the ugly duckling-第1章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　UGLY　DUCKLING

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Hans　Christian　Andersen



　　　　IT　was　lovely　summer　weather　in　the　country；　and　the　golden

corn；　the　green　oats；　and　the　haystacks　piled　up　in　the　meadows　looked

beautiful。　The　stork　walking　about　on　his　long　red　legs　chattered　in

the　Egyptian　language；　which　he　had　learnt　from　his　mother。　The

corn…fields　and　meadows　were　surrounded　by　large　forests；　in　the　midst

of　which　were　deep　pools。　It　was；　indeed；　delightful　to　walk　about

in　the　country。　In　a　sunny　spot　stood　a　pleasant　old　farm…house

close　by　a　deep　river；　and　from　the　house　down　to　the　water　side

grew　great　burdock　leaves；　so　high；　that　under　the　tallest　of　them　a

little　child　could　stand　upright。　The　spot　was　as　wild　as　the　centre

of　a　thick　wood。　In　this　snug　retreat　sat　a　duck　on　her　nest；　watching

for　her　young　brood　to　hatch；　she　was　beginning　to　get　tired　of　her

task；　for　the　little　ones　were　a　long　time　coming　out　of　their　shells；

and　she　seldom　had　any　visitors。　The　other　ducks　liked　much　better

to　swim　about　in　the　river　than　to　climb　the　slippery　banks；　and　sit

under　a　burdock　leaf；　to　have　a　gossip　with　her。　At　length　one　shell

cracked；　and　then　another；　and　from　each　egg　came　a　living　creature

that　lifted　its　head　and　cried；　〃Peep；　peep。〃　〃Quack；　quack；〃　said　the

mother；　and　then　they　all　quacked　as　well　as　they　could；　and　looked

about　them　on　every　side　at　the　large　green　leaves。　Their　mother

allowed　them　to　look　as　much　as　they　liked；　because　green　is　good

for　the　eyes。　〃How　large　the　world　is；〃　said　the　young　ducks；　when

they　found　how　much　more　room　they　now　had　than　while　they　were　inside

the　egg…shell。　〃Do　you　imagine　this　is　the　whole　world？〃　asked　the

mother；　〃Wait　till　you　have　seen　the　garden；　it　stretches　far　beyond

that　to　the　parson's　field；　but　I　have　never　ventured　to　such　a

distance。　Are　you　all　out？〃　she　continued；　rising；　〃No；　I　declare；　the

largest　egg　lies　there　still。　I　wonder　how　long　this　is　to　last；　I

am　quite　tired　of　it；〃　and　she　seated　herself　again　on　the　nest。

　　　　〃Well；　how　are　you　getting　on？〃　asked　an　old　duck；　who　paid　her

a　visit。

　　　　〃One　egg　is　not　hatched　yet；〃　said　the　duck；　〃it　will　not　break。

But　just　look　at　all　the　others；　are　they　not　the　prettiest　little

ducklings　you　ever　saw？　They　are　the　image　of　their　father；　who　is

so　unkind；　he　never　comes　to　see。〃

　　　　〃Let　me　see　the　egg　that　will　not　break；〃　said　the　duck；　〃I　have

no　doubt　it　is　a　turkey's　egg。　I　was　persuaded　to　hatch　some　once；　and

after　all　my　care　and　trouble　with　the　young　ones；　they　were　afraid　of

the　water。　I　quacked　and　clucked；　but　all　to　no　purpose。　I　could　not

get　them　to　venture　in。　Let　me　look　at　the　egg。　Yes；　that　is　a

turkey's　egg；　take　my　advice；　leave　it　where　it　is　and　teach　the　other

children　to　swim。〃

　　　　〃I　think　I　will　sit　on　it　a　little　while　longer；〃　said　the　duck；

〃as　I　have　sat　so　long　already；　a　few　days　will　be　nothing。〃

　　　　〃Please　yourself；〃　said　the　old　duck；　and　she　went　away。

　　　　At　last　the　large　egg　broke；　and　a　young　one　crept　forth　crying；

〃Peep；　peep。〃　It　was　very　large　and　ugly。　The　duck　stared　at　it　and

exclaimed；　〃It　is　very　large　and　not　at　all　like　the　others。　I

wonder　if　it　really　is　a　turkey。　We　shall　soon　find　it　out；　however

when　we　go　to　the　water。　It　must　go　in；　if　I　have　to　push　it　myself。〃

　　　　On　the　next　day　the　weather　was　delightful；　and　the　sun　shone

brightly　on　the　green　burdock　leaves；　so　the　mother　duck　took　her

young　brood　down　to　the　water；　and　jumped　in　with　a　splash。　〃Quack；

quack；〃　cried　she；　and　one　after　another　the　little　ducklings　jumped

