安徒生童话-第25部分

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　Lord　Grubbe's　stonemansion　in　Aarhuus。　Grubbe　was　not　well　pleased　with　this　visit。　Mariewas　accosted　in　hard　words；　but　she　had　a　bedroom　given　her；　and　gother　beer　soup　of　a　morning；　but　the　evil　part　of　her　father's　naturewas　aroused　against　her；　and　she　was　not　used　to　that。　She　was　notof　a　gentle　temper；　and　we　often　answer　as　we　are　addressed。　Sheanswered　openly；　and　spoke　with　bitterness　and　hatred　of　herhusband；　with　whom　she　declared　she　would　not　live；　she　was　toohonorable　for　that。

A　year　went　by；　but　it　did　not　go　by　pleasantly。　There　were　evilwords　between　the　father　and　the　daughter；　and　that　ought　never　to　be。Bad　words　bear　bad　fruit。　What　could　be　the　end　of　such　a　state　ofthings？

〃We　two　cannot　live　under　the　same　roof；〃　said　the　father　one　day。〃Go　away　from　here　to　our　old　manor　house；　but　you　had　better　biteyour　tongue　off　than　spread　any　lies　among　the　people。〃

And　so　the　two　parted。　She　went　with　her　maid　to　the　old　castlewhere　she　had　been　born；　and　near　which　the　gentle；　pious　lady；　hermother；　was　lying　in　the　church　vault。　An　old　cowherd　lived　in　thecourtyard；　and　was　the　only　other　inhabitant　of　the　place。　In　therooms　heavy　black　cobwebs　hung　down；　covered　with　dust；　in　thegarden　everything　grew　just　as　it　would；　hops　and　climbing　plantsran　like　a　　between　the　trees　and　bushes；　and　the　hemlock　andtle　grew　larger　and　stronger。　The　blood…beech　had　been　outgrownby　other　trees；　and　now　stood　in　the　shade；　and　its　leaves　weregreen　like　those　of　the　mon　trees；　and　its　glory　had　departed。Crows　and　choughs；　in　great　close　masses；　flew　past　over　the　tallchestnut　trees；　and　chattered　and　screamed　as　if　they　had　somethingvery　important　to　tell　one　another…　as　if　they　were　saying；　〃Now　she'se　back　again；　the　little　girl　who　had　their　eggs　and　their　youngones　stolen　from　them；　and　as　for　the　thief　who　had　got　them　down；he　had　to　climb　up　a　leafless　tree；　for　he　sat　on　a　tall　ship'smast；　and　was　beaten　with　a　rope's　end　if　he　did　not　behave　himself。〃

The　clerk　told　all　this　in　our　own　times；　he　had　collected　itand　looked　it　up　in　books　and　memoranda。　It　was　to　be　found；　with　manyother　writings；　locked　up　in　his　table…drawer。

〃Upward　and　downward　is　the　course　of　the　world；〃　said　he。　〃Itis　strange　to　hear。

And　we　will　hear　how　it　went　with　Marie　Grubbe。　We　need　not　forthat　forget　Poultry　Meg；　who　is　sitting　in　her　capital　hen…house；　inour　own　time。　Marie　Grubbe　sat　down　in　her　times；　but　not　with　thesame　spirit　that　old　Poultry　Meg　showed。

The　winter　passed　away；　and　the　spring　and　the　summer　passed　away；and　the　autumn　came　again；　with　the　damp；　cold　sea…fog。　It　was　alonely；　desolate　life　in　the　old　manor　house。　Marie　Grubbe　took　hergun　in　her　hand　and　went　out　to　the　heath；　and　shot　hares　and　foxes；and　whatever　birds　she　could　hit。　More　than　once　she　met　the　noble　SirPalle　Dyre；　of　Norrebak；　who　was　also　wandering　about　with　his　gun　andhis　dogs。　He　was　tall　and　strong；　and　boasted　of　this　when　they　talkedtogether。　He　could　have　measured　himself　against　the　deceased　Mr。Brockenhuus；　of　Egeskov；　of　whom　the　people　still　talked。　Palle　Dyrehad；　after　the　example　of　Brockenhuus；　caused　an　iron　chain　with　ahunting…horn　to　be　hung　in　his　gateway；　and　when　he　came　ridinghome；　he　used　to　seize　the　chain；　and　lift　himself　and　his　horsefrom　the　ground；　and　blow　the　horn。

