小学英语英语故事（童话故事）The Shadow影子

TheShadow影子

Itisinthehotcountriesthatthesunburnsdowninearnest,turningthepeople

thereadeepmahogany-brown.Inthehottestcountriesofalltheyaresearedinto

negroes,butitwasnotquitethathotinthiscountrytowhichamanoflearning

hadcomefromthecoldernorth.Heexpectedtogoabouttherejustashehadathome,

buthesoondiscoveredthatthiswasamistake.Heandothersensiblesoulshadto

stayinside.Theshuttersweredrawnandthedoorswereclosedalldaylong.Itlooked

justasifeveryonewereasleeporawayfromhome.Thenarrowstreetofhighhouses

wherehelivedwassosituatedthatfrommorningtillnightthesunbeatdownon

it-unbearably!

Tothisyoungandcleverscholarfromthecoldernorth,itfeltasifheweresitting

inablazinghotoven.Itexhaustedhimsothathebecameverythin,andevenhis

shadowshrankmuchsmallerthanithadbeenathome.Onlyintheevenings,after

sundown,didthemanandhisshadowbegintorecover.

Thiswasreallyajoytosee.Assoonasacandlewasbroughtintotheroom,the

shadowhadtostretchitselftogetitsstrengthback.Itstretcheduptothewall,

yes,evenalongtheceiling,sotai1diditgrow.Tostretchhimself,thescholar

wentoutonthebalcony.Assoonasthestarscameoutinthebeautifullyclearsky,

hefeltasifhehadcomebacktolife.

Inwarmcountrieseachwindowhasabalcony,andinallthebalconiesupanddown

thestreetpeoplecameouttobreathethefreshairthatoneneeds,evenifoneis

alreadyafinemahogany-brown.Bothupaboveanddownbelow,thingsbecamelively.

Tailors,shoemakers-everybody-movedoutinthestreet.Chairsandtableswere

broughtout,andcandleswerelighted,yes,candlesbythethousand.Onemantalked,

anothersang,peoplestrolledabout,carriagesdroveby,anddonkeystrottedalong,

ting-a-ling-a-ling,fortheirharnesshadbellsonit.Therewerechurchbells

ringing,hymnsinging,andfuneralprocessions.Therewereboysinthestreetfiring

offRomancandles.Ohyes,itwaslivelyaslivelycanbedowninthatstreet.

Onlyonehousewasquiet-theonedirectlyacrossfromwherethescholarlystranger

lived.Yetsomeonelivedthere,forflowersonthebalconygrewandthrivedunder

thathotsun,whichtheycouldnothavedoneunlesstheywerewatered.Sosomeone

mustbewateringthem,andtheremustbepeopleinthehouse.Alongintheevening,

asamatteroffact,thedooracrossthestreetwasopened.Butitwasdarkinside,

atleastinthefrontroom.Fromsomewhereinthehouse,fartherback,camethesound

ofmusic.Thescholarlystrangerthoughtthemusicwasmarvelous,butitisquite

possiblethatheonlyimaginedthis,foroutthereinthewarmcountrieshethought

everythingwasmarvelous-exceptthesun.Thestranger'slandlordsaidthathe

didn'tknowwhohadrentedthehouseacrossthestreet.Noonewasevertobeseen

overthere,andasforthemusic,hefounditextremelytiresome.Hesaid:

〃It'sjustasifsomebodysitstherepracticingapiecethat'sbeyondhim-always

theselfsamepiece.'I'11playitrightyet,5heprobablysays,buthedoesn，t,no

matterhowlonghetries.〃

Onenightthestrangerwokeup.Hesleptwiththewindowstohisbalconyopen,and

asthebreezeblewhiscurtainasidehefanciedthatamarvelousradiancecamefrom

thebalconyacrossthestreet.Thecolorsofalltheflowerswereasbrilliantas

flames.Intheirmidststoodamaiden,slenderandlovely.Itseemedasifaradiance

camefromhertoo.Itactuallyhurthiseyes,butthatwasbecausehehadopened

themtoowideinhissuddenawakening.

