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第5章

the wild swans-第5章

小说: the wild swans 字数: 每页4000字

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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




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