安徒生童话-第127部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ows。'　And　the　caravan　listened　well　pleasedto　the　song　of　the　nightingale；　which　seemed　to　promise　goodfortune。　Day　broke　through　the　light　clouds；　country　people　wentacross　the　heath　to　church；　the　black…gowned　women　with　their　whitehead…dresses　looked　like　ghosts　that　had　stepped　forth　from　the　churchpictures。　All　around　lay　a　wide　dead　plain；　covered　with　faded　brownheath；　and　black　charred　spaces　between　the　white　sand　hills。　Thewomen　carried　hymn　books；　and　walked　into　the　church。　Oh；　pray；　prayfor　those　who　are　wandering　to　find　graves　beyond　the　foamingbillows。〃

　FIFTEENTH　EVENING

〃I　know　a　Pulcinella；〃　the　Moon　told　me。　〃The　public　applaudvociferously　directly　they　see　him。　Every　one　of　his　movements　isic；　and　is　sure　to　throw　the　house　into　convulsions　of　laughter；and　yet　there　is　no　art　in　it　all…　it　is　plete　nature。　When　hewas　yet　a　little　boy；　playing　about　with　other　boys；　he　was　alreadyPunch。　Nature　had　intended　him　for　it；　and　had　provided　him　with　ahump　on　his　back；　and　another　on　his　breast；　but　his　inward　man；　hismind；　on　the　contrary；　was　richly　furnished。　No　one　could　surpasshim　in　depth　of　feeling　or　in　readiness　of　intellect。　The　theatrewas　his　ideal　world。　If　he　had　possessed　a　slender　well…shaped　figure；he　might　have　been　the　first　tragedian　on　any　stage；　the　heroic；　thegreat；　filled　his　soul；　and　yet　he　had　to　bee　a　Pulcinella。　Hisvery　sorrow　and　melancholy　did　but　increase　the　ic　dryness　of　hissharply…cut　features；　and　increased　the　laughter　of　the　audience；who　showered　plaudits　on　their　favourite。　The　lovely　Columbine　wasindeed　kind　and　cordial　to　him；　but　she　preferred　to　marry　theHarlequin。　It　would　have　been　too　ridiculous　if　beauty　and　uglinesshad　in　reality　paired　together。

〃When　Pulcinella　was　in　very　bad　spirits；　she　was　the　only　one　whocould　force　a　hearty　burst　of　laughter；　or　even　a　smile　from　him：first　she　would　be　melancholy　with　him；　then　quieter；　and　at　lastquite　cheerful　and　happy。　'I　know　very　well　what　is　the　matter　withyou；'　she　said；　'yes；　you're　in　love！'　And　he　could　not　help　laughing。'I　and　Love；〃　he　cried；　〃that　would　have　an　absurd　look。　How　thepublic　would　shout！'　'Certainly；　you　are　in　love；'　she　continued；and　added　with　a　ic　pathos；　'and　I　am　the　person　you　are　in　lovewith。'　You　see；　such　a　thing　may　be　said　when　it　is　quite　out　of　thequestion…　and；　indeed；　Pulcinella　burst　out　laughing；　and　gave　aleap　into　the　air；　and　his　melancholy　was　forgotten。

〃And　yet　she　had　only　spoken　the　truth。　He　did　love　her；　loveher　adoringly；　as　he　loved　what　was　great　and　lofty　in　art。　At　herwedding　he　was　the　merriest　among　the　guests；　but　in　the　stillnessof　night　he　wept：　if　the　public　had　seen　his　distorted　face　then；　theywould　have　applauded　rapturously。

〃And　a　few　days　ago；　Columbine　died。　On　the　day　of　the　funeral；Harlequin　was　not　required　to　show　himself　on　the　boards；　for　he　was　adisconsolate　widower。　The　director　had　to　give　a　very　merry　piece；that　the　public　might　not　too　painfully　miss　the　pretty　Columbineand　the　agile　Harlequin。　Therefore　Pulcinella　had　to　be　moreboisterous　and　extravagant　than　ever；　and　he　danced　and　capered；with　despair　in　his　heart；　and　the　audience　yelled；　and　shouted'bravo；　bravissimo！'　Pulcinella　was　actually　called　before　thecurtain。　He　was　pronounced　inimitable。

