the elf of the rose-第2章

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she　dreamt；　her　life　passed　away　calmly　and　gently；　and　her　spirit　was

with　him　whom　she　loved；　in　heaven。　And　the　jasmine　opened　its　large

white　bells；　and　spread　forth　its　sweet　fragrance；　it　had　no　other　way

of　showing　its　grief　for　the　dead。　But　the　wicked　brother　considered

the　beautiful　blooming　plant　as　his　own　property；　left　to　him　by　his

sister；　and　he　placed　it　in　his　sleeping　room；　close　by　his　bed；　for

it　was　very　lovely　in　appearance；　and　the　fragrance　sweet　and

delightful。　The　little　elf　of　the　rose　followed　it；　and　flew　from

flower　to　flower；　telling　each　little　spirit　that　dwelt　in　them　the

story　of　the　murdered　young　man；　whose　head　now　formed　part　of　the

earth　beneath　them；　and　of　the　wicked　brother　and　the　poor　sister。　〃We

know　it；〃　said　each　little　spirit　in　the　flowers；　〃we　know　it；　for

have　we　not　sprung　from　the　eyes　and　lips　of　the　murdered　one。　We　know

it；　we　know　it；〃　and　the　flowers　nodded　with　their　heads　in　a　peculiar

manner。　The　elf　of　the　rose　could　not　understand　how　they　could　rest

so　quietly　in　the　matter；　so　he　flew　to　the　bees；　who　were　gathering

honey；　and　told　them　of　the　wicked　brother。　And　the　bees　told　it　to

their　queen；　who　commanded　that　the　next　morning　they　should　go　and

kill　the　murderer。　But　during　the　night；　the　first　after　the

sister's　death；　while　the　brother　was　sleeping　in　his　bed；　close　to

where　he　had　placed　the　fragrant　jasmine；　every　flower　cup　opened；　and

invisibly　the　little　spirits　stole　out；　armed　with　poisonous　spears。

They　placed　themselves　by　the　ear　of　the　sleeper；　told　him　dreadful

dreams　and　then　flew　across　his　lips；　and　pricked　his　tongue　with

their　poisoned　spears。　〃Now　have　we　revenged　the　dead；〃　said　they；　and

flew　back　into　the　white　bells　of　the　jasmine　flowers。　When　the

morning　came；　and　as　soon　as　the　window　was　opened；　the　rose　elf；　with

the　queen　bee；　and　the　whole　swarm　of　bees；　rushed　in　to　kill　him。　But

he　was　already　dead。　People　were　standing　round　the　bed；　and　saying

that　the　scent　of　the　jasmine　had　killed　him。　Then　the　elf　of　the　rose

understood　the　revenge　of　the　flowers；　and　explained　it　to　the　queen

bee；　and　she；　with　the　whole　swarm；　buzzed　about　the　flower…pot。　The

bees　could　not　be　driven　away。　Then　a　man　took　it　up　to　remove　it；　and

one　of　the　bees　stung　him　in　the　hand；　so　that　he　let　the　flower…pot

fall；　and　it　was　broken　to　pieces。　Then　every　one　saw　the　whitened

skull；　and　they　knew　the　dead　man　in　the　bed　was　a　murderer。　And　the

queen　bee　hummed　in　the　air；　and　sang　of　the　revenge　of　the　flowers；

and　of　the　elf　of　the　rose　and　said　that　behind　the　smallest　leaf

dwells　One；　who　can　discover　evil　deeds；　and　punish　them　also。





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