安徒生童話全集英文版

安徒生童話全集英文版

安徒生童話全集英文版1

THEPRINCESSONTHEPEA

THEREwasonceaPrincewhowantedtomarryaprincess;butshewastobearealprincess.Sohetravelledabout,allthroughtheworld,tofindarealone,buteverywheretherewassomethingintheway.Therewereprincessesenough,butwhethertheywererealprincesseshecouldnotquitemakeout:therewasalwayssomethingthatdidnotseemquiteright.Sohecamehomeagain,andwasquitesad;forhewishedsomuchtohavearealprincess.

Oneeveningaterriblestormcameon.Itlightenedandthundered,therainstreameddown;itwasquitefearful!Thentherewasaknockingatthetown-gate,andtheoldKingwentouttoopenit.

ItwasaPrincesswhostoodoutsidethegate.But,mercy!Howshelooked,fromtherainandtheroughweather!Thewaterrandownherhairandherclothes;itraninatthepointsofhershoes,andoutattheheels;andyetshedeclaredthatshewasarealprincess.

“Yes,wewillsoonfindthatout,”thoughttheoldQueen.Butshesaidnothing,onlywentintothebedchamber,tookallthebeddingoff,andputapeaonthebottomofthebedstead;thenshetooktwentymattressesandlaidthemuponthepea,andthentwentyeider-downquiltsuponthemattresses.OnthisthePrincesshadtolieallnight.Inthemorningshewasaskedhowshehadslept.

“Oh,miserably!”saidthePrincess.“Iscarcelyclosedmyeyesallnightlong.Goodnessknowswhatwasinmybed.Ilayuponsomethinghard,sothatIamblackandblueallover.Itisquitedreadful!”

Nowtheysawthatshewasarealprincess,forthroughthetwentymattressesandthetwentyeider-downquiltsshehadfeltthepea.Noonebutarealprincesscouldbesotender-skinned.

SothePrincetookherforhiswife,fornowheknewthathehadatrueprincessandthepeawasputinthemuseum,anditisstilltobeseenthere,unlesssomebodyhascarrieditoff.

Lookyou,thisisatruestory.

安徒生童話全集英文版2

GREATCLAUSANDLITTLECLAUS

THERElivedtwomeninonevillage,andtheyhadthesamename----eachwascalledClaus;butonehadfourhorses,andtheotheronlyasinglehorse.Todistinguishthemfromeachother,folkscalledhimwhohadfourhorsesGreatClaus,andtheonewhohadonlyasinglehorseLittleClaus.Nowweshallhearwhathappenedtoeachofthem,forthisisatruestory.

Thewholeweekthrough,LittleClauswasobligedtoploughforGreatClaus,andtolendhimhisonehorse;thenGreatClaushelpedhimoutwithallhisfour,butonlyonceaweek,andthatwasonSunday.Hurrah!HowLittleClaussmackedhiswhipoverallfivehorses,fortheywereasgoodashisownonthatoneday.Thesunshonegaily,andallthebellsinthesteepleswereringing;thepeoplewerealldressedintheirbest,andweregoingtochurch,withtheirhymn-booksundertheirarms,toheartheclergymanpreach,andtheysawLittleClausploughingwithfivehorses;buthewassomerrythathesmackedhiswhipagainandagain,andcried,“Geeup,allmyfive!”

“Youmustnottalkso,”saidGreatClaus,“foronlyonehorseisyours.”

ButwhenanyonepassedLittleClausforgotthathewasnottosaythis,andhecried,“Geeup,allmyhorses!”

“Now,Imustbegofyoutostopthat,”criedGreatClaus,“forifyousayitagain,Ishallhityourhorseonthehead,sothatitwillfalldowndead,andthenitwillbealloverwithhim.”

“Iwillcertainlynotsayitanymore,”saidLittleClaus.

Butwhenpeoplecamebysoonafterwards,andnodded“goodday”tohim,hebecameveryglad,andthoughtitlookedverywell,afterall,thathehadfivehorsestoploughhisfield;andsohesmackedhiswhipagain,andcried,“Geeup,allmyhorses!”

