安徒生童话-第124部分

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d　placed　himself　close　to　thedoor　of　her　carriage。　It　flew　open；　and　she　stepped　out；　the　lightfell　upon　her　dear　face；　and　he　could　see　that　she　smiled　as　shethanked　them；　and　appeared　quite　overe。　Knud　looked　straight　in　herface；　and　she　looked　at　him；　but　she　did　not　recognize　him。　A　man；with　a　glittering　star　on　his　breast；　gave　her　his　arm；　and　peoplesaid　the　two　were　engaged　to　be　married。　Then　Knud　went　home　andpacked　up　his　knapsack；　he　felt　he　must　return　to　the　home　of　hischildhood；　to　the　elder…tree　and　the　willow。　〃Ah；　under　thatwillow…tree！〃　A　man　may　live　a　whole　life　in　one　single　hour。

The　old　couple　begged　him　to　remain；　but　words　were　useless。　Invain　they　reminded　him　that　winter　was　ing；　and　that　the　snow　hadalready　fallen　on　the　mountains。　He　said　he　could　easily　follow　thetrack　of　the　closely…moving　carriages；　for　which　a　path　must　be　keptclear；　and　with　nothing　but　his　knapsack　on　his　back；　and　leaning　onhis　stick；　he　could　step　along　briskly。　So　he　turned　his　steps　tothe　mountains；　ascended　one　side　and　descended　the　other；　stillgoing　northward　till　his　strength　began　to　fail；　and　not　a　house　orvillage　could　be　seen。　The　stars　shone　in　the　sky　above　him；　anddown　in　the　valley　lights　glittered　like　stars；　as　if　another　sky　werebeneath　him；　but　his　head　was　dizzy　and　his　feet　stumbled；　and　he　feltill。　The　lights　in　the　valley　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　and　morenumerous；　and　he　could　see　them　moving　to　and　fro；　and　then　heunderstood　that　there　must　be　a　village　in　the　distance；　so　he　exertedhis　failing　strength　to　reach　it；　and　at　length　obtained　shelter　ina　humble　lodging。　He　remained　there　that　night　and　the　whole　of　thefollowing　day；　for　his　body　required　rest　and　refreshment；　and　inthe　valley　there　was　rain　and　a　thaw。　But　early　in　the　morning　ofthe　third　day；　a　man　came　with　an　organ　and　played　one　of　the　melodiesof　home；　and　after　that　Knud　could　remain　there　no　longer；　so　hestarted　again　on　his　journey　toward　the　north。　He　travelled　for　manydays　with　hasty　steps；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　reach　home　before　allwhom　he　remembered　should　die；　but　he　spoke　to　no　one　of　this　longing。No　one　would　have　believed　or　understood　this　sorrow　of　his　heart；　thedeepest　that　can　be　felt　by　human　nature。　Such　grief　is　not　for　theworld；　it　is　not　entertaining　even　to　friends；　and　poor　Knud　had　nofriends；　he　was　a　stranger；　wandering　through　strange　lands　to　hishome　in　the　north。

He　was　walking　one　evening　through　the　public　roads；　the　countryaround　him　was　flatter；　with　fields　and　meadows；　the　air　had　afrosty　feeling。　A　willow…tree　grew　by　the　roadside；　everythingreminded　him　of　home。　He　felt　very　tired；　so　he　sat　down　under　thetree；　and　very　soon　began　to　nod；　then　his　eyes　closed　in　sleep。　Yetstill　he　seemed　conscious　that　the　willow…tree　was　stretching　itsbranches　over　him；　in　his　dreaming　state　the　tree　appeared　like　astrong；　old　man…　the　〃willow…father〃　himself；　who　had　taken　histired　son　up　in　his　arms　to　carry　him　back　to　the　land　of　home；　to　thegarden　of　his　childhood；　on　the　bleak　open　shores　of　Kjoge。　And　thenhe　dreamed　that　it　was　really　the　willow…tree　itself　from　Kjoge；　whichhad　travelled　out　in　the　world　to　seek　him；　and　now　had　found　himand　carried　him　back　into　the　little　garden　on　the　banks　of　thestreamlet；　and　there　stood　Joanna；　in　all　her　splendor；　with　thegolden　crown　on　her　head；　as　he　had　last　seen　her；　to　wele　himback。　And　then　there　appeared　before　him　two　remarkable　shapes；which　looked　much　more　like　human　beings　than　when　he　had　seen　them　inhis　childhood；　they　were　changed；　but　he　remembered　that　they　were　thetwo　gingerbread　cakes；　the　man　and　the　woman；　who　had　shown　their　bestsides　to　the　world　and　looked　so　good。

