安徒生童话-第14章
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of afrog； or the wail of a bird。 〃A grave！ dig me a grave！〃
The mist was cold and damp； her hands and face were moist andclammy with horror； a heavy weight again seized her and clung toher； her mind became clear for thoughts that had never before beenthere。
In these northern regions； a beech…wood often buds in a singlenight and appears in the morning sunlight in its full glory ofyouthful green。 So； in a single instant； can the consciousness ofthe sin that has been mitted in thoughts； words； and actions of ourpast life； be unfolded to us。 When once the conscience is awakened； itsprings up in the heart spontaneously； and God awakens theconscience when we least expect it。 Then we can find no excuse forourselves； the deed is there and bears witness against us。 Thethoughts seem to bee words； and to sound far out into the world。 Weare horrified at the thought of what we have carried within us； and atthe consciousness that we have not overe the evil which has itsorigin in thoughtlessness and pride。 The heart conceals withinitself the vices as well as the virtues； and they grow in theshallowest ground。 Anne Lisbeth now experienced in thought what wehave clothed in words。 She was overpowered by them； and sank downand crept along for some distance on the ground。 〃A grave！ dig me agrave！〃 sounded again in her ears； and she would have gladly buriedherself； if in the grave she could have found forgetfulness of heractions。
It was the first hour of her awakening； full of anguish andhorror。 Superstition made her alternately shudder with cold or burnwith the heat of fever。 Many things； of which she had feared even tospeak； came into her mind。 Silently； as the cloud…shadows in themoonshine； a spectral apparition flitted by her； she had heard of itbefore。 Close by her galloped four snorting steeds； with fire flashingfrom their eyes and nostrils。 They dragged a burning coach； and withinit sat the wicked lord of the manor； who had ruled there a hundredyears before。 The legend says that every night； at twelve o'clock；he drove into his castleyard and out again。 He was not as pale as deadmen are； but black as a coal。 He nodded； and pointed to AnneLisbeth； crying out； 〃Hold fast！ hold fast！ and then you may rideagain in a nobleman's carriage； and forget your child。〃
She gathered herself up； and hastened to the churchyard； but blackcrosses and black ravens danced before her eyes； and she could notdistinguish one from the other。 The ravens croaked as the raven haddone which she saw in the daytime； but now she understood what theysaid。 〃I am the raven…mother； I am the raven…mother；〃 each ravencroaked； and Anne Lisbeth felt that the name also applied to her；and she fancied she should be transformed into a black bird； andhave to cry as they cried； if she did not dig the grave。 And she threwherself upon the earth； and with her hands dug a grave in the hardground； so that the blood ran from her fingers。 〃A grave！ dig me agrave！〃 still sounded in her ears； she was fearful that the cock mightcrow； and the first red streak appear in the east； before she hadfinished her work； and then she would be lost。 And the cock crowed；and the day dawned in the east； and the grave was only half dug。 Anicy hand passed over her head and face； and down towards her heart。〃Only half a grave；〃 a voice wailed； and fled away。 Yes； it fledaway over the sea； it was the ocean spectre； and； exhausted andoverpowered； Anne Lisbeth sunk to the ground； and her senses left her。
It was a bright day when she came to herself； and two men wereraising her up； but she was not lying in the churchyard； but on thesea…shore； where she had dug a deep hole in the sand； and cut her handwith a piece of broken glass； whose sharp stern was stuck in alittle block of painted wood。 Anne Lisbeth was in a fever。Conscience had roused the memories of superstitions； and had soacted upon her mind； that she fancied she had only half a soul； andthat her child had taken the other half down into the sea。 Never wouldshe be able to cling to the mercy of Heaven till she had recoveredthis other half which was now held fast in the deep water。
Anne Lisbeth returned to her home； but she was no longer the womanshe had been。 Her thoughts were like a confused； tangled skein； onlyone thread； only one thought was clear to her； namely that she mustcarry the spectre of the sea…shore to the churchyard； and dig agrave for him there； that by so doing she might win back her soul。Many a night she was missed from her home； and was always found on thesea…shore waiting for the spectre。
