登陆注册
5435500000196

第196章

I am peter, who opens and shuts the gate of heaven. Behold how the dead outside there in the chuchyard are wandering about collecting their bones. Come, come, and creep into the sack, the world is about to be destroyed. The cry echoed through the whole village. The parson and clerk who lived nearest to the church, heard it first, and when they saw the lights which were moving about the churchyard, they observed that something unusual was going on, and went into the church. They listened to the sermon for a while, and then the clerk nudged the parson and said, it would not be amiss if we were to use the opportunity together, and before the dawning of the last day, find an easy way of getting to heaven. To tell the truth, answered the parson, that is what Imyself have been thinking, so if you are inclined, we will set out on our way. Yes, answered the clerk, but you, the pastor, have the precedence, I will follow. So the parson went first, and ascended the pulpit where the master opened his sack. The parson crept in first, and then the clerk. The master immediately tied up the sack tightly, seized it by the middle, and dragged it down the pulpit-steps, and whenever the heads of the two fools bumped against the steps, he cried, we are going over the mountains. Then he drew them through the village in the same way, and when they were passing through puddles, he cried, now we are going through wet clouds. And when at last he was dragging them up the steps of the castle, he cried, now we are on the steps of heaven, and will soon be in the outer court. When he had got to the top, he pushed the sack into the pigeon-house, and when the pigeons fluttered about, he said, hark how glad the angels are, and how they are flapping their wings. Then he bolted the door upon them, and went away.

Next morning he went to the count, and told him that he had performed the third task also, and had carried the parson and clerk out of the church. Where have you left them, asked the Lord.

They are lying upstairs in a sack in the pigeon-house, and imagine that they are in heaven. The count went up himself, and convinced himself that the master had told the truth. When he had delivered the parson and clerk from their captivity, he said, you are an arch-thief, and have won your wager. For once you escape with a whole skin, but see that you leave my land, for if ever you set foot on it again, you may count on your elevation to the gallows. The arch-thief took leave of his parents, once more went forth into the wide world, and no one has ever heard of him since.

A young drummer went out quite alone one evening into the country, and came to a lake on the shore of which he perceived lying there three pieces of white linen. What fine linen, said he, and put one piece in his pocket. He returned home, thought no more of what he had found, and went to bed. Just as he was going to sleep, it seemed to him as if someone was calling his name. He listened, and was aware of a soft voice which cried to him, drummer, drummer, wake up. As it was a dark night he could see no one, but it appeared to him that a figure was hovering about his bed. What do you want, he asked. Give me back my shift, answered the voice, that you took away from me last evening by the lake. You shall have it back again, said the drummer, if you will tell me who you are.

Ah, replied the voice, I am the daughter of a mighty king. But Ihave fallen into the power of a witch, and am shut up on the glass-mountain. I have to bathe in the lake every day with my two sisters, but I cannot fly back again without my shift. My sisters have gone away, but I have been forced to stay behind. Ientreat you to give me my shift back. Don't worry, poor child, said the drummer. I will willingly give it back to you. He took it out of his pocket, and reached it to her in the dark. She snatched it in haste, and wanted to go away with it. Stop a moment, perhaps I can help you. You can only help me by ascending the glass-mountain, and indeed if you were quite close to it you could not ascend it. When I want to do a thing I always can do it, said the drummer. I am sorry for you, and have no fear of anything. But I do not know the way which leads to the glass-mountain. The road goes through the great forest, in which the man-eaters live, she answered, and more than that, I dare not tell you. And then he heard her wings as she flew away.

By daybreak the drummer arose, buckled on his drums, and went without fear straight into the forest. After he had walked for a while without seeing any giants, he thought to himself, Imust waken up the sluggards, and he hung his drum before him, and beat such a roll that the birds flew out of the trees with loud cries. It was not long before a giant who had been lying sleeping among the grass, rose up, and was as tall as a fir-tree.

Wretch, cried he, what are you drumming here for, and wakening me out of my best sleep. I am drumming, he replied, because I want to show the way to many thousands who are following me.

What do they want in my forest, demanded the giant. They want to put an end to you, and cleanse the forest of such a monster as you. Oho. Said the giant, I will trample you all to death like so many ants. Do you think you can do anything against us, said the drummer, if you stoop to take hold of one, he will jump away and hide himself. But when you are lying down and sleeping, they will come forth from every thicket, and creep up to you.

