3A电子书 > 其他电子书 > 安徒生童话 >

第24章

安徒生童话-第24章

小说: 安徒生童话 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



ics; the land of machines; as it is called by others。

Here they stay a whole day。 That is all the time the busy race candevote to the whole of England and Scotland。 Then the journey iscontinued through the tunnel under the English Channel; to France; theland of Charlemagne and Napoleon。 Moliere is named; the learned mentalk of the classic school of remote antiquity。 There is rejoicing andshouting for the names of heroes; poets; and men of science; whomour time does not know; but who will be born after our time inParis; the centre of Europe; and elsewhere。

The air steamboat flies over the country whence Columbus wentforth; where Cortez was born; and where Calderon sang dramas insounding verse。 Beautiful black…eyed women live still in theblooming valleys; and the oldest songs speak of the Cid and theAlhambra。

Then through the air; over the sea; to Italy; where once layold; everlasting Rome。 It has vanished! The Campagna lies desert。 Asingle ruined wall is shown as the remains of St。 Peter's; but thereis a doubt if this ruin be genuine。

Next to Greece; to sleep a night in the grand hotel at the topof Mount Olympus; to say that they have been there; and the journey iscontinued to the Bosphorus; to rest there a few hours; and see theplace where Byzantium lay; and where the legend tells that the haremstood in the time of the Turks; poor fishermen are now spreading theirs。

Over the remains of mighty cities on the broad Danube; citieswhich we in our time know not; the travellers pass; but here andthere; on the rich sites of those that time shall bring forth; thecaravan sometimes descends; and departs thence again。

Down below lies Germany; that was once covered with a close  ofrailway and canals; the region where Luther spoke; where Goethesang; and Mozart once held the sceptre of harmony。 Great names shihere; in science and in art; names that are unknown to us。 One daydevoted to seeing Germany; and one for the North; the country ofOersted and Linnaeus; and for Norway; the land of the old heroes andthe young Normans。 Iceland is visited on the journey home。 The geysersburn no more; Hecla is an extinct volcano; but the rocky island isstill fixed in the midst of the foaming sea; a continual monument oflegend and poetry。

〃There is really a great deal to be seen in Europe;〃 says theyoung American; 〃and we have seen it in a week; according to thedirections of the great traveller〃 (and here he mentions the name ofone of his contemporaries) 〃in his celebrated work; 'How to See AllEurope in a Week。'〃

THE END。

  1872

 FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

 IN THE NURSERY

   by Hans Christian Andersen

FATHER; and mother; and brothers; and sisters; were gone to theplay; only little Anna and her grandpapa were left at home。

〃We'll have a play too;〃 he said; 〃and it may begin immediately。〃

〃But we have no theatre;〃 cried little Anna; 〃and we have no oo act for us; my old doll cannot; for she is a fright; and my new onecannot; for she must not rumple her new clothes。〃

〃One can always get actors if one makes use of what one has;〃observed grandpapa。

〃Now we'll go into the theatre。 Here we will put up a book;there another; and there a third; in a sloping row。 Now three on theother side; so; now we have the side scenes。 The old box that liesyonder may be the back stairs; and we'll lay the flooring on top ofit。 The stage represents a room; as every one may see。 Now we want theactors。 Let us see what we can find in the plaything…box。 First thepersonages; and then we will get the play ready。 One after theother; that will be capital! Here's a pipe…head; and yonder an oddglove; they will do very well for father and daughter。〃

〃But those are only two characters;〃 said little Anna。 〃Here'smy brother's old waistcoat… could not that play in our piece; too?〃

〃It's big enough; certainly;〃 replied grandpapa。 〃It shall bethe lover。 There's nothing in the pockets; and that's veryinteresting; for that's half of an unfortunate attachment。 And here wehave the nut…cracker's boots; with spurs to them。 Row; dow; dow! howthey can stamp and strut! They shall represent the unwele wooer;whom the lady does not like。 What kind of a play will you have now?Shall it be a tragedy; or a domestic drama?〃

〃A domestic drama; please;〃 said little Anna; 〃for the othersare so fond of that。 Do you know one?〃

〃I know a hundred;〃 said grandpapa。 〃Those that are most infavor are from the French; but they are not good for little girls。In the meantime; we may take one of the prettiest; for insidethey're all very much alike。 Now I shake the pen! Cock…a…lorum! Sonow; here's the play; brin…bran…span new! Now listen to theplay…bill。〃

And grandpapa took a newspaper; and read as if he were readingfrom it:

