安徒生童话-第3章
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The botanical professor wrote a long treatise about the heavenlyplant； and for this he was loaded with gold； which improved theposition of himself and his family。
And this part is really the most pleasant part of the story。 Forthe plant had disappeared； and the king remained as melancholy and sadas ever； but the sentry said he had always been so。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A ROSE FROM HOMER'S GRAVE
by Hans Christian Andersen
ALL the songs of the east speak of the love of the nightingale forthe rose in the silent starlight night。 The winged songsterserenades the fragrant flowers。
Not far from Smyrna； where the merchant drives his loadedcamels； proudly arching their long necks as they journey beneath thelofty pines over holy ground； I saw a hedge of roses。 Theturtle…dove flew among the branches of the tall trees； and as thesunbeams fell upon her wings； they glistened as if they weremother…of…pearl。 On the rose…bush grew a flower； more beautiful thanthem all； and to her the nightingale sung of his woes； but the roseremained silent； not even a dewdrop lay like a tear of sympathy on herleaves。 At last she bowed her head over a heap of stones； and said；〃Here rests the greatest singer in the world； over his tomb will Ispread my fragrance； and on it I will let my leaves fall when thestorm scatters them。 He who sung of Troy became earth； and from thatearth I have sprung。 I； a rose from the grave of Homer； am too loftyto bloom for a nightingale。〃 Then the nightingale sung himself todeath。 A camel…driver came by； with his loaded camels and his blackslaves； his little son found the dead bird； and buried the lovelysongster in the grave of the great Homer； while the rose trembled inthe wind。
The evening came； and the rose wrapped her leaves more closelyround her； and dreamed： and this was her dream。
It was a fair sunshiny day； a crowd of strangers drew near who hadundertaken a pilgrimage to the grave of Homer。 Among the strangers wasa minstrel from the north； the home of the clouds and the brilliantlights of the aurora borealis。 He plucked the rose and placed it ina book； and carried it away into a distant part of the world； hisfatherland。 The rose faded with grief； and lay between the leaves ofthe book； which he opened in his own home； saying； 〃Here is a rosefrom the grave of Homer。〃
Then the flower awoke from her dream； and trembled in the wind。A drop of dew fell from the leaves upon the singer's grave。 The sunrose； and the flower bloomed more beautiful than ever。 The day washot； and she was still in her own warm Asia。 Then footstepsapproached； strangers； such as the rose had seen in her dream； cameby； and among them was a poet from the north； he plucked the rose；pressed a kiss upon her fresh mouth； and carried her away to thehome of the clouds and the northern lights。 Like a mummy； the flowernow rests in his 〃Iliad；〃 and； as in her dream； she hears him say；as he opens the book； 〃Here is a rose from the grave of Homer。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A STORY
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the garden all the apple…trees were in blossom。 They hadhastened to bring forth flowers before they got green leaves； and inthe yard all the ducklings walked up and down； and the cat too： itbasked in the sun and licked the sunshine from its own paws。 Andwhen one looked at the fields； how beautifully the corn stood andhow green it shone； without parison！ and there was a twittering anda fluttering of all the little birds； as if the day were a greatfestival； and so it was； for it was Sunday。 All the bells wereringing； and all the people went to church； looking cheerful； anddressed in their best clothes。 There was a look of cheerfulness oneverything。 The day was so warm and beautiful that one might well havesaid： 〃God's kindness to us men is beyond all limits。〃 But insidethe church the pastor stood in the pulpit； and spoke very loudly andangrily。 He said that all men were wicked； and God would punish themfor their sins； and that the wicked； when they died； would be castinto hell； to burn for ever and ever。 He spoke very excitedly；saying that their evil propensities would not be destroyed； norwould the fire be extinguished； and they should never find rest。That was terrible to hear； and he said it in such a tone ofconviction； he described hell to them as a miserable hole where allthe refuse of the world gathers。 There was no air beside the hotburning sulphur flame； and there was no ground under their feet； they；the wicked ones； sank deeper and deeper； while eternal silencesurrounded them！ It was dreadful to hear all that； for the preacherspoke from his heart； and all the people in the church were terrified。Meanwhile； the birds sang merrily outside； and the sun was shiningso beautifully warm； it seemed as though every little flower said：〃God； Thy kindness towards us all is without limits。〃 Indeed；outside it was not at all like the pastor's sermon。
