安徒生童话-第120部分

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bright；　a　mist　was　over　the　meadow；　making　it　look　like　a　greatlake；　and；　indeed；　it　was　once　so；　as　the　legend　tells…　and　in　themoonlight　the　eye　realizes　these　myths。

Then　the　man　thought　of　what　he　had　been　reading　in　the　town；　thatWilliam　Tell　and　Holger　Danske　never　really　lived；　but　yet　live　inpopular　story；　like　the　lake　yonder；　a　living　evidence　for　such　myths。Yes；　Holger　Danske　will　return　again！

As　he　stood　thus　and　thought；　something　beat　quite　stronglyagainst　the　window。　Was　it　a　bird；　a　bat　or　an　owl？　Those　are　notlet　in；　even　when　they　knock。　The　window　flew　open　of　itself；　and　anold　woman　looked　in　at　the　man。

〃What's　your　pleasure？〃　said　he。　〃Who　are　you？　You're　looking　inat　the　first　floor　window。　Are　you　standing　on　a　ladder？〃

〃You　have　a　four…leaved　shamrock　in　your　pocket；〃　she　replied。〃Indeed；　you　have　seven；　and　one　of　them　is　a　six…leaved　one。〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　man　again。

〃The　Moor…woman；〃　she　replied。　〃The　Moor…woman　who　brews。　I　was　atit。　The　bung　was　in　the　cask；　but　one　of　the　little　moor…imps　pulledit　out　in　his　mischief；　and　flung　it　up　into　the　yard；　where　it　beatagainst　the　window；　and　now　the　beer's　running　out　of　the　cask；　andthat　won't　do　good　to　anybody。〃

〃Pray　tell　me　some　more！〃　said　the　man。

〃Yes；　wait　a　little；〃　answered　the　Moor…woman。　〃I've　somethingelse　to　do　just　now。〃　And　she　was　gone。

The　man　was　going　to　shut　the　window；　when　the　woman　already　stoodbefore　him　again。

〃Now　it's　done；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　shall　have　half　the　beer　to　brewover　again　to…morrow；　if　the　weather　is　suitable。　Well；　what　haveyou　to　ask　me？　I've　e　back；　for　I　always　keep　my　word；　and　you　haveseven　four…leaved　shamrocks　in　your　pocket；　and　one　of　them　is　asix…leaved　one。　That　inspires　respect；　for　that's　an　order　thatgrows　beside　the　sandy　way；　but　that　every　one　does　not　find。　Whathave　you　to　ask　me？　Don't　stand　there　like　a　ridiculous　oaf；　for　Imust　go　back　again　directly　to　my　bung　and　my　cask。〃

And　the　man　asked　about　the　Story；　and　inquired　if　theMoor…woman　had　met　it　in　her　journeyings。

〃By　the　big　brewing…vat！〃　exclaimed　the　woman；　〃haven't　you　gotstories　enough？　I　really　believe　that　most　people　have　enough　of　them。Here　are　other　things　to　take　notice　of；　other　things　to　examine。　Eventhe　children　have　gone　beyond　that。　Give　the　little　boy　a　cigar；　andthe　little　girl　a　new　crinoline；　they　like　that　much　better。　To　listento　stories！　No；　indeed；　there　are　more　important　things　to　be　donehere；　and　other　things　to　notice！〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　asked　the　man；　〃and　what　do　you　knowof　the　world？　You　don't　see　anything　but　frogs　and　Will…o'…the…Wisps！〃

〃Yes；　beware　of　the　Will…o'…the…Wisps；〃　said　the　Moor…woman；〃for　they're　out…　they're　let　loose…　that's　what　we　must　talk　about！e　to　me　in　the　moor；　where　my　presence　is　necessary；　and　I　willtell　you　all　about　it；　but　you　must　make　haste；　and　e　while　yourseven　four…leaved　shamrocks；　for　which　one　has　six　leaves；　are　stillfresh；　and　the　moon　stands　high！〃

