the red shoes-第1部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　RED　SHOES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　ONCE　upon　a　time　there　was　little　girl；　pretty　and　dainty。　But

in　summer　time　she　was　obliged　to　go　barefooted　because　she　was

poor；　and　in　winter　she　had　to　wear　large　wooden　shoes；　so　that　her

little　instep　grew　quite　red。

　　　　In　the　middle　of　the　village　lived　an　old　shoemaker's　wife；　she

sat　down　and　made；　as　well　as　she　could；　a　pair　of　little　shoes　out　of

some　old　pieces　of　red　cloth。　They　were　clumsy；　but　she　meant　well；

for　they　were　intended　for　the　little　girl；　whose　name　was　Karen。

　　　　Karen　received　the　shoes　and　wore　them　for　the　first　time　on　the

day　of　her　mother's　funeral。　They　were　certainly　not　suitable　for

mourning；　but　she　had　no　others；　and　so　she　put　her　bare　feet　into

them　and　walked　behind　the　humble　coffin。

　　　　Just　then　a　large　old　carriage　came　by；　and　in　it　sat　an　old　lady；

she　looked　at　the　little　girl；　and　taking　pity　on　her；　said　to　the

clergyman；　〃Look　here；　if　you　will　give　me　the　little　girl；　I　will

take　care　of　her。〃

　　　　Karen　believed　that　this　was　all　on　account　of　the　red　shoes；

but　the　old　lady　thought　them　hideous；　and　so　they　were　burnt。　Karen

herself　was　dressed　very　neatly　and　cleanly；　she　was　taught　to　read

and　to　sew；　and　people　said　that　she　was　pretty。　But　the　mirror　told

her；　〃You　are　more　than　pretty…　you　are　beautiful。〃

　　　　One　day　the　Queen　was　travelling　through　that　part　of　the　country；

and　had　her　little　daughter；　who　was　a　princess；　with　her。　All　the

people；　amongst　them　Karen　too；　streamed　towards　the　castle；　where　the

little　princess；　in　fine　white　clothes；　stood　before　the　window　and

allowed　herself　to　be　stared　at。　She　wore　neither　a　train　nor　a　golden

crown；　but　beautiful　red　morocco　shoes；　they　were　indeed　much　finer

than　those　which　the　shoemaker's　wife　had　sewn　for　little　Karen。　There

is　really　nothing　in　the　world　that　can　be　compared　to　red　shoes！

　　　　Karen　was　now　old　enough　to　be　confirmed；　she　received　some　new

clothes；　and　she　was　also　to　have　some　new　shoes。　The　rich　shoemaker

in　the　town　took　the　measure　of　her　little　foot　in　his　own　room；　in

which　there　stood　great　glass　cases　full　of　pretty　shoes　and　white

slippers。　It　all　looked　very　lovely；　but　the　old　lady　could　not　see

very　well；　and　therefore　did　not　get　much　pleasure　out　of　it。

Amongst　the　shoes　stood　a　pair　of　red　ones；　like　those　which　the

princess　had　worn。　How　beautiful　they　were！　and　the　shoemaker　said

that　they　had　been　made　for　a　count's　daughter；　but　that　they　had

not　fitted　her。

　　　　〃I　suppose　they　are　of　shiny　leather？〃　asked　the　old　lady。　〃They

shine　so。〃

　　　　〃Yes；　they　do　shine；〃　said　Karen。　They　fitted　her；　and　were

bought。　But　the　old　lady　knew　nothing　of　their　being　red；　for　she

would　never　have　allowed　Karen　to　be　confirmed　in　red　shoes；　as　she

was　now　to　be。

　　　　Everybody　looked　at　her　feet；　and　the　whole　of　the　way　from　the

church　door　to　the　choir　it　seemed　to　her　as　if　even　the　ancient

figures　on　the　monuments；　in　their　stiff　collars　and　long　black　robes；

had　their　eyes　fixed　on　her　red　shoes。　It　was　only　of　these　that　she

thought　when　the　clergyman　laid　his　hand　upon　her　head　and　spoke　of

the　holy　baptism；　of　the　covenant　with　God；　and　told　her　that　she

was　now　to　be　a　grown…up　Christian。　The　organ　pealed　forth　solemnly；

