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wooden shoes and old clothes； for the sound of the bell was too
enticing… he felt he must go on。
〃We might go together；〃 said the king's son。 But the poor boy with
the wooden shoes was quite ashamed； he pulled at the short sleeves
of his jacket； and said that he was afraid he could not walk so
fast； besides； he was of opinion that the bell ought to be sought at
the right； for there was all that was grand and magnificent。
〃Then we shall not meet；〃 said the king's son； nodding to the poor
boy； who went into the deepest part of the wood； where the thorns tore
his shabby clothes and scratched his hands； face； and feet until
they bled。 The king's son also received several good scratches； but
the sun was shining on his way； and it is he whom we will now
follow； for he was a quick fellow。 〃I will and must find the bell；〃 he
said； 〃if I have to go to the end of the world。〃
Ugly monkeys sat high in the branches and clenched their teeth。
〃Shall we beat him？〃 they said。 〃Shall we thrash him？ He is a king's
son！〃
But he walked on undaunted； deeper and deeper into the wood； where
the most wonderful flowers were growing； there were standing white
star lilies with blood…red stamens； sky…blue tulips shining when the
wind moved them； apple…trees covered with apples like large glittering
soap bubbles： only think how resplendent these trees were in the
sunshine！ All around were beautiful green meadows； where hart and hind
played in the grass。 There grew magnificent oaks and beech…trees；
and if the bark was split of any of them； long blades of grass grew
out of the clefts； there were also large smooth lakes in the wood；
on which the swans were swimming about and flapping their wings。 The
king's son often stood still and listened； sometimes he thought that
the sound of the bell rose up to him out of one of these deep lakes；
but soon he found that this was a mistake； and that the bell was
ringing still farther in the wood。 Then the sun set； the clouds were
as red as fire； it became quiet in the wood； he sank down on his
knees； sang an evening hymn and said： 〃I shall never find what I am
looking for！ Now the sun is setting； and the night； the dark night； is
approaching。 Yet I may perhaps see the round sun once more before he
disappears beneath the horizon。 I will climb up these rocks； they
are as high as the highest trees！〃 And then； taking hold of the
creepers and roots； he climbed up on the wet stones； where
water…snakes were wriggling and the toads； as it were； barked at
him： he reached the top before the sun； seen from such a height； had
quite set。 〃Oh； what a splendour！〃 The sea； the great majestic sea；
which was rolling its long waves against the shore； stretched out
before him； and the sun was standing like a large bright altar and
there where sea and heaven met… all melted together in the most
glowing colours； the wood was singing； and his heart too。 The whole of
nature was one large holy church； in which the trees and hovering
clouds formed the pillars； the flowers and grass the woven velvet
carpet； and heaven itself was the great cupola； up there the flame
colour vanished as soon as the sun disappeared； but millions of
stars were lighted； diamond lamps were shining； and the king's son
stretched his arms out towards heaven； towards the sea； and towards
the wood。 Then suddenly the poor boy with the short…sleeved jacket and
the wooden shoes appeared； he had arrived just as quickly on the
road he had chosen。 And they ran towards each other and took one
another's hand； in the great cathedral of nature and poesy； and
above them sounded the invisible holy bell； happy spirits surrounded
them； singing hallelujahs and rejoicing。
THE END
。