And　the　Moor…woman　was　gone。

It　struck　twelve　in　the　town；　and　before　the　last　stroke　haddied　away；　the　man　was　out　in　the　yard；　out　in　the　garden；　and　stoodin　the　meadow。　The　mist　had　vanished；　and　the　Moor…woman　stopped　herbrewing。

〃You've　been　a　long　time　ing！〃　said　the　Moor…woman。　〃Witchesget　forward　faster　than　men；　and　I'm　glad　that　I　belong　to　the　witchfolk！〃

〃What　have　you　to　say　to　me　now？〃　asked　the　man。　〃Is　it　anythingabout　the　Story？〃

〃Can　you　never　get　beyond　asking　about　that？〃　retorted　the　woman。

〃Can　you　tell　me　anything　about　the　poetry　of　the　future？〃　resumedthe　man。

〃Don't　get　on　your　stilts；〃　said　the　crone；　〃and　I'll　answeryou。　You　think　of　nothing　but　poetry；　and　only　ask　about　that　Story；as　if　she　were　the　lady　of　the　whole　troop。　She's　the　oldest　of　usall；　but　she　takes　precedence　of　the　youngest。　I　know　her　well。　I'vebeen　young；　too；　and　she's　no　chicken　now。　I　was　once　quite　a　prettyelf…maiden；　and　have　danced　in　my　time　with　the　others　in　themoonlight；　and　have　heard　the　nightingale；　and　have　gone　into　theforest　and　met　the　Story…maiden；　who　was　always　to　be　found　out　there；running　about。　Sometimes　she　took　up　her　night's　lodging　in　ahalf…blown　tulip；　or　in　a　field　flower；　sometimes　she　would　slipinto　the　church；　and　wrap　herself　in　the　mourning　crape　that　hung　downfrom　the　candles　on　the　altar。〃

〃You　are　capitally　well…informed；〃　said　the　man。

〃I　ought　at　least　to　know　as　much　as　you；〃　answered　theMoor…woman。　〃Stories　and　poetry…　yes；　they're　like　two　yards　of　thesame　piece　of　stuff；　they　can　go　and　lie　down　where　they　like；　and　onecan　brew　all　their　prattle；　and　have　it　all　the　better　and　cheaper。You　shall　have　it　from　me　for　nothing。　I　have　a　whole　cupboard…full　ofpoetry　in　bottles。　It　makes　essences；　and　that's　the　best　of　it…bitter　and　sweet　herbs。　I　have　everything　that　people　want　ofpoetry；　in　bottles；　so　that　I　can　put　a　little　on　my　handkerchief；on　holidays；　to　smell。〃

〃Why；　these　are　wonderful　things　that　you're　telling！〃　said　theman。　〃You　have　poetry　in　bottles？〃

〃More　than　you　can　require；〃　said　the　woman。　〃I　suppose　you　knowthe　history　of　'the　Girl　who　Trod　on　the　Loaf；　so　that　she　might　notsoil　her　shoes'？　That　has　been　written；　and　printed　too。〃

〃I　told　that　story　myself；〃　said　the　man。

〃Yes；　then　you　must　know　it；　and　you　must　know　also　that　thegirl　sank　into　the　earth　directly；　to　the　Moor…woman；　just　as　OldBogey's　grandmother　was　paying　her　morning　visit　to　inspect　thebrewery。　She　saw　the　girl　gliding　down；　and　asked　to　have　her　as　aremembrance　of　her　visit；　and　got　her　too；　while　I　received　apresent　that's　of　no　use　to　me…　a　travelling　druggist's　shop…　awhole　cupboard…full　of　poetry　in　bottles。　Grandmother　told　me　wherethe　cupboard　was　to　be　placed；　and　there　it's　standing　still。　Justlook！　You've　your　seven　four…leaved　shamrocks　in　your　pocket；　one　ofwhich　is　a　six…leaved　one；　and　so　you　will　be　able　to　see　it。〃

