安徒生童话-第47部分

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ks　without　anyresistance　on　their　parts；　I　can　tell　you。　There　they　stay；　and　darenot　attempt　to　e　out　until　I　allow　them　to　do　so。　And　here　esone　of　them。〃

It　was　the　North　Wind　who　came　in；　bringing　with　him　a　cold；piercing　blast；　large　hailstones　rattled　on　the　floor；　andsnowflakes　were　scattered　around　in　all　directions。　He　wore　a　bearskindress　and　cloak。　His　sealskin　cap　was　drawn　over　his　ears；　longicicles　hung　from　his　beard；　and　one　hailstone　after　another　rolledfrom　the　collar　of　his　jacket。

〃Don't　go　too　near　the　fire；〃　said　the　prince；　〃or　your　handsand　face　will　be　frost…bitten。〃

〃Frost…bitten！〃　said　the　North　Wind；　with　a　loud　laugh；　〃why　frostis　my　greatest　delight。　What　sort　of　a　little　snip　are　you；　and　howdid　you　find　your　way　to　the　cavern　of　the　Winds？〃

〃He　is　my　guest；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃and　if　you　are　notsatisfied　with　that　explanation　you　can　go　into　the　sack。　Do　youunderstand　me？〃

That　settled　the　matter。　So　the　North　Wind　began　to　relate　hisadventures；　whence　he　came；　and　where　he　had　been　for　a　whole　month。〃I　e　from　the　polar　seas；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　been　on　the　Bear'sIsland　with　the　Russian　walrus…hunters。　I　sat　and　slept　at　the　helm　oftheir　ship；　as　they　sailed　away　from　North　Cape。　Sometimes　when　Iwoke；　the　storm…birds　would　fly　about　my　legs。　They　are　curious　birds；they　give　one　flap　with　their　wings；　and　then　on　their　outstretchedpinions　soar　far　away。

〃Don't　make　such　a　long　story　of　it；〃　said　the　mother　of　thewinds；　〃what　sort　of　a　place　is　Bear's　Island？〃

〃A　very　beautiful　place；　with　a　floor　for　dancing　as　smooth　andflat　as　a　plate。　Half…melted　snow；　partly　covered　with　moss；　sharpstones；　and　skeletons　of　walruses　and　polar…bears；　lie　all　about；their　gigantic　limbs　in　a　state　of　green　decay。　It　would　seem　as　ifthe　sun　never　shone　there。　I　blew　gently；　to　clear　away　the　mist；and　then　I　saw　a　little　hut；　which　had　been　built　from　the　wood　of　awreck；　and　was　covered　with　the　skins　of　the　walrus；　the　fleshy　sideoutwards；　it　looked　green　and　red；　and　on　the　roof　sat　a　growlingbear。　Then　I　went　to　the　sea　shore；　to　look　after　birds'　nests；　andsaw　the　unfledged　nestlings　opening　their　mouths　and　screaming　forfood。　I　blew　into　the　thousand　little　throats；　and　quickly　stoppedtheir　screaming。　Farther　on　were　the　walruses　with　pig's　heads；　andteeth　a　yard　long；　rolling　about　like　great　worms。

〃You　relate　your　adventures　very　well；　my　son；〃　said　the　mother；〃it　makes　my　mouth　water　to　hear　you。

〃After　that；〃　continued　the　North　Wind；　〃the　hunting　menced。The　harpoon　was　flung　into　the　breast　of　the　walrus；　so　that　a　smokingstream　of　blood　spurted　forth　like　a　fountain；　and　besprinkled　theice。　Then　I　thought　of　my　own　game；　I　began　to　blow；　and　set　my　ownships；　the　great　icebergs　sailing；　so　that　they　might　crush　the　boats。Oh；　how　the　sailors　howled　and　cried　out！　but　I　howled　louder　thanthey。　They　were　obliged　to　unload　their　cargo；　and　throw　theirchests　and　the　dead　walruses　on　the　ice。　Then　I　sprinkled　snow　overthem；　and　left　them　in　their　crushed　boats　to　drift　southward；　andto　taste　salt　water。　They　will　never　return　to　Bear's　Island。〃