〃e　yourself；　and　see　me　do　that；　Dame　Marie；〃　he　said。　'One　canbreathe　fresh　and　free　at　Norrebak。

When　she　went　to　his　castle　is　not　known；　but　on　the　altarcandlestick　in　the　church　of　Norrebak　it　was　inscribed　that　theywere　the　gift　of　Palle　Dyre　and　Marie　Grubbe；　of　Norrebak　Castle。

A　great　stout　man　was　Palle　Dyre。　He　drank　like　a　sponge。　He　waslike　a　tub　that　could　never　get　full；　he　snored　like　a　whole　sty　ofpigs；　and　he　looked　red　and　bloated。

〃He　is　treacherous　and　malicious；〃　said　Dame　Pally　Dyre；Grubbe's　daughter。　Soon　she　was　weary　of　her　life　with　him；　but　thatdid　not　make　it　better。

One　day　the　table　was　spread；　and　the　dishes　grew　cold。　Palle　Dyrewas　out　hunting　foxes；　and　the　gracious　lady　was　nowhere　to　befound。　Towards　midnight　Palle　Dyre　came　home；　but　Dame　Dyre　cameneither　at　midnight；　nor　next　morning。　She　had　turned　her　back　uponNorrebak；　and　had　ridden　away　without　saying　good…bye。

It　was　gray；　wet　weather；　the　wind　grew　cold；　and　a　flight　ofblack　screaming　birds　flew　over　her　head。　They　were　not　so　homeless　asshe。

First　she　journeyed　southward；　quite　down　into　the　German　land。A　couple　of　golden　rings　with　costly　stones　were　turned　into　money；and　then　she　turned　to　the　east；　and　then　she　turned　again　and　wenttowards　the　west。　She　had　no　food　before　her　eyes；　and　murmuredagainst　everything；　even　against　the　good　God　himself；　so　wretched　washer　soul。　Soon　her　body　became　wretched　too；　and　she　was　scarcely　ableto　move　a　foot。　The　peewit　flew　up　as　she　stumbled　over　the　mound　ofearth　where　it　had　built　its　nest。　The　bird　cried；　as　it　always　cried；〃You　thief！　you　thief！〃　She　had　never　stolen　her　neighbor's　goods；　butas　a　little　girl　she　had　caused　eggs　and　young　birds　to　be　takenfrom　the　trees；　and　she　thought　of　that　now。

From　where　she　lay　she　could　see　the　sand…dunes。　By　the　seashorelived　fishermen；　but　she　could　not　get　so　far；　she　was　so　ill。　Thegreat　white　sea…mews　flew　over　her　head；　and　screamed　as　the　crows　anddaws　screamed　at　home　in　the　garden　of　the　manor　house。　The　birds　flewquite　close　to　her；　and　at　last　it　seemed　to　her　as　if　they　becameblack　as　crows；　and　then　all　was　night　before　her　eyes。

When　she　opened　her　eyes　again；　she　was　being　lifted　andcarried。　A　great　strong　man　had　taken　her　up　in　his　arms；　and　shewas　looking　straight　into　his　bearded　face。　He　had　a　scar　over　oneeye；　which　seemed　to　divide　the　eyebrow　into　two　parts。　Weak　as　shewas；　he　carried　her　to　the　ship；　where　he　got　a　rating　for　it　from　thecaptain。

The　next　day　the　ship　sailed　away。　Madame　Grubbe　had　not　beenput　ashore；　so　she　sailed　away　with　it。　But　she　will　return；　willshe　not？　Yes；　but　where；　and　when？

