UndertheWillowTree柳樹下的夢

ThecountryaroundthetownofKjogeisverybare.Thetownirselfliesbytheseashore,

whichisalwaysbeautiful,althoughitmightbemorebeautifulthanitis,because

allaroundareflatfields,andaforestalongwayoff.Butonealwaysfindssomething

beautifulinthespotthatisone'sownhome,somethingforwhichonelongs,even

whenoneisinthemostwonderfulspotintheworld.

AndwemustadmitthattheouteredgeofKjoge,wheresmall,humblegardensline

thelittlestreamthatflowsintothesea,couldbeveryprettyinthesummertime.

Thiswastheopinionofthetwosmallchildren,KnudandJohanne,whowereplaying

there,crawlingunderthegooseberrybushestoreacheachother.

Inoneofthegardenstherestoodaneldertree,intheotheranoldwillow,and

underthelatterthechildrenwereespeciallyfondofplaying.Althoughthetree

stoodclosebesidethestreamandtheymighteasilyhavefallenintothewater,they

wereallowedtoplaythere,fortheeyeofGodwatchesoverlittleones.Otherwise

theywouldbeverybadlyoffindeed.Besides,thesetwowerecarefulaboutthewater;

infact,theboywassoafraidofitthatinthesummerhecouldnotbeluiedinto

thesea,wheretheotherchiIdrenwerefondofsplashingabout.Asaresult,hehad

tobeartheteasingoftheothersasbesthecould.

ButonceJohanne,thelittlegirl,dreamedshewasoutinaboat,andKnudwaded

outtojoinher,withthewaterrisinguntilitclosedoverhishead.Andfromthe

momentlittleKnudheardofthisdreamhecouldnolongerbeartobecalledacoward.

Hemightreallygointothewaternow,hesaid,sinceJohannehaddreamedit.He

nevercarriedthatideaintopractice,butforallthatthedreamremainedhisgreat

pride.

Theirpoorparentsoftencametogether,whileKnudandJohanneplayedinthegardens

oronthehighroad,wherealongrowofwi1lowshadbeenplantedalongtheditch.

Thesetreeswiththeirpolledtopscertainlydidnotlookverybeautiful,butthey

werethereforuseratherthanforornament.Theoldwillowtreeinthegardenwas

muchlovelier,whichwaswhythechildrentookmostdelightinsittingunderit.

InKjogeitselfwasagreatmarketplace,andatfairtimethisplazawasgaywith

wholestreetsoftents,filledwithsilkribbons,boots,andeverythingaperson

mightdesire.Thereweregreatcrowdsthen,andgenerallytheweatherwasrainy.

Onecouldeasilysmelltheodorofpeasants*clothes,butthiscouldnotdestroy

thefragrancethatstreamedfromaboothfullofhoneycakes.Andbestofall,the

manwhokeptthisparticularboothcameeveryyearduringfairtimetolodgeinthe

houseoflittleKnud*sparents.Consequently,everynowandthentherewasapresent

ofabitofhoneycake,andofcourseJohannealwaysreceivedhershare.

Butthebestthingofallwasthatthisgingerbreaddealerknewallsortsofcharming

storiesandcouldeventelltalesabouthisowngingerbreadcakes.Oneeveninghe

toldastoryaboutthemwhichnadesuchadeepimpressiononthetwochiIdrenthat

theyneverforgotit.Forthatreasonperhapsweshouldhearit,too,especially

sinceitisnotverylong.

“Ontheshopcounter,“hesaid,“thereoncelaytwogingerbreadcakes.Onewasin

theshapeofamanwithahaton,theotherofamaidenwithnobonnetbutwitha

blotofyellowontopofherhead.Boththeirfaceswereontheupperside,forthat

wasthesidethatwassupposedtobelookedat,andnottheother.Indeed,mostpeople

haveonesidefromwhichtheyshouldbeviewed.Onhisleftside匚hemanworeabitter

almondforaheart;butthemaiden,ontheotherhand,washoneycakeallthrough.

