安徒生童话-第124章

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〃Now　that　is　a　new　ending　to　the　story；〃　said　stork…papa；　〃Ireally　never　expected　it　would　end　in　this　way；　but　it　seems　a　verygood　ending。〃

〃And　what　will　the　young　ones　say　to　it；　I　wonder？〃　saidstork…mamma。

〃Ah；　that　is　a　very　important　question；〃　replied　the　stork。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　THE　METAL　PIG

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

IN　the　city　of　Florence；　not　far　from　the　Piazza　del　Granduca；runs　a　little　street　called　Porta　Rosa。　In　this　street；　just　infront　of　the　market…place　where　vegetables　are　sold；　stands　a　pig；made　of　brass　and　curiously　formed。　The　bright　color　has　beenchanged　by　age　to　dark　green；　but　clear；　fresh　water　pours　from　thesnout；　which　shines　as　if　it　had　been　polished；　and　so　indeed　ithas；　for　hundreds　of　poor　people　and　children　seize　it　in　theirhands　as　they　place　their　mouths　close　to　the　mouth　of　the　animal；to　drink。　It　is　quite　a　picture　to　see　a　half…naked　boy　clasping　thewell…formed　creature　by　the　head；　as　he　presses　his　rosy　lipsagainst　its　jaws。　Every　one　who　visits　Florence　can　very　quicklyfind　the　place；　he　has　only　to　ask　the　first　beggar　he　meets　for　theMetal　Pig；　and　he　will　be　told　where　it　is。

It　was　late　on　a　winter　evening；　the　mountains　were　covered　withsnow；　but　the　moon　shone　brightly；　and　moonlight　in　Italy　is　like　adull　winter's　day　in　the　north；　indeed　it　is　better；　for　clear　airseems　to　raise　us　above　the　earth；　while　in　the　north　a　cold；　gray；leaden　sky　appears　to　press　us　down　to　earth；　even　as　the　cold　dampearth　shall　one　day　press　on　us　in　the　grave。　In　the　garden　of　thegrand　duke's　palace；　under　the　roof　of　one　of　the　wings；　where　athousand　roses　bloom　in　winter；　a　little　ragged　boy　had　been　sittingthe　whole　day　long；　a　boy；　who　might　serve　as　a　type　of　Italy；lovely　and　smiling；　and　yet　still　suffering。　He　was　hungry　andthirsty；　yet　no　one　gave　him　anything；　and　when　it　became　dark；　andthey　were　about　to　close　the　gardens；　the　porter　turned　him　out。　Hestood　a　long　time　musing　on　the　bridge　which　crosses　the　Arno；　andlooking　at　the　glittering　stars；　reflected　in　the　water　which　flowedbetween　him　and　the　elegant　marble　bridge　Della　Trinita。　He　thenwalked　away　towards　the　Metal　Pig；　half　knelt　down；　clasped　it　withhis　arms；　and　then　put　his　mouth　to　the　shining　snout　and　drank　deepdraughts　of　the　fresh　water。　Close　by；　lay　a　few　salad…leaves　andtwo　chestnuts；　which　were　to　serve　for　his　supper。　No　one　was　in　thestreet　but　himself；　it　belonged　only　to　him；　so　he　boldly　seatedhimself　on　the　pig's　back；　leaned　forward　so　that　his　curly　head　couldrest　on　the　head　of　the　animal；　and；　before　he　was　aware；　he　fellasleep。

It　was　midnight。　The　Metal　Pig　raised　himself　gently；　and　theboy　heard　him　say　quite　distinctly；　〃Hold　tight；　little　boy；　for　Iam　going　to　run；〃　and　away　he　started　for　a　most　wonderful　ride。First；　they　arrived　at　the　Piazza　del　Granduca；　and　the　metal　horsewhich　bears　the　duke's　statue；　neighed　aloud。　The　paintedcoats…of…arms　on　the　old　council…house　shone　like　transparentpictures；　and　Michael　Angelo's　David　tossed　his　sling；　it　was　as　ifeverything　had　life。　The　metallic　groups　of　figures；　among　whichwere　Perseus　and　the　Rape　of　the　Sabines；　looked　like　livingpersons；　and　cries　of　terror　sounded　from　them　all　across　the　noblesquare。　By　the　Palazzo　degli　Uffizi；　in　the　arcade；　where　the　nobilityassemble　for　the　carnival；　the　Metal　Pig　stopped。　〃Hold　fast；〃　saidthe　animal；　〃hold　fast；　for　I　am　going　up　stairs。〃

