安徒生童话-第94部分

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　not　spoilt？〃　he　said；　and；　loudly　laughing；ran　away。　What　a　naughty　boy　to　shoot　the　old　poet　like　that；　whohad　taken　him　into　his　warm　room；　had　been　so　good　to　him；　and　hadgiven　him　the　nicest　wine　and　the　best　apple！

The　good　old　man　lay　upon　the　floor　crying；　he　was　really　shotin　the　heart。　〃Oh！〃　he　cried；　〃what　a　naughty　boy　this　Cupid　is！　Ishall　tell　all　the　good　children　about　this；　so　that　they　take　carenever　to　play　with　him；　lest　he　hurt　them。〃

And　all　good　children；　both　girls　and　boys；　whom　he　told　aboutthis；　were　on　their　guard　against　wicked　Cupid；　but　he　deceives　themall　the　same；　for　he　is　very　deep。　When　the　students　e　out　ofclass；　he　walks　beside　them　with　a　book　under　his　arm；　and　wearing　ablack　coat。　They　cannot　recognize　him。　And　then；　if　they　take　him　bythe　arm；　believing　him　to　be　a　student　too；　he　sticks　an　arrow　intotheir　chest。　And　when　the　girls　go　to　church　to　be　confirmed；　he　isamongst　them　too。　In　fact；　he　is　always　after　people。　He　sits　in　thelarge　chandelier　in　the　theatre　and　blazes　away；　so　that　peoplethink　it　is　a　lamp；　but　they　soon　find　out　their　mistake。　He　walksabout　in　the　castle　garden　and　on　the　promenades。　Yes；　once　he　shotyour　father　and　your　mother　in　the　heart　too。　Just　ask　them；　and　youwill　hear　what　they　say。　Oh！　he　is　a　bad　boy；　this　Cupid；　and　you　mustnever　have　anything　to　do　with　him；　for　he　is　after　every　one。　Justthink；　he　even　shot　an　arrow　at　old　grandmother；　but　that　was　a　longtime　ago。　The　wound　has　long　been　healed；　but　such　things　are　neverforgotten。

Now　you　know　what　a　bad　boy　this　wicked　Cupid　is。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　SHADOW

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　very　hot　climates；　where　the　heat　of　the　sun　has　great　power；people　are　usually　as　brown　as　mahogany；　and　in　the　hottestcountries　they　are　negroes；　with　black　skins。　A　learned　man　oncetravelled　into　one　of　these　warm　climates；　from　the　cold　regions　ofthe　north；　and　thought　he　would　roam　about　as　he　did　at　home；　but　hesoon　had　to　change　his　opinion。　He　found　that；　like　all　sensiblepeople；　he　must　remain　in　the　house　during　the　whole　day；　with　everywindow　and　door　closed；　so　that　it　looked　as　if　all　in　the　housewere　asleep　or　absent。　The　houses　of　the　narrow　street　in　which　helived　were　so　lofty　that　the　sun　shone　upon　them　from　morning　tillevening；　and　it　became　quite　unbearable。　This　learned　man　from　thecold　regions　was　young　as　well　as　clever；　but　it　seemed　to　him　as　ifhe　were　sitting　in　an　oven；　and　he　became　quite　exhausted　and　weak；and　grew　so　thin　that　his　shadow　shrivelled　up；　and　became　muchsmaller　than　it　had　been　at　home。　The　sun　took　away　even　what　was　leftof　it；　and　he　saw　nothing　of　it　till　the　evening；　after　sunset。　It　wasreally　a　pleasure；　as　soon　as　the　lights　were　brought　into　the　room；to　see　the　shadow　stretch　itself　against　the　wall；　even　to　theceiling；　so　tall　was　it；　and　it　really　wanted　a　good　stretch　torecover　its　strength。　The　learned　man　would　sometimes　go　out　intothe　balcony　to　stretch　himself　also；　and　as　soon　as　the　stars　cameforth　in　the　clear；　beautiful　sky；　he　felt　revived。　People　at　thishour　began　to　make　their　appearance　in　all　the　balconies　in　thestreet；　for　in　warm　climates　every　window　has　a　balcony；　in　which　theycan　breathe　the　fresh　evening　air；　which　is　very　necessary；　even　tothose　who　are　used　to　a　heat　that　makes　them　as　brown　as　mahogany；so　that　the　street　presented　a　very　lively　appearance。　Here　wereshoemakers；　and　tailors；　and　all　sorts　of　people　sitting。　In　thestreet　beneath；　they　brought　out　tables　and　chairs；　lighted　candles　byhundreds；　talked　and　sang；　and　were　very　merry。　There　were　peoplewalking；　carriages　driving；　and　mules　trotting　along；　with　their　bellson　the　harness；　〃tingle；　tingle；〃　as　they　went。　Then　the　dead　werecarried　to　the　grave　with　the　sound　of　solemn　music；　and　the　tollingof　the　church　bells。　It　was　indeed　a　scene　of　varied　life　in　thestreet。　One　house　only；　which　was　just　opposite　to　the　one　in　whichthe　foreign　learned　man　lived；　formed　a　contrast　to　all　this；　for　itwas　quite　still；　and　yet　somebody　dwelt　there；　for　flowers　stood　inthe　balcony；　blooming　beautifully　in　the　hot　sun；　and　this　could　nothave　been　unless　they　had　been　watered　carefully。　Therefore　some　onemust　be　in　the　house　to　do　this。　The　doors　leading　to　the　balcony　werehalf　opened　in　the　evening；　and　although　in　the　front　room　all　wasdark；　music　could　be　heard　from　the　interior　of　the　house。　The　foreignlearned　man　considered　this　music　very　delightful；　but　perhaps　hefancied　it；　for　everything　in　these　warm　countries　pleased　him；excepting　the　heat　of　the　sun。　The　foreign　landlord　said　he　did　notknow　who　had　taken　the　opposite　house…　nobody　was　to　be　seen　there；and　as　to　the　music；　he　thought　it　seemed　very　tedious；　to　him　mostunmonly　so。

〃It　is　just　as　if　some　one　was　practising　a　piece　that　he　couldnot　manage；　it　is　always　the　same　piece。　He　thinks；　I　suppose；　that　hewill　be　able　to　manage　it　at　last；　but　I　do　not　think　so；　however　longhe　may　play　it。〃

Once　the　foreigner　woke　in　the　night。　He　slept　with　the　dooropen　which　led　to　the　balcony；　the　wind　had　raised　the　curtainbefore　it；　and　there　appeared　a　wonderful　brightness　over　all　in　thebalcony　of　the　opposite　house。　The　flowers　seemed　like　flames　of　themost　gorgeous　colors；　and　among　the　flowers　stood　a　beautifulslender　maiden。　It　was　to　him　as　if　light　streamed　from　her；　anddazzled　his　eyes；　but　then　he　had　only　just　opened　them；　as　he　awokefrom　his　sleep。　With　one　spring　he　was　out　of　bed；　and　crept　softlybehind　the　curtain。　But　she　was　gone…　the　brightness　haddisappeared；　the　flowers　no　longer　appeared　like　flames；　althoughstill　as　beautiful　as　ever。　The　door　stood　ajar；　and　from　an　innerroom　sounded　music　so　sweet　and　so　lovely；　that　it　produced　the　mostenchanting　thoughts；　and　acted　on　the　senses　with　magic　power。　Whocould　live　there？　Where　was　the　real　entrance？　for；　both　in　the　streetand　in　the　lane　at　the　side；　the　whole　ground　floor　was　a　continuationof　shops；　and　people　could　not　always　be　passing　through　them。

One　evening　the　foreigner　sat　in　the　balcony。　A　light　wasburning　in　his　own　room；　just　behind　him。　It　was　quite　natural；therefore；　that　his　shadow　should　fall　on　the　wall　of　the　oppositehouse；　so　that；　as　he　sat　amongst　the　flowers　on　his　balcony；　whenhe　moved；　his　shadow　moved　also。

