安徒生童话-第86部分

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e　drummerbeat　it　through　the　streets　of　the　town；　and　when　the　people　heardit　they　said；　〃That　is　a　capital　tune。〃　The　poet　wrote　many　songsabout　the　true；　the　beautiful；　and　the　good。　His　songs　were　listenedto　in　the　tavern；　where　the　tallow　candles　flared；　in　the　fresh　cloverfield；　in　the　forest；　and　on　the　high…seas；　and　it　appeared　as　if　thisbrother　was　to　be　more　fortunate　than　the　other　two。

But　the　evil　spirit　was　angry　at　this；　so　he　set　to　work　with　sootand　incense；　which　he　can　mix　so　artfully　as　to　confuse　an　angel；and　how　much　more　easily　a　poor　poet。　The　evil　one　knew　how　tomanage　such　people。　He　so　pletely　surrounded　the　poet　withincense　that　the　man　lost　his　head；　forgot　his　mission　and　his　home；and　at　last　lost　himself　and　vanished　in　smoke。

But　when　the　little　birds　heard　of　it；　they　mourned；　and　for　threedays　they　sang　not　one　song。　The　black　wood…snail　became　blackerstill；　not　for　grief；　but　for　envy。　〃They　should　have　offered　meincense；〃　he　said；　〃for　it　was　I　who　gave　him　the　idea　of　the　mostfamous　of　his　songs…　the　drum　song　of　'The　Way　of　the　World；'　and　itwas　I　who　spat　at　the　rose；　I　can　bring　a　witness　to　that　fact。〃

But　no　tidings　of　all　this　reached　the　poet's　home　in　India。　Thebirds　had　all　been　silent　for　three　days；　and　when　the　time　ofmourning　was　over；　so　deep　had　been　their　grief；　that　they　hadforgotten　for　whom　they　wept。　Such　is　the　way　of　the　world。

〃Now　I　must　go　out　into　the　world；　and　disappear　like　the　rest；〃said　the　fourth　brother。　He　was　as　good…tempered　as　the　third；　butno　poet；　though　he　could　be　witty。

The　two　eldest　had　filled　the　castle　with　joyfulness；　and　nowthe　last　brightness　was　going　away。　Sight　and　hearing　have　always　beenconsidered　two　of　the　chief　senses　among　men；　and　those　which　theywish　to　keep　bright；　the　other　senses　are　looked　upon　as　of　lessimportance。

But　the　younger　son　had　a　different　opinion；　he　had　cultivated　histaste　in　every　way；　and　taste　is　very　powerful。　It　rules　over　whatgoes　into　the　mouth；　as　well　as　over　all　which　is　presented　to　themind；　and；　consequently；　this　brother　took　upon　himself　to　tasteeverything　stored　up　in　bottles　or　jars；　this　he　called　the　rough　partof　his　work。　Every　man's　mind　was　to　him　as　a　vessel　in　whichsomething　was　concocting；　every　land　a　kind　of　mental　kitchen。〃There　are　no　delicacies　here；〃　he　said；　so　he　wished　to　go　out　intothe　world　to　find　something　delicate　to　suit　his　taste。　〃Perhapsfortune　may　be　more　favorable　to　me　than　it　was　to　my　brothers。　Ishall　start　on　my　travels；　but　what　conveyance　shall　I　choose？　Are　airballoons　invented　yet？〃　he　asked　of　his　father；　who　knew　of　allinventions　that　had　been　made；　or　would　be　made。

Air　balloons　had　not　then　been　invented；　nor　steam…ships；　norrailways。

〃Good；〃　said　he；　〃then　I　shall　choose　an　air　balloon；　my　fatherknows　how　they　are　to　be　made　and　guided。　Nobody　has　invented　one　yet；and　the　people　will　believe　that　it　is　an　aerial　phantom。　When　Ihave　done　with　the　balloon　I　shall　burn　it；　and　for　this　purpose；you　must　give　me　a　few　pieces　of　another　invention；　which　will　enext；　I　mean　a　few　chemical　matches。〃

