the bell-第2章

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〃Shall　we　beat　him？〃　they　said。　〃Shall　we　thrash　him？　He　is　a　king's

son！〃

　　　　But　he　walked　on　undaunted；　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　wood；　where

the　most　wonderful　flowers　were　growing；　there　were　standing　white

star　lilies　with　blood…red　stamens；　sky…blue　tulips　shining　when　the

wind　moved　them；　apple…trees　covered　with　apples　like　large　glittering

soap　bubbles：　only　think　how　resplendent　these　trees　were　in　the

sunshine！　All　around　were　beautiful　green　meadows；　where　hart　and　hind

played　in　the　grass。　There　grew　magnificent　oaks　and　beech…trees；

and　if　the　bark　was　split　of　any　of　them；　long　blades　of　grass　grew

out　of　the　clefts；　there　were　also　large　smooth　lakes　in　the　wood；

on　which　the　swans　were　swimming　about　and　flapping　their　wings。　The

king's　son　often　stood　still　and　listened；　sometimes　he　thought　that

the　sound　of　the　bell　rose　up　to　him　out　of　one　of　these　deep　lakes；

but　soon　he　found　that　this　was　a　mistake；　and　that　the　bell　was

ringing　still　farther　in　the　wood。　Then　the　sun　set；　the　clouds　were

as　red　as　fire；　it　became　quiet　in　the　wood；　he　sank　down　on　his

knees；　sang　an　evening　hymn　and　said：　〃I　shall　never　find　what　I　am

looking　for！　Now　the　sun　is　setting；　and　the　night；　the　dark　night；　is

approaching。　Yet　I　may　perhaps　see　the　round　sun　once　more　before　he

disappears　beneath　the　horizon。　I　will　climb　up　these　rocks；　they

are　as　high　as　the　highest　trees！〃　And　then；　taking　hold　of　the

creepers　and　roots；　he　climbed　up　on　the　wet　stones；　where

water…snakes　were　wriggling　and　the　toads；　as　it　were；　barked　at

him：　he　reached　the　top　before　the　sun；　seen　from　such　a　height；　had

quite　set。　〃Oh；　what　a　splendour！〃　The　sea；　the　great　majestic　sea；

which　was　rolling　its　long　waves　against　the　shore；　stretched　out

before　him；　and　the　sun　was　standing　like　a　large　bright　altar　and

there　where　sea　and　heaven　met…　all　melted　together　in　the　most

glowing　colours；　the　wood　was　singing；　and　his　heart　too。　The　whole　of

nature　was　one　large　holy　church；　in　which　the　trees　and　hovering

clouds　formed　the　pillars；　the　flowers　and　grass　the　woven　velvet

carpet；　and　heaven　itself　was　the　great　cupola；　up　there　the　flame

colour　vanished　as　soon　as　the　sun　disappeared；　but　millions　of

stars　were　lighted；　diamond　lamps　were　shining；　and　the　king's　son

stretched　his　arms　out　towards　heaven；　towards　the　sea；　and　towards

the　wood。　Then　suddenly　the　poor　boy　with　the　short…sleeved　jacket　and

the　wooden　shoes　appeared；　he　had　arrived　just　as　quickly　on　the

road　he　had　chosen。　And　they　ran　towards　each　other　and　took　one

another's　hand；　in　the　great　cathedral　of　nature　and　poesy；　and

above　them　sounded　the　invisible　holy　bell；　happy　spirits　surrounded

them；　singing　hallelujahs　and　rejoicing。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。