in。　The　water　closed　over　their　heads；　but　they　came　up　again　in　an

instant；　and　swam　about　quite　prettily　with　their　legs　paddling

under　them　as　easily　as　possible；　and　the　ugly　duckling　was　also　in

the　water　swimming　with　them。

　　　　〃Oh；〃　said　the　mother；　〃that　is　not　a　turkey；　how　well　he　uses　his

legs；　and　how　upright　he　holds　himself！　He　is　my　own　child；　and　he

is　not　so　very　ugly　after　all　if　you　look　at　him　properly。　Quack；

quack！　come　with　me　now；　I　will　take　you　into　grand　society；　and

introduce　you　to　the　farmyard；　but　you　must　keep　close　to　me　or　you

may　be　trodden　upon；　and；　above　all；　beware　of　the　cat。〃

　　　　When　they　reached　the　farmyard；　there　was　a　great　disturbance；　two

families　were　fighting　for　an　eel's　head；　which；　after　all；　was

carried　off　by　the　cat。　〃See；　children；　that　is　the　way　of　the　world；〃

said　the　mother　duck；　whetting　her　beak；　for　she　would　have　liked

the　eel's　head　herself。　〃Come；　now；　use　your　legs；　and　let　me　see

how　well　you　can　behave。　You　must　bow　your　heads　prettily　to　that

old　duck　yonder；　she　is　the　highest　born　of　them　all；　and　has

Spanish　blood；　therefore；　she　is　well　off。　Don't　you　see　she　has　a　red

flag　tied　to　her　leg；　which　is　something　very　grand；　and　a　great　honor

for　a　duck；　it　shows　that　every　one　is　anxious　not　to　lose　her；　as　she

can　be　recognized　both　by　man　and　beast。　Come；　now；　don't　turn　your

toes；　a　well…bred　duckling　spreads　his　feet　wide　apart；　just　like

his　father　and　mother；　in　this　way；　now　bend　your　neck；　and　say

'quack。'〃

　　　　The　ducklings　did　as　they　were　bid；　but　the　other　duck　stared；　and

said；　〃Look；　here　comes　another　brood；　as　if　there　were　not　enough

of　us　already！　and　what　a　queer　looking　object　one　of　them　is；　we

don't　want　him　here；〃　and　then　one　flew　out　and　bit　him　in　the　neck。

　　　　〃Let　him　alone；〃　said　the　mother；　〃he　is　not　doing　any　harm。〃

　　　　〃Yes；　but　he　is　so　big　and　ugly；〃　said　the　spiteful　duck　〃and

therefore　he　must　be　turned　out。〃

　　　　〃The　others　are　very　pretty　children；〃　said　the　old　duck；　with　the

rag　on　her　leg；　〃all　but　that　one；　I　wish　his　mother　could　improve　him

a　little。〃

　　　　〃That　is　impossible；　your　grace；〃　replied　the　mother；　〃he　is　not

pretty；　but　he　has　a　very　good　disposition；　and　swims　as　well　or

even　better　than　the　others。　I　think　he　will　grow　up　pretty；　and

perhaps　be　smaller；　he　has　remained　too　long　in　the　egg；　and　therefore

his　figure　is　not　properly　formed；〃　and　then　she　stroked　his　neck

and　smoothed　the　feathers；　saying；　〃It　is　a　drake；　and　therefore　not

of　so　much　consequence。　I　think　he　will　grow　up　strong；　and　able　to

take　care　of　himself。〃

　　　　〃The　other　ducklings　are　graceful　enough；〃　said　the　old　duck。　〃Now

make　yourself　at　home；　and　if　you　can　find　an　eel's　head；　you　can

bring　it　to　me。〃

　　　　And　so　they　made　themselves　comfortable；　but　the　poor　duckling；

who　had　crept　out　of　his　shell　last　of　all；　and　looked　so　ugly；　was

bitten　and　pushed　and　made　fun　of；　not　only　by　the　ducks；　but　by　all

the　poultry。　〃He　is　too　big；〃　they　all　said；　and　the　turkey　cock；

who　had　been　born　into　the　world　with　spurs；　and　fancied　himself

really　an　emperor；　puffed　himself　out　like　a　vessel　in　full　sail；

and　flew　at　the　duckling；　and　became　quite　red　in　the　head　with

passion；　so　that　the　poor　little　thing　did　not　know　where　to　go；　and

was　quite　miserable　because　he　was　so　ugly　and　laughed　at　by　the　whole

farmyard。　So　it　went　on　from　day　to　day　till　it　got　worse　and　worse。

The　poor　duckling　was　driven　about　by　every　one；　even　his　brothers　and

sisters　were　unkind　to　him；　and　would　say；　〃Ah；　you　ugly　creature；　I

wish　the　cat　would　get　you；〃　and　his　mother　said　she　wished　he　had

