安徒生童话-第50章

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　in　the　chorusof　praise；　both　great　and　small；…　the　good；　happy　child；　and　thepoor　field…flower；　that　once　lay　withered　and　cast　away　on　a　heap　ofrubbish　in　a　narrow；　dark　street。

THE　END。

　　1872

　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　THE　BEETLE　WHO　WENT　ON　HIS　TRAVELS

　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen

THERE　was　once　an　Emperor　who　had　a　horse　shod　with　gold。　He　had　agolden　shoe　on　each　foot；　and　why　was　this？　He　was　a　beautifulcreature；　with　slender　legs；　bright；　intelligent　eyes；　and　a　mane　thathung　down　over　his　neck　like　a　veil。　He　had　carried　his　master　throughfire　and　smoke　in　the　battle…field；　with　the　bullets　whistling　roundhim；　he　had　kicked　and　bitten；　and　taken　part　in　the　fight；　when　theenemy　advanced；　and；　with　his　master　on　his　back；　he　had　dashed　overthe　fallen　foe；　and　saved　the　golden　crown　and　the　Emperor's　life；which　was　of　more　value　than　the　brightest　gold。　This　is　the　reason　ofthe　Emperor's　horse　wearing　golden　shoes。

A　beetle　came　creeping　forth　from　the　stable；　where　the　farrierhad　been　shoeing　the　horse。　〃Great　ones；　first；　of　course；〃　said　he；〃and　then　the　little　ones；　but　size　is　not　always　a　proof　ofgreatness。〃　He　stretched　out　his　thin　leg　as　he　spoke。

〃And　pray　what　do　you　want？〃　asked　the　farrier。

〃Golden　shoes；〃　replied　the　beetle。

〃Why；　you　must　be　out　of　your　senses；〃　cried　the　farrier。〃Golden　shoes　for　you；　indeed！〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　golden　shoes；〃　replied　the　beetle。　〃Am　I　not　justas　good　as　that　great　creature　yonder；　who　is　waited　upon　and　brushed；and　has　food　and　drink　placed　before　him？　And　don't　I　belong　to　theroyal　stables？〃

〃But　why　does　the　horse　have　golden　shoes？〃　asked　the　farrier；　〃ofcourse　you　understand　the　reason？〃

〃Understand！　Well；　I　understand　that　it　is　a　personal　slight　tome；〃　cried　the　beetle。　〃It　is　done　to　annoy　me；　so　I　intend　to　goout　into　the　world　and　seek　my　fortune。〃

〃Go　along　with　you；〃　said　the　farrier。

〃You're　a　rude　fellow；〃　cried　the　beetle；　as　he　walked　out　ofthe　stable；　and　then　he　flew　for　a　short　distance；　till　he　foundhimself　in　a　beautiful　flower…garden；　all　fragrant　with　roses　andlavender。　The　lady…birds；　with　red　and　black　shells　on　their　backs；and　delicate　wings；　were　flying　about；　and　one　of　them　said；　〃Is　itnot　sweet　and　lovely　here？　Oh；　how　beautiful　everything　is。〃

〃I　am　accustomed　to　better　things；〃　said　the　beetle。　〃Do　youcall　this　beautiful？　Why；　there　is　not　even　a　dung…heap。〃　Then　he　wenton；　and　under　the　shadow　of　a　large　haystack　he　found　a　caterpillarcrawling　along。　〃How　beautiful　this　world　is！〃　said　the　caterpillar。〃The　sun　is　so　warm；　I　quite　enjoy　it。　And　soon　I　shall　go　to　sleep；and　die　as　they　call　it；　but　I　shall　wake　up　with　beautiful　wings　tofly　with；　like　a　butterfly。〃

