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wood； where the thorns torehis shabby clothes and scratched his hands； face； and feet untilthey bled。 The king's son also received several good scratches； butthe sun was shining on his way； and it is he whom we will nowfollow； for he was a quick fellow。 〃I will and must find the bell；〃 hesaid； 〃if I have to go to the end of the world。〃
Ugly monkeys sat high in the branches and clenched their teeth。〃Shall we beat him？〃 they said。 〃Shall we thrash him？ He is a king'sson！〃
But he walked on undaunted； deeper and deeper into the wood； wherethe most wonderful flowers were growing； there were standing whitestar lilies with blood…red stamens； sky…blue tulips shining when thewind moved them； apple…trees covered with apples like large glitteringsoap bubbles： only think how resplendent these trees were in thesunshine！ All around were beautiful green meadows； where hart and hindplayed in the grass。 There grew magnificent oaks and beech…trees；and if the bark was split of any of them； long blades of grass grewout of the clefts； there were also large smooth lakes in the wood；on which the swans were swimming about and flapping their wings。 Theking's son often stood still and listened； sometimes he thought thatthe sound of the bell rose up to him out of one of these deep lakes；but soon he found that this was a mistake； and that the bell wasringing still farther in the wood。 Then the sun set； the clouds wereas red as fire； it became quiet in the wood； he sank down on hisknees； sang an evening hymn and said： 〃I shall never find what I amlooking for！ Now the sun is setting； and the night； the dark night； isapproaching。 Yet I may perhaps see the round sun once more before hedisappears beneath the horizon。 I will climb up these rocks； theyare as high as the highest trees！〃 And then； taking hold of thecreepers and roots； he climbed up on the wet stones； wherewater…snakes were wriggling and the toads； as it were； barked athim： he reached the top before the sun； seen from such a height； hadquite set。 〃Oh； what a splendour！〃 The sea； the great majestic sea；which was rolling its long waves against the shore； stretched outbefore him； and the sun was standing like a large bright altar andthere where sea and heaven met… all melted together in the mostglowing colours； the wood was singing； and his heart too。 The whole ofnature was one large holy church； in which the trees and hoveringclouds formed the pillars； the flowers and grass the woven velvetcarpet； and heaven itself was the great cupola； up there the flamecolour vanished as soon as the sun disappeared； but millions ofstars were lighted； diamond lamps were shining； and the king's sonstretched his arms out towards heaven； towards the sea； and towardsthe wood。 Then suddenly the poor boy with the short…sleeved jacket andthe wooden shoes appeared； he had arrived just as quickly on theroad he had chosen。 And they ran towards each other and took oneanother's hand； in the great cathedral of nature and poesy； andabove them sounded the invisible holy bell； happy spirits surroundedthem； singing hallelujahs and rejoicing。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE BELL…DEEP
by Hans Christian Andersen
〃DING…DONG！ ding…dong！〃 It sounds up from the 〃bell…deep〃 in theOdense…Au。 Every child in the old town of Odense； on the island ofFunen； knows the Au； which washes the gardens round about the town；and flows on under the wooden bridges from the dam to thewater…mill。 In the Au grow the yellow water…lilies and brownfeathery reeds； the dark velvety flag grows there； high and thick； oldand decayed willows； slanting and tottering； hang far out over thestream beside the monk's meadow and by the bleaching ground； butopposite there are gardens upon gardens； each different from the rest；some with pretty flowers and bowers like little dolls' pleasuregrounds； often displaying cabbage and other kitchen plants； and hereand there the gardens cannot be seen at all； for the great elder treesthat spread themselves out by the bank； and hang far out over thestreaming waters； which are deeper here and there than an oar canfathom。 Opposite the old nunnery is the deepest place； which is calledthe 〃bell…deep；〃 and there dwells the old water spirit； the 〃Au…mann。〃This spirit sleeps through the day while the sun shines down uponthe water； but in starry and moonlit nights he shows himself。 He isvery old。 Grandmother says that she has heard her own grandmother tellof him； he is said to lead a solitary life； and to have nobody withwhom he can converse save the great old church Bell。 Once the Bellhung in the church tower； but now there is no trace left of thetower or of the church； which was called St。 Alban's。
〃Ding…dong！ ding…dong！〃 sounded the Bell； when the tower stillstood there； and one evening； while the sun was setting； and theBell was swinging away bravely； it broke loose and came flying downthrough the air； the brilliant metal shining in the ruddy beam。
〃Ding…dong！ ding…dong！ Now I'll retire to rest！〃 sang the Bell；and flew down into the Odense…Au； where it is deepest； and that is whythe place is called the 〃bell…deep。〃
But the Bell got neither rest nor sleep。 Down in the Au…mann'shaunt it sounds and rings； so that the tones sometimes pierce upwardthrough the waters； and many people maintain that its strains forebodethe death of some one； but that is not true； for the Bell is onlytalking with the Au…mann； who is now no longer alone。
And what is the Bell telling？ It is old； very old； as we havealready observed； it was there long before grandmother's grandmotherwas born； and yet it is but a child in parison with the Au…mann；who is quite an old quiet personage； an oddity； with his hose ofeel…skin； and his scaly Jacket with the yellow lilies for buttons； anda wreath of reed in his hair and seaweed in his beard； but he looksvery pretty for all that。
What the Bell tells？ To repeat it all would require years anddays； for year by year it is telling the old stories； sometimesshort ones； sometimes long ones； according to its whim； it tells ofold times； of the dark hard times； thus：
〃In the church of St。 Alban； the monk had mounted up into thetower。 He was young and handsome； but thoughtful exceedingly。 Helooked through the loophole out upon the Odense…Au； when the bed ofthe water was yet broad； and the monks' meadow was still a lake。 Helooked out over it； and over the rampart； and over the nuns' hillopposite； where the convent lay； and the light gleamed forth fromthe nun's cell。 He had known the nun right well； and he thought ofher； and his heart beat quicker as he thought。 Ding…dong！ ding…dong！〃
Yes； this was the story the Bell told。
〃Into the tower came also the dapper man…servant of the bishop；and when I； the Bell； who am made of metal； rang hard and loud； andswung to and fro； I might have beaten out his brains。 He sat downclose under me； and played with two little sticks as if they hadbeen a stringed instrument； and he sang to it。 'Now I may sing itout aloud； though at other times I may not whisper it。 I may sing ofeverything that is kept concealed behind lock and bars。 Yonder it iscold and wet。 The rats are eating her up alive！ Nobody knows of it！Nobody hears of it！ Not even now； for the bell is ringing andsinging its loud Ding…dong； ding…dong！'
〃There was a King in those days。 They called him Canute。 Hebowed himself before bishop and monk； but when he offended the freepeasants with heavy taxes and hard words； they seized their weaponsand put him to flight like a wild beast。 He sought shelter in thechurch； and shut gate and door behind him。 The violent band surroundedthe church； I heard tell of it。 The crows； ravens and magpiesstarted up in terror at the yelling and shouting that soundedaround。 They flew into the tower and out again； they looked downupon the throng below； and they also looked into the windows of thechurch； and screamed out aloud what they saw there。 King Canuteknelt before the altar in prayer； his brothers Eric and Benedict stoodby him as a guard with drawn swords； but the King's servant； thetreacherous Blake； betrayed his master。 The throng in front of thechurch knew where they could hit the King； and one of them flung astone through a pane of glass； and the