小学英语英语故事（童话故事）The Marsh KingS Daughter沼泽王的女儿

TheMarshKing'SDaughter沼泽王的女儿

Thestorkstellmany,manystoriestotheiryoungones,allaboutthebogsandmarshes.

Ingeneraleachstoryissuitedtotheageandsenseofthelittlestorks.While

theyoungestonesaresatisfiedwith,“Kribble-krabble,plurry-murry,/zandthink

itaveryfinestory,theolderonesdemandsomethingwithmoresensetoit,orat

leastsomethingaboutthefamily.

Ofthetwooldeststorieswhichhavebeenhandeddownamongthestorks,weallknow

theoneaboutMoses,whowasputbyhismotheronthebanksoftheNile,wherea

King，sdaughterfoundhim.Howwellshebroughthimup,howhebecameagreatman,

andhownooneknowswhereheliesburied,arethingsthatweallhaveheard.

Theothertaleisnotwidelyknown,perhapsbecauseitisalmostafamilystory.

Thistalehasbeenhandeddownfromonemotherstorktoanotherforathousandyears,

andeachsuccedingstorytellerhastolditbetterandbetter,andnowweshalltell

itbestofall.

Thefirstpairofstorkswhotoldthistaleandwhothemselvesplayedapartinit,

hadtheirsummerhomeontheroofoftheViking，swoodencastleupbytheWildMarsh

inVendsyssel.Ifwemustbepreciseaboutourknowledge,thisisinthecountry

ofHjorring,highupnearSkageninJutland.Thereisstillabigmarshthere,which

wecanreadaboutintheofficialreportsofthatdistrict.Itissaidthattheplace

oncelayunderthesea,butthelandhasrisensomewhat,andisnowawilderness

extendingformanyamile.Oneissurroundedonallsidesbymarshymeadows,quagmires,

andpeatbogs,overgrownbycloudberriesandstuntedtrees.Dankmistsalmostalways

hangovertheplace,andaboutseventyyearsagowolvesstillmadetheirhomesthere.

WellmayitbecalledtheWildMarsh.Thinkhowdesolateitwas,andhowmuchswamp

andwatertheremusthavebeenamongallthosemarshesandpondsathousandyears

ago!Yetinmostmattersitmusthavelookedthenasitlooksnow.Thereedsgrew

justashigh,andhadthesamelongleavesandfeatherytipsofapurplish-brown

tintthattheyhavenow.Birchtreesgrewtherewiththesamewhitebarkandthe

sameairilydanglingleaves.Asforthelivingcreatures,theflieshavenotchanged

thecutoftheirgauzyapparel,andthefavoritecolorsofthestorkswerewhite

trimmedwithblack,andlongredstockings.

However,peopledressedverydifferentlyfromthefashionoftoday.Butifanyof

them-thrallorhuntsman,itmatterednot-setfootinthequagmire,theyfaredthe

sameathousandyearsagoastheywouldfaretoday.Intheywouldfall,anddown

theywouldsinktohimwhomtheycalltheMarshKing,whorulesbelowthroughout

theentiremarshland.TheyalsocallhimKingotthequicksands,butwelikethe

nameMarshKingbetter,andthatwaswhatthestorkscalledhim.Littleornothing

isknownabouthisrule,butperhapsthatisjustaswell.

NearthemarshandclosetotheLiimFiord,laywoodencastleoftheVikings,three

storieshighfromitswatertightstonecellarstothetoweronitsroof.Thestorks

hadbuilttheirnestonthisroof,andtherethemotherstorksathatchinghereggs.

Shewascertaintheywouldbehatched.

Oneeveningthefatherstorkstayedoutratherlate,andwhenhegothomehelooked

ruffledandflurried.

〃Ihavesomethingsimplydreadfultotellyou,〃hesaidtothemotherstork.

“Thenyouhadbetterkeepittoyourself,z/shetoldhim."Remember,Iamhatching

eggs!Ifyoufrightenmeitmighthaveaverybadeffectonthem.”

“ButImusttellyou,〃heinsisted.〃ThedaughterofourEgyptianhosthascomehere.

