by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H P Paull (1872)

FAR away land swallows fly when winter, dwelt king who had eleven sons, and one daughter, named Eliza The eleven brothers were princes, and each went to school with star breast, and sword by his side They wrote with diamond pencils on gold slates, and learnt their lessons so quickly and read so easily that might know they were princes Their sister Eliza sat on little stool of plate-glass, and had book full of pictures, which had cost as half kingdom Oh, these children were indeed happy, but not to remain so always Their father, who was king country, married very wicked queen, who love the poor children at all They knew this very first day wedding palace there were great festivities, children played at receiving company; but instead of having, as usual, all the cakes and apples that were left, she gave them some sand in tea-cup, and told them to pretend cake The week after, she sent little Eliza country to peasant wife, and then she told the king untrue things young princes, that himself no more trouble respecting them

"Go out world and get your own living," said the queen "Fly like great birds, no voice " But make them ugly as she wished, for they were turned into eleven beautiful wild swans Then, with strange cry, they flew windows palace, over the park, forest beyond early morning passed the peasant's cottage, where their sister Eliza lay asleep in her room They hovered over the roof, twisted their long necks and flapped their wings, but no one heard them or saw them, so they were at last obliged to fly away, high up clouds; and over the wide world they flew till they came to thick, dark wood, which stretched far away seashore Poor little Eliza was alone in her room playing with green leaf, for she had no other playthings, and she pierced hole leaf, and looked through it sun, and she saw her brothers' clear eyes, and warm sun shone on her cheeks, she thought of all the kisses they had given her One day passed just like another; sometimes the winds rustled leaves rose-bush, and would whisper roses, " more beautiful than you ! " But the roses would shake their heads, and say, "Eliza is " And old woman sat cottage door on Sunday, and read her hymn-book, the wind would flutter the leaves, and say book, " more pious than you ? " and then the hymn-book would answer "Eliza " roses hymn-book told the real truth At fifteen she returned home, but queen saw how beautiful she was, she became full of spite and hatred towards her Willingly would she have turned her into swan, like her brothers, but she dare yet, because the king wished his daughter Early one morning the queen went bath-room; built of marble, and had soft cushions, trimmed most beautiful tapestry She took three toads with her, and kissed them, and said to one, "When Eliza comes bath, seat yourself upon her head, that she may become as stupid " Then she said to another, "Place yourself on her forehead, that she may become as ugly , her father may not know her " "Rest on her heart," she whispered third, "then she evil inclinations, and suffer in consequence " So she put the toads clear water, turned green immediately She next called Eliza, and helped her to undress and get bath As Eliza dipped her head under the water, toads sat on her hair, second on her forehead, and third on her breast, but she seem to notice them, and when she rose water, there were three red poppies floating upon it the creatures been venomous or been kissed witch, been changed into red roses At all events they became flowers, because they had rested on Eliza's head, and on her heart She was too good and too innocent for witchcraft any power over her wicked queen saw this, she rubbed her face with walnut-juice, she was quite brown; then she tangled her beautiful hair and smeared it with disgusting ointment, till quite impossible to recognize the beautiful Eliza

When her father saw her, much shocked, and declared she was not his daughter No one but the watch-dog swallows knew her; were only poor animals, and nothing Then poor Eliza wept, and thought of her eleven brothers, who were all away Sorrowfully, she stole away palace, and walked, the whole day, over fields and moors, till she came great forest She knew not in what direction ; but she was so unhappy, and longed so for her brothers, who , like herself, driven out world, that she was determined to seek them She but short time wood when night came on, and she quite lost the path; so she laid herself down soft moss, offered up her evening prayer, and leaned her head against the stump of tree All nature was still, soft, mild air fanned her forehead The light of hundreds of glow-worms shone amidst the grass moss, like green fire; and if she touched twig with her hand, ever so lightly, the brilliant insects fell down around her, like shooting-stars

All night long she dreamt of her brothers She were children again, playing together She saw them writing with their diamond pencils on golden slates, while she looked beautiful picture-book which had cost half kingdom They writing lines and letters, used ; but descriptions noble deeds they had performed, and of all they had discovered and seen picture-book, too, everything was living The birds sang, people came book, and spoke to Eliza and her brothers; but, leaves turned over, they darted back again places, that all

When she awoke, the sun was high heavens; yet she him, lofty trees spread their branches thickly over her head; but his beams were glancing leaves here and there, like golden mist sweet fragrance fresh green verdure, birds almost perched upon her shoulders She heard water rippling from number of springs, all flowing in lake with golden sands Bushes grew thickly round the lake, and at one spot an opening made by deer, through which Eliza went down water The lake was so clear that, the wind rustled the branches trees bushes, so moved, appeared painted depths lake; for every leaf was reflected water, whether it stood shade or the sunshine Eliza saw her own face, she was quite terrified at finding it so brown and ugly; but when she wetted her little hand, and rubbed her eyes and forehead, the white skin gleamed forth once more; and, after she had undressed, and dipped herself fresh water, more beautiful king's daughter found wide world she had dressed herself again, and braided her long hair, she went bubbling spring, and drank some water hollow of her hand Then she wandered far forest, not knowing whither she went She thought of her brothers, and felt sure that God forsake her God who makes the wild apples grow wood, to satisfy the hungry, and He now led her to trees, so loaded with fruit, boughs bent beneath the weight Here she held her noonday repast, placed props under the boughs, and then went gloomiest depths forest so still that hear the sound of her own footsteps, rustling of every withered leaf which she crushed under her feet Not bird was seen, not sunbeam could penetrate large, dark boughs trees Their lofty trunks stood so close together, that, when she looked before her, it seemed she were enclosed within trellis-work Such solitude she had never known before The night was very dark Not single glow-worm glittered moss

Sorrowfully she laid herself down to sleep; and, after while, it seemed to her as branches trees parted over her head, and mild eyes of angels looked down upon her from heaven When she awoke morning, she knew not whether she had dreamt this, or had really been so Then she continued her wandering; but she gone many steps forward, when she met an old woman with berries in her basket, and she gave her few to eat Then Eliza asked her if she seen eleven princes riding forest