安徒生童话-第190章
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herself had a snow…white steed； decked with diamondsand rubies。 Her dress was of cloth of gold； and the whip she held inher hand looked like a sunbeam。 The golden crown on her head glitteredlike the stars of heaven； and her mantle was formed of thousands ofbutterflies' wings sewn together。 Yet she herself was more beautifulthan all。
When John saw her； his face became as red as a drop of blood；and he could scarcely utter a word。 The princess looked exactly likethe beautiful lady with the golden crown； of whom he had dreamed onthe night his father died。 She appeared to him so lovely that he couldnot help loving her。
〃It could not be true；〃 he thought； 〃that she was really awicked witch； who ordered people to be hanged or beheaded； if theycould not guess her thoughts。 Every one has permission to go and askher hand； even the poorest beggar。 I shall pay a visit to the palace；〃he said； 〃I must go； for I cannot help myself。〃
Then they all advised him not to attempt it； for he would besure to share the same fate as the rest。 His fellow…traveller alsotried to persuade him against it； but John seemed quite sure ofsuccess。 He brushed his shoes and his coat； washed his face and hishands； bed his soft flaxen hair； and then went out alone into thetown； and walked to the palace。
〃e in；〃 said the king； as John knocked at the door。 John openedit； and the old king； in a dressing gown and embroidered slippers；came towards him。 He had the crown on his head； carried his sceptre inone hand； and the orb in the other。 〃Wait a bit；〃 said he； and heplaced the orb under his arm； so that he could offer the other hand toJohn； but when he found that John was another suitor； he began to weepso violently； that both the sceptre and the orb fell to the floor； andhe was obliged to wipe his eyes with his dressing gown。 Poor old king！〃Let her alone；〃 he said； 〃you will fare as badly as all the others。e； I will show you。〃 Then he led him out into the princess'spleasure gardens； and there he saw a frightful sight。 On every treehung three or four king's sons who had wooed the princess； but had notbeen able to guess the riddles she gave them。 Their skeletonsrattled in every breeze； so that the terrified birds never dared toventure into the garden。 All the flowers were supported by human bonesinstead of sticks； and human skulls in the flower…pots grinnedhorribly。 It was really a doleful garden for a princess。 〃Do you seeall this？〃 said the old king； 〃your fate will be the same as those whoare here； therefore do not attempt it。 You really make me veryunhappy；… I take these things to heart so very much。〃
John kissed the good old king's hand； and said he was sure itwould be all right； for he was quite enchanted with the beautifulprincess。 Then the princess herself came riding into the palace yardwith all her ladies； and he wished her 〃Good morning。〃 She lookedwonderfully fair and lovely when she offered her hand to John； andhe loved her more than ever。 How could she be a wicked witch； as allthe people asserted？ He acpanied her into the hall； and thelittle pages offered them gingerbread nuts and sweetmeats； but the oldking was so unhappy he could eat nothing； and besides； gingerbreadnuts were too hard for him。 It was decided that John should e tothe palace the next day； when the judges and the whole of thecounsellors would be present； to try if he could guess the firstriddle。 If he succeeded； he would have to e a second time； but ifnot； he would lose his life；… and no one had ever been able to guesseven one。 However； John was not at all anxious about the result of histrial； on the contrary； he was very merry。 He thought only of thebeautiful princess； and believed that in some way he should have help；but how he knew not； and did not like to think about it； so hedanced along the high…road as he went back to the inn； where he hadleft his fellow…traveller waiting for him。 John could not refrain fromtelling him how gracious the princess had been； and how beautifulshe looked。 He longed for the next day so much； that he might go tothe palace and try his luck at guessing the riddles。 But his radeshook his head； and looked very mournful。 〃I do so wish you to dowell；〃 said he； 〃we might have continued together much longer； and nowI am likely to lose you； you poor dear John！ I could shed tears； but Iwill not make you unhappy on the last night we may be together。 Wewill be merry； really merry this evening； to…morrow； after you aregone； shall be able to weep undisturbed。〃
