小学英语英语故事（童话故事）The Garden of Paradise天国花园

TheGardenofParadise天国花园

Therewasonceaking，sson,noonehadsomanybeautifulbooksashe.Inthemhe

couldreadofeverythingthathadeverhappenedinthisworld,andhecouldseeit

allpicturedinfineillustrations.Hecouldfindoutabouteveryraceofpeople

andeverycountry,buttherewasnotasinglewordaboutwheretofindtheGarden

ofParadise,andthis,justthis,wastheverythingthathethoughtmostabout.

Whenhewasstillveryyoungandwasabouttostarthisschooling,hisgrandmother

hadtoldhimthateachflowerintheGardenofParadisewasmadeofthesweetest

cake,andthatthepistilswerebottlesfulloffinestwine.Ononesortofflower,

shetold,historywaswritten,onanothergeography,ormultiplicationtables,so

thatoneonlyhadtoeatcaketoknowone'slesson,andthemoreoneate,themore

history,geography,orarithmeticonewouldknow.

Atthetimehebelievedher,butwhentheboygrewolderandmorelearnedandmuch

wiser,heknewthatthegloriesoftheGardenofParadisemustbeofaverydifferent

sort.

〃0h,whydidEvehavetopickfruitfromthetreeofknowledge,andwhydidAdam

eatwhatwasforbiddenhim?NowifithadonlybeenI,thatwouldneverhavehappened,

andsinwouldneverhavecomeintotheworld.Hesaiditthen,andwhenhewas

seventeenhesaiditstill.TheGardenofParadisewasalwaysinhisthoughts.

Hewentwalkinginthewoodsoneday.Hewalkedalone,forthiswashisfavorite

amusement.Eveningcameon,thecloudsgathered,andtherainpoureddownasifthe

skywereallonebigfloodgatefromwhichthewaterplunged.Itwasasdarkasit

wouldbeatnightinthedeepestwell.Hekeptslippingonthewetgrass,andtripping

overthestonesthatstuckoutoftherockysoil.Everythingwassoakingwet,and

atlengththepoorPrincedidn'thaveadrystitchtohisback.Hehadtoscramble

overgreatboulderswherethewatertrickledfromthewetmoss.Hehadalmostfainted,

whenheheardastrangepuffingandsawahugecaveaheadofhim.Itwasbrightly

lit,forinsidethecaveburnedafiresolargethatitcouldhaveroastedastag.

Andthiswasactuallybeingdone.Amagnificentdeer,antlersandal1,hadbeenstuck

onaspit,andwasbeingslowlyturnedbetweentherough-hewntrunksoftwopine

trees.Anelderlywoman,soburlyandstrongthatshemighthavebeentakenfora

manindisguise,satbythefireandthrewlogafterloguponit.

“Youcancomenearer,shesaid."Sitdownbythefireandletyourclothesdry.”

“There'sanawfuldrafthere,“thePrinceremarked,asheseatedhimselfonthe

ground.

〃Itwillbestillworsewhenmysonsgethome,z，thewomantoldhim.〃Youareinthe

caveofthewinds,andmysonsarethefourwindsoftheworld.DoImakemyself

clear?”

Whereareyoursons?”thePrinceasked.

“Suchastupidquestionishardtoanswer,〃thewomantoldhim.〃Mysonsgotheir

ownways,playingballwiththecloudsinthatgreathall."Andshepointeduptoward

thesky.

“Really!”saidthePrince.〃Inoticethatyouhavearatherforcefulwayofspeaking,

andarenotasgentleasthewomenIusuallyseearoundme.〃

〃Isupposetheyhavenothingbettertodo.Ihavetobeharshtocontrolthosesons

ofmine.Imanagetodoit,forallthattheyareanobstinatelot.Seethefour

sacksthathangthereonthewall!Theydreadthoseasmuchasyouusedtodread

theswitchthatwaskeptbehindthemirrorforyou.Icanfoldtheboysrightup,

letmetellyou,andpopthemstraightintothebag.Wedon'tmincematters.There

theystay.Theyaren'tallowedtoroamaroundagainuntilIseefittoletthem.

Butherecomesoneofthem.”