Theywereplacedonthecounterassamples,sotheyremainedthereforalongtime,

untilatlasttheyfellinlovewitheachother.Butneithertoldtheother,which

theyshou1dhavedoneiftheyhadexpectedanythingtocomeofit.

,Heisaman,sohemustspeakfirst,*thoughtthemaiden.Butshewasquite

contented,forsheknewinherheartthatherlovewasreturned.Histhoughtswere

farmoreextravagant,whichisjustlikeaman.Hedreamedthathewasastreeturchin,

andthathehadfourpenniesallhisown,andthatheboughtthemaidenandateher

up.

“Sotheylayonthecounterfordaysandweeks,andgrewdry,butthethoughtsof

themaidenremainedstillgentleandwoman1y.

“‘It'senoughformethatIhavelivedonthesametablewithhim,'thoughtthe

maiden,andthenshebrokeintwo.

“'Ifonlyshehadknownofmyloveshewouldhaveheldtogetheralittlelonger,1

thoughthe.

〃Sothat*sthestory,andheretheyare,bothofthem,“saidthebaker."They're

remarkablefortheirstrangehistoryandfortheirsilentlove,whichnevercame

toanything.Andnowthey*rebothforyou!”WiththathegaveJohannetheman,who

wasstillinonepiece,andKnudgotthebrokenmaiden;butthechildrenhadbeen

sotouchedbythestorythattheycouldn*tbesoboldastoeatupthelovers.

NextdaytheytookthemouttotheKjogechurchyard,where,winterandsummer,lovely

ivycoversthechurchwalllikearichcarpet.Theystoodthetwocakefiguresup

amongthegreenleavesinthebrightsunshineandtoldagroupofotherchildren

thestoryofthesilentlovethatwasuseless;thatistosay,thelovewas,for

thestorywascharming,theyallfound.

Butwhentheylookedagainatthegingerbreadcoupletheyfoundthatamischievous

bigboyhadeatenupthebrokenmaiden.Thechildrencriedaboutthatandlater-

probablysothatthepoorlovermightnotbeleftaloneintheworld-theyatehim

up,too.Buttheyneverforgotthestory.Thetwochildrenwerealwaystogetherby

theeldertreeorunderthewillow,andlittleJohannesangthemostbeautifulsongs

inavoiceasclearasasilverbell.Knudhadnotanoteofmusicinhim,butat

leastheknewthewordsofthesongs,andthatwassomething.ButthepeopleofKjoge,

eventhewifeofthehardwaremerchant,stoppedandlistenedwhenJohannesang."She

hasaverysweetvoice,thatlittlegirl,*shesaid.

Thoseweregloriousdays;butgloriousdaysdonotlastforever,andfinallythe

neighborsseparated.Johanne*smotherdied,andherfatherplannedtomarryagain

inCopenhagen,wherehehadbeenpromisedapositionasmessenger,ajobsupposed

tobeveryprofitable.Whiletheneighborspartedwithregrets,thechildrenwept

bitterly,buttheparentspromisedtowritetoeachotheratleastonceayear.

2

AndKnudwasmadeapprenticetoashoemaker,forsuchabigboywastoooldtorun

aroundwildanylonger;and,furthermore,hewasconfirmed.

Oh,howhewouldhavelikedtoseelittleJohanneinCopenhagenonthatdayof

celebration!Buthedidn'tgo;andhehadneverbeenthere,alzhoughKjogeisonly

fiveDanishmilesaway.OnacleardayKnudcouldseethedistanttowersofthecity

acrossthebay,andonthedayofhisconfirmationhecouldevenseethegoldencross

onthetoweroftheChurchofOurLadyglitterinthesun.

Ah,howoftenhisthoughtsturnedtowardJohanne!Anddidsherememberhim?Yes!