〃But　last　night　the　hideous　little　fellow　went　out　of　the　town；quite　alone；　to　the　deserted　churchyard。　The　wreath　of　flowers　onColumbine's　grave　was　already　faded；　and　he　sat　down　there。　It　was　astudy　for　a　painter。　As　he　sat　with　his　chin　on　his　hands；　his　eyesturned　up　towards　me；　he　looked　like　a　grotesque　monument…　a　Punchon　a　grave…　peculiar　and　whimsical！　If　the　people　could　have　seentheir　favourite；　they　would　have　cried　as　usual；　'Bravo；　Pulcinella；bravo；　bravissimo！'〃

　SIXTEENTH　EVENING

Hear　what　the　Moon　told　me。　〃I　have　seen　the　cadet　who　had　justbeen　made　an　officer　put　on　his　handsome　uniform　for　the　first　time；　Ihave　seen　the　young　bride　in　her　wedding　dress；　and　the　princessgirl…wife　happy　in　her　gorgeous　robes；　but　never　have　I　seen　afelicity　equal　to　that　of　a　little　girl　of　four　years　old；　whom　Iwatched　this　evening。　She　had　received　a　new　blue　dress；　and　a　newpink　hat；　the　splendid　attire　had　just　been　put　on；　and　all　werecalling　for　a　candle；　for　my　rays；　shining　in　through　the　windows　ofthe　room；　were　not　bright　enough　for　the　occasion；　and　furtherillumination　was　required。　There　stood　the　little　maid；　stiff　andupright　as　a　doll；　her　arms　stretched　painfully　straight　out　away　fromthe　dress；　and　her　fingers　apart；　and　oh；　what　happiness　beamed　fromher　eyes；　and　from　her　whole　countenance！　'To…morrow　you　shall　goout　in　your　new　clothes；'　said　her　mother；　and　the　little　one　lookedup　at　her　hat；　and　down　at　her　frock；　and　smiled　brightly。　'Mother；'she　cried；　'what　will　the　little　dogs　think；　when　they　see　me　in　thesesplendid　new　things？'〃

