安徒生童话-第189章
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posed directly that they shouldcarry the old woman home to her cottage； but the stranger opened hisknapsack and took out a box； in which he said he had a salve thatwould quickly make her leg well and strong again； so that she would beable to walk home herself； as if her leg had never been broken。 Andall that he would ask in return was the three fern stems which shecarried in her apron。
〃That is rather too high a price；〃 said the old woman； nodding herhead quite strangely。 She did not seem at all inclined to part withthe fern stems。 However； it was not very agreeable to lie there with abroken leg； so she gave them to him； and such was the power of theointment； that no sooner had he rubbed her leg with it than the oldmother rose up and walked even better than she had done before。 Butthen this wonderful ointment could not be bought at a chemist's。
〃What can you want with those three fern rods？〃 asked John ofhis fellow…traveller。
〃Oh； they will make capital brooms；〃 said he； 〃and I like thembecause I have strange whims sometimes。〃 Then they walked ontogether for a long distance。
〃How dark the sky is being；〃 said John； 〃and look at thosethick； heavy clouds。〃
〃Those are not clouds；〃 replied his fellow…traveller； 〃they aremountains… large lofty mountains… on the tops of which we should beabove the clouds； in the pure； free air。 Believe me； it isdelightful to ascend so high； tomorrow we shall be there。〃 But themountains were not so near as they appeared； they had to travel awhole day before they reached them； and pass through black forests andpiles of rock as large as a town。 The journey had been so fatiguingthat John and his fellow…traveller stopped to rest at a roadsideinn； so that they might gain strength for their journey on the morrow。In the large public room of the inn a great many persons wereassembled to see a edy performed by dolls。 The showman had justerected his little theatre； and the people were sitting round the roomto witness the performance。 Right in front； in the very best place；sat a stout butcher； with a great bull…dog by his side who seemed verymuch inclined to bite。 He sat staring with all his eyes； and so indeeddid every one else in the room。 And then the play began。 It was apretty piece； with a king and a queen in it； who sat on a beautifulthrone； and had gold crowns on their heads。 The trains to theirdresses were very long； according to the fashion； while theprettiest of wooden dolls； with glass eyes and large mustaches；stood at the doors； and opened and shut them； that the fresh air mighte into the room。 It was a very pleasant play； not at allmournful； but just as the queen stood up and walked across thestage； the great bull…dog； who should have been held back by hismaster； made a spring forward； and caught the queen in the teeth bythe slender wrist； so that it snapped in two。 This was a very dreadfuldisaster。 The poor man； who was exhibiting the dolls； was muchannoyed； and quite sad about his queen； she was the prettiest dollhe had； and the bull…dog had broken her head and shoulders off。 Butafter all the people were gone away； the stranger； who came with John；said that he could soon set her to rights。 And then he brought out hisbox and rubbed the doll with some of the salve with which he had curedthe old woman when she broke her leg。 As soon as this was done thedoll's back became quite right again； her head and shoulders werefixed on； and she could even move her limbs herself： there was nowno occasion to pull the wires； for the doll acted just like a livingcreature； excepting that she could not speak。 The man to whom the showbelonged was quite delighted at having a doll who could dance ofherself without being pulled by the wires； none of the other dollscould do this。
During the night； when all the people at the inn were gone to bed；some one was heard to sigh so deeply and painfully； and the sighingcontinued for so long a time； that every one got up to see whatcould be the matter。 The showman went at once to his little theatreand found that it proceeded from the dolls； who all lay on the floorsighing piteously； and staring with their glass eyes； they allwanted to be rubbed with the ointment； so that； like the queen； theymight be able to move of themselves。 The queen threw herself on herknees； took off her beautiful crown； and； holding it in her hand；cried； 〃Take this from me； but do rub my husband and his courtiers。〃
