AtthesewordstheheartreturnedagaintoIanDireach,andhegatheredsticksandmadeafireandatewithGilleMairteanthefox,andsleptonthesand。AtdawnnextmorningGilleMairteansaidtoIanDireach:
'Iwillchangemyselfintoaship,andwillbearyouacrosstheseastoErin,tothelandwheredwellstheking。Andyoushallofferyourselftoserveinhisstable,andtotendhishorses,tillatlengthsowellcontentishe,thathegivesyouthebaycolttowashandbrush。Butwhenyourunawaywithherseethatnoughtexceptthesolesofherhoofstouchanythingwithinthepalacegates,oritwillgoillwithyou。'
AfterhehadthuscounselledIanDireach,thefoxchangedhimselfintoaship,andsetsailforErin。AndthekingofthatcountrygaveintoIanDireach'shandsthecareofhishorses,andneverbeforedidtheirskinsshinesobrightlyorwastheirpacesoswift。Andthekingwaswellpleased,andattheendofamonthhesentforIanandsaidtohim:
'Youhavegivenmefaithfulservice,andnowIwillentrustyouwiththemostpreciousthingthatmykingdomholds。'Andwhenhehadspoken,heledIanDireachtothestablewherestoodthebaycolt。AndIanrubbedherandfedher,andgallopedwithherallroundthecountry,tillhecouldleaveonewindbehindhimandcatchtheotherwhichwasinfront。
'Iamgoingawaytohunt,'saidthekingonemorningwhilehewaswatchingIantendthebaycoltinherstable。'Thedeerhavecomedownfromthehill,anditistimeformetogivethemchase。'Thenhewentaway;andwhenhewasnolongerinsight,IanDireachledthebaycoltoutofthestable,andsprangonherback。Butastheyrodethroughthegate,whichstoodbetweenthepalaceandtheouterworld,thecoltswishedhertailagainstthepost,whichshriekedloudly。Inamomentthekingcamerunningup,andheseizedthecolt'sbridle。
'Ifyouwantmybaycolt,youmustfirstbringmethedaughterofthekingoftheFranks。'
WithslowstepswentIanDireachdowntotheshorewhereGilleMairteanthefoxawaitedhim。
'PlainlyIseethatyouhavenotdoneasIbidyou,norwillyoueverdoit,'spokeGilleMairteanthefox;'butIwillhelpyouyetagain。
forathirdtimeIwillchangemyselfintoaship,andwewillsailtoFrance。'
AndtoFrancetheysailed,and,ashewastheship,theGilleMairteansailedwherehewould,andranhimselfintothecleftofarock,highontotheland。Then,hecommandedIanDireachtogouptotheking'spalace,sayingthathehadbeenwrecked,thathisshipwasmadefastinarock,andthatnonehadbeensavedbuthimselfonly。
IanDireachlistenedtothewordsofthefox,andhetoldatalesopitiful,thatthekingandqueen,andtheprincesstheirdaughter,allcameouttohearit。Andwhentheyhadheard,noughtwouldpleasethemexcepttogodowntotheshoreandvisittheship,whichbynowwasfloating,forthetidewasup。Tornandbatteredwasshe,asifshehadpassedthroughmanydangers,yetmusicofawondroussweetnesspouredforthfromwithin。
'Bringhitheraboat,'criedtheprincess,'thatImaygoandseeformyselftheharpthatgivesforthsuchmusic。'Andaboatwasbrought,andIanDireachsteppedintorowittothesideoftheship。
Tothefurthersideherowed,sothatnonecouldsee,andwhenhehelpedtheprincessonboardhegaveapushtotheboat,sothatshecouldnotgetbacktoitagain。Andthemusicsoundedalwayssweeter,thoughtheycouldneverseewhenceitcame,andsoughtitfromonepartofthevesseltoanother。Whenatlasttheyreachedthedeckandlookedaroundthem,noughtoflandcouldtheysee,oranythingsavetherushingwaters。
Theprincessstoodsilent,andherfacegrewgrim。Atlastshesaid:
'Anilltrickhaveyouplayedme！Whatisthisthatyouhavedone,andwhitherarewegoing？'
