安徒生童话-第149章

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Then　the　fowls　arrived；　and　the　cock　was　polite　enough　to…day　tokeep　from　being　rude。　〃You　are　a　real　songster；〃　he　said；　〃you　do　asmuch　with　your　little　voice　as　it　is　possible　to　do；　but　thererequires　more　noise　and　shrillness　in　any　one　who　wishes　it　to　beknown　who　he　is。〃

The　two　Chinese　were　quite　enchanted　with　the　appearance　of　thesinging…bird。　His　feathers　had　been　much　ruffled　by　his　bath；　sothat　he　seemed　to　them　quite　like　a　tiny　Chinese　fowl。　〃He'scharming；〃　they　said　to　each　other；　and　began　a　conversation　withhim　in　whispers；　using　the　most　aristocratic　Chinese　dialect：　〃Weare　of　the　same　race　as　yourself；〃　they　said。　〃The　ducks；　even　thePortuguese；　are　all　aquatic　birds；　as　you　must　have　noticed。　You　donot　know　us　yet；…　very　few　know　us；　or　give　themselves　the　troubleto　make　our　acquaintance；　not　even　any　of　the　fowls；　though　we　areborn　to　occupy　a　higher　grade　in　society　than　most　of　them。　But　thatdoes　not　disturb　us；　we　quietly　go　on　in　our　own　way　among　the　rest；whose　ideas　are　certainly　not　ours；　for　we　look　at　the　bright　sideof　things；　and　only　speak　what　is　good；　although　that　is　sometimesvery　difficult　to　find　where　none　exists。　Except　ourselves　and　thecock　there　is　not　one　in　the　yard　who　can　be　called　talented　orpolite。　It　cannot　even　be　said　of　the　ducks；　and　we　warn　you；　littlebird；　not　to　trust　that　one　yonder；　with　the　short　tail　feathers；for　she　is　cunning；　that　curiously　marked　one；　with　the　crookedstripes　on　her　wings；　is　a　mischief…maker；　and　never　lets　any　one　havethe　last　word；　though　she　is　always　in　the　wrong。　That　fat　duck　yonderspeaks　evil　of　every　one；　and　that　is　against　our　principles。　If　wehave　nothing　good　to　tell；　we　close　our　beaks。　The　Portuguese　is　theonly　one　who　has　had　any　education；　and　with　whom　we　can　associate；but　she　is　passionate；　and　talks　too　much　about　'Portugal。'〃

〃I　wonder　what　those　two　Chinese　are　whispering　about；〃whispered　one　duck　to　another；　〃they　are　always　doing　it；　and　itannoys　me。　We　never　speak　to　them。〃

Now　the　drake　came　up；　and　he　thought　the　little　singing…birdwas　a　sparrow。　〃Well；　I　don't　understand　the　difference；〃　he　said；　〃itappears　to　me　all　the　same。　He's　only　a　plaything；　and　if　peoplewill　have　playthings；　why　let　them；　I　say。〃

〃Don't　take　any　notice　of　what　he　says；〃　whispered　the　Portuguese；〃he's　very　well　in　matters　of　business；　and　with　him　business　isplaced　before　everything。　But　now　I　shall　lie　down　and　have　a　littlerest。　It　is　a　duty　we　owe　to　ourselves　that　we　may　be　nice　and　fatwhen　we　e　to　be　embalmed　with　sage　and　onions　and　apples。〃　So　shelaid　herself　down　in　the　sun　and　winked　with　one　eye；　she　had　a　veryfortable　place；　and　felt　so　fortable　that　she　fell　asleep。　Thelittle　singing…bird　busied　himself　for　some　time　with　his　broken　wing；and　at　last　he　lay　down；　too；　quite　close　to　his　protectress。　Thesun　shone　warm　and　bright；　and　he　found　out　that　it　was　a　very　goodplace。　But　the　fowls　of　the　neighborhood　were　all　awake；　and；　totell　the　truth；　they　had　paid　a　visit　to　the　duckyard；　simply　andsolely　to　find　food　for　themselves。　The　Chinese　were　the　first　toleave；　and　the　other　fowls　soon　followed　them。