And　really　in　the　midst　of　the　moor　lay　something　like　a　greatknotted　block　of　alder；　and　that　was　the　old　grandmother's　cupboard。The　Moor…woman　said　that　this　was　always　open　to　her　and　to　everyone　in　the　land；　if　they　only　knew　where　the　cupboard　stood。　Itcould　be　opened　either　at　the　front　or　at　the　back；　and　at　everyside　and　corner…　a　perfect　work　of　art；　and　yet　only　an　old　alderstump　in　appearance。　The　poets　of　all　lands；　and　especially　those　ofour　own　country；　had　been　arranged　here；　the　spirit　of　them　had　beenextracted；　refined；　criticised　and　renovated；　and　then　stored　up　inbottles。　With　what　may　be　called　great　aptitude；　if　it　was　notgenius　the　grandmother　had　taken　as　it　were　the　flavor　of　this　andof　that　poet；　and　had　added　a　little　devilry；　and　then　corked　up　thebottles　for　use　during　all　future　times。

〃Pray　let　me　see；〃　said　the　man。

〃Yes；　but　there　are　more　important　things　to　hear；〃　replied　theMoor…woman。

〃But　now　we　are　at　the　cupboard！〃　said　the　man。　And　he　lookedin。　〃Here　are　bottles　of　all　sizes。　What　is　in　this　one？　and　what　inthat　one　yonder？〃

〃Here　is　what　they　call　may…balm；〃　replied　the　woman。　〃I　havenot　tried　it　myself。　But　I　have　not　yet　told　you　the　'moreimportant'　thing　you　were　to　hear。　THE　WILL…O'…THE…WISP'S　IN　THE　TOWN！That's　of　much　more　consequence　than　poetry　and　stories。　I　ought；indeed；　to　hold　my　tongue；　but　there　must　be　a　necessity…　a　fate…　asomething　that　sticks　in　my　throat；　and　that　wants　to　e　out。　Takecare；　you　mortals！〃

〃I　don't　understand　a　word　of　all　this！〃　cried　the　man。

〃Be　kind　enough　to　seat　yourself　on　that　cupboard；〃　sheretorted；　〃but　take　care　you　don't　fall　through　and　break　the　bottles…you　know　what's　inside　of　them。　I　must　tell　of　the　great　event。　Itoccurred　no　longer　ago　than　the　day　before　yesterday。　It　did　nothappen　earlier。　It　has　now　three　hundred　and　sixty…three　days　to　runabout。　I　suppose　you　know　how　many　days　there　are　in　a　year？〃

And　this　is　what　the　Moor…woman　told：

〃There　was　a　great　motion　yesterday　out　here　in　the　marsh！There　was　a　christening　feast！　A　little　Will…o'…the…Wisp　was　bornhere…　in　fact；　twelve　of　them　were　born　all　together；　and　they　havepermission；　if　they　choose　to　use　it；　to　go　abroad　among　men；　and　tomove　about　and　mand　among　them；　just　as　if　they　were　bornmortals。　That　was　a　great　event　in　the　marsh；　and　accordingly　allthe　Will…o'…the…Wisps；　male　and　female；　went　dancing　like　littlelights　across　the　moor。　There　are　some　of　them　of　the　dog　species；　butthose　are　not　worth　mentioning。　I　sat　there　on　the　cupboard；　and　hadall　the　twelve　little　new…born　Will…o'…the…Wisps　upon　my　lap。　Theyshone　like　glow…worms；　they　already　began　to　hop；　and　increased　insize　every　moment；　so　that　before　a　quarter　of　an　hour　had　elapsed；each　of　them　looked　just　as　large　as　his　father　or　his　uncle。　Now；it's　an　old…established　regulation　and　favor；　that　when　the　moonstands　just　as　it　did　yesterday；　and　the　wind　blows　just　as　it　blewthen；　it　is　allowed　and　accorded　to　all　Will…o'…the…Wisps…　that　is；　toall　those　who　are　born　at　that　minute　of　time…　to　bee　mortals；and　individually　to　exert　their　power　for　the　space　of　one　year。

