安徒生童话-第89章

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　sit　in　a　police…office；amongst　the　dryest　law　papers；　and　at　night　I　can　dream　that　I　am　alark；　flying　about　in　the　gardens　of　Fredericksburg。　Really　a　pleteedy　could　be　written　about　it。〃　Then　he　flew　down　into　the　grass；turned　his　head　about　in　every　direction；　and　tapped　his　beak　on　thebending　blades　of　grass；　which；　in　proportion　to　his　size；　seemed　tohim　as　long　as　the　palm…leaves　in　northern　Africa。

In　another　moment　all　was　darkness　around　him。　It　seemed　as　ifsomething　immense　had　been　thrown　over　him。　A　sailor　boy　had　flung　hislarge　cap　over　the　bird；　and　a　hand　came　underneath　and　caught　theclerk　by　the　back　and　wings　so　roughly；　that　he　squeaked；　and　thencried　out　in　his　alarm；　〃You　impudent　rascal；　I　am　a　clerk　in　thepolice…office！〃　but　it　only　sounded　to　the　boy　like　〃tweet；　tweet；〃　sohe　tapped　the　bird　on　the　beak；　and　walked　away　with　him。　In　theavenue　he　met　two　school…boys；　who　appeared　to　belong　to　a　betterclass　of　society；　but　whose　inferior　abilities　kept　them　in　the　lowestclass　at　school。　These　boys　bought　the　bird　for　eightpence；　and　so　theclerk　returned　to　Copenhagen。　〃It　is　well　for　me　that　I　amdreaming；〃　he　thought；　〃otherwise　I　should　bee　really　angry。First　I　was　a　poet；　and　now　I　am　a　lark。　It　must　have　been　thepoetic　nature　that　changed　me　into　this　little　creature。　It　is　amiserable　story　indeed；　especially　now　I　have　fallen　into　the　hands　ofboys。　I　wonder　what　will　be　the　end　of　it。〃　The　boys　carried　himinto　a　very　elegant　room；　where　a　stout；　pleasant…looking　ladyreceived　them；　but　she　was　not　at　all　gratified　to　find　that　theyhad　brought　a　lark…　a　mon　field…bird　as　she　called　it。　However；　sheallowed　them　for　one　day　to　place　the　bird　in　an　empty　cage　thathung　near　the　window。　〃It　will　please　Polly　perhaps；〃　she　said；laughing　at　a　large　gray　parrot；　who　was　swinging　himself　proudly　on　aring　in　a　handsome　brass　cage。　〃It　is　Polly's　birthday；〃　she　addedin　a　simpering　tone；　〃and　the　little　field…bird　has　e　to　offerhis　congratulations。〃

Polly　did　not　answer　a　single　word；　he　continued　to　swingproudly　to　and　fro；　but　a　beautiful　canary；　who　had　been　broughtfrom　his　own　warm；　fragrant　fatherland；　the　summer　previous；　beganto　sing　as　loud　as　he　could。

〃You　screamer！〃　said　the　lady；　throwing　a　white　handkerchiefover　the　cage。

〃Tweet；　tweet；〃　sighed　he；　〃what　a　dreadful　snowstorm！〃　and　thenhe　became　silent。

The　clerk；　or　as　the　lady　called　him　the　field…bird；　was　placed　ina　little　cage　close　to　the　canary；　and　not　far　from　the　parrot。　Theonly　human　speech　which　Polly　could　utter；　and　which　she　sometimeschattered　forth　most　ically；　was　〃Now　let　us　be　men。〃　All　besideswas　a　scream；　quite　as　unintelligible　as　the　warbling　of　thecanary…bird；　excepting　to　the　clerk；　who　being　now　a　bird；　couldunderstand　his　rades　very　well。

〃I　flew　beneath　green　palm…trees；　and　amidst　the　bloomingalmond…trees；〃　sang　the　canary。　〃I　flew　with　my　brothers　and　sistersover　beautiful　flowers；　and　across　the　clear；　bright　sea；　whichreflected　the　waving　foliage　in　its　glittering　depths；　and　I　have　seenmany　gay　parrots；　who　could　relate　long　and　delightful　stories。