'Itisaqueenyouwillbe,'answeredIanDireach,'forthekingofErinhassentmeforyou,andinreturnhewillgivemehisbaycolt,thatImaytakehimtotheSevenBigWomenofDhiurradh,inexchangefortheWhiteSwordofLight。ThisImustcarrytothegiantoftheFiveHeadsandFiveNecksandFiveHumps,and,inplaceofit,hewillbestowonmethebluefalcon,whichIhavepromisedmystepmother,sothatshemayfreemefromthespellwhichshehaslaidonme。'
'Iwouldratherbewifetoyou,'answeredtheprincess。
By—and—bytheshipsailedintoaharbouronthecoastofErin,andcastanchorthere。AndGilleMairteanthefoxbadeIanDireachtelltheprincessthatshemustbideyetawhileinacaveamongsttherocks,fortheyhadbusinessonland,andafterawhiletheywouldreturntoher。Thentheytookaboatandroweduptosomerocks,andastheytouchedthelandGilleMairteanchangedhimselfintoafairwoman,wholaughed,andsaidtoIanDireach,'Iwillgivethekingafinewife。'
NowthekingofErinhadbeenhuntingonthehill,andwhenhesawastrangeshipsailingtowardstheharbour,heguessedthatitmightbeIanDireach,andlefthishunting,andrandowntothehilltothestable。Hastilyheledthebaycoltfromhisstall,andputthegoldensaddleonherback,andthesilverbridleoverhishead,andwiththecolt'sbridleinhishand,hehurriedtomeettheprincess。
'IhavebroughtyouthekingofFrance'sdaughter,'saidIanDireach。
AndthekingofErinlookedatthemaiden,andwaswellpleased,notknowingthatitwasGilleMairteanthefox。Andhebowedlow,andbesoughthertodohimthehonourtoenterthepalace;andGilleMairtean,ashewentin,turnedtolookbackatIanDireach,andlaughed。
Inthegreathallthekingpausedandpointedtoanironchestwhichstoodinacorner。
'Inthatchestisthecrownthathaswaitedforyouformanyyears,'hesaid,'andatlastyouhavecomeforit。'Andhestoopeddowntounlockthebox。
InaninstantGilleMairteanthefoxhadsprungonhisback,andgavehimsuchabitethathefelldownunconscious。Quicklythefoxtookhisownshapeagain,andgallopedawaytotheseashore,whereIanDireachandtheprincessandthebaycoltawaitedhim。
'Iwillbecomeaship,'criedGilleMairtean,'andyoushallgoonboardme。'Andsohedid,andIanDireachletthebaycoltintotheshipandtheprincesswentafterthem,andtheysetsailforDhiurradh。
Thewindwasbehindthem,andverysoontheysawtherocksofDhiurradhinfront。ThenspokeGilleMairteanthefox:
'Letthebaycoltandtheking'sdaughterhideintheserocks,andI
willchangemyselfintothecolt,andgowithyoutothehouseoftheSevenBigWomen。'
JoyfiledtheheartsoftheBigWomenwhentheybeheldthebaycoltleduptotheirdoorbyIanDireach。AndtheyoungestofthemfetchedtheWhiteSwordofLight,andgaveitintothehandsofIanDireach,whotookoffthegoldensaddleandthesilverbridle,andwentdownthehillwiththeswordtotheplacewheretheprincessandtherealcoltawaitedhim。
'Nowweshallhavetheridethatwehavelongedfor！'criedtheSevenBigWomen;andtheysaddledandbridledthecolt,andtheeldestonegotuponthesaddle。Thenthesecondsistersatonthebackofthefirst,andthethirdonthebackofthesecond,andsoonforthewholeseven。Andwhentheywereallseated,theeldeststruckhersidewithawhipandthecoltboundedforward。Overthemoorssheflew,androundandroundthemountains,andstilltheBigWomenclungtoherandsnortedwithpleasure。Atlastsheleapthighintheair,andcamedownontopofMonadhthehighhill,wherethecragis。Andsherestedherforefeetonthecrag,andthrewupherhindlegs,andtheSevenBigWomenfelloverthecrag,andweredeadwhentheyreachedthebottom。Andthecoltlaughed,andbecameafoxagainandgallopedawaytotheseashore,whereIanDireach,andtheprincessandtherealcoltandtheWhiteSwordofLightwereawaitinghim。
'Iwillmakemyselfintoaship,'saidGilleMairteanthefox,'andwillcarryyouandtheprincess,andthebaycoltandtheWhiteSwordofLight,backtotheland。'Andwhentheshorewasreached,GilleMairteanthefoxtookbackhisownshape,andspoketoIanDireachinthiswise:
