安徒生童话-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
water… infact； did everything he could think of； in order not to fatiguehimself； and to reserve strength enough to reach land。 He heardClara sigh； and felt her shudder convulsively； and he pressed her moreclosely to him。 Now and then a wave rolled over them； the currentlifted them； the water； although deep； was so clear that for amoment he imagined he saw the shoals of mackerel glittering； orLeviathan himself ready to swallow them。 Now the clouds cast ashadow over the water； then again came the playing sunbeams； flocks ofloudly screaming birds passed over him； and the plump and lazy wildducks which allow themselves to be drifted by the waves rose upterrified at the sight of the swimmer。 He began to feel his strengthdecreasing； but he was only a few cable lengths' distance from theshore； and help was ing； for a boat was approaching him。 At thismoment he distinctly saw a white staring figure under the water… awave lifted him up； and he came nearer to the figure… he felt aviolent shock； and everything became dark around him。
On the sand reef lay the wreck of a ship； which was covered withwater at high tide； the white figure head rested against the anchor；the sharp iron edge of which rose just above the surface。 Jurgen hade in contact with this； the tide had driven him against it withgreat force。 He sank down stunned with the blow； but the next wavelifted him and the young girl up again。 Some fishermen； ing witha boat； seized them and dragged them into it。 The blood streameddown over Jurgen's face； he seemed dead； but still held the young girlso tightly that they were obliged to take her from him by force。 Shewas pale and lifeless； they laid her in the boat； and rowed as quicklyas possible to the shore。 They tried every means to restore Clara tolife； but it was all of no avail。 Jurgen had been swimming for somedistance with a corpse in his arms； and had exhausted his strength forone who was dead。
Jurgen still breathed； so the fishermen carried him to the nearesthouse upon the sand…hills； where a smith and general dealer livedwho knew something of surgery； and bound up Jurgen's wounds in atemporary way until a surgeon could be obtained from the nearesttown the next day。 The injured man's brain was affected； and in hisdelirium he uttered wild cries； but on the third day he lay quietand weak upon his bed； his life seemed to hang by a thread； and thephysician said it would be better for him if this thread broke。 〃Letus pray that God may take him；〃 he said； 〃for he will never be thesame man again。〃
But life did not depart from him… the thread would not break；but the thread of memory was severed； the thread of his mind hadbeen cut through； and what was still more grievous； a body remained… aliving healthy body that wandered about like a troubled spirit。
Jurgen remained in merchant Bronne's house。 〃He was hurt whileendeavouring to save our child；〃 said the old man； 〃and now he isour son。〃 People called Jurgen insane； but that was not exactly thecorrect term。 He was like an instrument in which the strings are looseand will give no sound； only occasionally they regained their powerfor a few minutes； and then they sounded as they used to do。 Hewould sing snatches of songs or old melodies； pictures of the pastwould rise before him； and then disappear in the mist； as it were； butas a general rule he sat staring into vacancy； without a thought。 Wemay conjecture that he did not suffer； but his dark eyes lost theirbrightness； and looked like clouded glass。
〃Poor mad Jurgen；〃 said the people。 And this was the end of a lifewhose infancy was to have been surrounded with wealth and splendourhad his parents lived！ All his great mental abilities had been lost；nothing but hardship； sorrow； and disappointment had been his fate。 Hewas like a rare plant； torn from its native soil； and tossed uponthe beach to wither there。 And was this one of God's creatures；fashioned in His own likeness； to have no better fate？ Was he to beonly the plaything of fortune？ No！ the all…loving Creator wouldcertainly repay him in the life to e for what he had suffered andlost here。 〃The Lord is good to all； and His mercy is over all Hisworks。〃 The pious old wife of the merchant repeated these words fromthe Psalms of David in patience and hope； and the prayer of herheart was that Jurgen might soon be called away to enter intoeternal life。
