the wild swans-第5章
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himself; inquiring what all the noise meant。 At this moment the sun
rose。 The eleven brothers were seen no more; but eleven wild swans
flew away over the castle。
And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of
the city; to see the witch burnt。 An old horse drew the cart on
which she sat。 They had dressed her in a garment of coarse
sackcloth。 Her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders; her cheeks
were deadly pale; her lips moved silently; while her fingers still
worked at the green flax。 Even on the way to death; she would not give
up her task。 The ten coats of mail lay at her feet; she was working
hard at the eleventh; while the mob jeered her and said; 〃See the
witch; how she mutters! She has no hymn…book in her hand。 She sits
there with her ugly sorcery。 Let us tear it in a thousand pieces。〃
And then they pressed towards her; and would have destroyed the
coats of mail; but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her;
and alighted on the cart。 Then they flapped their large wings; and the
crowd drew on one side in alarm。
〃It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent;〃 whispered many of
them; but they ventured not to say it aloud。
As the executioner seized her by the hand; to lift her out of
the cart; she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans;
and they immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the
youngest had a swan's wing; instead of an arm; for she had not been
able to finish the last sleeve of the coat。
〃Now I may speak;〃 she exclaimed。 〃I am innocent。〃
Then the people; who saw what happened; bowed to her; as before
a saint; but she sank lifeless in her brothers' arms; overcome with
suspense; anguish; and pain。
〃Yes; she is innocent;〃 said the eldest brother; and then he
related all that had taken place; and while he spoke there rose in the
air a fragrance as from millions of roses。 Every piece of faggot in
the pile had taken root; and threw out branches; and appeared a
thick hedge; large and high; covered with roses; while above all
bloomed a white and shining flower; that glittered like a star。 This
flower the king plucked; and placed in Eliza's bosom; when she awoke
from her swoon; with peace and happiness in her heart。 And all the
church bells rang of themselves; and the birds came in great troops。
And a marriage procession returned to the castle; such as no king
had ever before seen。
THE END
。