'LettheprincessandtheWhiteSwordofLight,andthebaycolt,remainamongtherocks,andIwillchangemyselfintothelikenessoftheWhiteSwordofLight,andyoushallbearmetothegiant,and,instead,hewillgiveyouthebluefalcon。'AndIanDireachdidasthefoxbadehim,andsetoutforthegiant'scastle。FromafarthegiantbeheldtheblazeoftheWhiteSwordofLight,andhisheartrejoiced;
andhetookthebluefalconandputitinabasket,andgaveittoIanDireach,whoboreitswiftlyawaytotheplacewheretheprincess,andthebaycolt,andtherealSwordofLightwereawaitinghim。
Sowellcontentwasthegianttopossesstheswordhehadcovetedformanyayear,thathebeganatoncetowhirlitthroughtheair,andtocutandslashwithit。ForalittlewhileGilleMairteanletthegiantplaywithhiminthismanner;thenheturnedinthegiant'shand,andcutthroughtheFiveNecks,sothattheFiveHeadsrolledontheground。AfterwardshewentbacktoIanDireachandsaidtohim:
'Saddlethecoltwiththegoldensaddle,andbridleherwiththesilverbridle,andslingthebasketwiththefalconoveryourshoulders,andholdtheWhiteSwordofLightwithitsbackagainstyournose。Thenmountthecolt,andlettheprincessmountbehindyou,andridethustoyourfather'spalace。Butseethatthebackoftheswordiseveragainstyournose,elsewhenyourstepmotherbeholdsyou,shewillchangeyouintoadryfaggot。If,however,youdoasIbidyou,shewillbecomeherselfabundleofsticks。'
IanDireachhearkenedtothewordsofGilleMairtean,andhisstepmotherfellasabundleofsticksbeforehim;andhesetfiretoher,andwasfreefromherspellsforever。Afterthathemarriedtheprincess,whowasthebestwifeinalltheislandsoftheWest。
Henceforthhewassafefromharm,forhadhenotthebaycoltwhocouldleaveonewindbehindherandcatchtheotherwind,andthebluefalcontobringhimgametoeat,andtheWhiteSwordofLighttopiercethroughhisfoes？
AndIanDireachknewthatallthisheowedtoGilleMairteanthefox,andhemadeacompactwithhimthathemightchooseanybeastoutofhisherds,wheneverhungerseizedhim,andthathenceforthnoarrowshouldbeletflyathimoratanyofhisrace。ButGilleMairteanthefoxwouldtakenorewardforthehelphehadgiventoIanDireach,onlyhisfriendship。ThusallthingsprosperedwithIanDireachtillhedied。
[FromTalesoftheWestHighlands。]
TheUglyDucklingItwassummerinthelandofDenmark,andthoughformostoftheyearthecountrylooksflatandugly,itwasbeautifulnow。Thewheatwasyellow,theoatsweregreen,thehaywasdryanddelicioustorollin,andfromtheoldruinedhousewhichnobodylivedin,downtotheedgeofthecanal,wasaforestofgreatburdocks,sotallthatawholefamilyofchildrenmighthavedweltinthemandneverhavebeenfoundout。
Itwasundertheseburdocksthataduckhadbuiltherselfawarmnest,andwasnotsittingalldayonsixprettyeggs。Fiveofthemwerewhite,butthesixth,whichwaslargerthantheothers,wasofanuglygreycolour。Theduckwasalwayspuzzledaboutthategg,andhowitcametobesodifferentfromtherest。Otherbirdsmighthavethoughtthatwhentheduckwentdowninthemorningandeveningtothewatertostretchherlegsinagoodswim,somelazymothermighthavebeenonthewatch,andhavepoppedhereggintothenest。Butducksarenotcleveratall,andarenotquickatcounting,sothisduckdidnotworryherselfaboutthematter,butjusttookcarethatthebigeggshouldbeaswarmastherest。
Thiswasthefirstsetofeggsthattheduckhadeverlaid,and,tobeginwith,shewasverypleasedandproud,andlaughedattheothermothers,whowerealwaysneglectingtheirdutiestogossipwitheachotherortotakelittleextraswimsbesidesthetwointhemorningandeveningthatwerenecessaryforhealth。Butatlengthshegrewtiredofsittingthereallday。'Surelyeggstakelongerhatchingthantheydid,'shesaidtoherself;andshepinedforalittleamusementalso。