The　little　boy　said　not　a　word；　he　was　half　pleased　and　halfafraid。　They　entered　a　long　gallery；　where　the　boy　had　been　before。The　walls　were　resplendent　with　paintings；　here　stood　statues　andbusts；　all　in　a　clear　light　as　if　it　were　day。　But　the　grandestappeared　when　the　door　of　a　side　room　opened；　the　little　boy　couldremember　what　beautiful　things　he　had　seen　there；　but　to…nighteverything　shone　in　its　brightest　colors。　Here　stood　the　figure　of　abeautiful　woman；　as　beautifully　sculptured　as　possible　by　one　of　thegreat　masters。　Her　graceful　limbs　appeared　to　move；　dolphins　sprang　ather　feet；　and　immortality　shone　from　her　eyes。　The　world　called　herthe　Venus　de'　Medici。　By　her　side　were　statues；　in　which　the　spirit　oflife　breathed　in　stone；　figures　of　men；　one　of　whom　whetted　his　sword；and　was　named　the　Grinder；　wrestling　gladiators　formed　anothergroup；　the　sword　had　been　sharpened　for　them；　and　they　strove　forthe　goddess　of　beauty。　The　boy　was　dazzled　by　so　much　glitter；　for　thewalls　were　gleaming　with　bright　colors；　all　appeared　living　reality。

As　they　passed　from　hall　to　hall；　beauty　everywhere　showed　itself；and　as　the　Metal　Pig　went　step　by　step　from　one　picture　to　theother；　the　little　boy　could　see　it　all　plainly。　One　glory　eclipsedanother；　yet　there　was　one　picture　that　fixed　itself　on　the　littleboy's　memory；　more　especially　because　of　the　happy　children　itrepresented；　for　these　the　little　boy　had　seen　in　daylight。　Manypass　this　picture　by　with　indifference；　and　yet　it　contains　a　treasureof　poetic　feeling；　it　represents　Christ　descending　into　Hades。　Theyare　not　the　lost　whom　the　spectator　sees；　but　the　heathen　of　oldentimes。　The　Florentine；　Angiolo　Bronzino；　painted　this　picture；　mostbeautiful　is　the　expression　on　the　face　of　the　two　children；　whoappear　to　have　full　confidence　that　they　shall　reach　heaven　at　last。They　are　embracing　each　other；　and　one　little　one　stretches　out　hishand　towards　another　who　stands　below　him；　and　points　to　himself；　asif　he　were　saying；　〃I　am　going　to　heaven。〃　The　older　people　stand　asif　uncertain；　yet　hopeful；　and　they　bow　in　humble　adoration　to　theLord　Jesus。　On　this　picture　the　boy's　eyes　rested　longer　than　on　anyother：　the　Metal　Pig　stood　still　before　it。　A　low　sigh　was　heard。Did　it　e　from　the　picture　or　from　the　animal？　The　boy　raised　hishands　towards　the　smiling　children；　and　then　the　Pig　ran　off　withhim　through　the　open　vestibule。

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；　you　beautiful　animal；〃　said　the　little　boy；caressing　the　Metal　Pig　as　it　ran　down　the　steps。

