a16-第2章

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nd　fell　like　the
breast　of　a　sleeping　child。　When　the　sun　was　about　to　set；　Eliza　saw
eleven　white　swans　with　golden　crowns　on　their　heads；　flying　towards
the　land；　one　behind　the　other；　like　a　long　white　ribbon。　Then　Eliza
went　down　the　slope　from　the　shore；　and　hid　herself　behind　the　bushes。

The　swans　alighted　quite　close　to　her　and　flapped　their　great　white
wings。　As　soon　as　the　sun　had　disappeared　under　the　water；　the
feathers　of　the　swans　fell　off；　and　eleven　beautiful　princes；

Eliza's　brothers；　stood　near　her。　She　uttered　a　loud　cry；　for；
although　they　were　very　much　changed；　she　knew　them　immediately。　
She　sprang　into　their　arms；　and　called　them　each　by　name。　Then；　how
happy　the　princes　were　at　meeting　their　little　sister　again；　for
they　recognized　her；　although　she　had　grown　so　tall　and　beautiful。
They　laughed；　and　they　wept；　and　very　soon　understood　how　wickedly　their　mother　had　acted　to　them　all。　〃We　brothers；〃　said　the　eldest；　〃fly　about　as　wild　swans；　so　long　as　the　sun　is　in　the　sky；　but　as　soon　as　it　sinks　behind　the　hills；　we　recover　our　human　shape。

Therefore　must　we　always　be　near　a　resting　place　for　our　feet　before
sunset；　for　if　we　should　be　flying　towards　the　clouds　at　the　time　we
recovered　our　natural　shape　as　men；　we　should　sink　deep　into　the
sea。　We　do　not　dwell　here；　but　in　a　land　just　as　fair；　that　lies
beyond　the　ocean；　which　we　have　to　cross　for　a　long　distance；　there　is　no　island　in　our　passage　upon　which　we　could　pass；　the　night；
nothing　but　a　little　rock　rising　out　of　the　sea；　upon　which　we　can
scarcely　stand　with　safety；　even　closely　crowded　together。　If　the
sea　is　rough；　the　foam　dashes　over　us；　yet　we　thank　God　even　for
this　rock；　we　have　passed　whole　nights　upon　it；　or　we　should　never
have　reached　our　beloved　fatherland；　for　our　flight　across　the　sea
occupies　two　of　the　longest　days　in　the　year。　We　have　permission　to
visit　out　home　once　in　every　year；　and　to　remain　eleven　days；　during
which　we　fly　across　the　forest　to　look　once　more　at　the　palace　where
our　father　dwells；　and　where　we　were　born；　and　at　the　church；　where
our　mother　lies　buried。　Here　it　seems　as　if　the　very　trees　and
bushes　were　related　to　us。　The　wild　horses　leap　over　the　plains　as
we　have　seen　them　in　our　childhood。　The　charcoal　burners　sing　the
old　songs；　to　which　we　have　danced　as　children。　This　is　our
fatherland；　to　which　we　are　drawn　by　loving　ties；　and　here　we　have
found　you；　our　dear　little　sister。；　Two　days　longer　we　can　remain
here；　and　then　must　we　fly　away　to　a　beautiful　land　which　is　not　our
home；　and　how　can　we　take　you　with　us？　We　have　neither　ship　nor　boat。〃

〃How　can　I　break　this　spell？〃　said　their　sister。　And　then　she
talked　about　it　nearly　the　whole　night；　only　slumbering　for　a　few
hours。　Eliza　was　awakened　by　the　rustling　of　the　swans'　wings　as
they　soared　above。　Her　brothers　were　again　changed　to　swans；　and
they　flew　in　circles　wider　and　wider；　till　they　were　far　away；　but　one
of　them；　the　youngest　swan；　remained　behind；　and　laid　his　head　in
his　sister's　lap；　while　she　stroked　his　wings；　and　they　remained
together　the　whole　day。　Towards　evening；　the　rest　came　back；　and　as
the　sun　went　down　they　resumed　their　natural　forms。　〃To…morrow；〃
said　one；　〃we　shall　fly　away；　not　to　return　again　till　a　whole　year
has　passed。　But　we　cannot　leave　you　here。　Have　you　courage　to　go
with　us？　My　arm　is　strong　enough　to　carry　you　through　the　wood；　and　will　not　all　our　wings　be　strong　enough　to　fly　with　you　over　the　sea？〃