Shehasventuredtotakethislongjourney,and-she，slost!z，

“Shewhocomesoffairystock?Speakup.YouknowthatImustnotbekeptinsuspense

whilermonmyeggs.〃

〃It'sthisway,Mother.Justasyoutoldme,shemusthavebelievedthedoctor，s

advice.Shebelievedthattheswampflowersupherewouldcurehersickfather,and

shehasflownhereintheguiseofaswan,togetherwithtwootherPrincesseswho

putonswanplumageandflynortheveryyear,totakethebathsthatkeepthemyoung.

Shehascome,andsheislost.〃

“Youmakeyourstorytoolong-winded,/zthemotherstorkprotested.〃Myeggsareapt

tocatchcold.Ican，tbearsuchsuspenseatatimelikethis.zz

〃Ihavebeenkeepingmyeyesopen,/zsaidthefatherstork,〃andthiseveningIwent

amongthereedswherethequagmirewillbarelysupportme.ThereIsawthreeswans

flyingmyway.Therewassomethingabouttheirflightthatwarnedme,JSeehere!

Thesearenotrealswans.Thesecreaturesaremerelydisguisedinswanfeathers!?

YouknowaswellasIdo,Mother,thatonefeelsinstinctlywhetherathingistrue

orfalse.z/

〃Tobesure,Ido,〃saidshe.〃ButtellmeaboutthePrincess.Iamtiredofhearing

aboutswanfeathers.zz

“Well,〃thefatherstorksaid,〃asyouknow,inthemiddleofthemarshthereis

asortofpool.Youcancatchaglimpseofitfromhereifyouwillriseupatrifle.

There,betweenthereedsandthegreenscumofthepool,alargealderstumpjuts

up.Onitthethreeswansalighted,flappedtheirwingsandlookedaboutthem.One

ofthemthrewoffherswanplumageandimmediatelyIcouldseethatshewasthe

PrincessfromourhomeinEgypt.Thereshesatwithnoothercloakthanherownlong

hair.Iheardherasktheotherstotakegoodcareofherswanfeathers,whileshe

diveddowninthewatertoplucktheswampflowerwhichshefanciedshesawthere.

Theynodded,andheldtheirheadshighastheypickedupheremptyplumage.

〃，Whataretheygoingtodowithit?’Iwondered,andshemusthavewonderedtoo.

Ouranswercamesoonenough,fortheyflewupintheairwithherfeathergarment.

〃'Diveaway,，theycried.，Nevermoreshallyouflyaboutasaswan.Nevermore

shallyouseethelandofEgypt.Youmayhaveyourswampforever.JTheytoreher

swanguiseintoahundredpieces,sothatfeatherswhirledaroundlikeaflurryof

snow.Thenawaytheyflew,thosetwodeceitfulPrincesses.z/

“Why,that'sdreadful,zzthemotherstorksaid.〃Ican，tbeartolisten.Tellmewhat

happenednext.zz

“ThePrincesssobbedandlamented.Hertearssprinkleddownonthealderstump,and

thestumpmoved,foritwastheMarshKinghimself,wholivesunderthequagmire.

Isawthestumpturn,andthiswasnolongeratreestumpthatstretchedoutits

twomuddy,branch-likearmstowardthepoorgirl.Shewassofrightenedthatshe

jumpedoutonthegreenscumwhichcannotbearmyweight,muchlesshers.Shewas

instantlyswallowedup,anditwasthealderstump,whichplungedinafterher,that

draggedherdown.Bigblackbubblesrose,andthesewerethelasttracesofthem.

SheisnowburiedintheWildMarshandneverwillshegetbackhometoEgyptwith

theflowersshecametofind.Mother,youcouldnothaveenduredthesightsIsaw.〃

“Yououghtnottotellmesuchataleatatimelikethis.Oureggsmaybetheworse

forit.ThePrincesscanlookoutforherself.Someonewillsurelyhelpher.Now

ifithadbeenI,oryou,oranyofourfamily,itwouldhavebeenalloverwith

〃

us.

〃Ishalllookoutforher,everyday,〃saidthefatherstork,andhedidso.

