the snow queen in seven stories-第3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！


roses；　〃do　you　think　he　is　dead？〃

　　　　And　the　roses　answered；　〃No；　he　is　not　dead。　We　have　been　in　the

ground　where　all　the　dead　lie；　but　Kay　is　not　there。〃

　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　said　little　Gerda；　and　then　she　went　to　the　other

flowers；　and　looked　into　their　little　cups；　and　asked；　〃Do　you　know

where　little　Kay　is？〃　But　each　flower；　as　it　stood　in　the　sunshine；

dreamed　only　of　its　own　little　fairy　tale　of　history。　Not　one　knew

anything　of　Kay。　Gerda　heard　many　stories　from　the　flowers；　as　she

asked　them　one　after　another　about　him。

　　　　And　what；　said　the　tiger…lily？　〃Hark；　do　you　hear　the　drum？　…

'turn；　turn；'…　there　are　only　two　notes；　always；　'turn；　turn。'

Listen　to　the　women's　song　of　mourning！　Hear　the　cry　of　the　priest！　In

her　long　red　robe　stands　the　Hindoo　widow　by　the　funeral　pile。　The

flames　rise　around　her　as　she　places　herself　on　the　dead　body　of　her

husband；　but　the　Hindoo　woman　is　thinking　of　the　living　one　in　that

circle；　of　him；　her　son；　who　lighted　those　flames。　Those　shining

eyes　trouble　her　heart　more　painfully　than　the　flames　which　will

soon　consume　her　body　to　ashes。　Can　the　fire　of　the　heart　be

extinguished　in　the　flames　of　the　funeral　pile？〃

　　　　〃I　don't　understand　that　at　all；〃　said　little　Gerda。

　　　　〃That　is　my　story；〃　said　the　tiger…lily。

　　　　What；　says　the　convolvulus？　〃Near　yonder　narrow　road　stands　an　old

knight's　castle；　thick　ivy　creeps　over　the　old　ruined　walls；　leaf　over

leaf；　even　to　the　balcony；　in　which　stands　a　beautiful　maiden。　She

bends　over　the　balustrades；　and　looks　up　the　road。　No　rose　on　its　stem

is　fresher　than　she；　no　apple…blossom；　wafted　by　the　wind；　floats　more

lightly　than　she　moves。　Her　rich　silk　rustles　as　she　bends　over　and

exclaims；　'Will　he　not　come？'