In the churchyard where the walls were surrounded with sandClara lay buried。 Jurgen did not seem to know this； it did not enterhis mind； which could only retain fragments of the past。 EverySunday he went to church with the old people； and sat theresilently； staring vacantly before him。 One day； when the Psalms werebeing sung； he sighed deeply； and his eyes became bright； they werefixed upon a place near the altar where he had knelt with his friendwho was dead。 He murmured her name； and became deadly pale； andtears rolled down his cheeks。 They led him out of church； he toldthose standing round him that he was well； and had never been ill； he；who had been so grievously afflicted； the outcast； thrown upon theworld； could not remember his sufferings。 The Lord our Creator is wiseand full of loving kindness… who can doubt it？
In Spain； where balmy breezes blow over the Moorish cupolas andgently stir the orange and myrtle groves； where singing and thesound of the castas are always heard； the richest merchant in theplace； a childless old man； sat in a luxurious house； while childrenmarched in procession through the streets with waving flags andlighted tapers。 If he had been able to press his children to hisheart； his daughter； or her child； that had； perhaps never seen thelight of day； far less the kingdom of heaven； how much of his wealthwould he not have given！ 〃Poor child！〃 Yes； poor child… a child still；yet more than thirty years old； for Jurgen had arrived at this agein Old Skjagen。
The shifting sands had covered the graves in the courtyard；quite up to the church walls； but still； the dead must be buried amongtheir relatives and the dear ones who had gone before them。 MerchantBronne and his wife now rested with their children under the whitesand。
It was in the spring… the season of storms。 The sand from thedunes was whirled up in clouds； the sea was rough； and flocks of birdsflew like clouds in the storm； screaming across the sand…hills。Shipwreck followed upon shipwreck on the reefs between Old Skagenand the Hunsby dunes。
One evening Jurgen sat in his room alone： all at once his mindseemed to bee clearer； and a restless feeling came over him； suchas had often； in his younger days； driven him out to wander over thesand…hills or on the heath。 〃Home； home！〃 he cried。 No one heardhim。 He went out and walked towards the dunes。 Sand and stones blewinto his face； and whirled round him； he went in the direction ofthe church。 The sand was banked up the walls； half covering thewindows； but it had been cleared away in front of the door； and theentrance was free and easy to open； so Jurgen went into the church。
The storm raged over the town of Skjagen； there had not beensuch a terrible tempest within the memory of the inhabitants； nor sucha rough sea。 But Jurgen was in the temple of God； and while thedarkness of night reigned outside； a light arose in his soul thatwas never to depart from it； the heavy weight that pressed on hisbrain burst asunder。 He fancied he heard the organ； but it was onlythe storm and the moaning of the sea。 He sat down on one of the seats；and lo！ the candies were lighted one by one； and there wasbrightness and grandeur such as he had only seen in the Spanishcathedral。 The portraits of the old citizens became alive； steppeddown from the walls against which they had hung for centuries； andtook seats near the church door。 The gates flew open； and all the deadpeople from the churchyard came in； and filled the church； whilebeautiful music sounded。 Then the melody of the psalm burst forth；like the sound of the waters； and Jurgen saw that his foster parentsfrom the Hunsby dunes were there； also old merchant Bronne with hiswife and their daughter Clara； who gave him her hand。 They both wentup to the altar where they had knelt before； and the priest joinedtheir hands and united them for life。 Then music was heard again； itwas wonderfully sweet； like a child's voice； full of joy andexpectation； swelling to the powerful tones of a full organ； sometimessoft and sweet； then like the sounds of a tempest； delightful andelevating to hear； yet strong enough to burst the stone tombs of thedead。 Then the little ship that hung from the roof of the choir waslet down and looked wonderfully large and beautiful with its silkensails and rigging：
〃The ropes were of silk； the anchor of gold；
And everywhere riches and pomp untold；〃as the old song says。
The young couple went on board； acpanied by the wholecongregation； for there was room and enjoyment for them all。 Thenthe walls and arches of the church were covered with floweringjunipers and lime trees breathing forth fragrance； the branches waved；creating a pleasant coolness； they bent and parted； and the shipsailed between them through the air and over the sea。 Every candlein the church became a star； and the wind sang a hymn in which theyall joined。 〃Through love to glory； no
