[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loos-
ened, and the gate opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into
the wide world. She looked round her thrice, but no one followed
her. At last she could run no longer; she sat down on a large stone,
and when she looked about her, she saw that the summer had passed;
it was late in the autumn, but that one could not remark in the
beautiful garden, where there was always sunshine, and where there
were flowers the whole year round.
Dear me, how long I have staid! said Gerda. Autumn is come.
I must not rest any longer. And she got up to go further.
Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it
looked so cold and raw: the long willow-leaves were quite yellow,
and the fog dripped from them like water; one leaf fell after the
other: the sloes only stood full of fruit, which set one s teeth on
edge. Oh, how dark and comfortless it was in the dreary world!
Fourth Story. The Prince and Princess
Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to
her, a large Raven came hopping over the white snow. He had long
been looking at Gerda and shaking his head; and now he said, Caw!
Caw! Good day! Good day! He could not say it better; but he felt
a sympathy for the little girl, and asked her where she was going all
alone. The word alone Gerda understood quite well, and felt how
much was expressed by it; so she told the Raven her whole history,
and asked if he had not seen Kay.
70
Hans Christian Andersen
The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, It may be it may
be!
What, do you really think so? cried the little girl; and she nearly
squeezed the Raven to death, so much did she kiss him.
Gently, gently, said the Raven. I think I know; I think that it
may be little Kay. But now he has forgotten you for the Princess.
Does he live with a Princess? asked Gerda.
Yes listen, said the Raven; but it will be difficult for me to
speak your language. If you understand the Raven language I can
tell you better.
No, I have not learnt it, said Gerda; but my grandmother un-
derstands it, and she can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it.
No matter, said the Raven; I will tell you as well as I can; how-
ever, it will be bad enough. And then he told all he knew.
In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is
extraordinarily clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the
whole world, and has forgotten them again so clever is she. She
was lately, it is said, sitting on her throne which is not very amus-
ing after all when she began humming an old tune, and it was
just, Oh, why should I not be married? That song is not without
its meaning, said she, and so then she was determined to marry;
but she would have a husband who knew how to give an answer
when he was spoken to not one who looked only as if he were a
great personage, for that is so tiresome. She then had all the ladies of
the court drummed together; and when they heard her intention,
all were very pleased, and said, We are very glad to hear it; it is the
very thing we were thinking of. You may believe every word I say,
said the Raven; for I have a tame sweetheart that hops about in the
palace quite free, and it was she who told me all this.
The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and
the initials of the Princess; and therein you might read that every
good-looking young man was at liberty to come to the palace and
speak to the Princess; and he who spoke in such wise as showed he
felt himself at home there, that one the Princess would choose for
her husband.
Yes, Yes, said the Raven, you may believe it; it is as true as I am
sitting here. People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry,
71
Fairy Tales
but no one was successful either on the first or second day. They
could all talk well enough when they were out in the street; but as
soon as they came inside the palace gates, and saw the guard richly
dressed in silver, and the lackeys in gold on the staircase, and the
large illuminated saloons, then they were abashed; and when they
stood before the throne on which the Princess was sitting, all they
could do was to repeat the last word they had uttered, and to hear it
again did not interest her very much. It was just as if the people
within were under a charm, and had fallen into a trance till they
came out again into the street; for then oh, then they could chat-
ter enough. There was a whole row of them standing from the town-
gates to the palace. I was there myself to look, said the Raven.
They grew hungry and thirsty; but from the palace they got noth-
ing whatever, not even a glass of water. Some of the cleverest, it is
true, had taken bread and butter with them: but none shared it with
his neighbor, for each thought, Let him look hungry, and then the
Princess won t have him.
But Kay little Kay, said Gerda, when did he come? Was he
among the number?
Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]