安徒生童话-第111章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e visited the mill； and while in theroom at the miller's house； where he was accustomed to spend so muchof his time with Babette。 The wedding was to take place in thefollowing summer； and they heard enough of it； for so many of theirfriends spoke of the matter。
Then came sunshine to the mill。 The beautiful Alpine rosesbloomed； and joyous； laughing Babette； was like the early spring；which makes all the birds sing of summer time and bridal days。
〃How those two do sit and chatter together；〃 said theparlor…cat； 〃I have had enough of their mewing。〃
IX。 THE ICE MAIDEN
The walnut and chestnut trees； which extend from the bridge of St。Maurice； by the river Rhone； to the shores of the lake of Geneva； werealready covered with the delicate green garlands of early spring； justbursting into bloom； while the Rhone rushed wildly from its sourceamong the green glaciers which form the ice palace of the IceMaiden。 She sometimes allows herself to be carried by the keen wind tothe lofty snow…fields； where she stretches herself in the sunshineon the soft snowy…cushions。 From thence she throws her far…seeingglance into the deep valley beneath； where human beings are busilymoving about like ants on a stone in the sun。 〃Spirits of strength； asthe children of the sun call you；〃 cried the Ice Maiden； 〃ye are butworms！ Let but a snow…ball roll； and you and your houses and yourtowns are crushed and swept away。〃 And she raised her proud head；and looked around her with eyes that flashed death from theirglance。 From the valley came a rumbling sound； men were busily at workblasting the rocks to form tunnels； and laying down roads for therailway。 〃They are playing at work underground； like moles；〃 said she。〃They are digging passages beneath the earth； and the noise is likethe reports of cannons。 I shall throw down my palaces； for theclamor is louder than the roar of thunder。〃 Then there ascended fromthe valley a thick vapor； which waved itself in the air like afluttering veil。 It rose； as a plume of feathers； from a steam engine；to which； on the lately…opened railway； a string of carriages waslinked； carriage to carriage； looking like a winding serpent。 Thetrain shot past with the speed of an arrow。 〃They play at beingmasters down there； those spirits of strength！〃 exclaimed the IceMaiden； 〃but the powers of nature are still the rulers。〃 And shelaughed and sang till her voice sounded through the valley； and peoplesaid it was the rolling of an avalanche。 But the children of the sunsang in louder strains in praise of the mind of man； which can spanthe sea as with a yoke； can level mountains； and fill up valleys。 Itis the power of thought which gives man the mastery over nature。
Just at this moment there came across the snow…field； where theIce Maiden sat； a party of travellers。 They had bound themselvesfast to each other； so that they looked like one large body on theslippery plains of ice encircling the deep abyss。
〃Worms！〃 exclaimed the Ice Maiden。 〃You； the lords of the powersof nature！〃 And she turned away and looked maliciously at the deepvalley where the railway train was rushing by。 〃There they sit；these thoughts！〃 she exclaimed。 〃There they sit in their power overnature's strength。 I see them all。 One sits proudly apart； like aking； others sit together in a group； yonder； half of them are asleep；and when the steam dragon stops； they will get out and go their way。The thoughts go forth into the world；〃 and she laughed。
〃There goes another avalanche；〃 said those in the valley beneath。
〃It will not reach us；〃 said two who sat together behind the steamdragon。 〃Two hearts and one beat；〃 as people say。 They were Rudy andBabette； and the miller was with them。 〃I am like the luggage；〃 saidhe； 〃I am here as a necessary appendage。〃
〃There sit those two；〃 said the Ice Maiden。 〃Many a chamois have Icrushed。 Millions of Alpine roses have I snapped and broken off； not aroot have I spared。 I know them all； and their thoughts； those spiritsof strength！〃 and again she laughed。
〃There rolls another avalanche；〃 said those in the valley。
X。 THE GODMOTHER
At Montreux； one of the towns which encircle the northeast part ofthe lake of Geneva； lived Babette's godmother； the noble English lady；with her daughters and a young relative。 They had only lately arrived；yet the miller had paid them a visit； and informed them of Babette'sengagement to Rudy。 The whole story of their meeting at Interlachen；and his brave adventure with the eaglet； were related to them； andthey were all very much interested； and as pleased about Rudy andBabette as the miller himself。 The three were invited to e toMontreux； it was but right for Babette to bee acquainted with hergodmother； who wished to see her very much。 A steam…boat startedfrom the town of Villeneuve； at one end of the lake of Geneva； andarrived at Bernex； a little town beyond Montreux； in about half anhour。 And in this boat； the miller； with his daughter and Rudy； setout to visit her godmother。 They passed the coast which has been socelebrated in song。 Here； under the walnut…trees； by the deep bluelake； sat Byron； and wrote his melodious verses about the prisonerconfined in the gloomy castle of Chillon。 Here； where Clarens； withits weeping…willows； is reflected in the clear water； wanderedRousseau； dreaming of Heloise。 The river Rhone glides gently bybeneath the lofty snow…capped hills of Savoy； and not far from itsmouth lies a little island in the lake； so small that； seen from theshore； it looks like a ship。 The surface of the island is rocky； andabout a hundred years ago； a lady caused the ground to be covered withearth； in which three acacia…trees were planted； and the wholeenclosed with stone walls。 The acacia…trees now overshadow everypart of the island。 Babette was enchanted with the spot； it seemedto her the most beautiful object in the whole voyage； and shethought how much she should like to land there。 But the steam…shippassed it by； and did not stop till it reached Bernex。 The littleparty walked slowly from this place to Montreux； passing the sun…litwalls with which the vineyards of the little mountain town of Montreuxare surrounded； and peasants' houses； overshadowed by fig…trees；with gardens in which grow the laurel and the cypress。
Halfway up the hill stood the boarding…house in which Babette'sgodmother resided。 She was received most cordially； her godmotherwas a very friendly woman； with a round； smiling countenance。 When achild； her head must have resembled one of Raphael's cherubs； it wasstill an angelic face； with its white locks of silvery hair。 Thedaughters were tall； elegant； slender maidens。
The young cousin； whom they had brought with them； was dressedin white from head to foot； he had golden hair and golden whiskers；large enough to be divided amongst three gentlemen； and he beganimmediately to pay the greatest attention to Babette。
Richly bound books； note…paper； and drawings； lay on the largetable。 The balcony window stood open； and from it could be seen thebeautiful wide extended lake； the water so clear and still； that themountains of Savoy； with their villages； woods； and snow…crownedpeaks； were clearly reflected in it。
Rudy； who was usually so lively and brave； did not in the leastfeel himself at home； he acted as if he were walking on peas； over aslippery floor。 How long and wearisome the time appeared； it waslike being in a treadmill。 And then they went out for a walk； whichwas very slow and tedious。 Two steps forward and one backwards hadRudy to take to keep pace with the others。 They walked down toChillon； and went over the old castle on the rocky island。 They sawthe implements of torture； the deadly dungeons； the rusty fetters inthe rocky walls； the stone benches for those condemned to death； thetrap…doors through which the unhappy creatures were hurled upon ironspikes； and impaled alive。 They called looking at all these apleasure。 It certainly was the right place to visit。 Byron's poetryhad made it celebrated in the world。 Rudy could only feel that itwas a place of execution。 He leaned against the stone framework of thewindow； and gazed down into the deep； blue water； and over to thelittle island with the three acacias； and wished himself there； awayand free from the