AtChristmastimealettercamefromherfathertoKnud,sparents,sayingthatthey

weredoingverywellinCopenhagen,andJohannecouldlookforwardtoabrilliant

careeronthestrengthofherlovelyvoice.Shealreadyhadapositionintheopera

houseandwasalreadyearningalittlemoney,outofwhichshesentherdearneighbors

ofKjogeadollarforamerryChristmasEve.Johanneherselfaddedapostscript,

askingthemtodrinktoherhealth,andinthesamepostscriptwasalsowritten,

“FriendlygreetingstoKnud!”

Theyallwept;butthiswasallverypleasant,fortheyweretearsofjoythatthey

shed.Knud,sthoughtshadbeenwithJohanneeveryday,andnowheknewthatshealso

thoughtofhim.Thenearercametheendofhisapprenticeship,themoreclearlydid

herealizethathewasinlovewithJohanneandthatshemustbehislittlewife.

Whenhethoughtofthisasmilebrightenedhisface,andhedrewthethreadfaster

thanbeforeandpressedhisfootagainstthekneestrap.Hedidn'tevenpayany

attentionwhenherantheawldeepintooneofhisfingers.Hewasdeterminedthat

hewouldnotplaythesilentlover,likethetwogingerbreadcakes.Thestoryhad

taughthimalesson.

Nowhewasajourneyman,andhisknapsackwaspackedreadyforhistrip.Atlast,

forthefirsttimeinhislife,hewastogotoCopenhagen,whereamasterwasalready

expectinghim.HowsurprisedandhappyJohannewouldbetoseehim!Shewasjust

seventeennow,andhenineteen.

HewantedtobuyagoldringforherbeforeheleftKjoge,butthendecidedhecould

getamuchniceroneinCopenhagen.Andsohetookleaveofhisparents,andona

rainy,windydayinautumnsetforthonfootfromthetownofhisbirth.Thedamp

leavesweredroppingfromthetrees,andhewaswettotheskinwhenhearrivedat

hisnewmaster1shomeinthebigcityofCopenhagen.ThefollowingSundayhewould

payavisittoJohanne'sfather!

So,onSundayheputonthenewjourneyman,sclothes,andthenewhatfromKjoge

thatbecamehimverywell,fortillthenhehadonlywornacap.Heeasilyfound

thehousehewasseeking,andirountedflightafterflightofstairsuntilhebecame

almostdizzy.Itseemedterribletohimforpeopletolivepiledupontopofeach

otherinthisintricatecity.

Everythingintheparlorlookedprosperous,andJohanne,sfatherreceivedhimin

kindlyfriendship.Knudwasastrangertothenewwife,butshetooshookhandswith

himandgavehimacupofcoffee.

“Johannewillbegladtoseeyou,“saidthefather."You'vegrownintoanice-looking

youngman.Yes,waittillyouseeher.Thereisagirlwhorejoicesmyheart,and

3

pleaseGodshewillrejoiceitstillmore.Shehasherownroomnowandpaysusrent

regularlyforit!”

Thenheknockedquitepolitelyathisdaughter*sdoor,asifhewereastranger,

andtheywentin.

Oh,howprettyitwas!hewascertaintherewasn'tsuchalovelyroominallKjoge;

theQueenherselfcouldnotbemorecharminglylodged.Therewerecarpets,andwindow

curtainsthathungquitetothefloor,andflowersandpictures,andavelvetchair,

andevenamirroraslargeasadoorandsocleartherewasadangerofwalkinginto

it.

AglanceshowedallthistoKnud,andyethecouldlookatnothingbutJohanne.She

wasafull-grownmaidennow,quitedifferentfromKnud'smemoriesofher,andmuch

morebeautiful.Therewasn'tagirlinKjogelikeher.Howgracefulshewas,and

withwhatastrange,unsuregazeshelookedatKnud!Butthatwasonlyforamoment,

andthensherushedtowardhimasifitkisshim.shedidnotactuallydoso,but

sheverynearlydid.

