplacing　him　on　the　witch's　apron；　while　he　filled　his　pockets　from　thechest　with　as　many　pieces　as　they　would　hold。　Then　he　closed　thelid；　seated　the　dog　upon　it　again；　and　walked　into　another　chamber；And；　sure　enough；　there　sat　the　dog　with　eyes　as　big　as　mill…wheels。

〃You　had　better　not　look　at　me　in　that　way；〃　said　the　soldier；〃you　will　make　your　eyes　water；〃　and　then　he　seated　him　also　uponthe　apron；　and　opened　the　chest。　But　when　he　saw　what　a　quantity　ofsilver　money　it　contained；　he　very　quickly　threw　away　all　thecoppers　he　had　taken；　and　filled　his　pockets　and　his　knapsack　withnothing　but　silver。

Then　he　went　into　the　third　room；　and　there　the　dog　was　reallyhideous；　his　eyes　were；　truly；　as　big　as　towers；　and　they　turned　roundand　round　in　his　head　like　wheels。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　soldier；　touching　his　cap；　for　he　hadnever　seen　such　a　dog　in　his　life。　But　after　looking　at　him　moreclosely；　he　thought　he　had　been　civil　enough；　so　he　placed　him　onthe　floor；　and　opened　the　chest。　Good　gracious；　what　a　quantity　ofgold　there　was！　enough　to　buy　all　the　sugar…sticks　of　thesweet…stuff　women；　all　the　tin　soldiers；　whips；　and　rocking…horsesin　the　world；　or　even　the　whole　town　itself　There　was；　indeed；　animmense　quantity。　So　the　soldier　now　threw　away　all　the　silver　moneyhe　had　taken；　and　filled　his　pockets　and　his　knapsack　with　goldinstead；　and　not　only　his　pockets　and　his　knapsack；　but　even　his　capand　boots；　so　that　he　could　scarcely　walk。

He　was　really　rich　now；　so　he　replaced　the　dog　on　the　chest；closed　the　door；　and　called　up　through　the　tree；　〃Now　pull　me　out；　youold　witch。〃

〃Have　you　got　the　tinder…box？〃　asked　the　witch。

〃No；　I　declare　I　quite　forgot　it。〃　So　he　went　back　and　fetched　thetinderbox；　and　then　the　witch　drew　him　up　out　of　the　tree；　and　hestood　again　in　the　high　road；　with　his　pockets；　his　knapsack；　his　cap；and　his　boots　full　of　gold。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　the　tinder…box？〃　asked　the　soldier。

〃That　is　nothing　to　you；〃　replied　the　witch；　〃you　have　themoney；　now　give　me　the　tinder…box。〃

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　said　the　soldier；　〃if　you　don't　tell　me　whatyou　are　going　to　do　with　it；　I　will　draw　my　sword　and　cut　off　yourhead。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　witch。

The　soldier　immediately　cut　off　her　head；　and　there　she　lay　on　theground。　Then　he　tied　up　all　his　money　in　her　apron。　and　slung　it　onhis　back　like　a　bundle；　put　the　tinderbox　in　his　pocket；　and　walkedoff　to　the　nearest　town。　It　was　a　very　nice　town；　and　he　put　up　at　thebest　inn；　and　ordered　a　dinner　of　all　his　favorite　dishes；　for　nowhe　was　rich　and　had　plenty　of　money。

The　servant；　who　cleaned　his　boots；　thought　they　certainly　werea　shabby　pair　to　be　worn　by　such　a　rich　gentleman；　for　he　had　notyet　bought　any　new　ones。　The　next　day；　however；　he　procured　somegood　clothes　and　proper　boots；　so　that　our　soldier　soon　became　knownas　a　fine　gentleman；　and　the　people　visited　him；　and　told　him　allthe　wonders　that　were　to　be　seen　in　the　town；　and　of　the　king'sbeautiful　daughter；　the　princess。

〃Where　can　I　see　her？〃　asked　the　soldier。

〃She　is　not　to　be　seen　at　all；〃　they　said；　〃she　lives　in　a　largecopper　castle；　surrounded　by　walls　and　towers。　No　one　but　the　kinghimself　can　pass　in　or　out；　for　there　has　been　a　prophecy　that　shewill　marry　a　mon　soldier；　and　the　king　cannot　bear　to　think　of　sucha　marriage。〃

