安徒生童话-第64章
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THE DRYAD
by Hans Christian Andersen
WE are travelling to Paris to the Exhibition。
Now we are there。 That was a journey； a flight without magic。 Weflew on the wings of steam over the sea and across the land。
Yes； our time is the time of fairy tales。
We are in the midst of Paris； in a great hotel。 Blooming flowersornament the staircases； and soft carpets the floors。
Our room is a very cosy one； and through the open balcony doorwe have a view of a great square。 Spring lives down there； it has eto Paris； and arrived at the same time with us。 It has e in theshape of a glorious young chestnut tree； with delicate leaves newlyopened。 How the tree gleams； dressed in its spring garb； before allthe other trees in the place！ One of these latter had been struckout of the list of living trees。 It lies on the ground with rootsexposed。 On the place where it stood； the young chestnut tree is to beplanted； and to flourish。
It still stands towering aloft on the heavy wagon which hasbrought it this morning a distance of several miles to Paris。 Foryears it had stood there； in the protection of a mighty oak tree；under which the old venerable clergyman had often sat； with childrenlistening to his stories。
The young chestnut tree had also listened to the stories； forthe Dryad who lived in it was a child also。 She remembered the timewhen the tree was so little that it only projected a short way abovethe grass and ferns around。 These were as tall as they would everbe； but the tree grew every year； and enjoyed the air and thesunshine； and drank the dew and the rain。 Several times it was also；as it must be； well shaken by the wind and the rain； for that is apart of education。
The Dryad rejoiced in her life； and rejoiced in the sunshine；and the singing of the birds； but she was most rejoiced at humanvoices； she understood the language of men as well as she understoodthat of animals。
Butterflies； cockchafers； dragon…flies； everything that couldfly came to pay a visit。 They could all talk。 They told of thevillage； of the vineyard； of the forest； of the old castle with itsparks and canals and ponds。 Down in the water dwelt also livingbeings； which； in their way； could fly under the water from oneplace to another… beings with knowledge and delineation。 They saidnothing at all； they were so clever！
And the swallow； who had dived； told about the pretty littlegoldfish； of the thick turbot； the fat brill； and the old carp。 Theswallow could describe all that very well； but； 〃Self is the man；〃 shesaid。 〃One ought to see these things one's self。〃 But how was theDryad ever to see such beings？ She was obliged to be satisfied withbeing able to look over the beautiful country and see the busyindustry of men。
It was glorious； but most glorious of all when the old clergymansat under the oak tree and talked of France； and of the great deeds ofher sons and daughters； whose names will be mentioned withadmiration through all time。
Then the Dryad heard of the shepherd girl； Joan of Arc； and ofCharlotte Corday； she heard about Henry the Fourth； and Napoleon theFirst； she heard names whose echo sounds in the hearts of the people。
The village children listened attentively； and the Dryad no lessattentively； she became a school…child with the rest。 In the cloudsthat went sailing by she saw； picture by picture； everything thatshe heard talked about。 The cloudy sky was her picture…book。
She felt so happy in beautiful France； the fruitful land ofgenius； with the crater of freedom。 But in her heart the stingremained that the bird； that every animal that could fly； was muchbetter off than she。 Even the fly could look about more in theworld； far beyond the Dryad's horizon。
France was so great and so glorious； but she could only lookacross a little piece of it。 The land stretched out； world…wide；with vineyards； forests and great cities。 Of all these Paris was themost splendid and the mightiest。 The birds could get there； but she；never！
Among the village children was a little ragged； poor girl； but apretty one to look at。 She was always laughing or singing andtwining red flowers in her black hair。
〃Don't go to Paris！〃 the old clergyman warned her。 〃Poor child！ ifyou go there； it will be your ruin。〃
But she went for all that。
The Dryad often thought of her； for she had the same wish； andfelt the same longing for the great city。
The Dryad's tree was bearing its first chestnut blossoms； thebirds were twittering round them in the most beautiful sunshine。Then a stately carriage came rolling along that way； and in it sat agrand lady driving the spirited； light…footed horses。 On the back seata little smart groom balanced himself。 The Dryad knew the lady； andthe old clergyman knew her also。 He shook his head gravely when he sawher； and said：