“I'll‘geeup’yourhorses!”saidGreatClaus.AndhetookamalletandhittheonlyhorseofLittleClausonthehead,sothatitfelldown,andwasdeadimmediately.

“Oh,nowIhaven'tanyhorseatall!”saidLittleClaus,andbegantocry.

Thenheflayedthehorse,andletthehidedryinthewind,andputitinasackandhungitoverhisshoulder,andwenttothetowntosellhishorse'sskin.

Hehadaverylongwaytogo,andwasobligedtopassthroughagreatdarkwood,andtheweatherbecamedreadfullybad.Hewentquiteastray,andbeforehegotintotherightwayagainitwasevening,anditwastoofartogethomeagainoreventothetownbeforenightfall.

Closebytheroadstoodalargefarm-house.Theshutterswereclosedoutsidethewindows,butthelightcouldstillbeseenshiningoutoverthem.

“Imaybeabletogetleavetostopherethroughthenight,”thoughtLittleClaus;andhewentandknocked.Thefarmer'swifeopenedthedoor;butwhensheheardwhathewantedshetoldhimtogoaway,declaringthatherhusbandwasnotathome,andshewouldnotreceivestrangers.

“ThenIshallhavetolieoutside,”saidLittleClaus.Andthefarmer'swifeshutthedoorinhisface.

Closebystoodagreathaystack,andbetweenthisandthefarm-housewasalittleouthousethatchedwithstraw.

“UpthereIcanlie,”saidLittleClaus,whenhelookedupattheroof,“thatisacapitalbed.Isupposethestorkwon'tflydownandbitemeinthelegs.”Foralivingstorkwasstandingontheroof,wherehehadhisnest.

NowLittleClausclimbeduptotheroofoftheshed,wherehelay,andturnedroundtosettlehimselfcomfortably.Thewoodenshuttersdidnotcoverthewindowsatthetop,andhecouldlookstraightintotheroom.Therewasagreattable,withtheclothlaid,andwineandroastmeatandagloriousfishuponit.Thefarmer'swifeandtheparish-clerkwereseatedattable,andnobodybesides.Shewasfillinghisglass,andhewasdigginghisforkintothefish,forthatwashisfavouritedish.

“Ifonecouldonlygetsometoo!”thoughtLittleClaus,ashestretchedouthisheadtowardsthewindow.Heavens!Whatagloriouscakehesawstandingthere!Yes,certainly,thatwasafeast.

Nowheheardsomeoneridingalongthehighroad.Itwasthewoman'shusband,whowascominghome.Hewasagoodmanenough,buthehadthestrangepeculiaritythathecouldneverbeartoseeaclerk.Ifaclerkappearedbeforehiseyeshebecamequitewild.Andthatwasthereasonwhytheclerkhadgonetothewifetowishhergoodday,becauseheknewthatherhusbandwasnotathome;andthegoodwomanthereforeputthebestfareshehadbeforehim.Butwhentheyheardthemancomingtheywerefrightened,andthewomanbeggedtheclerktocreepintoagreatemptychestwhichstoodinthecomer;andhedidso,forheknewthehusbandcouldnotbearthesightofaclerk.Thewomanquicklyhidalltheexcellentmeatandwineinherbaking-oven;forifthemanhadseenthat,hewouldhavebeencertaintoaskwhatitmeant.

“Oh,dear!”sighedLittleClaus,upinhisshed,whenhesawallthegoodfareputaway.

“Isthereanyoneupthere?”askedthefarmer;andhelookedupatLittleClaus.“Whyareyoulyingthere?Bettercomewithmeintotheroom.”

AndLittleClaustoldhimhowhehadlosthisway,andaskedleavetostaythereforthenight.

“Yes,certainly,”saidthepeasant,“butfirstwemusthavesomethingtoliveon.”

