under the willow-tree-第3章

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close　to　one　of　the　old　stone　bridges；　near　to　a　water…mill；　round

which　the　roaring　stream　rushed　and　foamed　always；　yet　restrained　by

the　neighboring　houses；　whose　old；　decayed　balconies　hung　over；　and

seemed　ready　to　fall　into　the　water。　Here　grew　no　elder；　here　was

not　even　a　flower…pot；　with　its　little　green　plant；　but　just

opposite　the　workshop　stood　a　great　willow…tree；　which　seemed　to

hold　fast　to　the　house　for　fear　of　being　carried　away　by　the　water。　It

stretched　its　branches　over　the　stream　just　as　those　of　the

willow…tree　in　the　garden　at　Kjoge　had　spread　over　the　river。　Yes；

he　had　indeed　gone　from　elder…mother　to　willow…father。　There　was　a

something　about　the　tree　here；　especially　in　the　moonlight　nights；

that　went　direct　to　his　heart；　yet　it　was　not　in　reality　the

moonlight；　but　the　old　tree　itself。　However；　he　could　not　endure　it：

and　why？　Ask　the　willow；　ask　the　blossoming　elder！　At　all　events；　he

bade　farewell　to　Nuremberg　and　journeyed　onwards。　He　never　spoke　of

Joanna　to　any　one；　his　sorrow　was　hidden　in　his　heart。　The　old

childish　story　of　the　two　cakes　had　a　deep　meaning　for　him。　He

understood　now　why　the　gingerbread　man　had　a　bitter　almond　in　his　left

side；　his　was　the　feeling　of　bitterness；　and　Joanna；　so　mild　and

friendly；　was　represented　by　the　honeycake　maiden。　As　he　thought

upon　all　this；　the　strap　of　his　knapsack　pressed　across　his　chest　so

that　he　could　hardly　breathe；　he　loosened　it；　but　gained　no　relief。　He

saw　but　half　the　world　around　him；　the　other　half　he　carried　with

him　in　his　inward　thoughts；　and　this　is　the　condition　in　which　he　left

Nuremberg。　Not　till　he　caught　sight　of　the　lofty　mountains　did　the

world　appear　more　free　to　him；　his　thoughts　were　attracted　to　outer

objects；　and　tears　came　into　his　eyes。　The　Alps　appeared　to　him　like

the　wings　of　earth　folded　together；　unfolded；　they　would　display　the

variegated　pictures　of　dark　woods；　foaming　waters；　spreading　clouds；

and　masses　of　snow。　〃At　the　last　day；〃　thought　he；　〃the　earth　will

unfold　its　great　wings；　and　soar　upwards　to　the　skies；　there　to

burst　like　a　soap…bubble　in　the　radiant　glance　of　the　Deity。　Oh；〃

sighed　he；　〃that　the　last　day　were　come！〃

　　　　Silently　he　wandered　on　through　the　country　of　the　Alps；　which

seemed　to　him　like　a　fruit　garden；　covered　with　soft　turf。　From　the

wooden　balconies　of　the　houses　the　young　lacemakers　nodded　as　he

passed。　The　summits　of　the　mountains　glowed　in　the　red　evening　sunset；

and　the　green　lakes　beneath　the　dark　trees　reflected　the　glow。　Then　he

thought　of　the　sea　coast　by　the　bay　Kjoge；　with　a　longing　in　his　heart

that　was；　however；　without　pain。　There；　where　the　Rhine　rolls　onward

like　a　great　billow；　and　dissolves　itself　into　snowflakes；　where

glistening　clouds　are　ever　changing　as　if　here　was　the　place　of

their　creation；　while　the　rainbow　flutters　about　them　like　a

many…colored　ribbon；　there　did　Knud　think　of　the　water…mill　at

Kjoge；　with　its　rushing；　foaming　waters。　Gladly　would　he　have　remained

in　the　quiet　Rhenish　town；　but　there　were　too　many　elders　and

willow…trees。

　　　　So　he　travelled　onwards；　over　a　grand；　lofty　chain　of　mountains；

over　rugged；…　rocky　precipices；　and　along　roads　that　hung　on　the

mountain's　side　like　a　swallow's　nest。　The　waters　foamed　in　the　depths

below　him。　The　clouds　lay　beneath　him。　He　wandered　on；　treading　upon

Alpine　roses；　thistles；　and　snow；　with　the　summer　sun　shining　upon

him；　till　at　length　he　bid　farewell　to　the　lands　of　the　north。　Then　he

passed　on　under　the　shade　of　blooming　chestnut…trees；　through

vineyards；　and　fields　of　Indian　corn；　till　conscious　that　the