〃We　thank　you；〃　they　said　to　Knud；　〃for　you　have　loosened　ourtongues；　we　have　learnt　from　you　that　thoughts　should　be　spokenfreely；　or　nothing　will　e　of　them；　and　now　something　has　e　ofour　thoughts；　for　we　are　engaged　to　be　married。〃　Then　they　walkedaway；　hand…in…hand；　through　the　streets　of　Kjoge；　looking　veryrespectable　on　the　best　side；　which　they　were　quite　right　to　show。They　turned　their　steps　to　the　church；　and　Knud　and　Joanna　followedthem；　also　walking　hand…in…hand；　there　stood　the　church；　as　of　old；with　its　red　walls；　on　which　the　green　ivy　grew。

The　great　church　door　flew　open　wide；　and　as　they　walked　up　thebroad　aisle；　soft　tones　of　music　sounded　from　the　organ。　〃Our　masterfirst；〃　said　the　gingerbread　pair；　making　room　for　Knud　and　Joanna。　Asthey　knelt　at　the　altar；　Joanna　bent　her　head　over　him；　and　cold；icy　tears　fell　on　his　face　from　her　eyes。　They　were　indeed　tears　ofice；　for　her　heart　was　melting　towards　him　through　his　strong　love；and　as　her　tears　fell　on　his　burning　cheeks　he　awoke。　He　was　stillsitting　under　the　willow…tree　in　a　strange　land；　on　a　cold　winterevening；　with　snow　and　hail　falling　from　the　clouds；　and　beatingupon　his　face。

〃That　was　the　most　delightful　hour　of　my　life；〃　said　he；　〃althoughit　was　only　a　dream。　Oh；　let　me　dream　again。〃　Then　he　closed　hiseyes　once　more；　and　slept　and　dreamed。

Towards　morning　there　was　a　great　fall　of　snow；　the　wind　driftedit　over　him；　but　he　still　slept　on。　The　villagers　came　forth　to　goto　church；　by　the　roadside　they　found　a　workman　seated；　but　he　wasdead！　frozen　to　death　under　a　willow…tree。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　WHAT　ONE　CAN　INVENT

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

There　was　once　a　young　man　who　was　studying　to　be　a　poet。　Hewanted　to　bee　one　by　Easter；　and　to　marry；　and　to　live　by　poetry。To　write　poems；　he　knew；　only　consists　in　being　able　to　inventsomething；　but　he　could　not　invent　anything。　He　had　been　born　toolate…　everything　had　been　taken　up　before　he　came　into　the　world；and　everything　had　been　written　and　told　about。

〃Happy　people　who　were　born　a　thousand　years　ago！〃　said　he。　〃Itwas　an　easy　matter　for　them　to　bee　immortal。　Happy　even　was　hewho　was　born　a　hundred　years　ago；　for　then　there　was　still　somethingabout　which　a　poem　could　be　written。　Now　the　world　is　written　out；　andwhat　can　I　write　poetry　about？〃

Then　he　studied　till　he　became　ill　and　wretched；　the　wretched　man！No　doctor　could　help　him；　but　perhaps　the　wise　woman　could。　Shelived　in　the　little　house　by　the　wayside；　where　the　gate　is　that　sheopened　for　those　who　rode　and　drove。　But　she　could　do　more　than　unlockthe　gate。　She　was　wiser　than　the　doctor　who　drives　in　his　own　carriageand　pays　tax　for　his　rank。

