安徒生童话-第143章
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nother invention； which will enext； I mean a few chemical matches。〃
He obtained what he wanted； and flew away。 The birds acpaniedhim farther than they had the other brothers。 They were curious toknow how this flight would end。 Many more of them came swoopingdown； they thought it must be some new bird； and he soon had agoodly pany of followers。 They came in clouds till the air becamedarkened with birds as it was with the cloud of locusts over theland of Egypt。
And now he was out in the wide world。 The balloon descended overone of the greatest cities； and the aeronaut took up his station atthe highest point； on the church steeple。 The balloon rose againinto the air； which it ought not to have done； what became of it isnot known； neither is it of any consequence； for balloons had not thenbeen invented。
There he sat on the church steeple。 The birds no longer hoveredover him； they had got tired of him； and he was tired of them。 All thechimneys in the town were smoking。
〃There are altars erected to my honor；〃 said the wind； whowished to say something agreeable to him as he sat there boldlylooking down upon the people in the street。 There was one steppingalong； proud of his purse； another； of the key he carried behindhim； though he had nothing to lock up； another took a pride in hismoth…eaten coat； and another； in his mortified body。 〃Vanity； allvanity！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I must go down there by…and…by； and touchand taste； but I shall sit here a little while longer； for the windblows pleasantly at my back。 I shall remain here as long as the windblows； and enjoy a little rest。 It is fortable to sleep late in themorning when one had a great deal to do；〃 said the sluggard； 〃so Ishall stop here as long as the wind blows； for it pleases me。〃
And there he stayed。 But as he was sitting on the weather…cockof the steeple； which kept turning round and round with him； he wasunder the false impression that the same wind still blew； and thathe could stay where he was without expense。
But in India； in the castle on the Tree of the Sun； all wassolitary and still； since the brothers had gone away one after theother。
〃Nothing goes well with them；〃 said the father； 〃they will neverbring the glittering jewel home； it is not made for me； they are alldead and gone。〃 Then he bent down over the Book of Truth； and gazed onthe page on which he should have read of the life after death； but forhim there was nothing to be read or learned upon it。
His blind daughter was his consolation and joy； she clung to himwith sincere affection； and for the sake of his happiness and peaceshe wished the costly jewel could be found and brought home。
With longing tenderness she thought of her brothers。 Where werethey？ Where did they live？ How she wished she might dream of them； butit was strange that not even in dreams could she be brought near tothem。 But at last one night she dreamt that she heard the voices ofher brothers calling to her from the distant world； and she couldnot refrain herself； but went out to them； and yet it seemed in herdream that she still remained in her father's house。 She did not seeher brothers； but she felt as it were a fire burning in her hand；which； however； did not hurt her； for it was the jewel she wasbringing to her father。 When she awoke she thought for a moment thatshe still held the stone； but she only grasped the knob of herdistaff。
During the long evenings she had spun constantly； and round thedistaff were woven threads finer than the web of a spider； humaneyes could never have distinguished these threads when separatedfrom each other。 But she had wetted them with her tears； and the twistwas as strong as a cable。 She rose with the impression that herdream must be a reality； and her resolution was taken。
It was still night； and her father slept； she pressed a kissupon his hand； and then took her distaff and fastened the end of thethread to her father's house。 But for this； blind as she was； shewould never have found her way home again； to this thread she musthold fast； and trust not to others or even to herself。 From the Treeof the Sun she broke four leaves； which she gave up to the wind andthe weather； that they might be carried to her brothers as letters anda greeting； in case she did not meet them in the wide world。 Poorblind child； what would bee of her in those distant regions？ Butshe had the invisible thread； to which she could hold fast； and shepossessed a gift which all the others lacked。 