安徒生童话-第116章
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came forth a bud。
One morning； when the stork…papa was flying over the stem； hesaw that the power of the sun's rays had caused the bud to open； andin the cup of the flower lay a charming child… a little maiden；looking as if she had just e out of a bath。 The little one was solike the Egyptian princess； that the stork； at the first moment；thought it must be the princess herself； but after a little reflectionhe decided that it was much more likely to be the daughter of theprincess and the Marsh King； and this explained also her beingplaced in the cup of a water…lily。 〃But she cannot be left to liehere；〃 thought the stork； 〃and in my nest there are already so many。But stay； I have thought of something： the wife of the Viking has nochildren； and how often she has wished for a little one。 People alwayssay the stork brings the little ones； I will do so in earnest thistime。 I shall fly with the child to the Viking's wife； whatrejoicing there will be！〃
And then the stork lifted the little girl out of the flower…cup；flew to the castle； picked a hole with his beak in thebladder…covered； window； and laid the beautiful child in the bosomof the Viking's wife。 Then he flew back quickly to the stork…mamma andtold her what he had seen and done； and the little storks listenedto it all； for they were then quite old enough to do so。 〃So you see；〃he continued； 〃that the princess is not dead； for she must have senther little one up here； and now I have found a home for her。〃
〃Ah； I said it would be so from the first；〃 replied thestork…mamma； 〃but now think a little of your own family。 Ourtravelling time draws near； and I sometimes feel a little irritationalready under the wings。 The cuckoos and the nightingale are alreadygone； and I heard the quails say they should go too as soon as thewind was favorable。 Our youngsters will go through all themanoeuvres at the review very well； or I am much mistaken in them。〃
The Viking's wife was above measure delighted when she awoke thenext morning and found the beautiful little child lying in herbosom。 She kissed it and caressed it； but it cried terribly； andstruck out with its arms and legs； and did not seem to be pleased atall。 At last it cried itself to sleep； and as it lay there so stilland quiet； it was a most beautiful sight to see。 The Viking's wife wasso delighted； that body and soul were full of joy。 Her heart felt solight within her； that it seemed as if her husband and his soldiers；who were absent； must e home as suddenly and unexpectedly as thelittle child had done。 She and her whole household therefore busiedthemselves in preparing everything for the reception of her lord。The long； colored tapestry； on which she and her maidens had workedpictures of their idols； Odin； Thor； and Friga； was hung up。 Theslaves polished the old shields that served as ornaments； cushionswere placed on the seats； and dry wood laid on the fireplaces in thecentre of the hall； so that the flames might be fanned up at amoment's notice。 The Viking's wife herself assisted in the work； sothat at night she felt very tired； and quickly fell into a soundsleep。 When she awoke； just before morning； she was terribly alarmedto find that the infant had vanished。 She sprang from her couch；lighted a pine…chip； and searched all round the room； when； at last；in that part of the bed where her feet had been； lay； not the child；but a great； ugly frog。 She was quite disgusted at this sight； andseized a heavy stick to kill the frog； but the creature looked ather with such strange； mournful eyes； that she was unable to strikethe blow。 Once more she searched round the room； then she started athearing the frog utter a low； painful croak。 She sprang from the couchand opened the window hastily； at the same moment the sun rose； andthrew its beams through the window； till it rested on the couchwhere the great frog lay。 Suddenly it appeared as if the frog'sbroad mouth contracted； and became small and red。 The limbs movedand stretched out and extended themselves till they took a beautifulshape； and behold there was the pretty child lying before her； and theugly frog was gone。 〃How is this？〃 she cried； 〃have I had a wickeddream？ Is it not my own lovely cherub that lies there。〃 Then shekissed it and fondled it； but the child struggled and fought； andbit as if she had been a little wild cat。
The Viking did not return on that day； nor the next； he was；however； on the way home； but the wind； so favorable to the storks；was against him； for it blew towards the south。 A wind in favor of oneis often against another。