Still,sheknewthatifshelefthereggsandtheducklingsinthemtodienoneofherfriendswouldeverspeaktoheragain;sothereshestayed,onlygettingofftheeggsseveraltimesadaytoseeiftheshellswerecracking——whichmayhavebeentheveryreasonwhytheydidnotcracksooner。
Shehadlookedattheeggsatleastahundredandfiftytimes,when,toherjoy,shesawatinycrackontwoofthem,andscramblingbacktothenestshedrewtheeggsclosertheonetotheother,andnevermovedforthewholeofthatday。Nextmorningshewasrewardedbynoticingcracksinthewholefiveeggs,andbymiddaytwolittleyellowheadswerepokingoutfromtheshells。Thisencouragedhersomuchthat,afterbreakingtheshellswithherbill,sothatthelittlecreaturescouldgetfreeofthem,shesatsteadilyforawholenightuponthenest,andbeforethesunarosethefivewhiteeggswereempty,andtenpairsofeyesweregazingoutuponthegreenworld。
Nowtheduckhadbeencarefullybroughtup,anddidnotlikedirt,and,besides,brokenshellsarenotatallcomfortablethingstositorwalkupon;soshepushedtherestoutovertheside,andfeltdelightedtohavesomecompanytotalktotillthebigegghatched。Butdayafterdaywenton,andthebigeggshowednosignsofcracking,andtheduckgrewmoreandmoreimpatient,andbegantowishtoconsultherhusband,whonevercame。
'Ican'tthinkwhatisthematterwithit,'theduckgrumbledtoherneighbourwhohadcalledintopayheravisit。'WhyIcouldhavehatchedtwobroodsinthetimethatthisonehastaken！'
'Letmelookatit,'saidtheoldneighbour。'Ah,Ithoughtso;itisaturkey'segg。Once,whenIwasyoung,theytrickedmetosittingonabroodofturkey'seggsmyself,andwhentheywerehatchedthecreaturesweresostupidthatnothingwouldmakethemlearntoswim。I
havenopatiencewhenIthinkofit。'
'Well,Iwillgiveitanotherchance,'sighedtheduck,'andifitdoesnotcomeoutofitsshellinanothertwenty—fourhours,Iwilljustleaveitaloneandteachtherestofthemtoswimproperlyandtofindtheirownfood。Ireallycan'tbeexpectedtodotwothingsatonce。'
Andwithafluffofherfeathersshepushedtheeggintothemiddleofthenest。
Allthroughthenextdayshesaton,givingupevenhermorningbathforfearthatablastofcoldmightstrikethebigegg。Intheevening,whensheventuredtopeep,shethoughtshesawatinycrackintheupperpartoftheshell。Filledwithhope,shewentbacktoherduties,thoughshecouldhardlysleepallnightforexcitement。Whenshewokewiththefirststeaksoflightshefeltsomethingstirringunderher。Yes,thereitwasatlast;andasshemoved,abigawkwardbirdtumbledheadforemostontheground。
Therewasnodenyingitwasugly,eventhemotherwasforcedtoadmitthattoherself,thoughsheonlysaiditwas'large'and'strong。'
'Youwon'tneedanyteachingwhenyouareonceinthewater,'shetoldhim,withaglanceofsurpriseatthedullbrownwhichcoveredhisback,andathislongnakedneck。Andindeedhedidnot,thoughhewasnothalfsoprettytolookatasthelittleyellowballsthatfollowedher。
Whentheyreturnedtheyfoundtheoldneighbouronthebankwaitingforthemtotakethemintotheduckyard。'No,itisnotayoungturkey,certainly,'whisperedsheinconfidencetothemother,'forthoughitisleanandskinny,andhasnocolourtospeakof,yetthereissomethingratherdistinguishedaboutit,anditholdsitsheadupwell。'
'Itisverykindofyoutosayso,'answeredthemother,whobythistimehadsomesecretdoubtsofitsloveliness。'Ofcourse,whenyouseeitbyitselfitisallright,thoughitisdifferent,somehow,fromtheothers。Butonecannotexpectallone'schildrentobebeautiful！'