ItwastheNorthWindwhocamehurtlingin,withacoldblastofsnowflakesthat

swirledabouthimandgreathailstonesthatrattledonthefloor,liewaswearing

abear-skincoatandtrousers;aseal-skincapwaspulledoverhisears;longicicles

hungfromhisbeard;andhailstoneafterhailstonefellfromthecollarofhiscoat.

“Don'tgorightuptothefiresoquickly,“thePrincewarnedhim.〃Yourfaceand

handsmightgetfrostbite."

“Frostbite!”theNorthWindlaughedhisloudest."Frostbite!Why,frostismychief

delight.Butwhatsortof'longleg，areyou?Howdoyoucometobeinthecaveof

thewinds?”

〃Heishereasmyguest,〃theoldwomanintervened."Andifthatexplanationdoesn，t

suityou,intothesackyougo.DoImakemyselfclear?”

Shemadeherselfclearenough.TheNorthWindnowtalkedofwhencehehadcome,and

wherehehadtraveledforalmostamonth.

〃IcomefromtheArcticSea,，zhetoldthem.〃IhavebeenonBearIslandwiththe

Russianwalrushunters.Ilaybesidethehelm,andsleptastheysailedfromthe

NorthCape.WhenIawokefromtimetotimethestormbirdcircledaboutmyknees.

There'sanoddbirdforyou!Hegivesaquickflapofhiswings,andthenholdsthem

perfectlystillandrushesalongatfullspeed.”

“Don'tbesolong-winded,z，hismothertoldhim.〃SoyoucametoBearIsland?”

〃It'sawonderfulplace!There，sadancingfloorforyou,asflatasaplatter!The

surfaceoftheislandisallhalf-meltedsnow,littlepatchesofmoss,and

outcroppingrocks.Scatteredaboutarethebonesofwhalesandpolarbears,colored

amoldygreen,andlookinglikethearmsandlegsofsomegiant.

“You'dhavethoughtthatthesunnevershonethere.Iblewthefogawayabit,so

thatthehousecouldbeseen.Itwasahutbuiltofwreckageandcoveredwithwalrus

skins,thefleshysideturnedoutward,andsmearedwithredsandgreens.Alovepolar

bearsatgrowlingontheroofofit.

〃Iwenttotheshoreandlookedatbirdnests,andwhenIsawthefeatherlessnestlings

shrieking,withtheirbeakswideopen,Iblewdownintotheirthousandthroats.That

taughtthemtoshuttheirmouths.Furtheralong,greatwalruseswerewallowingabout

likemonstrousmaggots,withpigs'heads,andtusksayardlong.”

z，Howwellyoudotellastory,myson,〃theoldwomansaid.〃Mymouthwaterswhen

Ihearyou!”

“Thehuntbegan.Theharpoonwashurledintothewalrus'sbreast,andastreaming

bloodstreamspurtedacrosstheicelikeafountain.Thisremindedmeofmyownsport.

Iblewmysailingships,thosetoweringicebergs,againsttheboatsuntiltheir

timberscracked.Ho!howthecrewwhistledandshouted.ButIoutwhistledthemall.

Overboardontheicetheyhadtothrowtheirdeadwalruses,theirtackle,andeven

theirseachests.Ishroudedtheminsnow,andletthemdriftsouthwiththeirbroken

boatsandtheirbootyalongside,foratasteoftheopensea.Theywon'tevercome

backtoBearIsland.〃“Thatwasawickedthingtodo,〃saidthemotherofthewinds.

〃I'11letotherstellofmygooddeeds,“hesaid.〃Butherecomesmybrotherfrom

thewest.Ilikehimbestofall.Hehasaseafaringairabouthim,andcarriesa

refreshingtouchofcoolnesswhereverhegoes.〃

〃IsthatlittleZephyr?”thePrinceasked.

〃0fcourseit'sZephyr,“theoldwomanreplied,“buthe，snotlittle.Hewasanice

boyonce,butthatwasyearsago.〃

Helookedlikeasavage,exceptthatheworeabroad-rimmedhattoshieldhisface.

Inhishandhecarriedamahoganybludgeon,cutinthemahoganyforestsofAmerica.

Nothinglesswoulddo!

，zWherehaveyoucomefrom?”hismotherasked.