〃Yes；　take　me　with　you；〃　said　Eliza。　Then　they　spent　the　whole
night　in　weaving　a　net　with　the　pliant　willow　and　rushes。　It　was
very　large　and　strong。　Eliza　laid　herself　down　on　the　net；　and　when
the　sun　rose；　and　her　brothers　again　became　wild　swans；　they　took　up
the　net　with　their　beaks；　and　flew　up　to　the　clouds　with　their　dear
sister；　who　still　slept。　The　sunbeams　fell　on　her　face；　therefore
one　of　the　swans　soared　over　her　head；　so　that　his　broad　wings　might
shade　her。　They　were　far　from　the　land　when　Eliza　woke。　She　thought
she　must　still　be　dreaming；　it　seemed　so　strange　to　her　to　feel
herself　being　carried　so　high　in　the　air　over　the　sea。　By　her　side　lay
a　branch　full　of　beautiful　ripe　berries；　and　a　bundle　of　sweet
roots；　the　youngest　of　her　brothers　had　gathered　them　for　her；　and
placed　them　by　her　side。　She　smiled　her　thanks　to　him；　she　knew　it　was　the　same　who　had　hovered　over　her　to　shade　her　with　his　wings。　
They　were　now　so　high；　that　a　large　ship　beneath　them　looked　like　a　white　sea…gull　skimming　the　waves。　A　great　cloud　floating　behind　them　appeared　like　a　vast　mountain；　and　upon　it　Eliza　saw　her　own　shadow　and　those　of　the　eleven　swans；　looking　gigantic　in　size。　
Altogether　it　formed　a　more　beautiful　picture　than　she　had　ever　seen；　but　as　the　sun　rose　higher；　and　the　clouds　were　left　behind；　the　shadowy　picture　vanished　away。　Onward　the　whole　day　they　flew　through　the　air　like　a　winged　arrow；　yet　more　slowly　than　usual；　for　they　had　their　sister　to　carry。　The　weather　seemed　inclined　to　be　stormy；　and　Eliza　watched　the　sinking　sun　with　great　anxiety；　for　the　little　rock　in　the　ocean　was　not　yet　in　sight。　It　appeared　to　her　as　if　the　swans　were　making　great　efforts　with　their　wings。　Alas！　she　was　the　cause　of　their　not　advancing　more　quickly。　When　the　sun　set；　they　would　change　to　men；　fall　into　the　sea　and　be　drowned。　Then　she　offered　a　prayer　from　her　inmost　heart；　but　still　no　appearance　of　the　rock。　Dark　clouds　came　nearer；　the　gusts　of　wind　told　of　a　coming　storm；　while　from　a　thick；　heavy　mass　of　clouds　the　lightning　burst　forth　flash　after　flash。　The　sun　had　reached　the　edge　of　the　sea；　when　the　swans　darted　down　so　swiftly；　that　Eliza's　head　trembled；　she　believed　they　were　falling；　but　they　again　soared　onward。　Presently　she　caught　sight　of　the　rock　just　below　them；　and　by　this　time　the　sun　was　half　hidden　by　the　waves。　The　rock　did　not　appear　larger　than　a　seal's　head　thrust　out　of　the　water。　They　sunk　so　rapidly；　that　at　the　moment　their　feet　touched　the　rock；　it　shone　only　like　a　star；　and　at　last　disappeared　like　the　last　spark　in　a　piece　of　burnt　paper。　Then　she
saw　her　brothers　standing　closely　round　her　with　their　arms　linked
together。　There　was　but　just　room　enough　for　them；　and　not　the
smallest　space　to　spare。　The　sea　dashed　against　the　rock；　and
covered　them　with　spray。　The　heavens　were　lighted　up　with　continual
flashes；　and　peal　after　peal　of　thunder　rolled。　But　the　sister　and
brothers　sat　holding　each　other's　hands；　and　singing　hymns；　from　which　they　gained　hope　and　courage。　In　the　early　dawn　the　air　became　calm　and　still；　and　at　sunrise　the　swans　flew　away　from　the　rock　with
Eliza。　The　sea　was　still　rough；　and　from　their　high　position　in　the
air；　the　white　foam　on　the　dark　green　waves　looked　like　millions　of
swans　swimming　on　the　water。　As　the　sun　rose　higher；　Eliza　saw
before　her；　floating　on　the　air；　a　range　of　mountains；　with　shining
masses　of　ice　on　their　summits。　In　the　centre；　rose　a　castle
apparently　a　mile　long；　with　rows　of　columns；　rising　one　above
another；　while；　around　it；　palm…trees　waved　and　flowers　bloomed　as
large　as　mill　wheels。　She　asked　if　this　was　the　land　to　which　they
were　hastening。　The　swans　shook　their　heads；　for　what　she　beheld
were　the　beautiful　ever…changing　cloud　palaces　of　the　〃Fata
Morgana；〃　into　which　no　mortal　can　enter。　Eliza　was　still　gazing　at
the　scene；　when　mountains；　forests；　and　castles　melted　away；　and
twenty　stately　churches　rose　in　their　stead；　with　high　towers　and
pointed　gothic　windows。　Eliza　even　fancied　she　could　hear　the　tones　of　the　organ；　but　it　was　the　music　of　the　murmuring　sea　which　she
heard。　As　they　drew　nearer　to　the　churches；　they　also　changed　into　a
fleet　of　ships；　which　seemed　to　be　sailing　beneath　her；　but　as　she
looked　again；　she　found　it　was　only　a　sea　mist　gliding　over　the　ocean。
So　there　continued　to　pass　before　her　eyes　a　constant　change　of　scene；　till　at　last　she　saw　the　real　land　to　which　they　were　bound；　with
its　blue　mountains；　its　cedar　forests；　and　its　cities　and　palaces。
Long　before　the　sun　went　down；　she　sat　on　a　rock；　in　front　of　a
large　cave；　on　the　floor　of　which　the　over…grown　yet　delicate　green
creeping　plants　looked　like　an　embroidered　carpet。　〃Now　we　shall
expect　to　hear　what　you　dream　of　to…night；〃　said　the　youngest　brother；　as　he　showed　his　sister　her　bedroom。