〃I　must　go　to　her；〃　said　the　young　man。

The　house　in　which　she　dwelt　was　small　and　neat；　but　dreary　tobehold；　for　there　were　no　flowers　near　it…　no　trees。　By　the　door　stooda　bee…hive；　which　was　very　useful。　There　was　also　a　littlepotato…field；　very　useful；　and　an　earth　bank；　with　sloe　bushes　uponit；　which　had　done　blossoming；　and　now　bore　fruit；　sloes；　that　drawone's　mouth　together　if　one　tastes　them　before　the　frost　has　touchedthem。

〃That's　a　true　picture　of　our　poetryless　time；　that　I　see　beforeme　now；〃　thought　the　young　man；　and　that　was　at　least　a　thought；　agrain　of　gold　that　he　found　by　the　door　of　the　wise　woman。

〃Write　that　down！〃　said　she。　〃Even　crumbs　are　bread。　I　know　whyyou　e　hither。　You　cannot　invent　anything；　and　yet　you　want　to　bea　poet　by　Easter。〃

〃Everything　has　been　written　down；〃　said　he。　〃Our　time　is　notthe　old　time。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　woman。　〃In　the　old　time　wise　women　were　burnt；and　poets　went　about　with　empty　stomachs；　and　very　much　out　at　elbows。The　present　time　is　good；　it　is　the　best　of　times；　but　you　have　notthe　right　way　of　looking　at　it。　Your　ear　is　not　sharpened　to　hear；　andI　fancy　you　do　not　say　the　Lord's　Prayer　in　the　evening。　There　isplenty　here　to　write　poems　about；　and　to　tell　of；　for　any　one　whoknows　the　way。　You　can　read　it　in　the　fruits　of　the　earth；　you　candraw　it　from　the　flowing　and　the　standing　water；　but　you　mustunderstand　how…　you　must　understand　how　to　catch　a　sunbeam。　Now　justyou　try　my　spectacles　on；　and　put　my　ear…trumpet　to　your　ear；　and　thenpray　to　God；　and　leave　off　thinking　of　yourself〃

The　last　was　a　very　difficult　thing　to　do…　more　than　a　wisewoman　ought　to　ask。

He　received　the　spectacles　and　the　ear…trumpet；　and　was　postedin　the　middle　of　the　potato…field。　She　put　a　great　potato　into　hishand。　Sounds　came　from　within　it；　there　came　a　song　with　words；　thehistory　of　the　potato；　an　every…day　story　in　ten　parts；　an　interestingstory。　And　ten　lines　were　enough　to　tell　it　in。

And　what　did　the　potato　sing？

She　sang　of　herself　and　of　her　family；　of　the　arrival　of　thepotato　in　Europe；　of　the　misrepresentation　to　which　she　had　beenexposed　before　she　was　acknowledged；　as　she　is　now；　to　be　a　greatertreasure　than　a　lump　of　gold。

〃We　were　distributed；　by　the　King's　mand；　from　thecouncil…houses　through　the　various　towns；　and　proclamation　was　made　ofour　great　value；　but　no　one　believed　in　it；　or　even　understood　howto　plant　us。　One　man　dug　a　hole　in　the　earth　and　threw　in　his　wholebushel　of　potatoes；　another　put　one　potato　here　and　another　there　inthe　ground；　and　expected　that　each　was　to　e　up　a　perfect　tree；　fromwhich　he　might　shake　down　potatoes。　And　they　certainly　grew；　andproduced　flowers　and　green　watery　fruit；　but　it　all　withered　away。Nobody　thought　of　what　was　in　the　ground…　the　blessing…　the　potato。Yes；　we　have　endured　and　suffered；　that　is　to　say；　our　forefathershave；　they　and　we；　it　is　all　one。〃

