安徒生童话-第72部分

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〃Never　once　to　my　lord　and　husband　has　a　word　passed　my　lips　ofwhat　I　have　to　suffer　through　you；　my　heart　is　full　of　grief　aboutyou；〃　said　the　Viking's　wife。　〃The　love　of　a　mother　is　greater　andmore　powerful　than　I　ever　imagined。　But　love　never　entered　thyheart；　it　is　cold　and　clammy；　like　the　plants　on　the　moor。〃

Then　the　miserable　form　trembled；　it　was　as　if　these　words　hadtouched　an　invisible　bond　between　body　and　soul；　for　great　tears　stoodin　the　eyes。

〃A　bitter　time　will　e　for　thee　at　last；〃　continued　the　Viking'swife；　〃and　it　will　be　terrible　for　me　too。　It　had　been　better　for　theeif　thou　hadst　been　left　on　the　high…road；　with　the　cold　night　windto　lull　thee　to　sleep。〃　And　the　Viking's　wife　shed　bitter　tears；　andwent　away　in　anger　and　sorrow；　passing　under　the　partition　of　furs；which　hung　loose　over　the　beam　and　divided　the　hall。

The　shrivelled　frog　still　sat　in　the　corner　alone。　Deep　silencereigned　around。　At　intervals；　a　half…stifled　sigh　was　heard　from　itsinmost　soul；　it　was　the　soul　of　Helga。　It　seemed　in　pain；　as　if　anew　life　were　arising　in　her　heart。　Then　she　took　a　step　forward　andlistened；　then　stepped　again　forward；　and　seized　with　her　clumsy　handsthe　heavy　bar　which　was　laid　across　the　door。　Gently；　and　with　muchtrouble；　she　pushed　back　the　bar；　as　silently　lifted　the　latch；　andthen　took　up　the　glimmering　lamp　which　stood　in　the　ante…chamber　ofthe　hall。　It　seemed　as　if　a　stronger　will　than　her　own　gave　herstrength。　She　removed　the　iron　bolt　from　the　closed　cellar…door；　andslipped　in　to　the　prisoner。　He　was　slumbering。　She　touched　him　withher　cold；　moist　hand；　and　as　he　awoke　and　caught　sight　of　thehideous　form；　he　shuddered　as　if　he　beheld　a　wicked　apparition。　Shedrew　her　knife；　cut　through　the　bonds　which　confined　his　hands　andfeet；　and　beckoned　to　him　to　follow　her。　He　uttered　some　holy　namesand　made　the　sign　of　the　cross；　while　the　form　remained　motionlessby　his　side。

〃Who　art　thou？〃　he　asked；　〃whose　outward　appearance　is　that　ofan　animal；　while　thou　willingly　performest　acts　of　mercy？〃

The　frog…figure　beckoned　to　him　to　follow　her；　and　led　him　througha　long　gallery　concealed　by　hanging　drapery　to　the　stables；　and　thenpointed　to　a　horse。　He　mounted　upon　it；　and　she　sprang　up　alsobefore　him；　and　held　tightly　by　the　animal's　mane。　The　prisonerunderstood　her；　and　they　rode　on　at　a　rapid　trot；　by　a　road　which　hewould　never　have　found　by　himself；　across　the　open　heath。　He　forgother　ugly　form；　and　only　thought　how　the　mercy　and　loving…kindness　ofthe　Almighty　was　acting　through　this　hideous　apparition。　As　he　offeredpious　prayers　and　sang　holy　songs　of　praise；　she　trembled。　Was　itthe　effect　of　prayer　and　praise　that　caused　this？　or；　was　sheshuddering　in　the　cold　morning　air　at　the　thought　of　approachingtwilight？　What　were　her　feelings？　She　raised　herself　up；　and　wanted　tostop　the　horse　and　spring　off；　but　the　Christian　priest　held　herback　with　all　his　might；　and　then　sang　a　pious　song；　as　if　thiscould　loosen　the　wicked　charm　that　had　changed　her　into　thesemblance　of　a　frog。

