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！
eared as if formed of lace and pearls； led to the island ofhappiness； in which bloomed the garden of paradise。 The East Wind tookthe prince in his arms； and carried him over； while the flowers andthe leaves sang the sweet songs of his childhood in tones so fulland soft that no human voice could venture to imitate。 Within thegarden grew large trees； full of sap； but whether they were palm…treesor gigantic water…plants； the prince knew not。 The climbing plantshung in garlands of green and gold； like the illuminations on themargins of old missals or twined among the initial letters。 Birds；flowers； and festoons appeared intermingled in seeming confusion。Close by； on the grass； stood a group of peacocks； with radianttails outspread to the sun。 The prince touched them； and found； to hissurprise； that they were not really birds； but the leaves of theburdock tree； which shone with the colors of a peacock's tail。 Thelion and the tiger； gentle and tame； were springing about like playfulcats among the green bushes； whose perfume was like the fragrantblossom of the olive。 The plumage of the wood…pigeon glistened likepearls as it struck the lion's mane with its wings； while theantelope； usually so shy； stood near； nodding its head as if it wishedto join in the frolic。 The fairy of paradise next made her appearance。Her raiment shone like the sun； and her serene countenance beamed withhappiness like that of a mother rejoicing over her child。 She wasyoung and beautiful； and a train of lovely maidens followed her；each wearing a bright star in her hair。 The East Wind gave her thepalm…leaf； on which was written the history of the phoenix； and hereyes sparkled with joy。 She then took the prince by the hand； andled him into her palace； the walls of which were richly colored；like a tulip…leaf when it is turned to the sun。 The roof had theappearance of an inverted flower； and the colors grew deeper andbrighter to the gazer。 The prince walked to a window； and saw whatappeared to be the tree of knowledge of good and evil； with Adam andEve standing by； and the serpent near them。 〃I thought they werebanished from paradise；〃 he said。
The princess smiled； and told him that time had engraved eachevent on a window…pane in the form of a picture； but； unlike otherpictures； all that it represented lived and moved；… the leavesrustled； and the persons went and came； as in a looking…glass。 Helooked through another pane； and saw the ladder in Jacob's dream； onwhich the angels were ascending and descending with outspread wings。All that had ever happened in the world here lived and moved on thepanes of glass； in pictures such as time alone could produce。 Thefairy now led the prince into a large； lofty room with transparentwalls； through which the light shone。 Here were portraits； each oneappearing more beautiful than the other… millions of happy beings；whose laughter and song mingled in one sweet melody： some of thesewere in such an elevated position that they appeared smaller thanthe smallest rosebud； or like pencil dots on paper。 In the centre ofthe hall stood a tree； with drooping branches； from which hunggolden apples； both great and small； looking like oranges amid thegreen leaves。 It was the tree of knowledge of good and evil； fromwhich Adam and Eve had plucked and eaten the forbidden fruit； and fromeach leaf trickled a bright red dewdrop； as if the tree were weepingtears of blood for their sin。 〃Let us now take the boat；〃 said thefairy： 〃a sail on the cool waters will refresh us。 But we shall notmove from the spot； although the boat may rock on the swellingwater； the countries of the world will glide before us； but we shallremain still。〃
It was indeed wonderful to behold。 First came the lofty Alps；snow…clad； and covered with clouds and dark pines。 The horn resounded；and the shepherds sang merrily in the valleys。 The banana…trees benttheir drooping branches over the boat； black swans floated on thewater； and singular animals and flowers appeared on the distant shore。New Holland； the fifth division of the world； now glided by； withmountains in the background； looking blue in the distance。 Theyheard the song of the priests； and saw the wild dance of the savage tothe sound of the drums and trumpets of bone； the pyramids of Egyptrising to the clouds； columns and sphinxes； overthrown and buried inthe sand； followed in their turn； while the northern lights flashedout over the extinguished volcanoes of the north； in fireworks nonecould imitate。
The prince was delighted； and yet he saw hundreds of otherwonderful things more than can be described。 〃Can I stay hereforever？〃 asked he。
〃That depends upon yourself；〃 replied the fairy。 〃If you do not；like Adam； long for what is forbidden； you can remain here always。〃
〃I should not touch the fruit on the tree of knowledge；〃 saidthe prince； there is abundance of fruit equally beautiful。〃
〃Examine your own heart；〃 said the princess； 〃and if you do notfeel sure of its strength； return with the East Wind who broughtyou。 He is about to fly back； and will not return here for a hundredyears。 The time will not seem to you more than a hundred hours； yeteven that is a long time for temptation and resistance。 Every evening；when I leave you； I shall be obliged to say； 'e with me；' and tobeckon to you with my hand。 But you must not listen； nor move fromyour place to follow me； for with every step you will find yourpower to resist weaker。 If once you attempted to follow me； youwould soon find yourself in the hall； where grows the tree ofknowledge； for I sleep beneath its perfumed branches。 If you stoopedover me； I should be forced to smile。 If you then kissed my lips；the garden of paradise would sink into the earth； and to you itwould be lost。 A keen wind from the desert would howl around you； coldrain fall on your head； and sorrow and woe be your future lot。〃
〃I will remain；〃 said the prince。
So the East Wind kissed him on the forehead； and said； 〃Be firm；then shall we meet again when a hundred years have passed。 Farewell；farewell。〃 Then the East Wind spread his broad pinions； which shonelike the lightning in harvest； or as the northern lights in a coldwinter。
〃Farewell； farewell；〃 echoed the trees and the flowers。
Storks and pelicans flew after him in feathery bands； to acpanyhim to the boundaries of the garden。
〃Now we will mence dancing；〃 said the fairy； and when it isnearly over at sunset； while I am dancing with you； I shall make asign； and ask you to follow me： but do not obey。 I shall be obliged torepeat the same thing for a hundred years； and each time； when thetrial is past； if you resist； you will gain strength； tillresistance bees easy； and at last the temptation will be quiteovere。 This evening； as it will be the first time； I have warnedyou。〃
After this the fairy led him into a large hall； filled withtransparent lilies。 The yellow stamina of each flower formed a tinygolden harp； from which came forth strains of music like the mingledtones of flute and lyre。 Beautiful maidens； slender and graceful inform； and robed in transparent gauze； floated through the dance； andsang of the happy life in the garden of paradise； where death neverentered； and where all would bloom forever in immortal youth。 As thesun went down； the whole heavens became crimson and gold； and tintedthe lilies with the hue of roses。 Then the beautiful maidens offeredto the prince sparkling wine； and when he had drank； he felt happinessgreater than he had ever known before。 Presently the background of thehall opened and the tree of knowledge appeared； surrounded by a haloof glory that almost blinded him。 Voices； soft and lovely as hismother's sounded in his ears； as if she were singing to him； 〃Mychild； my beloved child。〃 Then the fairy beckoned to him； and saidin sweet accents； 〃e with me； e with me。〃 Forgetting hispromise； forgetting it even on the very first evening； he rushedtowards her； while she continued to beckon to him and to smile。 Thefragrance around him overpowered his senses； the music from theharps sounded more entrancing； while around the tree appeared millionsof smiling faces； nodding and singing。 〃Man should know everything；man is the lord of the earth。〃 The tree of knowledge no longer wepttears of blood； for the dew