第 1 节
作者:曾氏六合网      更新:2021-02-24 23:33      字数:4973
  FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
  THE TOP AND BALL
  by Hans Christian Andersen
  A WHIPPING TOP and a little ball lay together in a box; among
  other toys; and the top said to the ball; 〃Shall we be married; as
  we live in the same box?〃
  But the ball; which wore a dress of morocco leather; and thought
  as much of herself as any other young lady; would not even
  condescend to reply。
  The next day came the little boy to whom the playthings
  belonged; and he painted the top red and yellow; and drove a
  brass…headed nail into the middle; so that while the top was
  spinning round it looked splendid。
  〃Look at me;〃 said the top to the ball。 〃What do you say now?
  Shall we be engaged to each other? We should suit so well; you spring;
  and I dance。 No one could be happier than we should be。〃
  〃Indeed! do you think so? Perhaps you do not know that my father
  and mother were morocco slippers; and that I have a Spanish cork in my
  body。〃
  〃Yes; but I am made of mahogany;〃 said the top。 〃The major himself
  turned me。 He has a turning lathe of his own; and it is a great
  amusement to him。〃
  〃Can I believe it?〃 asked the ball。
  〃May I never be whipped again;〃 said the top; 〃if I am not telling
  you the truth。〃
  〃You certainly know how to speak for yourself very well;〃 said the
  ball; 〃but I cannot accept your proposal。 I am almost engaged to a
  swallow。 Every time I fly up in the air; he puts his head out of the
  nest; and says; 'Will you?' and I have said; 'Yes;' to myself
  silently; and that is as good as being half engaged; but I will
  promise never to forget you。〃
  〃Much good that will be to me;〃 said the top; and they spoke to
  each other no more。
  Next day the ball was taken out by the boy。 The top saw it
  flying high in the air; like a bird; till it would go quite out of
  sight。 Each time it came back; as it touched the earth; it gave a
  higher leap than before; either because it longed to fly upwards; or
  from having a Spanish cork in its body。 But the ninth time it rose
  in the air; it remained away; and did not return。 The boy searched
  everywhere for it; but he searched in vain; for it could not be found;
  it was gone。
  〃I know very well where she is;〃 sighed the top; 〃she is in the
  swallow's nest; and has married the swallow。〃
  The more the top thought of this; the more he longed for the ball。
  His love increased the more; just because he could not get her; and
  that she should have been won by another; was the worst of all。 The
  top still twirled about and hummed; but he continued to think of the
  ball; and the more he thought of her; the more beautiful she seemed to
  his fancy。
  Thus several years passed by; and his love became quite old。 The
  top; also; was no longer young; but there came a day when he looked
  handsomer than ever; for he was gilded all over。 He was now a golden
  top; and whirled and danced about till he hummed quite loud; and was
  something worth looking at; but one day he leaped too high; and then
  he; also; was gone。 They searched everywhere; even in the cellar;
  but he was nowhere to be found。 Where could he be? He had jumped
  into the dust…bin; where all sorts of rubbish were lying:
  cabbage…stalks; dust; and rain…droppings that had fallen down from the
  gutter under the roof。
  〃Now I am in a nice place;〃 said he; 〃my gilding will soon be
  washed off here。 Oh dear; what a set of rabble I have got amongst!〃
  And then he glanced at a curious round thing like an old apple;
  which lay near a long; leafless cabbage…stalk。 It was; however; not an
  apple; but an old ball; which had lain for years in the gutter; and
  was soaked through with water。
  〃Thank goodness; here comes one of my own class; with whom I can
  talk;〃 said the ball; examining the gilded top。 〃I am made of
  morocco;〃 she said。 〃I was sewn together by a young lady; and I have a
  Spanish cork in my body; but no one would think it; to look at me now。
  I was once engaged to a swallow; but I fell in here from the gutter
  under the roof; and I have lain here more than five years; and have
  been thoroughly drenched。 Believe me; it is a long time for a young
  maiden。〃
  The top said nothing; but he thought of his old love; and the more
  she said; the more clear it became to him that this was the same ball。
  The servant then came to clean out the dust…bin。
  〃Ah;〃 she exclaimed; 〃here is a gilt top。〃 So the top was
  brought again to notice and honor; but nothing more was heard of the
  little ball。 He spoke not a word about his old love; for that soon
  died away。 When the beloved object has lain for five years in a
  gutter; and has been drenched through; no one cares to know her
  again on meeting her in a dust…bin。
  THE END
  。