Yes,shewasreallyhappytoseeherchildhoodfriendagain!Thereweretearsin

Johanne*seyes;shehadsomuchtosay,andsomanyquestionstoaskabouteverything,

fromKnud'sparentstotheeldertreeandthewi1low,whichshecalledElderMother

andWillowFatherjustasiftheyhadbeenhumanbeings;andindeedtheymightbe

calledso,justasmuchasthegingerbreadcakes.Shespokeofthemtoo,andtheir

silentlove,andhowtheyhadlainontheshopcounterandbrokenintwo-andat

thisshelaughedheartily,whilethebloodrushedtoKnud'scheeksandhisheart

beatfasterandfaster.No,shehadnotgrownhaughtyatall.

AndKnudnoticedquitewellthatitwasbecauseofherthatherparentsinvitedhim

tospendtheevening.Withherwonhandsshepouredouttheteaandgavehimacup;

andafterwardshereadaloudtothemfromabook,anditseemedtoKnudthatwhat

shereadwasallabouthimselfandhislove,foritmatchedwithhisthoughts.Then

shesangasimplelittlesong,buthersingingmadeitarealstorythatseemedto

betheoutpouringofherveryheart.

Yes,Knudknewshecaredforhim.Hecouldnotkeeptearsofjoyfromrollingdown

hischecks,norcouldhespeakasingleword-heseemedstruckdumb.Butshepressed

hishandandmurmured,“Youhaveagoodheart,Knud.Stayalwaysthewayyouare

now!”

Thatwasamagnificentevening;itwasimpossibletosleepafterward,andaccordingly

Knuddidnotsleep.

Whenhehadleft,Johann。'sfatherhadsaid,“Now,don,tforgetusaltogether.Don,t

letthewholewintergobybeforeyoucometousagain!”Knucfeltthatgavehim

permissiontorepeatthecallthefollowingSunday,anddeterminedtodoso.

Buteveryeveningafterwork-andtheworkinghourslasteduntilcandlelightthere

-Knudwentoutintothetown.HereturnedtothestreetinwhichJohannelived,

andlookedupatherwindow.Itwasalmostalwayslighted,andoneeveninghecould

evenseetheshadowofherfacequiteplainlyonthecurtain.Thatwasanevening

hewouldneverforget.Hismaster'swifedidnotlikehis^gallivantingabroadevery

4

evening,*assheputit,andshookherheadruefullyoverhim;butthemasteronly

smiled.

"He'sjustayoungfellow,*hssaid.

“OnSundayweshal1seeeachother,“Knudthought,“andIshalltellherhowshe

isalwaysinmythoughtsandthatshemustbemylittlewife.IknowI*monlyapoor

journeymanshoemaker,butIcanbecomeamaster,andFilworkandsave-yes,V11

tellherthat!Nogoodcomesfromasilentlove;I'velearnedthatmuchfromthe

gingerbread!

Sundaycameatlast,andKnudsetout,buttohisgreatdisappointmenttheyhadto

tellhimtheywereallinvitedoutthatevening.ButasheleftJohannepressedhis

handandsaid,“Haveyoueverbeentothetheater?Youmustgotheresometime.I

shallbesingingonWednesday,andifyouhavetimethateveningV11sendyoua

ticket.Myfatherknowswhereyouareliving.”

Howkinditwasofher!AndatnoononWednesdayhereceivedasealedenvelope.There

werenowordsinside,buttheticketwasthere,andthateveningKnudwenttothe

theaterforthefirsttimeinhislife.Andwhatdidhesee?HesawJohanne,looking

morecharmingandbeautifulthanheevercouldhavebelievedpossible!Tobesure,

shewasmarriedtoastranger,butthatwasjustintheplay;itwasonlymake-believe,

asKnudunderstoodverywell.Ifithadbeentrue,hethought,shewouldneverhave

hadthehearttosendhimaticketsothathecouldgoandseeit.Andeverybody

shoutedandapplauded,andKnudcriedout,“Hurrah!”