And　the　horse　galloped　on　more　wildly　than　before。　The　sky　painteditself　red；　the　first　sunbeam　pierced　through　the　clouds；　and　in　theclear　flood　of　sunlight　the　frog　became　changed。　It　was　Helga　again；young　and　beautiful；　but　with　a　wicked　demoniac　spirit。　He　held　nowa　beautiful　young　woman　in　his　arms；　and　he　was　horrified　at　thesight。　He　stopped　the　horse；　and　sprang　from　its　back。　He　imaginedthat　some　new　sorcery　was　at　work。　But　Helga　also　leaped　from　thehorse　and　stood　on　the　ground。　The　child's　short　garment　reachedonly　to　her　knee。　She　snatched　the　sharp　knife　from　her　girdle；　andrushed　like　lightning　at　the　astonished　priest。　〃Let　me　get　atthee！〃　she　cried；　〃let　me　get　at　thee；　that　I　may　plunge　this　knifeinto　thy　body。　Thou　art　pale　as　ashes；　thou　beardless　slave。〃　Shepressed　in　upon　him。　They　struggled　with　each　other　in　heavy　bat；but　it　was　as　if　an　invisible　power　had　been　given　to　the　Christian　inthe　struggle。　He　held　her　fast；　and　the　old　oak　under　which　they　stoodseemed　to　help　him；　for　the　loosened　roots　on　the　ground　becameentangled　in　the　maiden's　feet；　and　held　them　fast。　Close　by　rose　abubbling　spring；　and　he　sprinkled　Helga's　face　and　neck　with　thewater；　manded　the　unclean　spirit　to　e　forth；　and　pronounced　uponher　a　Christian　blessing。　But　the　water　of　faith　has　no　power　unlessthe　well…spring　of　faith　flows　within。　And　yet　even　here　its　power　wasshown；　something　more　than　the　mere　strength　of　a　man　opposeditself；　through　his　means；　against　the　evil　which　struggled　withinher。　His　holy　action　seemed　to　overpower　her。　She　dropped　her　arms；glanced　at　him　with　pale　cheeks　and　looks　of　amazement。　He　appeared　toher　a　mighty　magician　skilled　in　secret　arts；　his　language　was　thedarkest　magic　to　her；　and　the　movements　of　his　hands　in　the　air　wereas　the　secret　signs　of　a　magician's　wand。　She　would　not　have　blinkedhad　he　waved　over　her　head　a　sharp　knife　or　a　glittering　axe；　butshe　shrunk　from　him　as　he　signed　her　with　the　sign　of　the　cross　on　herforehead　and　breast；　and　sat　before　him　like　a　tame　bird；　with　herhead　bowed　down。　Then　he　spoke　to　her；　in　gentle　words；　of　the　deed　oflove　she　had　performed　for　him　during　the　night；　when　she　had　eto　him　in　the　form　of　an　ugly　frog；　to　loosen　his　bonds；　and　to　leadhim　forth　to　life　and　light；　and　he　told　her　that　she　was　bound　incloser　fetters　than　he　had　been；　and　that　she　could　recover　alsolife　and　light　by　his　means。　He　would　take　her　to　Hedeby　to　St。Ansgarius；　and　there；　in　that　Christian　town；　the　spell　of　thesorcerer　would　be　removed。　But　he　would　not　let　her　sit　before　himon　the　horse；　though　of　her　own　free　will　she　wished　to　do　so。　〃Thoumust　sit　behind　me；　not　before　me；〃　said　he。　〃Thy　magic　beauty　has　amagic　power　which　es　from　an　evil　origin；　and　I　fear　it；　still　I　amsure　to　overe　through　my　faith　in　Christ。〃　Then　he　knelt　down；and　prayed　with　pious　fervor。　It　was　as　if　the　quiet　woodland　were　aholy　church　consecrated　by　his　worship。　The　birds　sang　as　if　they　werealso　of　this　new　congregation；　and　the　fragrance　of　the　wild　flowerswas　as　the　ambrosial　perfume　of　incense；　while；　above　all；　sounded　thewords　of　Scripture；　〃A　light　to　them　that　sit　in　darkness　and　in　theshadow　of　death；　to　guide　their　feet　into　the　way　of　peace。〃　And　hespoke　these　words　with　the　deep　longing　of　his　whole　nature。