〃They　were　wild　birds；〃　answered　the　parrot；　〃and　totallyuneducated。　Now　let　us　be　men。　Why　do　you　not　laugh？　If　the　lady　andher　visitors　can　laugh　at　this；　surely　you　can。　It　is　a　greatfailing　not　to　be　able　to　appreciate　what　is　amusing。　Now　let　us　bemen。〃

〃Do　you　remember；〃　said　the　canary；　〃the　pretty　maidens　who　usedto　dance　in　the　tents　that　were　spread　out　beneath　the　sweet　blossoms？Do　you　remember　the　delicious　fruit　and　the　cooling　juice　from　thewild　herbs？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　the　parrot；　〃but　here　I　am　much　better　off。　I　amwell　fed；　and　treated　politely。　I　know　that　I　have　a　clever　head；and　what　more　do　I　want？　Let　us　be　men　now。　You　have　a　soul　forpoetry。　I　have　deep　knowledge　and　wit。　You　have　genius；　but　nodiscretion。　You　raise　your　naturally　high　notes　so　much；　that　youget　covered　over。　They　never　serve　me　so。　Oh；　no；　I　cost　themsomething　more　than　you。　I　keep　them　in　order　with　my　beak；　andfling　my　wit　about　me。　Now　let　us　be　men。

〃O　my　warm；　blooming　fatherland；〃　sang　the　canary　bird；　〃I　willsing　of　thy　dark…green　trees　and　thy　quiet　streams；　where　thebending　branches　kiss　the　clear；　smooth　water。　I　will　sing　of　thejoy　of　my　brothers　and　sisters；　as　their　shining　plumage　flits　amongthe　dark　leaves　of　the　plants　which　grow　wild　by　the　springs。〃

〃Do　leave　off　those　dismal　strains；〃　said　the　parrot；　〃singsomething　to　make　us　laugh；　laughter　is　the　sign　of　the　highestorder　of　intellect。　Can　a　dog　or　a　horse　laugh？　No；　they　can　cry；but　to　man　alone　is　the　power　of　laughter　given。　Ha！　ha！　ha！〃laughed　Polly；　and　repeated　his　witty　saying；　〃Now　let　us　be　men。〃

〃You　little　gray　Danish　bird；〃　said　the　canary；　〃you　also　havebee　a　prisoner。　It　is　certainly　cold　in　your　forests；　but　stillthere　is　liberty　there。　Fly　out！　they　have　forgotten　to　close　thecage；　and　the　window　is　open　at　the　top。　Fly；　fly！〃

Instinctively；　the　clerk　obeyed；　and　left　the　cage；　at　the　samemoment　the　half…opened　door　leading　into　the　next　room　creaked　onits　hinges；　and；　stealthily；　with　green　fiery　eyes；　the　cat　crept　inand　chased　the　lark　round　the　room。　The　canary…bird　fluttered　in　hiscage；　and　the　parrot　flapped　his　wings　and　cried；　〃Let　us　be　men；〃　thepoor　clerk；　in　the　most　deadly　terror；　flew　through　the　window；　overthe　houses；　and　through　the　streets；　till　at　length　he　was　obligedto　seek　a　resting…place。　A　house　opposite　to　him　had　a　look　of　home。　Awindow　stood　open；　he　flew　in；　and　perched　upon　the　table。　It　washis　own　room。　〃Let　us　be　men　now；〃　said　he；　involuntarily　imitatingthe　parrot；　and　at　the　same　moment　he　became　a　clerk　again；　onlythat　he　was　sitting　on　the　table。　〃Heaven　preserve　us！〃　said　he；〃How　did　I　get　up　here　and　fall　asleep　in　this　way？　It　was　an　uneasydream　too　that　I　had。　The　whole　affair　appears　most　absurd。

