The brave tin soldier 勇敢的锡士兵
作者:古文学 时间:2017/12/18 8:50:19 阅读:次 类别:英语童话
THEBRAVETINSOLDIER勇敢的锡士兵
THEREwereoncefive-and-twentytinsoldiers,whowereallbrothers,fortheyhadbeenmadeoutofthesameoldtinspoon.Theyshoulderedarmsandlookedstraightbeforethem,andworeasplendiduniform,redandblue.Thefirstthingintheworldtheyeverheardwerethewords,"Tinsoldiers!"utteredbyalittleboy,whoclappedhishandswithdelightwhenthelidofthebox,inwhichtheylay,wastakenoff.
Theyweregivenhimforabirthdaypresent,andhestoodatthetabletosetthemup.Thesoldierswereallexactlyalike,exceptingone,whohadonlyoneleg;hehadbeenlefttothelast,andthentherewasnotenoughofthemeltedtintofinishhim,sotheymadehimtostandfirmlyononeleg,andthiscausedhimtobeveryremarkable.
Thetableonwhichthetinsoldiersstood,wascoveredwithotherplaythings,butthemostattractivetotheeyewasaprettylittlepapercastle.Throughthesmallwindowstheroomscouldbeseen.Infrontofthecastleanumberoflittletreessurroundedapieceoflooking-glass,whichwasintendedtorepresentatransparentlake.Swans,madeofwax,swamonthelake,andwerereflectedinit.Allthiswasverypretty,buttheprettiestofallwasatinylittlelady,whostoodattheopendoorofthecastle;she,also,wasmadeofpaper,andsheworeadressofclearmuslin,withanarrowblueribbonoverhershouldersjustlikeascarf.Infrontofthesewasfixedaglitteringtinselrose,aslargeasherwholeface.
Thelittleladywasadancer,andshestretchedoutbothherarms,andraisedoneofherlegssohigh,thatthetinsoldiercouldnotseeitatall,andhethoughtthatshe,likehimself,hadonlyoneleg."Thatisthewifeforme,"hethought;"butsheistoogrand,andlivesinacastle,whileIhaveonlyaboxtolivein,five-and-twentyofusaltogether,thatisnoplaceforher.StillImusttryandmakeheracquaintance."Thenhelaidhimselfatfulllengthonthetablebehindasnuff-boxthatstooduponit,sothathecouldpeepatthelittledelicatelady,whocontinuedtostandononelegwithoutlosingherbalance.Wheneveningcame,theothertinsoldierswereallplacedinthebox,andthepeopleofthehousewenttobed.Thentheplaythingsbegantohavetheirowngamestogether,topayvisits,tohaveshamfights,andtogiveballs.Thetinsoldiersrattledintheirbox;theywantedtogetoutandjointheamusements,buttheycouldnotopenthelid.Thenut-crackersplayedatleap-frog,andthepenciljumpedaboutthetable.Therewassuchanoisethatthecanarywokeupandbegantotalk,andinpoetrytoo.Onlythetinsoldierandthedancerremainedintheirplaces.Shestoodontiptoe,withherlegsstretchedout,asfirmlyashedidonhisoneleg.Henevertookhiseyesfromherforevenamoment.Theclockstrucktwelve,and,withabounce,upsprangthelidofthesnuff-box;but,insteadofsnuff,therejumpedupalittleblackgoblin;forthesnuff-boxwasatoypuzzle.
"Tinsoldier,"saidthegoblin,"don’twishforwhatdoesnotbelongtoyou.
Butthetinsoldierpretendednottohear."Verywell;waittillto-morrow,then,"saidthegoblin.Whenthechildrencameinthenextmorning,theyplacedthetinsoldierinthewindow.Now,whetheritwasthegoblinwhodidit,orthedraught,isnotknown,butthewindowflewopen,andoutfellthetinsoldier,heelsoverhead,fromthethirdstory,intothestreetbeneath.Itwasaterriblefall;forhecameheaddownwards,hishelmetandhisbayonetstuckinbetweentheflagstones,andhisonelegupintheair.Theservantmaidandthelittleboywentdownstairsdirectlytolookforhim;buthewasnowheretobeseen,althoughoncetheynearlytroduponhim.Ifhehadcalledout,"HereIam,"itwouldhavebeenallright,buthewastooproudtocryoutforhelpwhileheworeauniform.Presentlyitbegantorain,andthedropsfellfasterandfaster,tilltherewasaheavyshower.Whenitwasover,twoboyshappenedtopassby,andoneofthemsaid,"Look,thereisatinsoldier.Heoughttohaveaboattosailin."