Oneleap,andhewasoutofbed.Withoutasound,helookedoutthroughhiscurtains,

butthemaidenwasgone.Theflowerswerenolongerradiant,thoughtheybloomed

asfreshandfairasusual.Thedoorwasajarandthroughitcamemusicsolovely

andsoftthatonecouldreallyfeelveryromanticaboutit.Itwaslikemagic.But

wholivedthere?Whatentrancedidtheyuse?Facingthestreet,thelowerfloorof

thehousewasarowofshops,andpeoplecouldn'trunthroughthemallthetime.

Onanotherevening,thestrangersatoutonhisbalcony.Thecandleburnedinthe

roombehindhim,sonaturallyhisshadowwascastonthewallacrossthestreet.

Yes,thereitsatamongtheflowers,andwhenthestrangermoved,itmovedwithhim.

〃Ibelievemyshadowistheonlylivingthingtobeseenoverthere,thescholar

thoughttohimself.〃Seehowhemakeshimselfathomeamongtheflowers.Thedoor

standsajar,andifmyshadowwerecleverhe'dstepin,havealookaround,andcome

backtotellmewhathehadseen.

〃Yes,〃hesaidasajoke,“yououghttomakeyourselfuseful.Kindlystepinside.

Well,aren'tyougoing?”Henoddedtotheshadow,andtheshadownoddedback."Run

alongnow,butbesuretocomeback.，z

Thestrangerrose,andhisshadowacrossthestreetrosewithhim.Thestrangerturned

around,andhisshadowturnedtoo.Ifanyonehadbeenwatchingclosely,hewould

haveseentheshadowenterthehalf-openbalconydoorinthehouseacrosstheway

atthesameinstantthatthestrangerreturnedtohisroomandthecurtainfellbehind

him.

Nextmorning,whenthescholarwentouttotakehiscoffeeandreadthenewspapers,

hesaid,"What'sthis?”ashecameoutinthesunshine.〃Ihaven，tanyshadow!So

itreallydidgoawaylastnight,anditstayedaway.Isn'tthatannoying?z，

Whatannoyedhimmostwasnotsomuchthelossofhisshadow,buttheknowledgethat

therewasalreadyastoryaboutamanwithoutashadow.Al1thepeopleathomeknew

thatstory.Ifhewentbackandtoldthemhisstorytheywouldsayhewasjust

imitatingtheoldone.Hedidnotcaretobecalledunoriginal,sohedecidedto

saynothingaboutit,whichwasthemostsensiblethingtodo.

Thateveningheagainwentoutonthebalcony.Hehadplacedthecandledirectly

behindhim,becauseheknewthatashadowalwayslikestouseitsmasterasascreen,

buthecouldnotcoaxitforth.Hemadehimselfshortandhemadehimselftai1,but

therewasnoshadow.Itdidn'tcomeforth.Hehemmedandhehawed,butitwasno

use.

Thiswasveryvexing,butinthehotcountrieseverythinggrowsmostrapidly,and

inaweekorsohenoticedwithgreatsatisfactionthatwhenhewentoutinthe

sunshineanewshadowwasgrowingathisfeet.Therootmusthavebeenleftwith

him.Inthreeweeks'timehehadaverypresentableshadow,andashestartednorth

againitgrewlongerandlonger,untilitgotsolongandlargethathalfofitwould

havebeenquitesufficient.

Thelearnedmanwenthomeandwrotebooksaboutthosethingsintheworldthatare

true,thataregood,andthatarebeautiful.

Thedayswentbyandtheyearswentpast,many,manyyearsinfact.Thenoneevening

whenhewassittinginhisroomheheardasofttappingathisdoor."Comein,〃said

he,butnoonecamein.Heopenedthedoorandwasconfrontedbyamansoextremely

thinthatitgavehimastrangefeeling.However,themanwasfaultlesslydressed,

andlookedlikeapersonofdistinction.

“WithwhomdoIhavethehonorofspeaking?”thescholarasked.

〃Ah,〃saidthedistinguishedvisitor,“Ithoughtyouwouldn'trecognizeme,nowthat

I*veputrealfleshonmybodyandwearclothes.Idon，tsupposeyoueverexpected

toseemeinsuchfinecondition.Don，tyouknowyouroldshadow?Youmusthavethought

rdnevercomeback.ThingshavegoneremarkablywellwithmesinceIwaslastwith

you.rvethrivedineveryway,andifIhavetobuymyfreedom,Ican."Herattled

abunchofvaluablecharmsthathungfromhiswatch,andfingeredthemassivegold

chainheworearoundhisneck.Iio!howhisfingersflashedwithdiamondrings-and

allthisjewelrywasreal.