〃So　you　have　done　mischief；〃　said　the　mother　of　the　Winds。

〃I　shall　leave　others　to　tell　the　good　I　have　done；〃　he　replied。〃But　here　es　my　brother　from　the　West；　I　like　him　best　of　all；for　he　has　the　smell　of　the　sea　about　him；　and　brings　in　a　cold；　freshair　as　he　enters。〃

〃Is　that　the　little　Zephyr？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃Yes；　it　is　the　little　Zephyr；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃but　he　is　notlittle　now。　In　years　gone　by　he　was　a　beautiful　boy；　now　that　is　allpast。〃

He　came　in；　looking　like　a　wild　man；　and　he　wore　a　slouched　hat　toprotect　his　head　from　injury。　In　his　hand　he　carried　a　club；　cutfrom　a　mahogany　tree　in　the　American　forests；　not　a　trifle　to　carry。

〃Whence　do　you　e？〃　asked　the　mother。

〃I　e　from　the　wilds　of　the　forests；　where　the　thorny　bramblesform　thick　hedges　between　the　trees；　where　the　water…snake　lies　in　thewet　grass；　and　mankind　seem　to　be　unknown。〃

〃What　were　you　doing　there？〃

〃I　looked　into　the　deep　river；　and　saw　it　rushing　down　from　therocks。　The　water　drops　mounted　to　the　clouds　and　glittered　in　therainbow。　I　saw　the　wild　buffalo　swimming　in　the　river；　but　thestrong　tide　carried　him　away　amidst　a　flock　of　wild　ducks；　whichflew　into　the　air　as　the　waters　dashed　onwards；　leaving　the　buffalo　tobe　hurled　over　the　waterfall。　This　pleased　me；　so　I　raised　a　storm；which　rooted　up　old　trees；　and　sent　them　floating　down　the　river。〃

〃And　what　else　have　you　done？〃　asked　the　old　woman。

〃I　have　rushed　wildly　across　the　savannahs；　I　have　stroked　thewild　horses；　and　shaken　the　cocoa…nuts　from　the　trees。　Yes；　I　havemany　stories　to　relate；　but　I　need　not　tell　everything　I　know。　Youknow　it　all　very　well；　don't　you；　old　lady？〃　And　he　kissed　hismother　so　roughly；　that　she　nearly　fell　backwards。　Oh；　he　was；　indeed；a　wild　fellow。

Now　in　came　the　South　Wind；　with　a　turban　and　a　flowing　Bedouincloak。

〃How　cold　it　is　here！〃　said　he；　throwing　more　wood　on　the　fire。〃It　is　easy　to　feel　that　the　North　Wind　has　arrived　here　before　me。〃

〃Why　it　is　hot　enough　here　to　roast　a　bear；〃　said　the　North　Wind。

〃You　are　a　bear　yourself；〃　said　the　other。

〃Do　you　want　to　be　put　in　the　sack；　both　of　you？〃　said　the　oldwoman。　〃Sit　down；　now；　on　that　stone；　yonder；　and　tell　me　where　youhave　been。〃

〃In　Africa；　mother。　I　went　out　with　the　Hottentots；　who　werelion…hunting　in　the　Kaffir　land；　where　the　plains　are　covered　withgrass　the　color　of　a　green　olive；　and　here　I　ran　races　with　theostrich；　but　I　soon　outstripped　him　in　swiftness。　At　last　I　came　tothe　desert；　in　which　lie　the　golden　sands；　looking　like　the　bottomof　the　sea。　Here　I　met　a　caravan；　and　the　travellers　had　just　killedtheir　last　camel；　to　obtain　water；　there　was　very　little　for　them；　andthey　continued　their　painful　journey　beneath　the　burning　sun；　and　overthe　hot　sands；　which　stretched　before　them　a　vast；　boundless　desert。Then　I　rolled　myself　in　the　loose　sand；　and　whirled　it　in　burningcolumns　over　their　heads。　The　dromedarys　stood　still　in　terror；while　the　merchants　drew　their　caftans　over　their　heads；　and　threwthemselves　on　the　ground　before　me；　as　they　do　before　Allah；　theirgod。　Then　I　buried　them　beneath　a　pyramid　of　sand；　which　covers　themall。　When　I　blow　that　away　on　my　next　visit；　the　sun　will　bleach　theirbones；　and　travellers　will　see　that　others　have　been　there　beforethem；　otherwise；　in　such　a　wild　desert；　they　might　not　believe　itpossible。〃

