安徒生童话-第133章
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f or his neighbor away。 Somethingof this kind Anthony felt when Molly talked to him of old times。
〃I am a straightforward girl；〃 she said； 〃and I will tell youmyself how it is。 There have been great changes since we were childrentogether； everything is different； both inwardly and outwardly。 Wecannot control our wills； nor the feelings of our hearts； by the forceof custom。 Anthony； I would not； for the world； make an enemy of youwhen I am far away。 Believe me； I entertain for you the kindest wishesin my heart； but to feel for you what I now know can be felt foranother man； can never be。 You must try and reconcile yourself tothis。 Farewell； Anthony。〃
Anthony also said； 〃Farewell。〃 Not a tear came into his eye； hefelt he was no longer Molly's friend。 Hot iron and cold iron aliketake the skin from our lips； and we feel the same sensation if we kisseither； and Anthony's kiss was now the kiss of hatred； as it hadonce been the kiss of love。 Within four…and…twenty hours Anthony wasback again to Eisenach； though the horse that he rode was entirelyruined。
〃What matters it？〃 said he； 〃I am ruined also。 I will destroyeverything that can remind me of her； or of Lady Halle； or Lady Venus；the heathen woman。 I will break down the apple…tree； and tear it up bythe roots； never more shall it blossom or bear fruit。〃
The apple…tree was not broken down； for Anthony himself was struckwith a fever； which caused him to break down； and confined him tohis bed。 But something occurred to raise him up again。 What was it？A medicine was offered to him； which he was obliged to take： abitter remedy； at which the sick body and the oppressed spirit alikeshuddered。 Anthony's father lost all his property； and； from beingknown as one of the richest merchants； he became very poor。 Dark days；heavy trials； with poverty at the door； came rolling into the houseupon them like the waves of the sea。 Sorrow and suffering deprivedAnthony's father of his strength； so that he had something else tothink of besides nursing his love…sorrows and his anger against Molly。He had to take his father's place； to give orders； to act with energy；to help； and； at last； to go out into the world and earn his bread。Anthony went to Bremen； and there he learnt what poverty and hardliving really were。 These things often harden the character； butsometimes soften the heart； even too much。
How different the world； and the people in it； appeared to Anthonynow； to what he had thought in his childhood！ What to him were theminstrel's songs？ An echo of the past； sounds long vanished。 Attimes he would think in this way； yet again and again the songswould sound in his soul； and his heart bee gentle and pious。
〃God's will is the best；〃 he would then say。 〃It was well that Iwas not allowed to keep my power over Molly's heart； and that shedid not remain true to me。 How I should have felt it now； when fortunehas deserted me！ She left me before she knew of the change in mycircumstances； or had a thought of what was before me。 That is amerciful providence for me。 All has happened for the best。 She couldnot help it； and yet I have been so bitter； and in such enmity againsther。〃
Years passed by： Anthony's father died； and strangers lived in theold house。 He had seen it once again since then。 His rich mastersent him journeys on business； and on one occasion his way led himto his native town of Eisenach。 The old Wartburg castle stoodunchanged on the rock where the monk and the nun were hewn out ofthe stone。 The great oaks formed an outline to the scene which he sowell remembered in his childhood。 The Venus mountain stood out grayand bare； overshadowing the valley beneath。 He would have been glad tocall out 〃Lady Halle； Lady Halle； unlock the mountain。 I would fainremain here always in my native soil。〃 That was a sinful thought；and he offered a prayer to drive it away。 Then a little bird in thethicket sang out clearly； and old Anthony thought of the minstrel'ssong。 How much came back to his remembrance as he looked through thetears once more on his native town！ The old house was still standingas in olden times； but the garden had been greatly altered； apathway led through a portion of the ground； and outside the garden；and beyond the path； stood the old apple…tree； which he had not brokendown； although he talked of doing so in his trouble。 The sun stillthrew its rays upon the tree； and the refreshing dew fell upon it asof old； and it was so overloaded with fruit that the branches benttowards the earth with the weight。 〃That flourishes still；〃 said he；as he gazed。 