The Metal Pig by Hans Christian Andersen
Section [1 | 2]
the metal Pig

by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H .P .Paull (1872)

in_the city of Florence, not far from_the piazza del Granduca, runs a little street called Porta Rosa . in_this street, just in front of_the market- place where vegetables are sold, stands a Pig, made of brass and curiously formed . the bright color has_been changed by age to dark green; but clear, fresh water pours from_the snout, which shines as_if it had_been polished, and so indeed it has, for hundreds of poor people and children seize it in their hands as_they place their mouths close to_the mouth of_the animal, to drink . it_is quite a picture to_see a half- naked boy clasping the well- formed creature by_the head, as he presses his rosy lips against its jaws . every_one who visits Florence can very quickly find the place; he has only to ask_the first beggar he meets for_the metal Pig, and he_will_be told where it_is .

it_was late on a winter evening; the mountains were covered with snow, but the moon shone brightly, and moonlight in Italy is like a dull winter's day in_the north; indeed it_is better, for clear air seems to raise us above the earth, while in_the north a cold, gray, leaden sky appears to press us down to earth, even as_the cold damp earth shall one day press on us in_the grave . in_the garden of_the grand duke's palace, under the roof of one_of_the wings, where a thousand roses bloom in winter, a little ragged boy had_been sitting the whole day long; a boy, who_might serve as a type of Italy, lovely and smiling, and yet still suffering . he_was hungry and thirsty, yet no one gave him anything; and when it became dark, and_they were about to close the gardens, the porter turned him out . he stood a long_time musing on_the bridge which crosses the Arno, and looking at_the glittering stars, reflected in_the water which flowed between him and_the elegant marble bridge Della Trinita . he then walked away towards the metal Pig, half knelt down, clasped it with_his arms, and then put his mouth to_the shining snout and drank deep draughts of_the fresh water . close by, lay a few salad-leaves and two chestnuts, which were to_serve for_his supper . no one was in_the street but himself; it belonged only to him, so he boldly seated himself on_the Pig's back, leaned forward so_that his curly head could rest on_the head of_the animal, and, before he_was aware, he fell asleep .

it_was midnight . the metal Pig raised himself gently, and_the boy heard him say quite distinctly, " hold tight, little boy, for I_am going to run;" and away he started for a most wonderful ride . first, they arrived at_the piazza del Granduca, and_the metal horse which bears the duke's statue, neighed aloud . the painted coats- of-arms on_the old council- house shone like transparent pictures, and Michael Angelo's David tossed his sling; it_was as_if everything had life . the metallic groups of figures, among which were Perseus and_the Rape of_the Sabines, looked like living persons, and cries of terror sounded from_them all across the noble square . by_the Palazzo degli Uffizi, in_the arcade, where the nobility assemble for_the carnival, the metal Pig stopped ." hold fast," said the animal; " hold fast, for I_am going up stairs ."

the little boy said not a word; he_was half pleased and half afraid . they entered a long gallery, where the boy had_been before . the walls were resplendent with paintings; here stood statues and busts, all in a clear light as_if it were day . but the grandest appeared when_the door of a side room opened; the little boy could remember what beautiful things he had seen there, but to- night everything shone in its brightest colors . here stood the figure of a beautiful woman, as beautifully sculptured as possible by one_of_the great masters . her graceful limbs appeared to move; dolphins sprang at her feet, and immortality shone from her eyes . the world called her the Venus de' Medici . by her side were statues, in_which_the spirit of life breathed in stone; figures of men, one of whom whetted his sword, and was named the grinder; wrestling gladiators formed another group, the sword had_been sharpened for_them, and_they strove for_the goddess of beauty . the boy was dazzled by so_much glitter; for_the walls were gleaming with bright colors, all appeared living reality .

as_they passed from hall to hall, beauty everywhere showed itself; and as_the metal Pig went step by step from one picture to_the other, the little boy could_see it all plainly . one glory eclipsed another; yet there_was one picture that fixed itself on_the little boy's memory, more especially because of_the happy children it represented, for_these the little boy had seen in daylight . many pass this picture by with indifference, and yet it contains a treasure of poetic feeling; it represents Christ descending into Hades . they_are_not the lost whom the spectator sees, but the heathen of olden times . the Florentine, Angiolo Bronzino, painted this picture; most beautiful is_the expression on_the face of_the two children, who appear to_have full confidence that_they shall reach heaven at last . they_are embracing each_other, and one little one stretches out his hand towards another who stands below him, and points to himself, as_if he were saying, " I_am going to heaven ." the older people stand as_if uncertain, yet hopeful, and_they bow in humble adoration to_the lord Jesus . on_this picture the boy's eyes rested longer than on any_other: the metal Pig stood still before it .a low sigh was heard . did it come from_the picture or from_the animal ? the boy raised his hands towards the smiling children, and then the Pig ran off with_him through_the open vestibule .

" thank_you, thank_you, you beautiful animal," said the little boy, caressing the metal Pig as it ran down the steps .

" thanks to yourself also," replied the metal Pig; " I_have helped you and you_have helped me, for_it is only when I_have an innocent child on my back that I receive the power to run . yes; as you_see, I_can even venture under the rays of_the lamp, in front of_the picture of_the madonna, but I_may not enter the church; still from without, and while you_are upon my back, I_may look in through_the open door . do_not get down yet, for if_you_do, then I_shall_be lifeless, as_you_have seen me in_the Porta Rosa ."

