《安徒生童话英文版》第387章

　　"The Will-o'-the-Wisp is in town," said the man. "I've heard it,and I have understood it. But what do you think I ought to do? Ishould be thrashed if I were to go to the people and say, 'Look,yonder goes a Will-o'-the-Wisp in his best clothes!'

　　"They also go in undress," replied the woman. "TheWill-o'-the-Wisp can assume all kinds of forms, and appear in everyplace. He goes into the church, but not for the sake of the service;and perhaps he may enter into one or other of the priests. He speaksin the Parliament, not for the benefit of the country, but only forhimself. He's an artist with the color-pot as well as in thetheatre; but when he gets all the power into his own hands, then thepot's empty! I chatter and chatter, but it must come out, what'ssticking in my throat, to the disadvantage of my own family. But Imust now be the woman that will save a good many people. It is notdone with my good will, or for the sake of a medal. I do the mostinsane things I possibly can, and then I tell a poet about it, andthus the whole town gets to know of it directly."

　　"The town will not take that to heart," observed the man; "thatwill not disturb a single person; for they will all think I'm onlytelling them a story if I say, 'The Will-o'-the-Wisp is in the town,says the Moor-woman. Take care of yourselves!'"

　　THE END.

　　1872

　　FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

　　THE WINDMILL

　　by Hans Christian Andersen

　　A WINDMILL stood upon the hill, proud to look at, and it was proudtoo.

　　"I am not proud at all," it said, "but I am very muchenlightened without and within. I have sun and moon for my outwarduse, and for inward use too; and into the bargain I have stearinecandles, train oil and lamps, and tallow candles. I may well saythat I'm enlightened. I'm a thinking being, and so well constructedthat it's quite delightful. I have a good windpipe in my chest, andI have four wings that are placed outside my head, just beneath myhat. The birds have only two wings, and are obliged to carry them ontheir backs. I am a Dutchman by birth, that may be seen by myfigure- a flying Dutchman. They are considered supernatural beings,I know, and yet I am quite natural. I have a gallery round my chest,and house-room beneath it; that's where my thoughts dwell. Mystrongest thought, who rules and reigns, is called by others 'TheMan in the Mill.' He knows what he wants, and is lord over the mealand the bran; but he has his companion, too, and she calls herself'Mother.' She is the very heart of me. She does not run about stupidlyand awkwardly, for she knows what she wants, she knows what she cando, she's as soft as a zephyr and as strong as a storm; she knowshow to begin a thing carefully, and to have her own way. She is mysoft temper, and the father is my hard one. They are two, and yet one;they each call the other 'My half.' These two have some little boys,young thoughts, that can grow. The little ones keep everything inorder. When, lately, in my wisdom, I let the father and the boysexamine my throat and the hole in my chest, to see what was going onthere,- for something in me was out of order, and it's well to examineone's self,- the little ones made a tremendous noise. The youngestjumped up into my hat, and shouted so there that it tickled me. Thelittle thoughts may grow- I know that very well; and out in theworld thoughts come too, and not only of my kind, for as far as Ican see, I cannot discern anything like myself; but the winglesshouses, whose throats make no noise, have thoughts too, and these cometo my thoughts, and make love to them, as it is called. It's wonderfulenough- yes, there are many wonderful things. Something has comeover me, or into me,- something has changed in the mill-work. It seemsas if the one half, the father, had altered, and had received a bettertemper and a more affectionate helpmate- so young and good, and yetthe same, only more gentle and good through the course of time. Whatwas bitter has passed away, and the whole is much more comfortable.

　　"The days go on, and the days come nearer and nearer toclearness and to joy; and then a day will come when it will be overwith me; but not over altogether. I must be pulled down that I maybe built up again; I shall cease, but yet shall live on. To becomequite a different being, and yet remain the same!