The Flying Trunk<2>

　　Hans Christian Andersen（1838）

　　“'Yes， of course，' said the matches， 'let us talk about those who are the highest born.' ”'No， I don't like to be always talking of what we are，' remarked the saucepan； 'let us think of some other amusement； I will begin. We will tell something that has happened to ourselves； that will be very easy， and interesting as well. On the Baltic Sea， near the Danish shore'―

　　“'What a pretty commencement！' said the plates； 'we shall all like that story， I am sure.'”'Yes； well in my youth， I lived in a quiet family， where the furniture was polished， the floors scoured， and clean curtains put up every fortnight，' “'What an interesting way you have of relating a story，' said the carpet-broom； 'it is easy to perceive that you have been a great deal in women's society， there is something so pure runs through what you say.'”'That is quite true，' said the water-bucket； and he made a spring with joy， and splashed some water on the floor.

　　“Then the saucepan went on with his story， and the end was as good as the beginning. ”The plates rattled with pleasure， and the carpet-broom brought some green parsley out of the dust-hole and crowned the saucepan， for he knew it would vex the others； and he thought， 'If I crown him to-day he will crown me to-morrow.'

　　“'Now， let us have a dance，' said the fire-tongs； and then how they danced and stuck up one leg in the air. The chair-cushion in the corner burst with laughter when she saw it. ”'Shall I be crowned now？' asked the fire-tongs； so the broom found another wreath for the tongs. “'They were only common people after all，' thought the matches. The tea-urn was now asked to sing， but she said she had a cold， and could not sing without boiling heat. They all thought this was affectation， and because she did not wish to sing excepting in the parlor， when on the table with the grand people.

　　“In the window sat an old quill-pen， with which the maid generally wrote. There was nothing remarkable about the pen， excepting that it had been dipped too deeply in the ink， but it was proud of that. ”'If the tea-urn won't sing，' said the pen， 'she can leave it alone； there is a nightingale in a cage who can sing； she has not been taught much， certainly， but we need not say anything this evening about that.'

　　“'I think it highly improper，' said the tea-kettle， who was kitchen singer， and half-brother to the tea-urn， 'that a rich foreign bird should be listened to here. Is it patriotic？ Let the market-basket decide what is right.'

　　“'I certainly am vexed，' said the basket； 'inwardly vexed， more than any one can imagine. Are we spending the evening properly？ Would it not be more sensible to put the house in order？ If each were in his own place I would lead a game； this would be quite another thing.'

　　“'Let us act a play，' said they all. At the same moment the door opened， and the maid came in. Then not one stirred； they all remained quite still； yet， at the same time， there was not a single pot amongst them who had not a high opinion of himself， and of what he could do if he chose. ”'Yes， if we had chosen，' they each thought， 'we might have spent a very pleasant evening.'

　　“The maid took the matches and lighted them； dear me， how they sputtered and blazed up！ ”'Now then，' they thought， 'every one will see that we are the first. How we shine； what a light we give！' Even while they spoke their light went out.

　　“What a capital story，” said the queen， “I feel as if I were really in the kitchen， and could see the matches； yes， you shall marry our daughter.” “Certainly，” said the king， “thou salt have our daughter.” The king said thou to him because he was going to be one of the family. The wedding-day was fixed， and， on the evening before， the whole city was illuminated. Cakes and sweetmeats were thrown among the people. The street boys stood on tiptoe and shouted “hurrah，” and whistled between their fingers； altogether it was a very splendid affair.

　　“I will give them another treat，” said the merchant's son. So he went and bought rockets and crackers， and all sorts of fire-works that could be thought of， packed them in his trunk， and flew up with it into the air. What a whizzing and popping they made as they went off！ The Turks， when they saw such a sight in the air， jumped so high that their slippers flew about their ears. It was easy to believe after this that the princess was really going to marry a Turkish angel.

　　As soon as the merchant's son had come down in his flying trunk to the wood after the fireworks， he thought， “I will go back into the town now， and hear what they think of the entertainment.” It was very natural that he should wish to know. And what strange things people did say， to be sure！ every one whom he questioned had a different tale to tell， though they all thought it very beautiful.

　　“I saw the Turkish angel myself，” said one； “he had eyes like glittering stars， and a head like foaming water.” “He flew in a mantle of fire，” cried another， “and lovely little cherubs peeped out from the folds.”

　　He heard many more fine things about himself， and that the next day he was to be married. After this he went back to the forest to rest himself in his trunk. It had disappeared！ A spark from the fireworks which remained had set it on fire； it was burnt to ashes！ So the merchant's son could not fly any more， nor go to meet his bride. She stood all day on the roof waiting for him， and most likely she is waiting there still； while he wanders through the world telling fairy tales， but none of them so amusing as the one he related about the matches.

