19-jesper-第1部分

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JESPER　WHO　HERDED　THE　HARES

There　was　once　a　king　who　ruled　over　a　kingdom　somewhere　between
sunrise　and　sunset。　　It　was　as　small　as　kingdoms　usually　were　in
old　times；　and　when　the　king　went　up　to　the　roof　of　his　palace
and　took　a　look　round　he　could　see　to　the　ends　of　it　in　every
direction。　　But　as　it　was　all　his　own；　he　was　very　proud　of　it；
and　often　wondered　how　it　would　get　along　without　him。　　He　had
only　one　child；　and　that　was　a　daughter；　so　he　foresaw　that　she
must　be　provided　with　a　husband　who　would　be　fit　to　be　king　after
him。　　Where　to　find　one　rich　enough　and　clever　enough　to　be　a
suitable　match　for　the　princess　was　what　troubled　him；　and　often
kept　him　awake　at　night。

At　last　he　devised　a　plan。　　He　made　a　proclamation　over　all　his
kingdom　（and　asked　his　nearest　neighbours　to　publish　it　in　theirs
as　well）　that　whoever　could　bring　him　a　dozen　of　the　finest
pearls　the　king　had　ever　seen；　and　could　perform　certain　tasks
that　would　be　set　him；　should　have　his　daughter　in　marriage　and
in　due　time　succeed　to　the　throne。　　The　pearls；　he　thought；　could
only　be　brought　by　a　very　wealthy　man；　and　the　tasks　would
require　unusual　talents　to　accomplish　them。

There　were　plenty　who　tried　to　fulfil　the　terms　which　the　king
proposed。　　Rich　merchants　and　foreign　princes　presented
themselves　one　after　the　other；　so　that　some　days　the　number　of
them　was　quite　annoying；　but；　though　they　could　all　produce
magnificent　pearls；　not　one　of　them　could　perform　even　the
simplest　of　the　tasks　set　them。　　Some　turned　up；　too；　who　were
mere　adventurers；　and　tried　to　deceive　the　old　king　with
imitation　pearls；　but　he　was　not　to　be　taken　in　so　easily；　and
they　were　soon　sent　about　their　business。　　At　the　end　of　several
weeks　the　stream　of　suitors　began　to　fall　off；　and　still　there
was　no　prospect　of　a　suitable　son…in…law。

Now　it　so　happened　that　in　a　little　corner　of　the　king's
dominions；　beside　the　sea；　there　lived　a　poor　fisher；　who　had
three　sons；　and　their　names　were　Peter；　Paul；　and　Jesper。　　Peter
and　Paul　were　grown　men；　while　Jesper　was　just　coming　to　manhood。

The　two　elder　brothers　were　much　bigger　and　stronger　than　the
youngest；　but　Jesper　was　far　the　cleverest　of　the　three；　though
neither　Peter　nor　Paul　would　admit　this。　　It　was　a　fact；　however；
as　we　shall　see　in　the　course　of　our　story。

One　day　the　fisherman　went　out　fishing；　and　among　his　catch　for
the　day　he　brought　home　three　dozen　oysters。　　When　these　were
opened；　every　shell　was　found　to　contain　a　large　and　beautiful
pearl。　　Hereupon　the　three　brothers；　at　one　and　the　same　moment；
fell　upon　the　idea　of　offering　themselves　as　suitors　for　the
princess。　　After　some　discussion；　it　was　agreed　that　the　pearls
should　be　divided　by　lot；　and　that　each　should　have　his　chance　in
the　order　of　his　age：　　of　course；　if　the　oldest　was　successful
the　other　two　would　be　saved　the　trouble　of　trying。

Next　morning　Peter　put　his　pearls　in　a　little　basket；　and　set　off
for　the　king's　palace。　　He　had　not　gone　far　on　his　way　when　he
came　upon　the　King　of　the　Ants　and　the　King　of　the　Beetles；　who；
with　their　armies　behind　them；　were　facing　each　other　and
preparing　for　battle。

'Come　and　help　me；'　said　the　King　of　the　Ants；　'the　beetles　are
too　big　for　us。　　I　may　help　you　some　day　in　return。'

'I　have　no　time　to　waste　on　other　people's　affairs；'　said　Peter；
'just　fight　away　as　best　you　can；'　and　with　that　he　walked　off
and　left　them。

