友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the wild swans-第4部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


his breast that very evening。 〃The people must condemn her;〃 said

he; and she was very quickly condemned by every one to suffer death by

fire。 Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark; dreary

cell; where the wind whistled through the iron bars。 Instead of the

velvet and silk dresses; they gave her the coats of mail which she had

woven to cover her; and the bundle of nettles for a pillow; but

nothing they could give her would have pleased her more。 She continued

her task with joy; and prayed for help; while the street…boys sang

jeering songs about her; and not a soul comforted her with a kind

word。 Towards evening; she heard at the grating the flutter of a

swan's wing; it was her youngest brother… he had found his sister; and

she sobbed for joy; although she knew that very likely this would be

the last night she would have to live。 But still she could hope; for

her task was almost finished; and her brothers were come。 Then the

archbishop arrived; to be with her during her last hours; as he had

promised the king。 But she shook her head; and begged him; by looks

and gestures; not to stay; for in this night she knew she must

finish her task; otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights

would have been suffered in vain。 The archbishop withdrew; uttering

bitter words against her; but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent;

and diligently continued her work。

    The little mice ran about the floor; they dragged the nettles to

her feet; to help as well as they could; and the thrush sat outside

the grating of the window; and sang to her the whole night long; as

sweetly as possible; to keep up her spirits。

    It was still twilight; and at least an hour before sunrise; when

the eleven brothers stood at the castle gate; and demanded to be

brought before the king。 They were told it could not be; it was yet

almost night; and as the king slept they dared not disturb him。 They

threatened; they entreated。 Then the guard appeared; and even the king

himself; inquiring what all the noise meant。 At this moment the sun

rose。 The eleven brothers were seen no more; but eleven wild swans

flew away over the castle。

    And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of

the city; to see the witch burnt。 An old horse drew the cart on

which she sat。 They had dressed her in a garment of coarse

sackcloth。 Her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders; her cheeks

were deadly pale; her lips moved silently; while her fingers still

worked at the green flax。 Even on the way to death; she would not give

up her task。 The ten coats of mail lay at her feet; she was working

hard at the eleventh; while the mob jeered her and said; 〃See the

witch; how she mutters! She has no hymn…book in her hand。 She sits

there with her ugly sorcery。 Let us tear it in a thousand pieces。〃

    And then they pressed towards her; and would have destroyed the

coats of mail; but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her;

and alighted on the cart。 Then they flapped their large wings; and the

crowd drew on one side in alarm。

    〃It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent;〃 whispered many of

them; but they ventured not to say it aloud。

    As the executioner seized her by the hand; to lift her out of

the cart; she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans;

and they immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the

youngest had a swan's wing; instead of an arm; for she had not been

able to finish the last sleeve of the coat。

    〃Now I may speak;〃 she exclaimed。 〃I am innocent。〃

    Then the people; who saw what happened; bowed to her; as before

a saint; but she sank lifeless in her brothers' arms; overcome with

suspense; anguish; and pain。

    〃Yes; she is innocent;〃 said the eldest brother; and then he

related all that had taken place; and while he spoke there rose in the

air a fragrance as from millions of roses。 Every piece of faggot in

the pile had taken root; and threw out branches; and appeared a

thick hedge; large and high; covered with roses; while above all

bloomed a white and shining flower; that glittered like a star。 This

flower the king plucked; and placed in Eliza's bosom; when she awoke

from her swoon; with peace and happiness in her heart。 And all the

church bells rang of themselves; and the birds came in great troops。

And a marriage procession returned to the castle; such as no king

had ever before seen。





                            THE END



返回目录 上一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!