Meanwhile；　the　horse　that　had　carried　them　in　wild　career　stoodquietly　by；　plucking　at　the　tall　bramble…bushes；　till　the　ripe　youngberries　fell　down　upon　Helga's　hands；　as　if　inviting　her　to　eat。Patiently　she　allowed　herself　to　be　lifted　on　the　horse；　and　sat　therelike　a　somnambulist…　as　one　who　walked　in　his　sleep。　The　Christianbound　two　branches　together　with　bark；　in　the　form　of　a　cross；　andheld　it　on　high　as　they　rode　through　the　forest。　The　way　graduallygrew　thicker　of　brushwood；　as　they　rode　along；　till　at　last　itbecame　a　trackless　wilderness。　Bushes　of　the　wild　sloe　here　andthere　blocked　up　the　path；　so　that　they　had　to　ride　over　them。　Thebubbling　spring　formed　not　a　stream；　but　a　marsh；　round　which　alsothey　were　obliged　to　guide　the　horse；　still　there　were　strength　andrefreshment　in　the　cool　forest　breeze；　and　no　trifling　power　in　thegentle　words　spoken　in　faith　and　Christian　love　by　the　young　priest；whose　inmost　heart　yearned　to　lead　this　poor　lost　one　into　the　wayof　light　and　life。　It　is　said　that　rain…drops　can　make　a　hollow　in　thehardest　stone；　and　the　waves　of　the　sea　can　smooth　and　round　the　roughedges　of　the　rocks；　so　did　the　dew　of　mercy　fall　upon　Helga；　softeningwhat　was　hard；　and　smoothing　what　was　rough　in　her　character。　Theseeffects　did　not　yet　appear；　she　was　not　herself　aware　of　them；　neitherdoes　the　seed　in　the　lap　of　earth　know；　when　the　refreshing　dew　andthe　warm　sunbeams　fall　upon　it；　that　it　contains　within　itself　powerby　which　it　will　flourish　and　bloom。　The　song　of　the　mother　sinks　intothe　heart　of　the　child；　and　the　little　one　prattles　the　words　afterher；　without　understanding　their　meaning；　but　after　a　time　thethoughts　expand；　and　what　has　been　heard　in　childhood　seems　to　themind　clear　and　bright。　So　now　the　〃Word；〃　which　is　all…powerful　tocreate；　was　working　in　the　heart　of　Helga。

They　rode　forth　from　the　thick　forest；　crossed　the　heath；　andagain　entered　a　pathless　wood。　Here；　towards　evening；　they　met　withrobbers。

〃Where　hast　thou　stolen　that　beauteous　maiden？〃　cried　the　robbers；seizing　the　horse　by　the　bridle；　and　dragging　the　two　riders　fromits　back。

