第 4 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-02-24 23:41      字数:7639
  Therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber; which had
  been decked out to look like the cave; and quickly wove one coat after
  another。 But when she began the seventh she found she had no more
  flax。 She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the
  churchyard; and that she must pluck them herself。 How should she get
  out there? 〃Oh; what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my
  heart endures?〃 said she。 〃I must venture; I shall not be denied
  help from heaven。〃 Then with a trembling heart; as if she were about
  to perform a wicked deed; she crept into the garden in the broad
  moonlight; and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted
  streets; till she reached the churchyard。 Then she saw on one of the
  broad tombstones a group of ghouls。 These hideous creatures took off
  their rags; as if they intended to bathe; and then clawing open the
  fresh graves with their long; skinny fingers; pulled out the dead
  bodies and ate the flesh! Eliza had to pass close by them; and they
  fixed their wicked glances upon her; but she prayed silently; gathered
  the burning nettles; and carried them home with her to the castle。 One
  person only had seen her; and that was the archbishop… he was awake
  while everybody was asleep。 Now he thought his opinion was evidently
  correct。 All was not right with the queen。 She was a witch; and had
  bewitched the king and all the people。 Secretly he told the king
  what he had seen and what he feared; and as the hard words came from
  his tongue; the carved images of the saints shook their heads as if
  they would say。 〃It is not so。 Eliza is innocent。〃
  But the archbishop interpreted it in another way; he believed that
  they witnessed against her; and were shaking their heads at her
  wickedness。 Two large tears rolled down the king's cheeks; and he went
  home with doubt in his heart; and at night he pretended to sleep;
  but there came no real sleep to his eyes; for he saw Eliza get up
  every night and disappear in her own chamber。 From day to day his brow
  became darker; and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason; but
  it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers。 Her hot
  tears glittered like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds; while
  all who saw her were wishing they could be queens。 In the mean time
  she had almost finished her task; only one coat of mail was wanting;
  but she had no flax left; and not a single nettle。 Once more only; and
  for the last time; must she venture to the churchyard and pluck a
  few handfuls。 She thought with terror of the solitary walk; and of the
  horrible ghouls; but her will was firm; as well as her trust in
  Providence。 Eliza went; and the king and the archbishop followed
  her。 They saw her vanish through the wicket gate into the
  churchyard; and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on
  the tombstone; as Eliza had seen them; and the king turned away his
  head; for he thought she was with them… she whose head had rested on
  his breast that very evening。 〃The people must condemn her;〃 said
  he; and she was very quickly condemned by every one to suffer death by
  fire。 Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark; dreary
  cell; where the wind whistled through the iron bars。 Instead of the
  velvet and silk dresses; they gave her the coats of mail which she had
  woven to cover her; and the bundle of nettles for a pillow; but
  nothing they could give her would have pleased her more。 She continued
  her task with joy; and prayed for help; while the street…boys sang
  jeering songs about her; and not a soul comforted her with a kind
  word。 Towards evening; she heard at the grating the flutter of a
  swan's wing; it was her youngest brother… he had found his sister; and
  she sobbed for joy; although she knew that very likely this would be
  the last night she would have to live。 But still she could hope; for
  her task was almost finished; and her brothers were come。 Then the
  archbishop arrived; to be with her during her last hours; as he had
  promised the king。 But she shook her head; and begged him; by looks
  and gestures; not to stay; for in this night she knew she must
  finish her task; otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights
  would have been suffered in vain。 The archbishop withdrew; uttering
  bitter words against her; but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent;
  and diligently continued her work。
  The little mice ran about the floor; they dragged the nettles to
  her feet; to help as well as they could; and the thrush sat outside
  the grating of the window; and sang to her the whole night long; as
  sweetly as possible; to keep up her spirits。
  It was still twilight; and at least an hour before sunrise; when
  the eleven brothers stood at the castle gate; and demanded to be
  brought before the king。 They were told it could not be; it was yet
  almost night; and as the king slept they dared not disturb him。 They
  threatened; they entreated。 Then the guard appeared; and even the king
  himself; inquiring what all the noise meant。 At this moment the sun
  rose。 The eleven brothers were seen no more; but eleven wild swans
  flew away over the castle。
  And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates of
  the city; to see the witch burnt。 An old horse drew the cart on
  which she sat。 They had dressed her in a garment of coarse
  sackcloth。 Her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders; her cheeks
  were deadly pale; her lips moved silently; while her fingers still
  worked at the green flax。 Even on the way to death; she would not give
  up her task。 The ten coats of mail lay at her feet; she was working
  hard at the eleventh; while the mob jeered her and said; 〃See the
  witch; how she mutters! She has no hymn…book in her hand。 She sits
  there with her ugly sorcery。 Let us tear it in a thousand pieces。〃
  And then they pressed towards her; and would have destroyed the
  coats of mail; but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her;
  and alighted on the cart。 Then they flapped their large wings; and the
  crowd drew on one side in alarm。
  〃It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent;〃 whispered many of
  them; but they ventured not to say it aloud。
  As the executioner seized her by the hand; to lift her out of
  the cart; she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans;
  and they immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the
  youngest had a swan's wing; instead of an arm; for she had not been
  able to finish the last sleeve of the coat。
  〃Now I may speak;〃 she exclaimed。 〃I am innocent。〃
  Then the people; who saw what happened; bowed to her; as before
  a saint; but she sank lifeless in her brothers' arms; overcome with
  suspense; anguish; and pain。
  〃Yes; she is innocent;〃 said the eldest brother; and then he
  related all that had taken place; and while he spoke there rose in the
  air a fragrance as from millions of roses。 Every piece of faggot in
  the pile had taken root; and threw out branches; and appeared a
  thick hedge; large and high; covered with roses; while above all
  bloomed a white and shining flower; that glittered like a star。 This
  flower the king plucked; and placed in Eliza's bosom; when she awoke
  from her swoon; with peace and happiness in her heart。 And all the
  church bells rang of themselves; and the birds came in great troops。
  And a marriage procession returned to the castle; such as no king
  had ever before seen。
  THE END
  。