THE LAST PEARL

IT Was a rich，a happy house；all were cheerful and full of joy，master，servants，and friends of the family；for on this day an heir，a son，had been born，and mother and child were doing exceedingly well．

The lamp in the bed-chamber had been partly shaded，and the windows were guarded by heavy curtains of some costly silken fabric．The carpet was thick and soft as a mossy lawn，and everything invited to slumber-was charmingly suggestive of repose；and the nurse found that，for she slept；and here she might sleep，for every-thing was good and blessed．The guardian spirit of the house leaned against the head of the bed；over the child at the mother's breast there spread as it were a net of shining stars in endless number，and each star was a pearl of happiness．All the good fairies of life had brought their gifts to the new-born one；here sparkled health，wealth，fortune，and love-in short，everything that man can wish for on earth． “Everything has been presented here，”said the guardian spirit．

“No，not everything，”said a voice near him，the voice of the child's good angel．“One fairy has not yet brought her gift；but she will do so some day；even if years should elapse first，she will bring her gift．The last pearl is yet wanting．”

“Wanting！here nothing should be wanting；but if it should be the case，let me go and seek the powerful tairy；let us betake ourselves to her！”

“She comes！she will come some day unsought！Her pearl，must be there，so that the complete crown may be won．”

“Where is she to be found？Where does she dwell？Tell it me，and I will procure the pearl．”

“You will do that？”said the good angel of the child．I will lead you to her directly，wherever she may be．She has no abiding-place-sometimes she comes to the Emperor 's palace，sometimes you will find her in the peasant's humble cot；she goes by no person without leav-ing a trace：she brings her gift to all，be it a world or a trifle！To this child also she must come．You think the time is equally long，but not equally profitable．Well，then，let us go for this pearl，the last pearl in all this wealth．”

And hand in hand they floated towards the spot where the fairy was now lingering．

It was a great house，with dark windows and empty rooms，and a peculiar stillness reigned therein；a whole row of windows had been opened，so that the rough air could penetrate at its pleasure：the long white hanging curtains moved to and fro in the current of wind．

In the middle of the room was placed an open coffin，and in this rested the body of a woman，still in her best years．Fresh roses were scattered over her，so that only the delicate folded hands and the noble face，glorified in death by the solemn look of consecration and entrance to the better world，were visible．

Around the coffin stood the husband and the children，a whole troop：the youngest child rested on the father's arm，and all bade their mother the last farewell；the bus-band kissed her hand，the hand which now was as a withered leaf，but which a short time ago had been working and striving in diligent love for them all．Tears of sorrow fell in heavy drops to the floor；but not a word was spoken．The silence which reigned here expressed a world of grief．With silent footsteps and with many a sob they quitted the room．

A burning light stands in the room，and the long red wick peers out high above the flame that flickers in the current of air．Strange men come in，and lay the lid on the coffin over the dead one，and drive the nails firmly in，and the blows of the hammer resound through the house，and echo in the hearts that are bleeding．

“Whither art thou leading me？”asked the guardian spirit．“Here dwells no fairy whose pearl might be counted among the best gifts for life！”

“Here she dwells；here in this sacred hour，”said the angel，and pointed to a comer of the room；and there，where in her lifetime the mother had taken her seat amid flowers and pictures；there，whence，like the beneficent fairy of the house，she had greeted husband，children，and friends；whence，like the sunbeams，she had spread joy and cheerfulness，and been the centre and the heart of all-there sat a strange woman，clad in long garments．It was Sorrow，now mistress and mother here in the dead lady's place．A hot tear rolled down into her lap，and formed itself into a pearl glowing with all the colours of the rainbow．The angel seized it，and the pearl shone like a star of sevenfold radiance．

The pearl of Sorrow，the last，which must not be wanting！it heightens the lustre and the power of the other pearls．Do you see the sheen of the rainbow-of the bow that unites heaven and earth？For each of our dear ones who dies and leaves us，we have one friend more in Heaven to long for．Through the earthly night gaze up-ward to the stars，looking for perfection．Contemplate it，the pearl of Sorrow，for it hides within itself the wings that shall carry us to the better world．

最后的珠子

 

这是一个富有的家庭，也是一个幸福的家庭。所有的人——主人、仆人和朋友——都是高兴和快乐的，因为在这天一个继承人——一个儿子——出生了。妈妈和孩子都安全无恙。

这个舒适的卧室里的灯是半掩着的；窗子上挂着贵重的、丝织的厚窗帘。地毯是又厚又柔软，很像一块盖满了青苔的草地。一切东西都起着催眠的作用，使人想睡，使人起一种愉快 的、安静的感觉。保姆也有这种感觉；她睡了，她也睡得着，因为这儿一切是美好和幸福的。

这家的守护神靠床头站着。他在母亲怀里的孩子的上空伸展开来，像无数明亮的、灿烂的星星织成的网——每颗星是一个幸福的珠子。善良的生命女神们都带来她们送给这个新生的孩子的礼物。这儿是一片充满了健康、财富、幸运和爱情的景象——一句话，人们在这个世界上所希望有的东西，这儿全有了。