After two or three days had passed； it became clear to theViking's wife how matters stood with the child； it was under theinfluence of a powerful sorcerer。 By day it was charming in appearanceas an angel of light； but with a temper wicked and wild； while atnight； in the form of an ugly frog； it was quiet and mournful； witheyes full of sorrow。 Here were two natures； changing inwardly andoutwardly with the absence and return of sunlight。 And so ithappened that by day the child； with the actual form of its mother；possessed the fierce disposition of its father； at night； on thecontrary； its outward appearance plainly showed its descent on thefather's side； while inwardly it had the heart and mind of its mother。Who would be able to loosen this wicked charm which the sorcerer hadworked upon it？ The wife of the Viking lived in constant pain andsorrow about it。 Her heart clung to the little creature； but she couldnot explain to her husband the circumstances in which it was placed。He was expected to return shortly； and were she to tell him； hewould very likely； as was the custom at that time； expose the poorchild in the public highway； and let any one take it away who would。The good wife of the Viking could not let that happen； and shetherefore resolved that the Viking should never see the childexcepting by daylight。
One morning there sounded a rushing of storks' wings over theroof。 More than a hundred pair of storks had rested there during thenight； to recover themselves after their excursion； and now theysoared aloft； and prepared for the journey southward。
〃All the husbands are here； and ready！〃 they cried； 〃wives andchildren also！〃
〃How light we are！〃 screamed the young storks in chorus。〃Something pleasant seems creeping over us； even down to our toes；as if we were full of live frogs。 Ah； how delightful it is to travelinto foreign lands！〃
〃Hold yourselves properly in the line with us；〃 cried papa andmamma。 〃Do not use your beaks so much； it tries the lungs。〃 And thenthe storks flew away。
About the same time sounded the clang of the warriors' trumpetsacross the heath。 The Viking had landed with his men。 They werereturning home； richly laden with spoil from the Gallic coast； wherethe people； as did also the inhabitants of Britain； often cried inalarm； 〃Deliver us from the wild northmen。〃
Life and noisy pleasure came with them into the castle of theViking on the moorland。 A great cask of mead was drawn into thehall； piles of wood blazed； cattle were slain and served up； that theymight feast in reality； The priest who offered the sacrifice sprinkledthe devoted parishioners with the warm blood； the fire crackled； andthe smoke rolled along beneath the roof； the soot fell upon themfrom the beams； but they were used to all these things。 Guests wereinvited； and received handsome presents。 All wrongs and unfaithfulnesswere forgotten。 They drank deeply； and threw in each other's faces thebones that were left； which was looked upon as a sign of goodfeeling amongst them。 A bard； who was a kind of musician as well aswarrior； and who had been with the Viking in his expedition； andknew what to sing about； gave them one of his best songs； in whichthey heard all their warlike deeds praised； and every wonderful actionbrought forward with honor。 Every verse ended with this refrain；…
〃Gold and possessions will flee away；
Friends and foes must die one day；
Every man on earth must die；
But a famous name will never die。〃And with that they beat upon their shields； and hammered upon thetable with knives and bones； in a most outrageous manner。
The Viking's wife sat upon a raised cross seat in the open hall。She wore a silk dress； golden bracelets； and large amber beads。 Shewas in costly attire； and the bard named her in his song； and spoke ofthe rich treasure of gold which she had brought to her husband。 Herhusband had already seen the wonderfully beautiful child in thedaytime； and was delighted with her beauty； even her wild ways pleasedhim。 He said the little maiden would grow up to be a heroine； with thestrong will and determination of a man。 She would never wink her eyes；even if； in joke； an expert hand should attempt to cut off hereye…brows with a sharp sword。
The full cask of mead soon became empty； and a fresh one wasbrought in； for these were people who liked plenty to eat and drink。The old proverb； which every one knows； says that 〃the cattle knowwhen to leave their pasture； but a foolish man knows not the measureof his own appetite。〃 Yes； they all knew this； but men may know whatis right； and yet often do wrong。 They also knew 〃that even thewele guest bees wearisome when he sits too long in the house。〃But there they remained； fo