〃So　you　have　done　nothing　but　evil；〃　said　the　mother。　〃Into　thesack　with　you；〃　and；　before　he　was　aware；　she　had　seized　the　SouthWind　round　the　body；　and　popped　him　into　the　bag。　He　rolled　about　onthe　floor；　till　she　sat　herself　upon　him　to　keep　him　still。

〃These　boys　of　yours　are　very　lively；〃　said　the　prince。

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　〃but　I　know　how　to　correct　them；　whennecessary；　and　here　es　the　fourth。〃　In　came　the　East　Wind；dressed　like　a　Chinese。

〃Oh；　you　e　from　that　quarter；　do　you？〃　said　she；　〃I　thought　youhad　been　to　the　garden　of　paradise。〃

〃I　am　going　there　to…morrow；〃　he　replied；　〃I　have　not　been　therefor　a　hundred　years。　I　have　just　e　from　China；　where　I　danced　roundthe　porcelain　tower　till　all　the　bells　jingled　again。　In　the　streetsan　official　flogging　was　taking　place；　and　bamboo　canes　were　beingbroken　on　the　shoulders　of　men　of　every　high　position；　from　thefirst　to　the　ninth　grade。　They　cried；　'Many　thanks；　my　fatherlybenefactor；'　but　I　am　sure　the　words　did　not　e　from　their　hearts；so　I　rang　the　bells　till　they　sounded；　'ding；　ding…dong。'〃

〃You　are　a　wild　boy；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃it　is　well　for　you　thatyou　are　going　to…morrow　to　the　garden　of　paradise；　you　always　getimproved　in　your　education　there。　Drink　deeply　from　the　fountain　ofwisdom　while　you　are　there；　and　bring　home　a　bottleful　for　me。〃

〃That　I　will；〃　said　the　East　Wind；　〃but　why　have　you　put　mybrother　South　in　a　bag？　Let　him　out；　for　I　want　him　to　tell　me　aboutthe　phoenix…bird。　The　princess　always　wants　to　hear　of　this　birdwhen　I　pay　her　my　visit　every　hundred　years。　If　you　will　open　thesack；　sweetest　mother；　I　will　give　you　two　pocketfuls　of　tea；　greenand　fresh　as　when　I　gathered　it　from　the　spot　where　it　grew。〃

〃Well；　for　the　sake　of　the　tea；　and　because　you　are　my　own　boy；I　will　open　the　bag。〃

She　did　so；　and　the　South　Wind　crept　out；　looking　quite　cast　down；because　the　prince　had　seen　his　disgrace。

〃There　is　a　palm…leaf　for　the　princess；〃　he　said。　〃The　oldphoenix；　the　only　one　in　the　world；　gave　it　to　me　himself。　He　hasscratched　on　it　with　his　beak　the　whole　of　his　history　during　thehundred　years　he　has　lived。　She　can　there　read　how　the　old　phoenix　setfire　to　his　own　nest；　and　sat　upon　it　while　it　was　burning；　like　aHindoo　widow。　The　dry　twigs　around　the　nest　crackled　and　smoked　tillthe　flames　burst　forth　and　consumed　the　phoenix　to　ashes。　Amidst　thefire　lay　an　egg；　red　hot；　which　presently　burst　with　a　loud　report；and　out　flew　a　young　bird。　He　is　the　only　phoenix　in　the　world；　andthe　king　over　all　the　other　birds。　He　has　bitten　a　hole　in　the　leafwhich　I　give　you；　and　that　is　his　greeting　to　the　princess。〃