〃The　Will…o'…the…Wisp　may　run　about　in　the　country　and　through　theworld；　if　it　is　not　afraid　of　falling　into　the　sea；　or　of　beingblown　out　by　a　heavy　storm。　It　can　enter　into　a　person　and　speak　forhim；　and　make　all　the　movements　it　pleases。　The　Will…o'…the…Wisp　maytake　whatever　form　he　likes；　of　man　or　woman；　and　can　act　in　theirspirit　and　in　their　disguise　in　such　a　way　that　he　can　effect　whateverhe　wishes　to　do。　But　he　must　manage；　in　the　course　of　the　year；　tolead　three　hundred　and　sixty…five　people　into　a　bad　way；　and　in　agrand　style；　too。　To　lead　them　away　from　the　right　and　the　truth；and　then　he　reaches　the　highest　point。　Such　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp　canattain　to　the　honor　of　being　a　runner　before　the　devil's　statecoach；　and　then　he'll　wear　clothes　of　fiery　yellow；　and　breatheforth　flames　out　of　his　throat。　That's　enough　to　make　a　simpleWill…o'…the…Wisp　smack　his　lips。　But　there's　some　danger　in　this；and　a　great　deal　of　work　for　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp　who　aspires　to　play　sodistinguished　a　part。　If　the　eyes　of　the　man　are　opened　to　what　he　is；and　if　the　man　can　then　blow　him　away；　it's　all　over　with　him；　andhe　must　e　back　into　the　marsh；　or　if；　before　the　year　is　up；　theWill…o'…the…Wisp　is　seized　with　a　longing　to　see　his　family；　and　soreturns　to　it　and　gives　the　matter　up；　it　is　over　with　him　likewise；and　he　can　no　longer　burn　clear；　and　soon　bees　extinguished；　andcannot　be　lit　up　again；　and　when　the　year　has　elapsed；　and　he　hasnot　led　three　hundred　and　sixty…five　people　away　from　the　truth　andfrom　all　that　is　grand　and　noble；　he　is　condemned　to　be　imprisonedin　decayed　wood；　and　to　lie　glimmering　there；　without　being　able　tomove；　and　that's　the　most　terrible　punishment　that　can　be　inflicted　ona　lively　Will…o'…the…Wisp。

〃Now；　all　this　I　know；　and　all　this　I　told　to　the　twelve　littleWill…o'…the…Wisps　whom　I　had　on　my　lap；　and　who　seemed　quite　crazywith　joy。

〃I　told　them　that　the　safest　and　most　convenient　course　was　togive　up　the　honor；　and　do　nothing　at　all；　but　the　little　flameswould　not　agree　to　this；　and　already　fancied　themselves　clad　infiery　yellow　clothes；　breathing　flames　from　their　throats。

〃'Stay　with　us；'　said　some　of　the　older　ones。

〃'Carry　on　your　sport　with　mortals；'　said　the　others。

〃'The　mortals　are　drying　up　our　meadows；　they've　taken　todraining。　What　will　our　successors　do？'

〃'We　want　to　flame；　we　will　flame…　flame！'　cried　the　new…bornWill…o'the…Wisps。

〃And　thus　the　affair　was　settled。

〃And　now　a　ball　was　given；　a　minute　long；　it　could　not　well　beshorter。　The　little　elf…maidens　whirled　round　three　times　with　therest；　that　they　might　not　appear　proud；　but　they　preferred　dancingwith　one　another。

〃And　now　the　sponsors'　gifts　were　presented；　and　presents　werethrown　them。　These　presents　flew　like　pebbles　across　the　sea…water。Each　of　the　elf…maidens　gave　a　little　piece　of　her　veil。

〃'Take　that；'　they　said；　'and　then　you'll　know　the　higher　dance；the　most　difficult　turns　and　twists…　that　is　to　say；　if　you　shouldfind　them　necessary。　You'll　know　the　proper　deportment；　and　then　youcan　show　yourself　in　the　very　pick　of　society。'

〃The　night　raven　taught　each　of　the　young　Will…o'…the…Wisps　tosay；　'Goo…goo…good；'　and　to　say　it　in　the　right　place；　and　that's　agreat　gift　which　brings　its　own　reward。