The　clerk　could　tell　about　this　too；　and　it　was　not　a　storywhich　he　patched　together　himself。　He　had　the　whole　strange　historyout　of　an　old　authentic　book；　which　we　ourselves　can　take　out　andread。　The　Danish　historian；　Ludwig　Holberg；　who　has　written　so　manyuseful　books　and　merry　edies；　from　which　we　can　get　such　a　goodidea　of　his　times　and　their　people；　tells　in　his　letters　of　MarieGrubbe；　where　and　how　he　met　her。　It　is　well　worth　hearing；　but　forall　that；　we　don't　at　all　forget　Poultry　Meg；　who　is　sittingcheerful　and　fortable　in　the　charming　fowl…house。

The　ship　sailed　away　with　Marie　Grubbe。　That's　where　we　left　off。

Long　years　went　by。

The　plague　was　raging　at　Copenhagen；　it　was　in　the　year　1711。The　Queen　of　Denmark　went　away　to　her　German　home；　the　King　quittedthe　capital；　and　everybody　who　could　do　so　hurried　away。　The　students；even　those　who　had　board　and　lodging　gratis；　left　the　city。　One　ofthese　students；　the　last　who　had　remained　in　the　free　college；　at　lastwent　away　too。　It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。　He　was　carryinghis　knapsack；　which　was　better　stacked　with　books　and　writings　thanwith　clothes。　A　damp　mist　hung　over　the　town；　not　a　person　was　to　beseen　in　the　streets；　the　street…doors　around　were　marked　with　crosses；as　a　sign　that　the　plague　was　within；　or　that　all　the　inmates　weredead。　A　great　wagon　rattled　past　him；　the　coachman　brandished　hiswhip；　and　the　horses　flew　by　at　a　gallop。　The　wagon　was　filled　withcorpses。　The　young　student　kept　his　hand　before　his　face；　and　smelt　atsome　strong　spirits　that　he　had　with　him　on　a　sponge　in　a　little　brassscent…case。　Out　of　a　small　tavern　in　one　of　the　streets　there　weresounds　of　singing　and　of　unhallowed　laughter；　from　people　who　drankthe　night　through　to　forget　that　the　plague　was　at　their　doors；　andthat　they　might　be　put　into　the　wagon　as　the　others　had　been。　Thestudent　turned　his　steps　towards　the　canal　at　the　castle　bridge；　wherea　couple　of　small　ships　were　lying；　one　of　these　was　weighinganchor；　to　get　away　from　the　plague…stricken　city。

〃If　God　spares　our　lives　and　grants　us　a　fair　wind；　we　are　goingto　Gronmud；　near　Falster；〃　said　the　captain；　and　he　asked　the　nameof　the　student　who　wished　to　go　with　him。

〃Ludwig　Holberg；〃　answered　the　student；　and　the　name　soundedlike　any　other。　But　now　there　sounds　in　it　one　of　the　proudest　namesof　Denmark；　then　it　was　the　name　of　a　young；　unknown　student。

The　ship　glided　past　the　castle。　It　was　not　yet　bright　day　when　itwas　in　the　open　sea。　A　light　wind　filled　the　sails；　and　the　youngstudent　sat　down　with　his　face　turned　towards　the　fresh　wind；　and　wentto　sleep；　which　was　not　exactly　the　most　prudent　thing　he　could　havedone。

Already　on　the　third　day　the　ship　lay　by　the　island　of　Falster。

〃Do　you　know　any　one　here　with　whom　I　could　lodge　cheaply？〃Holberg　asked　the　captain。

〃I　should　think　you　would　do　well　to　go　to　the　ferry…woman　inBorrehaus；〃　answered　the　captain。　〃If　you　want　to　be　very　civil　toher；　her　name　is　Mother　Soren　Sorensen　Muller。　But　it　may　happenthat　she　may　fly　into　a　fury　if　you　are　too　polite　to　her。　The　manis　in　custody　for　a　crime；　and　that's　why　she　manages　the　ferry…boatherself…　she　has　fists　of　her　own。〃