〃I　think　my　shadow　is　the　only　living　thing　to　be　seenopposite；〃　said　the　learned　man；　〃see　how　pleasantly　it　sits　among　theflowers。　The　door　is　only　ajar；　the　shadow　ought　to　be　clever　enoughto　step　in　and　look　about　him；　and　then　to　e　back　and　tell　mewhat　he　has　seen。　You　could　make　yourself　useful　in　this　way；〃　saidhe；　jokingly；　〃be　so　good　as　to　step　in　now；　will　you？〃　and　then　henodded　to　the　shadow；　and　the　shadow　nodded　in　return。　〃Now　go；　butdon't　stay　away　altogether。〃

Then　the　foreigner　stood　up；　and　the　shadow　on　the　oppositebalcony　stood　up　also；　the　foreigner　turned　round；　the　shadowturned；　and　if　any　one　had　observed；　they　might　have　seen　it　gostraight　into　the　half…opened　door　of　the　opposite　balcony；　as　thelearned　man　re…entered　his　own　room；　and　let　the　curtain　fall。　Thenext　morning　he　went　out　to　take　his　coffee　and　read　the　newspapers。

〃How　is　this？〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　stood　in　the　sunshine。　〃Ihave　lost　my　shadow。　So　it　really　did　go　away　yesterday　evening；　andit　has　not　returned。　This　is　very　annoying。〃

And　it　certainly　did　vex　him；　not　so　much　because　the　shadow　wasgone；　but　because　he　knew　there　was　a　story　of　a　man　without　a　shadow。All　the　people　at　home；　in　his　country；　knew　this　story；　and　when　hereturned；　and　related　his　own　adventures；　they　would　say　it　was　onlyan　imitation；　and　he　had　no　desire　for　such　things　to　be　said　ofhim。　So　he　decided　not　to　speak　of　it　at　all；　which　was　a　verysensible　determination。

In　the　evening　he　went　out　again　on　his　balcony；　taking　care　toplace　the　light　behind　him；　for　he　knew　that　a　shadow　always　wants　hismaster　for　a　screen；　but　he　could　not　entice　him　out。　He　madehimself　little；　and　he　made　himself　tall；　but　there　was　no　shadow；　andno　shadow　came。　He　said；　〃Hem；　a…hem；〃　but　it　was　all　useless。　Thatwas　very　vexatious；　but　in　warm　countries　everything　grows　veryquickly；　and；　after　a　week　had　passed；　he　saw；　to　his　great　joy；that　a　new　shadow　was　growing　from　his　feet；　when　he　walked　in　thesunshine；　so　that　the　root　must　have　remained。　After　three　weeks；　hehad　quite　a　respectable　shadow；　which；　during　his　return　journey　tonorthern　lands；　continued　to　grow；　and　became　at　last　so　large　that　hemight　very　well　have　spared　half　of　it。　When　this　learned　manarrived　at　home；　he　wrote　books　about　the　true；　the　good；　and　thebeautiful；　which　are　to　be　found　in　this　world；　and　so　days　andyears　passed…　many；　many　years。

One　evening；　as　he　sat　in　his　study；　a　very　gentle　tap　was　heardat　the　door。　〃e　in；〃　said　he；　but　no　one　came。　He　opened　thedoor；　and　there　stood　before　him　a　man　so　remarkably　thin　that　he　feltseriously　troubled　at　his　appearance。　He　was；　however；　very　welldressed；　and　looked　like　a　gentleman。　〃To　whom　have　I　the　honor　ofspeaking？〃　said　he。