〃The　owl　and　the　stork…　but　they　said　it　was　not　worth　mentioning；and　so　we　won't　mention　it。

〃King　Waldemar's　wild　chase　was　just　then　rushing　over　the　moor；and　when　the　great　lords　heard　of　the　festivities　that　were　goingon；　they　sent　a　couple　of　handsome　dogs；　which　hunt　on　the　spoor　ofthe　wind；　as　a　present；　and　these　might　carry　two　or　three　of　theWill…o'…the…Wisps。　A　couple　of　old　Alpas；　spirits　who　occupythemselves　with　Alp…pressing；　were　also　at　the　feast；　and　from　thesethe　young　Will…o'…the…Wisps　learned　the　art　of　slipping　throughevery　key…hole；　as　if　the　door　stood　open　before　them。　These　Alpasoffered　to　carry　the　youngsters　to　the　town；　with　which　they　were　wellacquainted。　They　usually　rode　through　the　atmosphere　on　their　own　backhair；　which　is　fastened　into　a　knot；　for　they　love　a　hard　seat；　butnow　they　sat　sideways　on　the　wild　hunting　dogs；　took　the　youngWill…o'…the…Wisps　in　their　laps；　who　wanted　to　go　into　the　town　tomislead　and　entice　mortals；　and；　whisk！　away　they　were。　Now；　this　iswhat　happened　last　night。　To…day　the　Will…o'…the…Wisps　are　in　thetown；　and　have　taken　the　matter　in　hand…　but　where　and　how？　Ah；　canyou　tell　me　that？　Still；　I've　a　lightning　conductor　in　my　great　toe；and　that　will　always　tell　me　something。〃

〃Why；　this　is　a　plete　story；〃　exclaimed　the　man。

〃Yes；　but　it　is　only　the　beginning；〃　replied　the　woman。　〃Can　youtell　me　how　the　Will…o'…the…Wisps　deport　themselves；　and　how　theybehave？　and　in　what　shapes　they　have　aforetime　appeared　and　led　peopleinto　crooked　paths？〃

〃I　believe；〃　replied　the　man；　〃that　one　could　tell　quite　a　romanceabout　the　Will…o'…the…Wisps；　in　twelve　parts；　or；　better　still；　onemight　make　quite　a　popular　play　of　them。〃

〃You　might　write　that；〃　said　the　woman；　〃but　it's　best　let　alone。〃

〃Yes；　that's　better　and　more　agreeable；〃　the　man　replied；　〃forthen　we　shall　escape　from　the　newspapers；　and　not　be　tied　up　bythem；　which　is　just　as　unfortable　as　for　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp　tolie　in　decaying　wood；　to　have　to　gleam；　and　not　to　be　able　to　stir。〃

〃I　don't　care　about　it　either　way；〃　cried　the　woman。　〃Let　the　restwrite；　those　who　can；　and　those　who　cannot　likewise。　I'll　grant　you　anold　bung　from　my　cask　that　will　open　the　cupboard　where　poetry'skept　in　bottles；　and　you　may　take　from　that　whatever　may　be　wanting。But　you；　my　good　man；　seem　to　have　blotted　your　hands　sufficientlywith　ink；　and　to　have　e　to　that　age　of　satiety　that　you　need　not　berunning　about　every　year　for　stories；　especially　as　there　are　muchmore　important　things　to　be　done。　You　must　have　understood　what　isgoing　on？〃

〃The　Will…o'…the…Wisp　is　in　town；〃　said　the　man。　〃I've　heard　it；and　I　have　understood　it。　But　what　do　you　think　I　ought　to　do？　Ishould　be　thrashed　if　I　were　to　go　to　the　people　and　say；　'Look；yonder　goes　a　Will…o'…the…Wisp　in　his　best　clothes！'

〃They　also　go　in　undress；〃　replied　the　woman。　〃TheWill…o'…the…Wisp　can　assume　all　kinds　of　forms；　and　appear　in　everyplace。　He　goes　into　the　church；　but　not　for　the　sake　of　the　service