Alongtimewentby,butonedayhesawagreenstalkshootingupfromthebottom

ofthepool.Whenitcametothesurfaceitgrewaleaf,whichgotbroaderandbroader,

andthenabudappeared.Asthestorkwasflyingbyonemorning,thebudopenedin

thestrongsunbeams,andinthecenterofitlayabeautifulchild,ababygirlwho

lookedasfreshasifshehadjustcomefromherbath.Socloselydidthebabyresemble

thePrincessfromEgyptthatthestorkthoughtitwasshe,whohadbecomeachild

again.Butwhenheconsideredthematterhedecidedthatthischildwholayinthe

cupofawaterlilymustbethedaughterofthePrincessandtheMarshKing.

“Shecannotremainthere,〃thestorksaidtohimself,〃yetmynestisalready

overcrowded.ButIhaveanidea.TheViking5swifehasn'tanychildren,although

sheisalwayswishingforalittleone.I'moftenheldresponsibleforbringing

children,andthistimeIshallreallybringone.Ishallflywiththisbabytothe

Viking，swife.Whatjoytherewillbe.〃

Thestorkpickedupthelittlegirl,flewwithhertothelogcastle,peckedahole

withhisbeakinthepieceofbladderthatservedasawindowpane,andlaidthe

babyinthearmsoftheVikingwoman.Thenheflewhometohiswife,andtoldher

allaboutit.Thebabystorkslistenedattentively,fortheywereoldenoughnow

tobecurious.

“Justthink!ThePrincessisnotdead,〃hetoldthem."Shesentherlittleoneup

tome,andIhavefoundagoodhomeforit.〃

〃Itoldyou,tostartwith,thatitwouldcomeoutallright,〃saidthemotherstork.

“Turnyourthoughtsnowtoyourownchildren.Itisalmosttimeforustostarton

ourlongjourney.Iambeginningtotingleundermywings.Thecuckooandthe

nightingalehaveflownalready,andIheardthequailsayingthatweshallsoonhave

afavorablewind.Ouryoungoneswilldouscreditontheflight,orIdon，tknow

myownchildren.z/

HowpleasedtheViking，swifewaswhensheawokeinthemorningandfoundthelovely

childinherarms.Shekisseditandcaressedit,butitscreamedfrightfullyand

thrashedaboutwithitslittlearmsandlegs.Therewasnopleasingituntilatlast

itcrieditselftosleep,andasitlaythereitwasoneoftheloveliestlittle

creaturesthatanyoneeversaw.TheViking，swifewassooverjoyedthatshefelt

light-headedaswellaslight-hearted.Sheturnedquitehopefulabouteverything,

andfeltsurethatherhusbandandallhismenmightreturnasunexpectedlyasthe

littleonehadcometoher.Soshesetherselfandherentirehouseholdtowork,

inordertohaveeverythinginreadiness.Thelong,coloredtapestryonwhichshe

andherhandmaidenshadembroideredfiguresoftheirgods-Odin,Thor,andFreya,

astheywerecalled-werehunginplace.Thethrallsweresettoscouringandpolishing

theoldshieldsthatdecoratedthewalls;cushionswerelaidonthebenches;and

drylogswerestackedonthefireplaceinthemiddleofthehall,sothatthepile

mightbelightedatamoment'snotice.TheViking，swifeworkedsohardthatshe

wastiredout,andsleptsoundlywheneveningcame.

Alongtowardmorningsheawoke,andwasgreatlyalarmedtofindnotraceofherlittle

child.Shesprangup,lightedasplinterofpinewood,andsearchedtheroom.To

herastonishment,shefoundatthefootofherbednotthebeautifulchild,buta

big,uglyfrog.Shewassoappalledthatshetookupaheavysticktokillthecreature,

butitlookedatherwithsuchstrange,sadeyesthatshecouldnotstrike.Asshe

renewedhersearch,thefroggaveafaint,pitifulcroak.Shesprangfromthebed

tothewindow,andthrewopentheshutter.Thelightoftherisingsunstreamedin

andfelluponthatbigfrogonthebed.Itseemedasifthecreature'swidemouth

contractedintosmall,redlips.Thefroglegsunbentasthemostexquisitelyshaped

limbs,anditwasherlovelylittlechildthatlaythere,andnotthatuglyfrog.

