安徒生童话- 第101部分

When　the　prince　awoke　in　the　early　morning；　he　was　not　a　littlesurprised　at　finding　himself　high　up　above　the　clouds。　He　was　seatedon　the　back　of　the　East　Wind；　who　held　him　faithfully；　and　they　wereso　high　in　the　air　that　woods　and　fields；　rivers　and　lakes；　as　theylay　beneath　them；　looked　like　a　painted　map。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　the　East　Wind。　〃You　might　have　slept　on　awhile；　for　there　is　very　little　to　see　in　the　flat　country　overwhich　we　are　passing　unless　you　like　to　count　the　churches；　theylook　like　spots　of　chalk　on　a　green　board。〃　The　green　board　was　thename　he　gave　to　the　green　fields　and　meadows。

〃It　was　very　rude　of　me　not　to　say　good…bye　to　your　mother　andyour　brothers；〃　said　the　prince。

〃They　will　excuse　you；　as　you　were　asleep；〃　said　the　East　Wind；and　then　they　flew　on　faster　than　ever。

The　leaves　and　branches　of　the　trees　rustled　as　they　passed。When　they　flew　over　seas　and　lakes；　the　waves　rose　higher；　and　thelarge　ships　dipped　into　the　water　like　diving　swans。　As　darknesscame　on；　towards　evening；　the　great　towns　looked　charming；　lights　weresparkling；　now　seen　now　hidden；　just　as　the　sparks　go　out　one　afteranother　on　a　piece　of　burnt　paper。　The　prince　clapped　his　hands　withpleasure；　but　the　East　Wind　advised　him　not　to　express　hisadmiration　in　that　manner；　or　he　might　fall　down；　and　find　himselfhanging　on　a　church　steeple。　The　eagle　in　the　dark　forests　fliesswiftly；　but　faster　than　he　flew　the　East　Wind。　The　Cossack；　on　hissmall　horse；　rides　lightly　o'er　the　plains；　but　lighter　still　passedthe　prince　on　the　winds　of　the　wind。

〃There　are　the　Himalayas；　the　highest　mountains　in　Asia；〃　said　theEast　Wind。　〃We　shall　soon　reach　the　garden　of　paradise　now。〃

Then；　they　turned　southward；　and　the　air　became　fragrant　withthe　perfume　of　spices　and　flowers。　Here　figs　and　pomegranates　grewwild；　and　the　vines　were　covered　with　clusters　of　blue　and　purplegrapes。　Here　they　both　descended　to　the　earth；　and　stretchedthemselves　on　the　soft　grass；　while　the　flowers　bowed　to　the　breath　ofthe　wind　as　if　to　wele　it。　〃Are　we　now　in　the　garden　ofparadise？〃　asked　the　prince。

〃No；　indeed；〃　replied　the　East　Wind；　〃but　we　shall　be　there　verysoon。　Do　you　see　that　wall　of　rocks；　and　the　cavern　beneath　it；　overwhich　the　grape　vines　hang　like　a　green　curtain？　Through　that　cavernwe　must　pass。　Wrap　your　cloak　round　you；　for　while　the　sun　scorchesyou　here；　a　few　steps　farther　it　will　be　icy　cold。　The　bird　flyingpast　the　entrance　to　the　cavern　feels　as　if　one　wing　were　in　theregion　of　summer；　and　the　other　in　the　depths　of　winter。〃

〃So　this　then　is　the　way　to　the　garden　of　paradise？〃　asked　theprince；　as　they　entered　the　cavern。　It　was　indeed　cold；　but　the　coldsoon　passed；　for　the　East　Wind　spread　his　wings；　and　they　gleamed　likethe　brightest　fire。　As　they　passed　on　through　this　wonderful　cave；　theprince　could　see　great　blocks　of　stone；　from　which　water　trickled；hanging　over　their　heads　in　fantastic　shapes。　Sometimes　it　was　sonarrow　that　they　had　to　creep　on　their　hands　and　knees；　while　at　othertimes　it　was　lofty　and　wide；　like　the　free　air。　It　had　theappearance　of　a　chapel　for　the　dead；　with　petrified　organs　andsilent　pipes。　〃We　seem　to　be　passing　through　the　valley　of　death　tothe　garden　of　paradise；〃　said　the　prince。