〃Icomefromtheforestwilderness,hesaid,“wherethethornyvinesmakeafence

betweeneverytree,wherethewatersnakelurksinthewetgrass,andwherepeople

seemunnecessary.〃

z，Whatwereyoudoingthere?”

〃Igazedintothedeepestofrivers,andsawhowitrushedthroughtherapidsand

threwupacloudofspraylargeenoughtoholdtherainbow.Isawawildbuffalo

wadingintheriver,butitswepthimaway.Heswamwithaflockofwildducks,that

flewupwhentheriverwentoverawaterfall.Butthebuffalohadtoplungedown

it.ThatamusedmesomuchthatIblewupastorm,whichbrokeage-oldtreesinto

splinters.

“Haven'tyoudoneanythingelse?”theoldwomanaskedhim.

〃Iturnedsomersaultsacrosstheplains,strokedthewildhorses,andshookcocoanuts

downfromthepalmtrees.Yesindeed,Ihavetalesworthtelling,butoneshouldn，t

tellallheknows.Isn'tthatright,oldlady?”Thenhegavehersuchakissthat

itnearlyknockedheroverbackward.Hewascertainlyawildyoungfellow.

ThentheSouthWindarrived,inaturbanandaBedouin'sbillowingrobe.

〃It'sdreadfullycoldinhere,〃hecried,andthrewmorewoodonthefire.〃Ican

tellthattheNorthWindgotherebeforeme.〃

"It'shotenoughtoroastapolarbearhere,“theNorthWindprotested.

“Youareapolarbearyourself,theSouthWindsaid.

〃Doyouwanttobeputintothesack?”theoldwomanasked."Sitdownonthatstone

overthereandtellmewhereyouhavebeen.”

〃InAfrica,dearMother,saidhe.〃IhavebeenhuntingthelionwithHottentots

inKaffirland.Whatfinegrassgrowsthereontheplains.Itisasgreenasanolive.

Theredancedthegnu,andtheostrichracedwithme,butIamfleeterthanheis.

Iwentintothedesertwheretheyellowsandislikethebottomofthesea.Imet

withacaravan,wheretheywerekillingtheirlastcameltogetdrinkingwater,but

itwaslittleenoughtheygot.Thesunblazedoverheadandthesandscorchedunderfoot.

Thedesertwasunending.

〃Irolledinthefineloosesandandwhirleditaloftingreatcolumns.Whatadance

thatwas!Yououghttohaveseenhowdespondentlythedromedarieshunchedup,and

howthetraderpulledhisburnooseoverhishead,liethrewhimselfdownbeforeme

ashewouldbeforeAllah,hisgod.Nowtheyareburied,withapyramidofsandrising

overthemall.WhensomedayIblowitaway,thesunwillbleachtheirboneswhite,

andtravelerswillseethatmenhavebeentherebeforethem.Otherwisenoonewould

believeit,thereinthedesert.〃

〃Soyouhavedonenothingbutwickedness!”criedhismother."Intothesackwith

you!”Andbeforehewasawareofit,shepickedtheSouthWindupbodilyandthrust

himintothebag.Hethrashedaboutontheflooruntilshesatdownonthesack.

Thatkepthimquiet.

“Thoseareboisteroussonsyouhave,〃saidthePrince.

Indeedtheyare,“sheagreed,“butIknowhowtokeeptheminorder.Herecomes

thefourthone.〃

ThiswastheEastWind.HewasdressedasaChinaman.

〃Sothat,swhereyou'vebeen!”saidhismother."IthoughtyouhadgonetotheGarden

ofParadise.〃

〃Iwon'tflythereuntiltomorrow,〃theEastWindsaid."Tomorrowitwillbeexactly

ahundredyearssinceIwasthere.IamjusthomefromChina,whereIdancedaround

theporcelaintoweruntilallthebellsjangled.Officialsofstatewerebeing

whippedthroughthestreets.Bamboostickswerebrokenacrosstheirshoulders,

thoughtheywerepeopleofimportance,fromthefirsttotheninthdegree.Theyhowled,

'Thankyousomuch,myfatherandprotector,?buttheydidn，tmeanit.AndIwent

aboutclangingthebellsandsang,'Tsing,tsang,tsu!'〃

〃Youaretoosaucy,〃theoldwomantoldhim.saluckythingthatyou，11beoff

totheGardenofParadisetomorrow,foritalwayshasagoodinfluenceonyou.

