安徒生童话-第126部分

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t　vanished　again；　and　darkclouds　flew　past：　but　still　it　was　a　greeting；　a　friendly　good…nightoffered　to　me　by　the　Moon。

　NINTH　EVENING

The　air　was　clear　again。　Several　evenings　had　passed；　and　the　Moonwas　in　the　first　quarter。　Again　he　gave　me　an　outline　for　a　sketch。Listen　to　what　he　told　me。

〃I　have　followed　the　polar　bird　and　the　swimming　whale　to　theeastern　coast　of　Greenland。　Gaunt　ice…covered　rocks　and　dark　cloudshung　over　a　valley；　where　dwarf　willows　and　barberry　bushes　stoodclothed　in　green。　The　blooming　lychnis　exhaled　sweet　odours。　Mylight　was　faint；　my　face　pale　as　the　water　lily　that；　torn　from　itsstem；　has　been　drifting　for　weeks　with　the　tide。　The　crown…shapedNorthern　Light　burned　fiercely　in　the　sky。　Its　ring　was　broad；　andfrom　its　circumference　the　rays　shot　like　whirling　shafts　of　fireacross　the　whole　sky；　flashing　in　changing　radiance　from　green　to　red。The　inhabitants　of　that　icy　region　were　assembling　for　dance　andfestivity；　but；　accustomed　to　this　glorious　spectacle；　they　scarcelydeigned　to　glance　at　it。　'Let　us　leave　the　soul　of　the　dead　to　theirball…play　with　the　heads　of　the　walruses；'　they　thought　in　theirsuperstition；　and　they　turned　their　whole　attention　to　the　song　anddance。　In　the　midst　of　the　circle；　and　divested　of　his　furry　cloak；stood　a　Greenlander；　with　a　small　pipe；　and　he　played　and　sang　asong　about　catching　the　seal；　and　the　chorus　around　chimed　in　with；'Eia；　Eia；　Ah。'　And　in　their　white　furs　they　danced　about　in　thecircle；　till　you　might　fancy　it　was　a　polar　bear's　ball。

〃And　now　a　Court　of　Judgment　was　opened。　Those　Greenlanders　whohad　quarrelled　stepped　forward；　and　the　offended　person　chantedforth　the　faults　of　his　adversary　in　an　extempore　song；　turning　themsharply　into　ridicule；　to　the　sound　of　the　pipe　and　the　measure　of　thedance。　The　defendant　replied　with　satire　as　keen；　while　the　audiencelaughed；　and　gave　their　verdict。　The　rocks　heaved；　the　glaciersmelted；　and　great　masses　of　ice　and　snow　came　crashing　down；　shiveringto　fragments　as　they　fall；　it　was　a　glorious　Greenland　summer　night。　Ahundred　paces　away；　under　the　open　tent　of　hides；　lay　a　sick　man。　Lifestill　flowed　through　his　warm　blood；　but　still　he　was　to　die…　hehimself　felt　it；　and　all　who　stood　round　him　knew　it　also；　thereforehis　wife　was　already　sewing　round　him　the　shroud　of　furs；　that　shemight　not　afterwards　be　obliged　to　touch　the　dead　body。　And　she　asked；'Wilt　thou　be　buried　on　the　rock；　in　the　firm　snow？　I　will　deck　thespot　with　thy　kayak；　and　thy　arrows；　and　the　angekokk　shall　dance　overit。　Or　wouldst　thou　rather　be　buried　in　the　sea？'　'In　the　sea；'　hewhispered；　and　nodded　with　a　mournful　smile。　'Yes；　it　is　a　pleasantsummer　tent；　the　sea；'　observed　the　wife。　'Thousands　of　seals　sportthere；　the　walrus　shall　lie　at　thy　feet；　and　the　hunt　will　be　safe　andmerry！'　And　the　yelling　children　tore　the　outspread　hide　from　thewindow…hole；　that　the　dead　man　might　be　carried　to　the　ocean；　thebillowy　ocean；　that　had　given　him　food　in　life；　and　that　now；　indeath；　was　to　afford　him　a　place　of　rest。　For　his　monument；　he　had　thefloating；　ever…changing　icebergs；　whereon　the　seal　sleeps；　while　thestorm　bird　flies　round　their　gleaming　summits！〃

