the wild swans-第4章
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before him on this horse； and the hunters followed behind them。 As the
sun went down； they approached a fair royal city； with churches； and
cupolas。 On arriving at the castle the king led her into marble halls；
where large fountains played； and where the walls and the ceilings
were covered with rich paintings。 But she had no eyes for all these
glorious sights； she could only mourn and weep。 Patiently she
allowed the women to array her in royal robes； to weave pearls in
her hair； and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers。 As she
stood before them in all her rich dress； she looked so dazzingly
beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence。 Then the king
declared his intention of making her his bride； but the archbishop
shook his head； and whispered that the fair young maiden was only a
witch who had blinded the king's eyes and bewitched his heart。 But the
king would not listen to this； he ordered the music to sound； the
daintiest dishes to be served； and the loveliest maidens to dance。
After…wards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls； but
not a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes。 She looked
the very picture of grief。 Then the king opened the door of a little
chamber in which she。 was to sleep； it was adorned with rich green
tapestry； and resembled the cave in which he had found her。 On the
floor lay the bundle of flax which she had spun from the nettles；
and under the ceiling hung the coat she had made。 These things had
been brought away from the cave as curiosities by one of the huntsmen。
〃Here you can dream yourself back again in the old home in the
cave；〃 said the king； 〃here is the work with which you employed
yourself。 It will amuse you now in the midst of all this splendor to
think of that time。〃
When Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart； a
smile played around her mouth； and the crimson blood rushed to her
cheeks。 She thought of her brothers； and their release made her so
joyful that she kissed the king's hand。 Then he pressed her to his
heart。 Very soon the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast；
and that the beautiful dumb girl out of the wood was to be made the
queen of the country。 Then the archbishop whispered wicked words in
the king's ear； but they did not sink into his heart。 The marriage was
still to take place； and the archbishop himself had to place the crown
on the bride's head； in his wicked spite； he pressed the narrow
circlet so tightly on her forehead that it caused her pain。 But a
heavier weight encircled her heart… sorrow for her brothers。 She
felt not bodily pain。 Her mouth was closed； a single word would cost
the lives of her brothers。 But she loved the kind； handsome king；
who did everything to make her happy more and more each day； she loved
him with all her heart； and her eyes beamed with the love she dared
not speak。 Oh！ if she had only been able to confide in him and tell
him of her grief。 But dumb she must remain till her task was finished。
Therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber； which had
been decked out to look like the cave； and quickly wove one coat after
another。 But when she began the seventh she found she had no more
flax。 She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the
churchyard； and that she must pluck them herself。 How should she get
out there？ 〃Oh； what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my
heart endures？〃 said she。 〃I must venture； I shall not be denied
help from heaven。〃 Then with a trembling heart； as if she were about
to perform a wicked deed； she crept into the garden in the broad
moonlight； and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted
streets； till she reached the churchyard。 Then she saw on one of the
broad tombstones a group of ghouls。 These hideous creatures took off
their rags； as if they intended to bathe； and then clawing open the
fresh graves with their long； skinny fingers； pulled out the dead
bodies and ate the flesh！ Eliza had to pass close by them； and they
fixed their wicked glances upon her； but she prayed silently； gathered
the burning nettles； and carried them home with her to the castle。 One
person only had seen her； and that was the archbishop… he was awake
while everybody was asleep。 Now he thought his opinion was evidently
correct。 All was not right with the queen。 She was a witch； and had
bewitched the king and all the people。 Secretly he told the king
what he had seen and what he feared； and as the hard words came from
his tongue； the carved images of the saints shook their heads as if
they would say。 〃It is not so。 Eliza is innocent。〃
But the archbishop interpreted it in another way； he believed that
they witnessed against her； and were shaking their heads at her
wickedness。 Two large tears rolled down the king's cheeks； and he went
home with doubt in his heart； and at night he pretended to sleep；
but there came no real sleep to his eyes； for he saw Eliza get up
every night and disappear in her own chamber。 From day to day his brow
became darker； and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason； but
it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers。 Her hot
tears glittered like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds； while
all who saw her were wishing they could be queens。 In the mean time
she had almost finished her task； only one coat of mail was wanting；
but she had no flax left； and not a single nettle。 Once more only； and
for the last time； must she venture to the churchyard and pluck a
few handfuls。 She thought with terror of the solitary walk； and of the
horrible ghouls； but her will was firm； as well as her trust in
Providence。 Eliza went； and the king and the archbishop followed
her。 They saw her vanish through the wicket gate into the
churchyard； and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on
the tombstone； as Eliza had seen them； and the king turned away his
head； for he thought she was with them… she whose head had rested on
his breast that very evening。 〃The people must condemn her；〃 said
he； and she was very quickly condemned by every one to suffer death by
fire。 Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark； dreary
cell； where the wind whistled through the iron bars。 Instead of the
velvet and silk dresses； they gave her the coats of mail which she had
woven to cover her； and the bundle of nettles for a pillow； but
nothing they could give her would have pleased her more。 She continued
her task with joy； and prayed for help； while the street…boys sang
jeering songs about her； and not a soul comforted her with a kind
word。 Towards evening； she heard at the grating the flutter of a
swan's wing； it was her youngest brother… he had found his sister； and
she sobbed for joy； although she knew that very likely this would be
the last night she would have to live。 But still she could hope； for
her task was almost finished； and her brothers were come。 Then the
archbishop arrived； to be with her during her last hours； as he had
promised the king。 But she shook her head； and begged him； by looks
and gestures； not to stay； for in this night she knew she must
finish her task； otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights
would have been suffered in vain。 The archbishop withdrew； uttering
bitter words against her； but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent；
and diligently continued her work。
The little mice ran about the floor； they dragged the nettles to
her feet； to help as well as they could； and the thrush sat outside
the grating of the window； and sang to her the whole night long； as
sweetly as possible； to keep up her spirits。
It was still twilight； and at least an hour before sunrise； when
the eleven brothers stood at the castle gate； and demanded to be
brought before the king。 They were told it could not be； it was yet
almost night； and as the king slept they dared not disturb him。 They
threatened； they entreated。 Then the guard appeared； and even the king
himself； inquiring what all the noise meant。 At this moment the sun
rose。 The eleven brothers we