Remembertodrinkdeepoutofthefountainofwisdomandbringbackalittlebottleful

forme.〃

〃T11dothat,〃saidtheEastWind."Butwhyhaveyoupoppedmybrotherfromthe

southintothesack?Let'shavehimout.Hemusttellmeaboutthephoenixbird,

becausethePrincessintheGardenofParadisealwaysasksmeaboutthatbirdwhen

Idropinonhereveryhundredyears.Openupmysack,likemyownsweetmother,

andr11giveyoutwopocketsfullofteaasgreenandfreshasitwaswhenIpicked

itoffthebush.〃

zzWell-forthesakeofthetea,andbecauseyouaremypet,I'llopenthesack./z

Sheopeneditup,andtheSouthWindcrawledout.Buthelookedveryglum,because

thePrince,whowasastranger,hadseenhimhumbled.

"Here'sapaIm-leaffanforthePrincess,theSouthWindsaid.〃Itwasgivento

mebytheoldphoenix,whowastheonlyoneofhiskindintheworld.Onithescratched

withhisbeakahistoryofthehundredyearsthathelived,soshecanreaditherself.

Iwatchedthephoenixbirdsetfiretohernest,andsattherewhilesheburnedto

death,justlikeaHindoowidow.Whatacracklingtherewasofdrytwigs,whatsmoke,

andwhatasmellofsmoldering!Finallyitallburstintoflames,andtheoldphoenix

wasreducedtoashes,butheregglaywhite-hotintheblaze.Withagreatbangit

brokeopen,andtheyoungphoenixflewoutofit.Nowheistheruleroverallthe

birds,andheistheonlyphoenixbirdinalltheworld.Ashisgreetingstothe

Princess,hethrustaholeinthepalmleafIamgivingyou.〃

“Let'shaveabitetoeat,〃saidthemotherofthewinds.

Astheysatdowntoeattheroaststag,thePrincetookaplacebesidetheEastWind,

andtheysoonbecamefastfriends.

“Tellme,〃saidthePrince,“whoisthisPrincessyou'vebeentalkingsomuchabout,

andjustwhereistheGardenofEden?〃

〃Ah,ha!〃saidtheEastWind."Wouldyouliketogothere?Thenflywithmetomorrow.

Imustwarnyou,though,nomanhasbeentheresinceAdamandEve.Youhaveread

aboutthemintheBible?"

“Surely,〃thePrincesaid.

Aftertheyweredrivenout,theGardenofParadisesankdeepintotheearth,but

itkeptitswarmsunlight,itsrefreshingair,andallofitsglories.Thequeen

ofthefairieslivesthereontheIslandoftheBlessed,wheredeathnevercomes

andwherethereiseverlastinghappiness.SitonmybacktomorrowandIshal1take

youwithme.Ithinkitcanbemanaged.Butnowlet'sstoptalking,forIwantto

sleep.〃

Andthentheyallwenttosleep.WhenthePrinceawokethenextmorning,itcame

asnosmallsurprisetofindhimselfhighovertheclouds.Hewasseatedontheback

oftheEastWind,whocarefullyheldhimsafe.Theyweresofarupintheskythat

allthewoods,fields,rivers,andlakeslookedasiftheywereprintedonamap

spreadbeneaththem.

“Goodmorning,saidtheEastWind."Youmightjustaswellsleepalittlelonger.

There*snothingveryinterestinginthisflatlandbeneathus,unlessyoucareto

countchurches.Theystandoutlikechalkmarksuponthegreenboard.”

Whathecalled"thegreenboard"wasallthefieldsandpastures.

〃Itwasnotverypoliteofmetoleavewithoutbiddingyourmotherandbrothers

farewell,/zthePrincesaid.

“That'sexcusable,whenyouleaveinyoursleep,z/theEastWindtoldhim,asthey

flewonfasterthanever.

