登陆注册
5389200000050

第50章

Suddenly a loud noise struck on his ear, and he felt the earth tremble beneath his feet. Hans listened for a moment, then resolved to go towards the place where the sound came from, hoping he might come across some human being. He found himself at length at the mouth of a rocky cave in which a fire seemed burning. He entered, and saw a huge forge, and a crowd of men in front of it, blowing bellows and wielding hammers, and to each anvil were seven men, and a set of more comical smiths could not be found if you searched all the world through! Their heads were bigger than their little bodies, and their hammers twice the size of themselves, but the strongest men on earth could not have handled their iron clubs more stoutly or given lustier blows.

The little blacksmiths were clad in leather aprons, which covered them from their necks to their feet in front, and left their backs naked. On a high stool against the wall sat the man with the pinewood staff, watching sharply the way the little fellows did their work, and near him stood a large can, from which every now and then the workers would come and take a drink. The master no longer wore the white garments of the day before, but a black jerkin, held in its place by a leathern girdle with huge clasps.

From time to time he would give his workmen a sign with his staff, for it was useless to speak amid such a noise.

If any of them had noticed that there was a stranger present they took no heed of him, but went on with what they were doing.

After some hours' hard labour came the time for rest, and they all flung their hammers to the ground and trooped out of the cave.

Then the master got down from his seat and said to Hans:

'I saw you come in, but the work was pressing, and I could not stop to speak to you. To-day you must be my guest, and I will show you something of the way in which I live. Wait here for a moment, while I lay aside these dirty clothes.' With these words he unlocked a door in the cave, and bade Hans pass in before him.

Oh, what riches and treasures met Hans' astonished eyes! Gold and silver bars lay piled on the floor, and glittered so that you could not look at them! Hans thought he would count them for fun, and had already reached the five hundred and seventieth when his host returned and cried, laughing:

'Do not try to count them, it would take too long; choose some of the bars from the heap, as I should like to make you a present of them.'

Hans did not wait to be asked twice, and stooped to pick up a bar of gold, but though he put forth all his strength he could not even move it with both hands, still less lift it off the ground.

'Why, you have no more power than a flea,' laughed the host; 'you will have to content yourself with feasting your eyes upon them!'

So he bade Hans follow him through other rooms, till they entered one bigger than a church, filled, like the rest, with gold and silver. Hans wondered to see these vast riches, which might have bought all the kingdoms of the world, and lay buried, useless, he thought, to anyone.

'What is the reason,' he asked of his guide, 'that you gather up these treasures here, where they can do good to nobody? If they fell into the hands of men, everyone would be rich, and none need work or suffer hunger.'

'And it is exactly for that reason,' answered he, 'that I must keep these riches out of their way. The whole world would sink to idleness if men were not forced to earn their daily bread. It is only through work and care that man can ever hope to be good for anything.'

Hans stared at these words, and at last he begged that his host would tell him what use it was to anybody that this gold and silver should lie mouldering there, and the owner of it be continually trying to increase his treasure, which already overflowed his store rooms.

'I am not really a man,' replied his guide, 'though I have the outward form of one, but one of those beings to whom is given the care of the world. It is my task and that of my workmen to prepare under the earth the gold and silver, a small portion of which finds its way every year to the upper world, but only just enough to help them carry on their business. To none comes wealth without trouble: we must first dig out the gold and mix the grains with earth, clay, and sand. Then, after long and hard seeking, it will be found in this state, by those who have good luck or much patience. But, my friend, the hour of dinner is at hand. If you wish to remain in this place, and feast your eyes on this gold, then stay till I call you.'

In his absence Hans wandered from one treasure chamber to another, sometimes trying to break off a little lump of gold, but never able to do it. After awhile his host came back, but so changed that Hans could not believe it was really he. His silken clothes were of the brightest flame colour, richly trimmed with gold fringes and lace; a golden girdle was round his waist, while his head was encircled with a crown of gold, and precious stones twinkled about him like stars in a winter's night, and in place of his wooden stick he held a finely worked golden staff.

The lord of all this treasure locked the doors and put the keys in his pocket, then led Hans into another room, where dinner was laid for them. Table and seats were all of silver, while the dishes and plates were of solid gold. Directly they sat down, a dozen little servants appeared to wait on them, which they did so cleverly and so quickly that Hans could hardly believe they had no wings. As they did not reach as high as the table, they were often obliged to jump and hop right on to the top to get at the dishes. Everything was new to Hans, and though he was rather bewildered he enjoyed himself very much, especially when the man with the golden crown began to tell him many things he had never heard of before.

