And he spent seven years in the construction of wonderful ships tosail through the air； and had darts cast from the hardest steel tobreak the walls of heaven with。 He gathered warriors from allcountries； so many that when they were placed side by side theycovered the space of several miles。 They entered the ships and theprince was approaching his own； when God sent a swarm of gnats… oneswarm of little gnats。 They buzzed round the prince and stung his faceand hands； angrily he drew his sword and brandished it； but he onlytouched the air and did not hit the gnats。 Then he ordered hisservants to bring costly coverings and wrap him in them； that thegnats might no longer be able to reach him。 The servants carried outhis orders； but one single gnat had placed itself inside one of thecoverings； crept into the prince's ear and stung him。 The placeburnt like fire； and the poison entered into his blood。 Mad with pain；he tore off the coverings and his clothes too； flinging them far away；and danced about before the eyes of his ferocious soldiers； who nowmocked at him； the mad prince； who wished to make war with God； andwas overe by a single little gnat。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE WILD SWANS
by Hans Christian Andersen
FAR away in the land to which the swallows fly when it iswinter； dwelt a king who had eleven sons； and one daughter； namedEliza。 The eleven brothers were princes； and each went to schoolwith a star on his breast； and a sword by his side。 They wrote withdiamond pencils on gold slates； and learnt their lessons so quicklyand read so easily that every one might know they were princes。Their sister Eliza sat on a little stool of plate…glass； and had abook full of pictures； which had cost as much as half a kingdom。 Oh；these children were indeed happy； but it was not to remain soalways。 Their father； who was king of the country； married a verywicked queen； who did not love the poor children at all。 They knewthis from the very first day after the wedding。 In the palace therewere great festivities； and the children played at receivingpany； but instead of having； as usual； all the cakes and applesthat were left； she gave them some sand in a tea…cup； and told them topretend it was cake。 The week after； she sent little Eliza into thecountry to a peasant and his wife； and then she told the king somany untrue things about the young princes； that he gave himself nomore trouble respecting them。
〃Go out into the world and get your own living；〃 said the queen。〃Fly like great birds； who have no voice。〃 But she could not make themugly as she wished； for they were turned into eleven beautiful wildswans。 Then； with a strange cry； they flew through the windows ofthe palace； over the park； to the forest beyond。 It was earlymorning when they passed the peasant's cottage； where their sisterEliza lay asleep in her room。 They hovered over the roof； twistedtheir long necks and flapped their wings； but no one heard them or sawthem； so they were at last obliged to fly away； high up in the clouds；and over the wide world they flew till they came to a thick； darkwood； which stretched far away to the seashore。 Poor little Elizawas alone in her room playing with a green leaf； for she had noother playthings； and she pierced a hole through the leaf； andlooked through it at the sun； and it was as if she saw her brothers'clear eyes； and when the warm sun shone on her cheeks； she thoughtof all the kisses they had given her。 One day passed just likeanother； sometimes the winds rustled through the leaves of therose…bush； and would whisper to the roses； 〃Who can be morebeautiful than you！〃 But the roses would shake their heads； and say；〃Eliza is。〃 And when the old woman sat at the cottage door onSunday； and read her hymn…book； the wind would flutter the leaves； andsay to the book； 〃Who can be more pious than you？〃 and then thehymn…book would answer 〃Eliza。〃 And the roses and the hymn…book toldthe real truth。 At fifteen she returned home； but when the queen sawhow beautiful she was； she became full of spite and hatred towardsher。 Willingly would she have turned her into a swan； like herbrothers； but she did not dare to do so yet； because the king wishedto see his daughter。 Early one morning the queen went into thebath…room； it was built of marble； and had soft cushions； trimmed withthe most beautiful tapestry。 She took three toads with her； and kissedthem； and said to one； 〃When Eliza es to the bath； seat yourselfupon her head； that she may bee as stupid as you are。〃 Then shesaid to another； 〃Place yourself on her forehead； that she maybee as ugly as you are； and that her father may not know her。〃〃Rest on her heart；〃 she whispered to the third； 〃then she will haveevil inclinations； and suffer in consequence。〃 So she put the toadsinto the clear water； and they turned green immediately。 She nextcalled Eliza； and helped her to undress and get into the bath。 AsEliza dipped her head under the water； one of the toads sat on herhair； a second on her forehead； and a third on her breast； but she didnot seem to notice them； and when she rose out of the water； therewere three red poppies floating upon it。 Had not the creatures beenvenomous or been kissed by the witch； they would have been changedinto red roses。 At all events they became flowers； because they hadrested on Eliza's head； and on her heart。 She was too good and tooinnocent for witchcraft to have any power over her。 When the wickedqueen saw this； she rubbed her face with walnut…juice； so that she wasquite brown； then she tangled her beautiful hair and smeared it withdisgusting ointment； till it was quite impossible to recognize thebeautiful Eliza。
When her father saw her； he was much shocked； and declared she wasnot his daughter。 No one but the watch…dog and the swallows knewher； and they were only poor animals； and could say nothing。 Then poorEliza wept； and thought of her eleven brothers； who were all away。Sorrowfully； she stole away from the palace； and walked； the wholeday； over fields and moors； till she came to the great forest。 Sheknew not in what direction to go； but she was so unhappy； and longedso for her brothers； who had been； like herself； driven out into theworld； that she was determined to seek them。 She had been but ashort time in the wood when night came on； and she quite lost thepath； so she laid herself down on the soft moss； offered up herevening prayer； and leaned her head against the stump of a tree。 Allnature was still； and the soft； mild air fanned her forehead。 Thelight of hundreds of glow…worms shone amidst the grass and the moss；like green fire； and if she touched a twig with her hand； ever solightly； the brilliant insects fell down around her； likeshooting…stars。
All night long she dreamt of her brothers。 She and they werechildren again； playing together。 She saw them writing with theirdiamond pencils on golden slates； while she looked at the beautifulpicture…book which had cost half a kingdom。 They were not writinglines and letters； as they used to do； but descriptions of the nobledeeds they had performed； and of all they had discovered and seen。In the picture…book； too； everything was living。 The birds sang； andthe people came out o