He　obtained　what　he　wanted；　and　flew　away。　The　birds　acpaniedhim　farther　than　they　had　the　other　brothers。　They　were　curious　toknow　how　this　flight　would　end。　Many　more　of　them　came　swoopingdown；　they　thought　it　must　be　some　new　bird；　and　he　soon　had　agoodly　pany　of　followers。　They　came　in　clouds　till　the　air　becamedarkened　with　birds　as　it　was　with　the　cloud　of　locusts　over　theland　of　Egypt。

And　now　he　was　out　in　the　wide　world。　The　balloon　descended　overone　of　the　greatest　cities；　and　the　aeronaut　took　up　his　station　atthe　highest　point；　on　the　church　steeple。　The　balloon　rose　againinto　the　air；　which　it　ought　not　to　have　done；　what　became　of　it　isnot　known；　neither　is　it　of　any　consequence；　for　balloons　had　not　thenbeen　invented。

There　he　sat　on　the　church　steeple。　The　birds　no　longer　hoveredover　him；　they　had　got　tired　of　him；　and　he　was　tired　of　them。　All　thechimneys　in　the　town　were　smoking。

〃There　are　altars　erected　to　my　honor；〃　said　the　wind；　whowished　to　say　something　agreeable　to　him　as　he　sat　there　boldlylooking　down　upon　the　people　in　the　street。　There　was　one　steppingalong；　proud　of　his　purse；　another；　of　the　key　he　carried　behindhim；　though　he　had　nothing　to　lock　up；　another　took　a　pride　in　hismoth…eaten　coat；　and　another；　in　his　mortified　body。　〃Vanity；　allvanity！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　must　go　down　there　by…and…by；　and　touchand　taste；　but　I　shall　sit　here　a　little　while　longer；　for　the　windblows　pleasantly　at　my　back。　I　shall　remain　here　as　long　as　the　windblows；　and　enjoy　a　little　rest。　It　is　fortable　to　sleep　late　in　themorning　when　one　had　a　great　deal　to　do；〃　said　the　sluggard；　〃so　Ishall　stop　here　as　long　as　the　wind　blows；　for　it　pleases　me。〃

And　there　he　stayed。　But　as　he　was　sitting　on　the　weather…cockof　the　steeple；　which　kept　turning　round　and　round　with　him；　he　wasunder　the　false　impression　that　the　same　wind　still　blew；　and　thathe　could　stay　where　he　was　without　expense。

But　in　India；　in　the　castle　on　the　Tree　of　the　Sun；　all　wassolitary　and　still；　since　the　brothers　had　gone　away　one　after　theother。

〃Nothing　goes　well　with　them；〃　said　the　father；　〃they　will　neverbring　the　glittering　jewel　home；　it　is　not　made　for　me；　they　are　alldead　and　gone。〃　Then　he　bent　down　over　the　Book　of　Truth；　and　gazed　onthe　page　on　which　he　should　have　read　of　the　life　after　death；　but　forhim　there　was　nothing　to　be　read　or　learned　upon　it。

His　blind　daughter　was　his　consolation　and　joy；　she　clung　to　himwith　sincere　affection；　and　for　the　sake　of　his　happiness　and　peaceshe　wished　the　costly　jewel　could　be　found　and　brought　home。

With　longing　tenderness　she　thought　of　her　brothers。　Where　werethey？　Where　did　they　live？　How　she　wished　she　might　dream　of　them；　butit　was　strange　that　not　even　in　dreams　could　she　be　brought　near　tothem。　But　at　last　one　night　she　dreamt　that　she　heard　the　voices　ofher　brothers　calling　to　her　from　the　distant　world；　and　she　couldnot　refrain　herself；　but　went　out　to　them；　and　yet　it　seemed　in　herdream　that　she　still　remained　in　her　father's　house。　She　did　not　seeher　brothers；　but　she　felt　as　it　were　a　fire　burning　in　her　hand；which；　however；　did　not　hurt　her；　for　it　was　the　jewel　she　wasbringing　to　her　father。　When　she　awoke　she　thought　for　a　moment　thatshe　still　held　the　stone；　but　she　only　grasped　the　knob　of　herdistaff。