The　witty　little　duck　said　of　the　Portuguese；　that　the　old　ladywas　getting　quite　a　〃doting　ducky；〃　All　the　other　ducks　laughed　atthis。　〃Doting　ducky；〃　they　whispered。　〃Oh；　that's　too　'witty！'〃　Andthen　they　repeated　the　former　joke　about　〃Portulak；〃　and　declared　itwas　most　amusing。　Then　they　all　lay　down　to　have　a　nap。

They　had　been　lying　asleep　for　some　time；　when　suddenlysomething　was　thrown　into　the　yard　for　them　to　eat。　It　came　downwith　such　a　bang；　that　the　whole　pany　started　up　and　clappedtheir　wings。　The　Portuguese　awoke　too；　and　rushed　over　to　the　otherside：　in　so　doing　she　trod　upon　the　little　singing…bird。

〃Tweet；〃　he　cried；　〃you　trod　very　hard　upon　me；　madam。〃

〃Well；　then；　why　do　you　lie　in　my　way？〃　she　retorted；　〃you　mustnot　be　so　touchy。　I　have　nerves　of　my　own；　but　I　do　not　cry　'tweet。'〃

〃Don't　be　angry；〃　said　the　little　bird；　〃the　'tweet'　slipped　outof　my　beak　unawares。〃

The　Portuguese　did　not　listen　to　him；　but　began　eating　as　fastas　she　could；　and　made　a　good　meal。　When　she　had　finished；　she　laydown　again；　and　the　little　bird；　who　wished　to　be　amiable；　began　tosing；…

　　　〃Chirp　and　twitter；

　The　dew…drops　glitter；

　　　In　the　hours　of　sunny　spring；

　I'll　sing　my　best；

　Till　I　go　to　rest；

　　　With　my　head　behind　my　wing。〃

〃Now　I　want　rest　after　my　dinner；〃　said　the　Portuguese；　〃youmust　conform　to　the　rules　of　the　house　while　you　are　here。　I　want　tosleep　now。〃

The　little　bird　was　quite　taken　aback；　for　he　meant　it　kindly。When　madam　awoke　afterwards；　there　he　stood　before　her　with　a　littlecorn　he　had　found；　and　laid　it　at　her　feet；　but　as　she　had　not　sleptwell；　she　was　naturally　in　a　bad　temper。　〃Give　that　to　a　chicken；〃　shesaid；　〃and　don't　be　always　standing　in　my　way。〃

〃Why　are　you　angry　with　me？〃　replied　the　little　singing…bird；〃what　have　I　done？〃

〃Done！〃　repeated　the　Portuguese　duck；　〃your　mode　of　expressingyourself　is　not　very　polite。　I　must　call　your　attention　to　that　fact。〃

〃It　was　sunshine　here　yesterday；〃　said　the　little　bird；　〃butto…day　it　is　cloudy　and　the　air　is　close。〃

〃You　know　very　little　about　the　weather；　I　fancy；〃　she　retorted；〃the　day　is　not　over　yet。　Don't　stand　there；　looking　so　stupid。〃

〃But　you　are　looking　at　me　just　as　the　wicked　eyes　looked　when　Ifell　into　the　yard　yesterday。〃

〃Impertinent　creature！〃　exclaimed　the　Portuguese　duck：　〃wouldyou　pare　me　with　the　cat…　that　beast　of　prey？　There's　not　a　drop　ofmalicious　blood　in　me。　I've　taken　your　part；　and　now　I'll　teach　youbetter　manners。〃　So　saying；　she　made　a　bite　at　the　littlesinging…bird's　head；　and　he　fell　dead　on　the　ground。　〃Now　whateveris　the　meaning　of　this？〃　〃she　said；　〃could　he　not　bear　even　such　alittle　peck　as　I　gave　him？　Then　certainly　he　was　not　made　for　thisworld。　I've　been　like　a　mother　to　him；　I　know　that；　for　I've　a　goodheart。〃

Then　the　cock　from　the　neighboring　yard　stuck　his　head　in；　andcrowed　with　steam…engine　power。

