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安徒生童话:TheBottle Neck瓶颈Inthenarrow,crookedstreet,amongseveralshabbydwellings,stoodaverytallandverynarrowhouse,theframeworkofwhichhadgivensothatitwasoutofjointineverydirection.Onlypoorpeoplelivedhere,andpoorestofallwerethosewholivedintheattic.Outsidethesmallatticwindowanold,bentbirdcagehunginthesunshine;itdidntevenhavearealbirdglass,buthadonlyabottleneck,upsidedown,withacorkinitsmouth,andfilledwithwater.Attheopenwindowstoodanoldmaidwhohadjustbeendeckingthecagewithchickweed;thelittlecanaryinithoppedfromperchtoperchandsangwithallhismight."Yes,youmaywellsing!"saidtheBottleNeck.Ofcourse,itdidntsayitaudibly,aswereableto,forabottleneckcannotspeak,butitthoughtit,justaswhenwehumansspeakinwardly."Yes,youmaywellsing you,withyourlimbswhole!ButwhatifyouhadlostyourlowerhalfasIhave,andhadonlyaneckandamouthleft,andthenhadacorkstuffedintoyou!Youcertainlywouldntsingthen!Butitsgoodthatsomebodyispleased.Ihavenoreasontosing,andIcantanyway;Icouldonce,whenIwasawholebottle,andsomeonerubbedmewithacork;theyusedtocallmeareallarkthen,thegrandlark.DidntIsingthatdayinthewoodswhenthefurriersdaughterbecameengaged?Icanrememberitasthoughitwereyesterday.WhenIcometothinkofit,Ivelivedthroughmanythings;Ivebeenthroughfireandwater downintheblackearth,andhigherupthanmostpeople.AndnowIhanghereontheoutsideofthecageintheairandsunshine.Itmightbeworthwhiletohearmystory,butImnotgoingtotellitaloud,becauseIcant!"Andsoitinwardlytold,orthought,itsstory,whichwasastrangeone,andinthemeantimethelittlebirdsangmerrily,andpeoplerodeorwalkedthroughthestreetsdownbelow.Eachthoughtofhisownstoryordidntthinkatall;but,atanyrate,theBottleNeckwasengrossedinthought.Itrememberedtheflamingfurnaceinthemanufacturingplant,whereithadbeenblownintoexistence.Itstillrememberedhowwarmitwasatfirst,howitlookedintothatroaringfurnace,itsbirthplace,andlongedtoleapbackintoit.Butthenasitgraduallycooled,itfounditselfwelloffwhereitwas,standinginalongrowwithawholeregimentofbrothersandsisters.Allhadbeenbornfromthesamefurnace,butsomehadbeenblownintochampagnebottles,someintobeerbottles,andthatmakesadifference.Tobesure,asthingshappenintheworld,abeerbottlemayholdthecostliestLachrymaChristiwine,whileachampagnebottlemaybefilledwithblackink;butwhateachonewasbornformaystillbeclearlyseeninitsform;nobilityremainsnobility,evenwithblackinkinside.Allthebottlesweresoonpackedup,ourBottleamongthem.Littlediditthinkthenthatitwouldendasabottleneck,servingasabirdglass,andyetthatisanhonorableexistence itsatleastsomething.Itdidnotseedaylightagainuntilitwasunpacked,togetherwithitscomrades,inthecellarofawinemerchant;andthenforthefirsttimeitwasrinsedout thatwasanoddsensation.Itthenlayemptyandcorkless,andfeltstrangelydull,asifitlackedsomething,thoughitdidntknowwhat.Butthenitwasfilledwithgood,gloriouswinereceivedacork,andwassealedup;alabelwaspastedonit,"BestQuality,"anditfeltasifithadbeenawardedthehighestratingastheresultofitsexamination thoughithadtobeadmittedthatthewinewasgood,aswellastheBottle.Whenoneisyoung,oneisalyricpoet!TheBottlewassinginginwardlyofthingsitknewnothingabout