Sotheymadeaboatoutofanewspaper,andplacedthetinsoldierinit,andsenthimsailingdownthegutter,whilethetwoboysranbythesideofit,andclappedtheirhands.Goodgracious,whatlargewavesaroseinthatgutter!andhowfastthestreamrolledon!fortherainhadbeenveryheavy.Thepaperboatrockedupanddown,andturneditselfroundsometimessoquicklythatthetinsoldiertrembled;yetheremainedfirm;hiscountenancedidnotchange;helookedstraightbeforehim,andshoulderedhismusket.Suddenlytheboatshotunderabridgewhichformedapartofadrain,andthenitwasasdarkasthetinsoldier’sbox."WhereamIgoingnow?"thoughthe."Thisistheblackgoblin’sfault,Iamsure.Ah,well,ifthelittleladywereonlyherewithmeintheboat,Ishouldnotcareforanydarkness.""Haveyouapassport?"askedtherat,"giveittomeatonce."Butthetinsoldierremainedsilentandheldhismuskettighterthanever.Theboatsailedonandtheratfollowedit.
Howhedidgnashhisteethandcryouttothebitsofwoodandstraw,"Stophim,stophim;hehasnotpaidtoll,andhasnotshownhispass."Butthestreamrushedonstrongerandstronger.Thetinsoldiercouldalreadyseedaylightshiningwherethearchended.Thenheheardaroaringsoundquiteterribleenoughtofrightenthebravestman.Attheendofthetunnelthedrainfellintoalargecanaloverasteepplace,whichmadeitasdangerousforhimasawaterfallwouldbetous.Hewastooclosetoittostop,sotheboatrushedon,andthepoortinsoldiercouldonlyholdhimselfasstifflyaspossible,withoutmovinganeyelid,toshowthathewasnotafraid.Theboatwhirledroundthreeorfourtimes,andthenfilledwithwatertotheveryedge;nothingcouldsaveitfromsinking.Henowstooduptohisneckinwater,whiledeeperanddeepersanktheboat,andthepaperbecamesoftandloosewiththewet,tillatlastthewaterclosedoverthesoldier’shead.Hethoughtoftheelegantlittledancerwhomheshouldneverseeagain,andthewordsofthesongsoundedinhisears-"Farewell,warrior!everbrave,Driftingonwardtothygrave."
Thenthepaperboatfelltopieces,andthesoldiersankintothewaterandimmediatelyafterwardswasswallowedupbyagreatfish.Ohhowdarkitwasinsidethefish!Agreatdealdarkerthaninthetunnel,andnarrowertoo,butthetinsoldiercontinuedfirm,andlayatfulllengthshoulderinghismusket.Thefishswamtoandfro,makingthemostwonderfulmovements,butatlasthebecamequitestill.Afterawhile,aflashoflightningseemedtopassthroughhim,andthenthedaylightapproached,andavoicecriedout,"Ideclarehereisthetinsoldier."Thefishhadbeencaught,takentothemarketandsoldtothecook,whotookhimintothekitchenandcuthimopenwithalargeknife.Shepickedupthesoldierandheldhimbythewaistbetweenherfingerandthumb,andcarriedhimintotheroom.Theywereallanxioustoseethiswonderfulsoldierwhohadtravelledaboutinsideafish;buthewasnotatallproud.Theyplacedhimonthetable,and-howmanycuriousthingsdohappenintheworld!-therehewasintheverysameroomfromthewindowofwhichhehadfallen,therewerethesamechildren,thesameplaythings,standingonthetable,andtheprettycastlewiththeelegantlittledanceratthedoor;shestillbalancedherselfononeleg,andhelduptheother,soshewasasfirmashimself.Ittouchedthetinsoldiersomuchtoseeherthathealmostwepttintears,buthekeptthemback.Heonlylookedatherandtheybothremainedsilent.Presentlyoneofthelittleboystookupthetinsoldier,andthrewhimintothestove.Hehadnoreasonfordoingso,thereforeitmusthavebeenthefaultoftheblackgoblinwholivedinthesnuff-box.Theflameslightedupthetinsoldier,ashestood,theheatwasveryterrible,butwhetheritproceededfromtherealfireorfromthefireoflovehecouldnottell.Thenhecouldseethatthebrightcolorswerefadedfromhisuniform,butwhethertheyhadbeenwashedoffduringhisjourneyorfromtheeffectsofhissorrow,noonecouldsay.Helookedatthelittlelady,andshelookedathim.Hefelthimselfmeltingaway,buthestillremainedfirmwithhisgunonhisshoulder.Suddenlythedooroftheroomflewopenandthedraughtofaircaughtupthelittledancer,sheflutteredlikeasylphrightintothestovebythesideofthetinsoldier,andwasinstantlyinflamesandwasgone.Thetinsoldiermelteddownintoalump,andthenextmorning,whenthemaidservanttooktheashesoutofthestove,shefoundhimintheshapeofalittletinheart.Butofthelittledancernothingremainedbutthetinselrose,whichwasburntblackasacinder.