The　student　took　his　knapsack　and　betook　himself　to　theferry…house。　The　house　door　was　not　locked…　it　opened；　and　he　wentinto　a　room　with　a　brick　floor；　where　a　bench；　with　a　great　coverletof　leather；　formed　the　chief　article　of　furniture。　A　white　hen；　whohad　a　brood　of　chickens；　was　fastened　to　the　bench；　and　had　overturnedthe　pipkin　of　water；　so　that　the　wet　ran　across　the　floor。　Therewere　no　people　either　here　or　in　the　adjoining　room；　only　a　cradlestood　there；　in　which　was　a　child。　The　ferry…boat　came　back　withonly　one　person　in　it。　Whether　that　person　was　a　man　or　a　woman　wasnot　an　easy　matter　to　determine。　The　person　in　question　was　wrapped　ina　great　cloak；　and　wore　a　kind　of　hood。　Presently　the　boat　lay　to。

It　was　a　woman　who　got　out　of　it　and　came　into　the　room。　Shelooked　very　stately　when　she　straightened　her　back；　two　proud　eyeslooked　forth　from　beneath　her　black　eyebrows。　It　was　Mother　Soren；　theferry…wife。　The　crows　and　daws　might　have　called　out　another　namefor　her；　which　we　know　better。

She　looked　morose；　and　did　not　seem　to　care　to　talk；　but　this　muchwas　settled；　that　the　student　should　board　in　her　house　for　anindefinite　time；　while　things　looked　so　bad　in　Copenhagen。

This　or　that　honest　citizen　would　often　e　to　the　ferry…housefrom　the　neighboring　little　town。　There　came　Frank　the　cutler；　andSivert　the　exciseman。　They　drank　a　mug　of　beer　in　the　ferry…house；　andused　to　converse　with　the　student；　for　he　was　a　clever　young　man；who　knew　his　〃Practica；〃　as　they　called　it；　he　could　read　Greek　andLatin；　and　was　well　up　in　learned　subjects。

〃The　less　one　knows；　the　less　it　presses　upon　one；〃　said　MotherSoren。

〃You　have　to　work　hard；〃　said　Holberg　one　day；　when　she　wasdipping　clothes　in　the　strong　soapy　water；　and　was　obliged　herselfto　split　the　logs　for　the　fire。

〃That's　my　affair；〃　she　replied。

〃Have　you　been　obliged　to　toil　in　this　way　from　your　childhood？〃

〃You　can　read　that　from　my　hands；〃　she　replied；　and　held　out　herhands；　that　were　small　indeed；　but　hard　and　strong；　with　bitten　nails。〃You　are　learned；　and　can　read。〃

At　Christmas…time　it　began　to　snow　heavily。　The　cold　came　on；the　wind　blue　sharp；　as　if　there　were　vitriol　in　it　to　wash　thepeople's　faces。　Mother　Soren　did　not　let　that　disturb　her；　she　threwher　cloak　around　her；　and　drew　her　hood　over　her　head。　Early　in　theafternoon…　it　was　already　dark　in　the　house…　she　laid　wood　and　turf　onthe　hearth；　and　then　she　sat　down　to　darn　her　stockings；　for　there　wasno　one　to　do　it　for　her。　Towards　evening　she　spoke　more　words　to　thestudent　than　it　was　customary　with　her　to　use；　she　spoke　of　herhusband。

〃He　killed　a　sailor　of　Dragor　by　mischance；　and　for　that　he　has　towork　for　three　years　in　irons。　He's　only　a　mon　sailor；　andtherefore　the　law　must　take　its　course。〃

〃The　law　is　there　for　people　of　high　rank；　too；〃　said　Holberg。

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　said　Mother　Soren；　then　she　looked　into　thefire　for　a　while；　but　after　a　time　she　began　to　speak　again。　〃Have　youheard　of　Kai　Lykke；　who　caused　a　church　to　be　pulled　down；　and　whenthe　clergyman；　Master　Martin；　thundered　from　the　pulpit　about　it；　hehad　him　put　in　irons；　and　sat　in　judgment　upon　him；　and　condemnedhim　to　death？　Yes；　and　the　clergyman　was　obliged　to　bow　his　head　tothe　stroke。　And　yet　Kai　Lykke　went　scot…free。〃

