安徒生童话-第113章

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world。　On　the　same　evening　the　brideand　bridegroom　went　on　board　ship；　cannons　were　roaring；　flags　waving；and　in　the　centre　of　the　ship　a　costly　tent　of　purple　and　gold　hadbeen　erected。　It　contained　elegant　couches；　for　the　reception　of　thebridal　pair　during　the　night。　The　ship；　with　swelling　sails　and　afavorable　wind；　glided　away　smoothly　and　lightly　over　the　calm　sea。When　it　grew　dark　a　number　of　colored　lamps　were　lit；　and　thesailors　danced　merrily　on　the　deck。　The　little　mermaid　could　nothelp　thinking　of　her　first　rising　out　of　the　sea；　when　she　had　seensimilar　festivities　and　joys；　and　she　joined　in　the　dance；　poisedherself　in　the　air　as　a　swallow　when　he　pursues　his　prey；　and　allpresent　cheered　her　with　wonder。　She　had　never　danced　so　elegantlybefore。　Her　tender　feet　felt　as　if　cut　with　sharp　knives；　but　shecared　not　for　it；　a　sharper　pang　had　pierced　through　her　heart。　Sheknew　this　was　the　last　evening　she　should　ever　see　the　prince；　forwhom　she　had　forsaken　her　kindred　and　her　home；　she　had　given　up　herbeautiful　voice；　and　suffered　unheard…of　pain　daily　for　him；　whilehe　knew　nothing　of　it。　This　was　the　last　evening　that　she　wouldbreathe　the　same　air　with　him；　or　gaze　on　the　starry　sky　and　thedeep　sea；　an　eternal　night；　without　a　thought　or　a　dream；　awaited　her：she　had　no　soul　and　now　she　could　never　win　one。　All　was　joy　andgayety　on　board　ship　till　long　after　midnight；　she　laughed　anddanced　with　the　rest；　while　the　thoughts　of　death　were　in　her　heart。The　prince　kissed　his　beautiful　bride；　while　she　played　with　his　ravenhair；　till　they　went　arm…in…arm　to　rest　in　the　splendid　tent。　Then　allbecame　still　on　board　the　ship；　the　helmsman；　alone　awake；　stood　atthe　helm。　The　little　mermaid　leaned　her　white　arms　on　the　edge　ofthe　vessel；　and　looked　towards　the　east　for　the　first　blush　ofmorning；　for　that　first　ray　of　dawn　that　would　bring　her　death。　Shesaw　her　sisters　rising　out　of　the　flood：　they　were　as　pale　as　herself；but　their　long　beautiful　hair　waved　no　more　in　the　wind；　and　hadbeen　cut　off。

〃We　have　given　our　hair　to　the　witch；〃　said　they；　〃to　obtainhelp　for　you；　that　you　may　not　die　to…night。　She　has　given　us　a　knife：here　it　is；　see　it　is　very　sharp。　Before　the　sun　rises　you　must　plungeit　into　the　heart　of　the　prince；　when　the　warm　blood　falls　upon　yourfeet　they　will　grow　together　again；　and　form　into　a　fish's　tail；　andyou　will　be　once　more　a　mermaid；　and　return　to　us　to　live　out　yourthree　hundred　years　before　you　die　and　change　into　the　salt　seafoam。　Haste；　then；　he　or　you　must　die　before　sunrise。　Our　oldgrandmother　moans　so　for　you；　that　her　white　hair　is　falling　offfrom　sorrow；　as　ours　fell　under　the　witch's　scissors。　Kill　theprince　and　e　back；　hasten：　do　you　not　see　the　first　red　streaksin　the　sky？　In　a　few　minutes　the　sun　will　rise；　and　you　must　die。〃　Andthen　they　sighed　deeply　and　mournfully；　and　sank　down　beneath　thewaves。