“一切东西都被送给这一家人了！”守护神说。

“还少一件！”他身边的一个声音说。这是孩子的好安琪儿。“还有一个仙女没有送来礼物。但是她会送来的，即使许多年过去了，她总有一天会把礼物送来的。还缺少那颗最后的珠子！”

“缺少！这儿什么东西都不应该缺少。假如真有这么一回事，那么我们就要去找她——一她这位有力量的女神。我们去找她吧！”

“她会来的！她总有一天会来的！为了把整个花冠扎好，她的这颗珠子决不可以缺少！”

“她住在什么地方呢？她的家在什么地方呢？你只须告诉我，我就可以去把这颗珠子取来！”

“你真的愿意做这事吗？”孩子的安琪儿说。“不管她在什么地方，我可以领你去。她没有一个固定的住址。她到皇帝的宫殿里去，也到农人简陋的小屋里去。她决不会走过一个人家而不留下一点痕迹的。她对什么人都送一点礼品——不管是大量的财富，还是一个小小的玩具！她一定也会来看这个小孩子的。你以为我们这样老等下去，将来不一定会得到好的东西吗？好吧，现在我们去取那颗珠子吧——去取这颗最后的珠子，弥补美中不足吧。”

于是她们手挽着手，飞到女神在这个时刻所住的那个地方去。

这是一幢很大的房子。窗子是阴暗的，房间是空洞的。这里面是一片少有的沉寂。整排的窗子是开着的，粗暴的空气自由侵入，垂着的白色长窗幔在微风中飘动。

屋子的中央停着一口开着的棺材；棺材里躺着一个年轻的少妇的尸体。她的身上盖满了新鲜美丽的玫瑰花，只有她那双交叉着的、细嫩的手和罩着死亡的荣光的、表示出对上帝极度忠诚的、庄严而高贵的脸显露出来。

在棺材旁边站着的是丈夫和孩子——是全家的人。最小的孩子偎在爸爸的怀里；他们都在这儿作最后的告别。丈夫吻着她的手。这只手像一片凋零的叶子，但是它从前曾经出于对他们殷切的爱而操劳过。悲哀的、沉重的大颗泪珠落到地上，但是谁也说不出一句话来。这种沉寂正说明悲哀是多么深重。他们在沉默和呜咽中走出了这屋子。

屋子里点着一根蜡烛；烛光在风中挣扎，不时伸出又长又红的舌头。陌生人走进来，把棺材盖盖没了死者的身体，然后把它紧紧地钉牢。铁锤的敲击声在房间里，[在走廊上，]引起一片回响，在那些流血的心里也引起回响。

“你把我带到什么地方去呢？”守护神说，“拥有生命中最好的礼物的仙女不会住在这儿呀！”

“她就住在这儿——在这个神圣的时刻住在这儿，”安琪儿指着一个墙角说。在那儿，这家的母亲活着的时候，常常坐在这墙角里的花和图画中间；她像这屋子里的守护神一样，常常慈爱地对丈夫、孩子和朋友点头；在那儿，她像这屋子里的太阳光一样散布着欢乐——她曾经是这家里一切的重点和中心。现在这儿坐着一个穿着又长又宽的衣服的陌生女人：她就是悲哀的女神，她现在代替死者，成了这家的女主人和母亲。一颗热泪落到她的衣服上，变成一颗珠子。它射出彩虹的各种颜色。安琪儿捡起这颗珠子，珠子射出光彩，像一颗有7种颜色的星。

“悲哀的珠子是一颗最后的珠子——它是怎样也缺少不了的！只有通过它，别的珠子才特别显得光耀夺目。你可以在它上面看到长虹的光辉——它把天上和人间联结起来。我们每次死去一个亲爱的人，就可以在天上得到一个更多的朋友。我们在夜间向星空望，寻求最美满的东西。这时请你看看那颗悲哀的珠子，因为从这儿把我们带走的那对灵魂的翅膀，就藏在这颗珠子里面。

这也是一首散文诗，最先发表在1854年哥本哈根出版的《历书》或《家庭历书》上。一个婴孩出生以后可以得到许多礼物，但“最后的珠子”是怎样也缺少不了的一件礼物！只有通过它，别的珠子才特别显得光辉夺目。你可以在它上面看到长虹的光辉——它把天上和人间联结起来。这就是“悲哀的珠子……一颗最后的珠子”。它是一颗热泪落到“悲哀的女神”的衣服上所形成的。一个人从出生到结束，没有它就不能算完满。灵魂的翅膀就藏在它里面。“我们在夜间向星空望，寻求最美满的东西。”死者的灵魂就在空中展翅。这也就是说：“人活了一生，总归要留下一些业绩，那是永远不会死亡的”——当然在这里，安徒生是指那些忠实、正直地履行了人生责任的人。