安徒生童话介绍英文

关键词： 童话 精选

安徒生童话介绍英文（精选6篇）

篇1：安徒生童话介绍英文

安徒生童话 英文版

有关英文版安徒生童话，同学们知道哪些?故事名字的英文是哪些呢?

1.打火匣/ The Tinder-Box

2.小克劳斯与大克劳斯/ Great Claus and Little Claus 11

3. 豌豆上的公主/ The Princess on the Pea 23

4. 小 意达的花儿/ Little Ida誷 Flowers 25

5. 拇指姑娘/ Thumbelina 34

6. 顽皮的孩子/ The Naughty Boy 46

7. 旅伴/ The Travelling Companion 49

8. 海的女儿/ The Little Sea Maid 69

9. 皇帝的新装/ The Emperor誷 New Clothes 91

10. 幸运的套鞋/ The Goloshes of Fortune 97

11. 雏菊/ The Daisy 123

12. 坚定的锡兵/ The Hardy Tin Soldier 128

13. 野天鹅/ The Wild Swans 133

14. 天国花园/ The Garden of Paradise 149

15. 飞箱/ The Flying Trunk 163

16. 鹳鸟/ The Storks 170

17. 铜猪/ The Metal Pig 176

18. 永恒的友情/ The Bond of Friendship 188

19. 荷马墓上的一朵玫瑰/A Rose From the Grave of Homer 197

20. 梦神/ Ole Luk-Oie 199

21. 玫瑰花精/ The Rose-Elf 212

22. 猪倌/ The Swineherd 218

23. 荞麦/ The Buckwheat 224

24. 安琪儿/ The Angel 227

25. 夜莺/ The Nightingale 231

26. 恋人/ The Lovers 242

27. 丑小鸭/ The Ugly Duckling 245

28. 枞树/ The Fir Tree 255

29. 白雪皇后/ The Snow Queen 265

30. 接骨木树妈妈/ The Elder Tree Mother 295

31. 织补针/ The Darning-Needle 303

32. 钟声/ The Bell 307

33. 祖母/ Grandmother 313

34. 妖山/ The Elf-Hill 316

35. 红鞋/ The Red Shoes 323

36. 跳高者/ The Jumper 330

37. 牧羊女和扫烟囱的人/ The Shepherdess and

the Chimney- Sweeper 333

38. 丹麦人荷尔格/ Holger the Dane 339

39. 卖火柴的小女孩/ The Little Match Girl 344

40. 城堡上的一幅画/ A Picture From the Fortress Wall 347

41. 瓦尔都窗前的一瞥/ By the Almshouse Window 349

42. 老路灯/ The Old Street Lamp 352

43. 邻居们/ The Neighbouring Families 359 44. 小杜克/ Little Tuk 369

45. 影子/ The Shadow 374

46. 老房子/ The Old House 387

47. 一滴水/ The Drop of Water 395

48. 幸福的家庭/ The Happy Family 398

49. 母亲的故事/ The Story of a Mother 402

50. 衬衫领子/ The Shirt Collar 408

51. 亚麻/ The Flax 412

52. 凤凰/ The Phoenix Bird 417

53. 一个故事/ A Story 419

54. 一本不说话的书/ The Dumb Book 424

55. 区别/ 襎here Is a Difference 427

56. 老墓碑/ The Old Gravestone 431中 篇

57. 世上最美丽的一朵玫瑰花/ The Loveliest Rose

in the World 437

58. 一年的故事/ The Story of the Year 440

59. 最后的一天/ On the Last Day 449

篇2：安徒生童话介绍英文

THERE was once a Prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she was to be a real princess. So he travelled about , all through the world , to find a real one , but everywhere there was something in the way. There were princesses enough, but whether they were real princesses he could not quite make out : there was always something that did not seem quite right. So he came home again, and was quite sad; for he wished so much to have a real princess.

One evening a terrible storm came on. It lightened and thundered, the rain streamed down; it was quite fearful! Then there was a knocking at the town-gate, and the old King went out to open it .

It was a Princess who stood outside the gate . But , mercy! How she looked, from the rain and the rough weather! The water ran down her hair and her clothes; it ran in at the points of her shoes, and out at the heels; and yet she declared that she was a real princess .

