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！
face；as if the earthly remains bore the impress of the truth that she nowstood in the presence of God。
In the forest the wonderful plant still continued to bloom till itgrew and became almost a tree； and all the birds of passage bowedthemselves before it。
〃That plant is a foreigner； no doubt；〃 said the thistles and theburdocks。 〃We can never conduct ourselves like that in thiscountry。〃 And the black forest snails actually spat at the flower。
Then came the swineherd； he was collecting thistles and shrubsto burn them for the ashes。 He pulled up the wonderful plant； rootsand all； and placed it in his bundle。 〃This will be as useful as any；〃he said； so the plant was carried away。
Not long after； the king of the country suffered from thedeepest melancholy。 He was diligent and industrious； but employmentdid him no good。 They read deep and learned books to him； and then thelightest and most trifling that could be found； but all to no purpose。Then they applied for advice to one of the wise men of the world；and he sent them a message to say that there was one remedy whichwould relieve and cure him； and that it was a plant of heavenly originwhich grew in the forest in the king's own dominions。 The messengerdescribed the flower so that is appearance could not be mistaken。
Then said the swineherd； 〃I am afraid I carried this plant awayfrom the forest in my bundle； and it has been burnt to ashes long ago。But I did not know any better。〃
〃You did not know； any better！ Ignorance upon ignorance indeed！〃
The poor swineherd took these words to heart； for they wereaddressed to him； he knew not that there were others who wereequally ignorant。 Not even a leaf of the plant could be found。 Therewas one； but it lay in the coffin of the dead； no one knew anythingabout it。
Then the king； in his melancholy； wandered out to the spot inthe wood。 〃Here is where the plant stood；〃 he said； 〃it is a sacredplace。〃 Then he ordered that the place should be surrounded with agolden railing； and a sentry stationed near it。
The botanical professor wrote a long treatise about the heavenlyplant； and for this he was loaded with gold； which improved theposition of himself and his family。
And this part is really the most pleasant part of the story。 Forthe plant had disappeared； and the king remained as melancholy and sadas ever； but the sentry said he had always been so。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A ROSE FROM HOMER'S GRAVE
by Hans Christian Andersen
ALL the songs of the east speak of the love of the nightingale forthe rose in the silent starlight night。 The winged songsterserenades the fragrant flowers。
Not far from Smyrna； where the merchant drives his loadedcamels； proudly arching their long necks as they journey beneath thelofty pines over holy ground； I saw a hedge of roses。 Theturtle…dove flew among the branches of the tall trees； and as thesunbeams fell upon her wings； they glistened as if they weremother…of…pearl。 On the rose…bush grew a flower； more beautiful thanthem all； and to her the nightingale sung of his woes； but the roseremained silent； not even a dewdrop lay like a tear of sympathy on herleaves。 At last she bowed her head over a heap of stones； and said；〃Here rests the greatest singer in the world； over his tomb will Ispread my fragrance； and on it I will let my leaves fall when thestorm scatters them。 He who sung of Troy became earth； and from thatearth I have sprung。 I； a rose from the grave of Homer； am too loftyto bloom for a nightingale。〃 Then the nightingale sung himself todeath。 A camel…driver came by； with his loaded camels and his blackslaves； his little son found the dead bird； and buried the lovelysongster in the grave of the great Homer； while the rose trembled inthe wind。
The evening came； and the rose wrapped her leaves more closelyround her； and dreamed： and this was her dream。
It was a fair sunshiny day； a crowd of strangers drew near who hadundertaken a pilgrimage to the grave of Homer。 Among the strangers wasa minstrel from the north； the home of the clouds and the brilliantlights of the aurora borealis。 He plucked the rose and placed it ina book； and carried it away into a distant part of the world； hisfatherland。 The rose faded with grief； and lay between the leaves ofthe book； which he opened in his own home； saying； 〃Here is a rosefrom the grave of Homer。〃
Then the flower awoke from her dream； and trembled in the wind。A drop of dew fell from the leaves upon the singer's grave。 The sunrose； and the flower bloomed more beautiful than ever。 The day washot； and she was still in her own warm Asia。 Then footstepsapproached； strangers； such as the rose had seen in her dream； cameby； and among them was a poet from the north； he plucked the rose；pressed a kiss upon her fresh mouth； and carried her away to thehome of the clouds and the northern lights。 Like a mummy； the flowernow rests in his 〃Iliad；〃 and； as in her dream； she hears him say；as he opens the book； 〃Here is a rose from the grave of Homer。〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
A STORY
by Hans Christian Andersen
IN the garden all the apple…trees were in blossom。 They hadhastened to bring forth flowers before they got green leaves； and inthe yard all the ducklings walked up and down； and the cat too： itbasked in the sun and licked the sunshine from its own paws。 Andwhen one looked at the fields； how beautifully the corn stood andhow green it shone； without parison！ and there was a twittering anda fluttering of all the little birds； as if the day were a greatfestival； and so it was； for it was Sunday。 All the bells wereringing； and all the people went to church； looking cheerful； anddressed in their best clothes。 There was a look of cheerfulness oneverything。 The day was so warm and beautiful that one might well havesaid： 〃God's kindness to us men is beyond all limits。〃 But insidethe church the pastor stood in the pulpit； and spoke very loudly andangrily。 He said that all men were wicked； and God would punish themfor their sins； and that the wicked； when they died； would be castinto hell； to burn for ever and ever。 He spoke very excitedly；saying that their evil propensities would not be destroyed； norwould the fire be extinguished； and they should never find rest。That was terrible to hear； and he said it in such a tone ofconviction； he described hell to them as a miserable hole where allthe refuse of the world gathers。 There was no air beside the hotburning sulphur flame； and there was no ground under their feet； they；the wicked ones； sank deeper and deeper； while eternal silencesurrounded them！ It was dreadful to hear all that； for the preacherspoke from his heart； and all the people in the church were terrified。Meanwhile； the birds sang merrily outside； and the sun was shiningso 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 wifesitting 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 mythoughts； and am unable to grasp the meaning of what you said to…dayin church… that there are so many wicked people； and that theyshould burn eternally。 Alas！ eternally… how long！ I am only a womanand a sinner before God； but I should not have the heart to let eventhe worst sinner burn for ever； and how could our Lord to do so； whois so infinitely good； and who knows how the wickedness es fromwithout and within？ No； I am unable to imagine that； although yousay so。〃
It was autumn； the trees dropped their leaves； the earnest andsevere 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 ourLord you shall certainly do so；〃 said the pastor。 He folded herhands and read a psalm over the dead woman。
She was buried； two large tears rolled over the cheeks of theearnest man； and in the parsonage it was empty and still； for itssun had set for ever。 She had gone home。
I