Thewomanreceivedthembothinaveryfriendlyway,spreadtheclothonalongtable,andgavethemagreatdishofporridge.Thefarmerwashungry,andatewithagoodappetite;butLittleClauscouldnothelpthinkingofthecapitalroastmeat,fish,andcake,whichheknewwereintheoven.Underthetable,athisfeet,hehadlaidthesackwiththehorse'shideinit;forweknowthathehadcomeouttosellitinthetown.Hecouldnotrelishtheporridge,sohetroduponthesack,andthedryskininsidecrackledquiteloudly.

“Hush,”saidLittleClaustohissack;butatthesametimehetrodonitagain,sothatitcrackledmuchlouderthanbefore.

“Why,whathaveyouinyoursack?”askedthefarmer.

“Oh,that'samagician,”answeredLittleClaus.“Hesayswearenottoeatporridge,forhehasconjuredtheovenfullofroastmeat,fish,andcake.”

“Wonderful!”criedthefarmer;andheopenedtheoveninahurry,andfoundallthedaintyprovisionswhichhiswifehadhiddenthere,butwhich,ashethought,thewizardhadconjuredforth.Thewomandarednotsayanything,butputthethingsatonceonthetable;andsotheybothateofthemeat,thefish,andthecake.NowLittleClausagaintrodonhissack,andmadethehidecreak.

“Whatdoeshesaynow?”saidthefarmer.

“Hesays,”repliedClaus,“thathehasconjuredthreebottlesofwineforus,too,andthattheyarealsostandingthereintheoven.”

Nowthewomanwasobligedtobringoutthewinewhichshehadhidden,andthefarmerdrankitandbecameverymerry.HewouldhavebeenverygladtoownsuchaconjurorasLittleClaushadthereinthesack.

“Canheconjurethedemonforth?”askedthefarmer.“Ishouldliketoseehim,fornowIammerry.”

“Oh,yes.”saidLittleClaus,“myconjurorcandoanythingthatIaskofhim.----Canyounot?”headded,andtrodonthehide,sothatitcrackled.Hesays‘Yes.’Butthedemonisveryuglytolookat:wehadbetternotseehim.”

“Oh,I'mnotatallafraid.Pray,whatwillhelooklike?”

“Why,he'lllooktheveryimageofaparish-clerk.”

“Ha!”saidthefarmer,“thatisugly!Youmustknow,Ican'tbearthesightofaclerk.Butitdoesn'tmatternow,forIknowthathe'sademon,soIshalleasilystandit.NowIhavecourage,buthemustnotcometoonearme.”

“NowIwillaskmyconjuror,”saidLittleClaus;andhetrodonthesackandheldhiseardown.

“Whatdoeshesay?”

“Hesaysyoumaygoandopenthechestthatstandsinthecorner,andyouwillseethedemoncrouchinginit;butyoumustholdthelidsothathedoesn'tslipout.”

“Willyouhelpmetoholdhim?”askedthefarmer.Andhewenttothechestwherethewifehadhiddentherealclerk,whosatinthereandwasverymuchafraid.Thefarmeropenedthelidalittlewayandpeepedinunderneathit.

“Ugh!”hecried,andsprangbackward.“Yes,nowI'veseenhim,andhelookedexactlylikeourclerk.Oh,thatwasdreadful!”

Uponthistheymustdrink.Sotheysatanddrankuntillateintothenight.

“Youmustsellmethatconjuror,”saidthefarmer.“Askasmuchasyoulikeforhim.I'llgiveyouawholebushelofmoneydirectly.”

“No,thatIcan'tdo,”saidLittleClaus:“onlythinkhowmuchuseIcanmakeofthisconjuror.”

“Oh,Ishouldsomuchliketohavehim!”criedthefarmer;andhewentonbegging.

“Well,”saidLittleClaus,atlast,“asyouhavebeensokindastogivemeshelterforthenight,Iwillletitbeso.Youshallhavetheconjurorforabushelofmoney;butImusthavethebushelheapedup.”

“Thatyoushallhave,”repliedthefarmer.“Butyoumusttakethechestyonderawaywithyou.Iwillnotkeepitinmyhouseanhour.Onecannotknow----perhapshemaybetherestill.”