〃I　should　like　very　much　to　see　her；〃　thought　the　soldier；　buthe　could　not　obtain　permission　to　do　so。　However；　he　passed　a　verypleasant　time；　went　to　the　theatre；　drove　in　the　king's　garden；　andgave　a　great　deal　of　money　to　the　poor；　which　was　very　good　of　him；　heremembered　what　it　had　been　in　olden　times　to　be　without　a　shilling。Now　he　was　rich；　had　fine　clothes；　and　many　friends；　who　alldeclared　he　was　a　fine　fellow　and　a　real　gentleman；　and　all　thisgratified　him　exceedingly。　But　his　money　would　not　last　forever；　andas　he　spent　and　gave　away　a　great　deal　daily；　and　received　none；　hefound　himself　at　last　with　only　two　shillings　left。　So　he　wasobliged　to　leave　his　elegant　rooms；　and　live　in　a　little　garretunder　the　roof；　where　he　had　to　clean　his　own　boots；　and　even　mendthem　with　a　large　needle。　None　of　his　friends　came　to　see　him；　therewere　too　many　stairs　to　mount　up。　One　dark　evening；　he　had　not　evena　penny　to　buy　a　candle；　then　all　at　once　he　remembered　that　there　wasa　piece　of　candle　stuck　in　the　tinder…box；　which　he　had　brought　fromthe　old　tree；　into　which　the　witch　had　helped　him。

He　found　the　tinder…box；　but　no　sooner　had　he　struck　a　fewsparks　from　the　flint　and　steel；　than　the　door　flew　open　and　the　dogwith　eyes　as　big　as　teacups；　whom　he　had　seen　while　down　in　thetree；　stood　before　him；　and　said；　〃What　orders；　master？〃

〃Hallo；〃　said　the　soldier；　〃well　this　is　a　pleasant　tinderbox；if　it　brings　me　all　I　wish　for。〃

〃Bring　me　some　money；〃　said　he　to　the　dog。

He　was　gone　in　a　moment；　and　presently　returned；　carrying　alarge　bag　of　coppers　in　his　month。　The　soldier　very　soon　discoveredafter　this　the　value　of　the　tinder…box。　If　he　struck　the　flint　once；the　dog　who　sat　on　the　chest　of　copper　money　made　his　appearance；　iftwice；　the　dog　came　from　the　chest　of　silver；　and　if　three　times；the　dog　with　eyes　like　towers；　who　watched　over　the　gold。　Thesoldier　had　now　plenty　of　money；　he　returned　to　his　elegant　rooms；　andreappeared　in　his　fine　clothes；　so　that　his　friends　knew　him　againdirectly；　and　made　as　much　of　him　as　before。

After　a　while　he　began　to　think　it　was　very　strange　that　no　onecould　get　a　look　at　the　princess。　〃Every　one　says　she　is　verybeautiful；〃　thought　he　to　himself；　〃but　what　is　the　use　of　that　if　sheis　to　be　shut　up　in　a　copper　castle　surrounded　by　so　many　towers。Can　I　by　any　means　get　to　see　her。　Stop！　where　is　my　tinder…box？〃　Thenhe　struck　a　light；　and　in　a　moment　the　dog；　with　eyes　as　big　asteacups；　stood　before　him。

〃It　is　midnight；〃　said　the　soldier；　〃yet　I　should　very　much　liketo　see　the　princess；　if　only　for　a　moment。〃

The　dog　disappeared　instantly；　and　before　the　soldier　could　evenlook　round；　he　returned　with　the　princess。　She　was　lying　on　thedog's　back　asleep；　and　looked　so　lovely；　that　every　one　who　saw　herwould　know　she　was　a　real　princess。　The　soldier　could　not　help　kissingher；　true　soldier　as　he　was。　Then　the　dog　ran　back　with　theprincess；　but　in　the　morning；　while　at　breakfast　with　the　king　andqueen；　she　told　them　what　a　singular　dream　she　had　had　during　thenight；　of　a　dog　and　a　soldier；　that　she　had　ridden　on　the　dog'sback；　and　been　kissed　by　the　soldier。

〃That　is　a　very　pretty　story；　indeed；〃　said　the　queen。　So　the　nextnight　one　of　the　old　ladies　of　the　court　was　set　to　watch　by　theprincess's　bed；　to　discover　whether　it　really　was　a　dream；　or　whatelse　it　might　be。

The　soldier　longed　very　much　to　see　the　princess　once　more；　sohe　sent　for　the　dog　again　in　the　night　to　fetch　her；　and　to　run　withher　as　fast　as　ever　he　could。　But　the　old　lady　put　on　water　boots；　andran　after　him　as　quickly　as　he　did；　and　found　that　he　carried　theprincess　into　a　large　house。　She　thought　it　would　help　her　to　rememberthe　place　if　she　made　a　large　cross　on　the　door　with　a　piece　of　chalk。Then　she　went　home　to　bed；　and　the　dog　presently　returned　with　theprincess。　But　when　he　saw　that　a　cross　had　been　made　on　the　door　ofthe　house；　where　the　soldier　lived；　he　took　another　piece　of　chalk　andmade　crosses　on　all　the　doors　in　the　town；　so　that　the　lady…in…waitingmight　not　be　able　to　find　out　the　right　door。