The same evening； upon going to bed； the pastor noticed his wifesitting there quiet and pensive。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 he asked her。
〃Well； the matter with me is；〃 she said； 〃that I cannot collect mythoughts； and am unable to grasp the meaning of what you said to…dayin church… that there are so many wicked people； and that theyshould burn eternally。 Alas！ eternally… how long！ I am only a womanand a sinner before God； but I should not have the heart to let eventhe worst sinner burn for ever； and how could our Lord to do so； whois so infinitely good； and who knows how the wickedness es fromwithout and within？ No； I am unable to imagine that； although yousay so。〃
It was autumn； the trees dropped their leaves； the earnest andsevere pastor sat at the bedside of a dying person。 A pious；faithful soul closed her eyes for ever； she was the pastor's wife。
。。。〃If any one shall find rest in the grave and mercy before ourLord you shall certainly do so；〃 said the pastor。 He folded herhands and read a psalm over the dead woman。
She was buried； two large tears rolled over the cheeks of theearnest man； and in the parsonage it was empty and still； for itssun had set for ever。 She had gone home。
It was night。 A cold wind swept over the pastor's head； heopened his eyes； and it seemed to him as if the moon was shininginto his room。 It was not so； however； there was a being standingbefore his bed； and looking like the ghost of his deceased wife。 Shefixed her eyes upon him with such a kind and sad expression； just asif she wished to say something to him。 The pastor raised himself inbed and stretched his arms towards her； saying； 〃Not even you can findeternal rest！ You suffer； you best and most pious woman？〃
The dead woman nodded her head as if to say 〃Yes；〃 and put herhand on her breast。
〃And can I not obtain rest in the grave for you？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the answer。
〃And how？〃
〃Give me one hair… only one single hair… from the head of thesinner for whom the fire shall never be extinguished； of the sinnerwhom God will condemn to eternal punishment in hell。〃
〃Yes； one ought to be able to redeem you so easily； you pure；pious woman；〃 he said。
〃Follow me；〃 said the dead woman。 〃It is thus granted to us。 By myside you will be able to fly wherever your thoughts wish to go。Invisible to men； we shall perate into their most secretchambers； but with sure hand you must find out him who is destinedto eternal torture； and before the cock crows he must be found！〃 Asquickly as if carried by the winged thoughts they were in the greatcity； and from the walls the names of the deadly sins shone in flamingletters： pride； avarice； drunkenness； wantonness… in short； thewhole seven…coloured bow of sin。
〃Yes； therein； as I believed； as I knew it；〃 said the pastor； 〃areliving those who are abandoned to the eternal fire。〃 And they werestanding before the magnificently illuminated gate； the broad stepswere adorned with carpets and flowers； and dance music was soundingthrough the festive halls。 A footman dressed in silk and velvetstood with a large silver…mounted rod near the entrance。
〃Our ball can pare favourably with the king's；〃 he said； andturned with contempt towards the gazing crowd in the street。 What hethought was sufficiently expressed in his features and movements：〃Miserable beggars； who are looking in； you are nothing inparison to me。〃
〃Pride；〃 said the dead woman； 〃do you see him？〃
〃The footman？〃 asked the pastor。 〃He is but a poor fool； and notdoomed to be tortured eternally by fire！〃
〃Only a fool！〃 It sounded through the whole house of pride： theywere all fools there。
Then they flew within the four naked walls of the miser。 Lean as askeleton； trembling with cold； and hunger； the old man was clingingwith all his thoughts to his money。 They saw him jump up feverishlyfrom his miserable couch and take a loose stone out of the wall； therelay gold coins in an old stocking。 They saw him anxiously feeling overan old ragged coat in which pieces of gold were sewn； and his clammyfingers trembled。
〃He is ill！ That is madness… a joyless madness… besieged by fearand dreadful dreams！〃
They quickly went away and came before the beds of thecriminals； these unfortunate people slept side by side； in longro