〃How　conceited　you　are！〃　exclaimed　the　beetle。　〃Fly　about　as　abutterfly；　indeed！　what　of　that。　I　have　e　out　of　the　Emperor'sstable；　and　no　one　there；　not　even　the　Emperor's　horse；　who；　infact；　wears　my　cast…off　golden　shoes；　has　any　idea　of　flying；excepting　myself。　To　have　wings　and　fly！　why；　I　can　do　thatalready；〃　and　so　saying；　he　spread　his　wings　and　flew　away。　〃I　don'twant　to　be　disgusted；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃and　yet　I　can't　helpit。〃　Soon　after；　he　fell　down　upon　an　extensive　lawn；　and　for　a　timepretended　to　sleep；　but　at　last　fell　asleep　in　earnest。　Suddenly　aheavy　shower　of　rain　came　falling　from　the　clouds。　The　beetle　wokeup　with　the　noise　and　would　have　been　glad　to　creep　into　the　earth　forshelter；　but　he　could　not。　He　was　tumbled　over　and　over　with　the　rain；sometimes　swimming　on　his　stomach　and　sometimes　on　his　back；　and　asfor　flying；　that　was　out　of　the　question。　He　began　to　doubt　whether　heshould　escape　with　his　life；　so　he　remained；　quietly　lying　where　hewas。　After　a　while　the　weather　cleared　up　a　little；　and　the　beetle　wasable　to　rub　the　water　from　his　eyes；　and　look　about　him。　He　sawsomething　gleaming；　and　he　managed　to　make　his　way　up　to　it。　It　waslinen　which　had　been　laid　to　bleach　on　the　grass。　He　crept　into　a　foldof　the　damp　linen；　which　certainly　was　not　so　fortable　a　place　tolie　in　as　the　warm　stable；　but　there　was　nothing　better；　so　heremained　lying　there　for　a　whole　day　and　night；　and　the　rain　kept　onall　the　time。　Towards　morning　he　crept　out　of　his　hiding…place；feeling　in　a　very　bad　temper　with　the　climate。　Two　frogs　weresitting　on　the　linen；　and　their　bright　eyes　actually　glistened　withpleasure。

〃Wonderful　weather　this；〃　cried　one　of　them；　〃and　so　refreshing。This　linen　holds　the　water　together　so　beautifully；　that　my　hindlegs　quiver　as　if　I　were　going　to　swim。〃

〃I　should　like　to　know；〃　said　another；　〃If　the　swallow　who　fliesso　far　in　her　many　journeys　to　foreign　lands；　ever　met　with　a　betterclimate　than　this。　What　delicious　moisture！　It　is　as　pleasant　as　lyingin　a　wet　ditch。　I　am　sure　any　one　who　does　not　enjoy　this　has　nolove　for　his　fatherland。〃

〃Have　you　ever　been　in　the　Emperor's　stable？〃　asked　the　beetle。〃There　the　moisture　is　warm　and　refreshing；　that's　the　climate　for　me；but　I　could　not　take　it　with　me　on　my　travels。　Is　there　not　even　adunghill　here　in　this　garden；　where　a　person　of　rank；　like　myself；could　take　up　his　abode　and　feel　at　home？〃　But　the　frogs　either　didnot　or　would　not　understand　him。

〃I　never　ask　a　question　twice；〃　said　the　beetle；　after　he　hadasked　this　one　three　times；　and　received　no　answer。　Then　he　went　ona　little　farther　and　stumbled　against　a　piece　of　broken　crockery…ware；which　certainly　ought　not　to　have　been　lying　there。　But　as　it　wasthere；　it　formed　a　good　shelter　against　wind　and　weather　to　severalfamilies　of　earwigs　who　dwelt　in　it。　Their　requirements　were　not　many；they　were　very　sociable；　and　full　of　affection　for　their　children；so　much　so　that　each　mother　considered　her　own　child　the　mostbeautiful　and　clever　of　them　all。

〃Our　dear　son　has　engaged　himself；〃　said　one　mother；　〃dearinnocent　boy；　his　greatest　ambition　is　that　he　may　one　day　creepinto　a　clergyman's　ear。　That　is　a　very　artless　and　loveable　wish；and　being　engaged　will　keep　him　steady。　What　happiness　for　a　mother！〃