A　little　further　on　the　way　he　met　an　old　woman。

'Good　morning；　young　man；'　said　she；　'you　are　early　astir。　　What
have　you　got　in　your　basket？'

'Cinders；'　said　Peter　promptly；　and　walked　on；　adding　to　himself；
'Take　that　for　being　so　inquisitive。'

'Very　well；　cinders　be　it；'　the　old　woman　called　after　him；　but
he　pretended　not　to　hear　her。

Very　soon　he　reached　the　palace；　and　was　at　once　brought　before
the　king。　　When　he　took　the　cover　off　the　basket；　the　king　and
all　his　courtiers　said　with　one　voice　that　these　were　the　finest
pearls　they　had　ever　seen；　and　they　could　not　take　their　eyes　off
them。　　But　then　a　strange　thing　happened：　　the　pearls　began　to
lose　their　whiteness　and　grew　quite　dim　in　colour；　then　they　grew
blacker　and　blacker　till　at　last　they　were　just　like　so　many
cinders。　　Peter　was　so　amazed　that　he　could　say　nothing　for
himself；　but　the　king　said　quite　enough　for　both；　and　Peter　was
glad　to　get　away　home　again　as　fast　as　his　legs　would　carry　him。　
To　his　father　and　brothers；　however；　he　gave　no　account　of　his
attempt；　except　that　it　had　been　a　failure。

Next　day　Paul　set　out　to　try　his　luck。　　He　soon　came　upon　the
King　of　the　Ants　and　the　King　of　the　Beetles；　who　with　their
armies　had　encamped　on　the　field　of　battle　all　night；　and　were
ready　to　begin　the　fight　again。

'Come　and　help　me；'　said　the　King　of　the　Ants；　'we　got　the　worst
of　it　yesterday。　　I　may　help　you　some　day　in　return。'

'I　don't　care　though　you　get　the　worst　of　it　to…day　too；'　said
Paul。　　'I　have　more　important　business　on　hand　than　mixing　myself
up　in　your　quarrels。'

So　he　walked　on；　and　presently　the　same　old　woman　met　him。　　'Good
morning；'　said　she；　'what　have　YOU　got　in　your　basket？'

'Cinders；'　said　Paul；　who　was　quite　as　insolent　as　his　brother；
and　quite　as　anxious　to　teach　other　people　good　manners。

'Very　well；　cinders　be　it；'　the　old　woman　shouted　after　him；　but
Paul　neither　looked　back　nor　answered　her。　　He　thought　more　of
what　she　said；　however；　after　his　pearls　also　turned　to　cinders
before　the　eyes　of　king　and　court：　　then　he　lost　no　time　in
getting　home　again；　and　was　very　sulky　when　asked　how　he　had
succeeded。

The　third　day　came；　and　with　it　came　Jesper's　turn　to　try　his
fortune。　　He　got　up　and　had　his　breakfast；　while　Peter　and　Paul
lay　in　bed　and　made　rude　remarks；　telling　him　that　he　would　come
back　quicker　than　he　went；　for　if　they　had　failed　it　could　not　be
supposed　that　he　would　succeed。　　Jesper　made　no　reply；　but　put
his　pearls　in　the　little　basket　and　walked　off。

The　King　of　the　Ants　and　the　King　of　the　Beetles　were　again
marshalling　their　hosts；　but　the　ants　were　greatly　reduced　in
numbers；　and　had　little　hope　of　holding　out　that　day。

'Come　and　help　us；'　said　their　king　to　Jesper；　'or　we　shall　be
completely　defeated。　　I　may　help　you　some　day　in　return。'

Now　Jesper　had　always　heard　the　ants　spoken　of　as　clever　and
industrious　little　creatures；　while　he　never　heard　anyone　say　a
good　word　for　the　beetles；　so　he　agreed　to　give　the　wished…for
help。　　At　the　first　charge　he　made；　the　ranks　of　the　beetles
broke　and　fled　in　dismay；　and　those　escaped　best　that　were
nearest　a　hole；　and　could　get　into　it　before　Jesper's　boots　came
down　upon　them。　　In　a　few　minutes　the　ants　had　the　field　all　to
themselves；　and　their　king　made　quite　an　eloquent　speech　to
Jesper；　thanking　him　for　the　service　he　had　done　them；　and
promising　to　assist　him　in　any　difficulty。