THEEND
THEREwereoncefive-and-twentytinsoldiers,whowereallbrothers,fortheyhadbeenmadeoutofthesameoldtinspoon.Theyshoulderedarmsandlookedstraightbeforethem,andworeasplendiduniform,redandblue.Thefirstthingintheworldtheyeverheardwerethewords,"Tinsoldiers!"utteredbyalittleboy,whoclappedhishandswithdelightwhenthelidofthebox,inwhichtheylay,wastakenoff.
Theyweregivenhimforabirthdaypresent,andhestoodatthetabletosetthemup.Thesoldierswereallexactlyalike,exceptingone,whohadonlyoneleg;hehadbeenlefttothelast,andthentherewasnotenoughofthemeltedtintofinishhim,sotheymadehimtostandfirmlyononeleg,andthiscausedhimtobeveryremarkable.
Thetableonwhichthetinsoldiersstood,wascoveredwithotherplaythings,butthemostattractivetotheeyewasaprettylittlepapercastle.Throughthesmallwindowstheroomscouldbeseen.Infrontofthecastleanumberoflittletreessurroundedapieceoflooking-glass,whichwasintendedtorepresentatransparentlake.Swans,madeofwax,swamonthelake,andwerereflectedinit.Allthiswasverypretty,buttheprettiestofallwasatinylittlelady,whostoodattheopendoorofthecastle;she,also,wasmadeofpaper,andsheworeadressofclearmuslin,withanarrowblueribbonoverhershouldersjustlikeascarf.Infrontofthesewasfixedaglitteringtinselrose,aslargeasherwholeface.
Thelittleladywasadancer,andshestretchedoutbothherarms,andraisedoneofherlegssohigh,thatthetinsoldiercouldnotseeitatall,andhethoughtthatshe,likehimself,hadonlyoneleg."Thatisthewifeforme,"hethought;"butsheistoogrand,andlivesinacastle,whileIhaveonlyaboxtolivein,five-and-twentyofusaltogether,thatisnoplaceforher.StillImusttryandmakeheracquaintance."Thenhelaidhimselfatfulllengthonthetablebehindasnuff-boxthatstooduponit,sothathecouldpeepatthelittledelicatelady,whocontinuedtostandononelegwithoutlosingherbalance.Wheneveningcame,theothertinsoldierswereallplacedinthebox,andthepeopleofthehousewenttobed.Thentheplaythingsbegantohavetheirowngamestogether,topayvisits,tohaveshamfights,andtogiveballs.Thetinsoldiersrattledintheirbox;theywantedtogetoutandjointheamusements,buttheycouldnotopenthelid.Thenut-crackersplayedatleap-frog,andthepenciljumpedaboutthetable.Therewassuchanoisethatthecanarywokeupandbegantotalk,andinpoetrytoo.Onlythetinsoldierandthedancerremainedintheirplaces.Shestoodontiptoe,withherlegsstretchedout,asfirmlyashedidonhisoneleg.Henevertookhiseyesfromherforevenamoment.Theclockstrucktwelve,and,withabounce,upsprangthelidofthesnuff-box;but,insteadofsnuff,therejumpedupalittleblackgoblin;forthesnuff-boxwasatoypuzzle.
"Tinsoldier,"saidthegoblin,"don’twishforwhatdoesnotbelongtoyou.
Butthetinsoldierpretendednottohear."Verywell;waittillto-morrow,then,"saidthegoblin.Whenthechildrencameinthenextmorning,theyplacedthetinsoldierinthewindow.Now,whetheritwasthegoblinwhodidit,orthedraught,isnotknown,butthewindowflewopen,andoutfellthetinsoldier,heelsoverhead,fromthethirdstory,intothestreetbeneath.Itwasaterriblefall;forhecameheaddownwards,hishelmetandhisbayonetstuckinbetweentheflagstones,andhisonelegupintheair.Theservantmaidandthelittleboywentdownstairsdirectlytolookforhim;buthewasnowheretobeseen,althoughoncetheynearlytroduponhim.Ifhehadcalledout,"HereIam,"itwouldhavebeenallright,buthewastooproudtocryoutforhelpwhileheworeauniform.Presentlyitbegantorain,andthedropsfellfasterandfaster,tilltherewasaheavyshower.Whenitwasover,twoboyshappenedtopassby,andoneofthemsaid,"Look,thereisatinsoldier.Heoughttohaveaboattosailin."