" i_will stay with_you, my dear creature," said the little boy . so then they went on at a rapid pace through_the streets of Florence, till they came to_the square before_the church of Santa Croce . the folding-doors flew open, and light streamed from_the altar through_the church into_the deserted square .a wonderful blaze of light streamed from one_of_the monuments in_the left- side aisle, and a thousand moving stars seemed to_form a glory round it; even the coat- of-arms on_the tomb- stone shone, and a red ladder on a blue field gleamed like fire . it was_the grave of Galileo . the monument is unadorned, but the red ladder is an emblem of art, signifying that_the way to glory leads up ashining ladder, on_which the prophets of mind rise to heaven, like Elias of old . in_the right aisle of_the church every statue on_the richly carved sarcophagi seemed endowed with life . here stood Michael Angelo; there Dante, with_the laurel wreath round his brow; Alfieri and Machiavelli; for here side by side rest the great men- the pride of Italy . the church itself is very beautiful, even more beautiful than_the marble cathedral at Florence, though not so large . it seemed as if_the carved vestments stirred, and as if_the marble figures they covered raised their heads higher, to gaze upon_the brightly colored glowing altar where the white- robed boys swung the golden censers, amid music and song, while the strong fragrance of incense filled the church, and streamed forth into_the square . the boy stretched forth his hands towards the light, and at_the same moment the metal Pig started again so rapidly that he_was obliged to cling tightly to him . the wind whistled in_his ears, he heard the church door creak on its hinges as it closed, and it seemed to him as_if he had lost his senses- then a cold shudder passed over him, and he awoke .

it_was morning; the metal Pig stood in its old place on_the Porta Rosa, and_the boy found he had slipped nearly off its back . fear and trembling came upon him as he thought of_his mother; she had sent him out the day before to_get some money, he had_not done so, and now he_was hungry and thirsty . once more he clasped the neck of_his metal horse, kissed its nose, and nodded farewell to_it . then he wandered away into one_of_the narrowest streets, where there_was scarcely room for a loaded donkey to_pass .a great iron- bound door stood ajar; he passed through, and climbed up a brick staircase, with dirty walls and a rope for a balustrade, till he_came to an open gallery hung with rags . from here a flight of steps led down to a court, where from a well water was drawn up by iron rollers to_the different stories of_the house, and where the water-buckets hung side by side .Sometimes the roller and_the bucket danced in_the air, splashing the water all over the court . another broken- down staircase led from_the gallery, and two Russian sailors running down it almost upset the poor boy . they were coming from their nightly carousal .a woman not very young, with an unpleasant face and a quantity of black hair, followed them ." what have_you brought home ? " she asked . when she saw the boy .

"Don't be angry," he pleaded; "I received nothing, I_have nothing at all;" and he seized his mother's dress and would_have kissed it . then they went into a little room . I_need not describe it, but only say that there stood in_it an earthen pot with handles, made for holding fire, which in Italy is called amarito . this pot she took in her lap, warmed her fingers, and pushed the boy with her elbow .

" certainly you_must_have some money," she said . the boy began to cry, and then she struck him with her foot till he cried out louder .

" will_you be quiet ? or I'll break your screaming head;" and she swung about_the fire- pot which she held in her hand, while the boy crouched to_the earth and screamed .

then a neighbor came in, and she had also amarito under her arm ."Felicita," she said, " what_are you doing to_the child ? "

" the child is mine," she answered; " I_can murder him if I like, and you too, Giannina ." and then she swung about_the fire- pot . the other woman lifted up hers to defend herself, and_the two pots clashed together so violently that_they were dashed to pieces, and fire and ashes flew about_the room . the boy rushed out at_the sight, sped across the courtyard, and fled from_the house . the poor child ran till he_was quite out of breath; at last he stopped at_the church, the doors of_which were opened to him the night before, and went in . here everything was bright, and_the boy knelt down by_the first tomb on_his right, the grave of Michael Angelo, and sobbed as_if his heart would break . people came and went, mass was performed, but no one noticed the boy, excepting an elderly citizen, who stood still and looked at him for a moment, and then went away like the rest . hunger and thirst overpowered the child, and he became quite faint and ill . at last he crept into a corner behind the marble monuments, and went to sleep . towards evening he_was awakened by a pull at his sleeve; he started up, and_the same old citizen stood before him .

" are_you ill ? where do_you live ? have_you been here all day ? " were some_of_the questions asked by_the old man . after hearing his answers, the old man took him home to a small house close by, in a back street . they entered aglovemaker's shop, where a woman sat sewing busily .a little white poodle, so closely shaven that his pink skin could plainly be seen, frisked about_the room, and gambolled upon_the boy .

" innocent souls are soon intimate," said the woman, as she caressed both the boy and_the dog . these good people gave the child food and drink, and said he_should stay with_them all night, and_that the next_day the old man, who was called Giuseppe, would go and speak to_his mother .a little homely bed was prepared for him, but to him who had so often slept on_the hard stones it_was a royal couch, and he slept sweetly and dreamed of_the splendid pictures and of_the metal Pig .Giuseppe went out the next morning, and_the poor child was not glad_to_see him go, for he_knew that_the old man was gone to_his mother, and_that, perhaps, he_would_have to_go back . he wept at_the thought, and then he played with_the little, lively dog, and kissed it, while the old woman looked kindly at him to encourage him . and what news did Giuseppe

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