and　the　sweet　children's　voices　mingled　with　that　of　their　old　leader；

but　Karen　thought　only　of　her　red　shoes。　In　the　afternoon　the　old　lady

heard　from　everybody　that　Karen　had　worn　red　shoes。　She　said　that　it

was　a　shocking　thing　to　do；　that　it　was　very　improper；　and　that

Karen　was　always　to　go　to　church　in　future　in　black　shoes；　even　if

they　were　old。

　　　　On　the　following　Sunday　there　was　Communion。　Karen　looked　first　at

the　black　shoes；　then　at　the　red　ones…　looked　at　the　red　ones　again；

and　put　them　on。

　　　　The　sun　was　shining　gloriously；　so　Karen　and　the　old　lady　went

along　the　footpath　through　the　corn；　where　it　was　rather　dusty。

　　　　At　the　church　door　stood　an　old　crippled　soldier　leaning　on　a

crutch；　he　had　a　wonderfully　long　beard；　more　red　than　white；　and　he

bowed　down　to　the　ground　and　asked　the　old　lady　whether　he　might

wipe　her　shoes。　Then　Karen　put　out　her　little　foot　too。　〃Dear　me；　what

pretty　dancing…shoes！〃　said　the　soldier。　〃Sit　fast；　when　you　dance；〃

said　he；　addressing　the　shoes；　and　slapping　the　soles　with　his　hand。

　　　　The　old　lady　gave　the　soldier　some　money　and　then　went　with

Karen　into　the　church。

　　　　And　all　the　people　inside　looked　at　Karen's　red　shoes；　and　all　the

figures　gazed　at　them；　when　Karen　knelt　before　the　altar　and　put　the

golden　goblet　to　her　mouth；　she　thought　only　of　the　red　shoes。　It

seemed　to　her　as　though　they　were　swimming　about　in　the　goblet；　and

she　forgot　to　sing　the　psalm；　forgot　to　say　the　〃Lord's　Prayer。〃

　　　　Now　every　one　came　out　of　church；　and　the　old　lady　stepped　into

her　carriage。　But　just　as　Karen　was　lifting　up　her　foot　to　get　in　too；

the　old　soldier　said：　〃Dear　me；　what　pretty　dancing　shoes！〃　and

Karen　could　not　help　it；　she　was　obliged　to　dance　a　few　steps；　and

when　she　had　once　begun；　her　legs　continued　to　dance。　It　seemed　as

if　the　shoes　had　got　power　over　them。　She　danced　round　the　church

corner；　for　she　could　not　stop；　the　coachman　had　to　run　after　her

and　seize　her。　He　lifted　her　into　the　carriage；　but　her　feet　continued

to　dance；　so　that　she　kicked　the　good　old　lady　violently。　At　last　they

took　off　her　shoes；　and　her　legs　were　at　rest。

　　　　At　home　the　shoes　were　put　into　the　cupboard；　but　Karen　could

not　help　looking　at　them。

　　　　Now　the　old　lady　fell　ill；　and　it　was　said　that　she　would　not　rise

from　her　bed　again。　She　had　to　be　nursed　and　waited　upon；　and　this　was

no　one's　duty　more　than　Karen's。　But　there　was　a　grand　ball　in　the

town；　and　Karen　was　invited。　She　looked　at　the　red　shoes；　saying　to

herself　that　there　was　no　sin　in　doing　that；　she　put　the　red　shoes　on；

thinking　there　was　no　harm　in　that　either；　and　then　she　went　to　the

ball；　and　commenced　to　dance。

　　　　But　when　she　wanted　to　go　to　the　right；　the　shoes　danced　to　the

left；　and　when　she　wanted　to　dance　up　the　room；　the　shoes　danced

down　the　room；　down　the　stairs　through　the　street；　and　out　through　the

gates　of　the　town。　She　danced；　and　was　obliged　to　dance；　far　out

into　the　dark　wood。　Suddenly　something　shone　up　among　the　trees；　and

she　believed　it　was　the　moon；　for　it　was　a　face。　But　it　was　the　old

soldier　with　the　red　beard；　he　sat　there　nodding　his　head　and　said：

〃Dear　me；　what　pretty　dancing　shoes！〃

　　　　She　was　frightened；　and　wanted　to　throw　the　red　shoes　away；　but

they　stuck　fast。　She　tore　off　her　stockings；　but　the　shoes　had　grown