This was a determinationto throw herself entirely into whatever she undertook； and it made herfeel as if she had eyes even at the tips of her fingers； and couldhear down into her very heart。 Quietly she went forth into thenoisy； bustling； wonderful world； and wherever she went the skies grewbright； and she felt the warm sunbeam； and a rainbow above in the blueheavens seemed to span the dark world。 She heard the song of thebirds； and smelt the scent of the orange groves and apple orchardsso strongly that she seemed to taste it。 Soft tones and charming songsreached her ear； as well as harsh sounds and rough words… thoughts andopinions in strange contradiction to each other。 Into the deepestrecesses of her heart perated the echoes of human thoughts andfeelings。 Now she heard the following words sadly sung；…
〃Life is a shadow that flits away
In a night of darkness and woe。〃But then would follow brighter thoughts：
〃Life has the rose's sweet perfume
With sunshine； light； and joy。〃And if one stanza sounded painfully…
〃Each mortal thinks of himself alone；
Is a truth； alas； too clearly known；〃Then； on the other hand； came the answer…
〃Love； like a mighty flowing stream；
Fills every heart with its radiant gleam。〃She heard； indeed； such words as these…
〃In the pretty turmoil here below；
All is a vain and paltry show。Then came also words of fort…
〃Great and good are the actions done
By many whose worth is never known。〃And if sometimes the mocking strain reached her…
〃Why not join in the jesting cry
That contemns all gifts from the throne on high？〃In the blind girl's heart a stronger voice repeated…
〃To trust in thyself and God is best；
In His holy will forever to rest。〃
But the evil spirit could not see this and remain contented。 Hehas more cleverness than ten thousand men； and he found means topass his end。 He betook himself to the marsh； and collected a fewlittle bubbles of stagnant water。 Then he uttered over them the echoesof lying words that they might bee strong。 He mixed up togethersongs of praise with lying epitaphs； as many as he could find；boiled them in tears shed by envy； put upon them rouge； which he hadscraped from faded cheeks； and from these he produced a maiden； inform and appearance like the blind girl； the angel of pleteness； asmen called her。 The evil one's plot was successful。 The world knew notwhich was the true； and indeed how should the world know？
〃To trust in thyself and God is best；
In his Holy will forever to rest。〃So sung the blind girl in full faith。 She had entrusted the four greenleaves from the Tree of the Sun to the winds； as letters of greetingto her brothers； and she had full confidence that the leaves wouldreach them。 She fully believed that the jewel which outshines allthe glories of the world would yet be found； and that upon theforehead of humanity it would glitter even in the castle of herfather。 〃Even in my father's house；〃 she repeated。 〃Yes； the placein which this jewel is to be found is earth； and I shall bring morethan the promise of it with me。 I feel it glow and swell more and morein my closed hand。 Every grain of truth which the keen wind carried upand whirled towards me I caught and treasured。 I allowed it to beperated with the fragrance of the beautiful； of which there is somuch in the world； even for the blind。 I took the beatings of aheart engaged in a good action； and added them to my treasure。 Allthat I can bring is but dust； still； it is a part of the jewel weseek； and there is plenty； my hand is quite full of it。〃
She soon found herself again at home； carried thither in aflight of thought； never having loosened her hold of the invisiblethread fastened to her father's house。 As she stretched out her handto her father； the powers of evil dashed with the fury of ahurricane over the Tree of the Sun； a blast of wind rushed through theopen doors； and into the sanctuary； where lay the Book of Truth。
〃It will be blown to dust by the wind；〃 said the father； as heseized the open hand she held towards him。
〃No；〃 she replied； with quiet confidence； 〃it is indestructible。 Ifeel its beam warming my very soul。〃
Then her father observed that a dazzling flame gleamed from thewhite page on which the shining dust had passed from her hand。 Itwas there to prove the certainty of eternal life； and on the bookglowed one shining word； and only one； the word BELIEVE。 And soonthe four brothers were again with the father and daughter。 When thegreen leaf from home fell on the bosom of each； a longing had seizedthem to return。 They had arrived； acpanied by the birds of passage；the stag； the antelope； and all the creatures of the forest who wishedto take part in their joy。
We have often seen； when a sunbeam burst through a crack in the
