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andwas overe by a single little gnat。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE WILD SWANS
by Hans Christian Andersen
FAR away in the land to which the swallows fly when it iswinter； dwelt a king who had eleven sons； and one daughter； namedEliza。 The eleven brothers were princes； and each went to schoolwith a star on his breast； and a sword by his side。 They wrote withdiamond pencils on gold slates； and learnt their lessons so quicklyand read so easily that every one might know they were princes。Their sister Eliza sat on a little stool of plate…glass； and had abook full of pictures； which had cost as much as half a kingdom。 Oh；these children were indeed happy； but it was not to remain soalways。 Their father； who was king of the country； married a verywicked queen； who did not love the poor children at all。 They knewthis from the very first day after the wedding。 In the palace therewere great festivities； and the children played at receivingpany； but instead of having； as usual； all the cakes and applesthat were left； she gave them some sand in a tea…cup； and told them topretend it was cake。 The week after； she sent little Eliza into thecountry to a peasant and his wife； and then she told the king somany untrue things about the young princes； that he gave himself nomore trouble respecting them。
〃Go out into the world and get your own living；〃 said the queen。〃Fly like great birds； who have no voice。〃 But she could not make themugly as she wished； for they were turned into eleven beautiful wildswans。 Then； with a strange cry； they flew through the windows ofthe palace； over the park； to the forest beyond。 It was earlymorning when they passed the peasant's cottage； where their sisterEliza lay asleep in her room。 They hovered over the roof； twistedtheir long necks and flapped their wings； but no one heard them or sawthem； so they were at last obliged to fly away； high up in the clouds；and over the wide world they flew till they came to a thick； darkwood； which stretched far away to the seashore。 Poor little Elizawas alone in her room playing with a green leaf； for she had noother playthings； and she pierced a hole through the leaf； andlooked through it at the sun； and it was as if she saw her brothers'clear eyes； and when the warm sun shone on her cheeks； she thoughtof all the kisses they had given her。 One day passed just likeanother； sometimes the winds rustled through the leaves of therose…bush； and would whisper to the roses； 〃Who can be morebeautiful than you！〃 But the roses would shake their heads； and say；〃Eliza is。〃 And when the old woman sat at the cottage door onSunday； and read her hymn…book； the wind would flutter the leaves； andsay to the book； 〃Who can be more pious than you？〃 and then thehymn…book would answer 〃Eliza。〃 And the roses and the hymn…book toldthe real truth。 At fifteen she returned home； but when the queen sawhow beautiful she was； she became full of spite and hatred towardsher。 Willingly would she have turned her into a swan； like herbrothers； but she did not dare to do so yet； because the king wishedto see his daughter。 Early one morning the queen went into thebath…room； it was built of marble； and had soft cushions； trimmed withthe most beautiful tapestry。 She took three toads with her； and kissedthem； and said to one； 〃When Eliza es to the bath； seat yourselfupon her head； that she may bee as stupid as you are。〃 Then shesaid to another； 〃Place yourself on her forehead； that she maybee as ugly as you are； and that her father may not know her。〃〃Rest on her heart；〃 she whispered to the third； 〃then she will haveevil inclinations； and suffer in consequence。〃 So she put the toadsinto the clear water； and they turned green immediately。 She nextcalled Eliza； and helped her to undress and get into the bath。 AsEliza dipped her head under the water； one of the toads sat on herhair； a second on her forehead； and a third on her breast； but she didnot seem to notice them； and when she rose out of the water； therewere three red poppies floating upon it。 Had not the creatures beenvenomous or been kissed by the witch； they would have been changedinto red roses。 At all events they became flowers； because they hadrested on Eliza's head； and on her heart。 She was too good and tooinnocent for witchcraft to have any power over her。 When the wickedqueen saw this； she rubbed her face with walnut…juice； so that she wasquite brown； then she tangled her beautiful hair and smeared it withdisgusting ointment； till it was quite impossible to recognize thebeautiful Eliza。
When her father saw her； he was much shocked； and declared she wasnot his daughter。 No one but the watch…dog and the swallows knewher； and they were only poor animals； and could say nothing。 Then poorEliza wept； and thought of her eleven brothers； who were all away。Sorrowfully； she stole away from the palace； and walked； the wholeday； over fields and moors； till she came to the great forest。 Sheknew not in what direction to go； but she was so unhappy； and longedso for her brothers； who had been； like herself； driven out into theworld； that she was determined to seek them。 She had been but ashort time in the wood when night came on； and she quite lost thepath； so she laid herself down on the soft moss； offered up herevening prayer； and leaned her head against the stump of a tree。 Allnature was still； and the soft； mild air fanned her forehead。 Thelight of hundreds of glow…worms shone amidst the grass and the moss；like green fire； and if she touched a twig with her hand； ever solightly； the brilliant insects fell down around her； likeshooting…stars。
All night long she dreamt of her brothers。 She and they werechildren again； playing together。 She saw them writing with theirdiamond pencils on golden slates； while she looked at the beautifulpicture…book which had cost half a kingdom。 They were not writinglines and letters； as they used to do； but descriptions of the nobledeeds they had performed； and of all they had discovered and seen。In the picture…book； too； everything was living。 The birds sang； andthe people came out of the book； and spoke to Eliza and herbrothers； but； as the leaves turned over； they darted back again totheir places； that all might be in order。
When she awoke； the sun was high in the heavens； yet she could notsee him； for the lofty trees spread their branches thickly over herhead； but his beams were glancing through the leaves here and there；like a golden mist。 There was a sweet fragrance from the fresh greenverdure； and the birds almost perched upon her shoulders。 She heardwater rippling from a number of springs； all flowing in a lake withgolden sands。 Bushes grew thickly round the lake； and at one spot anopening had been made by a deer； through which Eliza went down tothe water。 The lake was so clear that； had not the wind rustled thebranches of the trees and the bushes； so that they moved； they wouldhave appeared as if painted in the depths of the lake； for everyleaf was reflected in the water； whether it stood in the shade orthe sunshine。 As soon as Eliza saw her own face； she was quiteterrified at finding it so brown and ugly； but when she wetted herlittle hand； and rubbed her eyes and forehead； the white skingleamed forth once more； and； after she had undressed； and dippedherself in the fresh water； a more beautiful king's daughter could notbe found in the wide world。 As soon as she had dressed herselfagain； and braided her long hair； she went to the bubbling spring； anddrank some water out of the hollow of her hand。 Then she wanderedfar into the forest； not knowing whither she went。 She thought ofher brothers； and felt sure that God would not forsake her。 It isGod who makes the wild apples grow in the wood； to satisfy the hungry；and He now led her to one of these trees； which was so loaded withfruit； that the boughs bent beneath the weight。 Here she held hernoonday repast； placed props under the boughs； and then went intothe gloomiest depths of the forest。 It was so still that she couldhear the sound of her own footsteps； as well as the rustling ofevery withered leaf which she crushed under her feet。 Not a bird wasto be seen； not a sunbeam could perate through the large； darkboughs of the trees。