安徒生童话-第102章

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all　stood　a　tree；　with　drooping　branches；　from　which　hunggolden　apples；　both　great　and　small；　looking　like　oranges　amid　thegreen　leaves。　It　was　the　tree　of　knowledge　of　good　and　evil；　fromwhich　Adam　and　Eve　had　plucked　and　eaten　the　forbidden　fruit；　and　fromeach　leaf　trickled　a　bright　red　dewdrop；　as　if　the　tree　were　weepingtears　of　blood　for　their　sin。　〃Let　us　now　take　the　boat；〃　said　thefairy：　〃a　sail　on　the　cool　waters　will　refresh　us。　But　we　shall　notmove　from　the　spot；　although　the　boat　may　rock　on　the　swellingwater；　the　countries　of　the　world　will　glide　before　us；　but　we　shallremain　still。〃

It　was　indeed　wonderful　to　behold。　First　came　the　lofty　Alps；snow…clad；　and　covered　with　clouds　and　dark　pines。　The　horn　resounded；and　the　shepherds　sang　merrily　in　the　valleys。　The　banana…trees　benttheir　drooping　branches　over　the　boat；　black　swans　floated　on　thewater；　and　singular　animals　and　flowers　appeared　on　the　distant　shore。New　Holland；　the　fifth　division　of　the　world；　now　glided　by；　withmountains　in　the　background；　looking　blue　in　the　distance。　Theyheard　the　song　of　the　priests；　and　saw　the　wild　dance　of　the　savage　tothe　sound　of　the　drums　and　trumpets　of　bone；　the　pyramids　of　Egyptrising　to　the　clouds；　columns　and　sphinxes；　overthrown　and　buried　inthe　sand；　followed　in　their　turn；　while　the　northern　lights　flashedout　over　the　extinguished　volcanoes　of　the　north；　in　fireworks　nonecould　imitate。

The　prince　was　delighted；　and　yet　he　saw　hundreds　of　otherwonderful　things　more　than　can　be　described。　〃Can　I　stay　hereforever？〃　asked　he。

〃That　depends　upon　yourself；〃　replied　the　fairy。　〃If　you　do　not；like　Adam；　long　for　what　is　forbidden；　you　can　remain　here　always。〃

〃I　should　not　touch　the　fruit　on　the　tree　of　knowledge；〃　saidthe　prince；　there　is　abundance　of　fruit　equally　beautiful。〃

〃Examine　your　own　heart；〃　said　the　princess；　〃and　if　you　do　notfeel　sure　of　its　strength；　return　with　the　East　Wind　who　broughtyou。　He　is　about　to　fly　back；　and　will　not　return　here　for　a　hundredyears。　The　time　will　not　seem　to　you　more　than　a　hundred　hours；　yeteven　that　is　a　long　time　for　temptation　and　resistance。　Every　evening；when　I　leave　you；　I　shall　be　obliged　to　say；　'e　with　me；'　and　tobeckon　to　you　with　my　hand。　But　you　must　not　listen；　nor　move　fromyour　place　to　follow　me；　for　with　every　step　you　will　find　yourpower　to　resist　weaker。　If　once　you　attempted　to　follow　me；　youwould　soon　find　yourself　in　the　hall；　where　grows　the　tree　ofknowledge；　for　I　sleep　beneath　its　perfumed　branches。　If　you　stoopedover　me；　I　should　be　forced　to　smile。　If　you　then　kissed　my　lips；the　garden　of　paradise　would　sink　into　the　earth；　and　to　you　itwould　be　lost。　A　keen　wind　from　the　desert　would　howl　around　you；　coldrain　fall　on　your　head；　and　sorrow　and　woe　be　your　future　lot。〃

〃I　will　remain；〃　said　the　prince。

So　the　East　Wind　kissed　him　on　the　forehead；　and　said；　〃Be　firm；then　shall　we　meet　again　when　a　hundred　years　have　passed。　Farewell；farewell。〃　Then　the　East　Wind　spread　his　broad　pinions；　which　shonelike　the　lightning　in　harvest；　or　as　the　northern　lights　in　a　coldwinter。

〃Farewell；　farewell；〃　echoed　the　trees　and　the　flowers。

Storks　and　pelicans　flew　after　him　in　feathery　bands；　to　acpanyhim　to　the　boundaries　of　the　garden。

〃Now　we　will　mence　dancing；〃　said　the　fairy；　and　when　it　isnearly　over　at　sunset；　while　I　am　dancing　with　you；　I　shall　make　asign；　and　ask　you　to　follow　me：　but　do　not　obey。　I　shall　be　obliged　torepeat　the　same　thing　for　a　hundred　years；　and　each　time；　when　thetrial　is　past；　if　you　resist；　you　will　gain　strength；　tillresistance　bees　easy；　and　at　last　the　temptation　will　be　quiteovere。　This　evening；　as　it　will　be　the　first　time；　I　have　warnedyou。〃

