安徒生童话-第206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！
d placed himself close to thedoor of her carriage。 It flew open； and she stepped out； the lightfell upon her dear face； and he could see that she smiled as shethanked them； and appeared quite overe。 Knud looked straight in herface； and she looked at him； but she did not recognize him。 A man；with a glittering star on his breast； gave her his arm； and peoplesaid the two were engaged to be married。 Then Knud went home andpacked up his knapsack； he felt he must return to the home of hischildhood； to the elder…tree and the willow。 〃Ah； under thatwillow…tree！〃 A man may live a whole life in one single hour。
The old couple begged him to remain； but words were useless。 Invain they reminded him that winter was ing； and that the snow hadalready fallen on the mountains。 He said he could easily follow thetrack of the closely…moving carriages； for which a path must be keptclear； and with nothing but his knapsack on his back； and leaning onhis stick； he could step along briskly。 So he turned his steps tothe mountains； ascended one side and descended the other； stillgoing northward till his strength began to fail； and not a house orvillage could be seen。 The stars shone in the sky above him； anddown in the valley lights glittered like stars； as if another sky werebeneath him； but his head was dizzy and his feet stumbled； and he feltill。 The lights in the valley grew brighter and brighter； and morenumerous； and he could see them moving to and fro； and then heunderstood that there must be a village in the distance； so he exertedhis failing strength to reach it； and at length obtained shelter ina humble lodging。 He remained there that night and the whole of thefollowing day； for his body required rest and refreshment； and inthe valley there was rain and a thaw。 But early in the morning ofthe third day； a man came with an organ and played one of the melodiesof home； and after that Knud could remain there no longer； so hestarted again on his journey toward the north。 He travelled for manydays with hasty steps； as if he were trying to reach home before allwhom he remembered should die； but he spoke to no one of this longing。No one would have believed or understood this sorrow of his heart； thedeepest that can be felt by human nature。 Such grief is not for theworld； it is not entertaining even to friends； and poor Knud had nofriends； he was a stranger； wandering through strange lands to hishome in the north。
He was walking one evening through the public roads； the countryaround him was flatter； with fields and meadows； the air had afrosty feeling。 A willow…tree grew by the roadside； everythingreminded him of home。 He felt very tired； so he sat down under thetree； and very soon began to nod； then his eyes closed in sleep。 Yetstill he seemed conscious that the willow…tree was stretching itsbranches over him； in his dreaming state the tree appeared like astrong； old man… the 〃willow…father〃 himself； who had taken histired son up in his arms to carry him back to the land of home； to thegarden of his childhood； on the bleak open shores of Kjoge。 And thenhe dreamed that it was really the willow…tree itself from Kjoge； whichhad travelled out in the world to seek him； and now had found himand carried him back into the little garden on the banks of thestreamlet； and there stood Joanna； in all her splendor； with thegolden crown on her head； as he had last seen her； to wele himback。 And then there appeared before him two remarkable shapes；which looked much more like human beings than when he had seen them inhis childhood； they were changed； but he remembered that they were thetwo gingerbread cakes； the man and the woman； who had shown their bestsides to the world and looked so good。
〃We thank you；〃 they said to Knud； 〃for you have loosened ourtongues； we have learnt from you that thoughts should be spokenfreely； or nothing will e of them； and now something has e ofour thoughts； for we are engaged to be married。〃 Then they walkedaway； hand…in…hand； through the streets of Kjoge； looking veryrespectable on the best side； which they were quite right to show。They turned their steps to the church； and Knud and Joanna followedthem； also walking hand…in…hand； there stood the church； as of old；with its red walls； on which the green ivy grew。