〃Now　let　us　have　something　to　eat；〃　said　the　mother　of　theWinds。　So　they　all　sat　down　to　feast　on　the　roasted　stag；　and　as　theprince　sat　by　the　side　of　the　East　Wind；　they　soon　became　goodfriends。

〃Pray　tell　me；〃　said　the　prince；　〃who　is　that　princess　of　whom　youhave　been　talking！　and　where　lies　the　garden　of　paradise？〃

〃Ho！　ho！〃　said　the　East　Wind；　〃would　you　like　to　go　there？　Well；you　can　fly　off　with　me　to…morrow；　but　I　must　tell　you　one　thing…　nohuman　being　has　been　there　since　the　time　of　Adam　and　Eve。　I　supposeyou　have　read　of　them　in　your　Bible。〃

〃Of　course　I　have；〃　said　the　prince。

〃Well；〃　continued　the　East　Wind；　〃when　they　were　driven　out　of　thegarden　of　paradise；　it　sunk　into　the　earth；　but　it　retained　its　warmsunshine；　its　balmy　air；　and　all　its　splendor。　The　fairy　queen　livesthere；　in　the　island　of　happiness；　where　death　never　es；　and　all　isbeautiful。　I　can　manage　to　take　you　there　to…morrow；　if　you　will　siton　my　back。　But　now　don't　talk　any　more；　for　I　want　to　go　to　sleep；〃and　then　they　all　slept。

When　the　prince　awoke　in　the　early　morning；　he　was　not　a　littlesurprised　at　finding　himself　high　up　above　the　clouds。　He　was　seatedon　the　back　of　the　East　Wind；　who　held　him　faithfully；　and　they　wereso　high　in　the　air　that　woods　and　fields；　rivers　and　lakes；　as　theylay　beneath　them；　looked　like　a　painted　map。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　East　Wind。　〃You　might　have　slept　on　awhile；　for　there　is　very　little　to　see　in　the　flat　country　overwhich　we　are　passing　unless　you　like　to　count　the　churches；　theylook　like　spots　of　chalk　on　a　green　board。〃　The　green　board　was　thename　he　gave　to　the　green　fields　and　meadows。

〃It　was　very　rude　of　me　not　to　say　good…bye　to　your　mother　andyour　brothers；〃　said　the　prince。

〃They　will　excuse　you；　as　you　were　asleep；〃　said　the　East　Wind；and　then　they　flew　on　faster　than　ever。

The　leaves　and　branches　of　the　trees　rustled　as　they　passed。When　they　flew　over　seas　and　lakes；　the　waves　rose　higher；　and　thelarge　ships　dipped　into　the　water　like　diving　swans。　As　darknesscame　on；　towards　evening；　the　great　towns　looked　charming；　lights　weresparkling；　now　seen　now　hidden；　just　as　the　sparks　go　out　one　afteranother　on　a　piece　of　burnt　paper。　The　prince　clapped　his　hands　withpleasure；　but　the　East　Wind　advised　him　not　to　express　hisadmiration　in　that　manner；　or　he　might　fall　down；　and　find　himselfhanging　on　a　church　steeple。　The　eagle　in　the　dark　forests　fliesswiftly；　but　faster　than　he　flew　the　East　Wind。　The　Cossack；　on　hissmall　horse；　rides　lightly　o'er　the　plains；　but　lighter　still　passedthe　prince　on　the　winds　of　the　wind。

〃There　are　the　Himalayas；　the　highest　mountains　in　Asia；〃　said　theEast　Wind。　〃We　shall　soon　reach　the　garden　of　paradise　now。〃