Onecouldhearitinthetreetops.Alltheleavesandbranchesrustledastheyswept

overtheforest,andwhentheycrossedoverlakesoroverseasthewavesrosehigh,

andtallshipsbentlowtothewaterasiftheyweredriftingswans.

Asdarknessgatheredthatevening,itwaspleasanttoseethegreatcitieswiththeir

1ightstwinklinghereandspreadingthere,justaswhenyouburnapieceofpaper

andthesparksflyoneafteranother.AtthissightthePrinceclappedhishands

indelight,buttheEastWindadvisedhimtostopitandholdontight,orhemight

fallandfindhimselfstuckuponachurchsteeple.

Theeagleinthedarkforestflewlightly,buttheEastWindflewmorelightlystill.

TheCossackonhisponyspedswiftlyacrossthesteppes,butthePrincespedstill

moreswiftly.

“Now,〃saidtheEastWind,“youcanviewtheHimalayas,thehighestmountainsin

Asia.AndsoonweshallreachtheGardenofparadise.

Theyturnedsouthward,wheretheairwassweetwithflowersandspice.Figsand

pomegranatesgrewwild,andonuntendedvinesgrewredandblueclustersofgrapes.

Theycamedownhere,andbothofthemstretchedoutonthesoftgrass,whereflowers

noddedinthebreezeasiftosay:"Welcomeback.〃

“ArewenowintheGardenofParadise?”thePrinceasked.

〃0h,no!〃saidtheEastWind."Butweshallcometoitsoon.Doyouseethatrocky

cliff,andthebigcave,wherethevineshanginawidecurtainofgreenery?That*s

thewaywego.Wrapyourcoatwellaboutyou.Herethesunisscorchinghot,but

afewstepsanditisascoldasice.Thebirdthatfliesatthemouthofthecave

hasonewinginsummeryandtheotherinwintryair.〃

〃SothisisthewaytotheGardenofParadise,〃saidthePrince,astheyentered

thecave.

Brer-r-r!howfrostyitwasthere,butnotforlong.TheEastWindspreadhiswings,

andtheyshonelikethebrighestflames.Butwhatacavethatwas!Hugemassesof

rock,fromwhichwaterwastrickling,hunginfantasticshapesabovethem.Sometimes

thecavewassonarrowthattheyhadtocrawlontheirhandsandknees,sometimes

sovastthatitseemedthattheywereundertheopensky.Thecaveresembledaseries

offuneralchapels,withmuteorganpipesandbannersturnedtostone.

〃WearegoingtotheGardenofParadisethroughthegatesofdeath,arewenot?”

thePrinceasked.

TheEastWindanswerednotaword,butpointedtoalovelybluelightthatshone

aheadofthem.Themassesofstoneovertheirheadsgrewmoreandmoremisty,and

atlasttheylookedupataclearwhitecloudinthemoonlight.Theairbecame

delightfullyclement,asfreshasitisinthehills,andassweetlyscentedasit

isamongtherosesthatbloominthevalley.

Theriverwhichflowedtherewasclearastheairitself,andthefishinitwere

likesilverandgold.Purpleeels,thatateveryturnthrewoffbluesparks,frolicked

aboutinthewater,andthelargeleavesoftheaquaticflowersgleamedinallof

therainbow'scolors.Theflowersthemselveswerelikeabrightorangeflame,which

fedonthewaterjustasalamplightisfedbyoil.

Astrongmarblebridge,madesodelicatelyandartisticallythatitlookedasif

itconsistedoflaceandglasspearls,ledacrossthewatertotheIslandofthe

Blessed,wheretheGardenofParadisebloomed.

TheEastWindsweptthePrinceupinhisarmsandcarriedhimacrosstotheisland,

wherethepetalsandleavessangallthelovelyoldsongsofhischildhood,butfar,

farsweeterthananyhumanvoicecouldsing.Werethesepalmtreesthatgrewthere,

orimmensewaterplants?SuchvastandverdanttreesthePrincehadneverseenbefore.

Themostmarvelousclimbingvineshungingarlandssuchasaretobeseenonlyin

oldilluminatedchurchbooks,paintedingoldandbrightcolorsinthemarginsor

twinedabouttheinitialletters.Herewastheoddestassortmentofbirds,flowers,

andtwistingvines.