〃Heaven　grant　that　I　may　dream　how　to　save　you；〃　she　replied。
And　this　thought　took　such　hold　upon　her　mind　that　she　prayed
earnestly　to　God　for　help；　and　even　in　her　sleep　she　continued　to
pray。　Then　it　appeared　to　her　as　if　she　were　flying　high　in　the　air；
towards　the　cloudy　palace　of　the　〃Fata　Morgana；〃　and　a　fairy　came
out　to　meet　her；　radiant　and　beautiful　in　appearance；　and　yet　very
much　like　the　old　woman　who　had　given　her　berries　in　the　wood；　and　who　had　told　her　of　the　swans　with　golden　crowns　on　their　heads。　
〃Your　brothers　can　be　released；〃　said　she；　〃if　you　have　only　courage　and　perseverance。　True；　water　is　softer　than　your　own　delicate　hands；
and　yet　it　polishes　stones　into　shapes；　it　feels　no　pain　as　your
fingers　would　feel；　it　has　no　soul；　and　cannot　suffer　such　agony　and
torment　as　you　will　have　to　endure。　Do　you　see　the　stinging　nettle
which　I　hold　in　my　hand？　Quantities　of　the　same　sort　grow　round　the
cave　in　which　you　sleep；　but　none　will　be　of　any　use　to　you　unless
they　grow　upon　the　graves　in　a　churchyard。　These　you　must　gather
even　while　they　burn　blisters　on　your　hands。　Break　them　to　pieces　with　your　hands　and　feet；　and　they　will　become　flax；　from　which　you　must　spin　and　weave　eleven　coats　with　long　sleeves；　if　these　are　then
thrown　over　the　eleven　swans；　the　spell　will　be　broken。　But
remember；　that　from　the　moment　you　commence　your　task　until　it　is
finished；　even　should　it　occupy　years　of　your　life；　you　must　not
speak。　The　first　word　you　utter　will　pierce　through　the　hearts　of　your
brothers　like　a　deadly　dagger。　Their　lives　hang　upon　your　tongue。
Remember　all　I　have　told　you。〃　And　as　she　finished　speaking；　she
touched　her　hand　lightly　with　the　nettle；　and　a　pain；　as　of　burning
fire；　awoke　Eliza。

It　was　broad　daylight；　and　close　by　where　she　had　been　sleeping
lay　a　nettle　like　the　one　she　had　seen　in　her　dream。　She　fell　on　her
knees　and　offered　her　thanks　to　God。　Then　she　went　forth　from　the　cave　to　begin　her　work　with　her　delicate　hands。　She　groped　in　amongst　the　ugly　nettles；　which　burnt　great　blisters　on　her　hands　and　arms；　but　she　determined　to　bear　it　gladly　if　she　could　only　release　her　dear　brothers。　So　she　bruised　the　nettles　with　her　bare　feet　and　spun　the　flax。　At　sunset　her　brothers　returned　and　were　very　much　frightened　when　they　found　her　dumb。　They　believed　it　to　be　some　new　sorcery　of　their　wicked　step…mother。　But　when　they　saw　her　hands　they　understood　what　she　was　doing　on　their　behalf；　and　the　youngest　brother　wept；　and　where　his　tears　fell　the　pain　ceased；　and　the　burning　blisters　vanished。　She　kept　to　her　work　all　night；　for　she
could　not　rest　till　she　had　released　her　dear　brothers。　During　the
whole　of　the　following　day；　while　her　brothers　were　absent；　she　sat　in
solitude；　but　never　before　had　the　time　flown　so　quickly。　One　coat　was　already　finished　and　she　had　begun　the　second；　when