〃No,Ican，tgetoverit!”saidthescholar.〃Whatdoesitallmean?”

“Nothingordinary,youmaybesure,〃saidtheshadow."Butyouarenoordinaryperson

andI,asyouknow,havefollowedinyourfootstepsfromchildhood.Assoonasyou

thoughtmesufficientlyexperiencedtostrikeoutintheworldformyself,Iwent

myway.Ihavebeenimmeasurablysuccessful.ButIfeltasortoflongingtosee

youagainbeforeyoudie,asIsupposeyoumust,andIwantedtoseethiscountry

again.Youknowhowoneloveshisnativeland.Iknowthatyouhavegotholdofanother

shadow.DoIoweanythingtoeitherofyou?Bekindenoughtoletmeknow.z，

“Well!Isitreallyyou?”saidthescholar.〃Why,thisismostextraordinary!Iwould

neverhaveimaginedthatone'sownshadowcouldcomebackinhumanform.〃

〃JusttellmewhatIowe,“saidtheshadow,“becauseIdon，tliketobeindebtto

anyone.〃

〃Howcanyoutalkthatway?saidthestudent."Whatdebtcouldtherebe?Feel

perfectlyfree.Iamtremendouslypleasedtohearofyourgoodluck!Sitdown,my

oldfriend,andtellmeabitabouthowitallhappened,andaboutwhatyousawin

thathouseacrossthestreetfromusinthewarmcountry.〃

〃Yes,r11tellyouallaboutit,〃theshadowsaid,ashesatdown."Butyoumust

promisethatifyoumeetmeanywhereyouwon，ttellasoulintownaboutmyhaving

beenyourshadow.Iintendtobecomeengaged,forIcaneasilysupportafamily.”

〃Don'tyouworry,〃saidthescholar.won'ttellanyonewhoyoureallyare.Igive

youmyhandonit.Ipromise,andamanisasgoodashisword.”

“Andawordisasgoodasits-shadow,theshadowsaid,forhecouldn'tputit

anyotherway.

Itwasreallyremarkablehowmuchofamanhehadbecome,dressedallinblack,with

thefinestcloth,patent-leathershoes,andanoperahatthatcouldbepressed

perfectlyflattillitwasonlybrimandtop,nottomentionthosethingswealready

knowabout-thoseseals,thatgoldchain,andthediamondrings.Theshadowwas

welldressedindeed,anditwasjustthisthatmadehimappearhuman.

“Nowr11tellyou,,saidtheshadow,grindinghispatent-leathershoesonthearm

ofthescholar'snewshadow,whichlayathisfeetlikea

poodledog.Thiswasarrogance,perhaps,orpossiblyhewastryingtomakethenew

shadowsticktohisownfeet.Theshadowonthefloorlayquietandstil1,andlistened

itsbest,sothatitmightlearnhowtogetfreeandworkitswayuptobeitsown

master.

〃Doyouknowwholivedinthehouseacrossthestreetfromus?〃theoldshadowasked.

“Shewasthemostlovelyofallcreatures-shewasPoetryherself.Ilivedthere

forthreeweeks,anditwasasifIhadlivedtherethreethousandyears,reading

allthathaseverbeenwritten.That'swhatIsaid,andit'sthetruth!Ihaveseen

itall,andIknoweverything.z，

“Poetry!”thescholarcried.〃Yes,tobesuresheoften1ivesasahermitinthe

largecities.Poetry!Yes,Isawhermyself,foronebriefmoment,butmyeyeswere

heavywithsleep.Shestoodonthebalcony,asradiantasthenorthernlights.Tell

me!Tellme!Youwereonthebalcony.Youwentthroughthedoorway,andthen-"

“ThenIwasintheanteroom,〃saidtheshadow.〃Itwastheroomyouwerealwaysstaring

atfromacrosstheway.Therewerenocandlesthere,andtheroomwasintwilight.

