the bottle neck-µÚ1½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡FAIRY¡¡TALES¡¡OF¡¡HANS¡¡CHRISTIAN¡¡ANDERSEN
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡BOTTLE¡¡NECK
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡Hans¡¡Christian¡¡Andersen
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CLOSE¡¡to¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡a¡¡street£»¡¡among¡¡other¡¡abodes¡¡of¡¡poverty£»
stood¡¡an¡¡exceedingly¡¡tall£»¡¡narrow¡¡house£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡knocked
about¡¡by¡¡time¡¡that¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡joint¡¡in¡¡every¡¡direction¡£¡¡This
house¡¡was¡¡inhabited¡¡by¡¡poor¡¡people£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡deepest¡¡poverty¡¡was
apparent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garret¡¡lodging¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gable¡£¡¡In¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little
window£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡bent¡¡bird¡cage¡¡hung¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunshine£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡not¡¡even
a¡¡proper¡¡water¡glass£»¡¡but¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡it¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡neck¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bottle£»
turned¡¡upside¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cork¡¡stuck¡¡in¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡hold¡¡the¡¡water¡¡with
which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡filled¡£¡¡An¡¡old¡¡maid¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡hung
chickweed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡cage£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡linnet¡¡which¡¡it¡¡contained
hopped¡¡from¡¡perch¡¡to¡¡perch¡¡and¡¡sang¡¡and¡¡twittered¡¡merrily¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡it's¡¡all¡¡very¡¡well¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡sing£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡neck£º
that¡¡is£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡really¡¡speak¡¡the¡¡words¡¡as¡¡we¡¡do£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡of¡¡a
bottle¡¡cannot¡¡speak£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡them¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡mind£»
just¡¡as¡¡people¡¡sometimes¡¡talk¡¡quietly¡¡to¡¡themselves¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡you¡¡may¡¡sing¡¡very¡¡well£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡all¡¡your¡¡limbs¡¡uninjured£»
you¡¡should¡¡feel¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡¡like¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡your¡¡body£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡have¡¡a
neck¡¡and¡¡a¡¡mouth¡¡left£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cork¡¡stuck¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have£º¡¡you
wouldn't¡¡sing¡¡then£»¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡just¡¡as¡¡well¡¡that¡¡there
are¡¡some¡¡who¡¡can¡¡be¡¡happy¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡sing£»¡¡nor¡¡could¡¡I
sing¡¡now¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡ever¡¡so¡¡happy£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡bottle£»¡¡and
they¡¡rubbed¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cork£»¡¡didn't¡¡I¡¡sing¡¡then£¿¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡¡called
a¡¡complete¡¡lark¡£¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡when¡¡I¡¡went¡¡out¡¡to¡¡a¡¡picnic¡¡with¡¡the
furrier's¡¡family£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡was¡¡betrothed£»¡¡¡it¡¡seems
as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡only¡¡happened¡¡yesterday¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡through¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal
in¡¡my¡¡time£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡come¡¡to¡¡recollect£º¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡in
the¡¡water£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡mounted¡¡higher¡¡in
the¡¡air¡¡than¡¡most¡¡other¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡am¡¡swinging¡¡here£»¡¡outside
a¡¡bird¡cage£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sunshine¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be
worth¡¡while¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡my¡¡history£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡it¡¡aloud£»¡¡for¡¡a
good¡¡reason¡¡¡because¡¡I¡¡cannot¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡neck¡¡related¡¡his¡¡history£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡really
rather¡¡remarkable£»¡¡he£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡related¡¡it¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡or£»¡¡at¡¡least£»
thought¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡mind¡£¡¡The¡¡little¡¡bird¡¡sang¡¡his¡¡own¡¡song¡¡merrily£»
in¡¡the¡¡street¡¡below¡¡there¡¡was¡¡driving¡¡and¡¡running¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro£»¡¡every
one¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡affairs£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡but
the¡¡bottle¡¡neck¡¡thought¡¡deeply¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blazing¡¡furnace¡¡in
the¡¡factory£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡blown¡¡into¡¡life£»¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡how
hot¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heated¡¡oven£»¡¡the¡¡home¡¡from¡¡which
he¡¡sprang£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡inclination¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡out¡¡again
directly£»¡¡but¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡it¡¡became¡¡cooler£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself
very¡¡comfortable¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡row£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡regiment
of¡¡his¡¡brothers¡¡and¡¡sisters¡¡all¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡furnace£»
some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡certainly¡¡been¡¡blown¡¡into¡¡champagne¡¡bottles£»¡¡and
others¡¡into¡¡beer¡¡bottles£»¡¡which¡¡made¡¡a¡¡little¡¡difference¡¡between¡¡them¡£
In¡¡the¡¡world¡¡it¡¡often¡¡happens¡¡that¡¡a¡¡beer¡¡bottle¡¡may¡¡contain¡¡the
most¡¡precious¡¡wine£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡champagne¡¡bottle¡¡be¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡blacking£»
but¡¡even¡¡in¡¡decay¡¡it¡¡may¡¡always¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡whether¡¡a¡¡man¡¡has¡¡been¡¡well
born¡£¡¡Nobility¡¡remains¡¡noble£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡champagne¡¡bottle¡¡remains¡¡the
same£»¡¡even¡¡with¡¡blacking¡¡in¡¡its¡¡interior¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡bottles¡¡were¡¡packed
our¡¡bottle¡¡was¡¡packed¡¡amongst¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡little¡¡expected¡¡then¡¡to
finish¡¡its¡¡career¡¡as¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡neck£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡be¡¡used¡¡as¡¡a¡¡water¡glass
to¡¡a¡¡bird's¡cage£»¡¡which¡¡is£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡honor£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is
to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡some¡¡use¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡The¡¡bottle¡¡did¡¡not¡¡behold¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of
day¡¡again£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡unpacked¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wine
merchant's¡¡cellar£»¡¡and£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡rinsed¡¡with¡¡water£»¡¡which
caused¡¡some¡¡very¡¡curious¡¡sensations¡£¡¡There¡¡it¡¡lay¡¡empty£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡a
cork£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡had¡¡a¡¡peculiar¡¡feeling£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡wanted¡¡something¡¡it¡¡knew
not¡¡what¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡it¡¡was¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡costly¡¡wine£»¡¡a¡¡cork
was¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡sealed¡¡down¡£¡¡Then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡labelled¡¡¡¨first
quality£»¡¨¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡carried¡¡off¡¡the¡¡first¡¡prize¡¡at¡¡an
examination£»¡¡besides£»¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡were¡¡both¡¡good£»¡¡and
while¡¡we¡¡are¡¡young¡¡is¡¡the¡¡time¡¡for¡¡poetry¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡sounds¡¡of¡¡song
within¡¡the¡¡bottle£»¡¡of¡¡things¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡understand£»¡¡of¡¡green¡¡sunny
mountains£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡vines¡¡grow¡¡and¡¡where¡¡the¡¡merry¡¡vine¡dressers
laugh£»¡¡sing£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡merry¡£¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡how¡¡beautiful¡¡is¡¡life¡£¡¨¡¡All¡¡these
tones¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡and¡¡song¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡were¡¡like¡¡the¡¡working¡¡of¡¡a¡¡young
poet's¡¡brain£»¡¡who¡¡often¡¡knows¡¡not¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tones¡¡which¡¡are
sounding¡¡within¡¡him¡£¡¡One¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡found¡¡a¡¡purchaser¡¡in¡¡the
furrier's¡¡apprentice£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡told¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡bottles¡¡of
wine¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡provision¡¡basket¡¡with¡¡ham¡¡and¡¡cheese¡¡and
sausages¡£¡¡The¡¡sweetest¡¡fresh¡¡butter¡¡and¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡bread¡¡were¡¡put¡¡into
the¡¡basket¡¡by¡¡the¡¡furrier's¡¡daughter¡¡herself£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡packed¡¡it¡£¡¡She
was¡¡young¡¡and¡¡pretty£»¡¡her¡¡brown¡¡eyes¡¡laughed£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡lingered
round¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡as¡¡sweet¡¡as¡¡that¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡delicate
hands£»¡¡beautifully¡¡white£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡neck¡¡was¡¡whiter¡¡still¡£¡¡It¡¡could
easily¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡lovely¡¡girl£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not
engaged¡£¡¡The¡¡provision¡¡basket¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lap¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡girl¡¡as
the¡¡family¡¡drove¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bottle
peeped¡¡out¡¡from¡¡between¡¡the¡¡folds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡napkin¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the
red¡¡wax¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cork£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡looked¡¡straight¡¡at¡¡the¡¡young
girl's¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡at¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡sailor¡¡who¡¡sat¡¡near
her¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡young¡¡friend£»¡¡the¡¡son¡¡of¡¡a¡¡portrait¡¡painter¡£¡¡He¡¡had
lately¡¡passed¡¡his¡¡examination¡¡with¡¡honor£»¡¡as¡¡mate£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next
morning¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ship¡¡to¡¡a¡¡distant¡¡coast¡£¡¡There¡¡had
been¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡talk¡¡on¡¡this¡¡subject¡¡while¡¡the¡¡basket¡¡was¡¡being