During　the　long　evenings　she　had　spun　constantly；　and　round　thedistaff　were　woven　threads　finer　than　the　web　of　a　spider；　humaneyes　could　never　have　distinguished　these　threads　when　separatedfrom　each　other。　But　she　had　wetted　them　with　her　tears；　and　the　twistwas　as　strong　as　a　cable。　She　rose　with　the　impression　that　herdream　must　be　a　reality；　and　her　resolution　was　taken。

It　was　still　night；　and　her　father　slept；　she　pressed　a　kissupon　his　hand；　and　then　took　her　distaff　and　fastened　the　end　of　thethread　to　her　father's　house。　But　for　this；　blind　as　she　was；　shewould　never　have　found　her　way　home　again；　to　this　thread　she　musthold　fast；　and　trust　not　to　others　or　even　to　herself。　From　the　Treeof　the　Sun　she　broke　four　leaves；　which　she　gave　up　to　the　wind　andthe　weather；　that　they　might　be　carried　to　her　brothers　as　letters　anda　greeting；　in　case　she　did　not　meet　them　in　the　wide　world。　Poorblind　child；　what　would　bee　of　her　in　those　distant　regions？　Butshe　had　the　invisible　thread；　to　which　she　could　hold　fast；　and　shepossessed　a　gift　which　all　the　others　lacked。　This　was　a　determinationto　throw　herself　entirely　into　whatever　she　undertook；　and　it　made　herfeel　as　if　she　had　eyes　even　at　the　tips　of　her　fingers；　and　couldhear　down　into　her　very　heart。　Quietly　she　went　forth　into　thenoisy；　bustling；　wonderful　world；　and　wherever　she　went　the　skies　grewbright；　and　she　felt　the　warm　sunbeam；　and　a　rainbow　above　in　the　blueheavens　seemed　to　span　the　dark　world。　She　heard　the　song　of　thebirds；　and　smelt　the　scent　of　the　orange　groves　and　apple　orchardsso　strongly　that　she　seemed　to　taste　it。　Soft　tones　and　charming　songsreached　her　ear；　as　well　as　harsh　sounds　and　rough　words…　thoughts　andopinions　in　strange　contradiction　to　each　other。　Into　the　deepestrecesses　of　her　heart　perated　the　echoes　of　human　thoughts　andfeelings。　Now　she　heard　the　following　words　sadly　sung；…

〃Life　is　a　shadow　that　flits　away

　In　a　night　of　darkness　and　woe。〃But　then　would　follow　brighter　thoughts：

〃Life　has　the　rose's　sweet　perfume

　With　sunshine；　light；　and　joy。〃And　if　one　stanza　sounded　painfully…

〃Each　mortal　thinks　of　himself　alone；

　Is　a　truth；　alas；　too　clearly　known；〃Then；　on　the　other　hand；　came　the　answer…

〃Love；　like　a　mighty　flowing　stream；

　Fills　every　heart　with　its　radiant　gleam。〃She　heard；　indeed；　such　words　as　these…

〃In　the　pretty　turmoil　here　below；

　All　is　a　vain　and　paltry　show。Then　came　also　words　of　fort…

〃Great　and　good　are　the　actions　done

　By　many　whose　worth　is　never　known。〃And　if　sometimes　the　mocking　strain　reached　her…

〃Why　not　join　in　the　jesting　cry

　That　contemns　all　gifts　from　the　throne　on　high？〃In　the　blind　girl's　heart　a　stronger　voice　repeated…

