《快乐王子童话集》

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快乐王子童话集- 第8部分


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playground for ever and ever。〃  he was really very sorry for what

he had done。

so he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly; and

went out into the garden。  but when the children saw him they were

so frightened that they all ran away; and the garden became winter

again。  only the little boy did not run; for his eyes were so full

of tears that he did not see the giant ing。  and the giant stole

up behind him and took him gently in his hand; and put him up into

the tree。  and the tree broke at once into blossom; and the birds

came and sang on it; and the little boy stretched out his two arms

and flung them round the giants neck; and kissed him。  and the

other children; when they saw that the giant was not wicked any

longer; came running back; and with them came the spring。  〃it is

your garden now; little children;〃 said the giant; and he took a

great axe and knocked down the wall。  and when the people were

going to market at twelve oclock they found the giant playing with

the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen。

all day long they played; and in the evening they came to the giant

to bid him good…bye。

〃but where is your little panion?〃 he said:  〃the boy i put into

the tree。〃  the giant loved him the best because he had kissed him。

〃we dont know;〃 answered the children; 〃he has gone away。〃

〃you must tell him to be sure and e here to…morrow;〃 said the

giant。  but the children said that they did not know where he

lived; and had never seen him before; and the giant felt very sad。

every afternoon; when school was over; the children came and played

with the giant。  but the little boy whom the giant loved was never

seen again。  the giant was very kind to all the children; yet he

longed for his first little friend; and often spoke of him。  〃how i

would like to see him!〃 he used to say。

years went over; and the giant grew very old and feeble。  he could

not play about any more; so he sat in a huge armchair; and watched

the children at their games; and admired his garden。  〃i have many

beautiful flowers;〃 he said; 〃but the children are the most

beautiful flowers of all。〃

one winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing。

he did not hate the winter now; for he knew that it was merely the

spring asleep; and that the flowers were resting。

suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder; and looked and looked。  it

certainly was a marvellous sight。  in the farthest corner of the

garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms。  its

branches were all golden; and silver fruit hung down from them; and

underneath it stood the little boy he had loved。

downstairs ran the giant in great joy; and out into the garden。  he

hastened across the grass; and came near to the child。  and when he

came quite close his face grew red with anger; and he said; 〃who

hath dared to wound thee?〃  for on the palms of the childs hands

were the prints of two nails; and the prints of two nails were on

the little feet。

〃who hath dared to wound thee?〃 cried the giant; 〃tell me; that i

may take my big sword and slay him。〃

〃nay!〃 answered the child; 〃but these are the wounds of love。〃

〃who art thou?〃 said the giant; and a strange awe fell on him; and

he knelt before the little child。

and the child smiled on the giant; and said to him; 〃you let me

play once in your garden; to…day you shall e with me to my

garden; which is paradise。〃

and when the children ran in that afternoon; they found the giant

lying dead under the tree; all covered with white blossoms。

.。



忠实的朋友

。网
忠实的朋友

一天早晨,老河鼠从自己的洞中探出头来。他长着明亮的小眼睛和硬挺的灰色胡须,尾

巴长得像一条长长的黑色橡胶。小鸭子们在池塘里游着水,看上去就像是一大群金丝鸟。他

们的母亲浑身纯白如雪,再配上一对赤红的腿,正尽力教他们如何头朝下地在水中倒立。

“除非你们学会倒立,否则你们永远不会进入上流社会,”她老爱这么对他们说,并不

停地做给他们看。但是小鸭子们并未对她的话引起重视。他们太年轻了,一点也不知道在上

流社会的好处是什么。

“多么顽皮的孩子呀!”老河鼠高声喊道,“他们真该被淹死。”

“不是那么回事,”鸭妈妈回答说,“万事开头难嘛,做父母的要多一点耐心。”

“啊:我完全不了解做父母的情感,”河鼠说,“我不是个养家带口的人。事实上,我

从未结过婚,也决不打算结婚。爱情本身倒是挺好的,但友情比它的价值更高。说实在的,

我不知道在这世上还有什么比忠实的友谊更崇高和更珍贵的了。”

“那么,请问,你认为一个忠实的朋友的责任是什么呢?”一只绿色的红雀开口问道,

此时他正坐在旁边一视柳树上,偷听到他们的谈话。

“是啊,这正是我想知道的,”鸭妈妈说。接着她就游到了池塘的另一头,头朝下倒立

起来,为的是给孩子们做一个好榜样。

“这问题问得多笨!”河鼠吼道,“当然,我肯定我忠实的朋友对我是忠实的。”

“那么你又用什么报答呢?”小鸟说着,跳上了一根银色的枝头,并扑打着他的小翅膀。

“我不明白你的意思,”河鼠回答说。

“那就让我给你讲一个这方面的故事吧,”红雀说。

“是关于我的故事吗?”河鼠问道,“如果是这样的话,我很愿意听,因为我特别喜欢

听故事。”

“它也适合你,”红雀回答说。他飞了下来,站立在河岸边,讲述起那个《忠实的朋

友》的故事。

“很久很久以前,”红雀说,“有一个诚实的小伙子名叫汉斯。”