“Yes , we will soon find that out , ” thought the old Queen. But she said nothing, only went into the bedchamber, took all the bedding off, and put a pea on the bottom of the bedstead ; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them upon the pea, and then twenty eider-down quilts upon the mattresses . On this the Princess had to lie all night . In the morning she was asked how she had slept .

“Oh, miserably!” said the Princess. “I scarcely closed my eyes all night long. Goodness knows what was in my bed . I lay upon something hard , so that I am black and blue all over . It is quite dreadful ! ”

Now they saw that she was a real princess, for through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts she had felt the pea. No one but a real princess could be so tender-skinned.

So the Prince took her for his wife, for now he knew that he had a true princess and the pea was put in the museum, and it is still to be seen there, unless somebody has carried it off .

篇3：安徒生童话介绍英文

一、儿童阅读童话的心理图示的内涵

儿童阅读童话的心理图示研究是儿童在阅读童话时, 围绕着童话故事中所讲述的故事内容为主线, 以知识的储存为目标, 通过有序的组织和积极的引导, 能够有效地透过故事的表面抓住故事的本质, 实现童话故事的升华。以此, 来帮助儿童树立正确的是非观, 形成知识体系网络图示构筑的现象, 有效地塑造儿童健康向上的人格特征, 进行思想启蒙。

二、构筑儿童阅读童话的心理图示脉络的重要性和必要性

1. 童话心理图示, 让儿童了解童话故事的本身, 实现社会知识的积攒

童话, 以儿童作为主要的受众, 其语言通俗直白, 易理解, 极具生活哲理和处事原则。童话故事一般具有浓厚的幻想色彩, 跌宕起伏的情节设置中, 针对儿童阅读童话时的心理图示显示, 融入了夸张、象征、拟人的写作手法, 塑造鲜活的人物形象, 赋予动物等以人的生命, 满足儿童的好奇心, 走进儿童的心灵。安徒生童话以其独特的艺术风格成为童话文学中的佼佼者, 歌颂世间美好事物, 但又独具讽刺意味, 对比鲜明, 效果显著, 教会儿童那颗懵懂的心灵分辨善恶, 辨别真伪, 形成健康向上的价值观和人生观, 儿童在阅读安徒生童话时的心理图示有着不可忽视的思想启蒙意义。也正是因为安徒生童话的此种意义, 它才成为床头书籍的首选, 成为广大的家长朋友们教育孩子的蓝本。

2. 童话心理图示, 让儿童紧握童话故事的本质, 实现精神情感升华

童话是一种社会性的文学表现形式, 儿童阅读童话所形成的童话心理图示能够让儿童锻炼抽象思维能力, 剖开浮华的表象, 紧紧握住童话的本质, 实现精神情感升华。瑞士心理学家维雷娜·卡斯特在其《童话的心理分析》中指出“较之神话、传说, 童话因其不涉地域政治和意识形态, 具备人类共有的经验框架而受到不同国界的人们的欢迎”。根据心理图示的理论依据, 儿童阅读童话的心理图示研究主要是关于儿童对于童话知识的综合性概括理解, 是对于童话故事的全方位的认知, 同时更是深刻地把握童话故事背后潜在的意义和价值。针对儿童阅读童话的心理图示研究讲究的不仅仅是童话故事的本身, 更是在某一个童话故事能够带给儿童的那种精神意义, 主要呈现出递增的关系, 是实现由浅易深, 由表象转化为本质, 由具体到抽象的延伸和发展的重要研究, 从而使得童话故事能够充分地发挥其自身的教育价值, 对儿童起到启蒙作用。《安徒生童话》中的经典之作《丑小鸭》, 在苛刻地以外貌看人的环境下, 丑小鸭受到了来自各方面的嘲笑和欺负, 成为了一只可怜的“鸭子”, 但丑小鸭没有因此而自卑, 没有自暴自弃, 在历经了困苦之后, 丑小鸭悄然间变成了美丽的天鹅。丑小鸭的经历告诉儿童, 生活中难免有困难, 难免有不如意, 但是只要坚定信念不放弃, 风雨之后, 迎接自己的将会是美丽的彩虹, 这教会孩子不懈地追求和奋斗。