〃To　trust　in　thyself　and　God　is　best；

　In　His　holy　will　forever　to　rest。〃

But　the　evil　spirit　could　not　see　this　and　remain　contented。　Hehas　more　cleverness　than　ten　thousand　men；　and　he　found　means　topass　his　end。　He　betook　himself　to　the　marsh；　and　collected　a　fewlittle　bubbles　of　stagnant　water。　Then　he　uttered　over　them　the　echoesof　lying　words　that　they　might　bee　strong。　He　mixed　up　togethersongs　of　praise　with　lying　epitaphs；　as　many　as　he　could　find；boiled　them　in　tears　shed　by　envy；　put　upon　them　rouge；　which　he　hadscraped　from　faded　cheeks；　and　from　these　he　produced　a　maiden；　inform　and　appearance　like　the　blind　girl；　the　angel　of　pleteness；　asmen　called　her。　The　evil　one's　plot　was　successful。　The　world　knew　notwhich　was　the　true；　and　indeed　how　should　the　world　know？

　　　〃To　trust　in　thyself　and　God　is　best；

In　his　Holy　will　forever　to　rest。〃So　sung　the　blind　girl　in　full　faith。　She　had　entrusted　the　four　greenleaves　from　the　Tree　of　the　Sun　to　the　winds；　as　letters　of　greetingto　her　brothers；　and　she　had　full　confidence　that　the　leaves　wouldreach　them。　She　fully　believed　that　the　jewel　which　outshines　allthe　glories　of　the　world　would　yet　be　found；　and　that　upon　theforehead　of　humanity　it　would　glitter　even　in　the　castle　of　herfather。　〃Even　in　my　father's　house；〃　she　repeated。　〃Yes；　the　placein　which　this　jewel　is　to　be　found　is　earth；　and　I　shall　bring　morethan　the　promise　of　it　with　me。　I　feel　it　glow　and　swell　more　and　morein　my　closed　hand。　Every　grain　of　truth　which　the　keen　wind　carried　upand　whirled　towards　me　I　caught　and　treasured。　I　allowed　it　to　beperated　with　the　fragrance　of　the　beautiful；　of　which　there　is　somuch　in　the　world；　even　for　the　blind。　I　took　the　beatings　of　aheart　engaged　in　a　good　action；　and　added　them　to　my　treasure。　Allthat　I　can　bring　is　but　dust；　still；　it　is　a　part　of　the　jewel　weseek；　and　there　is　plenty；　my　hand　is　quite　full　of　it。〃

She　soon　found　herself　again　at　home；　carried　thither　in　aflight　of　thought；　never　having　loosened　her　hold　of　the　invisiblethread　fastened　to　her　father's　house。　As　she　stretched　out　her　handto　her　father；　the　powers　of　evil　dashed　with　the　fury　of　ahurricane　over　the　Tree　of　the　Sun；　a　blast　of　wind　rushed　through　theopen　doors；　and　into　the　sanctuary；　where　lay　the　Book　of　Truth。

〃It　will　be　blown　to　dust　by　the　wind；〃　said　the　father；　as　heseized　the　open　hand　she　held　towards　him。

〃No；〃　she　replied；　with　quiet　confidence；　〃it　is　indestructible。　Ifeel　its　beam　warming　my　very　soul。〃

Then　her　father　observed　that　a　dazzling　flame　gleamed　from　thewhite　page　on　which　the　shining　dust　had　passed　from　her　hand。　Itwas　there　to　prove　the　certainty　of　eternal　life；　and　on　the　bookglowed　one　shining　word；　and　only　one；　the　word　BELIEVE。　And　soonthe　four　brothers　were　again　with　the　father　and　daughter。　When　thegreen　leaf　from　home　fell　on　the　bosom　of　each；　a　longing　had　seizedthem　to　return。　They　had　arrived；　acpanied　by　the　birds　of　passage；the　stag；　the　antelope；　and　all　the　creatures　of　the　forest　who　wishedto　take　part　in　their　joy。