　TENTH　EVENING

〃I　knew　an　old　maid；〃　said　the　Moon。　〃Every　winter　she　wore　awrapper　of　yellow　satin；　and　it　always　remained　new；　and　was　theonly　fashion　she　followed。　In　summer　she　always　wore　the　same　strawhat；　and　I　verily　believe　the　very　same　gray…blue　dress。

〃She　never　went　out；　except　across　the　street　to　an　old　femalefriend；　and　in　later　years　she　did　not　even　take　this　walk；　for　theold　friend　was　dead。　In　her　solitude　my　old　maid　was　always　busy　atthe　window；　which　was　adorned　in　summer　with　pretty　flowers；　and　inwinter　with　cress；　grown　upon　felt。　During　the　last　months　I　saw　herno　more　at　the　window；　but　she　was　still　alive。　I　knew　that；　for　I　hadnot　yet　seen　her　begin　the　'long　journey；'　of　which　she　often　spokewith　her　friend。　'Yes；　yes；'　she　was　in　the　habit　of　saying；　when　Ie　to　die　I　shall　take　a　longer　journey　than　I　have　made　my　wholelife　long。　Our　family　vault　is　six　miles　from　here。　I　shall　be　carriedthere；　and　shall　sleep　there　among　my　family　and　relatives。'　Lastnight　a　van　stopped　at　the　house。　A　coffin　was　carried　out；　and　then　Iknew　that　she　was　dead。　They　placed　straw　round　the　coffin；　and　thevan　drove　away。　There　slept　the　quiet　old　lady；　who　had　not　gone　outof　her　house　once　for　the　last　year。　The　van　rolled　out　through　thetown…gate　as　briskly　as　if　it　were　going　for　a　pleasant　excursion。On　the　high…road　the　pace　was　quicker　yet。　The　coachman　lookednervously　round　every　now　and　then…　I　fancy　he　half　expected　to　seeher　sitting　on　the　coffin；　in　her　yellow　satin　wrapper。　And　because　hewas　startled；　he　foolishly　lashed　his　horses；　while　he　held　thereins　so　tightly　that　the　poor　beasts　were　in　a　foam：　they　wereyoung　and　fiery。　A　hare　jumped　across　the　road　and　startled　them；and　they　fairly　ran　away。　The　old　sober　maiden；　who　had　for　yearsand　years　moved　quietly　round　and　round　in　a　dull　circle；　was　now；in　death；　rattled　over　stock　and　stone　on　the　public　highway。　Thecoffin　in　its　covering　of　straw　tumbled　out　of　the　van；　and　was　lefton　the　high…road；　while　horses；　coachman；　and　carriage　flew　past　inwild　career。　The　lark　rose　up　carolling　from　the　field；　twittering　hermorning　lay　over　the　coffin；　and　presently　perched　upon　it；　pickingwith　her　beak　at　the　straw　covering；　as　though　she　would　tear　it　up。The　lark　rose　up　again；　singing　gaily；　and　I　withdrew　behind　the　redmorning　clouds。〃

　ELEVENTH　EVENING

〃I　will　give　you　a　picture　of　Pompeii；〃　said　the　Moon。　〃I　was　inthe　suburb　in　the　Street　of　Tombs；　as　they　call　it；　where　the　fairmonuments　stand；　in　the　spot　where；　ages　ago；　the　merry　youths；their　temples　bound　with　rosy　wreaths；　danced　with　the　fair　sisters　ofLais。　Now；　the　stillness　of　death　reigned　around。　Germanmercenaries；　in　the　Neapolitan　service；　kept　guard；　played　cards；and　diced；　and　a　troop　of　strangers　from　beyond　the　mountains　cameinto　the　town；　acpanied　by　a　sentry。　They　wanted　to　see　the　citythat　had　risen　from　the　grave　illumined　by　my　beams；　and　I　showed　themthe　wheel…ruts　in　the　streets　paved　with　broad　lava　slabs；　I　showedthem　the　names　on　the　doors；　and　the　signs　that　hung　there　yet：　theysaw　in　the　little　courtyard　the　basins　of　the　fountains；　ornamentedwith　shells；　but　no　jet　of　water　gushed　upwards；　no　songs　soundedforth　from　the　richly…painted　chambers；　where　the　bronze　dog　keptthe　door。