 THE PIPE…HEAD AND THE GOOD HEAD

A Family Drama in One Act

   CHARACTERS

  MR。 PIPE…HEAD; a father。

   MR。 WAISTCOAT; a lover。

  MISS GLOVE; a daughter。

MR。 DE BOOTS; a suitor。

〃And now we're going to begin。 The curtain rises。 We have nocurtain; so it has risen already。 All the characters are there; and sowe have them at hand。 Now I speak as Papa Pipe…head! He's angryto…day。 One can see that he's a colored meerschaum。

〃'Snik; snak; snurre; bassellurre! I'm master of this house! I'mthe father of my daughter! Will you hear what I have to say? Mr。 deBoots is a person in whom one may see one's face; his upper part is ofmorocco; and he has spurs into the bargain。 Snikke; snakke; snak! Heshall have my daughter!〃

〃Now listen to what the Waistcoat says; little Anna;〃 saidgrandpapa。 〃Now the Waistcoat's speaking。 The Waistcoat has alaydown collar; and is very modest; but he knows his own value; andhas quite a right to say what he says:

〃'I haven't a spot on me! Goodness of material ought to beappreciated。 I am of real silk; and have strings to me。'

〃'… On the wedding day; but no longer; you don't keep your colorin the wash。' This is Mr。 Pipe…head who is speaking。 'Mr。 de Bootsis water…tight; of strong leather; and yet very delicate; he cancreak; and clank with his spurs; and has an Italian physiognomy…'〃

〃But they ought to speak in verses;〃 said Anna; 〃for I've heardthat's the most charming way of all。〃

〃They can do that too;〃 replied grandpapa; 〃and if the publicdemands it; they will talk in that way。 Just look at little MissGlove; how she's pointing her fingers!

   〃'Could I but have my love;

 Who then so happy as Glove!

  Ah!

 If I from him must part;

 I'm sure 'twill break my heart!'

  'Bah!'The last word was spoken by Mr。 Pipe…head; and now it's Mr。Waistcoat's turn:

   〃'O Glove; my own dear;

 Though it cost thee a tear;

Thou must be mine;

 For Holger Danske has sworn it!'

〃Mr。 de Boots; hearing this; kicks up; jingles his spurs; andknocks down three of the side…scenes。〃

〃That's exceedingly charming!〃 cried little Anna。

〃Silence! silence!〃 said grandpapa。 〃Silent approbation willshow that you are the educated public in the stalls。 Now Miss Glovesings her great song with startling effects:

   〃'I can't see; heigho!

 And therefore I'll crow!

   Kikkeriki; in the lofty hall!'

〃Now es the exciting part; little Anna。 This is the mostimportant in all the play。 Mr。 Waistcoat undoes himself; and addresseshis speech to you; that you may applaud; but leave it alone;… that'sconsidered more genteel。

〃'I am driven to extremities! Take care of yourself! Now es theplot! You are the Pipe…head; and I am the good head… snap! there yougo!〃

〃Do you notice this; little Anna?〃 asked grandpapa。 〃That's a mostcharming edy。 Mr。 Waistcoat seized the old Pipe…head and put him inhis pocket; there he lies; and the Waistcoat says:

〃'You are in my pocket; you can't e out till you promise tounite me to your daughter Glove on the left。 I hold out my righthand。'〃

〃That's awfully pretty;〃 said little Anna。

〃And now the old Pipe…head replies:

   〃'Though I'm all ear;

 Very stupid I appear:

   Where's my humor? Gone; I fear;

   And I feel my hollow stick's not here;

 Ah! never; my dear;

 Did I feel so queer。

 Oh! pray let me out;

   And like a lamb led to slaughter

 I'll betroth you; no doubt;

  To my daughter。'〃

〃Is the play over already?〃 asked little Anna。

〃By no means;〃 replied grandpapa。 〃It's only all over with Mr。de Boots。 Now the lovers kneel down; and one of them sings:

〃'Father!'and the other;

  'e; do as you ought to do;…

   Bless your son and daughter。'And they receive his blessing; and celebrate their wedding; and allthe pieces of furniture sing in chorus;

 〃'Klink! clanks!

   A thousand thanks;

 And now the play is over!'

〃And now we'll applaud;〃 said grandpapa。 〃We'll call them all out;and the pieces of furniture too; for they are of mahogany。〃

〃And is not our play just as good as those which the others havein the real theatre?〃

〃Our play is much better;〃 said grandpapa。 〃It is shorter; theperformers are natural; and it has passed away the interval beforetea…time。〃

THE END。

  1872

 FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

   IN THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE SEA

   by Hans Christian Andersen

SOME years ago; large ships were sent towards the north pole; toexplore the distant coasts; and to try h

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的