never　been　born。　The　ducks　pecked　him；　the　chickens　beat　him；　and

the　girl　who　fed　the　poultry　kicked　him　with　her　feet。　So　at　last　he

ran　away；　frightening　the　little　birds　in　the　hedge　as　he　flew　over

the　palings。

　　　　〃They　are　afraid　of　me　because　I　am　ugly；〃　he　said。　So　he　closed

his　eyes；　and　flew　still　farther；　until　he　came　out　on　a　large　moor；

inhabited　by　wild　ducks。　Here　he　remained　the　whole　night；　feeling

very　tired　and　sorrowful。

　　　　In　the　morning；　when　the　wild　ducks　rose　in　the　air；　they　stared

at　their　new　comrade。　〃What　sort　of　a　duck　are　you？〃　they　all　said；

coming　round　him。

　　　　He　bowed　to　them；　and　was　as　polite　as　he　could　be；　but　he　did　not

reply　to　their　question。　〃You　are　exceedingly　ugly；〃　said　the　wild

ducks；　〃but　that　will　not　matter　if　you　do　not　want　to　marry　one　of

our　family。〃

　　　　Poor　thing！　he　had　no　thoughts　of　marriage；　all　he　wanted　was

permission　to　lie　among　the　rushes；　and　drink　some　of　the　water　on　the

moor。　After　he　had　been　on　the　moor　two　days；　there　came　two　wild

geese；　or　rather　goslings；　for　they　had　not　been　out　of　the　egg

long；　and　were　very　saucy。　〃Listen；　friend；〃　said　one　of　them　to　the

duckling；　〃you　are　so　ugly；　that　we　like　you　very　well。　Will　you　go

with　us；　and　become　a　bird　of　passage？　Not　far　from　here　is　another

moor；　in　which　there　are　some　pretty　wild　geese；　all　unmarried。　It

is　a　chance　for　you　to　get　a　wife；　you　may　be　lucky；　ugly　as　you　are。〃

　　　　〃Pop；　pop；〃　sounded　in　the　air；　and　the　two　wild　geese　fell　dead

among　the　rushes；　and　the　water　was　tinged　with　blood。　〃Pop；　pop；〃

echoed　far　and　wide　in　the　distance；　and　whole　flocks　of　wild　geese

rose　up　from　the　rushes。　The　sound　continued　from　every　direction；　for

the　sportsmen　surrounded　the　moor；　and　some　were　even　seated　on

branches　of　trees；　overlooking　the　rushes。　The　blue　smoke　from　the

guns　rose　like　clouds　over　the　dark　trees；　and　as　it　floated　away

across　the　water；　a　number　of　sporting　dogs　bounded　in　among　the

rushes；　which　bent　beneath　them　wherever　they　went。　How　they　terrified

the　poor　duckling！　He　turned　away　his　head　to　hide　it　under　his

wing；　and　at　the　same　moment　a　large　terrible　dog　passed　quite　near

him。　His　jaws　were　open；　his　tongue　hung　from　his　mouth；　and　his

eyes　glared　fearfully。　He　thrust　his　nose　close　to　the　duckling；

showing　his　sharp　teeth；　and　then；　〃splash；　splash；〃　he　went　into

the　water　without　touching　him；　〃Oh；〃　sighed　the　duckling；　〃how

thankful　I　am　for　being　so　ugly；　even　a　dog　will　not　bite　me。〃　And

so　he　lay　quite　still；　while　the　shot　rattled　through　the　rushes；

and　gun　after　gun　was　fired　over　him。　It　was　late　in　the　day　before

all　became　quiet；　but　even　then　the　poor　young　thing　did　not　dare　to

move。　He　waited　quietly　for　several　hours；　and　then；　after　looking

carefully　around　him；　hastened　away　from　the　moor　as　fast　as　he　could。

He　ran　over　field　and　meadow　till　a　storm　arose；　and　he　could　hardly

struggle　against　it。　Towards　evening；　he　reached　a　poor　little　cottage

that　seemed　ready　to　fall；　and　only　remained　standing　because　it　could

not　decide　on　which　side　to　fall　first。　The　storm　continued　so

violent；　that　the　duckling　could　go　no　farther；　he　sat　down　by　the

cottage；　and　then　he　noticed　that　the　door　was　not　quite　closed　in

consequence　of　one　of　the　hinges　having　given　way。　There　was　therefore

a　narrow　opening　near　the　bottom　large　enough　for　him　to　slip　through；

which　he　did　very　quietly；　and　got　a　shelter　for　the　night。　A　woman；　a

tom　cat；　and　a　hen　lived　in　this　cottage。　The　tom　cat；　whom　the

mistress　called；　〃My　little　son；〃　was　a　great　favorite；　he　could　raise

his　back；　and　purr；　and　could　even　throw　out　sparks　from　his　fur　if　it

were　stroked　the　wrong　way。　The　hen　had