Early　the　next　morning　the　king　and　queen　acpanied　the　lady　andall　the　officers　of　the　household；　to　see　where　the　princess　had　been。

〃Here　it　is；〃　said　the　king；　when　they　came　to　the　first　door　witha　cross　on　it。

No；　my　dear　husband；　it　must　be　that　one；〃　said　the　queen；pointing　to　a　second　door　having　a　cross　also。

〃And　here　is　one；　and　there　is　another！〃　they　all　exclaimed；　forthere　were　crosses　on　all　the　doors　in　every　direction。

So　they　felt　it　would　be　useless　to　search　any　farther。　But　thequeen　was　a　very　clever　woman；　she　could　do　a　great　deal　more　thanmerely　ride　in　a　carriage。　She　took　her　large　gold　scissors；　cut　apiece　of　silk　into　squares；　and　made　a　neat　little　bag。　This　bag　shefilled　with　buckwheat　flour；　and　tied　it　round　the　princess's　neck；and　then　she　cut　a　small　hole　in　the　bag；　so　that　the　flour　might　bescattered　on　the　ground　as　the　princess　went　along。　During　thenight；　the　dog　came　again　and　carried　the　princess　on　his　back；　andran　with　her　to　the　soldier；　who　loved　her　very　much；　and　wishedthat　he　had　been　a　prince；　so　that　he　might　have　her　for　a　wife。　Thedog　did　not　observe　how　the　flour　ran　out　of　the　bag　all　the　wayfrom　the　castle　wall　to　the　soldier's　house；　and　even　up　to　thewindow；　where　he　had　climbed　with　the　princess。　Therefore　in　themorning　the　king　and　queen　found　out　where　their　daughter　had　been；and　the　soldier　was　taken　up　and　put　in　prison。　Oh；　how　dark　anddisagreeable　it　was　as　he　sat　there；　and　the　people　said　to　him；〃To…morrow　you　will　be　hanged。〃　It　was　not　very　pleasant　news；　andbesides；　he　had　left　the　tinder…box　at　the　inn。　In　the　morning　hecould　see　through　the　iron　grating　of　the　little　window　how　the　peoplewere　hastening　out　of　the　town　to　see　him　hanged；　he　heard　the　drumsbeating；　and　saw　the　soldiers　marching。　Every　one　ran　out　to　look　atthem。　and　a　shoemaker's　boy；　with　a　leather　apron　and　slippers　on；galloped　by　so　fast；　that　one　of　his　slippers　flew　off　and　struckagainst　the　wall　where　the　soldier　sat　looking　through　the　irongrating。　〃Hallo；　you　shoemaker's　boy；　you　need　not　be　in　such　ahurry；〃　cried　the　soldier　to　him。　〃There　will　be　nothing　to　see　till　Ie；　but　if　you　will　run　to　the　house　where　I　have　been　living；　andbring　me　my　tinder…box；　you　shall　have　four　shillings；　but　you　mustput　your　best　foot　foremost。〃

The　shoemaker's　boy　liked　the　idea　of　getting　the　fourshillings；　so　he　ran　very　fast　and　fetched　the　tinder…box；　and　gave　itto　the　soldier。　And　now　we　shall　see　what　happened。　Outside　the　town　alarge　gibbet　had　been　erected；　round　which　stood　the　soldiers　andseveral　thousands　of　people。　The　king　and　the　queen　sat　on　splendidthrones　opposite　to　the　judges　and　the　whole　council。　The　soldieralready　stood　on　the　ladder；　but　as　they　were　about　to　place　therope　around　his　neck；　he　said　that　an　innocent　request　was　oftengranted　to　a　poor　criminal　before　he　suffered　death。　He　wished　verymuch　to　smoke　a　pipe；　as　it　would　be　the　last　pipe　he　should　eversmoke　in　the　world。　The　king　could　not　refuse　this　request；　so　thesoldier　took　his　tinder…box；　and　struck　fire；　once；　twice；　thrice；…and　there　in　a　moment　stood　all　the　dogs；…　the　one　with　eyes　as　big　asteacups；　the　one　with　eyes　as　large　as　mill…wheels；　and　the　third；whose　eyes　were　like　towers。　〃Help　me　now；　that　I　may　not　behanged；〃　cried　the　soldier。

And　the　dogs　fell　upon　the　judges　and　all　the　councillors；seized　one　by　the　legs；　and　another　by　the　nose；　and　tossed　themmany　feet　high　in　the　air；　so　that　they　fell　down　and　were　dashed　topieces。