〃You'll　kill　me　with　your　crowing；〃　she　cried；　〃it's　all　yourfault。　He's　lost　his　life；　and　I'm　very　near　losing　mine。〃

〃There's　not　much　of　him　lying　there；〃　observed　the　cock。

〃Speak　of　him　with　respect；〃　said　the　Portuguese　duck；　〃for　he　hadmanners　and　education；　and　he　could　sing。　He　was　affectionate　andgentle；　and　that　is　as　rare　a　quality　in　animals　as　in　those　whocall　themselves　human　beings。〃

Then　all　the　ducks　came　crowding　round　the　little　dead　bird。　Duckshave　strong　passions；　whether　they　feel　envy　or　pity。　There　wasnothing　to　envy　here；　so　they　all　showed　a　great　deal　of　pity；　eventhe　two　Chinese。　〃We　shall　never　have　another　singing…bird　againamongst　us；　he　was　almost　a　Chinese；〃　they　whispered；　and　then　theywept　with　such　a　noisy；　clucking　sound；　that　all　the　other　fowlsclucked　too；　but　the　ducks　went　about　with　redder　eyes　afterwards。　〃Wehave　hearts　of　our　own；〃　they　said；　〃nobody　can　deny　that。〃

〃Hearts！〃　repeated　the　Portuguese；　〃indeed　you　have；　almost　astender　as　the　ducks　in　Portugal。〃

〃Let　us　think　of　getting　something　to　satisfy　our　hunger；〃　saidthe　drake；　that's　the　most　important　business。　If　one　of　our　toys　isbroken；　why　we　have　plenty　more。〃

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

THE　PRINCESS　AND　THE　PEA

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

ONCE　upon　a　time　there　was　a　prince　who　wanted　to　marry　aprincess；　but　she　would　have　to　be　a　real　princess。　He　travelled　allover　the　world　to　find　one；　but　nowhere　could　he　get　what　he　wanted。There　were　princesses　enough；　but　it　was　difficult　to　find　out　whetherthey　were　real　ones。　There　was　always　something　about　them　that　wasnot　as　it　should　be。　So　he　came　home　again　and　was　sad；　for　he　wouldhave　liked　very　much　to　have　a　real　princess。

One　evening　a　terrible　storm　came　on；　there　was　thunder　andlightning；　and　the　rain　poured　down　in　torrents。　Suddenly　a　knockingwas　heard　at　the　city　gate；　and　the　old　king　went　to　open　it。

It　was　a　princess　standing　out　there　in　front　of　the　gate。　But；good　gracious！　what　a　sight　the　rain　and　the　wind　had　made　her　look。The　water　ran　down　from　her　hair　and　clothes；　it　ran　down　into　thetoes　of　her　shoes　and　out　again　at　the　heels。　And　yet　she　said　thatshe　was　a　real　princess。

〃Well；　we'll　soon　find　that　out；〃　thought　the　old　queen。　But　shesaid　nothing；　went　into　the　bed…room；　took　all　the　bedding　off　thebedstead；　and　laid　a　pea　on　the　bottom；　then　she　took　twentymattresses　and　laid　them　on　the　pea；　and　then　twenty　eider…down　bedson　top　of　the　mattresses。

On　this　the　princess　had　to　lie　all　night。　In　the　morning　shewas　asked　how　she　had　slept。

〃Oh；　very　badly！〃　said　she。　〃I　have　scarcely　closed　my　eyes　allnight。　Heaven　only　knows　what　was　in　the　bed；　but　I　was　lying　onsomething　hard；　so　that　I　am　black　and　blue　all　over　my　body。　It'shorrible！〃

Now　they　knew　that　she　was　a　real　princess　because　she　had　feltthe　pea　right　through　the　twenty　mattresses　and　the　twentyeider…down　beds。

Nobody　but　a　real　princess　could　be　as　sensitive　as　that。

So　the　prince　took　her　for　his　wife；　for　now　he　knew　that　he　had　areal　princess；　and　the　pea　was　put　in　the　museum；　where　it　may　stillbe　seen；　if　no　one　has　stolen　it