〃Our　son；〃　said　another；　〃had　scarcely　crept　out　of　the　egg；when　he　was　off　on　his　travels。　He　is　all　life　and　spirits；　I　expecthe　will　wear　out　his　horns　with　running。　How　charming　this　is　for　amother；　is　it　not　Mr。　Beetle？〃　for　she　knew　the　stranger　by　hishorny　coat。

〃You　are　both　quite　right；〃　said　he；　so　they　begged　him　to　walkin；　that　is　to　e　as　far　as　he　could　under　the　broken　piece　ofearthenware。

〃Now　you　shall　also　see　my　little　earwigs；〃　said　a　third　and　afourth　mother；　〃they　are　lovely　little　things；　and　highly　amusing。They　are　never　ill…behaved；　except　when　they　are　unfortable　intheir　inside；　which　unfortunately　often　happens　at　their　age。〃

Thus　each　mother　spoke　of　her　baby；　and　their　babies　talkedafter　their　own　fashion；　and　made　use　of　the　little　nippers　theyhave　in　their　tails　to　nip　the　beard　of　the　beetle。

〃They　are　always　busy　about　something；　the　little　rogues；〃　saidthe　mother；　beaming　with　maternal　pride；　but　the　beetle　felt　it　abore；　and　he　therefore　inquired　the　way　to　the　nearest　dung…heap。

〃That　is　quite　out　in　the　great　world；　on　the　other　side　of　theditch；〃　answered　an　earwig；　〃I　hope　none　of　my　children　will　ever　goso　far；　it　would　be　the　death　of　me。〃

〃But　I　shall　try　to　get　so　far；〃　said　the　beetle；　and　he　walkedoff　without　taking　any　formal　leave；　which　is　considered　a　politething　to　do。

When　he　arrived　at　the　ditch；　he　met　several　friends；　all　thembeetles；　〃We　live　here；〃　they　said；　〃and　we　are　very　fortable。May　we　ask　you　to　step　down　into　this　rich　mud；　you　must　be　fatiguedafter　your　journey。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　the　beetle；　〃I　shall　be　most　happy；　I　havebeen　exposed　to　the　rain；　and　have　had　to　lie　upon　linen；　andcleanliness　is　a　thing　that　greatly　exhausts　me；　I　have　also　painsin　one　of　my　wings　from　standing　in　the　draught　under　a　piece　ofbroken　crockery。　It　is　really　quite　refreshing　to　be　with　one's　ownkindred　again。〃

〃Perhaps　you　came　from　a　dung…heap；〃　observed　the　oldest　of　them。

〃No；　indeed；　I　came　from　a　much　grander　place；〃　replied　thebeetle；　〃I　came　from　the　emperor's　stable；　where　I　was　born；　withgolden　shoes　on　my　feet。　I　am　travelling　on　a　secret　embassy；　butyou　must　not　ask　me　any　questions；　for　I　cannot　betray　my　secret。〃

Then　the　beetle　stepped　down　into　the　rich　mud；　where　sat　threeyoung…lady　beetles；　who　tittered；　because　they　did　not　know　what　tosay。

〃None　of　them　are　engaged　yet；〃　said　their　mother；　and　thebeetle　maidens　tittered　again；　this　time　quite　in　confusion。

〃I　have　never　seen　greater　beauties；　even　in　the　royal　stables；〃exclaimed　the　beetle；　who　was　now　resting　himself。

〃Don't　spoil　my　girls；〃　said　the　mother；　〃and　don't　talk　tothem；　pray；　unless　you　have　serious　intentions。〃

But　of　course　the　beetle's　intentions　were　serious；　and　after　awhile　our　friend　was　engaged。　The　mother　gave　them　her　blessing；　andall　the　other　beetles　cried　〃hurrah。〃

Immediately　after　the　betrothal　came　the　marriage；　for　there　wasno　reason　to　delay。　The　following　day　passed　very　pleasantly；　andthe　next　was　tolerably　fortable；　but　on　the　third　it　becamenecessary　for　him　to　think　of　getting　food　for　his　wife；　and；　perhaps；for　children。

〃I　have　allowed　myself　to　be　taken　in；〃　said　our　beetle　tohim