Butthedoorupondoorstoodopeninawholeseriesofbrilliantlylithallsand

receptionrooms.ThatblazeoflightswouldhavestruckmedeadhadIgoneasfar

astheroomwherethemaidenwas,butIwascareful-Itookmytime,asoneshould.”

“Andthenwhatdidyousee,myoldfriend?”thescholarasked.

〃Isaweverything,andIshalltelleverythingtoyou,but-it'snotthatI'mproud

-butasIamafreemanandwelleducated,nottomentionmyhighstandingandmy

considerablefortune,Idowishyouwouldn，tcallmeyouroldfriend.z，

〃Ibegyourpardon!”saidthescholar.〃It'sanoldhabit,andhardtochange.You

areperfectlyright,mydearsir,andr11rememberit.Butnow,mydearsir,tell

meofallthatyousaw.〃

"All?"saidtheshadow,“forIsawitall,andIknoweverything.〃

〃Howdidtheinnermostroomslook?”thescholarasked."Wasitlikeagreenforest?

Wasitlikeaholytemple?Weretheroomslikethestarryskiesseenfromsomehigh

mountain?”

“Everythingwasthere,z，saidtheshadow.didn，tquitegoinside.Istayedinthe

darkanteroom,butmyplacetherewasperfect.Isaweverything,andIknoweverything.

IhavebeenintheantechamberatthecourtofPoetry.〃

“Butwhatdidyousee?Didthegodsofoldmarchthroughthehalls?Didtheoldheroes

fightthere?Didfairchildrenplaythereandtelltheirdreams?”

〃Iwasthere,Itellyou,soyoumustunderstandthatIsawallthat

therewastobeseen.Hadyoucomeover,itwouldnothavemadeamanofyou,as

itdidofme.Also,Ilearnedtounderstandmyinnerself,whatisborninme,and

therelationshipbetweenmeandPoetry.Yes,whenIwaswithyouIdidnotthink

ofsuchthings,butyoumustrememberhowwonderfullyIalwaysexpandedatsunrise

andsunset.AndinthemoonlightIalmostseemedmorerealthanyou.ThenIdidnot

understandmyself,butinthatanteroomIcametoknowmytruenature.Iwasaman!

Icameoutcompletelychanged.Butyouwerenolongerinthewarmcountry.Being

aman,IwasashamedtobeseenasIwas.Ilackedshoes,clothes,andallthesurface

veneerwhichmakesaman.

〃Iwentintohiding-thisisconfidential,andyoumustnotwriteitinanyofyour

books.Iwentintohidingundertheskirtsofthecake-woman.Littlesheknewwhat

sheconcealed.NotuntileveningdidIventureout.Iranthroughthestreetsin

themoonlightandstretchedmyselftallagainstthewalls.It'ssuchapleasantway

ofscratchingone*sback.UpIrananddownIran,peepingintothehighestwindows,

intodrawingrooms,andintogarrets.Ipeeredinwherenooneelsecouldpeer.I

sawwhatnooneelsecouldsee,orshouldsee.Takenallinall,it'sawickedworld.

Iwouldnotcaretobeamanifitwerenotconsideredthefashionablethingtobe.

Isawthemostincrediblebehavioramongmenandwomen,fathersandmothers,and

amongthose'perfectlydarling'children.Isawwhatnobodyknowsbuteverybodywould

liketoknow,andthatiswhatwickednessgoesonnextdoor.IfIhadwrittenit

inanewspaper,oh,howwidelyitwouldhavebeenread!ButinsteadIwrotetothe

peopledirectlyconcerned,andtherewasthemostterribleconsternationinevery

towntowhichIcame.Theyweresoafraidofme,andyetsoremarkablyfondofme.

Theprofessorsappointedmeaprofessor,andthetailormademenewclothes-my

wardrobeismostcomplete.Themasterofthemintcoinednewmoneyforme,thewomen

calledmesuchahandsomeman;andsoIbecamethemanIam.NowImustbidyougood-by.

Here'smycard.Iliveonthesunnysideofthestreet,andIamalwaysathomeon

rainydays.，zTheshadowtookhisleave.

〃Howextraordinary,〃saidthescholar.

Thedayspassed.Theyearswentby.Andtheshadowcalledagain."Howgoesit?”he

asked.