〃Thanks　to　yourself　also；〃　replied　the　Metal　Pig；　〃I　have　helpedyou　and　you　have　helped　me；　for　it　is　only　when　I　have　an　innocentchild　on　my　back　that　I　receive　the　power　to　run。　Yes；　as　you　see；　Ican　even　venture　under　the　rays　of　the　lamp；　in　front　of　the　pictureof　the　Madonna；　but　I　may　not　enter　the　church；　still　from　without；and　while　you　are　upon　my　back；　I　may　look　in　through　the　open　door。Do　not　get　down　yet；　for　if　you　do；　then　I　shall　be　lifeless；　as　youhave　seen　me　in　the　Porta　Rosa。〃

〃I　will　stay　with　you；　my　dear　creature；〃　said　the　little　boy。So　then　they　went　on　at　a　rapid　pace　through　the　streets　ofFlorence；　till　they　came　to　the　square　before　the　church　of　SantaCroce。　The　folding…doors　flew　open；　and　light　streamed　from　thealtar　through　the　church　into　the　deserted　square。　A　wonderful　blazeof　light　streamed　from　one　of　the　monuments　in　the　left…side　aisle；and　a　thousand　moving　stars　seemed　to　form　a　glory　round　it；　eventhe　coat…of…arms　on　the　tomb…stone　shone；　and　a　red　ladder　on　a　bluefield　gleamed　like　fire。　It　was　the　grave　of　Galileo。　The　monumentis　unadorned；　but　the　red　ladder　is　an　emblem　of　art；　signifyingthat　the　way　to　glory　leads　up　a　shining　ladder；　on　which　the　prophetsof　mind　rise　to　heaven；　like　Elias　of　old。　In　the　right　aisle　of　thechurch　every　statue　on　the　richly　carved　sarcophagi　seemed　endowedwith　life。　Here　stood　Michael　Angelo；　there　Dante；　with　the　laurelwreath　round　his　brow；　Alfieri　and　Machiavelli；　for　here　side　byside　rest　the　great　men…　the　pride　of　Italy。　The　church　itself　is　verybeautiful；　even　more　beautiful　than　the　marble　cathedral　atFlorence；　though　not　so　large。　It　seemed　as　if　the　carved　vestmentsstirred；　and　as　if　the　marble　figures　they　covered　raised　theirheads　higher；　to　gaze　upon　the　brightly　colored　glowing　altar　wherethe　white…robed　boys　swung　the　golden　censers；　amid　music　and　song；while　the　strong　fragrance　of　incense　filled　the　church；　andstreamed　forth　into　the　square。　The　boy　stretched　forth　his　handstowards　the　light；　and　at　the　same　moment　the　Metal　Pig　startedagain　so　rapidly　that　he　was　obliged　to　cling　tightly　to　him。　The　windwhistled　in　his　ears；　he　heard　the　church　door　creak　on　its　hingesas　it　closed；　and　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　had　lost　his　senses…then　a　cold　shudder　passed　over　him；　and　he　awoke。

It　was　morning；　the　Metal　Pig　stood　in　its　old　place　on　thePorta　Rosa；　and　the　boy　found　he　had　slipped　nearly　off　its　back。　Fearand　trembling　came　upon　him　as　he　thought　of　his　mother；　she　hadsent　him　out　the　day　before　to　get　some　money；　he　had　not　done　so；　andnow　he　was　hungry　and　thirsty。　Once　more　he　clasped　the　neck　of　hismetal　horse；　kissed　its　nose；　and　nodded　farewell　to　it。　Then　hewandered　away　into　one　of　the　narrowest　streets；　where　there　wasscarcely　room　for　a　loaded　donkey　to　pass。　A　great　iron…bound　doorstood　ajar；　he　passed　through；　and　climbed　up　a　brick　staircase；with　dirty　walls　and　a　rope　for　a　balustrade；　till　he　came　to　anopen　gallery　hung　with　rags。　From　here　a　flight　of　steps　led　down　to　acourt；　where　from　a　well　water　was　drawn　up　by　iron　rollers　to　thedifferent　stories　of　the　house；　and　where　the　water…buckets　hungside　by　side。　Sometimes　the　roller　and　the　bucket　danced　in　the　air；splashing　the　water　all　over　the