〃It　was　the　City　of　the　Dead；　only　Vesuvius　thundered　forth　hiseverlasting　hymn；　each　separate　verse　of　which　is　called　by　men　aneruption。　We　went　to　the　temple　of　Venus；　built　of　snow…whitemarble；　with　its　high　altar　in　front　of　the　broad　steps；　and　theweeping　willows　sprouting　freshly　forth　among　the　pillars。　The　air　wastransparent　and　blue；　and　black　Vesuvius　formed　the　background；　withfire　ever　shooting　forth　from　it；　like　the　stem　of　the　pine　tree。Above　it　stretched　the　smoky　cloud　in　the　silence　of　the　night；　likethe　crown　of　the　pine；　but　in　a　blood…red　illumination。　Among　thepany　was　a　lady　singer；　a　real　and　great　singer。　I　have　witnessedthe　homage　paid　to　her　in　the　greatest　cities　of　Europe。　When　theycame　to　the　tragic　theatre；　they　all　sat　down　on　the　amphitheatresteps；　and　thus　a　small　part　of　the　house　was　occupied　by　an　audience；as　it　had　been　many　centuries　ago。　The　stage　still　stood　unchanged；with　its　walled　side…scenes；　and　the　two　arches　in　the　background；through　which　the　beholders　saw　the　same　scene　that　had　been　exhibitedin　the　old　times…　a　scene　painted　by　nature　herself；　namely；　themountains　between　Sorento　and　Amalfi。　The　singer　gaily　mounted　theancient　stage；　and　sang。　The　place　inspired　her；　and　she　reminded　meof　a　wild　Arab　horse；　that　rushes　headlong　on　with　snorting　nostrilsand　flying　mane…　her　song　was　so　light　and　yet　so　firm。　Anon　I　thoughtof　the　mourning　mother　beneath　the　cross　at　Golgotha；　so　deep　wasthe　expression　of　pain。　And；　just　as　it　had　done　thousands　of　yearsago；　the　sound　of　applause　and　delight　now　filled　the　theatre。　'Happy；gifted　creature！'　all　the　hearers　exclaimed。　Five　minutes　more；　andthe　stage　was　empty；　the　pany　had　vanished；　and　not　a　sound　morewas　heard…　all　were　gone。　But　the　ruins　stood　unchanged；　as　theywill　stand　when　centuries　shall　have　gone　by；　and　when　none　shall　knowof　the　momentary　applause　and　of　the　triumph　of　the　fair　songstress；when　all　will　be　forgotten　and　gone；　and　even　for　me　this　hour　will　bebut　a　dream　of　the　past。〃

　TWELFTH　EVENING

〃I　looked　through　the　windows　of　an　editor's　house；〃　said　theMoon。　〃It　was　somewhere　in　Germany。　I　saw　handsome　furniture；　manybooks；　and　a　chaos　of　newspapers。　Several　young　men　were　present：the　editor　himself　stood　at　his　desk；　and　two　little　books；　both　byyoung　authors；　were　to　be　noticed。　'This　one　has　been　sent　to　me；'said　he。　'I　have　not　read　it　yet；　what　think　you　of　the　contents？''Oh；'　said　the　person　addressed…　he　was　a　poet　himself…　'it　is　goodenough；　a　little　broad；　certainly；　but；　you　see；　the　author　is　stillyoung。　The　verses　might　be　better；　to　be　sure；　the　thoughts　are　sound；though　there　is　certainly　a　good　deal　of　mon…place　among　them。But　what　will　you　have？　You　can't　be　always　getting　something　new。That　he'll　turn　out　anything　great　I　don't　believe；　but　you　may　safelypraise　him。　He　is　well　read；　a　remarkable　Oriental　scholar；　and　hasa　good　judgment。　It　was　he　who　wrote　that　nice　review　of　my'Reflections　on　Domestic　Life。'　We　must　be　lenient　towards　the　youngman。〃