“他是非常出色的吗?”河鼠问道。

“不,”红雀答道,“我认为他一点也不出色,只是心肠好罢了,还长着一张滑稽而友

善的圆脸。他独自一人住在小村舍里,每天都在自己的花园里干活。整个乡下没有谁家的花

园像他的花园那样可爱。里面长着美国石竹,还有紫罗兰、有荠,以及法国的松雪草。有粉

红色的玫瑰、金黄色的玫瑰,还有番红花,紫罗兰有金色的、紫色的和白色的。随着季节的

更迭,耧斗菜和碎米荠,牛膝草和野兰香,莲香花和鸢尾草,水仙和丁香都争相开放。一种

花刚凋谢,另一种便怒放开来,花园中一直都有美丽的花朵供人观赏,始终都有怡人的芳香

可闻。

“小汉斯有许多朋友,但是最忠实的朋友只有磨坊主大休。的确,有钱的磨坊主对小汉

斯是非常忠实的,每次他从小汉斯的花园经过总要从围墙上俯过身去摘上一大束鲜花,或者

摘上一把香草。遇到硕果累累的季节,他就会往口袋里装满李子和樱桃。

“磨坊主时常对小汉斯说,‘真正的朋友应该共享一切。’小汉斯微笑着点点头,他为

自己有一位思想如此崇高的朋友而深感骄傲。

“的确,有时候邻居们也感到奇怪,有钱的磨坊主从来没有给过小汉斯任何东西作为回

报,尽管他在自己的磨坊里存放了一百袋面粉,还有六头奶牛和一大群绵羊。不过,小汉斯

从没有为这些事而动过脑筋,再说经常听磨坊主对他谈起那些不自私的真正友谊的美妙故

事,对小汉斯来说,没有比听到这些更让他快乐的了。

“就这样小汉斯一直在花园中干着活。在春、夏、秋三季中他都很快乐,可冬天一到,

他没有水果和鲜花拿到市场上去卖,就要过饥寒交迫的日子,还常常吃不上晚饭,只吃点干

梨和核桃就上床睡觉了。在冬天的日子里,他觉得特别的孤单,因为这时磨坊主从来不会去

看望他。

“磨坊主常常对自己的妻子说,‘只要雪没有停,就没有必要去看小汉斯,因为人在困

难的时候,就应该让他们独处,不要让外人去打搅他们。这至少是我对友谊的看法,我相信

自己是对的,所以我要等到春天到来,那时我会去看望他,他还会送我一大篮樱草,这会使

他非常愉快的。’

“‘你的确为别人想得很周到,’他的妻子答道。她此刻正安坐在舒适的沙发椅上,旁

边燃着一大炉柴火,‘的确很周到。你谈论起友谊可真有一套,我敢说就是牧师本人也说不

出这么美丽的话语,尽管他能住在三层楼的房子里,小手指头上还戴着金成指。’

“‘不过我们就不能请小汉斯来这里吗?’磨坊主的小儿子说,‘如果可怜的汉斯遇到

困难的话,我会把我的粥分一半给他,还会把我那些小白兔给他看。’

“‘你真是个傻孩子!’磨坊主大声渠道,‘我真不知道送你上学有什么用处。你好像

什么也没有学会。噢,假如小汉斯来这里的话,看见我们暖和的炉火,看见我们丰盛的晚

餐,以及大桶的红酒,他可能会妒忌的,而妒忌是一件非常可怕的事情,它会毁了一个人的

品性。我当然不愿意把小汉斯的品性给毁了,我是他最要好的朋友,我要一直照顾他,并留

心他不受任何诱惑的欺骗。再说,如果小汉斯来到我家,他也许会要我赊点面粉给他,这我

可办不到。面粉是一件事,友谊又是另一件事,两者不能混为一谈。对呀,这两个词拼写起

来差别很大,意思也大不一样。每个人都清楚这一点。’

“‘你讲得真好’!磨坊主的妻子说,给自己倒了一大杯温暖的淡啤酒,‘我真的感到

很困了,就像是坐在教堂里听讲道一样。’

“‘很多人都做得不错,’磨坊主回答说,‘可说得好的人却寥寥无几,可见在两件事

中讲话更难一些,也更加迷人一些。’他用严厉的目光望着桌子另一头的小儿子,小儿子感

到很不好意思,低下了头,涨红着脸,泪水也忍不住地掉进了茶杯中。不过,他年纪这么

小,你们还是要原谅他。”

“故事就这么完了吗?”河鼠问。

“当然没有,”红雀回答说,“这只是个开头。”

“那么你就太落后了,”河鼠说,“当今那些故事高手们都是从结尾讲起,然后到开

头,最后才讲到中间。这是新方法。这些话是我那天从一位评论家那儿听来的,当时他正同

一位年轻人在池塘边散步。对这个问题他作了好一番高谈阔论,我相信他是正确的,因他戴

着一副蓝色的眼镜,头也全秃了,而且只要年轻人一开口讲话,他就总回答说,‘呸!’不

过,还是请你把故事讲下去吧。我尤其喜欢那个磨坊主。我自己也有各种美丽的情感,所以

我与他是同病相怜。”

“呵,”红雀说,他时而用这一只脚跳,时而又用另一只脚跳。“冬天刚一过去,樱草

开始开放它们的浅黄色星花的时候,磨坊主便对他的妻子说,他准备下山去看望一下小汉斯。

“‘啊,你的心肠真好!’他的妻子大声喊道,‘你总是想着别人。别忘了带上装花朵

的大篮子。’

“于是磨坊主用一根坚实的铁链把风车的翼板固定在一起,随后将篮子挎在手膀上就下

山去了。

“‘早上好,小汉斯,’磨坊主说。

“‘早上好,’汉斯回答道,把身体靠在铁铲上,满脸堆着笑容。
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