〃What'sallthis?”sheexclaimed."HaveIhadanightmare?Thisismyprettylittle

elflyinghere.z/Shekisseditandpresseditaffectionatelytoherheart,butit

struggledandtriedtobite,likethekittenofawildcat.

NeitherthatdaynorthenextdidherVikinghusbandcomehome.Thoughhewason

hisway,thewindswereagainsthim.Theywereblowingsouthwardtospeedthestorks.

Afairwindforoneisafoulwindforanother.

Inthecourseofafewdaysandnights,itbecameplaintotheViking，swifehow

thingswerewiththelittlechild.Itwasundertheinfluenceofsometerriblespell

ofsorcery.Bydayitwasaslovelyasafairychild,butithadawickedtemper.

Atnight,onthecontrary,itwasanuglyfrog,quietandpathetic,withsorrowful

eyes.Hereweretwonaturesthatchangedaboutbothinwardlyandoutwardly.This

wasbecausethelittlegirlwhomthestorkhadbroughthadbydayhermother，s

appearance,togetherwithherfather，stemper.Butatnightsheshowedherkinship

withhiminheroutwardform,whilehermother，smindandheartinwardlybecamehers.

Whowouldbeabletoreleaseherfromthispowerfulspellofsorcerythatlayupon

her?TheViking'swifefeltmostanxiousanddistressedaboutit,yetherheartwent

outtothepoorlittlething.

Sheknewthatwhenherhusbandcamehomeshewouldnotdaretellhimofthisstrange

stateofaffairs,forhewouldcertainlyfollowthecustomofthosetimesandexpose

thepoorchildonthehighroad,toletanyonetakeitwhowould.TheViking，s

good-naturedwifehadnotthehearttodothis,soshedeterminedthatheshould

onlyseethechildinthedaytime.

Atdaybreakonemorning,thewingsofstorkswereheardbeatingovertheroof.During

thenightmorethanahundredpairsofstorkshadrestedthere,andnowtheyflew

uptomaketheirwaytothesouth.

“Everymanready,〃wastheirwatchword.〃Letthewivesandchildrenmakereadytoo.〃

〃Howlightwefeel!/zclackedthelittlestorks.〃Wetingleanditchrightdownto

ourtoes,asifwewerefulloflivefrogs.Howfineitfeelstobetravelingto

far-offlands.〃

“Keepcloseinoneflock,〃criedtheirfatherandmother."Don'tclackyourbeaks

somuch,it'sbadforyourchest.〃

Andawaytheywent.

Atthatveryinstanttheblastofahornrangovertheheath,togivenoticethat

theVikinghadlandedwithallofhismen.Theycamehomewithrichbootyfromthe

Gaeliccoast,where,asinBritain,theterrifiedpeoplesang:

“DeliverusfromthewildNorthmen.z/

WhatalivelybustlenowstruckthisViking，scastleneartheWildMarsh!Acask

ofmeadwasrolledoutintothehall,thepileofwoodwaslighted,andhorseswere

slaughtered.Whatafeasttheyweregoingtohave!Priestssprinkledthehorses'

warmbloodoverthethrallsasabloodoffering.Thefirescrackled,thesmokerolled

uptotheroof,andsootdroppeddownfromthebeams,buttheywereusedtothat.

Guestswereinvited,andweregivenhandsomepresents.Oldgrudgesand

double-dealingswereforgotten.Theyalldrankdeep,andthrewthegnawedbonesin

eachother'sfaces,butthatwasasignofgoodhumor.Theskald,asortofminstrel

butatthesametimeafightingmanwhohadbeenwiththemandknewwhathesang

about,trolledthemasong,inwhichhetoldofalltheirvaliantdeedsinbattle,

andalltheirwonderfuladventures.Aftereachversecamethesamerefrain:

“Fortunesperish,friendsdie,onediesoneself,

Butagloriousnameneverdies!/z

Thentheyallbangedtheirshields,andrattledonthetablewiththeirknivesor

theknuckle-bones,makingaterrificnoise.

