The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen
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made . these things had_been brought away from_the cave as curiosities by one_of_the huntsmen .

" here you_can dream yourself back again in_the old home in_the cave," said the king; " here_is_the work with_which you employed yourself . it_will amuse you now in_the midst of all this splendor to_think of_that_time ."

when Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart, a smile played around her mouth, and_the crimson blood rushed to her cheeks . she thought of her brothers, and their release made her so joyful that she kissed the king's hand . then he pressed her to_his heart . very_soon the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast, and_that the beautiful dumb girl out_of_the wood was to_be made the queen of_the country . then the archbishop whispered wicked words in_the king's ear, but they_did_not sink into his heart . the marriage was still to_take place, and_the archbishop himself had to_place the crown on_the bride's head; in_his wicked spite, he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead that_it caused her pain . but a heavier weight encircled her heart- sorrow for her brothers . she felt not bodily pain . her mouth was closed; a single word would cost the lives of her brothers . but she loved the kind, handsome king, who did everything to_make her happy more and more each_day; she loved him with all her heart, and her eyes beamed with_the love she dared not speak .Oh ! if she had only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief . but dumb she_must remain till her task was finished . therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber, which had_been decked out to look like the cave, and quickly wove one coat after another . but when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax . she knew that_the nettles she wanted to use grew in_the churchyard, and_that she_must pluck them herself . how should she get out there ? "Oh, what_is the pain in my fingers to_the torment which my heart endures ? " said she ." I_must venture, I_shall_not_be denied help from heaven ." then with atrembling heart, as_if she were about to perform a wicked deed, she crept into_the garden in_the broad moonlight, and passed through_the narrow walks and_the deserted streets, till she reached the churchyard . then she saw on one_of_the broad tombstones a group of ghouls . these hideous creatures took off their rags, as if_they intended to bathe, and then clawing open the fresh graves with their long, skinny fingers, pulled out the dead bodies and ate the flesh ! Eliza had to_pass close by_them, and_they fixed their wicked glances upon her, but she prayed silently, gathered the burning nettles, and carried them home with her to_the castle . one person only had seen her, and_that was_the archbishop- he_was awake while everybody was asleep . now he thought his opinion was evidently correct . all was not right with_the queen . she was a witch, and had bewitched the king and all the people . secretly he_told the king what he had seen and what he feared, and as_the hard words came from_his tongue, the carved images of_the saints shook their heads as if_they_would say ." it_is_not so .Eliza is innocent ."

but the archbishop interpreted it in another way; he believed that_they witnessed against her, and were shaking their heads at her wickedness . two large tears rolled down the king's cheeks, and he went home with doubt in_his heart, and at night he pretended to sleep, but there came no real sleep to_his eyes, for he_saw Eliza get up every night and disappear in her own chamber . from day to day his brow became darker, and Eliza saw it and did_not understand the reason, but it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers . her hot tears glittered like pearls on_the regal velvet and diamonds, while all who saw her were wishing they_could be queens . in_the mean time she had almost finished her task; only_one coat of mail was wanting, but she had no flax left, and not a single nettle . once more only, and for_the_last time, must she venture to_the churchyard and pluck a few handfuls . she thought with terror of_the solitary walk, and of_the horrible ghouls, but her will was firm, as_well as her trust in Providence .Eliza went, and_the king and_the archbishop followed her . they saw her vanish through_the wicket gate into_the churchyard, and when_they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting on_the tombstone, as Eliza had seen them, and_the king turned away his head, for he thought she was with_them- she whose head had rested on_his breast that very evening ." the people must condemn her," said he, and she was very quickly condemned by every_one to suffer death by fire . away from_the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark, dreary cell, where the wind whistled through_the iron bars . instead of_the velvet and silk dresses, they gave her the coats of mail which she had woven to_cover her, and_the bundle of nettles for a pillow; but nothing they_could give her would_have pleased her more . she continued her task with joy, and prayed for help, while the street-boys sang jeering songs about her, and not a soul comforted her with a kind word . towards evening, she heard at_the grating the flutter of a swan's wing, it_was her youngest brother- he had found his sister, and she sobbed for joy, although she knew that very likely this_would_be the last night she would_have to live . but still she_could hope, for her task was almost finished, and her brothers were come . then the archbishop arrived, to_be with her during her last hours, as he had promised the king . but she shook her head, and begged him, by looks and gestures, not to stay; for in_this night she knew she_must finish her task, otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights would_have_been suffered in vain . the archbishop withdrew, uttering bitter words against her; but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent, and diligently continued her work .

the little mice ran about_the floor, they dragged the nettles to her feet, to help as_well as they_could; and_the thrush sat outside the grating of_the window, and sang to her the whole night long, as sweetly as possible, to_keep up her spirits .

it_was still twilight, and at_least an hour before sunrise, when_the eleven brothers stood at_the castle gate, and demanded to_be brought before_the king . they were told it could_not_be, it_was yet almost night, and as_the king slept they dared not disturb him . they threatened, they entreated . then the guard appeared, and even the king himself, inquiring what all the noise meant . at_this moment the sun rose . the eleven brothers were seen no more, but eleven wild swans flew away over the castle .

and now all the people came streaming forth from_the gates of_the city, to_see the witch burnt . an old horse drew the cart on_which she sat . they had dressed her in a garment of coarse sackcloth . her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders, her cheeks were deadly pale, her lips moved silently, while her fingers still worked at_the green flax . even on_the way to death, she_would not give up her task . the ten coats of mail lay at her feet, she was working hard at_the eleventh, while the mob jeered her and said, " see the witch, how she mutters ! she has no hymn- book in her hand . she sits there with her ugly sorcery . let_us tear it in a thousand pieces ."

and then they pressed towards her, and would_have destroyed the coats of mail, but at_the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her, and alighted on_the cart . then they flapped their large wings, and_the crowd drew on one side in alarm .

" it_is a sign from heaven that she_is innocent," whispered many_of_them; but they ventured not to_say it aloud .

as_the executioner seized her by_the hand, to lift her out_of_the cart, she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans, and_they immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the youngest had a swan's wing, instead of an arm; for she had_not_been able to finish the last sleeve of_the coat .

" now I_may speak," she exclaimed ." I_am innocent ."

then the people, who saw what happened, bowed to her, as before a saint; but she sank lifeless in her brothers' arms, overcome with suspense, anguish, and pain .

" yes, she_is innocent," said the eldest brother; and then he related all that had taken place; and while he spoke there rose in_the air a fragrance as from millions of roses . every piece of faggot in_the pile had taken root, and threw out branches, and appeared a thick hedge, large and high, covered with roses; while above all bloomed a white and shining flower, that glittered like a star . this flower the king plucked, and placed in Eliza's bosom, when she awoke from her swoon, with peace and happiness in her heart . and all the church bells rang of themselves, and_the birds came in great troops . and a marriage procession returned to_the castle, such as no king had ever before seen .

the end

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