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enthe young bird felt that his wings were strong； as he flapped themagainst his sides； and rose high into the air。 They bore himonwards； until he found himself in a large garden； before he well knewhow it had happened。 The apple…trees were in full blossom； and thefragrant elders bent their long green branches down to the streamwhich wound round a smooth lawn。 Everything looked beautiful； in thefreshness of early spring。 From a thicket close by came threebeautiful white swans； rustling their feathers； and swimming lightlyover the smooth water。 The duckling remembered the lovely birds； andfelt more strangely unhappy than ever。
〃I will fly to those royal birds；〃 he exclaimed； 〃and they willkill me； because I am so ugly； and dare to approach them； but itdoes not matter： better be killed by them than pecked by the ducks；beaten by the hens； pushed about by the maiden who feeds thepoultry； or starved with hunger in the winter。〃
Then he flew to the water； and swam towards the beautiful swans。The moment they espied the stranger； they rushed to meet him withoutstretched wings。
〃Kill me；〃 said the poor bird； and he bent his head down to thesurface of the water； and awaited death。
But what did he see in the clear stream below？ His own image； nolonger a dark； gray bird； ugly and disagreeable to look at； but agraceful and beautiful swan。 To be born in a duck's nest； in afarmyard； is of no consequence to a bird； if it is hatched from aswan's egg。 He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble；because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure andhappiness around him； for the great swans swam round the new…er；and stroked his neck with their beaks； as a wele。
Into the garden presently came some little children； and threwbread and cake into the water。
〃See；〃 cried the youngest； 〃there is a new one；〃 and the rest weredelighted； and ran to their father and mother； dancing and clappingtheir hands； and shouting joyously； 〃There is another swan e； a newone has arrived。〃
Then they threw more bread and cake into the water； and said； 〃Thenew one is the most beautiful of all； he is so young and pretty。〃And the old swans bowed their heads before him。
Then he felt quite ashamed； and hid his head under his wing； forhe did not know what to do； he was so happy； and yet not at all proud。He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness； and now he heardthem say he was the most beautiful of all the birds。 Even theelder…tree bent down its bows into the water before him； and the sunshone warm and bright。 Then he rustled his feathers； curved hisslender neck； and cried joyfully； from the depths of his heart； 〃Inever dreamed of such happiness as this； while I was an uglyduckling。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE WICKED PRINCE
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE lived once upon a time a wicked prince whose heart andmind were set upon conquering all the countries of the world； and onfrightening the people； he devastated their countries with fire andsword； and his soldiers trod down the crops in the fields anddestroyed the peasants' huts by fire； so that the flames licked thegreen leaves off the branches； and the fruit hung dried up on thesinged black trees。 Many a poor mother fled； her naked baby in herarms； behind the still smoking walls of her cottage； but also therethe soldiers followed her； and when they found her； she served asnew nourishment to their diabolical enjoyments； demons could notpossibly have done worse things than these soldiers！ The prince was ofopinion that all this was right； and that it was only the naturalcourse which things ought to take。 His power increased day by day； hisname was feared by all； and fortune favoured his deeds。
He brought enormous wealth home from the conquered towns； andgradually accumulated in his residence riches which could nowhere beequalled。 He erected magnificent palaces； churches； and halls； and allwho saw these splendid buildings and great treasures exclaimedadmiringly： 〃What a mighty prince！〃 But they did not know what endlessmisery he had brought upon other countries； nor did they hear thesighs and lamentations which rose up from the debris of thedestroyed cities。
The prince often looked with delight upon his gold and hismagnificent edifices； and thought； like the crowd： 〃What a mightyprince！ But I must have more… much more。 No power on earth mustequal mine； far less exceed it。〃
He made war with all his neighbours； and defeated them。 Theconquered kings were chained up with golden fetters to his chariotwhen he drove through the streets of his city。 These kings had tokneel at his and his courtiers' feet when they sat at table； andlive on the morsels which they left。 At last the prince had his ownstatue erected on the public places and fixed on the royal palaces；nay； he even wished it to be placed in the churches； on the altars；but in this the priests opposed him； saying： 〃Prince； you are mightyindeed； but God's power is much greater than yours； we dare not obeyyour orders。〃
〃Well；〃 said the prince。 〃Then I will conquer God too。〃 And in hishaughtiness and foolish presumption he ordered a magnificent ship tobe constructed； with which he could sail through the air； it wasgorgeously fitted out and of many colours； like the tail of a peacock；it was covered with thousands of eyes； but each eye was the barrelof a gun。 The prince sat in the centre of the ship； and had only totouch a spring in order to make thousands of bullets fly out in alldirections； while the guns were at once loaded again。 Hundreds ofeagles were attached to this ship； and it rose with the swiftness ofan arrow up towards the sun。 The earth was soon left far below； andlooked； with its mountains and woods； like a cornfield where theplough had made furrows which separated green meadows； soon itlooked only like a map with indistinct lines upon it； and at last itentirely disappeared in mist and clouds。 Higher and higher rose theeagles up into the air； then God sent one of his numberless angelsagainst the ship。 The wicked prince showered thousands of bullets uponhim； but they rebounded from his shining wings and fell down likeordinary hailstones。 One drop of blood； one single drop； came out ofthe white feathers of the angel's wings and fell upon the ship inwhich the prince sat； burnt into it； and weighed upon it likethousands of hundredweights； dragging it rapidly down to the earthagain； the strong wings of the eagles gave way； the wind roaredround the prince's head； and the clouds around… were they formed bythe smoke rising up from the burnt cities？… took strange shapes；like crabs many； many miles long； which stretched their claws outafter him； and rose up like enormous rocks； from which rollingmasses dashed down； and became fire…spitting dragons。
The prince was lying half…dead in his ship； when it sank at lastwith a terrible shock into the branches of a large tree in the wood。
〃I will conquer God！〃 said the prince。 〃I have sworn it： my willmust be done！〃
And he spent seven years in the construction of wonderful ships tosail through the air； and had darts cast from the hardest steel tobreak the walls of heaven with。 He gathered warriors from allcountries； so many that when they were placed side by side theycovered the space of several miles。 They entered the ships and theprince was approaching his own； when God sent a swarm of gnats… oneswarm of little gnats。 They buzzed round the prince and stung his faceand hands； angrily he drew his sword and brandished it； but he onlytouched the air and did not hit the gnats。 Then he ordered hisservants to bring costly coverings and wrap him in them； that thegnats might no longer be able to reach him。 The servants carried outhis orders； but one single gnat had placed itself inside one of thecoverings； crept into the prince's ear and stung him。 The placeburnt like fire； and the poison entered into his blood。 Mad with pain；he tore off the coverings and his clothes too； flinging them far away；and danced about before the eyes of his ferocious soldiers； who nowmocked at him； the mad prince； who wished to make war with God； andwas overe by a single little gnat。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERS