the wild swans-第3章

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appeared　like　a　vast　mountain；　and　upon　it　Eliza　saw　her　own　shadow

and　those　of　the　eleven　swans；　looking　gigantic　in　size。　Altogether　it

formed　a　more　beautiful　picture　than　she　had　ever　seen；　but　as　the　sun

rose　higher；　and　the　clouds　were　left　behind；　the　shadowy　picture

vanished　away。　Onward　the　whole　day　they　flew　through　the　air　like　a

winged　arrow；　yet　more　slowly　than　usual；　for　they　had　their　sister　to

carry。　The　weather　seemed　inclined　to　be　stormy；　and　Eliza　watched　the

sinking　sun　with　great　anxiety；　for　the　little　rock　in　the　ocean　was

not　yet　in　sight。　It　appeared　to　her　as　if　the　swans　were　making　great

efforts　with　their　wings。　Alas！　she　was　the　cause　of　their　not

advancing　more　quickly。　When　the　sun　set；　they　would　change　to　men；

fall　into　the　sea　and　be　drowned。　Then　she　offered　a　prayer　from　her

inmost　heart；　but　still　no　appearance　of　the　rock。　Dark　clouds　came

nearer；　the　gusts　of　wind　told　of　a　coming　storm；　while　from　a

thick；　heavy　mass　of　clouds　the　lightning　burst　forth　flash　after

flash。　The　sun　had　reached　the　edge　of　the　sea；　when　the　swans

darted　down　so　swiftly；　that　Eliza's　head　trembled；　she　believed

they　were　falling；　but　they　again　soared　onward。　Presently　she

caught　sight　of　the　rock　just　below　them；　and　by　this　time　the　sun　was

half　hidden　by　the　waves。　The　rock　did　not　appear　larger　than　a　seal's

head　thrust　out　of　the　water。　They　sunk　so　rapidly；　that　at　the　moment

their　feet　touched　the　rock；　it　shone　only　like　a　star；　and　at　last

disappeared　like　the　last　spark　in　a　piece　of　burnt　paper。　Then　she

saw　her　brothers　standing　closely　round　her　with　their　arms　linked

together。　There　was　but　just　room　enough　for　them；　and　not　the

smallest　space　to　spare。　The　sea　dashed　against　the　rock；　and

covered　them　with　spray。　The　heavens　were　lighted　up　with　continual

flashes；　and　peal　after　peal　of　thunder　rolled。　But　the　sister　and

brothers　sat　holding　each　other's　hands；　and　singing　hymns；　from　which

they　gained　hope　and　courage。　In　the　early　dawn　the　air　became　calm

and　still；　and　at　sunrise　the　swans　flew　away　from　the　rock　with

Eliza。　The　sea　was　still　rough；　and　from　their　high　position　in　the

air；　the　white　foam　on　the　dark　green　waves　looked　like　millions　of

swans　swimming　on　the　water。　As　the　sun　rose　higher；　Eliza　saw

before　her；　floating　on　the　air；　a　range　of　mountains；　with　shining

masses　of　ice　on　their　summits。　In　the　centre；　rose　a　castle

apparently　a　mile　long；　with　rows　of　columns；　rising　one　above

another；　while；　around　it；　palm…trees　waved　and　flowers　bloomed　as

large　as　mill　wheels。　She　asked　if　this　was　the　land　to　which　they

were　hastening。　The　swans　shook　their　heads；　for　what　she　beheld

were　the　beautiful　ever…changing　cloud　palaces　of　the　〃Fata

Morgana；〃　into　which　no　mortal　can　enter。　Eliza　was　still　gazing　at

the　scene；　when　mountains；　forests；　and　castles　melted　away；　and

twenty　stately　churches　rose　in　their　stead；　with　high　towers　and

pointed　gothic　windows。　Eliza　even　fancied　she　could　hear　the　tones　of

the　organ；　but　it　was　the　music　of　the　murmuring　sea　which　she

heard。　As　they　drew　nearer　to　the　churches；　they　also　changed　into　a

fleet　of　ships；　which　seemed　to　be　sailing　beneath　her；　but　as　she

looked　again；　she　found　it　was　only　a　sea　mist　gliding　over　the　ocean。

So　there　continued　to　pass　before　her　eyes　a　constant　change　of　scene；

till　at　last　she　saw　the　real　land　to　which　they　were　bound；　with

its　blue　mountains；　its　cedar　forests；　and　its　cities　and　palaces。

Long　before　the　sun　went　down；　she　sat　on　a　rock；　in　front　of　a

large　cave；　on　the　floor　of　which　the　over…grown　yet　delicate　green

creeping　plants　looked　like　an　embroidered　carpet。　〃Now　we　shall

expect　to　hear　what　you　dream　of　to…night；〃　said　the　youngest　brother；

as　he　showed　his　sister　her　bedroom。

　　　　〃Heaven　grant　that　I　may　dream　how　to　save　you；〃　she　replied。

And　this　thought　took　such　hold　upon　her　mind　that　she　prayed

earnestly　to　God　for　help；　and　even　in　her　sleep　she　continued　to

pray。　Then　it　appeared　to　her　as　if　she　were　flying　high　in　the　air；

towards　the　cloudy　palace　of　the　〃Fata　Morgana；〃　and　a　fairy　came

out　to　meet　her；　radiant　and　beautiful　in　appearance；　and　yet　very

much　like　the　old　woman　who　had　given　her　berries　in　the　wood；　and　who

had　told　her　of　the　swans　with　golden　crowns　on　their　heads。　〃Your

brothers　can　be　released；〃　said　she；　〃if　you　have　only　courage　and

perseverance。　True；　water　is　softer　than　your　own　delicate　hands；

and　yet　it　polishes　stones　into　shapes；　it　feels　no　pain　as　your

fingers　would　feel；　it　has　no　soul；　and　cannot　suffer　such　agony　and

torment　as　you　will　have　to　endure。　Do　you　see　the　stinging　nettle

which　I　hold　in　my　hand？　Quantities　of　the　same　sort　grow　round　the

cave　in　which　you　sleep；　but　none　will　be　of　any　use　to　you　unless

they　grow　upon　the　graves　in　a　churchyard。　These　you　must　gather

even　while　they　burn　blisters　on　your　hands。　Break　them　to　pieces　with

your　hands　and　feet；　and　they　will　become　flax；　from　which　you　must

spin　and　weave　eleven　coats　with　long　sleeves；　if　these　are　then

thrown　over　the　eleven　swans；　the　spell　will　be　broken。　But

remember；　that　from　the　moment　you　commence　your　task　until　it　is

finished；　even　should　it　occupy　years　of　your　life；　you　must　not

speak。　The　first　word　you　utter　will　pierce　through　the　hearts　of　your

brothers　like　a　deadly　dagger。　Their　lives　hang　upon　your　tongue。

Remember　all　I　have　told　you。〃　And　as　she　finished　speaking；　she

touched　her　hand　lightly　with　the　nettle；　and　a　pain；　as　of　burning

fire；　awoke　Eliza。

　　　　It　was　broad　daylight；　and　close　by　where　she　had　been　sleeping

lay　a　nettle　like　the　one　she　had　seen　in　her　dream。　She　fell　on　her

knees　and　offered　her　thanks　to　God。　Then　she　went　forth　from　the　cave

to　begin　her　work　with　her　delicate　hands。　She　groped　in　amongst　the

ugly　nettles；　which　burnt　great　blisters　on　her　hands　and　arms；　but

she　determined　to　bear　it　gladly　if　she　could　only　release　her　dear

brothers。　So　she　bruised　the　nettles　with　her　bare　feet　and　spun　the

flax。　At　sunset　her　brothers　returned　and　were　very　much　frightened

when　they　found　her　dumb。　They　believed　it　to　be　some　new　sorcery　of

their　wicked　step…mother。　But　when　they　saw　her　hands　they

understood　what　she　was　doing　on　their　behalf；　and　the　youngest

brother　wept；　and　where　his　tears　fell　the　pain　ceased；　and　the

burning　blisters　vanished。　She　kept　to　her　work　all　night；　for　she

could　not　rest　till　she　had　released　her　dear　brothers。　During　the

whole　of　the　following　day；　while　her　brothers　were　absent；　she　sat　in

solitude；　but　never　before　had　the　time　flown　so　quickly。　One　coat　was

already　finished　and　she　had　begun　the　second；　when　she　heard　the

huntsman's　horn；　and　was　struck　with　fear。　The　sound　came　nearer　and

nearer；　she　heard　the　dogs　barking；　and　fled　with　terror　into　the

cave。　She　hastily　bound　together　the　nettles　she　had　gathered　into　a

bundle　and　sat　upon　them。　Immediately　a　great　dog　came　bounding

towards　her　out　of　the　ravine；　and　then　another　and　another；　they

barked　loudly；　ran　back；　and　then　came　again。　In　a　very　few　minutes

all　the　huntsmen　stood　before　the　cave；　and　the　handsomest　of　them　was

the　king　of　the　country。　He　advanced　towards　her；　for　he　had　never

seen　a　more　beautiful　maiden。

　　　　〃How　did　you　come　here；　my　sweet　child？〃　he　asked。　But　Eliza　shook

her　head。　She　dared　not　speak；　at　the　cost　of　her　brothers'　lives。　And

she　hid　her　hands　under　her　apron；　so　that　the　king　might　not　see

how　she　must　be　suffering。

　　　　〃Come　with　me；〃　he　said；　〃here　you　cannot　remain。　If　you　are　as

good　as　you　are　beautiful；　I　will　dress　you　in　silk　and　velvet；　I　will

place　a　golden　crown　upon　your　head；　and　you　shall　dwell；　and　rule；

and　make　your　home　in　my　richest　castle。〃　And　then　he　lifted　her　on

his　horse。　She　wept　and　wrung　her　hands；　but　the　king　said；　〃I　wish

only　for　your　happiness。　A　time　will　come　when　you　will　thank　me　for

this。〃　And　then　he　galloped　away　over　the　mountains；　holding　her

before　him　on　this　horse；　and　the　hunters　followed　behind　them。　As　the

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