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第120章

安徒生童话-第120章

小说: 安徒生童话 字数: 每页4000字

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it in darkness and in theshadow of death; to guide their feet into the way of peace。〃 And hespoke these words with the deep longing of his whole nature。

Meanwhile; the horse that had carried them in wild career stoodquietly by; plucking at the tall bramble…bushes; till the ripe youngberries fell down upon Helga's hands; as if inviting her to eat。Patiently she allowed herself to be lifted on the horse; and sat therelike a somnambulist… as one who walked in his sleep。 The Christianbound two branches together with bark; in the form of a cross; andheld it on high as they rode through the forest。 The way graduallygrew thicker of brushwood; as they rode along; till at last itbecame a trackless wilderness。 Bushes of the wild sloe here andthere blocked up the path; so that they had to ride over them。 Thebubbling spring formed not a stream; but a marsh; round which alsothey were obliged to guide the horse; still there were strength andrefreshment in the cool forest breeze; and no trifling power in thegentle words spoken in faith and Christian love by the young priest;whose inmost heart yearned to lead this poor lost one into the wayof light and life。 It is said that rain…drops can make a hollow in thehardest stone; and the waves of the sea can smooth and round the roughedges of the rocks; so did the dew of mercy fall upon Helga; softeningwhat was hard; and smoothing what was rough in her character。 Theseeffects did not yet appear; she was not herself aware of them; neitherdoes the seed in the lap of earth know; when the refreshing dew andthe warm sunbeams fall upon it; that it contains within itself powerby which it will flourish and bloom。 The song of the mother sinks intothe heart of the child; and the little one prattles the words afterher; without understanding their meaning; but after a time thethoughts expand; and what has been heard in childhood seems to themind clear and bright。 So now the 〃Word;〃 which is all…powerful tocreate; was working in the heart of Helga。

They rode forth from the thick forest; crossed the heath; andagain entered a pathless wood。 Here; towards evening; they met withrobbers。

〃Where hast thou stolen that beauteous maiden?〃 cried the robbers;seizing the horse by the bridle; and dragging the two riders fromits back。

The priest had nothing to defend himself with; but the knife hehad taken from Helga; and with this he struck out right and left。One of the robbers raised his axe against him; but the young priestsprang on one side; and avoided the blow; which fell with greatforce on the horse's neck; so that the blood gushed forth; and theanimal sunk to the ground。 Then Helga seemed suddenly to awake fromher long; deep reverie; she threw herself hastily upon the dyinganimal。 The priest placed himself before her; to defend and shelterher; but one of the robbers swung his iron axe against the Christian'shead with such force that it was dashed to pieces; the blood andbrains were scattered about; and he fell dead upon the ground。 Thenthe robbers seized beautiful Helga by her white arms and slenderwaist; but at that moment the sun went down; and as its last raydisappeared; she was changed into the form of a frog。 A greenish whitemouth spread half over her face; her arms became thin and slimy; whilebroad hands; with webbed fingers; spread themselves out like fans。Then the robbers; in terror; let her go; and she stood among them; ahideous monster; and as is the nature of frogs to do; she hopped up ashigh as her own size; and disappeared in the thicket。 Then the robbersknew that this must be the work of an evil spirit or some secretsorcery; and; in a terrible fright; they ran hastily from the spot。