It was very quickly known among the inhabitants of the town thatanother suitor had arrived for the princess； and there was greatsorrow in consequence。 The theatre remained closed； the women who soldsweetmeats tied crape round the sugar…sticks； and the king and thepriests were on their knees in the church。 There was a greatlamentation； for no one expected John to succeed better than those whohad been suitors before。
In the evening John's rade prepared a large bowl of punch；and said； 〃Now let us be merry； and drink to the health of theprincess。〃 But after drinking two glasses； John became so sleepy； thathe could not keep his eyes open； and fell fast asleep。 Then hisfellow…traveller lifted him gently out of his chair； and laid him onthe bed； and as soon as it was quite dark； he took the two large wingswhich he had cut from the dead swan； and tied them firmly to his ownshoulders。 Then he put into his pocket the largest of the three rodswhich he had obtained from the old woman who had fallen and broken herleg。 After this he opened the window； and flew away over the town；straight towards the palace； and seated himself in a corner； under thewindow which looked into the bedroom of the princess。
The town was perfectly still when the clocks struck a quarter totwelve。 Presently the window opened； and the princess； who had largeblack wings to her shoulders； and a long white mantle； flew awayover the city towards a high mountain。 The fellow…traveller； who hadmade himself invisible； so that she could not possibly see him； flewafter her through the air； and whipped the princess with his rod； sothat the blood came whenever he struck her。 Ah； it was a strangeflight through the air！ The wind caught her mantle； so that itspread out on all sides； like the large sail of a ship； and the moonshone through it。 〃How it hails； to be sure！〃 said the princess； ateach blow she received from the rod； and it served her right to bewhipped。
At last she reached the side of the mountain； and knocked。 Themountain opened with a noise like the roll of thunder； and theprincess went in。 The traveller followed her； no one could see him； ashe had made himself invisible。 They went through a long； wide passage。A thousand gleaming spiders ran here and there on the walls； causingthem to glitter as if they were illuminated with fire。 They nextentered a large hall built of silver and gold。 Large red and blueflowers shone on the walls； looking like sunflowers in size； but noone could dare to pluck them； for the stems were hideous poisonoussnakes； and the flowers were flames of fire； darting out of theirjaws。 Shining glow…worms covered the ceiling； and sky…blue batsflapped their transparent wings。 Altogether the place had afrightful appearance。 In the middle of the floor stood a thronesupported by four skeleton horses； whose harness had been made byfiery…red spiders。 The throne itself was made of milk…white glass； andthe cushions were little black mice； each biting the other's tail。Over it hung a canopy of rose…colored spider's webs； spotted withthe prettiest little green flies； which sparkled like precious stones。On the throne sat an old magician with a crown on his ugly head； and asceptre in his hand。 He kissed the princess on the forehead； seatedher by his side on the splendid throne； and then the musicmenced。 Great black grasshoppers played the mouth organ； and theowl struck herself on the body instead of a drum。 It was altogethera ridiculous concert。 Little black goblins with false lights intheir caps danced about the hall； but no one could see thetraveller； and he had placed himself just behind the throne where hecould see and hear everything。 The courtiers who came in afterwardslooked noble and grand； but any one with mon sense could see whatthey really were； only broomsticks； with cabbages for heads。 Themagician had given them life； and dressed them in embroidered robes。It answered very well； as they were only wanted for show。 Afterthere had been a little dancing； the princess told the magician thatshe had a new suitor； and asked him what she could think of for thesuitor to guess when he came to the castle the next morning。
〃Listen to what I say；〃 said the magician； 〃you must choosesomething very easy； he is less likely to guess it then。 Think ofone of your shoes； he will never imagine it is that。 Then cut his headoff； and mind you do not forget to bring his eyes with you to…morrownight； that I may eat them。〃
The princess curtsied low； and said she would not forget the eyes。
The magician then opened the mountain and she flew home again； butthe traveller followed and flogged her so much with the rod； thatshe sighed quite deeply about the heavy hail…storm； and made as muchhaste as she could to get back to her bedroom through the window