green,sunlitmountains,wherethevineyardsgrow,andwheremerrymaidensandhappyyouthssingandkiss.Yes,itiswonderfultobealive!Indeed,theBottleinwardlysangofallthis,asdoyoungpoets,whofrequentlyalsoknownothingaboutthethingsofwhichtheysing.Onemorningitwasbought.Thefurriersboyhadbeensenttofetchabottleofthebestwine;andthenitwaspackedintoalargebasket,togetherwithham,cheese,sausages,thebestbutter,andthefinestbread.Thefurriersdaughterherselfpackedthebasket.Shewassoyoung,sopretty;herbrowneyeslaughed,andtherewasasmileonherlips,whichseemedasexpressiveashereyes.Herhandsweresmall,soft,andwhite,butnotsowhiteasherforeheadandthroat.Youcouldseeatoncethatshewasoneoftheprettiestgirlsinthevillage,andstillshewasnotyetbetrothed.Whenthepartydroveoutintothewoods,thebasketlayinherlap.TheneckoftheBottlepeepedoutfromthefoldsofthewhitetablecloth;theredsealingwaxonthecorklookedrightinthefaceoftheyounggirlandlookedalsoattheyoungsailorwhosatbesideher.Hehadbeenherfriendsincechildhood,andwasaportraitpaintersson.Hehadrecentlypassedhisexaminationforthenavelservicewithhighhonors,andonthenextdayhewastosailaway,faraway,toforeignlands.Thishadbeenspokenofduringthepackingofthebasket,andithadntbeenquitesopleasanttolookattheeyesandlipsofthefurriersprettydaughterwhiletheredbeentalkofthat.Thetwoyoungpeoplewentforawalkinthegreenforest,talking andwhatdidtheytalkabout?TheBottlecouldnthearthat,foritwasleftinthebasket.Alongtimepassedbeforethebasketwasunpacked,butwhenitwas,itwasapparentthatsomepleasantthinghadhappenedinthemeantime,foralleyeswerefilledwithhappiness,particularlythoseofthefurriersdaughter,thoughshesaidlessthantheothers,andhercheeksblushedliketworedroses.ThefatherunwrappedtheBottleandtookupthecorkscrew.Yes,itwasastrangesensationthattheBottlefeltwhen,forthefirsttime,thecorkwasdrawn!TheBottleneckcouldneverforgetthatsolemnmoment;itsaid"pop!"asthecorkwaspulledout,andthenthewinegurgledwhenitflowedintotheglasses."Atoasttothebetrothed!"saidthefather,andeveryglasswasemptied,andthentheyoungmankissedhisprettyfianc闲."Goodluckandblessings,"saidtheoldcouple.Andtheyoungmanthenrefilledtheglasses,exclaiming,"Tomyhome comingandourwedding,ayearfromtoday!"Whentheglasseshadbeenemptied;heraisedtheBottleintheair,saying,"Youhavebeenapartofthehappiestdayofmylife.Youshallneverserveanyoneelse!"Thenheflungithighintotheair.LittledidthefurriersdaughterthinkthatshewouldeverseetheBottleagain andyetshewould.TheBottlefelldownamongthethickreedsfringingthelittlewoodlandlake.TheBottleneckcouldrememberclearlyhowitlaythere,thinking,"Igavethemwine,andtheygavemeswampwater buttheymeantwell."Itcouldnolongerseethehappybetrothedandtheirpleasedparents,butitcouldhearthemtalkingandsinginginthedistance.Thenafterawhiletwopeasantboyscamealong,foundtheBottleamongthereeds,andtookitaway.Nowithadsomeonetotakecareofit.Atthewoodlandhutwheretheboyslived,theyandtheirelderbrother,whowasasailor,hadpartedthedaybefore,whenhehadcomehometosaygood bypriortoleavingonalongvoyage.Nowtheirmotherwaspackingafewthingsthattheirfatherwasgoingtotaketohiminthetownthatevening;thiswouldgivehimanopportunitytoseehissononcemorebeforehisdepartureandtobringhimgreetingsfromhismotherandhimself.Alittleflaskofspicedbrandywasplacedinthepackage.Butthentheboyscamehomewiththebottletheyhadfound;itwaslargerandstrongerandwouldholdmorethanthelittleflask;itwasjustrightforagood sizedschnappsforastomachinneedofsuch.Soitwasfilled,notwithredwineasbefore,butwithbrandycontainingherbsthataregoodforthestomach.ThenewlyfoundBottle,ratherthanthelittleone,wouldgoonthetrip.AndsotheBottlecontinuedonitstravels.ItwentwithPeterJensenonboardtheverysameshipasthisyoungofficerwhohadbeenbetrothed.HehadntyetseentheBottleagain,andifhehad,hewouldnthaverecognizedit,orthought,"Thisisthebottlefromwhichthetoaststoourbetrothalandmyhomecomingweredrunk!"Now,ofcourse,itnolongercontainedredwine,buttherewassomethingjustasgoodinit.WheneverPeterJensenbroughtitout,hisshipmatesalwayscalledit"theApothecary";itprovidedgoodmedicineforthestomach