　　　　〃Is　it　Kay　you　mean？〃　asked　Gerda。

　　　　〃I　am　only　speaking　of　a　story　of　my　dream；〃　replied　the　flower。

　　　　What；　said　the　little　snow…drop？　〃Between　two　trees　a　rope　is

hanging；　there　is　a　piece　of　board　upon　it；　it　is　a　swing。　Two

pretty　little　girls；　in　dresses　white　as　snow；　and　with　long　green

ribbons　fluttering　from　their　hats；　are　sitting　upon　it　swinging。

Their　brother　who　is　taller　than　they　are；　stands　in　the　swing；　he　has

one　arm　round　the　rope；　to　steady　himself；　in　one　hand　he　holds　a

little　bowl；　and　in　the　other　a　clay　pipe；　he　is　blowing　bubbles。　As

the　swing　goes　on；　the　bubbles　fly　upward；　reflecting　the　most

beautiful　varying　colors。　The　last　still　hangs　from　the　bowl　of　the

pipe；　and　sways　in　the　wind。　On　goes　the　swing；　and　then　a　little

black　dog　comes　running　up。　He　is　almost　as　light　as　the　bubble；　and

he　raises　himself　on　his　hind　legs；　and　wants　to　be　taken　into　the

swing；　but　it　does　not　stop；　and　the　dog　falls；　then　he　barks　and　gets

angry。　The　children　stoop　towards　him；　and　the　bubble　bursts。　A

swinging　plank；　a　light　sparkling　foam　picture；…　that　is　my　story。〃

　　　　〃It　may　be　all　very　pretty　what　you　are　telling　me；〃　said　little

Gerda；　〃but　you　speak　so　mournfully；　and　you　do　not　mention　little　Kay

at　all。〃

　　　　What　do　the　hyacinths　say？　〃There　were　three　beautiful　sisters；

fair　and　delicate。　The　dress　of　one　was　red；　of　the　second　blue；　and

of　the　third　pure　white。　Hand　in　hand　they　danced　in　the　bright

moonlight；　by　the　calm　lake；　but　they　were　human　beings；　not　fairy

elves。　The　sweet　fragrance　attracted　them；　and　they　disappeared　in　the

wood；　here　the　fragrance　became　stronger。　Three　coffins；　in　which

lay　the　three　beautiful　maidens；　glided　from　the　thickest　part　of

the　forest　across　the　lake。　The　fire…flies　flew　lightly　over　them；

like　little　floating　torches。　Do　the　dancing　maidens　sleep；　or　are

they　dead？　The　scent　of　the　flower　says　that　they　are　corpses。　The

evening　bell　tolls　their　knell。〃

　　　　〃You　make　me　quite　sorrowful；〃　said　little　Gerda；　〃your　perfume　is

so　strong；　you　make　me　think　of　the　dead　maidens。　Ah！　is　little　Kay

really　dead　then？　The　roses　have　been　in　the　earth；　and　they　say　no。〃

　　　　〃Cling；　clang；〃　tolled　the　hyacinth　bells。　〃We　are　not　tolling　for

little　Kay；　we　do　not　know　him。　We　sing　our　song；　the　only　one　we

know。〃

　　　　Then　Gerda　went　to　the　buttercups　that　were　glittering　amongst　the

bright　green　leaves。

　　　　〃You　are　little　bright　suns；〃　said　Gerda；　〃tell　me　if　you　know

where　I　can　find　my　play…fellow。〃

　　　　And　the　buttercups　sparkled　gayly；　and　looked　again　at　Gerda。　What

song　could　the　buttercups　sing？　It　was　not　about　Kay。

　　　　〃The　bright　warm　sun　shone　on　a　little　court；　on　the　first　warm

day　of　spring。　His　bright　beams　rested　on　the　white　walls　of　the

neighboring　house；　and　close　by　bloomed　the　first　yellow　flower　of　the

season；　glittering　like　gold　in　the　sun's　warm　ray。　An　old　woman　sat

in　her　arm　chair　at　the　house　door；　and　her　granddaughter；　a　poor

and　pretty　servant…maid　came　to　see　her　for　a　short　visit。　When　she

kissed　her　grandmother　there　was　gold　everywhere：　the　gold　of　the

heart　in　that　holy　kiss；　it　was　a　golden　morning；　there　was　gold　in

the　beaming　sunlight；　gold　in　the　leaves　of　the　lowly　flower；　and　on

the　lips　of　the　maiden。　There；　that　is　my　story；〃　said　the　buttercup。

　　　　〃My　poor　old　grandmother！〃　sighed　Gerda；　〃she　is　longing　to　see

me；　and　grieving　for　me　as　she　did　for　little　Kay；　but　I　shall　soon　go

home　now；　and　take　little　Kay　with　me。　It　is　no　use　asking　the

flowers；　they　know　only　their　own　songs；　and　can　give　me　no

information。〃

　　　　And　then　she　tucked　up　her　little　dress；　that　she　might　run

faster；　but　the　narcissus　caught　her　by　the　leg　as　she　was　jumping

over　it；　so　she　stopped　and　looked　at　the　tall　yellow　flower；　and

said；　〃Perhaps　you　may　know　something。〃

　　　　Then　she　stooped　down　quite　close　to　the　flower；　and　listened；　and

what　did　he　say？

　　　　〃I　can　see　myself；　I　can　see　myself；〃　said　the　narcissus。　〃Oh；　how

sweet　is　my　perfume！　Up　in　a　little　room　with　a　bow　window；　stands　a

little　dancing　girl；　half　undressed；　she　stands　sometimes　on　one

leg；　and　sometimes　on　both；　and　looks　as　if　she　would　tread　the

whole　world　under　her　feet。　She　is　nothing　but　a　delusion。　She　is

pouring　water　out　of　a　tea…pot　on　a　piece　of　stuff　which　she　holds

in　her　hand；　it　is　her　bodice。　'Cleanliness　is　a　good　thing；'　she

says。　Her　white　dress　hangs　on　a　peg；　it　has　also　been　washed　in　the

tea…pot；　and　dried　on　the　roof。　She　puts　it　on；　and　ties　a

saffron…colored　handkerchief　round　her　neck；　which　makes　the　dress

look　whiter。　See　how　she　stretches　out　her　legs；　as　if　she　were

showing　off　on　a　stem。　I　can　see　myself；　I　can　see　myself。〃