〃'But　he　is　a　plete　hack！'　objected　another　of　the　gentlemen。'Nothing　worse　in　poetry　than　mediocrity；　and　he　certainly　does　not　gobeyond　this。'

〃'Poor　fellow；'　observed　a　third；　'and　his　aunt　is　so　happyabout　him。　It　was　she；　Mr。　Editor；　who　got　together　so　manysubscribers　for　your　last　translation。'

〃'Ah；　the　good　woman！　Well；　I　have　noticed　the　book　briefly。Undoubted　talent…　a　wele　offering…　a　flower　in　the　garden　ofpoetry…　prettily　brought　out…　and　so　on。　But　this　other　book…　Isuppose　the　author　expects　me　to　purchase　it？　I　hear　it　is　praised。　Hehas　genius；　certainly：　don't　you　think　so？'

〃'Yes；　all　the　world　declares　as　much；'　replied　the　poet；　'butit　has　turned　out　rather　wildly。　The　punctuation　of　the　book；　inparticular；　is　very　eccentric。'

〃'It　will　be　good　for　him　if　we　pull　him　to　pieces；　and　angerhim　a　little；　otherwise　he　will　get　too　good　an　opinion　of　himself。'

〃'But　that　would　be　unfair；'　objected　the　fourth。　'Let　us　not　carpat　little　faults；　but　rejoice　over　the　real　and　abundant　good　thatwe　find　here：　he　surpasses　all　the　rest。'

〃'Not　so。　If　he　is　a　true　genius；　he　can　bear　the　sharp　voice　ofcensure。　There　are　people　enough　to　praise　him。　Don't　let　us　quiteturn　his　head。'

〃'Decided　talent；'　wrote　the　editor；　'with　the　usual　carelessness。that　he　can　write　incorrect　verses　may　be　seen　in　page　25；　where　thereare　two　false　quantities。　We　remend　him　to　study　the　ancients；etc。'

〃I　went　away；〃　continued　the　Moon；　〃and　looked　through　the　windowsin　the　aunt's　house。　There　sat　the　be…praised　poet；　the　tame　one；all　the　guests　paid　homage　to　him；　and　he　was　happy。

〃I　sought　the　other　poet　out；　the　wild　one；　him　also　I　found　ina　great　assembly　at　his　patron's；　where　the　tame　poet's　book　was　beingdiscussed。

〃'I　shall　read　yours　also；'　said　Maecenas；　'but　to　speak　honestly…you　know　I　never　hide　my　opinion　from　you…　I　don't　expect　much　fromit；　for　you　are　much　too　wild；　too　fantastic。　But　it　must　be　allowedthat；　as　a　man；　you　are　highly　respectable。'

〃A　young　girl　sat　in　a　corner；　and　she　read　in　a　book　these　words：

　　　〃'In　the　dust　lies　genius　and　glory；

　But　ev'ry…day　talent　will　pay。

　　　It's　only　the　old；　old　story；

　But　the　piece　is　repeated　each　day。'〃

　THIRTEENTH　EVENING

The　Moon　said；　〃Beside　the　woodland　path　there　are　two　smallfarm…houses。　The　doors　are　low；　and　some　of　the　windows　are　placedquite　high；　and　others　close　to　the　ground；　and　whitethorn　andbarberry　bushes　grow　around　them。　The　roof　of　each　house　isovergrown　with　moss　and　with　yellow　flowers　and　houseleek。　Cabbage　andpotatoes　are　the　only　plants　cultivated　in　the　gardens；　but　out　of　thehedge　there　grows　a　willow　tree；　and　under　this　willow　tree　sat　alittle　girl；　and　she　sat　with　her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　old　oak　treebetween　the　two　huts。