　SEVENTEENTH　EVENING

〃I　have　spoken　to　you　of　Pompeii；〃　said　the　Moon；　〃that　corpseof　a　city；　exposed　in　the　view　of　living　towns：　I　know　another　sightstill　more　strange；　and　this　is　not　the　corpse；　but　the　spectre　of　acity。　Whenever　the　jetty　fountains　splash　into　the　marble　basins；　theyseem　to　me　to　be　telling　the　story　of　the　floating　city。　Yes；　thespouting　water　may　tell　of　her；　the　waves　of　the　sea　may　sing　of　herfame！　On　the　surface　of　the　ocean　a　mist　often　rests；　and　that　isher　widow's　veil。　The　bridegroom　of　the　sea　is　dead；　his　palace　andhis　city　are　his　mausoleum！　Dost　thou　know　this　city？　She　has　neverheard　the　rolling　of　wheels　or　the　hoof…tread　of　horses　in　herstreets；　through　which　the　fish　swim；　while　the　black　gondola　glidesspectrally　over　the　green　water。　I　will　show　you　the　place；〃　continuedthe　Moon；　〃the　largest　square　in　it；　and　you　will　fancy　yourselftransported　into　the　city　of　a　fairy　tale。　The　grass　grows　rankamong　the　broad　flagstones；　and　in　the　morning　twilight　thousands　oftame　pigeons　flutter　around　the　solitary　lofty　tower。　On　three　sidesyou　find　yourself　surrounded　by　cloistered　walks。　In　these　thesilent　Turk　sits　smoking　his　long　pipe；　the　handsome　Greek　leansagainst　the　pillar　and　gazes　at　the　upraised　trophies　and　lofty　masts；memorials　of　power　that　is　gone。　The　flags　hang　down　like　mourningscarves。　A　girl　rests　there：　she　has　put　down　her　heavy　pails　filledwith　water；　the　yoke　with　which　she　has　carried　them　rests　on　one　ofher　shoulders；　and　she　leans　against　the　mast　of　victory。　That　isnot　a　fairy　palace　you　see　before　you　yonder；　but　a　church：　the　gildeddomes　and　shining　orbs　flash　back　my　beams；　the　glorious　bronze　horsesup　yonder　have　made　journeys；　like　the　bronze　horse　in　the　fairy　tale：they　have　e　hither；　and　gone　hence；　and　have　returned　again。　Do　younotice　the　variegated　splendour　of　the　walls　and　windows？　It　looksas　if　Genius　had　followed　the　caprices　of　a　child；　in　the　adornment　ofthese　singular　temples。　Do　you　see　the　winged　lion　on　the　pillar？The　gold　glitters　still；　but　his　wings　are　tied…　the　lion　is　dead；　forthe　king　of　the　sea　is　dead；　the　great　halls　stand　desolate；　and　wheregorgeous　paintings　hung　of　yore；　the　naked　wall　now　peers　through。　Thelazzarone　sleeps　under　the　arcade；　whose　pavement　in　old　times　wasto　be　trodden　only　by　the　feet　of　high　nobility。　From　the　deepwells；　and　perhaps　from　the　prisons　by　the　Bridge　of　Sighs；　rise　theaccents　of　woe；　as　at　the　time　when　the　tambourine　was　heard　in　thegay　gondolas；　and　the　golden　ring　was　cast　from　the　Bucentaur　toAdria；　the　queen　of　the　seas。　Adria！　shroud　thyself　in　mists；　letthe　veil　of　thy　widowhood　shroud　thy　form；　and　clothe　in　the　weedsof　woe　the　mausoleum　of　thy　bridegroom…　the　marble；　spectral　Venice。〃

　EIGHTEENTH　EVENING

〃I　looked　down　upon　a　great　theatre；〃　said　the　Moon。　〃The　housewas　crowded；　for　a　new　actor　was　to　make　his　first　appearance　thatnight。　My　rays　glided　over　a　little　window　in　the　wall；　and　I　saw　apainted　face　with　the　forehead　pressed　against　the　panes。　It　was　thehero　of　the　evening。　The　knighly　beard　curled　crisply　about　thechin；　but　there　were　tears　in　the　man's　eyes；　for　he　had　been　hissedoff；　and　indeed　with　reason。　The　poor　Incapable！　But　Incapables　cannotbe　admitted　into　the　empire　of　Art。　He　had　deep　feeling；　and　loved　hisart　enthusiastically；　but　the　art　loved　not　him。　The　prompter's　bellsounded；　'the　hero　enters　with　a　determined　air；'　so　ran　the　stagedirection　in　his　part；　and　he　had　to　appear　before　an　audience　whoturned　him　into　ridicule。　When　the　piece　was　over；　I　saw　a　formwrapped　in　a　mantle；　creeping　down　the　steps：　it　was　the　vanquishedknight　of　the　evening。　The　scene…shifters　whispered　to　one　another；and　I　followed　the　poor　fellow　home　to　his　room。　To　hang　one's　self　isto　die　a　mean　death；　and　poison　is　not　always　at　hand；　I　know；　buthe　thought　of　both。　I　saw　how　he　looked　at　his　pale　face　in　the　glass；with　eyes　half　closed；　to　see　if　he　should　look　well　as　a　corpse。　Aman　may　be　very　unhappy；　and　yet　exceedingly　affected。　He　thought　ofdeath；　of　suicide；　I　believe　he　pitied　himself；　for　he　weptbitterly；　and　when　a　man　has　had　his　cry　out　he　doesn't　kill　himself。