LittleClausgavethefarmerhissackwiththedryhideinit,andgotinexchangeawholebushelofmoney,andthatheapedup.Thefarmeralsogavehimabigtruck,onwhichtocarryoffhismoneyandchest.

“Farewell!”saidLittleClaus;andhewentoffwithhismoneyandthebigchest,inwhichtheclerkwasstillsitting.

Ontheothersideofthewoodwasagreatdeepriver.Thewaterrushedalongsorapidlythatonecouldscarcelyswimagainstthestream.Afinenewbridgehadbeenbuiltoverit.LittleClausstoppedonthecentreofthebridge,andsaidquiteloud,sothattheclerkcouldhearit,“Ho,whatshallIdowiththisstupidchest?It'sasheavyasifstoneswereinit.IshallonlygettiredifIdragitanyfarther,soI'llthrowitintotheriver:ifitswimshometome,wellandgood;andifitdoesnot,itwillbenogreatmatter.”

Andhetookthechestwithonehand,andlifteditupalittle,asifheintendedtothrowitintotheriver.

“No!Stopit!”criedtheclerkfromwithinthechest;“letmeoutfirst!”

“Ugh!”exclaimedLittleClaus,pretendingtobefrightened,“he'sintherestill!Imustmakehasteandthrowhimintotheriver,thathemaybedrowned.”

“Oh,no,no!”screamedtheclerk.“I'llgiveyouawholebushel-fullofmoneyifyou'llletmego.”

“Why,that'sanotherthing!”saidLittleClaus;andheopenedthechest.

Theclerkcreptquicklyout,pushedtheemptychestintothewater,andwenttohishouse,whereLittleClausreceivedawholebushel-fullofmoney.Hehadalreadyreceivedonefromthefarmer,andsonowhehadhistruckloadedwithmoney.

“See,I'vebeenwellpaidforthehorse,”hesaidtohimselfwhenhehadgothometohisownroom,andwasemptyingallthemoneyintoaheapinthemiddleofthefloor.“ThatwillvexGreatClauswhenhehearshowrichIhavegrownthroughmyonehorse;butIwon'ttellhimaboutitoutright.”

SohesentaboytoGreatClaustoaskforabushelmeasure.

“Whatcanhewantwithit?”thoughtGreatClaus.Andhesmearedsometarunderneaththemeasure,sothatsomepartofwhateverwasmeasuredshouldsticktoit.Andthusithappened;forwhenhereceivedthemeasureback,therewerethreenewthree-pennypiecesadheringthereto.

“What'sthis?”criedGreatClaus;andheranoffatoncetoLittleClaus.“Wheredidyougetallthatmoneyfrom?”

“Oh,that'sformyhorse'sskin.Isoldityesterdayevening.”

“That'sreallybeingwellpaid,”saidGreatClaus.Andheranhomeinahurry,tookanaxe,andkilledallhisfourhorses;thenheflayedthem,andcarriedofftheirskinstothetown.

“Hides!Hides!Who'llbuyanyhides?”hecriedthroughthestreets.

Alltheshoemakersandtannerscamerunning,andaskedhowmuchhewantedforthem.

“Abushelofmoneyforeach!”saidGreatClaus.

“Areyoumad?”saidthey.“Doyouthinkwehavemoneybythebushel?”

“Hides!Hides!”hecriedagain;andtoallwhoaskedhimwhatthehideswouldcosthereplied,“Abushelofmoney.”

“Hewantstomakefoolsofus,”theyallexclaimed.Andtheshoemakerstooktheirstraps,andthetannerstheiraprons,andtheybegantobeatGreatClaus.

“Hides!Hides!”theycalledafterhim,jeeringly.“Yes,we'11tanyourhideforyoutilltheredbrothrunsdown.Outofthetownwithhim!”AndGreatClausmadethebesthastehecould,forhehadneveryetbeenthrashedashewasthrashednow.

“Well,”saidhewhenhegothome,“LittleClausshallpayforthis.I'llkillhimforit.”