mountains　were　as　a　wall　between　him　and　his　early　recollections；

and　he　wished　it　to　be　so。

　　　　Before　him　lay　a　large　and　splendid　city；　called　Milan；　and　here

he　found　a　German　master　who　engaged　him　as　a　workman。　The　master

and　his　wife；　in　whose　workshop　he　was　employed；　were　an　old；　pious

couple；　and　the　two　old　people　became　quite　fond　of　the　quiet

journeyman；　who　spoke　but　little；　but　worked　more；　and　led　a　pious；

Christian　life；　and　even　to　himself　it　seemed　as　if　God　had　removed

the　heavy　burden　from　his　heart。　His　greatest　pleasure　was　to　climb；

now　and　then；　to　the　roof　of　the　noble　church；　which　was　built　of

white　marble。　The　pointed　towers；　the　decorated　and　open　cloisters；

the　stately　columns；　the　white　statues　which　smiled　upon　him　from

every　corner　and　porch　and　arch；…　all；　even　the　church　itself；

seemed　to　him　to　have　been　formed　from　the　snow　of　his　native　land。

Above　him　was　the　blue　sky；　below　him；　the　city　and　the　wide…spreading

plains　of　Lombardy；　and　towards　the　north；　the　lofty　mountains；

covered　with　perpetual　snow。　And　then　he　thought　of　the　church　of

Kjoge；　with　its　red；　ivy…clad　walls；　but　he　had　no　longing　to　go

there；　here；　beyond　the　mountains；　he　would　die　and　be　buried。

　　　　Three　years　had　passed　away　since　he　left　his　home；　one　year　of

that　time　he　had　dwelt　at　Milan。

　　　　One　day　his　master　took　him　into　the　town；　not　to　the　circus　in

which　riders　performed；　but　to　the　opera；　a　large　building；　itself　a

sight　well　worth　seeing。　The　seven　tiers　of　boxes；　which　reached

from　the　ground　to　a　dizzy　height；　near　the　ceiling；　were　hung　with

rich；　silken　curtains；　and　in　them　were　seated　elegantly…dressed

ladies；　with　bouquets　of　flowers　in　their　hands。　The　gentlemen　were

also　in　full　dress；　and　many　of　them　wore　decorations　of　gold　and

silver。　The　place　was　so　brilliantly　lighted　that　it　seemed　like

sunshine；　and　glorious　music　rolled　through　the　building。　Everything

looked　more　beautiful　than　in　the　theatre　at　Copenhagen；　but　then

Joanna　had　been　there；　and…　could　it　be？　Yes…　it　was　like　magic；…

she　was　here　also：　for；　when　the　curtain　rose；　there　stood　Joanna；

dressed　in　silk　and　gold；　and　with　a　golden　crown　upon　her　head。　She

sang；　he　thought；　as　only　an　angel　could　sing；　and　then　she　stepped

forward　to　the　front　and　smiled；　as　only　Joanna　could　smile；　and

looked　directly　at　Knud。　Poor　Knud！　he　seized　his　master's　hand；　and

cried　out　loud；　〃Joanna；〃　but　no　one　heard　him；　excepting　his

master；　for　the　music　sounded　above　everything。

　　　　〃Yes；　yes；　it　is　Joanna；〃　said　his　master；　and　he　drew　forth　a

printed　bill；　and　pointed　to　her　name；　which　was　there　in　full。　Then

it　was　not　a　dream。　All　the　audience　applauded　her；　and　threw

wreaths　of　flowers　at　her；　and　every　time　she　went　away　they　called

for　her　again；　so　that　she　was　always　coming　and　going。　In　the

street　the　people　crowded　round　her　carriage；　and　drew　it　away

themselves　without　the　horses。　Knud　was　in　the　foremost　row；　and

shouted　as　joyously　as　the　rest；　and　when　the　carriage　stopped

before　a　brilliantly　lighted　house；　Knud　placed　himself　close　to　the

door　of　her　carriage。　It　flew　open；　and　she　stepped　out；　the　light

fell　upon　her　dear　face；　and　he　could　see　that　she　smiled　as　she

thanked　them；　and　appeared　quite　overcome。　Knud　looked　straight　in　her

face；　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　people

said　the　two　were　engaged　to　be　married。　Then　Knud　went　home　and

packed　up　his　knapsack；　he　felt　he　must　return　to　the　home　of　his

childhood；　to　the　elder…tree　and　the　willow。　〃Ah；　under　that

willow…tree！〃　A　man　may　live　a　whole　life　in　one　single　hour。

　　　　The　old　couple　begged　him　to　remain；　but　words　were　useless。　In