　　　　〃What　do　I　care　for　all　that；〃　said　Gerda；　〃you　need　not　tell　me

such　stuff。〃　And　then　she　ran　to　the　other　end　of　the　garden。　The　door

was　fastened；　but　she　pressed　against　the　rusty　latch；　and　it　gave

way。　The　door　sprang　open；　and　little　Gerda　ran　out　with　bare　feet

into　the　wide　world。　She　looked　back　three　times；　but　no　one　seemed　to

be　following　her。　At　last　she　could　run　no　longer；　so　she　sat　down

to　rest　on　a　great　stone；　and　when　she　looked　round　she　saw　that　the

summer　was　over；　and　autumn　very　far　advanced。　She　had　known　nothing

of　this　in　the　beautiful　garden；　where　the　sun　shone　and　the　flowers

grew　all　the　year　round。

　　　　〃Oh；　how　I　have　wasted　my　time？〃　said　little　Gerda；　〃it　is　autumn。

I　must　not　rest　any　longer；〃　and　she　rose　up　to　go　on。　But　her

little　feet　were　wounded　and　sore；　and　everything　around　her　looked　so

cold　and　bleak。　The　long　willow…leaves　were　quite　yellow。　The

dew…drops　fell　like　water；　leaf　after　leaf　dropped　from　the　trees；　the

sloe…thorn　alone　still　bore　fruit；　but　the　sloes　were　sour；　and　set

the　teeth　on　edge。　Oh；　how　dark　and　weary　the　whole　world　appeared！

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FOURTH　STORY

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　PRINCE　AND　PRINCESS



　　　　Gerda　was　obliged　to　rest　again；　and　just　opposite　the　place　where

she　sat；　she　saw　a　great　crow　come　hopping　across　the　snow　toward　her。

He　stood　looking　at　her　for　some　time；　and　then　he　wagged　his　head　and

said；　〃Caw；　caw；　good…day；　good…day。〃　He　pronounced　the　words　as

plainly　as　he　could；　because　he　meant　to　be　kind　to　the　little　girl；

and　then　he　asked　her　where　she　was　going　all　alone　in　the　wide　world。

　　　　The　word　alone　Gerda　understood　very　well；　and　knew　how　much　it

expressed。　So　then　she　told　the　crow　the　whole　story　of　her　life　and

adventures；　and　asked　him　if　he　had　seen　little　Kay。

　　　　The　crow　nodded　his　head　very　gravely；　and　said；　〃Perhaps　I

have…　it　may　be。〃

　　　　〃No！　Do　you　think　you　have？〃　cried　little　Gerda；　and　she　kissed

the　crow；　and　hugged　him　almost　to　death　with　joy。

　　　　〃Gently；　gently；〃　said　the　crow。　〃I　believe　I　know。　I　think　it　may

be　little　Kay；　but　he　has　certainly　forgotten　you　by　this　time　for　the

princess。〃

　　　　〃Does　he　live　with　a　princess？〃　asked　Gerda。

　　　　〃Yes；　listen；〃　replied　the　crow；　〃but　it　is　so　difficult　to

speak　your　language。　If　you　understand　the　crows'　language　then　I

can　explain　it　better。　Do　you？〃

　　　　〃No；　I　have　never　learnt　it；〃　said　Gerda；　but　my　grandmother

understands　it；　and　used　to　speak　it　to　me。　I　wish　I　had　learnt　it。〃

　　　　〃It　does　not　matter；〃　answered　the　crow；　〃I　will　explain　as　well

as　I　can；　although　it　will　be　very　badly　done；〃　and　he　told　her　what

he　had　heard。　〃In　this　kingdom　where　we　now　are；〃　said　he；　〃there

lives　a　princess；　who　is　so　wonderfully　clever　that　she　has　read　all

the　newspapers　in　the　world；　and　forgotten　them　too；　although　she　is

so　clever。　A　short　time　ago；　as　she　was　sitting　on　her　throne；　which

people　say　is　not　such　an　agreeable　seat　as　is　often　supposed；　she

began　to　sing　a　song　which　commences　in　these　words：



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'Why　should　I　not　be　married？'



'Why　not　indeed？'　said　she；　and　so　she　determined　to　marry　if　she

could　find　a　husband　who　knew　what　to　say　when　he　was　spoken　to；　and

not　one　who　could　only　look　grand；　for　that　was　so　tiresome。　Then

she　assembled　all　her　court　ladies　together　at　the　beat　of　the　drum；

and　when　they　heard　of　her　intentions　they　were　very　much　pleased。　'We

are　so　glad　to　hear　it；'　said　they；　we　were　talking　about　it　ourselves

the　other　day。'　You　may　believe　that　every　word　I　tell　you　is　true；〃

said　the　crow；　〃for　I　have　a　tame　sweetheart　who　goes　freely　about　the

palace；　and　she　told　me　all　this。〃

　　　　Of　course　his　sweetheart　was　a　crow；　for　〃birds　of　a　feather　flock

together；〃　and　one　crow　always　chooses　another　crow。

　　　　〃Newspapers　were　published　immediately；　with　a　border　of　hearts；

and　the　initials　of　the　princess　among　them。　They　gave　notice　that

every　young　man　who　was　handsome　was　free　to　visit　the　castle　and

speak　with　the　princess；　and　those　who　could　reply　loud　enough　to　be

heard　when　spoken　to；　were　to　make　themselves　quite　at　home　at　the

palace；　but　the　one　who　spoke　best　would　be　chosen　as　a　husband　for

the　princess。　Yes；　yes；　you　may　believe　me；　it　is　all　as　true　as　I　sit

here；〃　said　the　crow。　〃The　people　came　in　crowds。　There　was　a　great

deal　of　crushing　and　running　about；　but　no　one　succeeded　either　on　the

first　or　second　day。　They　could　all　speak　very　well　while　they　were

outside　in　the　streets；　but　when　they　entered　the　palace　gates；　and

saw　the　guards　in