Onthegrassnear-by,withtheirbrilliantlystarredtailsspreadwide,wasaflock

ofpeacocks.Orsotheyseemed,butwhenthePrincetouchedthemhefoundthatthese

werenotbirds.Theywereplants.Theywerelargeburdockleavesthatwereas

resplendentasapeacock'strain.Lionsandtigersleapedabout,aslitheascats,

inthegreenshrubberywhichtheoliveblossomsmadesofragrant.Thelionsandtigers

werequitetame,forthewildwoodpigeon,whichglistened1ikealovelypearl,

brushedthelion'smanewithherwings,andthetimidantelopesstoodbyandtossed

theirheadsasiftheywouldliketojoinintheirplay.

Thenthefairyofthegardencametomeetthem.Hergarmentswereasbrightasthe

sun,andherfacewasascheerfulasthatofahappymotherwhoiswellpleasedwith

herchild.Shewassoyoungandlovely,andtheotherprettymaidenswhofollowed

hereachworeashiningstarintheirhair.WhentheEastWindgaveherthepaIm-leaf

messagefromthephoenix,hereyessparkledwithpleasure.

ShetookthePrincebyhishandandledhimintoherpalace,wherethewallshad

thecolorofaperfecttulippetalhelduptothesun.Theceilingwasmadeofone

greatshiningflower,andthelongeronelookedupthedeeperdidthecupofitseem

tobe.ThePrincewenttothewindow.Asheglancedoutthroughoneofthepanes

hesawtheTreeofKnowledge,withtheserpent,andAdamandEvestandingunderit.

，zWeren，ttheydrivenout?”heasked.

ThefairysmilinglyexplainedtohimthatTimehadglazedapictureineachpane,

butthatthesewerenottheusualsortofpictures.No,theyhadlifeinthem.The

leavesquiveredonthetrees,andthepeoplecameandwentasinamirror.

HelookedthroughanotherpaneandtherewasJacob*sdream,withtheladderthat

wentuptoHeaven,andthegreatangelsclimbingupanddown.Yes,allthatever

therewasintheworldlivedon,andmovedacrossthesepanesofglass.OnlyTime

couldglazesuchartisticpaintingssowell.

Thefairysmiledandledhimonintoavastandloftyhall,withwallsthatseemed

transparent.Onthewallswereportraits,eachfairerthantheonebefore.These

weremillionsofblessedsouls,ahappychoirwhichsanginperfectharmony.The

uppermostfacesappearedtobesmallerthanthetiniestrosebuddrawnasasingle

dotinapicture.Inthecenterofthehallgrewalargetree,withluxuriantlyhanging

branches.Goldenappleslargeandsmallhung1ikeorangesamongtheleaves.This

wastheTreeofKnowledge,ofwhichAdamandEvehadtasted.Asparklingreddrop

ofdewhungfromeachleaf,asiftheTreewereweepingtearsofblood.

“Nowletusgetintotheboat,“thefairyproposed."Therewewillhavesome

refreshmentsontheheavingwater.Thoughtherockingboatstaysinoneplace,we

shallseeallthelandsintheworldglideby.”

Itwasmarveloushowthewholeshoremoved.Nowthehighsnow-cappedAlpswentpast,

withtheircloudsanddarkevergreentrees.TheAlpinehornwasheard,deepand

melancholy,andtheshepherdsyodeledgailyinthevalley.Butsoontheboatwas

overhungbythelongarchingbranchesofbananatrees.Jet-blackswanswentswimming

by,andthequeerestanimalsandplantsweretobeseenalongthebanks.Thiswas

newHollandandthefifthquarteroftheglobethatglidedpast,withitsbluehills

inthedistance.Theyheardthesongsofthepriestsandsawthesavagesdanceto

thesoundofdrums,andtrumpetsofbone.Thecloud-tippedpyramidsofEgypt,the

fallencolumns,andsphinxeshalfburiedinthesands,sweptby.TheNorthernLights

blazedovertheglaciersaroundthePole,inadisplayoffireworksthatnoonecould

imitate.ThePrincesawahundredtimesmorethanwecantell,andhewascompletely

happy.

“MayIalwaysstayhere?”heasked.