“Alack,〃saidthescholar,〃Istillwriteaboutthetrue,thegood,andthebeautiful,

butnobodycarestoreadaboutsuchthings.Ifeelquitedespondent,forItakeit

deeplytoheart./z

〃Idon't,"saidtheshadow.〃Iamgettingfat,asoneshould.Youdon'tknowthe

waysoftheworld,andthat'swhyyourhealthsuffers.Yououghttotravel.I'mtaking

atripthissummer.Willyoucomewithme?I'dliketohaveatravelingcompanion.

Willyoucomealongasmyshadow?Itwouldbeagreatpleasuretohaveyoualong,

andr11payal1theexpenses.”

〃No,that'sabittoomuch,“saidthescholar.

〃Itdependsonhowyoulookatit,〃saidtheshadow.〃Itwilldoyoualotofgood

totravel.Willyoubemyshadow?Thetripwon'tcostyouathing.”

“Thishasgonemuchtoofar!，zsaidthescholar.

“Well,that，sthewaytheworldgoes,〃theshadowtoldhim,〃andthat，sthewayit

willkeepongoing.〃Andawayhewent.

Thelearnedmanwasnotatallwell.Sorrowandtroublepursuedhim,andwhathe

hadtosayaboutthegood,thetrue,andthebeautiful,appealedtomostpeopleabout

asmuchasrosesappealtoacow.Finallyhegrewquiteill.

“Youreallylooklikeashadow,“peopletoldhim,andhetrembledatthethought.

“Youmustvisitawateringplace,z，saidtheshadow,whocametoseehimagain.

“There'snoquestionaboutit.I'lltakeyouwithme,foroldfriendship1ssake.

I*11payforthetrip,andyoucanwriteaboutit,aswellasdoingyourbestto

amusemealongtheway.Ineedtogotoawateringplacetoo,becausemybeardisn't

growingasitshould.That'sasortofdiseasetoo,andonecan'tgetalongwithout

abeard.Nowdobereasonableandacceptmyproposal.Weshal1traveljustlike

friends!，z

Soofftheystarted.Theshadowwasmasternow,andthemasterwastheshadow.They

drovetogether,rodetogether,andwalkedtogether,sidebyside,beforeorbehind

eachother,accordingtothewaythesunfell.Theshadowwascarefultotakethe

placeofthemaster,andthescholardidn，tmuchcare,forhehadaninnocentheart,

besidesbeingmostaffableandfriendly.

Onedayhesaidtotheshadow,“Aswearenowfe1low-trave1ersandhavegrownup

together,shallwenotcalleachotherbyourfirstnames,thewaygoodcompanions

should?Itismuchmoreintimate.

“That'sasplendididea!”saidtheshadow,whowasnowtherealmaster.z，Whatyou

sayismostopen-heartedandfriendly.Ishallbejustasfriendlyandopen-hearted

withyou.Asascholar,youareperfectlywellawarehowstrangeisman'snature.

Somemencannotbearthetouchofgraypaper.Itsickensthem.Othersquailifthey

hearanailscratchedacrossapaneofglass.Formypart,Iamaffectedinjust

thatwaywhenIhearyoucallmebymyfirstname.Ifeelmyselfgrounddowntothe

earth,asIwasinmyfirstpositionwithyou.Youunderstand.It'samatterof

sensitivity,notpride.Icannotletyoucallmebymyfirstname,butIshallbe

gladtocallyoubyyours,asacompromise.Sothereaftertheshadowcalledhis

one-timemasterbyhisfirstname.

〃Ithasgonetoofar,〃thescholarthought,“whenImustcallhimbyhislastname

whilehecallsmebymyfirst!”Buthehadtoputupwithit.

Atlasttheycametothewateringplace.AmongthemanypeoplewasalovelyPrincess.

Hermaladywasthatshesawthingstooclearly,whichcanbemostupsetting.For

instance,sheimmediatelysawthatthenewcomerwasaverydifferentsortofperson

fromalltheothers.

〃Hehascomeheretomakehisbeardgrow,theysay.ButIseetherealreason.He

can'tcastashadow.，z

Hercuriositywasaroused,andonthepromenadesheaddressedthisstrangerdirectly.