TheViking，swifesatonthebenchthatranacrossthispublicbanquethall.She

woreasilkendresswithgoldbraceletsandbigamberbeads.Shewasinherfinest

attire,andtheskaldincludedherinhissong.Hespokeofthegoldentreasurewhich

shehadbroughtherrichhusband.Thishusbandofhersrejoicedinthelovelychild

whomhehadseenonlybyday,inallitscharmingbeauty.Thesavagetemperthat

wentwithherdaytimebeautyratherpleasedhim,andhesaidthatshemightgrow

uptobeastalwartsoldiermaid,abletoholdherown-thesortwhowouldnotflinch

ifaskilledhand,infun,tookasharpswordandcutoffhereyebrowsforpractice.

Themeadcaskwasemptied,afullonewasrolledin,andittoowasdrunkdry.These

werefolkwhocouldholdagreatdeal.Theywerefamiliarwiththeoldproverbto

theeffectthat,“Thecattleknowwhentoquittheirpasture,butafoolneverknows

themeasureofhisstomach.z/

Yes,theyallknewitquitewell,butpeopleoftenknowtherightthinganddothe

wrongthing.Theyalsoknewthat,〃0newearsouthiswelcomewhenhesitstoolong

inanotherman'shouse,〃buttheystayedon,forallthat.Meatandmeadaresuch

goodthings,andtheywereajovialcrew.Thatnightthethrallssleptonthewarm

ashes,dippedtheirfingersintothefatdrippings,andlickedthem.Ohyes,those

weregloriousdays.

TheVikingsventuredforthononemoreraidthatyear,thoughthestormsofautumn

werebeginningtoblow.TheVikingandhismenwenttothecoastofBritain-〃just

acrossthewater,，zhesaid-andhiswifestayedathomewithherlittlegirl.Itsoon

cameaboutthatthefostermothercaredmoreforthepoorfrogwithitssadeyes

andpatheticcroaking,thanforthelittlebeautywhoscratchedandbiteveryone

whocamenearher.

Theraw,dankmistoffallinvadedthewoodsandthickets."Gnaw-worms,〃theycalled

it,foritgnawedtheleavesfromthetrees."Pluck-feathers,〃astheycalledthe

snow,fellinflurryuponflurry,forwinterwasclosingin.Sparrowstookoverthe

storknestandgossipedabouttheabsentowners,astenantswill.Thetwostorks

andalltheiryoungones-whereweretheynow?

ThestorkswerenowinthelandofEgypt,wherethesunshoneaswarmasitdoes

uponusonafinesummerday.Tamarindandacaciatreesbloomedinprofusion,and

theglitteringcrescentofMohammedtoppedthedomesofallthemosques.Onthe

slenderminaretsmanyapairofstorksrestedaftertheirlongjourney.Wholeflocks

ofthemnestedtogetheronthecolumnsofancienttemplesandtheruinedarchesof

forgottencities.Thedatepalmlifteditshighscreenofbranches,likeaparasol

inthesun.Thegray-whitepyramidsweresharplyoutlinedagainsttheclearairof

thedesert,wheretheostrichknewhecouldusehislegsandthelioncrouchedto

gazewithbigsolemneyesatthemarblesphinxhalfburiedinthesand.Thewaters

oftheNilehadreceded,andthedeltawasalivewithfrogs.Thestorksconsidered

thisthefinestsightinalltheland,andtheyoungstorksfoundithardtobelieve

theirowneyes.Yes,everythingwaswonderful.

“See!itisalwayslikethisinoursouthernhome,z/theirmothertoldthem.Andtheir

littlebelliestingledatthespectacle.

〃Doweseeanymore?”theyasked."Shallwetravelonintothecountry?z/

zzThereisnothingelseworthseeing,/ztheirmothersaid."Beyondthisfertiledelta

liethedeepforests,wherethetreesaresointerwovenbythornycreepersthatonly

theelephantcantrampleapaththroughthemwithhishuge,heavyfeet.Thesnakes

therearetoobigforustoeat,andthelizardstoonimbleforustocatch.And,

ifyougooutinthedesert,theslightestbreezewillblowyoureyesfullofsand,

whileastormwouldburyyouunderthedunes.No,itisbesthere,wherethereare

plentyoffrogsandlocusts.HereIstop,andhereyoustay./z

Sotheystayed.Innestsatoptheslenderminaretstheoldstorksrested,yetkept

quitebusysmoothingtheirfeathersandsharpeningtheirbillsagainsttheirred

stockings.Fromtimetotimetheywouldstretchtheirnecks,bowverysolemnly,and

holduptheirheadswithsuchhighforeheads,finefeathers,andwisebrowneyes.