结语:总之, 儿童正处于人格塑造的特殊时期, 童话是儿童文学中饱含人生哲理的体裁创新, 童话故事的阅读在儿童心理图示构成过程中发挥着重要的作用。通过阐述儿童阅读童话的心理图示的内涵, 深刻地研究和探讨了构筑儿童阅读童话的心理图示脉络的重要性和必要性, 并提出了积极引导和正确推进儿童阅读童话时的心理图示形成的措施, 以期提高儿童的语言表现能力, 利用童话故事为儿童提供一个消极情绪宣泄的释放口, 提高儿童的抽象思维能力, 有效地解决儿童的心理冲突, 能够在童话的旅程中, 感悟到成长的艰辛和需要付出的代价, 获得珍贵的成长经验, 促进自身的健康成长。

摘要：童话是儿童文学体裁中的一种饱含着人生哲理的体裁创新, 是能够通往儿童内心世界的桥梁, 是人类千百年以来智慧的积淀。童话故事让儿童能够在充满着梦幻的世界中去不断地认识自己, 感知社会, 憧憬未来。童话故事的阅读儿童在心理图示构成过程中发挥着重要的作用, 无可替代。本文以安徒生童话为例, 通过详细地阐述儿童阅读童话的心理图示的内涵, 深刻地研究和探讨了构筑儿童阅读童话的心理图示脉络的重要性和必要性, 以期有效地解决儿童的心理冲突, 在童话的旅程中, 感悟到成长的艰辛和代价, 获得珍贵的成长经验, 促进健康成长。

篇4：安徒生童话

作者简介：

汉hàn斯sī·克kè里lǐ斯sī蒂dì安ān·安ān徒tú生shēnɡ（1805年nián4月yuè2日rì—1875年nián8月yuè4日rì），丹dān麦mài19世shì纪jì著zhù名mínɡ童tónɡ话huà作zuò家jiā，世shì界jiè文wén学xué童tónɡ话huà代dài表biǎo人rén物wù之zhī一yī，被bèi誉yù为wéi“世shì界jiè童tónɡ话huà大dà王wánɡ”。

读《安徒生童话》有感

丁陈泽宇

今jīn天tiān，我wǒ读dú了le《安ān徒tú生shēnɡ童tónɡ话huà》这zhè本běn书shū。书shū中zhōnɡ向xiànɡ我wǒ们men介jiè绍shào了le一yí个ɡè个ɡè生shēnɡ动dònɡ、有yǒu趣qù的de故ɡù事shi。

其qí中zhōnɡ，我wǒ最zuì喜xǐ欢huɑn《皇huánɡ帝dì的de新xīn装zhuānɡ》这zhè个ɡe故ɡù事shi。故ɡù事shi中zhōnɡ两liǎnɡ个ɡè骗piàn子zi骗piàn皇huánɡ帝dì说shuō：“我wǒ们men会huì织zhī一yì种zhǒnɡ布bù，不bú称chèn职zhí或huò者zhě愚yú蠢chǔn的de人rén是shì看kàn不bú见jiàn的de。”两liǎnɡ个ɡè大dà臣chén没méi看kàn见jiàn布bù，皇huánɡ帝dì也yě没méi有yǒu看kàn见jiàn布bù，但dàn是shì他tā们men怕pà别bié人rén说shuō自zì己jǐ愚yú蠢chǔn，就jiù说shuō自zì己jǐ能nénɡ看kàn见jiàn布bù。在zài游yóu行xínɡ大dà典diǎn上shɑnɡ，一yí个ɡè孩hái子zi说shuō：“皇huánɡ帝dì身shēn上shɑnɡ没méi穿chuān衣yī服fu，也yě没méi有yǒu什shén么me东dōnɡ西xi遮zhē盖ɡài。”骗piàn局jú这zhè才cái被bèi揭jiē穿chuān。

读dú了le这zhè个ɡe故ɡù事shi，我wǒ知zhī道dào做zuò人rén要yào诚chénɡ实shí，不bù能nénɡ有yǒu虚xū荣rónɡ心xīn，否fǒu则zé就jiù会huì出chū洋yánɡ相xiànɡ。

小编有话说

小xiǎo作zuò者zhě能nénɡ用yònɡ自zì己jǐ的de话huà概ɡài括kuò出chū《皇huánɡ帝dì的de新xīn装zhuānɡ》的de大dà致zhì内nèi容rónɡ，并bìnɡ从cónɡ中zhōnɡ悟wù出chū道dào理lǐ，不bú错cuò。只zhǐ是shì“感ɡǎn”的de部bù分fen有yǒu些xiē少shǎo。