〃Since　that　time　a　year　had　rolled　by。　Again　a　play　was　to　beacted；　but　in　a　little　theatre；　and　by　a　poor　strolling　pany。　AgainI　saw　the　well…remembered　face；　with　the　painted　cheeks　and　thecrisp　beard。　He　looked　up　at　me　and　smiled；　and　yet　he　had　been　hissedoff　only　a　minute　before…　hissed　off　from　a　wretched　theatre；　by　amiserable　audience。　And　tonight　a　shabby　hearse　rolled　out　of　thetown…gate。　It　was　a　suicide…　our　painted；　despised　hero。　The　driver　ofthe　hearse　was　the　only　person　present；　for　no　one　followed　exceptmy　beams。　In　a　corner　of　the　churchyard　the　corpse　of　the　suicidewas　shovelled　into　the　earth；　and　tles　will　soon　be　growingrankly　over　his　grave；　and　the　sexton　will　throw　thorns　and　weeds　fromthe　other　graves　upon　it。〃

　NIEENTH　EVENING

〃I　e　from　Rome；〃　said　the　Moon。　〃In　the　midst　of　the　city；　uponone　of　the　seven　hills；　lie　the　ruins　of　the　imperial　palace。　The　wildfig　tree　grows　in　the　clefts　of　the　wall；　and　covers　the　nakednessthereof　with　its　broad　grey…green　leaves；　trampling　among　heaps　ofrubbish；　the　ass　treads　upon　green　laurels；　and　rejoices　over　the　rankthistles。　From　this　spot；　whence　the　eagles　of　Rome　once　flewabroad；　whence　they　'came；　saw；　and　conquered；'　our　door　leads　intoa　little　mean　house；　built　of　clay　between　two　pillars；　the　wildvine　hangs　like　a　mourning　garland　over　the　crooked　window。　An　oldwoman　and　her　little　granddaughter　live　there：　they　rule　now　in　thepalace　of　the　Caesars；　and　show　to　strangers　the　remains　of　its　pastglories。　Of　the　splendid　throne…hall　only　a　naked　wall　yet　stands；　anda　black　cypress　throws　its　dark　shadow　on　the　spot　where　the　throneonce　stood。　The　dust　lies　several　feet　deep　on　the　broken　pavement；and　the　little　maiden；　now　the　daughter　of　the　imperial　palace；often　sits　there　on　her　stool　when　the　evening　bells　ring。　The　keyholeof　the　door　close　by　she　calls　her　turret　window；　through　this　she　cansee　half　Rome；　as　far　as　the　mighty　cupola　of　St。　Peter's。

〃On　this　evening；　as　usual；　stillness　reigned　around；　and　in　thefull　beam　of　my　light　came　the　little　granddaughter。　On　her　head　shecarried　an　earthen　pitcher　of　antique　shape　filled　with　water。　Herfeet　were　bare；　her　short　frock　and　her　white　sleeves　were　torn。　Ikissed　her　pretty　round　shoulders；　her　dark　eyes；　and　black　shininghair。　She　mounted　the　stairs；　they　were　steep；　having　been　made　upof　rough　blocks　of　broken　marble　and　the　capital　of　a　fallen　pillar。The　coloured　lizards　slipped　away；　startled；　from　before　her　feet；　butshe　was　not　frightened　at　them。　Already　she　lifted　her　hand　to　pullthe　door…bell…　a　hare's　foot　fastened　to　a　string　formed　thebell…handle　of　the　imperial　palace。　She　paused　for　a　moment…　of　whatmight　she　be　thinking？　Perhaps　of　the　beautiful　Christ…child；dressed　in　gold　and　silver；　which　was　down　below　in　the　chapel；where　the　silver　candlesticks　gleamed　so　bright；　and　where　herlittle　friends　sung　the　hymns　in　which　she　also　could　join？　I　knownot。　Presently　she　moved　again…　she　stumbled：　the　earthen　vesselfell　from　her　head；　and　broke　on　the　marble　steps。　She　burst　intotears。　The　beautiful　daughter　of　the　imperial　palace　wept　over　theworthless　broken　pitcher；　with　her　bare　feet　she　stood　thereweeping；　and　dared　not　pull　the　string；　the　bell…rope　of　theimperial　palace！〃