But　the　East　Wind　answered　not　a　word；　only　pointed　forwards　toa　lovely　blue　light　which　gleamed　in　the　distance。　The　blocks　of　stoneassumed　a　misty　appearance；　till　at　last　they　looked　like　white　cloudsin　moonlight。　The　air　was　fresh　and　balmy；　like　a　breeze　from　themountains　perfumed　with　flowers　from　a　valley　of　roses。　A　river；　clearas　the　air　itself；　sparkled　at　their　feet；　while　in　its　clear　depthscould　be　seen　gold　and　silver　fish　sporting　in　the　bright　water；　andpurple　eels　emitting　sparks　of　fire　at　every　moment；　while　the　broadleaves　of　the　water…lilies；　that　floated　on　its　surface；　flickeredwith　all　the　colors　of　the　rainbow。　The　flower　in　its　color　of　flameseemed　to　receive　its　nourishment　from　the　water；　as　a　lamp　issustained　by　oil。　A　marble　bridge；　of　such　exquisite　workmanshipthat　it　appeared　as　if　formed　of　lace　and　pearls；　led　to　the　island　ofhappiness；　in　which　bloomed　the　garden　of　paradise。　The　East　Wind　tookthe　prince　in　his　arms；　and　carried　him　over；　while　the　flowers　andthe　leaves　sang　the　sweet　songs　of　his　childhood　in　tones　so　fulland　soft　that　no　human　voice　could　venture　to　imitate。　Within　thegarden　grew　large　trees；　full　of　sap；　but　whether　they　were　palm…treesor　gigantic　water…plants；　the　prince　knew　not。　The　climbing　plantshung　in　garlands　of　green　and　gold；　like　the　illuminations　on　themargins　of　old　missals　or　twined　among　the　initial　letters。　Birds；flowers；　and　festoons　appeared　intermingled　in　seeming　confusion。Close　by；　on　the　grass；　stood　a　group　of　peacocks；　with　radianttails　outspread　to　the　sun。　The　prince　touched　them；　and　found；　to　hissurprise；　that　they　were　not　really　birds；　but　the　leaves　of　theburdock　tree；　which　shone　with　the　colors　of　a　peacock's　tail。　Thelion　and　the　tiger；　gentle　and　tame；　were　springing　about　like　playfulcats　among　the　green　bushes；　whose　perfume　was　like　the　fragrantblossom　of　the　olive。　The　plumage　of　the　wood…pigeon　glistened　likepearls　as　it　struck　the　lion's　mane　with　its　wings；　while　theantelope；　usually　so　shy；　stood　near；　nodding　its　head　as　if　it　wishedto　join　in　the　frolic。　The　fairy　of　paradise　next　made　her　appearance。Her　raiment　shone　like　the　sun；　and　her　serene　countenance　beamed　withhappiness　like　that　of　a　mother　rejoicing　over　her　child。　She　wasyoung　and　beautiful；　and　a　train　of　lovely　maidens　followed　her；each　wearing　a　bright　star　in　her　hair。　The　East　Wind　gave　her　thepalm…leaf；　on　which　was　written　the　history　of　the　phoenix；　and　hereyes　sparkled　with　joy。　She　then　took　the　prince　by　the　hand；　andled　him　into　her　palace；　the　walls　of　which　were　richly　colored；like　a　tulip…leaf　when　it　is　turned　to　the　sun。　The　roof　had　theappearance　of　an　inverted　flower；　and　the　colors　grew　deeper　andbrighter　to　the　gazer。　The　prince　walked　to　a　window；　and　saw　whatappeared　to　be　the　tree　of　knowledge　of　good　and　evil；　with　Adam　andEve　standing　by；　and　the　serpent　near　them。　〃I　thought　they　werebanished　from　paradise；〃　he　said。

The　princess　smiled；　and　told　him　that　time　had　engraved　eachevent　on　a　window…pane　in　the　form　of　a　picture；　but；　unlike　otherpictures；　all　that　it　represented　lived　and　moved；…　the　leavesrustled；　and　the　persons　went　and　came；　as　in　a　looking…glass。　Helooked　through　another　pane；　and　saw　the　ladder　in　Jacob's　dream；　onwhich　the　angels　were　ascending　and　descending　with　outspread　wings。All　that　had　ever　happened　in　the　world　here　lived　and　moved　on　thepanes　of　glass；　in　pictures　such　as　time　alone　could　produce。　Thefairy　now　led　the　prince　into　a　large；　lofty　room　with　transparentwalls；　through　which　the　light　shone。　Here　were　portraits；　each　oneappearing　more　beautiful　than　the　other…　millions　of　happy　beings；whose　laughter　and　song　mingled　in　one　sweet　melody：　some　of　thesewere　in　such　an　elevated　position　that　they　appeared　smaller　thanthe　smallest　rosebud；　or　like　pencil　dots　on　paper。　In　the　centre　ofthe　hall　stood　a　tree；　with　drooping　branches；　from　which　hunggolden　apples；　both　great　and　small；　lookin