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the buckwheat-第1部分

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                     FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

                                 THE BUCKWHEAT

                           by Hans Christian Andersen



    VERY often; after a violent thunder…storm; a field of buckwheat

appears blackened and singed; as if a flame of fire had passed over

it。 The country people say that this appearance is caused by

lightning; but I will tell you what the sparrow says; and the

sparrow heard it from an old willow…tree which grew near a field of

buckwheat; and is there still。 It is a large venerable tree; though

a little crippled by age。 The trunk has been split; and out of the

crevice grass and brambles grow。 The tree bends for…ward slightly; and

the branches hang quite down to the ground just like green hair。

Corn grows in the surrounding fields; not only rye and barley; but

oats;…pretty oats that; when ripe; look like a number of little golden

canary…birds sitting on a bough。 The corn has a smiling look and the

heaviest and richest ears bend their heads low as if in pious

humility。 Once there was also a field of buckwheat; and this field was

exactly opposite to old willow…tree。 The buckwheat did not bend like

the other grain; but erected its head proudly and stiffly on the stem。

〃I am as valuable as any other corn;〃 said he; 〃and I am much

handsomer; my flowers are as beautiful as the bloom of the apple

blossom; and it is a pleasure to look at us。 Do you know of anything

prettier than we are; you old willow…tree?〃

    And the willow…tree nodded his head; as if he would say; 〃Indeed I

do。〃

    But the buckwheat spread itself out with pride; and said;

〃Stupid tree; he is so old that grass grows out of his body。〃

    There arose a very terrible storm。 All the field…flowers folded

their leaves together; or bowed their little heads; while the storm

passed over them; but the buckwheat stood erect in its pride。 〃Bend

your head as we do;〃 said the flowers。

    〃I have no occasion to do so;〃 replied the buckwheat。

    〃Bend your head as we do;〃 cried the ears of corn; 〃the angel of

the storm is coming; his wings spread from the sky above to the

earth beneath。 He will strike you down before you can cry for mercy。〃

    〃But I will not bend my head;〃 said the buckwheat。

    〃Close your flowers and bend your leaves;〃 said the old

willow…tree。 〃Do not look at the lightning when the cloud bursts; even

men cannot do that。 In a flash of lightning heaven opens; and we can

look in; but the sight will strike even human beings blind。 What

then must happen to us; who only grow out of the earth; and are so

inferior to them; if we venture to do so?〃

    〃Inferior; indeed!〃 said the buckwheat。 〃Now I intend to have a

peep into heaven。〃 Proudly and boldly he looked up; while the

lightning flashed across the sky as if the whole world were in flames。

    When the dreadful storm had passed; the flowers and the corn

raised their drooping heads in the pure still air; refreshed by the

rain; but the buckwheat lay like a weed in the field; burnt to

blackness by the lightning。 The branches of the old willow…tree

rustled in the wind; and large water…drops fell from his green leaves

as if the old willow were weeping。 Then the sparrows asked why he was

weeping; when all around him seemed so cheerful。 〃See;〃 they said;

how the sun shines; and the clouds float in the blue sky。 Do you not

smell the sweet perfume from flower and bush? Wherefore do you weep;

old willow…tree?〃 Then the willow told them of the haughty pride of

the buckwheat; and of the punishment which followed in consequence。

    This is the story told me by the sparrows one evening when I

begged them to relate some tale to me。

                            THE END



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