packed£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡this¡¡conversation¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the
furrier's¡¡daughter¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wear¡¡a¡¡very¡¡joyful¡¡expression¡£¡¡The¡¡young
people¡¡wandered¡¡away¡¡into¡¡the¡¡green¡¡wood£»¡¡and¡¡talked¡¡together¡£¡¡What
did¡¡they¡¡talk¡¡about£¿¡¡The¡¡bottle¡¡could¡¡not¡¡say£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the
provision¡¡basket¡£¡¡It¡¡remained¡¡there¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡at¡¡last¡¡it
was¡¡brought¡¡forth¡¡it¡¡appeared¡¡as¡¡if¡¡something¡¡pleasant¡¡had¡¡happened£»
for¡¡every¡¡one¡¡was¡¡laughing£»¡¡the¡¡furrier's¡¡daughter¡¡laughed¡¡too£»¡¡but
she¡¡said¡¡very¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡cheeks¡¡were¡¡like¡¡two¡¡roses¡£¡¡Then¡¡her
father¡¡took¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cork¡screw¡¡into¡¡his¡¡hands¡£¡¡What¡¡a
strange¡¡sensation¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡cork¡¡drawn¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£¡
The¡¡bottle¡¡could¡¡never¡¡after¡¡that¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡performance¡¡of¡¡that
moment£»¡¡indeed¡¡there¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡convulsion¡¡within¡¡him¡¡as¡¡the¡¡cork
flew¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gurgling¡¡sound¡¡as¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡was¡¡poured¡¡forth¡¡into¡¡the
glasses¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Long¡¡life¡¡to¡¡the¡¡betrothed£»¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡papa£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡glass
was¡¡emptied¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dregs£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡young¡¡sailor¡¡kissed¡¡his
beautiful¡¡bride¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Happiness¡¡and¡¡blessing¡¡to¡¡you¡¡both£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡people¡father
and¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡glasses¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Safe¡¡return£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡wedding¡¡this¡¡day¡¡next¡¡year£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡and
when¡¡the¡¡glasses¡¡were¡¡empty¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡bottle£»¡¡raised¡¡it¡¡on¡¡high£»¡¡and
said£»¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡hast¡¡been¡¡present¡¡here¡¡on¡¡the¡¡happiest¡¡day¡¡of¡¡my¡¡life£»
thou¡¡shalt¡¡never¡¡be¡¡used¡¡by¡¡others£¡¡¨¡¡So¡¡saying£»¡¡he¡¡hurled¡¡it¡¡high¡¡in
the¡¡air¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡furrier's¡¡daughter¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡should¡¡never¡¡see¡¡it¡¡again£»
but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡mistaken¡£¡¡It¡¡fell¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rushes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡borders¡¡of¡¡a
little¡¡woodland¡¡lake¡£¡¡The¡¡bottle¡¡neck¡¡remembered¡¡well¡¡how¡¡long¡¡it
lay¡¡there¡¡unseen¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡wine£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡muddy¡¡water£»¡¨¡¡he
had¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡well¡¡meant¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡could
no¡¡longer¡¡see¡¡the¡¡betrothed¡¡couple£»¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡cheerful¡¡old¡¡people£»¡¡but
for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡them¡¡rejoicing¡¡and¡¡singing¡£¡¡At¡¡length
there¡¡came¡¡by¡¡two¡¡peasant¡¡boys£»¡¡who¡¡peeped¡¡in¡¡among¡¡the¡¡reeds¡¡and
spied¡¡out¡¡the¡¡bottle¡£¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡took¡¡it¡¡up¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡it¡¡home¡¡with
them£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡once¡¡more¡¡it¡¡was¡¡provided¡¡for¡£¡¡At¡¡home¡¡in¡¡their¡¡wooden
cottage¡¡these¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡an¡¡elder¡¡brother£»¡¡a¡¡sailor£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to
start¡¡on¡¡a¡¡long¡¡voyage¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before¡¡to¡¡say
farewell£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡now¡¡very¡¡busy¡¡packing¡¡up¡¡various¡¡things
for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡take¡¡with¡¡him¡¡on¡¡his¡¡voyage¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡his¡¡father
was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡parcel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡to¡¡see¡¡his¡¡son¡¡once¡¡more£»
and¡¡take¡¡him¡¡a¡¡farewell¡¡greeting¡¡from¡¡his¡¡mother¡£¡¡A¡¡small¡¡bottle¡¡had
already¡¡been¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡herb¡¡tea£»¡¡mixed¡¡with¡¡brandy£»¡¡and¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡a
parcel£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡came¡¡in¡¡they¡¡brought¡¡with¡¡them¡¡a¡¡larger
and¡¡stronger¡¡bottle£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡found¡£¡¡This¡¡bottle¡¡would¡¡hold¡¡so
much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡little¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡said¡¡the¡¡brandy¡¡would¡¡be
so¡¡good¡¡for¡¡complaints¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stomach£»¡¡especially¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡mixed¡¡with
medical¡¡herbs¡£¡¡The¡¡liquid¡¡which¡¡they¡¡now¡¡poured¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡was
not¡¡like¡¡the¡¡red¡¡wine¡¡with¡¡which¡¡it¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡filled£»¡¡these¡¡were
bitter¡¡drops£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡are¡¡of¡¡great¡¡use¡¡sometimes¡for¡¡the¡¡stomach¡£¡¡The
new¡¡large¡¡bottle¡¡was¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡little¡¡one£º¡¡so¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡once
more¡¡s