We　have　often　seen；　when　a　sunbeam　burst　through　a　crack　in　thedoor　into　a　dusty　room；　how　a　whirling　column　of　dust　seems　tocircle　round。　But　this　was　not　poor；　insignificant；　mon　dust；　whichthe　blind　girl　had　brought；　even　the　rainbow's　colors　are　dim　whenpared　with　the　beauty　which　shone　from　the　page　on　which　it　hadfallen。　The　beaming　word　BELIEVE；　from　every　grain　of　truth；　had　thebrightness　of　the　beautiful　and　the　good；　more　bright　than　themighty　pillar　of　flame　that　led　Moses　and　the　children　of　Israel　tothe　land　of　Canaan；　and　from　the　word　BELIEVE　arose　the　bridge　ofhope；　reaching　even　to　the　unmeasurable　Love　in　the　realms　of　theinfinite。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　PHOENIX　BIRD

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　the　Garden　of　Paradise；　beneath　the　Tree　of　Knowledge；bloomed　a　rose　bush。　Here；　in　the　first　rose；　a　bird　was　born。　Hisflight　was　like　the　flashing　of　light；　his　plumage　was　beauteous；and　his　song　ravishing。　But　when　Eve　plucked　the　fruit　of　the　treeof　knowledge　of　good　and　evil；　when　she　and　Adam　were　driven　fromParadise；　there　fell　from　the　flaming　sword　of　the　cherub　a　spark　intothe　nest　of　the　bird；　which　blazed　up　forthwith。　The　bird　perishedin　the　flames；　but　from　the　red　egg　in　the　nest　there　flutteredaloft　a　new　one…　the　one　solitary　Phoenix　bird。　The　fable　tells　thathe　dwells　in　Arabia；　and　that　every　hundred　years；　he　burns　himself　todeath　in　his　nest；　but　each　time　a　new　Phoenix；　the　only　one　in　theworld；　rises　up　from　the　red　egg。

The　bird　flutters　round　us；　swift　as　light；　beauteous　in　color；charming　in　song。　When　a　mother　sits　by　her　infant's　cradle；　he　standson　the　pillow；　and；　with　his　wings；　forms　a　glory　around　theinfant's　head。　He　flies　through　the　chamber　of　content；　and　bringssunshine　into　it；　and　the　violets　on　the　humble　table　smell　doublysweet。

But　the　Phoenix　is　not　the　bird　of　Arabia　alone。　He　wings　hisway　in　the　glimmer　of　the　Northern　Lights　over　the　plains　ofLapland；　and　hops　among　the　yellow　flowers　in　the　short　Greenlandsummer。　Beneath　the　copper　mountains　of　Fablun；　and　England's　coalmines；　he　flies；　in　the　shape　of　a　dusty　moth；　over　the　hymnbookthat　rests　on　the　knees　of　the　pious　miner。　On　a　lotus　leaf　hefloats　down　the　sacred　waters　of　the　Ganges；　and　the　eye　of　the　Hindoomaid　gleams　bright　when　she　beholds　him。

The　Phoenix　bird；　dost　thou　not　know　him？　The　Bird　of　Paradise；the　holy　swan　of　song！　On　the　car　of　Thespis　he　sat　in　the　guise　ofa　chattering　raven；　and　flapped　his　black　wings；　smeared　with　the　leesof　wine；　over　the　sounding　harp　of　Iceland　swept　the　swan's　redbeak；　on　Shakspeare's　shoulder　he　sat　in　the　guise　of　Odin's　raven；and　whispered　in　the　poet's　ear　〃Immortality！〃　and　at　the　minstrels'feast　he　fluttered　through　the　halls　of　the　Wartburg。

The　Phoenix　bird；　dost　thou　not　know　him？　He　sang　to　thee　theMarseillaise；　and　thou　kissedst　the　pen　that　fell　from　his　wing；　hecame　in　the　radiance　of　Paradise；　and　perchance　thou　didst　turn　awayfrom　him　towards　the　sparrow　who　sat　with　tinsel　on　his　wings。

The　Bird　of　Paradise…　renewed　each　century…　born　in