In this way a whole year passed； and then one night she vanishedagain； and was not to be found。 The whole of the next day was spent ina useless search after her。
Towards evening； when the clerk entered the church to toll thevesper bell； he saw by the altar Anne Lisbeth； who had spent the wholeday there。 Her powers of body were almost exhausted； but her eyesflashed brightly； and on her cheeks was a rosy flush。 The last rays ofthe setting sun shone upon her； and gleamed over the altar upon theshining clasps of the Bible； which lay open at the words of theprophet Joel； 〃Rend your hearts and not your garments； and turn untothe Lord。〃
〃That was just a chance；〃 people said； but do things happen bychance？ In the face of Anne Lisbeth； lighted up by the evening sun；could be seen peace and rest。 She said she was happy now； for shehad conquered。 The spectre of the shore； her own child； had e toher the night before； and had said to her； 〃Thou hast dug me only halfa grave： but thou hast now； for a year and a day； buried me altogetherin thy heart； and it is there a mother can best hide her child！〃 Andthen he gave her back her lost soul； and brought her into thechurch。 〃Now I am in the house of God；〃 she said； 〃and in that housewe are happy。〃
When the sun set； Anne Lisbeth's soul had risen to that regionwhere there is no more pain； and Anne Lisbeth's troubles were at anend。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
BEAUTY OF FORM AND BEAUTY OF MIND
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a sculptor； named Alfred； who having won thelarge gold medal and obtained a travelling scholarship； went to Italy；and then came back to his native land。 He was young at that time…indeed； he is young still； although he is ten years older than hewas then。 On his return； he went to visit one of the little towns inthe island of Zealand。 The whole town knew who the stranger was； andone of the richest men in the place gave a party in his honor； and allwho were of any consequence； or who possessed some property； wereinvited。 It was quite an event； and all the town knew of it； so thatit was not necessary to announce it by beat of drum。Apprentice…boys； children of the poor； and even the poor peoplethemselves； stood before the house； watching the lighted windows；and the watchman might easily fancy he was giving a party also；there were so many people in the streets。 There was quite an air offestivity about it； and the house was full of it； for Mr。 Alfred；the sculptor； was there。 He talked and told anecdotes； and every onelistened to him with pleasure； not unmingled with awe； but none feltso much respect for him as did the elderly widow of a naval officer。She seemed； so far as Mr。 Alfred was concerned； to be like a pieceof fresh blotting…paper that absorbed all he said and asked formore。 She was very appreciative； and incredibly ignorant… a kind offemale Gaspar Hauser。
〃I should like to see Rome；〃 she said； 〃it must be a lovelycity； or so many foreigners would not be constantly arriving there。Now； do give me a description of Rome。 How does the city look when youenter in at the gate？〃
〃I cannot very well describe it；〃 said the sculptor； 〃but youenter on a large open space； in the centre of which stands an obelisk；which is a thousand years old。〃
〃An organist！〃 exclaimed the lady； who had never heard the word'obelisk。' Several of the guests could scarcely forbear laughing；and the sculptor would have had some difficulty in keeping hiscountenance； but the smile on his lips faded away； for he caught sightof a pair of dark…blue eyes close by the side of the inquisitive lady。They belonged to her daughter； and surely no one who had such adaughter could be silly。 The mother was like a fountain ofquestions； and the daughter； who listened but never spoke； mighthave passed for the beautiful maid of the fountain。 How charming shewas！ She was a study for the sculptor to contemplate； but not toconverse with； for she did not speak； or； at least； very seldom。
〃Has the pope a great family？〃 inquired the lady。
The young man answered considerately； as if the question hadbeen a different one； 〃No； he does not e from a great family。〃
〃That is not what I asked；〃 persisted the widow； 〃I mean； has he awife and children？〃
〃The pope is not allowed to marry；〃 replied the gentleman。
〃I don't like that；〃 was the lady's remark。
She certainly might have asked more sensible questions； but if shehad not been allowed to say just what she liked； would her daughterhave been there； leaning so gracefully on her shoulder； and lookingstraight before her； with a smile that was almost mournful on herface？
Mr。 Alfred again spoke of Italy； and of the glorious co
