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1、Word文档下载后（可任意编辑） 野天鹅(四) Then the archbishop whispered evil words into the Kings ear, but they did not sink into the Kings heart. The marriage was to take place; the archbishop himself was obliged to place the crown on her head, and with wicked spite he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly upon her
2、brow that it pained her. But a heavier ring lay close around her heart-sorrow for her brothers; she did not feel the bodily pain. Her mouth was dumb, for a single word would cost her brothers their lives, but her eyes glowed with love for the kind, handsome King, who did everything to rejoice her. S
3、he loved him with her whole heart, more and more everyday. Oh that she had been able to confide in him and to tell him of her grief! But she was compelled to be dumb, and to finish her work in silence. Therefore at night she crept away from his side, and went quietly into the little chamber which wa
4、s decorated like the cave, and wove one shirt of mail after another. But when she began the seventh she had no flax left. She knew that in the churchyard nettles were glowing that she could use; but she must pluck them herself, and how was she to go out there? Oh, what is the pain in my fingers to t
5、he torment my heart endures? thought she. I must venture it, and help will not be denied me! With a trembling heart, as though the deed she purposed doing had been evil, she crept into the garden in the moonlight night , and went through the long avenues and through the deserted streets to the churc
6、hyard.There,on one of the broadest stones, she saw sitting a circle of lamias. These hideous wretches took off their ragged garments, as if they were going to bathe; then with their skinny fingers they clawed open the fresh graves, and with fiendish greed they snatched up the corpses and ate the fle
7、sh. Eliza, was obliged to pass close by them, and they fastened their evil glances upon her; but she prayed silently, and collected the burning nettles, and carried them into the castle. Only one person had seen her, and that was the archbishop. He was awake while others slept. Now he felt sure his
8、opinion was correct, that all was not as it should be with the Queen; she was a witch, and thus she had bewitched the King and the whole people. In secret he told the King what he had seen and what he feared; and when the hard words came from his tongue, the pictures of saints in the cathedral shook
9、 their heads, as though they could have said,It is not so! Eliza is innocent! But the archbishop interpreted this differently-he thought they were bearing witness against her, and shaking their heads at her sinfulness. Then two heavy tears rolled down the King s cheeks; he went home with doubt in hi
10、s heart, and at night pretended to be asleep; but no quiet sleep came upon his eyes, for he noticed that Eliza got up. Every night she did this, and each time he followed her silently, and saw how she disappeared from her chamber. From day to day his face became darker. Eliza saw it, but did not und
11、erstand the reason; but it frightened her-and what did she not suffer in her heart for her brothers? Her hot tears flowed upon the royal velvet and purple; they lay there like sparkling diamonds, and all who saw the splendour wished they were Queens. In the meantime she had almost finished her work.
12、 Only one shirt of mail was still to be completed, but she had no flax left, and not a single nettle. Once more, for the last time, therefore, she must go to the churchyard, only to pluck a few handfuls. She thought with terror of this solitary wandering and of the horrible lamias, but her will was
13、firm as her trust in Providence. Eliza went on, but the King and the archbishop followed her. They saw her vanish into the churchyard through the wicket gate; and when they drew near, the lamias were sitting upon the gravestones as Eliza had seen them; and the King turned aside, for he fancied her a
14、mong them, whose head had rested against his breast that very evening. The people must judge her, said he. And the people condemned her to suffer death by fire. Out of the gorgeous regal halls she was led into a dark damp cell, where the wind whistled through the grated window; instead of velvet and
15、 silk they gave her the bundle of nettles which she had collected; on this she could lay her head; and the hard burning coats of mail which she had woven were to be her coverlet. But nothing could have been given her that she liked better. She resumed her work and prayed. Without, the street boys we
16、re singing jeering songs about her, and not a soul comforted her with a kind word. But towards evening there came the whirring of swans wings close by the grating-it was the youngest of her brothers. He had found his sister, and she sobbed aloud with joy, though she knew that the approaching night would probably be the last she had to live. But now the work was almost finished, and her brothers w