　THE　BEST　THING　THE　GOLOSHES　DID

Early　on　the　following　morning；　while　the　clerk　was　still　inbed；　his　neighbor；　a　young　divinity　student；　who　lodged　on　the　samestorey；　knocked　at　his　door；　and　then　walked　in。　〃Lend　me　yourgoloshes；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　so　wet　in　the　garden；　but　the　sun　isshining　brightly。　I　should　like　to　go　out　there　and　smoke　my　pipe。〃　Heput　on　the　goloshes；　and　was　soon　in　the　garden；　which　containedonly　one　plum…tree　and　one　apple…tree；　yet；　in　a　town；　even　a　smallgarden　like　this　is　a　great　advantage。

The　student　wandered　up　and　down　the　path；　it　was　just　sixo'clock；　and　he　could　hear　the　sound　of　the　post…horn　in　the　street。〃Oh；　to　travel；　to　travel！〃　cried　he；　〃there　is　no　greater　happinessin　the　world：　it　is　the　height　of　my　ambition。　This　restless　feelingwould　be　stilled；　if　I　could　take　a　journey　far　away　from　thiscountry。　I　should　like　to　see　beautiful　Switzerland；　to　travel　throughItaly；　and；〃…　It　was　well　for　him　that　the　goloshes　acted　immediately；otherwise　he　might　have　been　carried　too　far　for　himself　as　well　asfor　us。　In　a　moment　he　found　himself　in　Switzerland；　closely　packedwith　eight　others　in　the　diligence。　His　head　ached；　his　back　wasstiff；　and　the　blood　had　ceased　to　circulate；　so　that　his　feet　wereswelled　and　pinched　by　his　boots。　He　wavered　in　a　condition　betweensleeping　and　waking。　In　his　right…hand　pocket　he　had　a　letter　ofcredit；　in　his　left…hand　pocket　was　his　passport；　and　a　few　louisd'ors　were　sewn　into　a　little　leather　bag　which　he　carried　in　hisbreast…pocket。　Whenever　he　dozed；　he　dreamed　that　he　had　lost　one　oranother　of　these　possessions；　then　he　would　awake　with　a　start；　andthe　first　movements　of　his　hand　formed　a　triangle　from　hisright…hand　pocket　to　his　breast；　and　from　his　breast　to　hisleft…hand　pocket；　to　feel　whether　they　were　all　safe。　Umbrellas；sticks；　and　hats　swung　in　the　　before　him；　and　almost　obstructedthe　prospect；　which　was　really　very　imposing；　and　as　he　glanced　at　it；his　memory　recalled　the　words　of　one　poet　at　least；　who　has　sung　ofSwitzerland；　and　whose　poems　have　not　yet　been　printed：…

　〃How　lovely　to　my　wondering　eyes

　　Mont　Blanc's　fair　summits　gently　rise；

　　'Tis　sweet　to　breathe　the　mountain　air；…

　　If　you　have　gold　enough　to　spare。〃Grand；　dark；　and　gloomy　appeared　the　landscape　around　him。　Thepine…forests　looked　like　little　groups　of　moss　on　high　rocks；　whosesummits　were　lost　in　clouds　of　mist。　Presently　it　began　to　snow；　andthe　wind　blew　keen　and　cold。　〃Ah；〃　he　sighed；　〃if　I　were　only　on　theother　side　of　the　Alps　now；　it　would　be　summer；　and　I　should　be　ableto　get　money　on　my　letter　of　credit。　The　anxiety　I　feel　on　this　matterprevents　me　from　enjoying　myself　in　Switzerland。　Oh；　I　wish　I　was　onthe　other　side　of　the　Alps。〃

And　there；　in　a　moment；　he　found　himself；　far　away　in　the　midst　ofItaly；　between　Florence　and　Rome；　where　the　lake　Thrasymeneglittered　in　the　evening　sunlight　like　a　sheet　of　molten　goldbetween　the　dark　blue　mountains。　There；　where　Hannibal　defeatedFlaminius；　the　grape　vines　clung　to　each　other　with　the　friendly　graspof　their　green　tendril　fingers；　while；　by　the　wayside；　lovelyhalf…naked　children　were　watching　a　herd　of　coal…black　swine　under　theblossoms　of　fragrant　laurel。　Could　we　rightly　describe　thispicturesque　scene；　our　readers　would　exclaim；　〃Delightful　Italy！〃

But　neither　the　student　nor　either　of　his　travelling　panions