篇5：安徒生童话日本介绍

《安徒生童话》是丹麦作家安徒生创作的童话集，在童话故事中的地位很高。

安徒生童话的日本介绍

「アンデルセン童話」はデンマークの作家ハンス・クリスチャン・アンデルセンの童話で、おとぎ話の世界で最も有名なコレクションの一つです。

「リトル・マーメイド」、「ティン・ソルジャー」、「雪の女王」、「おやゆび姫」、「マッチ売りの少女の彼の最も有名な童話」「みにくいアヒルの子」と「赤い靴」のように。ジャンルの創出にもかかわらず、それはおとぎ話に属しているが、それは人生の哲学が豊富に含まれています。

19世紀初頭に作ら「グリム童話」、有名なドイツの言語学者によって収集されたものヤーコプ・グリムとヴィルヘルムグリム兄弟、完全なドイツの民俗文学を処理し、並べ替え。それは、世界中の影響力の広い範囲で、創業以来、古典的なおとぎ話の世界です。その豊かな想像力とグリム兄弟、子供たちに美しい言語魔法とロマンチックなおとぎ話の物語。中国、日本では、台湾にも創造による話「グリム童話」を持っています。

拓展阅读

《安徒生童话》之乌兰纽斯

一个修道院里住着一个年轻的修道士，他名叫乌兰纽斯。他是个非常好学而虔诚的人。他被指定管理修道院的藏书室，他忠于职守严格认真地保护这些财富。他写了好几本优美的书，经常研读《圣经》及其他的著作。

有一天，当他正在阅读《圣徒保罗》的作品的时候，他在《圣经》中发现了这样一句话：“在你的眼里，过去的10就像是昨天或昨夜的一更天气。”这位年轻人觉得这完全不可能。可他又不敢不相信，怀疑和困惑深深地威胁着他。

一天早晨，当这位年轻人从阴暗的藏书室里走出来，步进阳光灿烂的美丽的修道院花园的时候，他见到一只山林小鸟立在地上，他正想找一点谷粒给它吃。它立刻飞到一根树枝上去了。它栖在那儿，唱出一支奇怪而好听的歌。

这只小鸟并不害怕。修道士向它走近，它一点也不在乎。他倒很想把它捉住，但它飞走了——从这根树枝飞向那根树枝上。修道士跟着它，它继续用它那清脆和可爱的声调唱下去。但是这位年轻的修道士总抓不住它，虽然他从修道院花园一直追到树林中去——追了好长一段路。

最后他放弃了这个企图。回到修道院里来。可他所看到的却是面目全非。一切都扩大了，变宽了，比以前好看，屋子和花园都是如此;过去那座又低又小的祈祷室现在却变成了巍峨的大教堂——还有三个塔顶。修道士觉得这很奇特，几乎不可置信。当他走进修道院的大门，正疑虑重重地拉着门铃的绳子时，一个看门人走了出来，他完全不认识此人，此人也惊奇不已，避开了他。

修道士走过修道院的.墓地，发现一大片墓碑，他也记不起是否曾经见过这些东西。当他走近其他一些修道士时，大家都惊恐万状，避开了他。只有长者——比原来的长者要年轻许多——立着没有动。他完全不认识他，长者向他指着一个十字架说：“我要以十字架的名义问你：你，污浊的灵魂，是什么人呀!你刚从坟墓里走出来，你要在我们这些活人中间寻找什么呢?”修道士出了一身冷汗。他眼睛下垂，几乎站不住，像一个衰弱的老头儿。瞧，他长出了一把长长的白胡子，一直垂到他的腰带下面——腰带上仍挂着那一把开书柜的钥匙。

其他的修道士们，带着敬而远之的脸色，把这面貌奇怪的陌生人领到长老的座位上去。

长老把藏书室的钥匙交给这位修道士。他打开藏书室的门，取出一本编年史，那上面记载着：那位名叫乌兰纽斯的修道士，已经在三百年前就完全失踪了。谁也不知道，他究竟是逃跑了呢，还是遭遇到了一件什么意外事故。

