19-jesper-第1章
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JESPER WHO HERDED THE HARES
There was once a king who ruled over a kingdom somewhere between
sunrise and sunset。 It was as small as kingdoms usually were in
old times； and when the king went up to the roof of his palace
and took a look round he could see to the ends of it in every
direction。 But as it was all his own； he was very proud of it；
and often wondered how it would get along without him。 He had
only one child； and that was a daughter； so he foresaw that she
must be provided with a husband who would be fit to be king after
him。 Where to find one rich enough and clever enough to be a
suitable match for the princess was what troubled him； and often
kept him awake at night。
At last he devised a plan。 He made a proclamation over all his
kingdom （and asked his nearest neighbours to publish it in theirs
as well） that whoever could bring him a dozen of the finest
pearls the king had ever seen； and could perform certain tasks
that would be set him； should have his daughter in marriage and
in due time succeed to the throne。 The pearls； he thought； could
only be brought by a very wealthy man； and the tasks would
require unusual talents to accomplish them。
There were plenty who tried to fulfil the terms which the king
proposed。 Rich merchants and foreign princes presented
themselves one after the other； so that some days the number of
them was quite annoying； but； though they could all produce
magnificent pearls； not one of them could perform even the
simplest of the tasks set them。 Some turned up； too； who were
mere adventurers； and tried to deceive the old king with
imitation pearls； but he was not to be taken in so easily； and
they were soon sent about their business。 At the end of several
weeks the stream of suitors began to fall off； and still there
was no prospect of a suitable son…in…law。
Now it so happened that in a little corner of the king's
dominions； beside the sea； there lived a poor fisher； who had
three sons； and their names were Peter； Paul； and Jesper。 Peter
and Paul were grown men； while Jesper was just coming to manhood。
The two elder brothers were much bigger and stronger than the
youngest； but Jesper was far the cleverest of the three； though
neither Peter nor Paul would admit this。 It was a fact； however；
as we shall see in the course of our story。
One day the fisherman went out fishing； and among his catch for
the day he brought home three dozen oysters。 When these were
opened； every shell was found to contain a large and beautiful
pearl。 Hereupon the three brothers； at one and the same moment；
fell upon the idea of offering themselves as suitors for the
princess。 After some discussion； it was agreed that the pearls
should be divided by lot； and that each should have his chance in
the order of his age： of course； if the oldest was successful
the other two would be saved the trouble of trying。
Next morning Peter put his pearls in a little basket； and set off
for the king's palace。 He had not gone far on his way when he
came upon the King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles； who；
with their armies behind them； were facing each other and
preparing for battle。
'Come and help me；' said the King of the Ants； 'the beetles are
too big for us。 I may help you some day in return。'
'I have no time to waste on other people's affairs；' said Peter；
'just fight away as best you can；' and with that he walked off
and left them。
A little further on the way he met an old woman。
'Good morning； young man；' said she； 'you are early astir。 What
have you got in your basket？'
'Cinders；' said Peter promptly； and walked on； adding to himself；
'Take that for being so inquisitive。'
'Very well； cinders be it；' the old woman called after him； but
he pretended not to hear her。
Very soon he reached the palace； and was at once brought before
the king。 When he took the cover off the basket； the king and
all his courtiers said with one voice that these were the finest
pearls they had ever seen； and they could not take their eyes off
them。 But then a strange thing happened： the pearls began to
lose their whiteness and grew quite dim in colour； then they grew
blacker and blacker till at last they were just like so many
cinders。 Peter was so amazed that he could say nothing for
himself； but the king said quite enough for both； and Peter was
glad to get away home again as fast as his legs would carry him。
To his father and brothers； however； he gave no account of his
attempt； except that it had been a failure。
Next day Paul set out to try his luck。 He soon came upon the
King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles； who with their
armies had encamped on the field of battle all night； and were
ready to begin the fight again。
'Come and help me；' said the King of the Ants； 'we got the worst
of it yesterday。 I may help you some day in return。'
'I don't care though you get the worst of it to…day too；' said
Paul。 'I have more important business on hand than mixing myself
up in your quarrels。'
So he walked on； and presently the same old woman met him。 'Good
morning；' said she； 'what have YOU got in your basket？'
'Cinders；' said Paul； who was quite as insolent as his brother；
and quite as anxious to teach other people good manners。
'Very well； cinders be it；' the old woman shouted after him； but
Paul neither looked back nor answered her。 He thought more of
what she said； however； after his pearls also turned to cinders
before the eyes of king and court： then he lost no time in
getting home again； and was very sulky when asked how he had
succeeded。
The third day came； and with it came Jesper's turn to try his
fortune。 He got up and had his breakfast； while Peter and Paul
lay in bed and made rude remarks； telling him that he would come
back quicker than he went； for if they had failed it could not be
supposed that he would succeed。 Jesper made no reply； but put
his pearls in the little basket and walked off。
The King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles were again
marshalling their hosts； but the ants were greatly reduced in
numbers； and had little hope of holding out that day。
'Come and help us；' said their king to Jesper； 'or we shall be
completely defeated。 I may help you some day in return。'
Now Jesper had always heard the ants spoken of as clever and
industrious little creatures； while he never heard anyone say a
good word for the beetles； so he agreed to give the wished…for
help。 At the first charge he made； the ranks of the beetles
broke and fled in dismay； and those escaped best that were
nearest a hole； and could get into it before Jesper's boots came
down upon them。 In a few minutes the ants had the field all to
themselves； and their king made quite an eloquent speech to
Jesper； thanking him for the service he had done them； and
promising to assist him in any difficulty。
'Just call on me when you want me；' he said； 'where…ever you
are。 I'm never far away from anywhere； and if I can possibly
help you； I shall not fail to do it。'
Jesper was inclined to laugh at this； but he kept a grave face；
said he would remember the offer； and walked on。 At a turn of
the road he suddenly came upon the old woman。 'Good morning；'
said she； 'what have YOU got in your basket？'
'Pearls；' said Jesper； 'I'm going to the palace to win the
princess with them。' And in case she might not believe him； he
lifted the cover and let her see them。
'Beautiful；' said the old woman； 'very beautiful indeed； but they
will go a very little way towards winning the princess； unless
you can also perform the tasks that are set you。 However；' she
said； 'I see you have brought something with you to eat。 Won't
you give that to me： you are sure to get a good dinner at the
palace。'
'Yes； of course；' said Jesper； 'I hadn't thought of that'； and he
handed over the whole of his lunch to the old woman。
He had already taken a few steps on the way again； when the old
woman called him back。
'Here；' she said； 'take this whistle in return for your lunch。
It isn't much to look at； but if you blow it； anything that you
have lost or that has been taken from you