'Between Christmas and the New Year,' said he, 'I often amuse myself by wandering about the earth watching the doings of men and learning something about them. But as far as I have seen and heard I cannot speak well of them. The greater part of them are always quarrelling and complaining of each other's faults, while nobody thinks of his own.'

同类推荐
  • 丹溪手镜

    丹溪手镜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 周易参同契注·朱熹

    周易参同契注·朱熹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 肇论

    肇论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 养真集

    养真集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大宝广博楼阁善住秘密陀罗尼经

    大宝广博楼阁善住秘密陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 剪纸传说

    剪纸传说

    你想和我交易?但我只要你的影子!我和影子在深渊等你。我是一个剪纸人。我攥住你的影子,让你无处可以遁形。
  • 让心灵透透气

    让心灵透透气

    一杯清茶,一缕光线,一本好书……轻轻抚慰,阅读是一种生命的享受。智慧、美丽、梦幻、快乐……慢慢品味,人生永远在书香里跳跃。
  • 兔瑞丝日记

    兔瑞丝日记

    口是心非×冷漠傲娇兔家有女,其名瑞思。兔瑞思成长日记,老公从小抓。
  • 冒险追踪记(少年成长必读名著)

    冒险追踪记(少年成长必读名著)

    语文新课标指定了中小学生的阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 春庭月落花

    春庭月落花

    民国时期,军阀混战,商贾两女上演民国版上错花轿嫁对郎。在那样的家庭中,究竟会不会有真正单纯的人?面对妹妹的黑化,大姐的压迫,大哥的表白,父亲的离世,战争的残酷,容清茶还会不会找到自己真正深爱的那个人?她该何去何从?一个个表面的笑容背后,究竟还藏着怎样不可告人的秘密?是真心实意还是笑面虎?又该去想信谁?谁能告诉我答案?
  • 乱世浮城

    乱世浮城

    北平金家,四大世家之首,曾经的辉煌一夜没落……上海苏公馆,青年才俊,却误入歧途?一梅寒霜独绽,一人荒芜前行。是无法相守的无奈,是手足相残的悲哀,是国破家亡的愤恨……生于国难之境,困于世俗枷锁!我们最终的信仰只有一个——国泰民安!待风尘尽然,现明珠之光。
  • 向阳花女孩

    向阳花女孩

    从小生活在乡下的小女孩儿刘棉袄,和弟弟一起跟随父母来到城市生活。她走进了新校园,结识了新的朋友。四年一班优等生孟晨阳、“小跟班”丁一总会制造麻烦来捉弄个子高高、力气很大的刘棉袄,这样的恶作剧并没有让刘棉袄感到伤心和失落,她巧妙地化解了同学间的隔膜。刘棉袄是一个会给大家带来正能量的女孩。她与人为善,阳光开朗,就像一朵向阳花一样温暖着一家人,也融化了人与人之间心灵的坚冰。大家都喜欢她——像向阳花一样美好的女孩儿。
  • 胡商 胡腾舞与入华中亚人:解读虞弘墓

    胡商 胡腾舞与入华中亚人:解读虞弘墓

    《胡商胡腾舞与入华中亚人:解读虞弘墓》乃《太原隋虞弘墓》考古报告的续篇或者姊妹篇,试图通过虞弘和其他北朝入华中亚人,从几个侧面,展示汉唐之间黄河两岸的中西文化交流,旨在说明黄河两岸与丝绸之路的密切联系,揭示平城、晋阳在丝绸之路东西文化交流中的重要位置和作用,以引起丝路研究者和爱好者的注意。
  • 烤焦疑问

    烤焦疑问

    蔡波赶到迎宾山庄时看了一眼手表:午夜两点零五分。迎宾山庄悄没声息,这种时候别说人,鬼都跑去睡了。但是最靠水边的两幢别墅还有灯,楼上楼下一片通明。这一片别墅区位于湖边。湖呈月牙形,名字就叫“月湖”。月湖四周绿树环绕,绿树旁射灯耀眼。灯光投在湖面上,湖水轻摇,闪着寒光。除湖畔两幢别墅外,其他小楼座座黑暗,窗子里边没一盏灯光,只有楼角壁灯与别墅间的路灯相接,连成一线照亮空无一人的林阴道。蔡波吩咐:“轻点声。”轿车悄悄滑向亮灯的别墅。林文祺在房间里等候。
  • 唯愿此生都是你

    唯愿此生都是你

    一次缠绵,她意外怀孕,只是这到底是意外还是阴谋?失了身,负了初恋,她放逐自己五年。再次归来,且看她如何笑瞰人间。