〃He　had　a　right　to　do　as　he　did　in　those　times；〃　said　Holberg；〃but　now　we　have　left　those　times　behind　us。〃

〃You　may　get　a　fool　to　believe　that；〃　cried　Mother　Soren；　andshe　got　up　and　went　into　the　room　where　the　child　lay。　She　lifted　upthe　child；　and　laid　it　down　more　fortably。　Then　she　arranged　thebed…place　of　the　student。　He　had　the　green　coverlet；　for　he　felt　thecold　more　than　she；　though　he　was　born　in　Norway。

On　New　Year's　morning　it　was　a　bright　sunshiny　day。　The　frosthad　been　so　strong；　and　was　still　so　strong；　that　the　fallen　snowhad　bee　a　hard　mass；　and　one　could　walk　upon　it。　The　bells　of　thelittle　town　were　tolling　for　church。　Student　Holberg　wrapped　himselfup　in　his　woollen　cloak；　and　wanted　to　go　to　the　town。

Over　the　ferry…house　the　crows　and　daws　were　flying　with　loudcries；　one　could　hardly　hear　the　church　bells　for　their　screaming。Mother　Soren　stood　in　front　of　the　house；　filling　a　brass　pot　withsnow；　which　she　was　going　to　put　on　the　fire　to　get　drinking　water。She　looked　up　to　the　crowd　of　birds；　and　thought　her　own　thoughts。

Student　Holberg　went　to　church。　On　his　way　there　and　on　his　returnhe　passed　by　the　house　of　tax…collector　Sivert；　by　the　town…gate。　Herehe　was　invited　to　take　a　mug　of　brown　beer　with　treacle　and　sugar。　Thediscourse　fell　upon　Mother　Soren；　but　the　tax　collector　did　not　knowmuch　about　her；　and；　indeed；　few　knew　much　about　her。　She　did　notbelong　to　the　island　of　Falster；　he　said；　she　had　a　little　property　ofher　own　at　one　time。　Her　husband　was　a　mon　sailor；　a　fellow　of　avery　hot　temper；　and　had　killed　a　sailor　of　Dragor；　and　he　beat　hiswife；　and　yet　she　defended　him。

〃I　should　not　endure　such　treatment；〃　said　the　tax…collector'swife。　〃I　am　e　of　more　respectable　people。　My　father　wasstocking…weaver　to　the　Court。〃

〃And　consequently　you　have　married　a　governmental　official；〃said　Holberg；　and　made　a　bow　to　her　and　to　the　collector。

It　was　on　Twelfth　Night；　the　evening　of　the　festival　of　theThree　Kings；　Mother　Soren　lit　up　for　Holberg　a　three…king　candle；　thatis；　a　tallow　candle　with　three　wicks；　which　she　had　herself　prepared。

〃A　light　for　each　man；〃　said　Holberg。

〃For　each　man？〃　repeated　the　woman；　looking　sharply　at　him。

〃For　each　of　the　wise　men　from　the　East；〃　said　Holberg。

〃You　mean　it　that　way；〃　said　she；　and　then　she　was　silent　for　along　time。　But　on　this　evening　he　learned　more　about　her　than　he　hadyet　known。

〃You　speak　very　affectionately　of　your　husband；〃　observed　Holberg；〃and　yet　the　people　say　that　he　ill…uses　you　every　day。〃

〃That's　no　one's　business　but　mine；〃　she　replied。　〃The　blows　mighthave　done　me　good　when　I　was　a　child；　now；　I　suppose；　I　get　them　formy　sins。　But　I　know　what　good　he　has　done　me；〃　and　she　rose　up。〃When　I　lay　sick　upon　the　desolate　heath；　and　no　one　would　have　pityon　me；　and　no　one　would　have　anything　to　do　with　me；　except　the