同类推荐
  • 乙巳占

    乙巳占

    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。
  • 宅法举隅

    宅法举隅

    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。
  • 张文襄公选集

    张文襄公选集

    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。
  • 伤寒大白

    伤寒大白

    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。
  • 提婆菩萨释楞伽经中外道小乘涅槃论

    提婆菩萨释楞伽经中外道小乘涅槃论

    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。
热门推荐
  • 绝对隐私

    绝对隐私

    本书着力小人物感情世界,以情感人。深爱女儿却被女儿一直怀恨的疯子妈,爱得无怨无悔;一个小不点,却在生命最后关头想着挽救同族,雄心可鉴;给战友以求生的信念而自己却不幸牺牲的老红军,令人扼腕……
  • 女人健康密码

    女人健康密码

    呵护女人身体的健康密码,让女人不生病的实用健康手册。向身体做投资,向健康要幸福。健康的身心、红润的容颜以及优雅的气质离你不远。中医、国学等名家教给你最实用的养生经验,一生健康,爱护自己。
  • 将门虎女

    将门虎女

    一个为皇家公主,一个是守边将军;一个心爱刀光剑影,一个却慕书香盈袖;一个穷追不舍上求下索成陌路,一个退避三舍左躲右闪闪到腰;最初的最初,将军扶桌子声泪俱下:“当初子茂就不该由着她胡闹,不然现在我也能安安心心娶个大家闺秀当媳妇。”最后的最后,公主捋袖子若有所思:“其实父皇先后给挑的两个驸马人选都还不错,可以考虑一下。”然而将军却虎着一张脸:“敢踏出我老李家大门一步,腿打断!”
  • 你该知道的

    你该知道的

    徐慕颜,曾不婚主义者,受支配生活,一辈子可以算着看到头。可是,若是没有遇到你的话,我这一辈子,怕就是这样过了吧。三生有幸遇到你,余生只做追光者。居一漠,如果这辈子都用来爱你的话,你会爱我吗?你抱紧我,我总感觉这不像真的。……可是,最终,还是失去他了。
  • 潇洒皇后

    潇洒皇后

    别人穿越都是变成绝色美女,为啥米轮到她就变成一丑女了,唉~好吧,丑女就丑女了,难得重生了,这回一定要好好的活一把。可是,可是,为啥这些个皇帝啊嫔妃啊都要至她于死地呢?不行,她杨雪曼可不是软柿子,谁敢爬到我头上来定叫他后悔来到这世上!哼!尽管放马过来吧,姐可是来自于21世纪的高材生,还怕斗不过你们这些古人么!
  • 骑士在巫师世界崛起

    骑士在巫师世界崛起

    凯文带着骑士系统穿越到了巫师世界,他领悟了一个道理——人不狠,站不稳。
  • 重生之好好聊聊

    重生之好好聊聊

    一座清幽的小院内,竹制的靠背椅上坐着一个小女孩。她睁着大大的眼睛,托着下巴望着院子里的一株桃树静静发呆,满是稚气的小脸上写满了与年龄不符的忧愁。“唉~,怎么这个时候回来了,再晚上两年不好吗?这个时候是要上幼儿园吧?天啊~,我可不想和一群小屁孩儿呆在一起。”“宝宝啊,你嘀咕什么呢?那颗树有什么好的,让你看了那么半天?”一声苍老的女声在身后响起,随之而来的是挑动竹帘的声音。……
  • The Army of the Cumberland

    The Army of the Cumberland

    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。
  • 傻王狂妃:废材小姐逆袭

    傻王狂妃:废材小姐逆袭

    战场上,她是一代名将,战无不胜,面对敌人所向披靡。在家中,她是闻名天下的废柴,琴棋书画样样不通。一纸诏书,让她遇见了他,当废材遇见傻子,又会擦出怎样的火花。“噗,废柴配傻子,可真是绝配。”殊不知,这对众人眼中的废柴傻子,早已在大陆上掀起腥风血雨。
  • 最佳强娶:总裁追妻令

    最佳强娶:总裁追妻令

    许念,二十岁那年,被家人抛弃,拒之门外,她在门外哭喊,最后晕倒在了暴雨之中。再次醒来是在陌生人男人的家里,这个男人收留她,给她工作,待她温柔。许念一心认为他是个好人,对他无话不说,然而就是这个好人,给了她一生都难以忘记的痛苦回忆。深夜,他压她在身下,用好听用性感的嗓音宣誓主权。他说:“你是我的,并且只能是我的。”许念泪水沾湿了枕头,她哭着求他别这样,然而,一切都是徒劳。他霸占她,囚困她,剥夺了她的自由。她不甘心,一直想办法逃走。一次失败,第二次成功。就在他们的结婚典礼上,那一刻,她真正明白什么表情叫做面如死灰……