　　I. Reference Version （參考譯文）

　　“對，我們還是來研究一下誰是最高貴的吧？”柴火說。“不，我不喜歡談論我自己！”罐子說。“我們還是來開一個晚會吧！我來開始。我來講一個大家經歷過的故事，這樣大家就可以欣賞它――這是很愉快的。在波羅的海邊，在丹麥的山毛櫸樹林邊――”

　　“這是一個很美麗的開端！”所有的盤子一起說。“這的確是我所喜歡的故事！”“是的，我就在那兒一個安靜的家庭里度過我的童年。家具都擦得很亮，地板洗得很干凈，窗簾每半月換一次。”“你講故事的方式真有趣！”雞毛帚說。“人們一聽就知道，這是一個女人在講故事。整個故事中充滿了一種清潔的味道。”“是的，人們可以感覺到這一點”水罐子說。她一時高興，就跳了一下，把水灑了一地板。

　　罐子繼續講故事。故事的結尾跟開頭一樣好。所有的盤子都快樂得鬧起來。雞毛帚從一個沙洞里帶來一根綠芹菜，把它當做一個花冠戴在罐子頭上。他知道這會使別人討厭。“我今天為她戴上花冠，”他想，“她明天也就會為我戴上花冠的。”

　　“現在我要跳舞了，”火鉗說，于是就跳起來。天啦！這婆娘居然也能翹起一只腿來！墻角里的那個舊椅套子也裂開來看它跳舞。“我也能戴上花冠嗎？”火鉗說。果然不錯，她得到了一個花冠。“這是一群烏合之眾！”柴火想。現在茶壺開始唱起歌來。但是她說她傷了風，除非她在沸騰，否則就不能唱。但這不過是裝模作樣罷了：她除非在主人面前，站在桌子上，她是不愿意唱的。

　　老鵝毛筆坐在桌子邊――女傭人常常用它來寫字：這支筆并沒有什么了不起的地方，他只是常被深插在墨水瓶之中，但他對于這點卻感到非常驕傲。“如果茶壺不愿意唱，”他說，“那么就去她的吧！外邊掛著的籠子里有一只夜鶯――他唱得蠻好，他沒有受過任何教育，不過我們今晚可以不提這件事情。”“我覺得，”茶壺說――“他是廚房的歌手，同時也是茶壺的異母兄弟――我們要聽這樣一只外國鳥唱歌是非常不對的。這算是愛國嗎？讓上街的菜籃來評判一下吧？”

　　“我有點煩惱，”菜籃說。“誰也想象不到我內心里是多么煩惱！這能算得上是晚上的消遣嗎？把我們這個家整頓整頓一下豈不是更好嗎？請大家各歸原位，讓我來布置整個的游戲吧。這樣，事情才會改變！”“是的，我們來鬧一下吧！”大家齊聲說。

　　正在這時候，門開了。女傭人走進來了，大家都靜靜地站著不動，誰也不敢說半句話。不過在他們當中，沒有哪一只壺不是滿以為自己有一套辦法，自己是多么高貴。“只要我愿意，”每一位都是這樣想，“這一晚可以變得很愉快！”

　　女傭人拿起柴火，點起一把火。天啦！火燒得多么響！多么亮啊！“現在每個人都可以看到，”他們想，“我們是頭等人物。我們照得多么亮！我們的光是多么大啊！”――于是他們就都燒完了。

　　“這是一個出色的故事！”王后說。“我覺得自己好像就在廚房里，跟柴火在一道。是的，我們可以把女兒嫁給你了。”“是的，當然！”國王說，“你在星期一就跟我們的女兒結婚吧。”他們用“你”來稱呼他，因為他現在是屬于他們一家的了。（注：按照外國人的習慣，對于親近的人用“你”而不是用“您”來稱呼。）

　　舉行婚禮的日子已經確定了。在結婚的頭天晚上，全城都大放光明。餅干和點心都隨便在街上散發給群眾。小孩子用腳尖站著，高聲喊“萬歲！”同時用手指吹起口哨來。真是非常熱鬧。“是的，我也應該讓大家快樂一下才對！”商人的兒子想。因此他買了些焰火和炮竹，以及種種可以想象得到的鞭炮。他把這些東西裝進箱子里，于是向空中飛去。“啪！”放得多好！放得多響啊！所有的土耳奇人一聽見就跳起來，弄得他們的拖鞋都飛到耳朵旁邊去了。他們從來沒有看見過這樣的火球。他們現在知道了，要跟公主結婚的人就是土耳奇的神。

　　商人的兒子坐著飛箱又落到森林里去，他馬上想，“我現在要到城里去一趟，看看這究竟產生了什么效果。”他有這樣一個愿望，當然也是很自然的。嗨，老百姓講的話才多哩！他所問到的每一個人都有自己的一套故事。不過大家都覺得那是很美的。

　　“我親眼看到那位土耳奇的神，”一個說：“他的眼睛像一對發光的星星，他的胡須像起泡沫的水！”“他穿著一件火外套飛行，”另外一個說：“許多最美麗的天使藏在他的衣褶里向外窺望。”

　　是的，他所聽到的都是最美妙的傳說。在第二天他就要結婚了。他現在回到森林里來，想坐進他的箱子里去。不過箱子到哪兒去了呢？箱子被燒掉了。焰火的一顆火星落下來，點起了一把火。箱子已經化成灰燼了。他再也飛不起來了。也沒有辦法到他的新娘子那兒去。她在屋頂上等待了一整天。她現在還在那兒等待著哩。而他呢，他在這個茫茫的世界里跑來跑去講兒童故事；不過這些故事再也不像他所講的那個“柴火的故事”一樣有趣。

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