a story-第1节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　STORY

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　IN　the　garden　all　the　apple…trees　were　in　blossom。　They　had

hastened　to　bring　forth　flowers　before　they　got　green　leaves；　and　in

the　yard　all　the　ducklings　walked　up　and　down；　and　the　cat　too：　it

basked　in　the　sun　and　licked　the　sunshine　from　its　own　paws。　And

when　one　looked　at　the　fields；　how　beautifully　the　corn　stood　and

how　green　it　shone；　without　comparison！　and　there　was　a　twittering　and

a　fluttering　of　all　the　little　birds；　as　if　the　day　were　a　great

festival；　and　so　it　was；　for　it　was　Sunday。　All　the　bells　were

ringing；　and　all　the　people　went　to　church；　looking　cheerful；　and

dressed　in　their　best　clothes。　There　was　a　look　of　cheerfulness　on

everything。　The　day　was　so　warm　and　beautiful　that　one　might　well　have

said：　〃God's　kindness　to　us　men　is　beyond　all　limits。〃　But　inside

the　church　the　pastor　stood　in　the　pulpit；　and　spoke　very　loudly　and

angrily。　He　said　that　all　men　were　wicked；　and　God　would　punish　them

for　their　sins；　and　that　the　wicked；　when　they　died；　would　be　cast

into　hell；　to　burn　for　ever　and　ever。　He　spoke　very　excitedly；

saying　that　their　evil　propensities　would　not　be　destroyed；　nor

would　the　fire　be　extinguished；　and　they　should　never　find　rest。

That　was　terrible　to　hear；　and　he　said　it　in　such　a　tone　of

conviction；　he　described　hell　to　them　as　a　miserable　hole　where　all

the　refuse　of　the　world　gathers。　There　was　no　air　beside　the　hot

burning　sulphur　flame；　and　there　was　no　ground　under　their　feet；　they；

the　wicked　ones；　sank　deeper　and　deeper；　while　eternal　silence

surrounded　them！　It　was　dreadful　to　hear　all　that；　for　the　preacher

spoke　from　his　heart；　and　all　the　people　in　the　church　were　terrified。

Meanwhile；　the　birds　sang　merrily　outside；　and　the　sun　was　shining

so　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　wife

sitting　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　my

thoughts；　and　am　unable　to　grasp　the　meaning　of　what　you　said　to…day

in　church…　that　there　are　so　many　wicked　people；　and　that　they

should　burn　eternally。　Alas！　eternally…　how　long！　I　am　only　a　woman

and　a　sinner　before　God；　but　I　should　not　have　the　heart　to　let　even

the　worst　sinner　burn　for　ever；　and　how　could　our　Lord　to　do　so；　who

is　so　infinitely　good；　and　who　knows　how　the　wickedness　comes　from

without　and　within？　No；　I　am　unable　to　imagine　that；　although　you

say　so。〃



　　　　It　was　autumn；　the　trees　dropped　their　leaves；　the　earnest　and

severe　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　our

Lord　you　shall　certainly　do　so；〃　said　the　pastor。　He　folded　her

hands　and　read　a　psalm　over　the　dead　woman。

　　　　She　was　buried；　two　large　tears　rolled　over　the　cheeks　of　the

earnest　man；　and　in　the　parsonage　it　was　empty　and　still；　for　its

sun　had　set　for　ever。　She　had　gone　home。

　　　　It　was　night。　A　cold　wind　swept　over　the　pastor's　head；　he

opened　his　eyes；　and　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　the　moon　was　shining