篇6：安徒生童话介绍英文

谁能做出一件最难使人相信的事情，谁就可以得到国王的女儿和他的半个王国。

年轻人——甚至还有年老人——为这事绞尽了脑汁。有两个人把自己啃死了，有一个人喝酒喝得醉死了：他们都是照自己的一套办法来做出最难使人相信的事情，但是这种做法都不合乎要求。街上的小孩子都在练习朝自己背上吐唾沫——他们以为这就是最难使人相信的事情。

一天，有一个展览会开幕了;会上每人表演一件最难使人相信的事情。裁判员都是从3岁的孩子到90岁的老头子中挑选出来的。大家展出的最难使人相信的事情倒是不少，但是大家很快就取得了一致的意见，认为最难使人相信的一件东西是一座有框子的大钟：它里里外外的设计都非常奇妙。

它每敲一次就有活动的人形跳出来指明时刻。这样的表演一共有12次，每次都出现了能说能唱的活动人形。

“这是最难使人相信的事情!”人们说。

钟敲一下，摩西就站在山上，在石板上写下第一道圣谕：“真正的上帝只有一个。”

钟敲两下，伊甸园就出现了：亚当和夏娃两人在这儿会面，他们都非常幸福，虽然他们两人连一个衣柜都没有——他们也没有这个必要。

钟敲三下，东方就出现了三王①他们之中有一位黑得像炭，但是他也没有办法，因为太阳把他晒黑了。他们带来薰香和贵重的物品。

钟敲四下，四季就出现了。春天带来一只杜鹃，它栖在一根含苞的山毛榉枝上。夏天带来蚱蜢，它栖在一根熟了的麦秆上。秋天带来鹳鸟的一个空窠——鹳鸟都已经飞走了。冬天带来一只老乌鸦，它栖在火炉的一旁，讲着故事和旧时的回忆。

“五官”在钟敲五下的时候出现：视觉成了一个眼镜制造匠;听觉成了一个铜匠;嗅觉在卖紫罗兰和车叶草;味觉是一个厨子;感觉是一个承办丧事的人，他戴的黑纱一直拖到脚跟。

钟敲了六下。一个赌徒坐着掷骰子：最大的那一面朝上，上面是六点。

接着一星期的七天(或者七大罪过)出现了——人们不

知道究竟是谁：他们都是半斤八两，不容易辨别。

于是一个僧人组成的圣诗班到来了，他们唱晚间8点钟的颂歌。

九位女神随着钟敲九下到来了：一位是天文学家，一位管理历史文件，其余的则跟戏剧有关。

钟敲10下，摩西带着他的诫条又来了——上帝的圣谕就在这里面，一共有10条。

钟又敲起来了。男孩子和女孩子在跳来跳去;他们一面在玩一种游戏，一面在唱歌：

滴答，滴答，滴滴答，

钟敲了11下!

于是钟就敲了12下。守夜人戴着毡帽、拿着“晨星”②来了。他唱着一支古老的守夜歌：

这恰恰是半夜的时辰，

我们的救主已经出生!

当他正在唱的时候，玫瑰花长出来了，变成一个安琪儿的头，被托在五彩的翅膀上。

这听起来真是愉快，看起来真是美丽。这是无比的、最难使人相信的`艺术品——大家都这样说。

制作它的是一个年轻的艺术家。他的心肠好，像孩子一样地快乐，他是一个忠实的朋友，对他穷苦的父母非常孝顺。

他应该得到那位公主和半个王国。

最后评判的一天到来了。全城都在张灯结彩。公主坐在王座上——座垫里新添了马尾，但这并不使人觉得更舒服或更愉快。四周的裁判员狡猾地对那个快要获得胜利的人望了一眼——这人显得非常有把握和高兴：他的幸运是肯定的，因为他创造出了一件最难使人相信的东西。

“嗨，现在轮到我了!”这时一个又粗又壮的人大声说。

“我才是做一件最难使人相信的事情的人呢!”

于是他对着这件艺术品挥起一把大斧头。

“噼!啪!哗啦!”全都完了。齿轮和弹簧到处乱飞;什么都毁掉了!

“这只有我才能做得出来!”这人说。“我的工作打倒了他的和每个人的工作。我做出了最难使人相信的事情!”

