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小说: 31-minnikin 字数: 每页4000字

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MINNIKIN



THERE was once upon a time a couple of needy folk who lived

in a wretched hut; in which there was nothing but black want;

so they had neither food to eat nor wood to burn。 But if they had

next to nothing of all else they had the blessing of God so far as

children were concerned; and every year brought them one more。

The man was not overpleased at this。 He was always going about

grumbling and growling; and saying that it seemed to him that

there might be such a thing as having too many of these good

gifts; so shortly before another baby was born he went away into

the wood for some firewood; saying that he did not want to see the

new child; he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to

squall for some food。



As soon as this baby was born it began to look about the room。

‘Ah; my dear mother!' said he; ‘give me some of my brothers' old

clothes; and food enough for a few days; and I will go out into the

world and seek my fortune; for; so far as I can see; you have children

enough。'



‘Heaven help thee; my son!' said the mother; ‘that will never

do; thou art still far too little。'



But the little creature was determined to do it; and begged and

prayed so long that the mother was forced to let him have some

old rags; and tie up a little food for him; and then gaily and happily

he went out into the world。



But almost before he was out of the house another boy was

born; and he too looked about him; and said; ‘Ah; my dear mother!

give me some of my brothers' old clothes; and food for some days;

and then I will go out into the world and find my twin brother; for

you have children enough。'



‘Heaven help thee; little creature! thou art far too little for that;'

said the woman; ‘it would never do。'



But she spoke to no purpose; for the boy begged and prayed

until he had got some old rags and a bundle of provisions; and then

he set out manfully into the world to find his twin brother。



When the younger had walked for some time he caught sight

of his brother a short distance in front of him; and called to him

and bade him to stop。



‘Wait a minute;' he said; ‘you are walking as if for a wager;

but you ought to have stayed to see your younger brother before

you hurried off into the world。'



So the elder stood still and looked back; and when the younger

had got up to him; and had told him that he was his brother; he said:

‘But now; let us sit down and see what kind of food our mother has

given us;' and that they did。



When they had walked on a little farther they came to a brook

which ran through a green meadow; and there the younger said that

they ought to christen each other。 ‘As we had to make such haste;

and had no time to do it at home; we may as well do it here;' said he。



‘What will you be called?' asked the elder。



‘I will be called Minnikin;' answered the second; ‘and you;

what will you be called?'



‘I will be called King Pippin;' answered the elder。



They christened each other and then went onwards。 When they

had walked for some time they came to a crossway; and there they

agreed to part; and each take his own road。 This they did; but no

sooner had they walked a short distance than they met again。 So

they parted once more; and each took his own road; but in a very

short time the same thing happened againthey met each other

before they were at all aware; and so it happened the third time also。

Then they arranged with each other that each should choose his

own quarter; and one should go east and the other west。



‘But if ever you fall into any need or trouble;' said the elder;

‘call me thrice; and I will come and help you; only you must not

call me until you are in the utmost need。'



‘In that case we shall not see each other for some time;' said

Minnikin; so they bade farewell to each other; and Minnikin went

east and King Pippin went west。



When Minnikin had walked a long way alone; he met an old;

old crook…backed hag; who had only one eye。 Minnikin stole it。



‘Oh! oh!' cried the old hag; ‘what has become of my eye?'



‘What will you give me to get your eye back?' said Minnikin。



‘I will give thee a sword which is such a sword that it can

conquer a whole army; let it be ever so great;' replied the woman。



‘Let me have it; then;' said Minnikin。



The old hag gave him the sword; so she got her eye back。

Then Minnikin went onwards; and when he had wandered on for

some time he again met an old; old crook…backed hag; who had only

one eye。 Minnikin stole it before she was aware。



‘Oh! oh! what has become of my eye?' cried the old hag。



‘What will you give me to get your eye back?' said Minnikin。



‘I will give thee a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt

water; over high hills and deep dales;' answered the old woman。



‘Let me have it then;' said Minnikin。



So the old woman gave him a little bit of a ship which was no

bigger than he could put in his pocket; and then she got her eye

back; and she went her way and Minnikin his。 When he had

walked on for a long time; he met for the third time an old; old

crook…backed hag; who had only one eye。 This eye also Minnikin

stole; and when the woman screamed and lamented; and asked

what had become of her eye; Minnikin said; ‘What will you give

me to get your eye back?'



‘I will give thee the art to brew a hundred lasts of malt in one

brewing。'



So; for teaching that art; the old hag got her eye back; and they

both went away by different roads。



But when Minnikin had walked a short distance; it seemed to

him that it might be worth while to see what his ship could do; so

he took it out of his pocket; and first he put one foot into it; and

then the other; and no sooner had he put one foot into the ship than

it became much larger; and when he set the other foot into it; it grew

as large as ships that sail on the sea。



Then Minnikin said: ‘Now go over fresh water and salt water;

over high hills and deep dales; and do not stop until thou comest

to the King's palace。'



And in an instant the ship went away as swiftly as any bird in

the air till it got just below the King's palace; and there it stood

still。



From the windows of the King's palace many persons had seen

Minnikin come sailing thither; and had stood to watch him; and

they were all so astounded that they ran down to see what manner

of man this could be who came sailing in a ship through the air。

But while they were running down from the King's palace; Minnikin

had got out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again; for the

moment he got out of it; it once more became as small as it had

been when he got it from the old woman; and those who came from

the King's palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was

standing down by the sea…shore。 The King asked where he had

come from; but the boy said he did not know; nor yet could he tell

them how he had got there; but he begged very earnestly and

prettily for a place in the King's palace。 If there was nothing else

for him to do; he said he would fetch wood and water for the

kitchen…maid; and that he obtained leave to do。



When Minnikin went up to the King's palace he saw that

everything there was hung with black both outside and inside; from

the bottom to the top; so he asked the kitchen…maid what that

meant。



‘Oh; I will tell you that;' answered the kitchen…maid。 ‘The

King's daughter was long ago promised away to three Trolls; and

next Thursday evening one of them is to come to fetch her。 Ritter

Red has said that he will be able to set her free; but who knows

whether he will be able to do it? so you may easily imagine what

grief and distress we are in here。'



So when Thursday evening came; Ritter Red accompanied the

Princess to the sea…shore; for there she was to meet the Troll; and

Ritter Red was to stay with her and protect her。 He; however; was

very unlikely to do th

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