'Just　call　on　me　when　you　want　me；'　he　said；　'where…ever　you
are。　　I'm　never　far　away　from　anywhere；　and　if　I　can　possibly
help　you；　I　shall　not　fail　to　do　it。'

Jesper　was　inclined　to　laugh　at　this；　but　he　kept　a　grave　face；
said　he　would　remember　the　offer；　and　walked　on。　　At　a　turn　of
the　road　he　suddenly　came　upon　the　old　woman。　　'Good　morning；'
said　she；　'what　have　YOU　got　in　your　basket？'

'Pearls；'　said　Jesper；　'I'm　going　to　the　palace　to　win　the
princess　with　them。'　　And　in　case　she　might　not　believe　him；　he
lifted　the　cover　and　let　her　see　them。

'Beautiful；'　said　the　old　woman；　'very　beautiful　indeed；　but　they
will　go　a　very　little　way　towards　winning　the　princess；　unless
you　can　also　perform　the　tasks　that　are　set　you。　　However；'　she
said；　'I　see　you　have　brought　something　with　you　to　eat。　　Won't
you　give　that　to　me：　　you　are　sure　to　get　a　good　dinner　at　the
palace。'

'Yes；　of　course；'　said　Jesper；　'I　hadn't　thought　of　that'；　and　he
handed　over　the　whole　of　his　lunch　to　the　old　woman。

He　had　already　taken　a　few　steps　on　the　way　again；　when　the　old
woman　called　him　back。

'Here；'　she　said；　'take　this　whistle　in　return　for　your　lunch。　
It　isn't　much　to　look　at；　but　if　you　blow　it；　anything　that　you
have　lost　or　that　has　been　taken　from　you　will　find　its　way　back
to　you　in　a　moment。'

Jesper　thanked　her　for　the　whistle；　though　he　did　not　see　of　what
use　it　was　to　be　to　him　just　then；　and　held　on　his　way　to　the
palace。

When　Jesper　presented　his　pearls　to　the　king　there　were
exclamations　of　wonder　and　delight　from　everyone　who　saw　them。　
It　was　not　pleasant；　however；　to　discover　that　Jesper　was　a　mere
fisher…lad；　that　wasn't　the　kind　of　son…in…law　that　the　king　had
expected；　and　he　said　so　to　the　queen。

'Never　mind；'　said　she；　'you　can　easily　set　him　such　tasks　as　he
will　never　be　able　to　perform：　　we　shall　soon　get　rid　of　him。'

'Yes；　of　course；'　said　the　king；　'really　I　forget　things
nowadays；　with　all　the　bustle　we　have　had　of　late。'

That　day　Jesper　dined　with　the　king　and　queen　and　their　nobles；
and　at　night　was　put　into　a　bedroom　grander　than　anything　of　the
kind　he　had　ever　seen。　　It　was　all　so　new　to　him　that　he　could
not　sleep　a　wink；　especially　as　he　was　always　wondering　what　kind
of　tasks　would　be　set　him　to　do；　and　whether　he　would　be　able　to
perform　them。　　In　spite　of　the　softness　of　the　bed；　he　was　very
glad　when　morning　came　at　last。

After　breakfast　was　over；　the　king　said　to　Jesper；　'Just　come
with　me；　and　I'll　show　you　what　you　must　do　first。'　　He　led　him
out　to　the　barn；　and　there　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　was　a　large
pile　of　grain。　　'Here；'　said　the　king；　'you　have　a　mixed　heap　of
wheat；　barley；　oats；　and　rye；　a　sackful　of　each。　　By　an　hour
before　sunset　you　must　have　these　sorted　out　into　four　heaps；　and
if　a　single　grain　is　found　to　be　in　a　wrong　heap　you　have　no
further　chance　of　marrying　my　daughter。　　I　shall　lock　the　door；
so　that　no　one　can　get　in　to　assist　you；　and　I　shall　return　at
the　appointed　time　to　see　how　you　have　succeeded。'

The　king　walked　off；　and　Jesper　looked　in　despair　at　the　task
before　him。　　Then　he　sat　down　and　tried　what　he　could　do　at　it；
but　it　was　soon　very　clear　that　single…　handed　he　could　never
hope　to　accomplish　it　in　the　time。　　Assistance　was　out　of　the
q