同路人(六)

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When they had danced long enough the princess was obliged to go home, for she might be missed in the palace. The magician said he would accompany her, then they would have each other's company on the way.

Then they flew away into the bad weather, and the travelling companion broke his three rods across their backs. Never had the magician been out in such a hailstorm. In front of the palace he said good-bye to the princess, and whispered to her at the same time, "Think of my head." But the travelling companion heard it; and just at the moment when the princess slipped through the window into her bedroom, and the magician was about to turn back, he seized him by his long beard, and with his sabre cut off the ugly conjuror's head just by the shoulders, so that the magician did not even see him. The body he threw out into the sea to the fishes; but the head he only dipped into the water, and then tied it in his silk handkerchief, took it with him into the inn, and then lay down to sleep.

Next morning he gave John the handkerchief, and told him not to untie it until the princess asked him to tell her thoughts.

There were so many people in the great hall of the palace, that they stood as close together as radishes bound together in a bundle. The council sat in the chairs with the soft pillows, and the old king had new clothes on; the golden crown and sceptre had been polished, and everything looked quite stately. But the princess was very pale, and had a coal-black dress on, as if she were going to a funeral.

"Of what have I thought?" she asked John. And he immediately untied the handkerchief, and was himself quite frightened when he saw the ugly magician's head. All present shuddered, for it was terrible to look upon; but the princess sat just like a statue, and could not utter a single word. At length she stood up, and gave John her hand, for he had guessed correctly. She did not look at any one, only sighed aloud, and said, "Now you are my lord! --this evening we will hold our wedding."

"I like that!" cried the old king. "So I would have it."

All present cried, "Hurrah!" The soldiers' band played music in the streets, the bells rang, and the cakewomen took off the black crape from their sugar pigs, for joy now reigned everywhere; three oxen roasted whole, and stuffed with ducks and fowls, were placed in the middle of the market, that everyone might cut himself a slice; the fountains ran with the best wine; and whoever bought a penny cake at a baker's got six buns into the bargain, and the buns had raisins in them.

In the evening the whole town was illuminated; the soldiers fired off the cannon, and the boys let off crackers; and there was eating and drinking, clinking of glasses, and dancing, in the palace. All the noble gentlemen and pretty ladies danced with each other, and one could hear, a long, distance off, how they sang--

Here are many pretty girls, who all love to dance;

See, they whirl like spinning-wheels,

retire and advance.

Turn, my pretty maiden, do,

till the sole falls from your shoe.

But still the princess was a witch, and did not like John. This had been expected by the travelling companion; and so he gave John three feathers out of the swan' s wings, and a little bottle with a few drops in it, and told John that he must put a large tub of water before the princess's bed; and when the princess was about to get into bed, he should give her a little push, so that she should fall into the tub; and then he must dip her three times, after he had put in the feathers and poured in the drops; she would then lose her magic qualities, and love him very much.

John did all that the travelling companion had advised him to do. The princess screamed out loudly while he dipped her in the tub, and struggled under his hands in the form of a great coal-black swan with fiery eyes. When she came up the second time above the water, the swan was white, with the exception of a black ring round her neck. John let the water close for the third time over the bird, and in the same moment it was again changed to the beautiful princess. She was more beautiful even than before, and thanked him, with tears in her lovely eyes, that he had freed her from the magic spell.

The next morning the old king came with his whole court, and then there was great congratulation till late into the day. Last of all came the travelling companion; he had his staff in his hand and his knapsack on his back. John kissed him many times, and said he must not depart, --he must remain with the friend of whose happiness he was the cause. But the travelling companion shook his head, and said mildly and kindly,

"No, now my time is up. I have only paid my debt. Do you remember the dead man whom the bad people wished to injure? You gave all you possessed in order that he might have rest in the grave. I am that man."

And in the same moment he vanished.

The wedding festivities lasted a whole month. John and the princess loved each other truly, and the old king passed many pleasant days, and let their little children ride on his knees and play with his sceptre. And John afterwards became king over the whole country.