fast　to　her　feet。　She　danced　and　was　obliged　to　go　on　dancing　over

field　and　meadow；　in　rain　and　sunshine；　by　night　and　by　day…　but　by

night　it　was　most　horrible。

　　　　She　danced　out　into　the　open　churchyard；　but　the　dead　there　did

not　dance。　They　had　something　better　to　do　than　that。　She　wanted　to

sit　down　on　the　pauper's　grave　where　the　bitter　fern　grows；　but　for

her　there　was　neither　peace　nor　rest。　And　as　she　danced　past　the

open　church　door　she　saw　an　angel　there　in　long　white　robes；　with

wings　reaching　from　his　shoulders　down　to　the　earth；　his　face　was

stern　and　grave；　and　in　his　hand　he　held　a　broad　shining　sword。

　　　　〃Dance　you　shall；〃　said　he；　〃dance　in　your　red　shoes　till　you

are　pale　and　cold；　till　your　skin　shrivels　up　and　you　are　a

skeleton！　Dance　you　shall；　from　door　to　door；　and　where　proud　and

wicked　children　live　you　shall　knock；　so　that　they　may　hear　you　and

fear　you！　Dance　you　shall；　dance…　！〃

　　　　〃Mercy！〃　cried　Karen。　But　she　did　not　hear　what　the　angel

answered；　for　the　shoes　carried　her　through　the　gate　into　the

fields；　along　highways　and　byways；　and　unceasingly　she　had　to　dance。

　　　　One　morning　she　danced　past　a　door　that　she　knew　well；　they　were

singing　a　psalm　inside；　and　a　coffin　was　being　carried　out　covered

with　flowers。　Then　she　knew　that　she　was　forsaken　by　every　one　and

damned　by　the　angel　of　God。

　　　　She　danced；　and　was　obliged　to　go　on　dancing　through　the　dark

night。　The　shoes　bore　her　away　over　thorns　and　stumps　till　she　was　all

torn　and　bleeding；　she　danced　away　over　the　heath　to　a　lonely　little

house。　Here；　she　knew；　lived　the　executioner；　and　she　tapped　with

her　finger　at　the　window　and　said：

　　　　〃Come　out；　come　out！　I　cannot　come　in；　for　I　must　dance。〃

　　　　And　the　executioner　said：　〃I　don't　suppose　you　know　who　I　am。　I

strike　off　the　heads　of　the　wicked；　and　I　notice　that　my　axe　is

tingling　to　do　so。〃

　　　　〃Don't　cut　off　my　head！〃　said　Karen；　〃for　then　I　could　not

repent　of　my　sin。　But　cut　off　my　feet　with　the　red　shoes。〃

　　　　And　then　she　confessed　all　her　sin；　and　the　executioner　struck　off

her　feet　with　the　red　shoes；　but　the　shoes　danced　away　with　the　little

feet　across　the　field　into　the　deep　forest。

　　　　And　he　carved　her　a　pair　of　wooden　feet　and　some　crutches；　and

taught　her　a　psalm　which　is　always　sung　by　sinners；　she　kissed　the

hand　that　guided　the　axe；　and　went　away　over　the　heath。

　　　　〃Now；　I　have　suffered　enough　for　the　red　shoes；〃　she　said；　〃I　will

go　to　church；　so　that　people　can　see　me。〃　And　she　went　quickly　up　to

the　church…door；　but　when　she　came　there；　the　red　shoes　were　dancing

before　her；　and　she　was　frightened；　and　turned　back。

　　　　During　the　whole　week　she　was　sad　and　wept　many　bitter　tears；

but　when　Sunday　came　again　she　said：　〃Now　I　have　suffered　and

striven　enough。　I　believe　I　am　quite　as　good　as　many　of　those　who

sit　in　church　and　give　themselves　airs。〃　And　so　she　went　boldly　on；

but　she　had　not　got　farther　than　the　churchyard　gate　when　she　saw

the　red　shoes　dancing　along　before　her。　Then　she　became　terrified；　and

turned　back　and　repented　right　heartily　of　her　sin。

　　　　She　went　to　the　parsonage；　and　begged　that　she　might　be　taken　into

service　there。　She　would　be　industrious；　she　said；　and　do　everything

that　she　could；　she　did　not　mind　about　the　wages　as　long　as　she　had

a　roof　o