into　his　room。　It　was　not　so；　however；　there　was　a　being　standing

before　his　bed；　and　looking　like　the　ghost　of　his　deceased　wife。　She

fixed　her　eyes　upon　him　with　such　a　kind　and　sad　expression；　just　as

if　she　wished　to　say　something　to　him。　The　pastor　raised　himself　in

bed　and　stretched　his　arms　towards　her；　saying；　〃Not　even　you　can　find

eternal　rest！　You　suffer；　you　best　and　most　pious　woman？〃

　　　　The　dead　woman　nodded　her　head　as　if　to　say　〃Yes；〃　and　put　her

hand　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　the

sinner　for　whom　the　fire　shall　never　be　extinguished；　of　the　sinner

whom　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　my

side　you　will　be　able　to　fly　wherever　your　thoughts　wish　to　go。

Invisible　to　men；　we　shall　penetrate　into　their　most　secret

chambers；　but　with　sure　hand　you　must　find　out　him　who　is　destined

to　eternal　torture；　and　before　the　cock　crows　he　must　be　found！〃　As

quickly　as　if　carried　by　the　winged　thoughts　they　were　in　the　great

city；　and　from　the　walls　the　names　of　the　deadly　sins　shone　in　flaming

letters：　pride；　avarice；　drunkenness；　wantonness…　in　short；　the

whole　seven…coloured　bow　of　sin。

　　　　〃Yes；　therein；　as　I　believed；　as　I　knew　it；〃　said　the　pastor；　〃are

living　those　who　are　abandoned　to　the　eternal　fire。〃　And　they　were

standing　before　the　magnificently　illuminated　gate；　the　broad　steps

were　adorned　with　carpets　and　flowers；　and　dance　music　was　sounding

through　the　festive　halls。　A　footman　dressed　in　silk　and　velvet

stood　with　a　large　silver…mounted　rod　near　the　entrance。

　　　　〃Our　ball　can　compare　favourably　with　the　king's；〃　he　said；　and

turned　with　contempt　towards　the　gazing　crowd　in　the　street。　What　he

thought　was　sufficiently　expressed　in　his　features　and　movements：

〃Miserable　beggars；　who　are　looking　in；　you　are　nothing　in

comparison　to　me。〃

　　　　〃Pride；〃　said　the　dead　woman；　〃do　you　see　him？〃

　　　　〃The　footman？〃　asked　the　pastor。　〃He　is　but　a　poor　fool；　and　not

doomed　to　be　tortured　eternally　by　fire！〃

　　　　〃Only　a　fool！〃　It　sounded　through　the　whole　house　of　pride：　they

were　all　fools　there。

　　　　Then　they　flew　within　the　four　naked　walls　of　the　miser。　Lean　as　a

skeleton；　trembling　with　cold；　and　hunger；　the　old　man　was　clinging

with　all　his　thoughts　to　his　money。　They　saw　him　jump　up　feverishly

from　his　miserable　couch　and　take　a　loose　stone　out　of　the　wall；　there

lay　gold　coins　in　an　old　stocking。　They　saw　him　anxiously　feeling　over

an　old　ragged　coat　in　which　pieces　of　gold　were　sewn；　and　his　clammy

fingers　trembled。

　　　　〃He　is　ill！　That　is　madness…　a　joyless　madness…　besieged　by　fear

and　dreadful　dreams！〃

　　　　They　quickly　went　away　and　came　before　the　beds　of　the

criminals；　these　unfortunate　people　slept　side　by　side；　in　long

rows。　Like　a　ferocious　animal；　one　of　them　rose　out　of　his　sleep　and

uttered　a　horrible　cry；　and　gave　his　comrade　a　violent　dig　in　the　ribs

with　his　pointed　elbow；　and　this　one　turned　round　in　his　sleep：

　　　　〃Be　quiet；　monster…　sleep！　This　happens　every　night！〃

　　　　〃Every　night！〃　repeated　the　other。　〃Yes；　every　night　he　comes

and　tortures　me！　In　my　violence　I　have　done　this　and　that。　I　was

born　with　an　evil　mind；　which　has　brought　me　hither　for　the　second

time；　but　if　I　have　done　wrong　I　suffer　punishment　for　it。　One

thing；　however；　I　have　not　yet　confessed。　When　I　came　out　a　little

while　ago；　and　passed　by　the　yard　of　my　former　master；　evil　thoughts

rose　within　me　when　I　remembered　this　and　that。　I　struck　a　match　a

little　bit　on　the　wall；　probably　it　came　a　little　too　close　to　the

thatched　roof。　All　burnt　down…　a　great　heat　rose；　such　as　sometimes

overcomes　me。　I　myself　helped　to　rescue　cattle　and　things；　nothing

alive　burnt；　except　a　flight　of　pigeons；　which　flew　into　the　fire；　and

the　yard　dog；　of　which　I　had　not　thought；　one　could　hear　him　howl

out　of　the　fire；　and　this　howling　I　still　hear　when　I　wish　to　sleep；

and　when　I　have　fallen　asleep；　the　great　rough　dog　comes　and　places

himself　upon　me；　and　howls；　presses；　and　tortures　me。　Now　listen　to

what　I　tell　you！　You　can　snore；　you　are　snoring　the　whole　night；　and　I

hardly　a　quarter　of　an　hour！〃　And　the　blood　rose　to　the　head　of　the

excited　criminal；　he　threw　himself　upon　his　comrade；　and　beat　him　with

his　clenced　fist　in　the　face。

　　　　〃Wicked　Matz　has　become　mad　again！〃　they　said　amongst

themselves。　The　other　criminals　seized　him；　wrestled　with　him；　and

bent　him　double；　so　that　his　head　rested　between　his　knees；　and　they

tied　him；　so　that　the　blood　almost　came　out　of　his　eyes　and　out　of　all

his　pores。

　　　　〃You　are　killing　the　unfortunate　man；〃　said　the　pastor；　and　as

he　stretched　out　his　hand　to　protect　him　who　already　suffered　too

much；　the　scene　changed。　They　flew　through　rich　halls　and　wretched

hovels；　wantonness　and　envy；　all　the　deadly　sins；　passed　before

them。　An　angel　of　justice　read　their　crimes　and　their　defence；　the

latter　was　not　a　brilliant　one；　but　it　was　read　before　God；　Who

reads　the　heart；　Who　knows　everything；　the　wickedness　that　comes

from　within　and　from　without；　Who　is　mercy　and　love　personified。　The

pastor's　hand　trembled；　he　dared　not　stretch　it　out；　he　did　not

venture　to　pull　a　hair　out　of　the　sinner's　head。　And　tears　gushed　from

his　eyes　like　a　stream　of　mercy　and　love；　the　cooling　waters　of

which　extinguished　the　eternal　fire　of　hell。

　　　　Ju