Sotheymadeaboatoutofanewspaper,andplacedthetinsoldierinit,andsenthimsailingdownthegutter,whilethetwoboysranbythesideofit,andclappedtheirhands.Goodgracious,whatlargewavesaroseinthatgutter!andhowfastthestreamrolledon!fortherainhadbeenveryheavy.Thepaperboatrockedupanddown,andturneditselfroundsometimessoquicklythatthetinsoldiertrembled;yetheremainedfirm;hiscountenancedidnotchange;helookedstraightbeforehim,andshoulderedhismusket.Suddenlytheboatshotunderabridgewhichformedapartofadrain,andthenitwasasdarkasthetinsoldier’sbox."WhereamIgoingnow?"thoughthe."Thisistheblackgoblin’sfault,Iamsure.Ah,well,ifthelittleladywereonlyherewithmeintheboat,Ishouldnotcareforanydarkness."
Howhedidgnashhisteethandcryouttothebitsofwoodandstraw,"Stophim,stophim;hehasnotpaidtoll,andhasnotshownhispass."Butthestreamrushedonstrongerandstronger.Thetinsoldiercouldalreadyseedaylightshiningwherethearchended.Thenheheardaroaringsoundquiteterribleenoughtofrightenthebravestman.Attheendofthetunnelthedrainfellintoalargecanaloverasteepplace,whichmadeitasdangerousforhimasawaterfallwouldbetous.Hewastooclosetoittostop,sotheboatrushedon,andthepoortinsoldiercouldonlyholdhimselfasstifflyaspossible,withoutmovinganeyelid,toshowthathewasnotafraid.Theboatwhirledroundthreeorfourtimes,andthenfilledwithwatertotheveryedge;nothingcouldsaveitfromsinking.Henowstooduptohisneckinwater,whiledeeperanddeepersanktheboat,andthepaperbecamesoftandloosewiththewet,tillatlastthewaterclosedoverthesoldier’shead.Hethoughtoftheelegantlittledancerwhomheshouldneverseeagain,andthewordsofthesongsoundedinhisears-"Farewell,warrior!everbrave,Driftingonwardtothygrave."
Thenthepaperboatfelltopieces,andthesoldiersankintothewaterandimmediatelyafterwardswasswallowedupbyagreatfish.Ohhowdarkitwasinsidethefish!Agreatdealdarkerthaninthetunnel,andnarrowertoo,butthetinsoldiercontinuedfirm,andlayatfulllengthshoulderinghismusket.Thefishswamtoandfro,makingthemostwonderfulmovements,butatlasthebecamequitestill.Afterawhile,aflashoflightningseemedtopassthroughhim,andthenthedaylightapproached,andavoicecriedout,"Ideclarehereisthetinsoldier."Thefishhadbeencaught,takentothemarketandsoldtothecook,whotookhimintothekitchenandcuthimopenwithalargeknife.Shepickedupthesoldierandheldhimbythewaistbetweenherfingerandthumb,andcarriedhimintotheroom.Theywereallanxioustoseethiswonderfulsoldierwhohadtravelledaboutinsideafish;buthewasnotatallproud.Theyplacedhimonthetable,and-howmanycuriousthingsdohappenintheworld!-therehewasintheverysameroomfromthewindowofwhichhehadfallen,therewerethesamechildren,thesameplaythings,standingonthetable,andtheprettycastlewiththeelegantlittledanceratthedoor;shestillbalancedherselfononeleg,andhelduptheother,soshewasasfirmashimself.Ittouchedthetinsoldiersomuchtoseeherthathealmostwepttintears,buthekeptthemback.Heonlylookedatherandtheybothremainedsilent.Presentlyoneofthelittleboystookupthetinsoldier,andthrewhimintothestove.Hehadnoreasonfordoingso,thereforeitmusthavebeenthefaultoftheblackgoblinwholivedinthesnuff-box.Theflameslightedupthetinsoldier,ashestood,theheatwasveryterrible,butwhetheritproceededfromtherealfireorfromthefireoflovehecouldnottell.Thenhecouldseethatthebrightcolorswerefadedfromhisuniform,butwhethertheyhadbeenwashedoffduringhisjourneyorfromtheeffectsofhissorrow,noonecouldsay.Helookedatthelittlelady,andshelookedathim.Hefelthimselfmeltingaway,buthestillremainedfirmwithhisgunonhisshoulder.Suddenlythedooroftheroomflewopenandthedraughtofaircaughtupthelittledancer,sheflutteredlikeasylphrightintothestovebythesideofthetinsoldier,andwasinstantlyinflamesandwasgone.Thetinsoldiermelteddownintoalump,andthenextmorning,whenthemaidservanttooktheashesoutofthestove,shefoundhimintheshapeofalittletinheart.Butofthelittledancernothingremainedbutthetinselrose,whichwasburntblackasacinder.
THEEND