The　little　mermaid　drew　back　the　crimson　curtain　of　the　tent；and　beheld　the　fair　bride　with　her　head　resting　on　the　prince'sbreast。　She　bent　down　and　kissed　his　fair　brow；　then　looked　at　the　skyon　which　the　rosy　dawn　grew　brighter　and　brighter；　then　she　glanced　atthe　sharp　knife；　and　again　fixed　her　eyes　on　the　prince；　who　whisperedthe　name　of　his　bride　in　his　dreams。　She　was　in　his　thoughts；　andthe　knife　trembled　in　the　hand　of　the　little　mermaid：　then　she　flungit　far　away　from　her　into　the　waves；　the　water　turned　red　where　itfell；　and　the　drops　that　spurted　up　looked　like　blood。　She　cast　onemore　lingering；　half…fainting　glance　at　the　prince；　and　then　threwherself　from　the　ship　into　the　sea；　and　thought　her　body　wasdissolving　into　foam。　The　sun　rose　above　the　waves；　and　his　warmrays　fell　on　the　cold　foam　of　the　little　mermaid；　who　did　not　feelas　if　she　were　dying。　She　saw　the　bright　sun；　and　all　around　herfloated　hundreds　of　transparent　beautiful　beings；　she　could　seethrough　them　the　white　sails　of　the　ship；　and　the　red　clouds　in　thesky；　their　speech　was　melodious；　but　too　ethereal　to　be　heard　bymortal　ears；　as　they　were　also　unseen　by　mortal　eyes。　The　littlemermaid　perceived　that　she　had　a　body　like　theirs；　and　that　shecontinued　to　rise　higher　and　higher　out　of　the　foam。　〃Where　am　I？〃asked　she；　and　her　voice　sounded　ethereal；　as　the　voice　of　those　whowere　with　her；　no　earthly　music　could　imitate　it。

〃Among　the　daughters　of　the　air；〃　answered　one　of　them。　〃A　mermaidhas　not　an　immortal　soul；　nor　can　she　obtain　one　unless　she　wins　thelove　of　a　human　being。　On　the　power　of　another　hangs　her　eternaldestiny。　But　the　daughters　of　the　air；　although　they　do　not　possess　animmortal　soul；　can；　by　their　good　deeds；　procure　one　for　themselves。We　fly　to　warm　countries；　and　cool　the　sultry　air　that　destroysmankind　with　the　pestilence。　We　carry　the　perfume　of　the　flowers　tospread　health　and　restoration。　After　we　have　striven　for　three　hundredyears　to　all　the　good　in　our　power；　we　receive　an　immortal　soul　andtake　part　in　the　happiness　of　mankind。　You；　poor　little　mermaid；have　tried　with　your　whole　heart　to　do　as　we　are　doing；　you　havesuffered　and　endured　and　raised　yourself　to　the　spirit…world　by　yourgood　deeds；　and　now；　by　striving　for　three　hundred　years　in　the　sameway；　you　may　obtain　an　immortal　soul。〃

The　little　mermaid　lifted　her　glorified　eyes　towards　the　sun；and　felt　them；　for　the　first　time；　filling　with　tears。　On　the　ship；　inwhich　she　had　left　the　prince；　there　were　life　and　noise；　she　sawhim　and　his　beautiful　bride　searching　for　her；　sorrowfully　theygazed　at　the　pearly　foam；　as　if　they　knew　she　had　thrown　herselfinto　the　waves。　Unseen　she　kissed　the　forehead　of　her　bride；　andfanned　the　prince；　and　then　mounted　with　the　other　children　of　the　airto　a　rosy　cloud　that　floated　through　the　aether。

〃After　three　hundred　years；　thus　shall　we　float　into　the　kingdomof　heaven；〃　said　she。　〃And　we　may　even　get　there　sooner；〃　whisperedone　of　her　panions。　〃Unseen　we　can　enter　the　houses　of　men；　wherethere　are　children；　and　for　every　day　on　which　we　find　a　good　child；who　is　the　joy　of　his　parents　and　deserves　their　love；　our　time　ofprobation　is　shortened。　The　child　does　not　know；　when　we　fly　throughthe　room；　that　we　smile　with　joy　at　his　good　conduct；　for　we　can　countone　year　less　of　our　three　hundred　years。　But　when　we　see　a　naughty　ora　wicked　child；　we　shed　tears　of　sorrow；　and　for　every　tear　a　day　isadded　to　our　time　of　trial！〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　LOVELIEST　ROSE　IN　THE　WORLD

