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et。 Not a bird wasto be seen； not a sunbeam could perate through the large； darkboughs of the trees。 Their lofty trunks stood so close together； that；when she looked before her； it seemed as if she were enclosed withintrellis…work。 Such solitude she had never known before。 The nightwas very dark。 Not a single glow…worm glittered in the moss。
Sorrowfully she laid herself down to sleep； and； after a while； itseemed to her as if the branches of the trees parted over her head；and that the mild eyes of angels looked down upon her from heaven。When she awoke in the morning； she knew not whether she had dreamtthis； or if it had really been so。 Then she continued her wandering；but she had not gone many steps forward； when she met an old womanwith berries in her basket； and she gave her a few to eat。 ThenEliza asked her if she had not seen eleven princes riding throughthe forest。
〃No；〃 replied the old woman； 〃But I saw yesterday eleven swans；with gold crowns on their heads； swimming on the river close by。〃 Thenshe led Eliza a little distance farther to a sloping bank； and atthe foot of it wound a little river。 The trees on its banksstretched their long leafy branches across the water towards eachother； and where the growth prevented them from meeting naturally； theroots had torn themselves away from the ground； so that the branchesmight mingle their foliage as they hung over the water。 Eliza bade theold woman farewell； and walked by the flowing river； till shereached the shore of the open sea。 And there； before the youngmaiden's eyes； lay the glorious ocean； but not a sail appeared onits surface； not even a boat could be seen。 How was she to go farther？She noticed how the countless pebbles on the sea…shore had beensmoothed and rounded by the action of the water。 Glass； iron；stones； everything that lay there mingled together； had taken itsshape from the same power； and felt as smooth； or even smoother thanher own delicate hand。 〃The water rolls on without weariness；〃 shesaid； till all that is hard bees smooth； so will I be unweariedin my task。 Thanks for your lessons； bright rolling waves； my hearttells me you will lead me to my dear brothers。〃 On the foam…coveredsea…weeds； lay eleven white swan feathers； which she gathered up andplaced together。 Drops of water lay upon them； whether they weredew…drops or tears no one could say。 Lonely as it was on thesea…shore； she did not observe it； for the ever…moving sea showed morechanges in a few hours than the most varying lake could produce duringa whole year。 If a black heavy cloud arose； it was as if the sea said；〃I can look dark and angry too；〃 and then the wind blew； and the wavesturned to white foam as they rolled。 When the wind slept； and theclouds glowed with the red sunlight； then the sea looked like a roseleaf。 But however quietly its white glassy surface rested； there wasstill a motion on the shore； as its waves rose and fell like thebreast of a sleeping child。 When the sun was about to set； Eliza saweleven white swans with golden crowns on their heads； flying towardsthe land； one behind the other； like a long white ribbon。 Then Elizawent down the slope from the shore； and hid herself behind the bushes。The swans alighted quite close to her and flapped their great whitewings。 As soon as the sun had disappeared under the water； thefeathers of the swans fell off； and eleven beautiful princes；Eliza's brothers； stood near her。 She uttered a loud cry； for；although they were very much changed； she knew them immediately。 Shesprang into their arms； and called them each by name。 Then； howhappy the princes were at meeting their little sister again； forthey recognized her； although she had grown so tall and beautiful。They laughed； and they wept； and very soon understood how wickedlytheir mother had acted to them all。 〃We brothers；〃 said the eldest；〃fly about as wild swans； so long as the sun is in the sky； but assoon as it sinks behind the hills； we recover our human shape。Therefore must we always be near a resting place for our feet beforesunset； for if we should be flying towards the clouds at the time werecovered our natural shape as men； we should sink deep into thesea。 We do not dwell here； but in a land just as fair； that liesbeyond the ocean； which we have to cross for a long distance； there isno island in our passage upon which we could pass； the night；nothing but a little rock rising out of the sea； upon which we canscarcely stand with safety； even closely crowded together。 If thesea is rough； the foam dashes over us； yet we thank God even forthis rock； we have passed whole nights upon it； or we should neverhave reached our beloved fatherland； for our flight across the seaoccupies two of the longest days in the year。 We have permission tovisit out home once in every year； and to remain eleven days； duringwhich we fly across the forest to look once more at the palace whereour father dwells； and where we were born； and at the church； whereour mother lies buried。 Here it seems as if the very trees andbushes were related to us。 The wild horses leap over the plains aswe have seen them in our childhood。 The charcoal burners sing theold songs； to which we have danced as children。 This is ourfatherland； to which we are drawn by loving ties； and here we havefound you； our dear little sister。； Two days longer we can remainhere； and then must we fly away to a beautiful land which is not ourhome； and how can we take you with us？ We have neither ship nor boat。〃
〃How can I break this spell？〃 said their sister。 And then shetalked about it nearly the whole night； only slumbering for a fewhours。 Eliza was awakened by the rustling of the swans' wings asthey soared above。 Her brothers were again changed to swans； andthey flew in circles wider and wider； till they were far away； but oneof them； the youngest swan； remained behind； and laid his head inhis sister's lap； while she stroked his wings； and they remainedtogether the whole day。 Towards evening； the rest came back； and asthe sun went down they resumed their natural forms。 〃To…morrow；〃said one； 〃we shall fly away； not to return again till a whole yearhas passed。 But we cannot leave you here。 Have you courage to gowith us？ My arm is strong enough to carry you through the wood； andwill not all our wings be strong enough to fly with you over the sea？〃
〃Yes； take me with you；〃 said Eliza。 Then they spent the wholenight in weaving a with the pliant willow and rushes。 It wasvery large and strong。 Eliza laid herself down on the ； and whenthe sun rose； and her brothers again became wild swans； they took upthe with their beaks； and flew up to the clouds with their dearsister； who still slept。 The sunbeams fell on her face； thereforeone of the swans soared over her head； so that his broad wings mightshade her。 They were far from the land when Eliza woke。 She thoughtshe must still be dreaming； it seemed so strange to her to feelherself being carried so high in the air over the sea。 By her side laya branch full of beautiful ripe berries； and a bundle of sweetroots； the youngest of her brothers had gathered them for her； andplaced them by her side。 She smiled her thanks to him； she knew it wasthe same who had hovered over her to shade her with his wings。 Theywere now so high； that a large ship beneath them looked like a whitesea…gull skimming the waves。 A great cloud floating behind themappeared like a vast mountain； and upon it Eliza saw her own shadowand those of the eleven swans； looking gigantic in size。 Altogether itformed a more beautiful picture than she had ever seen； but as the sunrose higher； and the clouds were left behind； the shadowy picturevanished away。 Onward the whole day they flew through the air like awinged arrow； yet more slowly than usual； for they had their sister tocarry。 The weather seemed inclined to be stormy； and Eliza watched thesinking sun with great anxiety； for the little rock in the ocean wasnot yet in sight。 It appeared to her as if the swans were making greatefforts with their wings。 Alas！ she was the cause of their notadvancing more quickly。 When the sun set； they would change to men；fall into the sea and be drowned。 Then she offered a prayer from herinmost heart； but still no appearance of the rock。 Dark clouds camenearer；