The　priest　had　nothing　to　defend　himself　with；　but　the　knife　hehad　taken　from　Helga；　and　with　this　he　struck　out　right　and　left。One　of　the　robbers　raised　his　axe　against　him；　but　the　young　priestsprang　on　one　side；　and　avoided　the　blow；　which　fell　with　greatforce　on　the　horse's　neck；　so　that　the　blood　gushed　forth；　and　theanimal　sunk　to　the　ground。　Then　Helga　seemed　suddenly　to　awake　fromher　long；　deep　reverie；　she　threw　herself　hastily　upon　the　dyinganimal。　The　priest　placed　himself　before　her；　to　defend　and　shelterher；　but　one　of　the　robbers　swung　his　iron　axe　against　the　Christian'shead　with　such　force　that　it　was　dashed　to　pieces；　the　blood　andbrains　were　scattered　about；　and　he　fell　dead　upon　the　ground。　Thenthe　robbers　seized　beautiful　Helga　by　her　white　arms　and　slenderwaist；　but　at　that　moment　the　sun　went　down；　and　as　its　last　raydisappeared；　she　was　changed　into　the　form　of　a　frog。　A　greenish　whitemouth　spread　half　over　her　face；　her　arms　became　thin　and　slimy；　whilebroad　hands；　with　webbed　fingers；　spread　themselves　out　like　fans。Then　the　robbers；　in　terror；　let　her　go；　and　she　stood　among　them；　ahideous　monster；　and　as　is　the　nature　of　frogs　to　do；　she　hopped　up　ashigh　as　her　own　size；　and　disappeared　in　the　thicket。　Then　the　robbersknew　that　this　must　be　the　work　of　an　evil　spirit　or　some　secretsorcery；　and；　in　a　terrible　fright；　they　ran　hastily　from　the　spot。

The　full　moon　had　already　risen；　and　was　shining　in　all　herradiant　splendor　over　the　earth；　when　from　the　thicket；　in　the　form　ofa　frog；　crept　poor　Helga。　She　stood　still　by　the　corpse　of　theChristian　priest；　and　the　carcase　of　the　dead　horse。　She　looked　atthem　with　eyes　that　seemed　to　weep；　and　from　the　frog's　head　cameforth　a　croaking　sound；　as　when　a　child　bursts　into　tears。　She　threwherself　first　upon　one；　and　then　upon　the　other；　brought　water　inher　hand；　which；　from　being　webbed；　was　large　and　hollow；　and　pouredit　over　them；　but　they　were　dead；　and　dead　they　would　remain。　Sheunderstood　that　at　last。　Soon　wild　animals　would　e　and　tear　theirdead　bodies；　but　no；　that　must　not　happen。　Then　she　dug　up　theearth；　as　deep　as　she　was　able；　that　she　might　prepare　a　grave　forthem。　She　had　nothing　but　a　branch　of　a　tree　and　her　two　hands；between　the　fingers　of　which　the　webbed　skin　stretched；　and　theywere　torn　by　the　work；　while　the　blood　ran　down　her　hands。　She　sawat　last　that　her　work　would　be　useless；　more　than　she　couldacplish；　so　she　fetched　more　water；　and　washed　the　face　of　thedead；　and　then　covered　it　with　fresh　green　leaves；　she　also　broughtlarge　boughs　and　spread　over　him；　and　scattered　dried　leaves　betweenthe　branches。　Then　she　brought　the　heaviest　stones　that　she　couldcarry；　and　laid　them　over　the　dead　body；　filling　up　the　creviceswith　moss；　till　she　thought　she　had　fenced　in　his　resting…placestrongly　enough。　The　difficult　task　had　employed　her　the　wholenight；　and　as　the　sun　broke　forth；　there　stood　the　beautiful　Helgain　all　her　loveliness；　with　her　bleeding　hands；　and；　for　the　firsttime；　with　tears　on　her　maiden　cheeks。　It　was；　in　this　transformation；as　if　two　natures　were　striving　together　within　her；　her　whole　frametrembled；　and　she　looked　around　her　as　if　she　had　just　awoke　from　apainful　dream。　She　leaned　for　support　against　the　trunk　of　a　slendertree；　and　at　last　climbed　to　the　topmost　branches；　like　a　cat；　andseated　herself　firmly　upon　them。　She　remained　there　the　whole　day；sitting　alone；　like　a　frightened　squirrel；　in　the　silent　solitude　ofthe　wood；　where　the　rest　and　stillness　is　as　the　calm　of　death。

Butterflies　fluttered　around　her；　and　close　by　were　severalant…hills；　each　with　its　hundreds　of　busy　little　creatures　movingquickly　to　and　fro。　In　the　air；　danced　myriads　of　gnats；　swarm　uponswarm；　troops　of　buzzing　flies；　ladybirds；　dragon…flies　with　goldenwings；　and　other　little　winged　creatures。　The　worm　crawled　forthfrom　the　moist　ground；　and　the　moles　crept　out；　but；　exceptingthese；　all　around　had　the　stillness　of　death：　but　when　people　saythis；　they　do　not　quite　understand　themselves　what　they　mean。　Nonenoticed　Helga　but　a　flock　of　magpies；　which　flew　chattering　roundthe　top　of　the　tree　on　which　she　sat。　These　birds　hopped　close　toher　on　the　branches　with　bold　curiosity。　A　glance　from　her　eyes　wasa　signal　to　frighten　them　away；　and　they　were　not　clever　enough　tofind　out　who　she　was；　indeed　she　hardly　knew　herself。

When　the　sun　was　near　setting；　and　the　evening's　twilight　about　tomence；　the　approaching　transformation　aroused　her　to　freshexertion。　She　let　herself　down　gently　from　the　tree；　and；　as　thelast　sunbeam　vanished；　she　stood　again　in　the　wrinkled　form　of　a　frog；with　the　torn；　webbed　skin　on　her　hands；　but　her　eyes　now　gleamed　withmore　radiant　beauty　than　they　had　ever　possessed　in　her　most　beautifulform　of　loveliness；　they　were　now　pure；　mild　maidenly　eyes　thatshone　forth　in　the　face　of　a　frog。　They　showed　the　existence　of　deepfeeling　and　a　human　heart；　and　the　beauteous　eyes　overflowed　withtears；　weeping　precious　drops　that　lightened　the　heart。

On　the　raised　mound　which　she　had　made　as　a　grave　for　the　deadpriest；　she　found　the　cross　made　of　the　branches　of　a　tree；　the　lastwork　of　him　who　now　lay　dead　and　cold　beneath　it。　A　sudden　thoughtcame　to　Helga；　and　she　lifted　up　the　cross　and　planted　it　upon　thegrave；　between　the　stones　that　covered　him　and　the　dead　horse。　The　sadrecollection　brought　the　tears　to　her　eyes；　and　in　this　gentlespirit　she　traced　the　same　sign　in　the　sand　round　the　grave；　and　asshe　formed；　with　both　her　hands；　the　sign　of　the　cross；　the　web　skinfell　from　them　like　a　torn　glove。　She　washed　her　hands　in　the　water　ofthe　spring；　and　gazed　with　astonishment　at　their　delicate　whiteness。Again　she　made　the　holy　sign　in　the　air；　between　herself　and　thedead　man；　her　lips　trembled；　her　tongue　moved；　and　the　name　whichshe　in　her　ride　through　the　forest　had　so　often　heard　spoken；　roseto　her　lips；　and　she　uttered　the　words；　〃Jesus　Christ。〃　Then　thefrog　skin　fell　from　her；　she　was　once　more　a　lovely　maiden。　Her　headbent　wearily；　her　tired　limbs　required　rest；　and　then　she　slept。

Her　sleep；　however；　was　short。　Towards　midnight；　she　awoke；　beforeher　stood　the　dead　horse；　prancing　and　full　of　life；　which　shone　forthfrom　his　eyes　and　from　his　wounded　neck。　Close　by　his　side　appearedthe　murdered　Christian　priest；　more　beautiful　than　Baldur；　as　theViking's　wife　had　said；　but　now　he　came　as　if　in　a　flame　of　fire。　Suchgravity；　such　stern　justice；　such　a　piercing　glance　shone　from　hislarge；　gentle　eyes；　that　it　seemed　to　perate　into　every　corner　ofher　heart。　Beautiful　Helga　trembled　at　the　look；　and　her　memoryreturned　with　a　power　as　if　it　had　been　the　day　of　judgment。　Everygood　deed　that　had　been　done　for　her；　every　loving　word　that　hadbeen　said；　were　vividly　before　her　mind。　She　understood　now　thatlove　had　kept　her　here　during　the　day　of　her　trial；　while　the　creatureformed　of　dust　and　clay；　soul　and　spirit；　had