EventheKingwasthere,smilingatJohanne,andheseemedtodelightinher

loveliness.HowsmallKnudfeltthen!Stillhelovedherdearly,andfeltthatshe

lovedhim,too;butheknewitwasuptothemantospeakthefirstword,asthe

gingerbreadmaideninthestoryhadtaughthim.Indeed,therewasagreatdealof

truthinthatstory.

So,assoonasSundaycame,hewenttoseeheragain,feelingassolemnasifhe

weregoingintoachurch.Johannewasathomealone：itcouldnothavehappenedmore

fortunately.

Tmgladyoucame,“shesaid."IalmostsentFatherafteryou,butIfeltinmy

heartthatyouwouldbeherethisevening.IhavetotellyouthatIamleavingfor

FranceonFriday;1muststudythereifIamtobecomeagreatartiste!”

AtthosewordsitseemedtoKnudasifthewholeroomwerewhirlingroundandround

withhim.Hefeltasifhisheartwouldbreak;therewerenotearsinhiseyes,but

Johannecouldnotfailtoseehowstrickenhewas.

“Youhonest,faithfulsoul!”shesaid.

Andhertendernessloosenedhistongue.Hetoldherhowmuchhelovedherandbegged

hertobecomehislittlewife.ThenhesawJohanneturnpaleasshedroppedhishand

andsaidseriouslyandsadly,“DearKnud,don*tmakeusbothunhappy.Ishal1always

bealovingsistertoyou,oneinwhomyoumaytrust,butIshallneverbeanything

more.”

Gentlysheplacedhersofthandonhishotforehead."Godgivesusthestrengthfor

much,“shesaid,“ifonlywetrytodoourbest.〃Atthatmomentherstepmotherentered

theroom,andJohannesaid,“KnudisquiteheartbrokenbecauseI'mgoingaway!Come,

5

beaman,“andshelaidherhandonhisshoulder;itseemedasiftheyhadbeentalking

onlyofherjourney."You'reachild,“shelaughed,“butnowyoumustbegoodand

reasonable,asyouusedtobeunderthewillowtreewhenwewerebothchildren!*

Knudfeltasifthewholeworldwereoutofjoint,andhisthoughtswere1ikealoose

threadflutteringinthewind.Heremainedfortea,thoughhehardlyknewifthey

hadaskedhimto;andtheywerekindandgentle,andJohannepouredouthisteaand

sangtohim.Hervoicedidnothaveitsoldtone,butstillitwaswonderfully

beautifulandnearlybrokehisheart.Andthentheyparted.Knudcouldnotbearto

offerhishand,butshetookitandsaid,“Surelyyou'11shakehandswithyoursister

atparting,oldplaymate!*

Shesmiledthroughthetearsthatwereinherowneyes,andrepeatedtheword

“brother”.Yes,thatwassupposedtobeagreatconsolation!Suchwastheirparting.

ShesailedforFrance,andKnudwanderedaboutthemuddystreetsofCopenhagen.His

comradesintheworkshopaskedwhyhewassogloomyandurgedhimtojointhemand

amusehimself,forhewasstillayoungfellow.

Sotheytookhimtoadancehall.Hesawmanyprettygirlsthere,buttherewasnot

onetocomparewithJohanne;here,wherehehadhopedtoforgether,shewasmore

vividthaneverbeforetheeyesofhissoul."Godgivesusthestrengthformuch,“

shehadsaid,“ifonlywetrytodoourbest."Thenadevoticncametohismind,

andhefoldedhishandsquietly.Theviolinsplayed,andthegirlsdancedgaily,

andsuddenlyitseemedtohimthatheshouldneverhavebroughtJohanneintoaplace

likethis-forshewastherewithhim,inhisheart.

Knudranoutandwanderedaimlesslythroughthestreets.Hepassedbythehousewhere

shehadlived;itwasdarkthsre-everywhereweredarknessandemptinessand

loneliness.Theworldwentinitsway,andKnudwenthis.