“你把这样一件艺术品毁掉了!”裁判员说，“这的确是最难使人相信的事情!”

所有在场的人都说着同样的话。他将得到公主和半个王国，因为一个诺言究竟是一个诺言，即使它最难使人相信也罢。

喇叭在城墙上和城楼上这样宣布：“婚礼就要举行了!”公主并不觉得太高兴，不过她的样子很可爱，衣服穿得也华丽。

教堂里都点起了蜡烛，在黄昏中特别显得好看。城里的一些贵族小姐们，一面唱着歌，一面扶着公主走出来。骑士们也一面伴着新郎，一面唱着歌。新郎摆出一副堂而皇之的架子，好像谁也打不倒他似的。

歌声现在停止了。静得很，连一根针落到地上都听得见。不过在这沉寂之中，教堂的大门忽然嘎的一声开了，于是——砰!砰!钟的各种机件在走廊上走过去了，停在新娘和新郎中间。我们都知道，死人是不能再起来走路的，不过一件艺术品却是可以重新走路的：它的身体被打得粉碎，但是它的精神是完整的。艺术的精神在显灵，而这决不是开玩笑。

这件艺术品生动地站在那儿，好像它是非常完整，从来没有被毁坏过似的。钟在接二连三地敲着，一直敲到12点。

那些人形都走了出来：第一个是摩西——他的头上似乎在射出火光。他把刻着诫条的石块扔在新郎的脚上，把他压在地上。

“我没有办法把它们搬开，”摩西说，“因为你打断了我的手臂!请你就待在这儿吧!”

接着亚当和夏娃、东方来的圣者和四季都来了。他们每个人都说出那个很不好听的真理：“你好羞耻呀!”

但是他一点也不感到羞耻。

那些在钟上每敲一次就出现的人形，都变得可怕地庞大起来，弄得真正的人几乎没有地方站得住脚。当钟敲到12下的时候，守夜人就戴着毡帽，拿着“晨星”走出来。这时起了一阵惊人的骚动。守夜人大步走到新郎身边，用“晨星”在他的额上痛打。

“躺在这儿吧，”他说，“一报还一报!我们现在报了仇，那位艺术家也报了仇!我们要去了!”

整个艺术品都不见了;不过教堂四周的蜡烛都变成了大朵的花束，同时天花板上的金星也射出长长的、明亮的光线来。风琴自动地奏起来了。大家都说，这是他们从来没有看见过的一件最难使人相信的事情。

“请你们把那位真正的人召进来!”公主说。“那位制造这件艺术品的人才是我的主人和丈夫!”

于是他走进教堂里来，所有的人都成了他的随从。大家都非常高兴，大家都祝福他。没有一个人嫉妒他——这真是一件最难使人相信的事情!

①“东方三王”，或称“东方三博士”。据《圣经·新约全书·马太福音》第二章载，耶稣降生时，有几个博士“看见他的星”，从东方来到耶路撒冷，向他参拜。后人根据所献礼物是三件，推定是三个博士。

②这是一根顶上有叉的木棒。

《最难使人相信的事情》英文版：

The Most Incredible Thing

THE one who could do the most incredible thing should have the king’s daughter and the half of his kingdom.

The young men, and even the old ones, strained all their thoughts, sinews, and muscles; two ate themselves to death, and one drank until he died, to do the most incredible thing according to their own taste, but it was not in this way it was to be done. Little boys in the streets practised spitting on their own backs, they considered that the most incredible thing.

On a certain day an exhibition was to be held of what each had to show as the most incredible. The judges who were chosen were children from three years old to people up in the sixties. There was a whole exhibition of incredible things, but all soon agreed that the most incredible was a huge clock in a case marvellously designed inside and out.

On the stroke of every hour living figures came out, which showed what hour was striking: there were twelve representations in all, with moving figures and with music and conversation.

“That was the most incredible thing,” the people said.

The clock struck one, and Moses stood on the mountain and wrote down on the tables of the law the first commandment, “There is only one true God.”

The clock struck two, and the garden of Eden appeared, where Adam and Eve met, happy both of them, without having so much as a wardrobe; they did not need one either.

On the stroke of three, the three kings from the East were shown; one of them was coal-black, but he could not, help that,—the sun had blackened him. They came with incense and treasures.