Bythistimetheyhadreachedthecentreoftheyard,whereaveryoldduckwassitting,whowastreatedwithgreatrespectbyallthefowlspresent。
'Youmustgoupandbowlowbeforeher,'whisperedthemothertoherchildren,noddingherheadinthedirectionoftheoldlady,'andkeepyourlegswellapart,asyouseemedo。Nowell—bredducklingturnsinitstoes。Itisasignofcommonparents。'
Thelittleduckstriedhardtomaketheirsmallfatbodiescopythemovementsoftheirmother,andtheoldladywasquitepleasedwiththem;buttherestoftheduckslookedondiscontentedly,andsaidtoeachother:
'Oh,dearme,hereareeversomanymore！Theyardisfullalready;
anddidyoueverseeanythingquiteasuglyasthatgreattallcreature？Heisadisgracetoanybrood。Ishallgoandchasehimout！'Sosayingsheputupherfeathers,andrunningtothebigducklingbithisneck。
Theducklinggavealoudquack;itwasthefirsttimehehadfeltanypain,andatthesoundhismotherturnedquickly。
'Leavehimalone,'shesaidfiercely,'orIwillsendforhisfather。
Hewasnottroublingyou。'
'No;butheissouglyandawkwardnoonecanputupwithhim,'
answeredthestranger。Andthoughtheducklingdidnotunderstandthemeaningofthewords,hefelthewasbeingblamed,andbecamemoreuncomfortablestillwhentheoldSpanishduckwhoruledthefowlyardstruckin:
'Itcertainlyisagreatpityheissodifferentfromthesebeautifuldarlings。Ifhecouldonlybehatchedoveragain！'
Thepoorlittlefellowdroopedhishead,anddidnotknowwheretolook,butwascomfortedwhenhismotheranswered:
'Hemaynotbequiteashandsomeastheothers,butheswimsbetter,andisverystrong;Iamsurehewillmakehiswayintheworldaswellasanybody。'
'Well,youmustfeelquiteathomehere,'saidtheoldduckwaddlingoff。Andsotheydid,allexcepttheduckling,whowassnappedatbyeveryonewhentheythoughthismotherwasnotlooking。Eventheturkey—cock,whowassobig,neverpassedhimwithoutmockingwords,andhisbrothersandsisters,whowouldnothavenoticedanydifferenceunlessithadbeenputintotheirheads,soonbecameasrudeandunkindastherest。
Atlasthecouldbearitnolonger,andonedayhefanciedhesawsignsofhismotherturningagainsthimtoo;sothatnight,whentheducksandhenswerestillasleep,hestoleawaythroughanopendoor,andundercoveroftheburdockleavesscrambledonbythebankofthecanal,tillhereachedawidegrassymoor,fullofsoftmarshyplaceswherethereedsgrew。Herehelaydown,buthewastootiredandtoofrightenedtofallasleep,andwiththeearliestpeepofthesunthereedsbegantorustle,andhesawthathehadblunderedintoacolonyofwildducks。Butashecouldnotrunawayagainhestoodupandbowedpolitely。
'Youareugly,'saidthewildducks,whentheyhadlookedhimwellover;'but,however,itisnobusinessofours,unlessyouwishtomarryoneofourdaughters,andthatweshouldnotallow。'Andtheducklingansweredthathehadnoideaofmarryinganybody,andwantednothingbuttobeleftaloneafterhislongjourney。
Sofortwowholedayshelayquietlyamongthereeds,eatingsuchfoodashecouldfind,anddrinkingthewaterofthemoorlandpool,tillhefelthimselfquitestrongagain。Hewishedhemightstaywerehewasforever,hewassocomfortableandhappy,awayfromeveryone,withnobodytobitehimandtellhimhowuglyhewas。
Hewasthinkingthesethoughts,whentwoyoungganderscaughtsightofhimastheywerehavingtheireveningsplashamongthereeds,lookingfortheirsupper。
'Wearegettingtiredofthismoor,'theysaid,'andto—morrowwethinkoftryinganother,wherethelakesarelargerandthefeedingbetter。
Willyoucomewithus？'
'Isitnicerthanthis？'askedtheducklingdoubtfully。Andthewordswerehardlyoutofhismouth,when'Pif！pah！'andthetwonew—comerswerestretcheddeadbesidehim。