〃Ah；　I　hoped　you　would　recognize　me；〃　said　the　elegant　stranger；〃I　have　gained　so　much　that　I　have　a　body　of　flesh；　and　clothes　towear。　You　never　expected　to　see　me　in　such　a　condition。　Do　you　notrecognize　your　old　shadow？　Ah；　you　never　expected　that　I　should　returnto　you　again。　All　has　been　prosperous　with　me　since　I　was　with　youlast；　I　have　bee　rich　in　every　way；　and；　were　I　inclined　topurchase　my　freedom　from　service；　I　could　easily　do　so。〃　And　as　hespoke　he　rattled　between　his　fingers　a　number　of　costly　trinkets　whichhung　to　a　thick　gold　watch…chain　he　wore　round　his　neck。　Diamond　ringssparkled　on　his　fingers；　and　it　was　all　real。

〃I　cannot　recover　from　my　astonishment；〃　said　the　learned　man。〃What　does　all　this　mean？〃

〃Something　rather　unusual；〃　said　the　shadow；　〃but　you　are　yourselfan　unmon　man；　and　you　know　very　well　that　I　have　followed　in　yourfootsteps　ever　since　your　childhood。　As　soon　as　you　found　that　Ihave　travelled　enough　to　be　trusted　alone；　I　went　my　own　way；　and　I　amnow　in　the　most　brilliant　circumstances。　But　I　felt　a　kind　oflonging　to　see　you　once　more　before　you　die；　and　I　wanted　to　seethis　place　again；　for　there　is　always　a　clinging　to　the　land　ofone's　birth。　I　know　that　you　have　now　another　shadow；　do　I　owe　youanything？　If　so；　have　the　goodness　to　say　what　it　is。〃

〃No！　Is　it　really　you？〃　said　the　learned　man。　〃Well；　this　ismost　remarkable；　I　never　supposed　it　possible　that　a　man's　oldshadow　could　bee　a　human　being。〃

〃Just　tell　me　what　I　owe　you；〃　said　the　shadow；　〃for　I　do　not　liketo　be　in　debt　to　any　man。〃

〃How　can　you　talk　in　that　manner？〃　said　the　learned　man。　〃Whatquestion　of　debt　can　there　be　between　us？　You　are　as　free　as　anyone。　I　rejoice　exceedingly　to　hear　of　your　good　fortune。　Sit　down；　oldfriend；　and　tell　me　a　little　of　how　it　happened；　and　what　you　saw　inthe　house　opposite　to　me　while　we　were　in　those　hot　climates。〃

〃Yes；　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　said　the　shadow；　sittingdown；　〃but　then　you　must　promise　me　never　to　tell　in　this　city；wherever　you　may　meet　me；　that　I　have　been　your　shadow。　I　amthinking　of　being　married；　for　I　have　more　than　sufficient　tosupport　a　family。〃

〃Make　yourself　quite　easy；〃　said　the　learned　man；　〃I　will　tellno　one　who　you　really　are。　Here　is　my　hand；…　I　promise；　and　a　wordis　sufficient　between　man　and　man。〃

〃Between　man　and　a　shadow；〃　said　the　shadow；　for　he　could　not　helpsaying　so。

It　was　really　most　remarkable　how　very　much　he　had　bee　a　man　inappearance。　He　was　dressed　in　a　suit　of　the　very　finest　black　cloth；polished　boots；　and　an　opera　crush　hat；　which　could　be　folded　togetherso　that　nothing　could　be　seen　but　the　crown　and　the　rim；　besides　thetrinkets；　the　gold　chain；　and　the　diamond　rings　already　spoken　of。　Theshadow　was；　in　fact；　very　well　dressed；　and　this　made　a　man　of　him。〃Now　I　will　relate　to　you　what　you　wish　to　know；〃　said　the　shadow；placing　his　foot　with　the　polished　leather　boot　as　firmly　aspossible　on　the　arm　of　the　new　shadow　of　the　learned　man；　which　lay　athis　feet　like　a　poodle　dog。　This　was　done；　it　might　be　from　pride；or　perhaps　that　the　new　shadow　might　cling　to　him；　but　the　prostrateshadow　remained　quite　quiet　and　at　rest；　in　order　that　it　mightlisten；　for　it　wanted　to　know　how　a　shadow　could　be　sent　away　by　itsmaster；　and　bee　a　man　itself。　〃Do　you　know；〃　said　the　shadow；　〃thatin　the　house　opposite　to　you　lived　the　most　glorious　creature　in　theworld？　It　was　poetry。　I　remained　there　three　weeks；　and　it　was　morelike　three　thousand　years；　for　I　read　all　that　has　ever　been　writtenin　poetry　or　prose；　and　I　may　say；　in　truth；　that　I　saw　and　learnteverything。〃

