小学英语 安徒生童话系列（三）The Shepherd’s Story of the Bond of阅读素材.docx

theshepherdsstoryofthebondoffriendshipbyhanschristianandersen（1842）thelittledwellinginwhichwelivedwasofclay，butthedoor-postswerecolumnsofflutedmarble，foundnearthespotonwhichitstood.theroofslopednearlytotheground.itwasatthistimedark，brown，andugly，buthadoriginallybeenformedofbloomingoliveandlaurelbranches，broughtfrombeyondthemountains.thehousewassituatedinanarrowgorge，whoserockywallsrosetoaperpendicularheight，nakedandblack，whileroundtheirsummitscloudsoftenhung，lookinglikewhitelivingfigures.notasingingbirdwaseverheardthere，neitherdidmendancetothesoundofthepipe.thespotwasonesacredtooldentimes；evenitsnamerecalledamemoryofthedayswhenitwascalled“delphi.”thenthesummitsofthedark，sacredmountainswerecoveredwithsnow，andthehighest，mountparnassus，glowedlongestintheredeveninglight.thebrookwhichrolledfromitnearourhouse，wasalsosacred.howwellicanremembereveryspotinthatdeep，sacredsolitude！afirehadbeenkindledinthemidstofthehut，andwhilethehotasheslaythereredandglowing，thebreadwasbakedinthem.attimesthesnowwouldbepiledsohigharoundourhutasalmosttohideit，andthenmymotherappearedmostcheerful.shewouldholdmyheadbetweenherhands，andsingthesongssheneversangatothertimes，fortheturks，ourmasters，wouldnotallowit.shesang，“onthesummitofmountolympus，inaforestofdwarffirs，layanoldstag.hiseyeswereheavywithtears，andglitteringwithcolorslikedewdrops；andtherecamebyaroebuck，andsaid，whatailestthee，thatthouweepestblueandredtears？andthestaganswered，theturkhascometoourcity；hehaswilddogsforthechase，agoodlypack.iwilldrivethemawayacrosstheislands！criedtheyoungroebuck；iwilldrivethemawayacrosstheislandsintothedeepsea.butbeforeeveningtheroebuckwasslain，andbeforenightthehuntedstagwasdead.”andwhenmymothersangthus，hereyeswouldbecomemoist；andonthelongeyelashesweretears，butsheconcealedthemandwatchedtheblackbreadbakingintheashes.theniwouldclenchmyfist，andcry， “wewillkilltheseturks！”butsherepeatedthewordsofthesong， “iwilldrivethemacrosstheislandstothedeepsea；butbeforeeveningcametheroebuckwasslain，andbeforethenightthehuntedstagwasdead.”wehadbeenlonelyinourhutforseveraldaysandnightswhenmyfathercamehome.iknewhewouldbringmesomeshellsfromthegulfoflepanto，orperhapsaknifewithashiningblade.thistimehebrought，underhissheep-skincloak，alittlechild，alittlehalf-nakedgirl.shewaswrappedinafur；butwhenthiswastakenoff，andshelayinmymotherslap，threesilvercoinswerefoundfastenedinherdarkhair；theywereallherpossessions.myfathertoldusthatthechildsparentshadbeenkilledbytheturks，andhetalkedsomuchaboutthemthatidreamedofturksallnight.hehimselfhadbeenwounded，andmymotherbounduphisarm.itwasadeepwound，andthethicksheep-skincloakwasstiffwithcongealedblood.thelittlemaidenwastobemysister.howprettyandbrightshelooked：evenmymotherseyeswerenotmoregentlethanhers.anastasia，asshewascalled，wastobemysister，becauseherfatherhadbeenunitedtominebyanoldcustom，whichwestillfollow.theyhadswornbrotherhoodintheiryouth，andthemostbeautifulandvirtuousmaidenintheneighborhoodwaschosentoperformtheactofconsecrationuponthisbondoffriendship.sonowthislittlegirlwasmysister.shesatinmylap，andibroughtherflowers，andfeathersfromthebirdsofthemountain.wedranktogetherofthewatersofparnassus，anddweltformanyyearsbeneaththelaurelroofofthehut，while，winterafterwinter，mymothersanghersongofthestagwhoshedredtears.butasyetididnotunderstandthatthesorrowsofmyowncountrymenweremirroredinthosetears.onedaytherecametoourhutfranks，menfromafarcountry，whosedresswasdifferenttoours.theyhadtentsandbedswiththem，carriedbyhorses；andtheywereaccompaniedbymorethantwentyturks，allarmedwithswordsandmuskets.thesefrankswerefriendsofthepacha，andhadlettersfromhim，commandinganescortforthem.theyonlycametoseeourmountain，toascendparnassusamidthesnowandclouds，andtolookatthestrangeblackrockswhichraisedtheirsteepsidesnearourhut.theycouldnotfindroominthehut，norendurethesmokethatrolledalongtheceilingtillitfounditswayoutatthelowdoor；sotheypitchedtheirtentsonasmallspaceoutsideourdwelling.roastedlambsandbirdswerebroughtforth，andstrong，sweetwine，ofwhichtheturksareforbiddentopartake.whentheydeparted，iaccompaniedthemforsomedistance，carryingmylittlesisteranastasia，wrappedinagoat-skin，onmyback.oneofthefrankishgentlemenmademestandinfrontofarock，anddrewusbothaswestoodthere，sothatwelookedlikeonecreature.ididnotthinkofitthen，butanastasiaandiwerereallyone.shewasalwayssittingonmylap，orridinginthegoat-skinonmyback；andinmydreamsshealwaysappearedtome.twonightsafterthis，othermen，armedwithknivesandmuskets，cameintoourtent.theywerealbanians，bravemen，mymothertoldme.theyonlystayedashorttime.mysisteranastasiasatonthekneeofoneofthem；andwhentheyweregone，shehadnotthree，buttwosilvercoinsinherhaironehaddisappeared.theywrappedtobaccoinstripsofpaper，andsmokedit；andiremembertheywereuncertainastotheroadtheyoughttotake.buttheywereobligedtogoatlast，andmyfatherwentwiththem.soonafter，weheardthesoundoffiring.thenoisecontinued，andpresentlysoldiersrushedintoourhut，andtookmymotherandmyselfandanastasiaprisoners.theydeclaredthatwehadentertainedrobbers，andthatmyfatherhadactedastheirguide，andthereforewemustnowgowiththem.thecorpsesoftherobbers，andmyfatherscorpse，werebroughtintothehut.isawmypoordeadfather，andcriedtillifellasleep.wheniawoke，ifoundmyselfinaprison；buttheroomwasnotworsethanourowninthehut.theygavemeonionsandmustywinefromatarredcask；butwewerenotaccustomedtomuchbetterfareathome.howlongwewerekeptinprison，idonotknow；butmanydaysandnightspassedby.weweresetfreeabouteaster-time.icarriedanastasiaonmyback，andwewalkedveryslowly；formymotherwasveryweak，anditisalongwaytothesea，tothegulfoflepanto.onourarrival，weenteredachurch，inwhichtherewerebeautifulpicturesingoldenframes.theywerepicturesofangels，fairandbright；andyetourlittleanastasialookedequallybeautiful，asitseemedtome.inthecentreofthefloorstoodacoffinfilledwithroses.mymothertoldmeitwasthelordjesuschristwhowasrepresentedbytheseroses.thenthepriestannounced， “christisrisen，”andallthepeoplegreetedeachother.eachonecarriedaburningtaperinhishand，andonewasgiventome，aswellastolittleanastasia.themusicsounded，andthepeopleleftthechurchhand-in-hand，withjoyandgladness.outside，thewomenwereroastingthepaschallamb.wewereinvitedtopartake；andasisatbythefire，aboy，olderthanmyself，puthisarmsroundmyneck，andkissedme，andsaid， “christisrisen.”andthusitwasthatforthefirsttimeimetaphtanides.mymothercouldmakefishermensnets，forwhichtherewasagreatdemandhereinthebay；andwelivedalongtimebythesideofthesea，thebeautifulsea，thathadatasteliketears，andinitscolorsremindedmeofthestagthatweptredtears；forsometimesitswaterswerered，andsometimesgreenorblue.aphtanidesknewhowtomanageourboat，andioftensatinit，withmylittleanastasia，whileitglidedonthroughthewater，swiftasabirdflyingthroughtheair.then，whenthesunset，howbeautifully，deeplyblue，wouldbethetintonthemountains，onerisingabovetheotherinthefardistance，andthesummitofmountparnassusrisingabovethemalllikeagloriouscrown.itstopglitteredintheeveningrayslikemoltengold，anditseemedasifthelightcamefromwithinit；forlongafterthesunhadsunkbeneaththehorizon，themountain-topwouldglowintheclear，bluesky.thewhiteaquaticbirdsskimmedthesurfaceofthewaterintheirflight，andallwascalmandstillasamidtheblackrocksatdelphi.ilayonmybackintheboat，anastasialeanedagainstme，whilethestarsaboveusglitteredmorebrightlythanthelampsinourchurch.theywerethesamestars，andinthesamepositionovermeaswheniusedtositinfrontofourhutatdelphi，andihadalmostbeguntofancyiwasstillthere，whensuddenlytherewasasplashinthewateranastasiahadfallenin；butinamomentaphtanideshassprunginafterher，andwasnowholdingheruptome.wedriedherclothesaswellaswewereable，andremainedonthewatertilltheyweredry；forwedidnotwishittobeknownwhatafrightwehadhad，northedangerwhichourlittleadoptedsisterhadincurred，inwhoselifeaphtanideshadnowapart.thesummercame，andtheburningheatofthesuntintedtheleavesofthetreeswithlinesofgold.ithoughtofourcoolmountain-home，andthefreshwaterthatflowednearit；mymother，too，longedforif，andoneeveningwewanderedtowardshome.howpeacefulandsilentitwasaswewalkedonthroughthethick，wildthyme，stillfragrant，thoughthesunhadscorchedtheleaves.notasingleherdsmandidwemeet，notasolitaryhutdidwepass；everythingappearedlonelyanddesertedonlyashootingstarshowedthatintheheavenstherewasyetlife.iknownotwhethertheclear，blueatmospheregleamedwithitsownlight，oriftheradiancecamefromthestars；butwecoulddistinguishquiteplainlytheoutlineofthemountains.mymotherlightedafire，androastedsomerootsshehadbroughtwithher，andiandmylittlesistersleptamongthebushes，withoutfearoftheuglysmidraki，1fromwhosethroatissuesfire，orofthewolfandthejackal；formymothersatbyus，andiconsideredherpresencesufficientprotection.wereachedouroldhome；butthecottagewasinruins，andwehadtobuildanewone.withtheaidofsomeneighbors，chieflywomen，thewallswereinafewdayserected，andverysooncoveredwitharoofofolive-branches.mymotherobtainedalivingbymakingbottle-casesofbarkandskins，andikeptthesheepbelongingtothepriests，whoweresometimespeasants，2whileihadformyplayfellowsanastasiaandtheturtles.onceourbelovedaphtanidespaidusavisit.hesaidhehadbeenlongingtoseeussomuch；andheremainedwithustwowholehappydays.amonthafterwardshecameagaintowishusgood-bye，andbroughtwithhimalargefishformymother.hetoldushewasgoinginashiptocorfuandpatras，andcouldrelateagreatmanystories，notonlyaboutthefishermenwholivednearthegulfoflepanto，butalsoofkingsandheroeswhohadoncepossessedgreece，justastheturkspossessitnow.ihaveseenabudonarose-bushgradually，inthecourseofafewweeks，unfolditsleavestillitbecamearoseinallitsbeauty；and，beforeiwasawareofit，ibehelditbloominginrosyloveliness.thesamethinghadhappenedtoanastasia.unnoticedbyme，shehadgraduallybecomeabeautifulmaiden，andiwasnowalsoastout，strongyouth.thewolf-skinsthatcoveredthebedinwhichmymotherandanastasiaslept，hadbeentakenfromwolveswhichihadmyselfshot.yearshadgonebywhen，oneevening，aphtanidescamein.hehadgrowntallandslenderasareed，withstronglimbs，andadark，brownskin.hekissedusall，andhadsomuchtotellofwhathehadseenofthegreatocean，ofthefortificationsatmalta，andofthemarvelloussepulchresofegypt，thatilookeduptohimwithakindofveneration.hisstorieswereasstrangeasthelegendsofthepriestsofoldentimes.