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　lived　once　a　great　queen；　in　whose　garden　were　found　atall　seasons　the　most　splendid　flowers；　and　from　every　land　in　theworld。　She　specially　loved　roses；　and　therefore　she　possessed　the　mostbeautiful　varieties　of　this　flower；　from　the　wild　hedge…rose；　with　itsapple…scented　leaves；　to　the　splendid　Provence　rose。　They　grew　nearthe　shelter　of　the　walls；　wound　themselves　round　columns　andwindow…frames；　crept　along　passages　and　over　the　ceilings　of　thehalls。　They　were　of　every　fragrance　and　color。

But　care　and　sorrow　dwelt　within　these　halls；　the　queen　lay　upon　asick　bed；　and　the　doctors　declared　that　she　must　die。　〃There　isstill　one　thing　that　could　save　her；〃　said　one　of　the　wisest　amongthem。　〃Bring　her　the　loveliest　rose　in　the　world；　one　which　exhibitsthe　purest　and　brightest　love；　and　if　it　is　brought　to　her　beforeher　eyes　close；　she　will　not　die。〃

Then　from　all　parts　came　those　who　brought　roses　that　bloomed　inevery　garden；　but　they　were　not　the　right　sort。　The　flower　must　be　onefrom　the　garden　of　love；　but　which　of　the　roses　there　showed　forth　thehighest　and　purest　love？　The　poets　sang　of　this　rose；　the　loveliest　inthe　world；　and　each　named　one　which　he　considered　worthy　of　thattitle；　and　intelligence　of　what　was　required　was　sent　far　and　wideto　every　heart　that　beat　with　love；　to　every　class；　age；　andcondition。

〃No　one　has　yet　named　the　flower；〃　said　the　wise　man。　〃No　onehas　pointed　out　the　spot　where　it　blooms　in　all　its　splendor。　It　isnot　a　rose　from　the　coffin　of　Romeo　and　Juliet；　or　from　the　grave　ofWalburg；　though　these　roses　will　live　in　everlasting　song。　It　is　notone　of　the　roses　which　sprouted　forth　from　the　blood…stained　fame　ofWinkelreid。　The　blood　which　flows　from　the　breast　of　a　hero　who　diesfor　his　country　is　sacred；　and　his　memory　is　sweet；　and　no　rose　can　beredder　than　the　blood　which　flows　from　his　veins。　Neither　is　it　themagic　flower　of　Science；　to　obtain　which　wondrous　flower　a　man　devotesmany　an　hour　of　his　fresh　young　life　in　sleepless　nights；　in　alonely　chamber。〃

〃I　know　where　it　blooms；〃　said　a　happy　mother；　who　came　with　herlovely　child　to　the　bedside　of　the　queen。　〃I　know　where　theloveliest　rose　in　the　world　is。　It　is　seen　on　the　blooming　cheeks　ofmy　sweet　child；　when　it　expresses　the　pure　and　holy　love　of　infancy；when　refreshed　by　sleep　it　opens　its　eyes；　and　smiles　upon　me　withchildlike　affection。〃

〃This　is　a　lovely　rose；〃　said　the　wise　man；　〃but　there　is　onestill　more　lovely。〃

〃Yes；　one　far　more　lovely；〃　said　one　of　the　women。　〃I　have　seenit；　and　a　loftier　and　purer　rose　does　not　bloom。　But　it　was　white；like　the　leaves　of　a　blush…rose。　I　saw　it　on　the　cheeks　of　thequeen。　She　had　taken　off　her　golden　crown；　and　through　the　long；dreary　night；　she　carried　her　sick　child　in　her　arms。　She　wept　overit；　kiss