On the stroke of four came the four seasons: spring with a cuckoo on a budding beech-bough; summer with a grasshopper on a stalk of ripe corn; autumn with an empty stork’s nest-the birds were flown; winter with an old crow which could tell stories in the chimney-corner, old memories.

When the clock struck five, the five senses appeared sight as a spectacle-maker, hearing as a coppersmith, smell sold violets and woodruff, taste was cook, and feeling was an undertaker with crape down to his heels.

The clock struck six; and there sat a gambler who threw the dice, and the highest side was turned up and showed six.

Then came the seven days of the week, or the seven deadly sins, people were not certain which; they belonged to each other and were not easily distinguished.

Then came a choir of monks and sang the eight o’clock service.

On the stroke of nine came the nine muses; one was busy with astronomy; one with historical archives; the others belonged to the theatre.

On the stroke of ten, Moses again came forward with the tables of the law, on which stood all God’s commandments, and they were ten.

The clock struck again; then little boys and girls danced and hopped about. They played a game, and sang, “Two and two and seven, the clock has struck eleven.”

When twelve struck the watchman appeared with his fur cap and halberd: he sang the old watch verse:

“Twas at the midnight hour

Our Saviour He was born.”

And while he sang, roses grew and changed into angel-beads borne on rainbow-coloured wings.

It was charming to hear, and lovely to see. The whole was a matchless work of art—the most incredible thing, every one said.

The designer of it was a young man, good-hearted and happy as a child, a true friend, and good to his old parents; he deserved the Princess and the half of the kingdom.

The day of decision arrived; the whole of the town had a holiday, and the Princess sat on the throne, which had got new horse-hair, but which was not any more comfortable. The judges round about looked very knowingly at he one who was to win, and he stood glad and confident; his good fortune was certain, he had made the most incredible thing.

“No, I shall do that now!” shouted just then a long bony fellow. “I am the man for the most incredible thing,” and he swung a great axe at the work of art.

“Crash, crash!” and there lay the whole of it. Wheels and springs flew in all directions; everything was destroyed.

“That I could do!” said the man. “My work has overcome his and overcome all of you. I have done the most incredible thing.”

“To destroy such a work of art!” said the judges. “Yes, certainly that is the most incredible thing.”

All the people said the same, and so he was to have the Princess and the half of the kingdom, for a promise is a promise, even if it is of the most incredible kind.

It was announced with trumpet-blast from the ramparts and from all the towers that the marriage should be celebrated. The Princess was not quite pleased about it, but she looked charming and was gorgeously dressed. The church shone with candles; it shows best late in the evening. The noble maidens of the town sang and led the bride forward; the knights sang and accompanied the bridegroom. He strutted as if he could never be broken.

Now the singing stopped and one could have heard a pin fall, but in the midst of the silence the great church door flew open with a crash and clatter, and boom! boom! the whole of the clock-work came marching up the passage and planted itself between the bride and bridegroom. Dead men cannot walk again, we know that very well, but a work of art can walk again; the body was knocked to pieces, but not the spirit; the spirit of the work walked, and that in deadly earnest.

The work of art stood there precisely as if it were whole and untouched. The hours struck, the one after the other, up to twelve, and the figures swarmed forward; first Moses: flames of fire seemed to flash from his forehead; he threw the heavy stone tables down on the feet of the bridegroom and pinned them to the church floor.

“I cannot lift them again,” said Moses, “you have knocked my arm off! Stand as you stand now!”

Then came Adam and Eve, the wise men from the East, and the four Seasons; each of these told him unpleasant truths, and said “For shame!”

But he was not in the least ashamed.

All the figures which each stroke of the clock had to exhibit came out of it, and all increased to a terrible size; there seemed scarcely to he room for the real people; and when at the stroke of twelve the watchman appeared with his fur cap and halberd, there was a wonderful commotion; the watchman walked straight up to the bridegroom and struck him on the forehead with his halberd.

“Lie there,” he said, “like for like! we are avenged and our master as well! we vanish!”

And so the whole work disappeared; but the candles round about in the church became great bouquets, and the gilded stars on the ceiling of the church sent out long, clear beams, and the organ played of itself. All the people said it was the most incredible thing they had ever experienced.

“Will you then summon the right one!” said the Princess, “the one who made the work of art; let him be my lord and husband.”