What　a　story　it　was！

〃Well；　and　that　will　do；〃　said　the　woman。　〃Now　look　at　the　sloebush。〃

〃We　have　also　some　near　relations　in　the　home　of　the　potatoes；　buthigher　towards　the　north　than　they　grew；〃　said　the　Sloes。　〃Therewere　Northmen；　from　Norway；　who　steered　westward　through　mist　andstorm　to　an　unknown　land；　where；　behind　ice　and　snow；　they　foundplants　and　green　meadows；　and　bushes　with　blue…black　grapes…　sloebushes。　The　grapes　were　ripened　by　the　frost　just　as　we　are。　Andthey　called　the　land　'wine…land；'　that　is；　'Groenland；'　or'Sloeland。'〃

〃That　is　quite　a　romantic　story；〃　said　the　young　man。

〃Yes；　certainly。　But　now　e　with　me；〃　said　the　wise　woman；　andshe　led　him　to　the　bee…hive。

He　looked　into　it。　What　life　and　labor！　There　were　bees　standingin　all　the　passages；　waving　their　wings；　so　that　a　wholesome　draughtof　air　might　blow　through　the　great　manufactory；　that　was　theirbusiness。　Then　there　came　in　bees　from　without；　who　had　been　born　withlittle　baskets　on　their　feet；　they　brought　flower…dust；　which　waspoured　out；　sorted；　and　manufactured　into　honey　and　wax。　They　flewin　and　out。　The　queen…bee　wanted　to　fly　out；　but　then　all　the　otherbees　must　have　gone　with　her。　It　was　not　yet　the　time　for　that；　butstill　she　wanted　to　fly　out；　so　the　others　bit　off　her　majesty'swings；　and　she　had　to　stay　where　she　was。

〃Now　get　upon　the　earth　bank；〃　said　the　wise　woman。　〃e　and　lookout　over　the　highway；　where　you　can　see　the　people。〃

〃What　a　crowd　it　is！〃　said　the　young　man。　〃One　story　afteranother。　It　whirls　and　whirls！　It's　quite　a　confusion　before　myeyes。　I　shall　go　out　at　the　back。〃

〃No；　go　straight　forward；〃　said　the　woman。　〃Go　straight　into　thecrowd　of　people；　look　at　them　in　the　right　way。　Have　an　ear　to　hearand　the　right　heart　to　feel；　and　you　will　soon　invent　something。But；　before　you　go　away；　you　must　give　me　my　spectacles　and　myear…trumpet　again。〃

And　so　saying；　she　took　both　from　him。

〃Now　I　do　not　see　the　smallest　thing；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃andnow　I　don't　hear　anything　more。〃

〃Why；　then；　you　can't　be　a　poet　by　Easter；〃　said　the　wise　woman。

〃But；　by　what　time　can　I　be　one？〃　asked　he。

〃Neither　by　Easter　nor　by　Whitsuntide！　You　will　not　learn　how　toinvent　anything。〃

〃What　must　I　do　to　earn　my　bread　by　poetry？〃

〃You　can　do　that　before　Shrove　Tuesday。　Hunt　the　poets！　Kill　theirwritings　and　thus　you　will　kill　them。　Don't　be　put　out　of　countenance。Strike　at　them　boldly；　and　you'll　have　carnival　cake；　on　which　you　cansupport　yourself　and　your　wife　too。〃

〃What　one　can　invent！〃　cried　the　young　man。　And　so　he　hit　outboldly　at　every　second　poet；　because　he　could　not　be　a　poet　himself。

We　have　it　from　the　wise　woman。　She　knows　WHAT　ONE　CAN　INVENT。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　WHAT　THE　MOON　SAW

　　　by　Hans　Christian　AndersenINTRODUCTION

　　INTRODUCTION

IT　is　a　strange　thing；　when　I　feel　most　fervently　and　most　deeply；my　hands　and　my　tongue　seem　alike　tied；　so　that　I　cannot　rightlydescribe　or　accurately　portray　the　thoughts　that　are　rising　within　me；and　yet　I　am　a　painter；　my　eye　tells　me　as　much　as　that；　and　all　myfriends　who　have　seen　my　sketches　and　fancies　say　the　same。