The great church door flew open wide； and as they walked up thebroad aisle； soft tones of music sounded from the organ。 〃Our masterfirst；〃 said the gingerbread pair； making room for Knud and Joanna。 Asthey knelt at the altar； Joanna bent her head over him； and cold；icy tears fell on his face from her eyes。 They were indeed tears ofice； for her heart was melting towards him through his strong love；and as her tears fell on his burning cheeks he awoke。 He was stillsitting under the willow…tree in a strange land； on a cold winterevening； with snow and hail falling from the clouds； and beatingupon his face。
〃That was the most delightful hour of my life；〃 said he； 〃althoughit was only a dream。 Oh； let me dream again。〃 Then he closed hiseyes once more； and slept and dreamed。
Towards morning there was a great fall of snow； the wind driftedit over him； but he still slept on。 The villagers came forth to goto church； by the roadside they found a workman seated； but he wasdead！ frozen to death under a willow…tree。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
WHAT ONE CAN INVENT
by Hans Christian Andersen
There was once a young man who was studying to be a poet。 Hewanted to bee one by Easter； and to marry； and to live by poetry。To write poems； he knew； only consists in being able to inventsomething； but he could not invent anything。 He had been born toolate… everything had been taken up before he came into the world；and everything had been written and told about。
〃Happy people who were born a thousand years ago！〃 said he。 〃Itwas an easy matter for them to bee immortal。 Happy even was hewho was born a hundred years ago； for then there was still somethingabout which a poem could be written。 Now the world is written out； andwhat can I write poetry about？〃
Then he studied till he became ill and wretched； the wretched man！No doctor could help him； but perhaps the wise woman could。 Shelived in the little house by the wayside； where the gate is that sheopened for those who rode and drove。 But she could do more than unlockthe gate。 She was wiser than the doctor who drives in his own carriageand pays tax for his rank。
〃I must go to her；〃 said the young man。
The house in which she dwelt was small and neat； but dreary tobehold； for there were no flowers near it… no trees。 By the door stooda bee…hive； which was very useful。 There was also a littlepotato…field； very useful； and an earth bank； with sloe bushes uponit； which had done blossoming； and now bore fruit； sloes； that drawone's mouth together if one tastes them before the frost has touchedthem。
〃That's a true picture of our poetryless time； that I see beforeme now；〃 thought the young man； and that was at least a thought； agrain of gold that he found by the door of the wise woman。
〃Write that down！〃 said she。 〃Even crumbs are bread。 I know whyyou e hither。 You cannot invent anything； and yet you want to bea poet by Easter。〃
〃Everything has been written down；〃 said he。 〃Our time is notthe old time。〃
〃No；〃 said the woman。 〃In the old time wise women were burnt；and poets went about with empty stomachs； and very much out at elbows。The present time is good； it is the best of times； but you have notthe right way of looking at it。 Your ear is not sharpened to hear； andI fancy you do not say the Lord's Prayer in the evening。 There isplenty here to write poems about； and to tell of； for any one whoknows the way。 You can read it in the fruits of the earth； you candraw it from the flowing and the standing water； but you mustunderstand how… you must understand how to catch a sunbeam。 Now justyou try my spectacles on； and put my ear…trumpet to your ear； and thenpray to God； and leave off thinking of yourself〃
The last was a very difficult thing to do… more than a wisewoman ought to ask。
He received the spectacles and the ear…trumpet； and was postedin the middle of the potato…field。 She put a great potato into hishand。 Sounds came from within it； there came a song with words； thehistory of the potato； an every…day story in ten parts； an interestingstory。 And ten lines were enough to tell it in。
And what did the potato sing？
She sang of herself and of her family； of the arrival of thepotato in Europe； of the misrepresentation to which she had beenexposed before she was acknowledged； as she is now； to be a greatertreasure than a lump of gold。
〃We were distributed； by the King's mand； from thecouncil…houses through the various towns； and proclamation was made ofour great value； but no one believed in it； or even understood howto plant us。 One man dug a hole in the earth and threw in his wholebushel of potatoes； another put one potato here and another there inthe ground； and expected that each was to e up a perfect tree； fromwhich he might shake down potatoes。 And they certainly grew； andproduced flowers and green watery fruit； but it all withered away。Nobody thought of what was in the ground… the blessing… the potato。Yes； we have endured a