“howmuchyouknow！”iexclaimed， “andwhatwondersyoucanrelate？”“ithinkwhatyouoncetoldme，thefinestofall，”hereplied； “youtoldmeofathingthathasneverbeenoutofmythoughtsofthegoodoldcustomofthebondoffriendship，acustomishouldliketofollow.brother，letyouandigotochurch，asyourfatherandanastasiasfatheroncedid.yoursisteranastasiaisthemostbeautifulandmostinnocentofmaidens，andsheshallconsecratethedeed.nopeoplehavesuchgrandoldcustomsaswegreeks.”anastasiablushedlikeayoungrose，andmymotherkissedaphtanides.atabouttwomilesfromourcottage，wheretheearthonthehillisshelteredbyafewscatteredtrees，stoodthelittlechurch，withasilverlamphangingbeforethealtar.iputonmybestclothes，andthewhitetunicfellingracefulfoldsovermyhips.theredjacketfittedtightandclose，thetasselonmyfezcapwasofsilver，andinmygirdleglitteredaknifeandmypistols.aphtanideswascladinthebluedresswornbythegreeksailors；onhisbreasthungasilvermedalwiththefigureofthevirginmary，andhisscarfwasascostlyasthosewornbyrichlords.everyonecouldseethatwewereabouttoperformasolemnceremony.whenweenteredthelittle，unpretendingchurch，theeveningsunlightstreamedthroughtheopendoorontheburninglamp，andglitteredonthegoldenpictureframes.wekneltdowntogetheronthealtarsteps，andanastasiadrewnearandstoodbesideus.along，whitegarmentfellingracefulfoldsoverherdelicateform，andonherwhiteneckandbosomhungachainentwinedwitholdandnewcoins，formingakindofcollar.herblackhairwasfastenedintoaknot，andconfinedbyaheaddressformedofgoldandsilvercoinswhichhadbeenfoundinanancienttemple.nogreekgirlhadmorebeautifulornamentsthanthese.hercountenanceglowed，andhereyeswereliketwostars.weallthreeofferedasilentprayer，andthenshesaidtous， “willyoubefriendsinlifeandindeath？”“yes，”wereplied.“willyoueachremembertosay，whatevermayhappen，mybrotherisapartofmyself；hissecretismysecret，myhappinessishis；self-sacrifice，patience，everythingbelongstomeastheydotohim？”andweagainanswered， “yes.”thenshejoinedouthandsandkissedusontheforehead，andweagainprayedsilently.afterthisapriestcamethroughadoornearthealtar，andblessedusallthree.thenasongwassungbyotherholymenbehindthealtar-screen，andthebondofeternalfriendshipwasconfirmed.whenwearose，isawmymotherstandingbythechurchdoor，weeping.howcheerfuleverythingseemednowinourlittlecottagebythedelphiansprings！ontheeveningbeforehisdeparture，aphtanidessatthoughtfullybesidemeontheslopesofthemountain.hisarmwasflungaroundme，andminewasroundhisneck.wespokeofthesorrowsofgreece，andofthemenofthecountrywhocouldbetrusted.everythoughtofoursoulslayclearbeforeus.presentlyiseizedhishand： “aphtanides，”iexclaimed， “thereisonethingstillthatyoumustknow，onethingthattillnowhasbeenasecretbetweenmyselfandheaven.mywholesoulisfilledwithlove，withalovestrongerthantheloveibeartomymotherandtothee.”“andwhomdoyoulove？”askedaphtanides.andhisfaceandneckgre