〃It　was　an　old　withered　stem。　It　had　been　sawn　off　at　the　top；　anda　stork　had　built　his　nest　upon　it；　and　he　stood　in　this　nest　clappingwith　his　beak。　A　little　boy　came　and　stood　by　the　girl's　side：　theywere　brother　and　sister。

〃'What　are　you　looking　at？'　he　asked。

〃'I'm　watching　the　stork；'　she　replied：　'our　neighbors　told　methat　he　would　bring　us　a　little　brother　or　sister　to…day；　let　us　watchto　see　it　e！'

〃'The　stork　brings　no　such　things；'　the　boy　declared；　'you　maybe　sure　of　that。　Our　neighbor　told　me　the　same　thing；　but　shelaughed　when　she　said　it；　and　so　I　asked　her　if　she　could　say　'On　myhonor；'　and　she　could　not；　and　I　know　by　that　the　story　about　thestorks　is　not　true；　and　that　they　only　tell　it　to　us　children　forfun。'

　〃'But　where　do　babies　e　from；　then？'　asked　the　girl。

〃'Why；　an　angel　from　heaven　brings　them　under　his　cloak；　but　noman　can　see　him；　and　that's　why　we　never　know　when　he　brings　them。'

〃At　that　moment　there　was　a　rustling　in　the　branches　of　the　willowtree；　and　the　children　folded　their　hands　and　looked　at　one　another：it　was　certainly　the　angel　ing　with　the　baby。　They　took　eachother's　hand；　and　at　that　moment　the　door　of　one　of　the　houses　opened；and　the　neighbour　appeared。

〃'e　in；　you　two；'　she　said。　'See　what　the　stork　has　brought。　Itis　a　little　brother。'

〃And　the　children　nodded　gravely　at　one　another；　for　they　had　feltquite　sure　already　that　the　baby　was　e。〃

　FOURTEENTH　EVENING

〃I　was　gliding　over　the　Luneburg　Heath；〃　the　Moon　said。　〃Alonely　hut　stood　by　the　wayside；　a　few　scanty　bushes　grew　near　it；　anda　nightingale　who　had　lost　his　way　sang　sweetly。　He　died　in　thecoldness　of　the　night：　it　was　his　farewell　song　that　I　heard。

〃The　morning　dawn　came　glimmering　red。　I　saw　a　caravan　of　emigrantpeasant　families　who　were　bound　to　Hamburgh；　there　to　take　ship　forAmerica；　where　fancied　prosperity　would　bloom　for　them。　The　motherscarried　their　little　children　at　their　backs；　the　elder　onestottered　by　their　sides；　and　a　poor　starved　horse　tugged　at　a　cartthat　bore　their　scanty　effects。　The　cold　wind　whistled；　andtherefore　the　little　girl　nestled　closer　to　the　mother；　who；　lookingup　at　my　decreasing　disc；　thought　of　the　bitter　want　at　home；　andspoke　of　the　heavy　taxes　they　had　not　been　able　to　raise。　The　wholecaravan　thought　of　the　same　thing；　therefore；　the　rising　dawn　seemedto　them　a　message　from　the　sun；　of　fortune　that　was　to　gleambrightly　upon　them。　They　heard　the　dying　nightingale　sing；　it　was　nofalse　prophet；　but　a　harbinger　of　fortune。　The　wind　whistled；therefore　they　did　not　understand　that　the　nightingale　sung；　'Fareaway　over　the　sea！　Thou　hast　paid　the　long　passage　with　all　that　wasthine；　and　poor　and　helpless　shalt　thou　enter　Canaan。　Thou　must　sellthyself；　thy　wife；　and　thy　children。　But　your　griefs　shall　not　lastlong。　Behind　the　broad　fragrant　leaves　lurks　the　goddess　of　Death；　andher　wele　kiss　shall　breathe　fever　into　thy　blood。　Fare　away；　fareaway；　over　the　heaving　billows。'　And　the　caravan　listened　well　pleasedto　the　song　of　the　nightingale；　which　seemed　to　promise　g