〃Poetry！〃　exclaimed　the　learned　man。　〃Yes；　she　lives　as　a　hermitin　great　cities。　Poetry！　Well；　I　saw　her　once　for　a　very　short　moment；while　sleep　weighed　down　my　eyelids。　She　flashed　upon　me　from　thebalcony　like　the　radiant　aurora　borealis；　surrounded　with　flowers　likeflames　of　fire。　Tell　me；　you　were　on　the　balcony　that　evening；　youwent　through　the　door；　and　what　did　you　see？〃

〃I　found　myself　in　an　ante…room；〃　said　the　shadow。　〃You　stillsat　opposite　to　me；　looking　into　the　room。　There　was　no　light；　or　atleast　it　seemed　in　partial　darkness；　for　the　door　of　a　whole　suiteof　rooms　stood　open；　and　they　were　brilliantly　lighted。　The　blaze　oflight　would　have　killed　me；　had　I　approached　too　near　the　maidenmyself；　but　I　was　cautious；　and　took　time；　which　is　what　every　oneought　to　do。〃

〃And　what　didst　thou　see？〃　asked　the　learned　man。

〃I　saw　everything；　as　you　shall　hear。　But…　it　really　is　notpride　on　my　part；　as　a　free　man　and　possessing　the　knowledge　that　Ido；　besides　my　position；　not　to　speak　of　my　wealth…　I　wish　you　wouldsay　you　to　me　instead　of　thou。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　the　learned　man；　〃it　is　an　old　habit；which　it　is　difficult　to　break。　You　are　quite　right；　I　will　try　tothink　of　it。　But　now　tell　me　everything　that　you　saw。〃

〃Everything；〃　said　the　shadow；　〃for　I　saw　and　know　everything。〃

〃What　was　the　appearance　of　the　inner　rooms？〃　asked　the　scholar。〃Was　it　there　like　a　cool　grove；　or　like　a　holy　temple？　Were　thechambers　like　a　starry　sky　seen　from　the　top　of　a　high　mountain？〃

〃It　was　all　that　you　describe；〃　said　the　shadow；　〃but　I　did　not　goquite　in…　I　remained　in　the　twilight　of　the　ante…room…　but　I　was　ina　very　good　position；…　I　could　see　and　hear　all　that　was　going　on　inthe　court　of　poetry。〃

〃But　what　did　you　see？　Did　the　gods　of　ancient　times　passthrough　the　rooms？　Did　old　heroes　fight　their　battles　over　again？　Werethere　lovely　children　at　play；　who　related　their　dreams？〃

〃I　tell　you　I　have　been　there；　and　therefore　you　may　be　surethat　I　saw　everything　that　was　to　be　seen。　If　you　had　gone　there；you　would　not　have　remained　a　human　being；　whereas　I　became　one；　andat　the　same　moment　I　became　aware　of　my　inner　being；　my　inbornaffinity　to　the　nature　of　poetry。　It　is　true　I　did　not　think　muchabout　it　while　I　was　with　you；　but　you　will　remember　that　I　was　alwaysmuch　larger　at　sunrise　and　sunset；　and　in　the　moonlight　even　morevisible　than　yourself；　but　I　did　not　then　understand　my　innerexistence。　In　the　ante…room　it　was　revealed　to　me。　I　became　a　man；　Icame　out　in　full　maturity。　But　you　had　left　the　warm　countries。　As　aman；　I　felt　ashamed　to　go　about　without　boots　or　clothes；　and　tha