I　am　a　poor　lad；　and　live　in　one　of　the　narrowest　of　lanes；　butI　do　not　want　for　light；　as　my　room　is　high　up　in　the　house；　with　anextensive　prospect　over　the　neighbouring　roofs。　During　the　first　fewdays　I　went　to　live　in　the　town；　I　felt　low…spirited　and　solitaryenough。　Instead　of　the　forest　and　the　green　hills　of　former　days；　Ihad　here　only　a　forest　of　chimney…pots　to　look　out　upon。　And　then　Ihad　not　a　single　friend；　not　one　familiar　face　greeted　me。

So　one　evening　I　sat　at　the　window；　in　a　desponding　mood；　andpresently　I　opened　the　casement　and　looked　out。　Oh；　how　my　heartleaped　up　with　joy！　Here　was　a　well…known　face　at　last…　a　round；friendly　countenance；　the　face　of　a　good　friend　I　had　known　at　home。In；　fact；　it　was　the　MOON　that　looked　in　upon　me。　He　was　quiteunchanged；　the　dear　old　Moon；　and　had　the　same　face　exactly　that　heused　to　show　when　he　peered　down　upon　me　through　the　willow　trees　onthe　moor。　I　kissed　my　hand　to　him　over　and　over　again；　as　he　shone　farinto　my　little　room；　and　he；　for　his　part；　promised　me　that　everyevening；　when　he　came　abroad；　he　would　look　in　upon　me　for　a　fewmoments。　This　promise　he　has　faithfully　kept。　It　is　a　pity　that　he　canonly　stay　such　a　short　time　when　he　es。　Whenever　he　appears；　hetells　me　of　one　thing　or　another　that　he　has　seen　on　the　previousnight；　or　on　that　same　evening。　〃Just　paint　the　scenes　I　describe　toyou〃…　this　is　what　he　said　to　me…　〃and　you　will　have　a　very　prettypicture…book。〃　I　have　followed　his　injunction　for　many　evenings。　Icould　make　up　a　new　〃Thousand　and　One　Nights；〃　in　my　own　way；　out　ofthese　pictures；　but　the　number　might　be　too　great；　after　all。　Thepictures　I　have　here　given　have　not　been　chosen　at　random；　butfollow　in　their　proper　order；　just　as　they　were　described　to　me。Some　great　gifted　painter；　or　some　poet　or　musician；　may　makesomething　more　of　them　if　he　likes；　what　I　have　given　here　are　onlyhasty　sketches；　hurriedly　put　upon　the　paper；　with　some　of　my　ownthoughts；　interspersed；　for　the　Moon　did　not　e　to　me　every　evening…a　cloud　sometimes　hid　his　face　from　me。

　FIRST　EVENING

〃Last　night〃…　I　am　quoting　the　Moon's　own　words…　〃last　night　I　wasgliding　through　the　cloudless　Indian　sky。　My　face　was　mirrored　inthe　waters　of　the　Ganges；　and　my　beams　strove　to　pierce　through　thethick　intertwining　boughs　of　the　bananas；　arching　beneath　me　likethe　tortoise's　shell。　Forth　from　the　thicket　tripped　a　Hindoo　maid；light　as　a　gazelle；　beautiful　as　Eve。　Airy　and　etherial　as　a　vision；and　yet　sharply　defined　amid　the　surrounding　shadows；　stood　thisdaughter　of　Hindostan：　I　could　read　on　her　delicate　brow　the　thoughtthat　had　brought　her　hither。　The　thorny　creeping　plants　tore　hersandals；　but　for　all　that　she　came　rapidly　forward。　The　deer　thathad　e　down　to　the　river　to　quench　her　thirst；　sprang　by　with　astartled　bound；　for　in　her　h