“Thatisuptoyou,〃thefairytoldhim."Unless,asAdamdid,youletyourselfbe

temptedanddowhatisforbidden,youmaystayherealways.，z

〃Iwon'ttouchthefruitontheTreeofKnowledge,zzthePrincedeclared."Hereare

thousandsofotherfruitsthatarejustasattractive.，z

“Lookintoyourheart,and,ifyouhavenotstrengthenough,gobackwiththeEast

Windwhobroughtyouhere.Heisleavingsoon,andwillnotreturnforahundred

years,whichyouwillspendasquicklyhereasiftheywereahundredhours.

“Butthatisalongtimetoresistthetemptationtosin.WhenIleaveyouevery

evening,Ishallhavetocall,'Comewithme,'andholdoutmyhandstoyou.But

youmuststaybehind.Donotfollowme,oryourdesirewillgrowwitheverystep.

YouwillcomeintothehallwheretheTreeofKnowledgegrows.Isleepunderthe

archofitssweet-smellingbranches.IfyouleanovermeIshal1havetosmile,but

ifyoukissmeonthemouththisParadisewillvanishdeepintotheearth,andyou

willloseit.Thecuttingwindsofthewastelandwillblowaboutyou,thecoldrain

willdripfromyourhair,andsorrowandtoilwillbeyourdestiny.，z

〃Ishallstay,“thePrincesaid.

TheEastWindkissedhisforehead.〃Bestrong,zzhesaid,“andinahundredyears

weshallmeethereagain.Farewell!farewell!，zThentheEastWindspreadhis

tremendouswingsthatflashedlikelightningseenatharvesttimeorlikethe

NorthernLightsinthewintercold.

“Farewell!farewell!theleavesandtreesechoedthesound,asthestorksandthe

pelicansflewwithhimtotheendofthegarden,inlinesthatwerelikeribbons

streamingthroughtheair.

“Nowwewillstartourdances,〃thefairysaid."WhenIhavedancedthelastdance

withyouatsundown,youwillseemeholdoutmyhandstoyou,andhearmecall.

Jcomewithme.'Butdonotcome.Everyeveningforahundredyears,Ishallhave

torepeatthis.Everytimethatyouresist,yourstrengthwillgrow,andatlast

youwillnoteventhinkofyieldingtotemptation.Thiseveningisthefirsttime,

sotakewarning!

Andthefairyledhimintoalargehallofwhite,transparentlilies.Theyellow

stamensofeachflowerformedasmallgoldenharp,whichvibratedtothemusicof

stringsandflutes.Theloveliestmaidens,floatingandslender,camedancingby,

cladinsuchairygauzethatonecouldseehowperfectlyshapedtheywere.Theysang

ofthehappinessoflife-theywhowouldneverdie-andtheysangthattheGardenof

Paradisewouldforeverbloom.

Thesunwentdown.Theskyturnedtoshininggold,andinitslighttheliliestook

onthecoloroftheloveliestroses.ThePrincedrankthesparklingwinethatthe

maidensofferedhim,andfelthappierthanhehadeverbeen.Hewatchedthebackground

ofthehallthrownopen,andtheTreeofKnowledgestandinginasplendorwhich

blindedhiseyes.Thesongfromthetreewasassoftandlovelyashisdearmother's

voice,anditwasasifsheweresaying,“Mychild,mydearestchild.〃

Thefairythenheldoutherhandstohimandcalledmostsweetly:

“Followme!Oh,followme!”

Forgettinghispromise-forgettingeverything,ontheveryfirsteveningthatshe

heldoutherhandsandsmiled-herantowardher.Thefragrantairaroundhimbecame

evenmoresweet,themusicoftheharpssoundedevenmorelovely,anditseemedas

thoughthemillionsofhappyfacesinthehallwheretheTreegrewnoddedtohim

andsang,〃0nemustknowallthereistoknow,formanisthelordoftheearth.，z

AnditseemedtohimthatthedropsthatfellfromtheTreeofKnowledgewereno

longertearsofblood,butredandshiningstars.

“Followme!Followme!”thequiveringvoicestillcalled,andateverystepthat

thePrincetookhischeeksflushedwarmerandhispulsebeatfaster.

〃Icannothelpit,〃hesaid."This