One of the branches of the tree had； however； beenbroken： mischievous hands must have done this in passing； for the treenow stood in a public thoroughfare。 〃The blossoms are oftenplucked；〃 said Anthony； 〃the fruit is stolen and the branches brokenwithout a thankful thought of their profusion and beauty。 It mightbe said of a tree； as it has been said of some men… it was notpredicted at his cradle that he should e to this。 How brightlybegan the history of this tree； and what is it now？ Forsaken andforgotten； in a garden by a hedge in a field； and close to a publicroad。 There it stands； unsheltered； plundered； and broken。 Itcertainly has not yet withered； but in the course of years thenumber of blossoms from time to time will grow less； and at last itwas cease altogether to bear fruit； and then its history will beover。〃
Such were Anthony's thoughts as he stood under the tree； andduring many a long night as he lay in his lonely chamber in the woodenhouse in Hauschen Street； Copenhagen； in the foreign land to which therich merchant of Bremen； his employer； had sent him on conditionthat he should never marry。 〃Marry！ ha； ha！〃 and he laughed bitterlyto himself at the thought。
Winter one year set in early； and it was freezing hard。 Without； asnowstorm made every one remain at home who could do so。 Thus ithappened that Anthony's neighbors； who lived opposite to him； didnot notice that his house remained unopened for two days； and thathe had not showed himself during that time； for who would go out insuch weather unless he were obliged to do so。 They were gray； gloomydays； and in the house whose windows were not glass； twilight and darknights reigned in turns。 During these two days old Anthony had notleft his bed； he had not the strength to do so。 The bitter weather hadfor some time affected his limbs。 There lay the old bachelor； forsakenby all； and unable to help himself。 He could scarcely reach thewater jug that he had placed by his bed； and the last drop was gone。It was not fever； nor sickness； but old age； that had laid him low。 Inthe little corner； where his bed lay； he was over…shadowed as itwere by perpetual night。 A little spider； which he could however notsee； busily and cheerfully spun its web above him； so that thereshould be a kind of little banner waving over the old man； when hiseyes closed。 The time passed slowly and painfully。 He had no tearsto shed； and he felt no pain； no thought of Molly came into hismind。 He felt as if the world was now nothing to him； as if he werelying beyond it； with no one to think of him。 Now and then he feltslight sensations of hunger and thirst； but no one came to him； no oended him。 He thought of all those who had once suffered fromstarvation； of Saint Elizabeth； who once wandered on the earth； thesaint of his home and his childhood； the noble Duchess of Thuringia；that highly esteemed lady who visited the poorest villages； bringinghope and relief to the sick inmates。 The recollection of her piousdeeds was as light to the soul of poor Anthony。 He thought of her asshe went about speaking words of fort； binding up the wounds of theafflicted and feeding the hungry； although often blamed for it byher stern husband。 He remembered a story told of her； that on oneoccasion； when she was carrying a basket full of wine andprovisions； her husband； who had watched her footsteps； steppedforward and asked her angrily what she carried in her basket；whereupon； with fear and trembling； she answered； 〃Roses； which I haveplucked from the garden。〃 Then he tore away the cloth which coveredthe basket； and what could equal the surprise of the pious woman； tofind that by a miracle； everything in her basket… the wine； the bread…had all been changed into roses。
In this way the memory of the kind lady dwelt in the calm mindof Anthony。 She was as a living reality in his little dwelling inthe Danish land。 He uncovered his face that he might look into hergentle eyes； while everything around him changed from its look ofpoverty and want； to a bright rose tint。 The fragrance of roses spreadthrough the room； mingled with the sweet smell of apples。 He saw thebranches of an apple…tree spreading above him。 It was the tree whichhe and Molly had planted together。 The fragrant leaves of the treefell upon him and cooled his burning brow； upon his parched lipsthey seemed like refreshing bread and wine； and as they rested onhis breast； a peaceful calm stole over him； and he felt inclined tosleep。 〃I shall sleep now；〃 he whispered to himself。 〃Sleep will do megood。 In the morning I shall be upon my feet again； strong and well。Glorious！ wonderful！ That apple…tree； planted in love； now appearsbefore me in heavenly beauty。〃 And he slept。
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