Then；　they　turned　southward；　and　the　air　became　fragrant　withthe　perfume　of　spices　and　flowers。　Here　figs　and　pomegranates　grewwild；　and　the　vines　were　covered　with　clusters　of　blue　and　purplegrapes。　Here　they　both　descended　to　the　earth；　and　stretchedthemselves　on　the　soft　grass；　while　the　flowers　bowed　to　the　breath　ofthe　wind　as　if　to　wele　it。　〃Are　we　now　in　the　garden　ofparadise？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃No；　indeed；〃　replied　the　East　Wind；　〃but　we　shall　be　there　verysoon。　Do　you　see　that　wall　of　rocks；　and　the　cavern　beneath　it；　overwhich　the　grape　vines　hang　like　a　green　curtain？　Through　that　cavernwe　must　pass。　Wrap　your　cloak　round　you；　for　while　the　sun　scorchesyou　here；　a　few　steps　farther　it　will　be　icy　cold。　The　bird　flyingpast　the　entrance　to　the　cavern　feels　as　if　one　wing　were　in　theregion　of　summer；　and　the　other　in　the　depths　of　winter。〃

〃So　this　then　is　the　way　to　the　garden　of　paradise？〃　asked　theprince；　as　they　entered　the　cavern。　It　was　indeed　cold；　but　the　coldsoon　passed；　for　the　East　Wind　spread　his　wings；　and　they　gleamed　likethe　brightest　fire。　As　they　passed　on　through　this　wonderful　cave；　theprince　could　see　great　blocks　of　stone；　from　which　water　trickled；hanging　over　their　heads　in　fantastic　shapes。　Sometimes　it　was　sonarrow　that　they　had　to　creep　on　their　hands　and　knees；　while　at　othertimes　it　was　lofty　and　wide；　like　the　free　air。　It　had　theappearance　of　a　chapel　for　the　dead；　with　petrified　organs　andsilent　pipes。　〃We　seem　to　be　passing　through　the　valley　of　death　tothe　garden　of　paradise；〃　said　the　prince。

But　the　East　Wind　answered　not　a　word；　only　pointed　forwards　toa　lovely　blue　light　which　gleamed　in　the　distance。　The　blocks　of　stoneassumed　a　misty　appearance；　till　at　last　they　looked　like　white　cloudsin　moonlight。　The　air　was　fresh　and　balmy；　like　a　breeze　from　themountains　perfumed　with　flowers　from　a　valley　of　roses。　A　river；　clearas　the　air　itself；　sparkled　at　their　feet；　while　in　its　clear　depthscould　be　seen　gold　and　silver　fish　sporting　in　the　bright　water；　andpurple　eels　emitting　sparks　of　fire　at　every　moment；　while　the　broadleaves　of　the　water…lilies；　that　floated　on　its　surface；　flickeredwith　all　the　colors　of　the　rainbow。　The　flower　in　its　color　of　flameseemed　to　receive　its　nourishment　from　the　water；　as　a　lamp　issustained　by　oil。　A　marble　bridge；　of　such　exquisite　workmanshipthat　it　appeared　as　if　formed　of　lace　and　pearls；　led　to　the　island　ofhappiness；　in　which　bloomed　the　garden　of　paradise。　The　East　Wind　tookthe　prince　in　his　arms；　and　carried　him　over；　while　the　flowers　andthe　leaves　sang　the　sweet　songs　of　his　childhood　in　tones　so　fulland　soft　that　no　human　voice　could　venture　to　imitate。　Within　thegarden　grew　large　trees；　full　of　sap；　but　whether　they　were　palm…treesor　gigantic　water…plants；　the　prince　knew　not。　The　climbing　plantshung　in　garlands　of　green　and　gold；　like　the　illuminations　on　themargins　of　old　missals　or　twined　among　the　initial　letters。　Birds；flowers；　and　festoons　appeared　intermingled　in　seeming　confusion。Close　by；　on　the　grass；　stood　a　group　of　peacocks；　with　radianttails　outspread　to　the　sun。　The　prince　touched　them；　and　found；　to　hissurprise；　that　they　were　not　really　birds；　but　the　leaves　of　theburdock　tree；　which　shone　with　the　colors　of　a　peacock's　tail。　Thelion　and　the　tiger；　gentle　and　tame；　were　springing　about　like　playfulcats　among　the　green　bushes；　whose　perfume　was　like　the　fragrantblossom　of　the　olive。　The　plumage　of　the　wood…pigeon　glistened　likepe