〃I　will　not　be　touched；〃　said　the　king。　But　the　largest　dog　seizedhim；　as　well　as　the　queen；　and　threw　them　after　the　others。　Then　thesoldiers　and　all　the　people　were　afraid；　and　cried；　〃Good　soldier；　youshall　be　our　king；　and　you　shall　marry　the　beautiful　princess。〃

So　they　placed　the　soldier　in　the　king's　carriage；　and　the　threedogs　ran　on　in　front　and　cried　〃Hurrah！〃　and　the　little　boyswhistled　through　their　fingers；　and　the　soldiers　presented　arms。　Theprincess　came　out　of　the　copper　castle；　and　became　queen；　which　wasvery　pleasing　to　her。　The　wedding　festivities　lasted　a　whole　week；　andthe　dogs　sat　at　the　table；　and　stared　with　all　their　eyes。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　TOAD

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THE　well　was　deep；　and　therefore　the　rope　had　to　be　a　long　one；　itwas　heavy　work　turning　the　handle　when　any　one　had　to　raise　abucketful　of　water　over　the　edge　of　the　well。　Though　the　water　wasclear；　the　sun　never　looked　down　far　enough　into　the　well　to　mirroritself　in　the　waters；　but　as　far　as　its　beams　could　reach；　greenthings　grew　forth　between　the　stones　in　the　sides　of　the　well。

Down　below　dwelt　a　family　of　the　Toad　race。　They　had；　in　fact；e　head…over…heels　down　the　well；　in　the　person　of　the　oldMother…Toad；　who　was　still　alive。　The　green　Frogs；　who　had　beenestablished　there　a　long　time；　and　swam　about　in　the　water；　calledthem　〃well…guests。〃　But　the　new…ers　seemed　determined　to　stay　wherethey　were；　for　they　found　it　very　agreeable　living　〃in　a　dry　place；〃as　they　called　the　wet　stones。

The　Mother…Frog　had　once　been　a　traveller。　She　happened　to　be　inthe　water…bucket　when　it　was　drawn　up；　but　the　light　became　too　strongfor　her；　and　she　got　a　pain　in　her　eyes。　Fortunately　she　scrambled　outof　the　bucket；　but　she　fell　into　the　water　with　a　terrible　flop；　andhad　to　lie　sick　for　three　days　with　pains　in　her　back。　She　certainlyhad　not　much　to　tell　of　the　things　up　above；　but　she　knew　this；　andall　the　Frogs　knew　it；　that　the　well　was　not　all　the　world。　TheMother…Toad　might　have　told　this　and　that；　if　she　had　chosen；　butshe　never　answered　when　they　asked　her　anything；　and　so　they　leftoff　asking。

〃She's　thick；　and　fat　and　ugly；〃　said　the　young　green　Frogs；〃and　her　children　will　be　just　as　ugly　as　she　is。〃

〃That　may　be；〃　retorted　the　mother…Toad；　〃but　one　of　them　has　ajewel　in　his　head；　or　else　I　have　the　jewel。〃

The　young　frogs　listened　and　stared；　and　as　these　words　did　notplease　them；　they　made　grimaces　and　dived　down　under　the　water。　Butthe　little　Toads　kicked　up　their　hind　legs　from　mere　pride；　for　eachof　them　thought　that　he　must　have　the　jewel；　and　then　they　sat　andheld　their　heads　quite　still。　But　at　length　they　asked　what　it　wasthat　made　them　so　proud；　and　what　kind　of　a　thing　a　jewel　might　be。

〃Oh；　it　is　such　a　splendid　and　precious　thing；　that　I　cannotdescribe　it；〃　said　the　Mother…Toad。　〃It's　something　which　onecarries　about　for　one's　own　pleasure；　and　that　makes　other　peopleangry。　But　don't　ask　me　any　questions；　for　I　shan't　answer　you。〃

〃Well；　I　haven't　got　the　jewel；〃　said　the　smallest　of　the　Toads；she　was　as　ugly　as　a　toad　can　be。　〃Why　should　I　have　such　a　preciousthing？　And　if　it　makes　others　angry；　it　can't　give　me　any　pleasure。No；　I　only　wish　I　could　get　to　the　edge　of　the　well；　and　look　out；it　must　be　beautiful　up　there。〃

〃You'd　better　stay　where　you　are；〃　said　the　old　Mother…Toad；〃for　you　know　everything　here；　and　you　can　tell　what　you　have。　Takecare　of　the　bucket；　for　it　will　crush　you　to　death；　and　even　if　youget　into　it　safely；　you