Beingaking，sdaughter,shedidnothavetostanduponceremony,soshesaidto

himstraight:

“Yourtroubleisthatyoucan*tcastashadow./z

〃YourRoyalHighnessmusthaveimprovedconsiderably,/ztheshadowreplied.know

yourmaladyisthatyouseetooclearly,butyouareimproving.Asithappens,I

dohaveamostunusualshadow.Don，tyouseethatfigurewhoalwaysaccompaniesme?

Otherpeoplehaveacommonshadow,butIdonotcareforwhatiscommontoall.Just

asweoftenallowourservantsbetterfabricsfortheirliveriesthanwewear

ourselves,soIhavehadmyshadowdeckedoutasaman.Why,youseeIhaveeven

outfittedhimwithashadowofhisown.Itisexpensive,Igrantyou,butIlike

tohavesomethinguncommon.

〃My!〃thePrincessthought."CanIreallybecured?Thisistheforemostwatering

placeintheworld,andinthesedayswaterhascometohavewonderfulmedicinal

powers.ButIshan，tleavejustastheplaceisbecomingcimusing.Ihavetakena

1ikingtothisstranger.Ionlyhopehisbeardwon，tgrow,forthenhewouldleave

〃

us.

Thatevening,thePrincessandtheshadowdancedtogetherinthegreatballroom.

Shewaslight,buthewaslighterstill.Neverhadshedancedwithsuchapartner.

Shetoldhimwhatcountryshecamefrom,andheknewitwell.Hehadbeenthere,

butitwasduringherabsence,liehadlookedthrougheverywindow,highorlow.He

hadseenthisandhehadseenthat.SohecouldanswerthePrincessandsuggestthings

thatastoundedher.Shewasconvincedthathemustbethewisestmaninalltheworld.

Hisknowledgeimpressedhersodeeply,thatwhiletheyweredancingshefellinlove

withhim.Theshadowcouldtell,forhereyestransfixedhim,throughandthrough.

Theydancedagain,andshecameveryneartellinghimshelovedhim,butitwouldn，t

dotoberash.Shehadtothinkofhercountry,andherthrone,andthemanypeople

overwhomshewouldreign.

〃Heisacleverman,〃shesaidtoherself,“andthatisagoodthing.Hedances

charmingly,andthatisgoodtoo.Butishisknowledgemorethansuperficial?That*s

justasimportant,soImustexaminehim.〃

Tactfully,shebeganaskinghimthemostdifficultquestions,whichsheherselfcould

nothaveanswered.Theshadowmadeawryface.

“Youcan,tanswerme?〃saidthePrincess.

〃Iknewallthatinmychildhood,〃saidtheshadow."Why,Ibelievethatmyshadow

overtherebythedoorcanansweryou.〃

〃Yourshadow!”saidthePrincess."Thatwouldberemarkableindeed!

〃Ican，tsayforcertain,saidtheshadow,"butI'minclinedtothinkso,because

hehasfollowedmeaboutandlistenedtomeforsomanyyears.Yes,Iaminclined

tobelieveso.ButyourRoyalHighnessmustpermitmetotellyouthatheisquite

proudofbeingabletopassforaman,soifheistobeintherightframeofmind

toansweryourquestionshemustbetreatedjustasifhewerehuman.

〃Ilikethat!”saidthePrincess.

Soshewenttothescholarinthedoorway,andspokewithhimaboutthesunandthe

moon,andaboutpeople,whattheyareinside,andwhattheyseemtobeonthesurface.

Heansweredherwiselyandwell.

“Whatamanthatmustbe,tohavesuchawiseshadow!shethought.〃Itwillbea

godsendtomypeople,andtomycountryifIchoosehimformyconsort.That'sjust

whatr11do!”

ThePrincessandtheshadowcametoanunderstanding,butnoonewastoknowabout

ituntilshereturnedtoherownkingdom.

〃Noone.Notevenmyshadow!，zsaidtheshadow.Andhehadhisownprivatereason

forthis.

FinallytheycametothecountrythatthePrincessruledwhenshewasathome.

“Listen,mygoodfriend,〃theshadowsaidthescholar,“Iamnowashappyandstrong

asonecanbe,soV11dosomethingveryspecialfory