Wintersetin,andthewatersfrozeover;itwasasifeverythingwerepreparing

itselfforburial.Butwhenspringreturned,andthefirststeamerwastostart,

anintenselongingseizedhimtogoaway,farintotheworld,anywhere-butnot

tooclosetoFrance.SohepackedhisknapsackandwandereddeepintoGermany,from

towntotown,findingrestandpeacenowhere.Itwasnotuntilhecametotheglorious

oldcityofNurembergthathecouldquiethisrestlessspirit,andtherehedecided

toStay.

Nurembergisastrangeoldcity,lookingasifithadbeencutoutofanold-fashioned

picturebook.Thestreetsseemtowanderalongjustastheyplease.Thehousesdid

notliketostandinregularrows.Gableswithlittletowers,arabesques,andpillars

leanoutoverthewalks,andfromthequeerpeakedroofswater-spouts,shapedlike

dragonsorlong,slimdogs,pushoutfaroverthestreets.

ThereintheNurembergmarketplacestoodKnud,hisknapsack,onhisback.Hewas

besideoneoftheoldfountains,wheresplendidbronzefigures,scripturaland

historical,roseupbetweenthegushingjetsofwater.Aprettylittleservantgirl

wasjustfillingherpaiIs,andshegaveKnudarefreshingdrink;andasherhand

wasfullofrosesshegavehimoneofthem,too,andheacceptedthatasagoodsign.

Fromthechurchnearbycamethestrainsofanorgan;theyrangasfamiliartohim

asthetonesoftheorganathomeinKjogechurch,andheenteredthegreatcathedral.

6

Thesunlightstreamedinthroughthehighstained-glasswindewsanddownbetween

thelofty,slenderpillars.Hisspiritfoundrest.

AndKnudfoundagoodmasterinNuremberg,andhelivedinhishouse,andtherelearned

tospeakGerman.

TheoldmoataroundthetownofNuremberghasbeenconvertedintolittlekitchen

gardens,butthehighwallswiththeirheavytowersarestandingyet.Theropemaker

twistshiscordsonawoodengalleryalongtheinsideofthetownwall,where

elderbushesgrowoutofthecracksandclefts,spreadingtheirgreenbranchesover

thesmall,lowlyhousesbelow.InoneofthesehousesKnudlivedwithhismaster;

andoverthelittlegarretwindowwhereheslepttheeldertreewaveditsbranches.

Herehelivedforasummerandwinter.Butwhenspringreturnedhecouldbearit

nolonger,fortheelderwasbloomingandthefragranceofitsblossomscarriedhim

backtohomeandthegardenatKjoge.SoKnudleftthatmasterandfoundanother

fartherintown,overwhosehousenoelderbushblossomed.

Hisnewworkshopwasclosetooneoftheoldstonebridges,byanever-foaming,low

watermill.Thestreamroaredpastit,hemmedinbythehouses,whosedecayedold

balconieslookedabouttotoppleintothewater.Noeldergrewheretherewasnot

evenalittlegreenplantinaflowerpot-butjustoppositestoodagrandoldwillow

treethatseemedtoclingfasttothehouse,asifitfearedbeingcarriedawayby

thestream.Itstretcheditsbranchesoutovertheriver,justasthewillowatKjoge

spreaditsarmsacrossthestreambythegardensofhome.

Yes,KnudhadgonefromtheElderMothertotheWillowFather.Thistreehadsomething,

especiallyonmoonlitevenings,thatwentstraighttohisheart,andthatsomething

wasnotofthemoonlightbutoftheoldwillowtreeitself.

Hecouldnotremainthere.Whynot?Askthewillowtree;asktheblossomingelder!

AndsohebadefarewelltohiskindmasterandtoNurembergandTraveledonfurther.

TonoonedidhespeakofJohanne,buthidhissorrowinhisinnermostheart;and

hethoughtofthedeepmeaningoftheoldstoryofthegingerbread.Nowheunderstood

whythemanhadabitteralmondforaheart-hehimselfhadfeltthebitterness

ofit.AndJohanne,whowasalwayssogentleandsmiling,shewasonlylikethehoney

cake.