〃So you went there after all； and it was your ruin； poor Mary！〃
〃That one poor？〃 thought the Dryad。 〃No； she wears a dress fit fora countess〃 （she had bee one in the city of magic changes）。 〃Oh； ifI were only there； amid all the splendor and pomp！ They shine upinto the very clouds at night； when I look up； I can tell in whatdirection the town lies。〃
Towards that direction the Dryad looked every evening。 She sawin the dark night the gleaming cloud on the horizon； in the clearmoonlight nights she missed the sailing clouds； which showed herpictures of the city and pictures from history。
The child grasps at the picture…books； the Dryad grasped at thecloud…world； her thought…book。 A sudden； cloudless sky was for her ablank leaf； and for several days she had only had such leaves beforeher。
It was in the warm summer…time： not a breeze moved through theglowing hot days。 Every leaf； every flower； lay as if it weretorpid； and the people seemed torpid； too。
Then the clouds arose and covered the region round about where thegleaming mist announced 〃Here lies Paris。〃
The clouds piled themselves up like a chain of mountains；hurried on through the air； and spread themselves abroad over thewhole landscape； as far as the Dryad's eye could reach。
Like enormous blue…black blocks of rock； the clouds lay piled overone another。 Gleams of lightning shot forth from them。
〃These also are the servants of the Lord God；〃 the old clergymanhad said。 And there came a bluish dazzling flash of lightning； alighting up as if of the sun itself； which could burst blocks ofrock asunder。 The lightning struck and split to the roots the oldvenerable oak。 The crown fell asunder。 It seemed as if the tree werestretching forth its arms to clasp the messengers of the light。
No bronze cannon can sound over the land at the birth of a royalchild as the thunder sounded at the death of the old oak。 The rainstreamed down； a refreshing wind was blowing； the storm had gone by；and there was quite a holiday glow on all things。 The old clergymanspoke a few words for honorable remembrance； and a painter made adrawing； as a lasting record of the tree。
〃Everything passes away；〃 said the Dryad； 〃passes away like acloud； and never es back！〃
The old clergyman； too； did not e back。 The green roof of hisschool was gone； and his teaching…chair had vanished。 The children didnot e； but autumn came； and winter came； and then spring also。 Inall this change of seasons the Dryad looked toward the region where；at night； Paris gleamed with its bright mist far on the horizon。
Forth from the town rushed engine after engine； train after train；whistling and screaming at all hours in the day。 In the evening；towards midnight； at daybreak； and all the day through； came thetrains。 Out of each one； and into each one； streamed people from thecountry of every king。 A new wonder of the world had summoned themto Paris。
In what form did this wonder exhibit itself？
〃A splendid blossom of art and industry；〃 said one； 〃hasunfolded itself in the Champ de Mars； a gigantic sunflower； from whosepetals one can learn geography and statistics； and can bee aswise as a lord mayor； and raise one's self to the level of art andpoetry； and study the greatness and power of the various lands。〃
〃A fairy tale flower；〃 said another； 〃a many…coloredlotus…plant； which spreads out its green leaves like a velvet carpetover the sand。 The opening spring has brought it forth； the summerwill see it in all its splendor； the autumn winds will sweep itaway； so that not a leaf； not a fragment of its root shall remain。〃
In front of the Military School extends in time of peace the arenaof war… a field without a blade of grass； a piece of sandy steppe；as if cut out of the Desert of Africa； where Fata Morgana displays herwondrous airy castles and hanging gardens。 In the Champ de Mars；however； these were to be seen more splendid； more wonderful than inthe East； for human art had converted the airy deceptive scenes intoreality。
〃The Aladdin's Palace of the present has been built；〃 it was said。〃Day by day； hour by hour； it unfolds more of its wonderful splendor。〃
The endless halls shine in marble and many colors。 〃MasterBloodless〃 here moves his limbs of steel and iron in the greatcircular hall of machinery。 Works of art in metal； in stone； inGobelins tapestry； announce the vitality of mind that is stirring inevery land。 Halls of paintings； splendor of flowers； everything