他们跳了很久,直到了公主回家的时间,再不走她就不能按时到达王宫了。魔法师说自己要陪伴公主回去,于是他们就在路上作伴。

他们一起在“糟糕的天气”里飞,那个旅伴把自己的三根枝条都打断了。魔法师可从来没遭受过这样大的冰雹啊。在王宫前面,他和公主道别,同时对她低声耳语:“你就想我的脑袋。”但这话被旅伴听到了。公主穿过窗户溜进卧室,魔法师准备转身往回返,就在这一刹那,旅伴抓住魔法师的长胡子,操起自己的剑,一下将他丑陋的脑袋整个砍了下来,魔法师都来不及看他一眼。他将尸体扔进大海喂鱼去了。但他将魔法师的脑袋在水中浸了一下,然后包在自己的丝巾里,随身带着进了旅馆,倒头便睡。

第二天早晨,他把丝巾交给约翰,并且嘱咐他,要等到公主问自己心里想的什么东西时,再把丝巾打开。

王宫的大厅里挤满了人,就像一捆大萝卜似的,紧紧地站在一起。大臣们坐在带有柔软枕头的扶椅上,老国王换上了新衣裳,金王冠和权杖也都擦得铮亮,所有的东西看起来都很得体。只有公主面色惨白,穿着一件乌黑的衣裳,就像去参加葬礼一样。

“你猜我想的是什么?”她问约翰。约翰马上打开丝巾,丑陋的魔法师的脑袋露了出来,把他自己都吓了一跳。所有在场的人都吓得发抖,因为那东西实在太可怕了。公主站在那里,像一座雕像一样,一动不动,哑口无言。最后她站了起来,把手伸给约翰,因为约翰猜对了。她没有看任何人,只是大声地叹气,说:“现在你是我的主人了!――今晚我们就举行婚礼。”

“太好了!”国王叫道,“正合我意!”

在场所有的人都喊起来:“好啊!”军乐队在大街上奏起乐曲,教堂钟声响了起来,卖饼的妇女从她们的糖猪上取下了黑纱,因为现在到处都充满了欢乐。三头烤全牛,肚子里塞满了鸡鸭,放在了市场中央,谁都可以自己切一块吃。井里涌出了最好的酒。谁要是花一毛钱从饼铺里买饼,还能免费得到六块甜面包,而且里面还放了葡萄干。

晚上,整个城市灯火通明。士兵放响了礼炮,小孩子点燃了鞭炮。王宫里,大家尽情吃喝,频频碰杯,忘情地跳舞。高贵的绅士和女士们结对起舞,你从老远就能听到,他们唱的是――

这儿有许多美丽的姑娘,她们都喜欢翩翩起舞;

瞧,她们像纺轮一样飞快地旋转,

后一步,前一步,

转身,我美丽的姑娘呀,

直跳到鞋底脱离了鞋帮。

但公主现在还是个巫婆,她一点也不喜欢约翰。那个旅伴早就料到了,因此他把从天鹅的翅膀上拔下的三根羽毛,连同一个装着一点水的小瓶,一起交给约翰。他告诉约翰,必须在公主的床边放一个大盆,里而装满水。当公主准备上床的时候,约翰要轻轻地推她一把,这样她就会掉进去。然后,他得把三根羽毛和小瓶里的水放进盆里,再把她按进水里三次。这样她就失去了魔力,会深深地爱上约翰的。

约翰就照旅伴说的那样办。当他把公主按进盆里时,公主尖叫起来,在他的手里拼命挣扎,变成了一只大黑天鹅,长着一双火红的眼睛。当她第二次从水里露出来的时候,天鹅变白了,只是脖子上有一道黑圈。约翰又第三次把天鹅按进水里,天鹅马上又变成了美丽的公主。她比以前更美了,还感谢约翰,眼里闪着泪花,因为约翰把她从魔咒里解救了出来。

第二天早晨,老国王带着群臣来了,一整天王宫里都欢天喜地的。旅伴是最后一个来的。他手里拿着手杖,背上背着背包。约翰不住地吻他,请求他不要离开――是他给自己的朋友带来了幸福,他应该永远和自己在一起。但旅伴摇摇头,温和、善良地说,

“不行,我的时辰到了。你还记得那个坏蛋们想伤害的死人吗?为了让他安详地躺进坟墓,你拿出了自己的一切东西。那个人就是我。”

话刚说完,他就消失了。

婚礼持续了整整一个月。约翰和公主真心相爱,老国王也度过了许多幸福的日子,让孙儿们骑在自己的膝上,拿他的权杖玩耍。约翰后来做了国王,统治全国。(完)