The full moon had already risen; and was shining in all herradiant splendor over the earth; when from the thicket; in the form ofa frog; crept poor Helga。 She stood still by the corpse of theChristian priest; and the carcase of the dead horse。 She looked atthem with eyes that seemed to weep; and from the frog's head cameforth a croaking sound; as when a child bursts into tears。 She threwherself first upon one; and then upon the other; brought water inher hand; which; from being webbed; was large and hollow; and pouredit over them; but they were dead; and dead they would remain。 Sheunderstood that at last。 Soon wild animals would e and tear theirdead bodies; but no; that must not happen。 Then she dug up theearth; as deep as she was able; that she might prepare a grave forthem。 She had nothing but a branch of a tree and her two hands;between the fingers of which the webbed skin stretched; and theywere torn by the work; while the blood ran down her hands。 She sawat last that her work would be useless; more than she couldacplish; so she fetched more water; and washed the face of thedead; and then covered it with fresh green leaves; she also broughtlarge boughs and spread over him; and scattered dried leaves betweenthe branches。 Then she brought the heaviest stones that she couldcarry; and laid them over the dead body; filling up the creviceswith moss; till she thought she had fenced in his resting…placestrongly enough。 The difficult task had employed her the wholenight; and as the sun broke forth; there stood the beautiful Helgain all her loveliness; with her bleeding hands; and; for the firsttime; with tears on her maiden cheeks。 It was; in this transformation;as if two natures were striving together within her; her whole frametrembled; and she looked around her as if she had just awoke from apainful dream。 She leaned for support against the trunk of a slendertree; and at last climbed to the topmost branches; like a cat; andseated herself firmly upon them。 She remained there the whole day;sitting alone; like a frightened squirrel; in the silent solitude ofthe wood; where the rest and stillness is as the calm of death。

Butterflies fluttered around her; and close by were severalant…hills; each with its hundreds of busy little creatures movingquickly to and fro。 In the air; danced myriads of gnats; swarm uponswarm; troops of buzzing flies; ladybirds; dragon…flies with goldenwings; and other little winged creatures。 The worm crawled forthfrom the moist ground; and the moles crept out; but; exceptingthese; all around had the stillness of death: but when people saythis; they do not quite understand themselves what they mean。 Nonenoticed Helga but a flock of magpies; which flew chattering roundthe top of the tree on which she sat。 These birds hopped close toher on the branches with bold curiosity。 A glance from her eyes wasa signal to frighten them away; and they were not clever enough tofind out who she was; indeed she hardly knew herself。

When the sun was near setting; and the evening's twilight about tomence; the approaching transformation aroused her to freshexertion。 She let herself down gently from the tree; and; as thelast sunbeam vanished; she stood again in the wrinkled form of a frog;with the torn; webbed skin on her hands; but her eyes now gleamed withmore radiant beauty than they had ever possessed in her most beautifulform of loveliness; they were now pure; mild maidenly eyes thatshone forth in the face of a frog。 They showed the existence of deepfeeling and a human heart; and the beauteous eyes overflowed withtears; weeping precious drops that lightened the heart。

On the raised mound which she had made as a grave for the deadpriest; she found the cross made of the branches of a tree; the lastwork of him who now lay dead and cold beneath it。 A sudden thoughtcame to Helga; and she lifted up the cross and planted it upon thegrave; between the stones that covered him and the dead horse。 The sadrecollection brought the tears to her eyes; and in this gentlespirit she traced the same sign in the sand round the grave; and asshe formed; with both her hands; the sign of the cross; the web skinfell from them like a torn glove。 She washed her hands in the water ofthe spring; and gazed with astonishment at their delicate whiteness。Again she made the holy sign in the air; between herself and thedead man; her lips trembled; her tongue moved; and the name whichshe in her ride through the forest had so often heard spoken; roseto her lips; and she uttered the words; 〃Jesus Christ。〃 Then thefrog skin fell from her; she was once more a lovely maiden。 Her headbent wearily; her tired limbs required rest; and then she slept。

Her sleep; however; was short。 Towards midnight; she awoke; beforeher stood the dead horse; prancing and full of life; which shone forthfrom his eyes and from his wounded neck。 Close by his side appearedthe murdered Christian priest; more beautiful than Baldur; as theViking's wife had said; but now he came as if in a flame of fire。 Suchgravity; such stern justice; such a piercing glance shone from hislarge; gentle eyes; that it seemed to perate into every corner ofher heart。 Beautiful Helga trembled at the look; and her memoryreturned with a power as if it had been the day of judgment。 Everygood deed that had been done for her; every loving word that hadbeen said; were vividly before her mind。 She understood now thatlove had kept her here during the day of her trial; while the creatureformed of dust and clay; soul and spirit; had wrestled and struggledwith evil。 She acknowledged that she had only followed the 

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