The poor man who owned the theatre could scarcely refrain fromweeping； he was so sorry that he could not help them。 Then heimmediately spoke to John's rade； and promised him all the money hemight receive at the next evening's performance； if he would onlyrub the ointment on four or five of his dolls。 But thefellow…traveller said he did not require anything in return； exceptingthe sword which the showman wore by his side。 As soon as he receivedthe sword he anointed six of the dolls with the ointment； and theywere able immediately to dance so gracefully that all the living girlsin the room could not help joining in the dance。 The coachman dancedwith the cook； and the waiters with the chambermaids； and all thestrangers joined； even the tongs and the fire…shovel made anattempt； but they fell down after the first jump。 So after all itwas a very merry night。 The next morning John and his panion leftthe inn to continue their journey through the great pine…forests andover the high mountains。 They arrived at last at such a great heightthat towns and villages lay beneath them； and the church steepleslooked like little specks between the green trees。 They could seefor miles round； far away to places they had never visited； and Johnsaw more of the beautiful world than he had ever known before。 The sunshone brightly in the blue firmament above； and through the clearmountain air came the sound of the huntsman's horn； and the soft；sweet notes brought tears into his eyes； and he could not helpexclaiming； 〃How good and loving God is to give us all this beauty andloveliness in the world to make us happy！〃
His fellow…traveller stood by with folded hands； gazing on thedark wood and the towns bathed in the warm sunshine。 At this momentthere sounded over their heads sweet music。 They looked up； anddiscovered a large white swan hovering in the air； and singing asnever bird sang before。 But the song soon became weaker and weaker；the bird's head drooped； and he sunk slowly down； and lay dead attheir feet。
〃It is a beautiful bird；〃 said the traveller； 〃and these largewhite wings are worth a great deal of money。 I will take them with me。You see now that a sword will be very useful。〃
So he cut off the wings of the dead swan with one blow； andcarried them away with him。
They now continued their journey over the mountains for manymiles； till they at length reached a large city； containing hundredsof towers； that shone in the sunshine like silver。 In the midst of thecity stood a splendid marble palace； roofed with pure red gold； inwhich dwelt the king。 John and his panion would not go into thetown immediately； so they stopped at an inn outside the town； tochange their clothes； for they wished to appear respectable as theywalked through the streets。 The landlord told them that the king was avery good man； who never injured any one： but as to his daughter；〃Heaven defend us！〃
She was indeed a wicked princess。 She possessed beauty enough…nobody could be more elegant or prettier than she was； but what ofthat？ for she was a wicked witch； and in consequence of her conductmany noble young princes had lost their lives。 Any one was atliberty to make her an offer； were he a prince or a beggar； itmattered not to her。 She would ask him to guess three things which shehad just thought of； and if he succeed； he was to marry her； and beking over all the land when her father died； but if he could not guessthese three things； then she ordered him to be hanged or to have hishead cut off。 The old king； her father； was very much grieved at herconduct； but he could not prevent her from being so wicked； because heonce said he would have nothing more to do with her lovers； shemight do as she pleased。 Each prince who came and tried the threeguesses； so that he might marry the princess； had been unable tofind them out； and had been hanged or beheaded。 They had all beenwarned in time； and might have left her alone； if they would。 Theold king became at last so distressed at all these dreadfulcircumstances； that for a whole day every year he and his soldiersknelt and prayed that the princess might bee good； but shecontinued as wicked as ever。 The old women who drank brandy wouldcolor it quite black before they drank it； to show how they mourned；and what more could they do？
〃What a horrible princess！〃 said John； 〃she ought to be wellflogged。 If I were the old king； I would have her punished in someway。〃
Just then they heard the people outside shouting； 〃Hurrah！〃 and；looking out； they saw the princess passing by； and she was really sobeautiful that everybody forgot her wickedness； and shouted〃Hurrah！〃 Twelve lovely maidens in white silk dresses； holdinggolden tulips in their hands； rode by her side on coal…black horses。The princess herself had a snow…white steed； decked with diamondsand rubies。 Her dress was of cloth of gold； and
