安徒生童话-第181章
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Sound on； ye glorious strains of the hunter's horn； continueyour stirring tones； for the evening is mild； and the surface of thesea； heaving slowly and calmly； is smooth as a mirror。
THE END。
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1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SWAN'S NEST
by Hans Christian Andersen
BETWEEN the Baltic and the North Sea there lies an old swan'snest； wherein swans are born and have been born that shall never die。
In olden times a flock of swans flew over the Alps to the greenplains around Milan； where it was delightful to dwell。 This flightof swans men called the Lombards。
Another flock； with shining plumage and honest eyes； soaredsouthward to Byzantium； the swans established themselves there closeby the Emperor's throne； and spread their wings over him as shields toprotect him。 They received the name of Varangians。
On the coast of France there sounded a cry of fear； for theblood…stained swans that came from the North with fire under theirwings； and the people prayed； 〃Heaven deliver us from the wildNorthmen。〃
On the fresh sward of England stood the Danish swan by the openseashore； with the crown of three kingdoms on his head； and hestretched out his golden sceptre over the land。 The heathens on thePomerian coast bent the knee； and the Danish swans came with thebanner of the Cross and with the drawn sword。
〃That was in the very old times；〃 you say。
In later days two mighty swans have been seen to fly from thenest。 A light shone far through the air； far over the lands of theearth； the swan； with the strong beating of his wings； scattered thetwilight mists； and the starry sky was seen； and it was as if itcame nearer to the earth。 That was the swan Tycho Brahe。
〃Yes； then；〃 you say； 〃but in our own days？〃
We have seen swan after swan soar by in glorious flight。 One lethis pinions glide over the strings of the golden harp； and itresounded through the North。 Norway's mountains seemed to risehigher in the sunlight of former days； there was a rustling amongthe pine trees and the birches； the gods of the North； the heroes； andthe noble women； showed themselves in the dark forest depths。
We have seen a swan beat with his wings upon the marble crag； sothat it burst； and the forms of beauty imprisoned in the stone steppedout to the sunny day； and men in the lands round about lifted up theirheads to behold these mighty forms。
We have seen a third swan spinning the thread of thought that isfastened from country to country round the world； so that the word mayfly with lightning speed from land to land。
And our Lord loves the old swan's nest between the Baltic andthe North Sea。 And when the mighty birds e soaring through theair to destroy it； even the callow young stand round in a circle onthe margin of the nest； and though their breasts may be struck so thattheir blood flows； they bear it； and strike with their wings and theirclaws。
Centuries will pass by； swans will fly forth from the nest； menwill see them and hear them in the world； before it shall be said inspirit and in truth； 〃This is the last swan… the last song from theswan's nest。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE SWINEHERD
by Hans Christian Andersen
ONCE upon a time lived a poor prince； his kingdom was verysmall； but it was large enough to enable him to marry； and marry hewould。 It was rather bold of him that he went and asked theemperor's daughter： 〃Will you marry me？〃 but he ventured to do so； forhis name was known far and wide； and there were hundreds of princesseswho would have gladly accepted him； but would she do so？ Now weshall see。
On the grave of the prince's father grew a rose…tree； the mostbeautiful of its kind。 It bloomed only once in five years； and then ithad only one single rose upon it； but what a rose！ It had such a sweetscent that one instantly forgot all sorrow and grief when one smeltit。 He had also a nightingale； which could sing as if every sweetmelody was in its throat。 This rose and the nightingale he wished togive to the princess； and therefore both were put into big silvercases and sent to her。
The emperor ordered them to be carried into the great hall wherethe princess was just playing 〃Visitors are ing〃 with herladies…in…waiting； when she saw the large cases with the presentstherein； she clapped her hands for joy。
〃I wish it were a little pussy cat；〃 she said。 But then therose…tree with the beautiful rose was unpacked。
〃Oh； how nicely it is made；〃 exclaimed the ladies。