　TWENTIETH　EVENING

It　was　more　than　a　fortnight　since　the　Moon　had　shone。　Now　hestood　once　more；　round　and　bright；　above　the　clouds；　moving　slowlyonward。　Hear　what　the　Moon　told　me。

〃From　a　town　in　Fezzan　I　followed　a　caravan。　On　the　margin　ofthe　sandy　desert；　in　a　salt　plain；　that　shone　like　a　frozen　lake；and　was　only　covered　in　spots　with　light　drifting　sand；　a　halt　wasmade。　The　eldest　of　the　pany…　the　water　gourd　hung　at　his　girdle；and　on　his　head　was　a　little　bag　of　unleavened　bread…　drew　a　square　inthe　sand　with　his　staff；　and　wrote　in　it　a　few　words　out　of　the　Koran；and　then　the　whole　caravan　passed　over　the　consecrated　spot。　A　youngmerchant；　a　child　of　the　East；　as　I　could　tell　by　his　eye　and　hisfigure；　rode　pensively　forward　on　his　white　snorting　steed。　Was　hethinking；　perchance；　of　his　fair　young　wife？　It　was　only　two　daysago　that　the　camel；　adorned　with　furs　and　with　costly　shawls；　hadcarried　her；　the　beauteous　bride；　round　the　walls　of　the　city；　whiledrums　and　cymbals　had　sounded；　the　women　sang；　and　festive　shots；　ofwhich　the　bridegroom　fired　the　greatest　number；　resounded　round　thecamel；　and　now　he　was　journeying　with　the　caravan　across　the　desert。

〃For　many　nights　I　followed　the　train。　I　saw　them　rest　by　thewellside　among　the　stunted　palms；　they　thrust　the　knife　into　thebreast　of　the　camel　that　had　fallen；　and　roasted　its　flesh　by　thefire。　My　beams　cooled　the　glowing　sands；　and　showed　them　the　blackrocks；　dead　islands　in　the　immense　ocean　of　sand。　No　hostile　tribesmet　them　in　their　pathless　route；　no　storms　arose；　no　columns　ofsand　whirled　destruction　over　the　journeying　caravan。　At　home　thebeautiful　wife　prayed　for　her　husband　and　her　father。　'Are　they　dead？'she　asked　of　my　golden　crescent；　'Are　they　dead？'　she　cried　to　my　fulldisc。　Now　the　desert　lies　behind　them。　This　evening　they　sit　beneaththe　lofty　palm　trees；　where　the　crane　flutters　round　them　with　itslong　wings；　and　the　pelican　watches　them　from　the　branches　of　themimosa。　The　luxuriant　herbage　is　trampled　down；　crushed　by　the　feet　ofelephants。　A　troop　of　negroes　are　returning　from　a　market　in　theinterior　of　the　land：　the　women；　with　copper　buttons　in　their　blackhair；　and　decked　out　in　clothes　dyed　with　indigo；　drive　theheavily…laden　oxen；　on　whose　backs　slumber　the　naked　black　children。　Anegro　leads　a　young　lion　which　he　has　brought；　by　a　string。　Theyapproach　the　caravan；　the　young　merchant　sits　pensive　andmotionless；　thinking　of　his　beautiful　wife；　dreaming；　in　the　land　ofthe　blacks；　of　his　white　lily　beyond　the　desert。　He　raises　his　head；and…　〃　But　at　this　moment　a　cloud　passed　before　the　Moon；　and　thenanother。　I　heard　nothing　more　from　him　this　evening。

TWENTY…FIRST　EVENING

〃I　saw　a　little　girl　weeping；〃　said　the　Moon；　〃she　was　weepingover　the　depravity　of　the　world。　She　had　received　a　most　beautifuldoll　as　a　present。　Oh；　that　was　a　glorious　doll；　so　fair　and　delicate！She　did　not　seem　created　for　the　sorrows　of　this　world。　But　thebrothers　of　the　little　girl；　those　great　naughty　boys；　had　set　thedoll　high　up　in　the　branches　of