,theyagreed,andindeedithelpedthemaslongastherewasadropleftinit.Thosewerehappytimes,andtheBottlesangwhenitwasrubbedwiththecork,andthusitcametobecalled"thegrandlark,"and"PeterJensenslark."Alongtimehadpassed;theBottlestoodemptyinacorner,anditdidnotknowwhetheritwasonthevoyageoutorboundforhome,forithadntbeenashore.Thenamightystormarose.Huge,heavy,blackwavesroseupandhurledthevesselabout.Themastcrashedoverboard;amightywavesmashedinaplank,andthepumpswereuseless.Theshipwassinking,butinthelastminutetheyoungofficerwroteonapieceofpaper,"LordJesushavemercyonus weperish!"Hewrotehisfianc闲sname,hisown,andthatoftheship,putthenoteintoanemptybottlehefoundnearby,pressedthecorkintightly,andthenflungthebottleoutintothestormysea.NeverdidherealizethatthiswastheBottlethathadprovidedwinefortoaststohisandherhappinessandthefulfillmentoftheirhopes.Itnowtossedonthesurgingbillows,carryingitstidingsofdeath,itsgreetingtotheliving.Theshipsank,andthecrewwithit.TheBottlewaslikeabirdinflight,thewayitwastossedabovethewaves and,whatsmore,ithadaheartwithinit,intheformofaloversmessage.Thesunrose,andthesunset andthatremindedtheBottleofthetimeofitsbirth,inthered,glowingfurnace;itlongedtoflybackintotheheat.Itwentthroughcalmseasandmorestorms;itwasneitherdashedagainstrocksnorswallowedbyashark.Formorethanayearandadayitdrifted,nownorth,nowsouth,asitwascarriedbythecurrents.Tobesureitwasitsownmaster,butonegetstiredofthat.Thenote,thatlastfarewellfromtheyoungofficertohisbetrothed,wouldbringonlysorrowifitevershouldfallintotheproperhands.Butwherewerethosehands,thehandsthathadgleamedsowhitewhilespreadingthetableclothoverthefreshgrassonthebetrothalday?Wherewasthefurriersdaughter?Yes,andwherewasland?Whatlandlaynearest?TheBottlehadnoidea.Itdriftedonandonandfinallybecameverywearyofdrifting forwhichithadneverbeenintended,anyway butstillitdriftedon,untilatlastitwascastashoreonaforeignland.Itcouldntunderstandawordthatwasspokenhere;thiswasnotthelanguageithadalwaysheardbefore,andonemissesagreatdealwheninacountrywhereonecannotunderstandthelanguage.TheBottlewaspickedupandexamined;thenoteinsideitwasnoticed,takenout,turnedaround,andturnedover,butthepeoplecouldnotunderstandwhatwaswrittenonit.Theyrealized,ofcourse,thatthebottlehadbeenthrownoverboardandthattherewassomethingaboutthatwrittenonthepaper,butwhatitsaidwasamystery.AndsothenotewasputbackintotheBottle,andtheBottleitselfplacedinalargecabinetinalargeroominalargehouse.Wheneverstrangerscametothehousethenotewasbroughtforth,turnedaroundandover,andviewedfromeveryangle,untilthewriting whichwasonlypencil,tobeginwith becamemoreandmoreillegible,andatlasttheletterscouldhardlybemadeoutatall.ForayeartheBottleremainedinthecabinet;thenitwassentuptotheattic,whereitwassmotheredwithdustandspiderwebs.Upthereitthoughtofitsbetterdays,whenithadprovidedtheredwineinthefreshwoods,andwhenithadbeenrockedbythebillows,andhadhadasecret,aletter,asighoffarewell,entrustedtoitscare.Fortwentyyearsitwasleftintheattic,anditmighthaveremainedtherestilllongerifthehousehadnotbeenrebuilt.Theroofwastorndown;theBottlewasfound,andremarksweremadeaboutit,butitstillcouldntunderstandthelanguage;onedoesntlearnalanguagebystandinginanattic,evenintwentyyears."IfonlyIhadstayedintheparlordownstairs,"itthought,"Iwouldhavelearnedit!"Itnowwaswashedandrinsedout,anditneededcleaningbadly.Itfeltitselfoncemorequiteclearandtransparent;itfeltyounginitsoldage.Butthenoteithadcarriedhadbeendestroyedinthewashing.Nowitwasfilledwithseedcorn whatsort,itdidntknow