vain　they　reminded　him　that　winter　was　coming；　and　that　the　snow　had

already　fallen　on　the　mountains。　He　said　he　could　easily　follow　the

track　of　the　closely…moving　carriages；　for　which　a　path　must　be　kept

clear；　and　with　nothing　but　his　knapsack　on　his　back；　and　leaning　on

his　stick；　he　could　step　along　briskly。　So　he　turned　his　steps　to

the　mountains；　ascended　one　side　and　descended　the　other；　still

going　northward　till　his　strength　began　to　fail；　and　not　a　house　or

village　could　be　seen。　The　stars　shone　in　the　sky　above　him；　and

down　in　the　valley　lights　glittered　like　stars；　as　if　another　sky　were

beneath　him；　but　his　head　was　dizzy　and　his　feet　stumbled；　and　he　felt

ill。　The　lights　in　the　valley　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　and　more

numerous；　and　he　could　see　them　moving　to　and　fro；　and　then　he

understood　that　there　must　be　a　village　in　the　distance；　so　he　exerted

his　failing　strength　to　reach　it；　and　at　length　obtained　shelter　in

a　humble　lodging。　He　remained　there　that　night　and　the　whole　of　the

following　day；　for　his　body　required　rest　and　refreshment；　and　in

the　valley　there　was　rain　and　a　thaw。　But　early　in　the　morning　of

the　third　day；　a　man　came　with　an　organ　and　played　one　of　the　melodies

of　home；　and　after　that　Knud　could　remain　there　no　longer；　so　he

started　again　on　his　journey　toward　the　north。　He　travelled　for　many

days　with　hasty　steps；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　reach　home　before　all

whom　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；　the

deepest　that　can　be　felt　by　human　nature。　Such　grief　is　not　for　the

world；　it　is　not　entertaining　even　to　friends；　and　poor　Knud　had　no

friends；　he　was　a　stranger；　wandering　through　strange　lands　to　his

home　in　the　north。

　　　　He　was　walking　one　evening　through　the　public　roads；　the　country

around　him　was　flatter；　with　fields　and　meadows；　the　air　had　a

frosty　feeling。　A　willow…tree　grew　by　the　roadside；　everything

reminded　him　of　home。　He　felt　very　tired；　so　he　sat　down　under　the

tree；　and　very　soon　began　to　nod；　then　his　eyes　closed　in　sleep。　Yet

still　he　seemed　conscious　that　the　willow…tree　was　stretching　its

branches　over　him；　in　his　dreaming　state　the　tree　appeared　like　a

strong；　old　man…　the　〃willow…father〃　himself；　who　had　taken　his

tired　son　up　in　his　arms　to　carry　him　back　to　the　land　of　home；　to　the

garden　of　his　childhood；　on　the　bleak　open　shores　of　Kjoge。　And　then

he　dreamed　that　it　was　really　the　willow…tree　itself　from　Kjoge；　which

had　travelled　out　in　the　world　to　seek　him；　and　now　had　found　him

and　carried　him　back　into　the　little　garden　on　the　banks　of　the

streamlet；　and　there　stood　Joanna；　in　all　her　splendor；　with　the

golden　crown　on　her　head；　as　he　had　last　seen　her；　to　welcome　him

back。　And　then　there　appeared　before　him　two　remarkable　shapes；

which　looked　much　more　like　human　beings　than　when　he　had　seen　them　in

his　childhood；　they　were　changed；　but　he　remembered　that　they　were　the

two　gingerbread　cakes；　the　man　and　the　woman；　who　had　shown　their　best

sides　to　the　world　and　looked　so　good。

　　　　〃We　thank　you；〃　they　said　to　Knud；　〃for　you　have　loosened　our

tongues；　we　have　learnt　from　you　that　thoughts　should　be　spoken

freely；　or　nothing　will　come　of　them；　and　now　something　has　come　of

our　thoughts；　for　we　are　engaged　to　be　married。〃　Then　they　walked

away；　hand…in…hand；　through　the　streets　of　Kjoge；　looking　very

respectable　on　the　best　side；　which　they　were　quite　right　to　show。

They　turned　their　steps　to　the　church；　and　Knud　and　Joanna　followed

them；　also　walking　hand…in…hand；　there　stood　the　church；　as　of　old；

with　its　red　walls；　on　which　the　green　ivy