Theyoungmaidenstorksstrolledsolemnlythroughthewetreeds,makingeyesatthe

otheryoungstorks,andscrapingacquaintances.Ateverythirdsteptheywouldgulp

downafrog,orpausetodangleasmallsnakeintheirbills.Theywereunderthe

impressionthatthisbecamethemimmenselyand,besides,ittastedsogood.

Theyoungbachelorstorkspickedmanyasquabble,buffetedeachotherwiththeir

wings,andevenstabbedateachotherwiththeirsharpbillstillbloodwasshed.

Yes,andthenthisyoungstorkwouldgetengaged,andthatyoungstorkwouldget

engaged.Maidensandbachelorswouldpairoff,forthatwastheironlyobjectin

life.Theybuiltnestsoftheirownandsquabbledanew,forinthehotcountries

everyoneishot-headed.Butitwasverypleasantthere,particularlysofortheold

storks,whothoughtthattheirchildrencoulddonowrong.Thesunshoneeveryday,

therewasplentytoeat,andtheyhadnothingtodobutenjoythemselves.

However,inthesplendidpalaceoftheirEgyptianhost,astheycalledhim,there

wasnoenjoyment.Thiswealthyandpowerfullordlayonhiscouch,asstiffandstark

asamummy.Inthegreathall,whichwasascolorfulastheinsideofatulip,he

wassurroundedbyhiskinsmenandservants.Thoughhewasnotquitedead,hecould

hardlybesaidtobealive.Thehealingflowerfromthenorthernmarshes,whichshe

whohadlovedhimbesthadgonetoseek,wouldneverreachhim.Hislovelyyoung

daughter,whohadflownoverlandandseaintheguiseofaswan,wouldnevercome

homefromthefarNorth.

“Sheisdeadandgone,〃thetwootherswanPrincessesreported,whentheyreturned.

Theyconcoctedthefollowingyarn,whichtheytold:

〃Wethreewereflyingtogetherthroughtheair,whenahuntsmanshotanarrowat

us,anditstruckourcompanion,ouryoungfriend.Likeadyingswan,shesangher

farewellsongassheslowlydroppeddowntoalakeintheforest.Thereontheshore

weburiedher,underadroopingbirchtree.Butweavengedher.Weboundcoalsof

firetothewingsofaswallowthatnestedunderthethatchedeavesofthehuntsman，s

cottage.Theroofblazedup,thecottageburstintoflames,andthehuntsmanwas

burnedtodeath.Theflameswerereflectedacrossthelake,underthedroopingbirch

treewhereshelies,earthofthisearth.Never,alas!shallshereturntotheland

ofEgypt.z，

Theybothwept.Butwhenthefatherstorkheardtheirtaleherattledhisbill,and

said,〃A11liesandinvention!Ishoulddearlylovetodrivemybillrightthrough

theirbreasts.z/

“Andmostlikelybreakit,〃saidthemotherstork.〃Anicesightyou，dbethen.Think

firstofyourself,andthenofyourfamily.Nevermindaboutoutsiders.z/

^Nevertheless,Ishallperchontheopencupolatomorrow,whenallthewiseand

learnedfolkcometoconferaboutthesickman.Perhapstheywillhituponsomething

nearerthetruth.，z

Thewisemenassembled,andtalkedloudandlong,butneithercouldthestorkmake

senseoutofwhattheyhadtosay,nordidanygoodcomeofittothesickmanor

tohisdaughterintheWildMarsh,Yetwemayaswellhearwhattheyhadtosay,

forwehavetolistentoalotinthisworld.

PerhapsitwillbewelltohearwhathadgoneonbeforedownthereinEgypt.Then

weshallknowthewholestory,oratleastasmuchofitasthefatherstorkknew.

“Lovebringslife.Thegreatestlovebringsthegreatestlife.Onlythroughlove

maylifebebroughtbacktohim.〃Thisdoctrinethelearnedmenhadstatedbefore