〃It is more than nice；〃 said the emperor； 〃it is charming。〃
The princess touched it and nearly began to cry。
〃For shame； pa；〃 she said； 〃it is not artificial； it is natural！〃
〃For shame； it is natural〃 repeated all her ladies。
〃Let us first see what the other case contains before we areangry；〃 said the emperor； then the nightingale was taken out； and itsang so beautifully that no one could possibly say anything unkindabout it。
〃Superbe； charmant；〃 said the ladies of the court； for they allprattled French； one worse than the other。
〃How much the bird reminds me of the musical box of the latelamented empress；〃 said an old courtier； 〃it has exactly the sametone； the same execution。〃
〃You are right；〃 said the emperor； and began to cry like alittle child。
〃I hope it is not natural；〃 said the princess。
〃Yes； certainly it is natural；〃 replied those who had broughtthe presents。
〃Then let it fly；〃 said the princess； and refused to see theprince。
But the prince was not discouraged。 He painted his face； put onmon clothes； pulled his cap over his forehead； and came back。
〃Good day； emperor；〃 he said； 〃could you not give me someemployment at the court？〃
〃There are so many；〃 replied the emperor； 〃who apply for places；that for the present I have no vacancy； but I will remember you。 Butwait a moment； it just es into my mind； I require somebody tolook after my pigs； for I have a great many。〃
Thus the prince was appointed imperial swineherd； and as such helived in a wretchedly small room near the pigsty； there he workedall day long； and when it was night he had made a pretty little pot。There were little bells round the rim； and when the water began toboil in it； the bells began to play the old tune：
〃A jolly old sow once lived in a sty；
Three little piggies had she；〃 &c。But what was more wonderful was that； when one put a finger into thesteam rising from the pot； one could at once smell what meals theywere preparing on every fire in the whole town。 That was indeed muchmore remarkable than the rose。 When the princess with her ladiespassed by and heard the tune； she stopped and looked quite pleased；for she also could play it… in fact； it was the only tune she couldplay； and she played it with one finger。
〃That is the tune I know；〃 she exclaimed。 〃He must be awell…educated swineherd。 Go and ask him how much the instrument is。〃
One of the ladies had to go and ask； but she put on pattens。
〃What will you take for your pot？〃 asked the lady。
〃I will have ten kisses from the princess；〃 said the swineherd。
〃God forbid；〃 said the lady。
〃Well； I cannot sell it for less；〃 replied the swineherd。
〃What did he say？〃 said the princess。
I really cannot tell you；〃 replied the lady。
〃You can whisper it into my ear。〃
〃It is very naughty；〃 said the princess； and walked off。
But when she had gone a little distance； the bells rang again sosweetly：
〃A jolly old sow once lived in a sty；
Three little piggies had she；〃 &c。
〃Ask him；〃 said the princess； 〃if he will be satisfied with tenkisses from one of my ladies。〃
〃No； thank you；〃 said the swineherd： 〃ten kisses from theprincess； or I keep my pot。〃
〃That is tiresome；〃 said the princess。 〃But you must standbefore me； so that nobody can see it。〃
The ladies placed themselves in front of her and spread outtheir dresses； and she gave the swineherd ten kisses and receivedthe pot。
That was a pleasure！ Day and night the water in the pot wasboiling； there was not a single fire in the whole town of which theydid not know what was preparing on it； the chamberlain's as well asthe shoemaker's。 The ladies danced and clapped their hands for joy。
〃We know who will eat soup and pancakes； we know who will eatporridge and cutlets； oh； how interesting！〃
〃Very interesting； indeed；〃 said the mistress of the household。〃But you must not betray me； for I am the emperor's daughter。〃
〃Of course not；〃 they all said。
The swineherd… that is to say； the prince… but they did not knowotherwise than that he was a real swineherd… did not waste a singleday without doing something； he made a rattle； which； when turnedquickly round； played all the waltzes； galops； and polkas knownsince the creation of the world。
〃But that is superbe；〃 said the princess passing by。 〃I have neverheard a more beautiful position。 Go down and ask him what theinstrument costs； but I shall not kiss him again。〃
〃He will have a hundred kisses from the princess；〃 said thelady； who had gone down to ask him。
〃I believe he is mad；〃 said the princess； and walked off； but soonshe stopped。 〃One must encourage art；〃 she said。 〃I am the emperor'sdaught