Atthesoundofthegunthewildducksintherushesflewintotheair,andforafewminutesthefiringcontinued。
Luckilyforhimselftheducklingcouldnotfly,andheflounderedalongthroughthewatertillhecouldhidehimselfamidstsometallfernswhichgrewinahollow。Butbeforehegottherehemetahugecreatureonfourlegs,whichheafterwardsknewtobeadog,whostoodandgazedathimwithalongredtonguehangingoutofhismouth。Theducklinggrewcoldwithterror,andtriedtohidehisheadbeneathhislittlewings;butthedogsnuffedathimandpassedon,andhewasabletoreachhisplaceofshelter。
'Iamtoouglyevenforadogtoeat,'saidhetohimself。'Well,thatisagreatmercy。'Andhecurledhimselfupinthesoftgrasstilltheshotsdiedawayinthedistance。
Whenallhadbeenquietforalongtime,andtherewereonlystarstoseehim,hecreptoutandlookedabouthim。
Hewouldnevergonearapoolagain,never,thoughthe;andseeingthatthemoorstretchedfarawayintheoppositedirectionfromwhichhehadcome,hemarchedbravelyontillhegottoasmallcottage,whichseemedtootumbledownforthestonestoholdtogethermanyhourslonger。Eventhedooronlyhungupononehinge,andastheonlylightintheroomsprangfromatinyfire,theducklingedgedhimselfcautiouslyin,andlaydownunderachairclosetothebrokendoor,fromwhichhecouldgetoutifnecessary。Butnooneseemedtoseehimorsmellhim;sohespendtherestofthenightinpeace。
Nowinthecottagedweltanoldwoman,hercat,andahen;anditwasreallythey,andnotshe,whoweremastersofthehouse。Theoldwoman,whopassedallherdaysinspinningyarn,whichshesoldatthenearesttown,lovedboththecatandthehenasherownchildren,andnevercontradictedtheminanyway;soitwastheirgrace,andnothers,thattheducklingwouldhavetogain。
Itwasonlynextmorning,whenitgrewlight,thattheynoticedtheirvisitor,whostoodtremblingbeforethem,withhiseyeonthedoorreadytoescapeatanymoment。Theydidnot,however,appearveryfierce,andtheducklingbecamelessafraidastheyapproachedhim。
'Canyoulayeggs？'askedthehen。Andtheducklingansweredmeekly:
'No;Idon'tknowhow。'Uponwhichthehenturnedherback,andthecatcameforward。
'Canyouruffleyourfurwhenyouareangry,orpurrwhenyouarepleased？'saidshe。Andagaintheducklinghadtoadmitthathecoulddonothingbutswim,whichdidnotseemofmuchusetoanybody。
Sothecatandthehenwentstraightofftotheoldwoman,whowasstillinbed。
'Suchauselesscreaturehastakenrefugehere,'theysaid。'Itcallsitselfaduckling;butitcanneitherlayeggsnorpurr！Whathadwebetterdowithit？'
'Keepit,tobesure！'repliedtheoldwomanbriskly。'Itisallnonsenseaboutitnotlayingeggs。Anyway,wewillletitstayhereforabit,andseewhathappens。'
Sotheducklingremainedforthreeweeks,andsharedthefoodofthecatandthehen;butnothinginthewayofeggshappenedatall。Thenthesuncameout,andtheairgrewsoft,andtheducklinggrewtiredofbeinginahut,andwantedwithallhismighttohaveaswim。Andonemorninghegotsorestlessthatevenhisfriendsnoticedit。
'Whatisthematter？'askedthehen;andtheducklingtoldher。
'Iamsolongingforthewateragain。Youcan'tthinkhowdeliciousitistoputyourheadunderthewateranddivestraighttothebottom。'
'Idon'tthinkIshouldenjoyit,'repliedthehendoubtfully。'AndI
don'tthinkthecatwouldlikeiteither。'Andthecat,whenasked,agreedtherewasnothingshewouldhatesomuch。
'Ican'tstayhereanylonger,IMustgettothewater,'repeatedtheduck。Andthecatandthehen,whofelthurtandoffended,answeredshortly:
'Verywellthen,go。'