waswellpacked,andcorkeduptightly;itcouldseeneitherlampnorcandle,nottomentionsunormoon."Oneshouldbeabletoseesomethingwhenonegoesonajourney,"thoughttheBottle.Butwhileitsawnothing,itdidsomething andthatisoffargreaterimportance.Ittraveled,andatlastcametoitsdestination,whereitwasunpacked."Whatalotoftroublethoseforeignershavegonetowiththat!"itwassaid."Andyetitsprobablycracked!"ButtheBottlewasntcracked.Itunderstoodallthatwassaidhere,foreverywordwasspokeninthelanguageithadheardoncomingoutofthefurnaceatthefactory,andatthewinemerchants,andinthewoods,andaboardtheship theonlylanguagethatwasright,thegood,oldlanguagethatonecouldunderstand.TheBottlehadcomehometoitsowncountry;tohearthelanguagewasawelcomegreetinginitself,andinitsjoyitnearlyjumpedfromthehandsthatheldit!Itwasbarelyawarethatitscorkwaspulledoutandthatitwasemptiedofitscontentsandsentdowntothecellar theretobekeptandforgotten;however,thereisnoplacelikehome,eveninthecellar!Itnevergavethoughttohowlongatimeitlaythere,foritlayincomfort;itwasthereformanyyears.Then,finally,onedaypeoplecamedownandtookthebottlesaway,oursamongthem.Thegardenofthehousewasmagnificentlydecorated;colorfullylightedlampswerehungingarlands,andpaperlanternsglowedfestively,resemblingbig,seeminglytransparenttulips.Itwasabeautifulevening,too;theairwascalmandmild;thestarstwinkledbrightly,andtherewasanewmoon;peoplewithsharpeyescouldseethewholeroundmoon,whichlookedlikeablue grayglobehalfencircledwithgold.Therewassomeilluminationalongtheoutlyingwalks,too atleastenoughtoenableonetofindhiswayalongthem.Rowsofbottles,eachwithacandleinit,hadbeensetupalongthehedges.AmongthesestoodtheBottleweknow thatwhichwastoendasabottleneck,abirdglass anditfoundeverythingherecompletelydelightful;itwasagainoutamongthegreenery;againitheardthesoundsofgladnessandfestivity,songandmusic,thebuzzandchatterofmanypeople,especiallyfromthesectionofthegardenwherethelampswereburningandthepaperlanternsshowedtheirbrightcolors.ThoughtheBottlestoodalonganout of the waywalk,eventhatgaveitfoodforthought;instandinghereandbearingitslight,itwasbeingbothusefulandenjoyabletoothers,andsuchwasitsrightfulpurpose.Inanhourlikethatonecanforgettwentyyearsinanattic andthatisagoodthingtoforget.Acouplepassedcloseby,arminarm,likethebetrothedpairoutinthewoods thenavalofficerandthefurriersdaughter;itseemedtotheBottlethatitwaslivingitslifeoveragain.Guestsstrolledtoandfrointhegarden;therewerealsopassers bywhohadventuredhereforaglimpseoftheguestsandthefestivities,andamongthemwasanoldmaidwhohadnorelativesorfamilybutwasnotfriendless.ShewasthinkingofthesamethingthattheBottlewas;shethoughtofthegreenwoodsandtheyoungbetrothedcoupleofsolongago.Thatindeedconcernedher,becauseshehadbeenapartofit shewasoneofthetwolovers!Thathadbeenthehappiesttimeofherlife,atimenevertobeforgotten,howeveroldanoldmaidmaybe.ButshedidnotrecognizetheBottle,nordiditrecognizeher;andthusitisthatwepassoneanotherbyinthisworld thoughsoonerorlaterwearesuretomeetagain,asdidthesetwo,whowerenowresidentsofthesametown.FromthegardentheBottlewentbacktothewinemerchants;thereitwasoncemorefilledwithwineandthensoldtoanaeronaut,whosenextballoonascensionwastobeonthefollowingSunday.Acrowdofpeoplecametoseetheevent;therewasmilitarymusic,andmanyelaboratepreparationshadbeenmadefortheoccasion.TheBottlesawitallfromabasket,whereitlaywithaliverabbit,whowasverydisheartenedbecauseheknewhewasgoinguponlytocomedownagainbyparachute.TheBottleknewnothingaboutgoinguporcomingdown,butitsawhowtheballoonswelledoutlargerandlarger,andthatwhenitcouldgrownolargeritbegantoraiseitself,higherandhigher,androlleduneasily;thentheropesthathelditdownwerecut,anditfloatedupwiththeaeronaut,thebasket,therabbit,andthebottle.Thebandplayed,andallthepeoplecried,"Hurrah!""Itsfunnytogoupintheairlikethis!"thoughttheBottle."Itmustbeanewkindofsailing;youcantrunontorocksuphere!"Manythousandsofpeoplelookedupattheballoon,andtheoldmaidwatchedit,too.Shewasstandingattheopenatticwindow,besidethecagewiththelittlecanary,whoatthattimedidnthaveaglassforhiswaterbuthadtogetalongwithanoldcup.Inthewindowwasafloweringmyrtle,whichtheoldwomanhadmovedasidesoitwouldntfalloutwhensheleanedforwardtoseetheproceedings.Shecouldseetheaeronautintheballoonbasket;helettherabbitfallbyparachute,thendrankatoasttoallthespectatorsandflungtheBottlehighintotheair.Shenaturallyhadnothoughtofhavingseenthesamebottleflythroughtheaironthathappydayinthegreenwoods,inheryouth.TheBottledidnthavetimetothinkatall,sosuddenlydiditreachthehighestpointofitslife.Farbelowlaythetowersandroofsofthetown;peopleweresotinythattheywerehardlyvisibleatall.Nowitfell,butitwasaquitedifferentfallfromtherabbits.TheBottleturnedsomersaultsintheair,andfeltitselfsoyoung,sowild!Itwashalffullofwine,butnotforlong.Whatavoyage!ThesunglitteredontheBottle,andalleyesfollowedit;theballoonitselfwasalreadyaconsiderabledistancealoft,andsoontheBottlewasoutofview.Itfellonaroof,andbrokeintwo,buttherewassuchspiritinthepiecesthattheycouldntremainstill!Theyleapedandrolled,downward,downwarduntiltheyreachedthecourtyard,wheretheybrokeintostillsmallerpieces.OnlytheneckoftheBottlewasleftwhole;itlookedasifithadbeencutoffcleanlywithadiamond."Itcanbeusedasabirdglass,"saidthemanwholivedinthecellar.Buthehimselfhadneitherbirdnorcage,anditwouldhardlyhavebeenworthwhiletogetthemjustbecausehehadabottleneckthatmightbeusedasabirdglass.Heknew,however,thattheoldmaidupintheatticcoulduseit.SotheBottleNeckwastakenupstairs,acorkwasputin,andthepartthathadalwaysbeenthetopwasnowatthebottom asoftenhappensinlifeschanges;itwasfilledwithfreshwater,andwashungonthecageforthelittlebirdwhosangsomerrily."Yes,youmaywellsing,"saidtheBottleNeck.Anditwasindeedaremarkablebottleneck,forithadbeenupinaballoon;this,however,wasallthatwasknownofitsstory.Now,inhanginghereasabirdglass,itcouldhearthehumandbuzzofpeopleinthestreetbelowandthevoiceoftheoldmaidinherchamber.Shehadavisitorjustnow,afriendofherownage,andtheyweretalking notaboutthebirdglass,butaboutthemyrtleatthewindow."Youcertainlyshantwastetwodollarsforabridalbouquetforyourdaughter!"saidtheoldmaid."Youshallhaveacharmingonefromme,fullofflowers!Seehowlovelymymyrtleis!Yes,itsanoffshootfromthemyrtleyougaveme,thedayaftermybetrothal.Iwasgoingtohavemyownbridalbouquetmadeofit,whentheyearwasup,butthatdaynevercame.Thoseeyesthatweretohavebeenmylightandjoythroughoutlifewereclosed;atthebottomoftheseahesleepssweetly,theangel.Themyrtlegrewuntilitwaslikeanoldtree,butIagedevenmore;andwhenitwitheredItookthelastfreshshootandsetitintotheground,andnowthatshootislikeatree,andatlastitshallserveatawedding,asabridalbouquetforyourdaughter!"Andthereweretearsintheoldmaidseyes;shespokeagainofthefriendofheryouthandoftheirbetrothalinthewoods;shethoughtofthetoaststhathadbeendrunk,thoughtofhisfirstkiss butshesaidnothingaboutthat;shewasanoldmaidnow.Shethoughtofsomanythings,butlittledidshethinkthatjustoutsideherwindowwasaremembranceofthattime,theneckofthatveryBottlewhichhadsaid"pop!"whenitscorkhadbeenpulledoutforthedrinkingofthetoasts.TheoldBottledidntknowhereither,forithadntlistenedtowhatshehadsaid,partly infact,chiefly becauseitthoughtonlyofitself.
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