After　this　the　fairy　led　him　into　a　large　hall；　filled　withtransparent　lilies。　The　yellow　stamina　of　each　flower　formed　a　tinygolden　harp；　from　which　came　forth　strains　of　music　like　the　mingledtones　of　flute　and　lyre。　Beautiful　maidens；　slender　and　graceful　inform；　and　robed　in　transparent　gauze；　floated　through　the　dance；　andsang　of　the　happy　life　in　the　garden　of　paradise；　where　death　neverentered；　and　where　all　would　bloom　forever　in　immortal　youth。　As　thesun　went　down；　the　whole　heavens　became　crimson　and　gold；　and　tintedthe　lilies　with　the　hue　of　roses。　Then　the　beautiful　maidens　offeredto　the　prince　sparkling　wine；　and　when　he　had　drank；　he　felt　happinessgreater　than　he　had　ever　known　before。　Presently　the　background　of　thehall　opened　and　the　tree　of　knowledge　appeared；　surrounded　by　a　haloof　glory　that　almost　blinded　him。　Voices；　soft　and　lovely　as　hismother's　sounded　in　his　ears；　as　if　she　were　singing　to　him；　〃Mychild；　my　beloved　child。〃　Then　the　fairy　beckoned　to　him；　and　saidin　sweet　accents；　〃e　with　me；　e　with　me。〃　Forgetting　hispromise；　forgetting　it　even　on　the　very　first　evening；　he　rushedtowards　her；　while　she　continued　to　beckon　to　him　and　to　smile。　Thefragrance　around　him　overpowered　his　senses；　the　music　from　theharps　sounded　more　entrancing；　while　around　the　tree　appeared　millionsof　smiling　faces；　nodding　and　singing。　〃Man　should　know　everything；man　is　the　lord　of　the　earth。〃　The　tree　of　knowledge　no　longer　wepttears　of　blood；　for　the　dewdrops　shone　like　glittering　stars。

〃e；　e；〃　continued　that　thrilling　voice；　and　the　princefollowed　the　call。　At　every　step　his　cheeks　glowed；　and　the　bloodrushed　wildly　through　his　veins。　〃I　must　follow；〃　he　cried；　〃it　is　nota　sin；　it　cannot　be；　to　follow　beauty　and　joy。　I　only　want　to　seeher　sleep；　and　nothing　will　happen　unless　I　kiss　her；　and　that　Iwill　not　do；　for　I　have　strength　to　resist；　and　a　determined　will。〃

The　fairy　threw　off　her　dazzling　attire；　bent　back　the　boughs；　andin　another　moment　was　hidden　among　them。

〃I　have　not　sinned　yet；〃　said　the　prince；　〃and　I　will　not；〃　andthen　he　pushed　aside　the　boughs　to　follow　the　princess。　She　waslying　already　asleep；　beautiful　as　only　a　fairy　in　the　garden　ofparadise　could　be。　She　smiled　as　he　bent　over　her；　and　he　saw　tearstrembling　out　of　her　beautiful　eyelashes。　〃Do　you　weep　for　me？〃　hewhispered。　〃Oh　weep　not；　thou　loveliest　of　women。　Now　do　I　begin　tounderstand　the　happiness　of　paradise；　I　feel　it　to　my　inmost　soul；in　every　thought。　A　new　life　is　born　within　me。　One　moment　of　suchhappiness　is　worth　an　eternity　of　darkness　and　woe。〃　He　stooped　andkissed　the　tears　from　her　eyes；　and　touched　her　lips　with　his。

A　clap　of　thunder；　loud　and　awful；　resounded　through　the　tremblingair。　All　around　him　fell　into　ruin。　The　lovely　fairy；　the　beautifulgarden；　sunk　deeper　and　deeper。　The　prince　saw　it　sinking　down　inthe　dark　night　till　it　shone　only　like　a　star　in　the　distancebeneath　him。　Then　he　felt　a　coldness；　like　death；　creeping　over　him；his　eyes　closed；　and　he　became　insensible。

When　he　recovered；　a　chilling　rain　was　beating　upon　him；　and　asharp　wind　blew　on　his　head。　〃Alas！　what　have　I　done？〃　he　sighed；　〃Ihave　sinned　like　Adam；　and　the　garden　of　paradise　has　sunk　into　theearth。〃　He　opened　his　eyes；　and　saw　the　star　in　the　distance；　but　itwas　the　morning　star　in　heaven　which　glittered　in　the　darkness。

Presently　he　stood　up　and　found　himself　in　the　depths　of　theforest；　close　to　the　cavern　of　the　Winds；　and　the　mother　of　theWinds　sat　by　his　side。　She　l