ThestrapofKnud*sknapsackseemedsotightacrosshischestthathecouldscarcely

breathe,butevenwhenheloosenedithewasnotrelieved.Hesawonlyhalftheworld

aroundhim;theotherhalfhecarriedwithinhim.That*showitwas!

Notuntilhewasinsightofthehighmountainsdidtheworldappearfreertohim;

nowhisthoughtswereturnedoutwardagain,andthetearscaneintohiseyes.

TheAlpsseemedtohimlikethefoldedwingsoftheearth;whati:theyweretounfold

themselvesanddisplaytheirvariedpicturesofblackwoods,foaningwaters,clouds,

andgreatmassesofsnow!Onthelastday,hethought,theworldwi11liftupits

mightywingsandmountupwardtoGod,toburstlikeasoapbubblebeforetheglance

oftheHighest.

“Ah,〃hesighed,“thatthatlastdaywereherenow!”

Silentlyhewanderedthroughacountrythatseemedtohimlikeanorchardcovered

withsoftturf.Fromthewoodenbalconiesofthehousesgirls,busywiththeir

7

lacemaking,noddeddownathim.Thesummitsofthemountainsglowedintheredevening

sun;andwhenhesawthebluelakesgleamingthroughthedarktrees,hethoughtof

theseacoastnearKjoge,andtherewasasadnessinhisheart-butitwaspainno

longer.

TherewheretheRhinerollsonwardlikeagreatwave,andthenburstsintosnow-white,

gleaming,cloudlikemasses,asifcloudswerebeingcreatedthere,withtherainbow

flutteringlikealoosebandabovethem-itwastherethathethoughtofthemill

atKjoge,withitsrushing,foamingstream.

HewouldhavebeengladtohaveremainedinthequietRhenishtown,butherealso

thereweretoomanyeldertreesandtoomanywillows,sohetraveledon,overthe

mighty,toweringmountains,throughshatteredwalIsofrock,andonroadsthatclung

tothemountainsideslikethenestsofswallows.Thewatersfoamedinthedepths,

thecloudsthemselveswerebelowhim,andhestrodeoninthewarmsummersunover

shinythistles,Alpinerosesandsnow.Thushesaidfarewelltothelandsofthe

Northandjourneyedonundertheshadeofbloomingchestnuttrees,andthrough

vineyardsandfieldsofmaize.Nowthemountainswereawallbetweenhimandall

hismemories;thatwashowhewishedittobe.

Atlasthereachedthatgreat,gloriouscitycalledMilan,andherehefoundaGerman

masterwhogavehimwork.Themasteranhiswife,inwhoseworkshophelaborednow,

wereapiousoldcouple.Andtheybecamequitefondofthequietjourneyman,who

saidlittlebutworkedalltheharderandledadevoutChristianlife.AndtoKnud

alsoitseemedthatGodhadliftedtheheavyburdenfromhisheart.

Hisfavoriterelaxationwastoclimbfromtimetotimetothemightymarblechurch,

whichseemedtohimtohavebeenbuiltofthesnowofhisnativeNorthland,formed

intoimages,pointedtowers,anddecoratedopenhalls;fromeverycornerandevery

nichethewhitestatuessmileddownuponhim.Abovehimwasthebluesky;belowhim

werethecityandthewide-spreadinggreenplainsofLombardy,andtowardthenorth

thehighmountainscappedwithperpetualsnow.ThenhethoughtofthechurchatKjoge,

withitsredivy-coloredwalls,buthedidnotlongtogothereagain.Here,beyond

themountains,hewouldbeburied.

Hehadlivedthereayear,andthreeyearshadpassedsincehehadlefthishome,

whenonedayhismastertookhimintothecity-nottothecircuswithitsdaring

riders;no,tothegreatopera,wherewasanauditoriumwellworthseeing.There

wereseventiersofboxes,andfromeachbeautifulsilkencurtainshung,whilefrom

thegroundtothedizzyheightsoftherooftheresatthemostelegantladies,with

corsagesintheirh