Theducklingwouldhavelikedtosaygood—bye,andthankthemfortheirkindness,ashewaspolitebynature;buttheyhadbothturnedtheirbacksonhim,sohewentoutofthericketydoorfeelingrathersad。But,inspiteofhimself,hecouldnothelpathrillofjoywhenhewasoutintheairandwateroncemore,andcaredlittlefortherudeglancesofthecreatureshemet。Forawhilehewasquitehappyandcontent;butsoonthewintercameon,andsnowbegantofall,andeverythingtogrowverywetanduncomfortable。Andtheducklingsoonfoundthatitisonethingtoenjoybeinginthewater,andquiteanothertolikebeingdamponland。
Thesunwassettingoneday,likeagreatscarletglobe,andtheriver,totheduckling'svastbewilderment,wasgettinghardandslippery,whenheheardasoundofwhirringwings,andhighupintheairaflockofswanswereflying。Theywereaswhiteassnowwhichhadfallenduringthenight,andtheirlongneckswithyellowbillswerestretchedsouthwards,fortheyweregoing——theydidnotquiteknowwhither——buttoalandwherethesunshoneallday。Oh,ifheonlycouldhavegonewiththem！Butthatwasnotpossible,ofcourse;andbesides,whatsortofcompanioncouldanuglythinglikehimbetothosebeautifulbeings？Sohewalkedsadlydowntoashelteredpoolanddivedtotheverybottom,andtriedtothinkitwasthegreatesthappinesshecoulddreamof。But,allthesame,heknewitwasn't！
Andeverymorningitgrewcolderandcolder,andtheducklinghadhardworktokeephimselfwarm。Indeed,itwouldbetruertosaythatheneverwaswarmatall;andatlast,afteronebitternight,hislegsmovedsoslowlythattheicecreptcloserandcloser,andwhenthemorninglightbrokehewascaughtfast,asinatrap;andsoonhissenseswentfromhim。
Afewhoursmoreandthepoorduckling'slifehadbeenended。But,bygoodfortune,amanwascrossingtheriveronhiswaytohiswork,andsawinamomentwhathadhappened。Hehadonthickwoodenshoes,andhewentandstampedsohardontheicethatitbroke,andthenhepickeduptheducklingandtuckedhimunderhissheepskincoat,wherehisfrozenbonesbegantothawalittle。
Insteadofgoingonhiswork,themanturnedbackandtookthebirdtohischildren,whogavehimawarmmesstoeatandputhiminaboxbythefire,andwhentheycamebackfromschoolhewasmuchmorecomfortablethanhehadbeensincehehadlefttheoldwoman'scottage。
Theywerekindlittlechildren,andwantedtoplaywithhim;but,alas！thepoorfellowhadneverplayedinhislife,andthoughttheywantedtoteasehim,andflewstraightintothemilk—pan,andthenintothebutter—dish,andfromthatintothemeal—barrel,andatlast,terrifiedatthenoiseandconfusion,rightoutofthedoor,andhidhimselfinthesnowamongstthebushesatthebackofthehouse。
Henevercouldtellafterwardsexactlyhowhehadspenttherestofthewinter。Heonlyknewthathewasverymiserableandthatheneverhadenoughtoeat。Butby—and—bythingsgrewbetter。Theearthbecamesofter,thesunhotter,thebirdssang,andtheflowersoncemoreappearedinthegrass。Whenhestoodup,hefeltdifferent,somehow,fromwhathehaddonebeforehefellasleepamongthereedstowhichhehadwanderedafterhehadescapedfromthepeasant'shut。Hisbodyseemedlarger,andhiswingsstronger。Somethingpinklookedathimfromthesideofahill。Hethoughthewouldflytowardsitandseewhatitwas。
Oh,howgloriousitfelttoberushingthroughtheair,wheelingfirstonewayandthentheother！Hehadneverthoughtthatflyingcouldbelikethat！Theducklingwasalmostsorrywhenhedrewnearthepinkcloudandfounditwasmadeupofappleblossomsgrowingbesideacottagewhosegardenrandowntothebanksofthecanal。Heflutteredslowlytothegroundandpausedforafewminutesunderathicketofsyringas,andwhilehewasgazingabouthim,therewalkedslowlypastaflockofthesamebeautifulbirdshehadseensomanymonthsago。
Fascinated,hewatchedthemonebyonestepintothecanal,andfloatquietlyuponthewatersasiftheywerepartofthem。
