soup from a sausage skewer-第4节

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'squeak。'　This　confidence　of　mine　pleased　her　so　much　that　she　assured

me　she　would　take　me　under　her　own　protection；　and　that　not　a　creature

should　do　me　harm。　The　fact　was；　she　wickedly　meant　to　keep　me　in

reserve　for　her　own　eating　in　winter；　when　food　would　be　scarce。　Yet

she　was　a　very　clever　lady…owl；　she　explained　to　me　that　the

watchman　could　only　hoot　with　the　horn　that　hung　loose　at　his　side；

and　then　she　said　he　is　so　terribly　proud　of　it；　that　he　imagines

himself　an　owl　in　the　tower；…　wants　to　do　great　things；　but　only

succeeds　in　small；　all　soup　on　a　sausage　skewer。　Then　I　begged　the　owl

to　give　me　the　recipe　for　this　soup。　'Soup　from　a　sausage　skewer；'

said　she；　'is　only　a　proverb　amongst　mankind；　and　may　be　understood　in

many　ways。　Each　believes　his　own　way　the　best；　and　after　all；　the

proverb　signifies　nothing。'　'Nothing！'　I　exclaimed。　I　was　quite

struck。　Truth　is　not　always　agreeable；　but　truth　is　above　everything

else；　as　the　old　owl　said。　I　thought　over　all　this；　and　saw　quite

plainly　that　if　truth　was　really　so　far　above　everything　else；　it　must

be　much　more　valuable　than　soup　from　a　sausage　skewer。　So　I　hastened

to　get　away；　that　I　might　be　home　in　time；　and　bring　what　was

highest　and　best；　and　above　everything…　namely；　the　truth。　The　mice

are　an　enlightened　people；　and　the　mouse…king　is　above　them　all。　He　is

therefore　capable　of　making　me　queen　for　the　sake　of　truth。〃

　　　　〃Your　truth　is　a　falsehood；〃　said　the　mouse　who　had　not　yet

spoken；　〃I　can　prepare　the　soup；　and　I　mean　to　do　so。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HOW　IT　WAS　PREPARED



　　　　〃I　did　not　travel；〃　said　the　third　mouse；　〃I　stayed　in　this

country：　that　was　the　right　way。　One　gains　nothing　by　travelling…

everything　can　be　acquired　here　quite　as　easily；　so　I　stayed　at

home。　I　have　not　obtained　what　I　know　from　supernatural　beings。　I　have

neither　swallowed　it；　nor　learnt　it　from　conversing　with　owls。　I

have　got　it　all　from　my　reflections　and　thoughts。　Will　you　now　set　the

kettle　on　the　fire…　so？　Now　pour　the　water　in…　quite　full…　up　to　the

brim；　place　it　on　the　fire；　make　up　a　good　blaze；　keep　it　burning；

that　the　water　may　boil；　it　must　boil　over　and　over。　There；　now　I

throw　in　the　skewer。　Will　the　mouse…king　be　pleased　now　to　dip　his

tail　into　the　boiling　water；　and　stir　it　round　with　the　tail。　The

longer　the　king　stirs　it；　the　stronger　the　soup　will　become。　Nothing

more　is　necessary；　only　to　stir　it。〃

　　　　〃Can　no　one　else　do　this？〃　asked　the　king。

　　　　〃No；〃　said　the　mouse；　〃only　in　the　tail　of　the　mouse…king　is

this　power　contained。〃

　　　　And　the　water　boiled　and　bubbled；　as　the　mouse…king　stood　close

beside　the　kettle。　It　seemed　rather　a　dangerous　performance；　but　he

turned　round；　and　put　out　his　tail；　as　mice　do　in　a　dairy；　when　they

wish　to　skim　the　cream　from　a　pan　of　milk　with　their　tails　and

afterwards　lick　it　off。　But　the　mous