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！
t； and the most graceful of all the sisters。 She took awhite chip in her mouth； and vanished instantly； this was heracplishment。 But the old goblin said he should not like his wife tohave such an acplishment； and thought his boys would have thesame objection。 Another daughter could make a figure like herselffollow her； as if she had a shadow； which none of the goblin folk everhad。 The third was of quite a different sort； she had learnt in thebrew…house of the moor witch how to lard elfin puddings withglow…worms。
〃She will make a good housewife；〃 said the old goblin； and thensaluted her with his eyes instead of drinking her health； for he didnot drink much。
Now came the fourth daughter； with a large harp to play upon；and when she struck the first chord； every one lifted up the leftleg （for the goblins are left…legged）； and at the second chord theyfound they must all do just what she wanted。
〃That is a dangerous woman；〃 said the old goblin； and the two sonswalked out of the hill； they had had enough of it。 〃And what can thenext daughter do？〃 asked the old goblin。
〃I have learnt everything that is Norwegian；〃 said she； 〃and Iwill never marry； unless I can go to Norway。〃
Then her youngest sister whispered to the old goblin； 〃That isonly because she has heard； in a Norwegian song； that when the worldshall decay； the cliffs of Norway will remain standing like monuments；and she wants to get there； that she may be safe； for she is so afraidof sinking。〃
〃Ho！ ho！〃 said the old goblin； 〃is that what she means？ Well； whatcan the seventh and last do？〃
〃The sixth es before the seventh；〃 said the elf king； for hecould reckon； but the sixth would not e forward。
〃I can only tell people the truth；〃 said she。 〃No one cares forme； nor troubles himself about me； and I have enough to do to sew mygrave clothes。〃
So the seventh and last came； and what could she do？ Why； shecould tell stories； as many as you liked； on any subject。
〃Here are my five fingers；〃 said the old goblin； 〃now tell me astory for each of them。〃
So she took him by the wrist； and he laughed till he nearlychoked； and when she came to the fourth finger； there was a goldring on it； as if it knew there was to be a betrothal。 Then the oldgoblin said； 〃Hold fast what you have： this hand is yours； for Iwill have you for a wife myself。〃
Then the elfin girl said that the stories about the ring…fingerand little Peter Playman had not yet been told。
〃We will hear them in the winter；〃 said the old goblin； 〃andalso about the fir and the birch…trees； and the ghost stories； andof the tingling frost。 You shall tell your tales； for no one overthere can do it so well； and we will sit in the stone rooms； where thepine logs are burning； and drink mead out of the goldendrinking…horn of the old Norwegian kings。 The water…god has given metwo； and when we sit there； Nix es to pay us a visit； and will singyou all the songs of the mountain shepherdesses。 How merry we shallbe！ The salmon will be leaping in the waterfalls； and dashingagainst the stone walls； but he will not be able to e in。 It isindeed very pleasant to live in old Norway。 But where are the lads？〃
Where indeed were they？ Why； running about the fields； and blowingout the will…o'…the…wisps； who so good…naturedly came and broughttheir torches。
〃What tricks have you been playing？〃 said the old goblin。 〃Ihave taken a mother for you； and now you may take one of your aunts。〃
But the youngsters said they would rather make a speech anddrink to their good fellowship； they had no wish to marry。 Then theymade speeches and drank toasts； and tipped their glasses； to show thatthey were empty。 Then they took off their coats； and lay down on thetable to sleep； for they made themselves quite at home。 But the oldgoblin danced about the room with his young bride； and exchanged bootswith her； which is more fashionable than exchanging rings。
〃The cock is crowing；〃 said the old elfin maiden who acted ashousekeeper； now we must close the shutters； that the sun may notscorch us。〃
Then the hill closed up。 But the lizards continued to run up anddown the riven tree； and one said to the other； 〃Oh； how much I waspleased with the old goblin！〃
〃The boys pleased me better；〃 said the earth…worm。 But then thepoor miserable creature could not see。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE EMPEROR'S NEW SUIT
by Hans Christian Andersen
MANY； many years ago lived an emperor； who thought so much ofnew clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them； hisonly ambition was to be always well dressed。 He did not care for hissoldiers； and the theatre did not amuse him； the only thing； infact； he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit ofclothes。 He had a coat for every hour of the day； and as one would sayof a king 〃He is in his cabi；〃 so one could say of him； 〃Theemperor is in his dressing…room。〃
The great city where he resided was very gay； every day manystrangers from all parts of the globe arrived。 One day two swindlerscame to this city； they made people believe that they were weavers；and declared they could manufacture the finest cloth to be imagined。Their colours and patterns； they said； were not only exceptionallybeautiful； but the clothes made of their material possessed thewonderful quality of being invisible to any man who was unfit forhis office or unpardonably stupid。
〃That must be wonderful cloth；〃 thought the emperor。 〃If I were tobe dressed in a suit made of this cloth I should be able to find outwhich men in my empire were unfit for their places； and I coulddistinguish the clever from the stupid。 I must have this cloth wovenfor me without delay。〃 And he gave a large sum of money to theswindlers； in advance； that they should set to work without any lossof time。 They set up two looms； and pretended to be very hard at work；but they did nothing whatever on the looms。 They asked for thefinest silk and the most precious gold…cloth； all they got they didaway with； and worked at the empty looms till late at night。
〃I should very much like to know how they are getting on withthe cloth；〃 thought the emperor。 But he felt rather uneasy when heremembered that he who was not fit for his office could not see it。Personally； he was of opinion that he had nothing to fear； yet hethought it advisable to send somebody else first to see how mattersstood。 Everybody in the town knew what a remarkable quality thestuff possessed； and all were anxious to see how bad or stupid theirneighbours were。
〃I shall send my honest old minister to the weavers；〃 thoughtthe emperor。 〃He can judge best how the stuff looks； for he isintelligent； and nobody understands his office better than he。〃
The good old minister went into the room where the swindlers satbefore the empty looms。 〃Heaven preserve us！〃 he thought； and openedhis eyes wide； 〃I cannot see anything at all；〃 but he did not sayso。 Both swindlers requested him to e near； and asked him if he didnot admire the exquisite pattern and the beautiful colours； pointingto the empty looms。 The poor old minister tried his very best； buthe could see nothing； for there was nothing to be seen。 〃Oh dear；〃he thought； 〃can I be so stupid？ I should never have thought so； andnobody must know it！ Is it possible that I am not fit for my office？No； no； I cannot say that I was unable to see the cloth。〃
〃Now； have you got nothing to say？〃 said one of the swindlers；while he pretended to be busily weaving。
〃Oh； it is very pretty； exceedingly beautiful；〃 replied the oldminister looking through his glasses。 〃What a beautiful pattern；what brilliant colours！ I shall tell the emperor that I like the clothvery much。〃
〃We are pleased to hear that；〃 said the two weavers； and describedto him the colours and explained the curious pattern。 The old ministerlistened attentively； that he might relate to the emperor what theysaid； and so he did。
Now the swindlers asked for more money； silk and gold…cloth； whichthey required for weaving。 They kept everything for themselves； andnot a thread came near the loom； but they continued； as hitherto； towork at the empty looms。
Soon afterwards the emperor sent another honest courtier to theweavers to see how