'Iwillfollowthem,'saidtheducklingtohimself;'uglythoughIam,IwouldratherbekilledbythemthansufferallIhavesufferedfromcoldandhunger,andfromtheducksandfowlswhoshouldhavetreatedmekindly。'Andflyingquicklydowntothewater,heswamafterthemasfastashecould。
Itdidnottakehimlongtoreachthem,fortheyhadstoppedtorestinagreenpoolshadedbyatreewhosebranchessweptthewater。Anddirectlytheysawhimcomingsomeoftheyoungeronesswamouttomeethimwithcriesofwelcome,whichagaintheducklinghardlyunderstood。
Heapproachedthemglad,yettrembling,andturningtooneoftheolderbirds,whobythistimehadlefttheshadeofthetree,hesaid:
'IfIamtodie,Iwouldratheryoushouldkillme。Idon'tknowwhyI
waseverhatched,forIamtoouglytolive。'Andashespoke,hebowedhisheadandlookeddownintothewater。
Reflectedinthestillpoolhesawmanywhiteshapes,withlongnecksandgoldenbills,and,withoutthinking,helookedforthedullgreybodyandtheawkwardskinnyneck。Butnosuchthingwasthere。
Instead,hebeheldbeneathhimabeautifulwhiteswan！
'Thenewoneisthebestofall,'saidthechildrenwhentheycamedowntofeedtheswanswithbiscuitandcakebeforegoingtobed。'Hisfeathersarewhiterandhisbeakmoregoldenthantherest。'Andwhenheheardthat,theducklingthoughtthatitwasworthwhilehavingundergoneallthepersecutionandlonelinessthathehadpassedthrough,asotherwisehewouldneverhaveknownwhatitwastobereallyhappy。
[HansAndersen。]
TheTwoCasketsFar,faraway,inthemidstofapineforest,therelivedawomanwhohadbothadaughterandastepdaughter。Eversinceherowndaughterwasbornthemotherhadgivenherallthatshecriedfor,soshegrewuptobeascrossanddisagreeableasshewasugly。Herstepsister,ontheotherhand,hadspentherchildhoodinworkinghardtokeephouseforherfather,whodiedsoonafterhissecondmarriage;andshewasasmuchbelovedbytheneighboursforhergoodnessandindustryasshewasforherbeauty。
Astheyearswenton,thedifferencebetweenthetwogirlsgrewmoremarked,andtheoldwomantreatedherstepdaughterworsethanever,andwasalwaysonthewatchforsomepretextforbeatingher,ordeprivingherofherfood。Anything,howeverfoolish,wasgoodenoughforthis,andoneday,whenshecouldthinkofnothingbetter,shesetboththegirlstospinwhilesittingonthelowwallofthewell。
'Andyouhadbettermindwhatyoudo,'saidshe,'fortheonewhosethreadbreaksfirstshallbethrowntothebottom。'
Butofcourseshetookgoodcarethatherowndaughter'sflaxwasfineandstrong,whilethestepsisterhadonlysomecoarsestuff,whichnoonewouldhavethoughtofusing。Asmightbeexpected,inaverylittlewhilethepoorgirl'sthreadsnapped,andtheoldwoman,whohadbeenwatchingfrombehindadoor,seizedherstepdaughterbyhershoulders,andthrewherintothewell。
'Thatisanendofyou！'shesaid。Butshewaswrong,foritwasonlythebeginning。
Down,down,downwentthegirl——itseemedasifthewellmustreachtotheverymiddleoftheearth;butatlastherfeettouchedtheground,andshefoundherselfinafieldmorebeautifulthaneventhesummerpasturesofhernativemountains。Treeswavedinthesoftbreeze,andflowersofthebrightestcoloursdancedinthegrass。Andthoughshewasquitealone,thegirl'sheartdancedtoo,forshefelthappierthanshehadsinceherfatherdied。Soshewalkedonthroughthemeadowtillshecametoanoldtumbledownfence——sooldthatitwasawonderitmanagedtostandupatall,anditlookedasifitdependedforsupportontheoldman'sbeardthatclimbedalloverit。
Thegirlpausedforamomentasshecameup,andgazedaboutforaplacewhereshemightsafelycross。Butbeforeshecouldmoveavoicecriedfromthefence:
'Donothurtme,littlemaiden;Iamsoold,soold,Ihavenotmuchlongertolive。'