童话区别于一般的小说和故事之处，就在于它能借助幻想的力量，使我们平常见的各种平凡人物和现象，展现出不平凡的奇异光彩，为小读者展开一个“幻想世界”。下面是小编为你整理的安徒生故事双语，希望对你有用!

安徒生故事双语篇1：the REAL PRINCESS豌豆公主

there was once a Prince who wished to marry aPrincess; but then she must be a real Princess. Hetravelled all over the world in hopes of finding such alady; but there was always something wrong.Princesses he found in plenty; but whether theywere real Princesses it was impossible for him todecide， for now one thing， now another， seemedto him not quite right about the ladies. At last hereturned to his palace quite cast down， because hewished so much to have a real Princess for his wife.

One evening a fearful tempest arose， it thundered and lightened， and the rain poureddown from the sky in torrents： besides， it was as dark as pitch. All at once there was heard aviolent knocking at the door， and the old King， the Prince's father， went out himself toopen it.

It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain and the wind，she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from her hair，and her clothes clung to herbody. She said she was a real Princess.

“Ah! we shall soon see that!” thought the old Queen-mother; however， she said not aword of what she was going to do; but went quietly into the bedroom，took all the bed-clothes off the bed， and put three little peas on the bedstead. She then laid twenty mattressesone upon another over the three peas， and put twenty feather beds over the mattresses.

Upon this bed the Princess was to pass the night.

the next morning she was asked how she had slept. “Oh， very badly indeed!” she replied. “I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through. I do not know what was in my bed，but I had something hard under me， and am all over black and blue. It has hurt me so much!”

Now it was plain that the lady must be a real Princess， since she had been able to feel thethree little peas through the twenty mattresses and twenty feather beds. None but a realPrincess could have had such a delicate sense of feeling.

the Prince accordingly made her his wife; being now convinced that he had found a realPrincess. The three peas were however put into the cabinet of curiosities， where they are stillto be seen， provided they are not lost.

Wasn't this a lady of real delicacy?

豌豆公主

从前有一位王子，他想找一位公主结婚，但她必须是一位真正的公主。

他走遍了全世界，想要寻到这样的一位公主。可是无论他到什么地方，他总是碰到一些障碍。公主倒有的是，不过他没有办法断定她们究竟是不是真正的公主。她们总是有些地方不大对头。

结果，他只好回家来，心中很不快活，因为他是那么渴望着得到一位真正的公主。

有一天晚上，忽然起了一阵可怕的暴风雨。天空在掣电，在打雷，在下着大雨。这真有点使人害怕!

这时，有人在敲门，老国王就走过去开门。

站在城外的是一位公主。可是，天哪!经过了风吹雨打之后，她的样子是多么难看啊!水沿着她的头发和衣服向下面流，流进鞋尖，又从脚跟流出来。

她说她是一个真正的公主。

“是的，这点我们马上就可以考查出来。”老皇后心里想，可是她什么也没说。她走进卧房，把所有的被褥都搬开，在床榻上放了一粒豌豆。于是她取出二十床垫子，把它们压在豌豆上。随后，她又在这些垫子上放了二十床鸭绒被。

这位公主夜里就睡在这些东西上面。

早晨大家问她昨晚睡得怎样。

“啊，不舒服极了!”公主说，“我差不多整夜没合上眼!天晓得我床上有件什么东西?我睡到一块很硬的东西上面，弄得我全身发青发紫，这真怕人!”

现在大家就看出来了。她是一位真正的公主，因为压在这二十床垫子和二十床鸭绒被下面的一粒豌豆，她居然还能感觉得出来。除了真正的公主以外，任何人都不会有这么嫩的皮肤的。

因此那位王子就选她为妻子了，因为现在他知道他得到了一位真正的公主。这粒豌豆因此也就被送进了博物馆，如果没有人把它拿走的话，人们现在还可以在那儿看到它呢。

安徒生故事双语篇2：the Swan's Nest天鹅的巢

BETWEEN the Baltic and the North Sea there liesan old swan's nest， wherein swans are born andhave been born that shall never die.

In olden times a flock of swans flew over theAlps to the GREen plains around Milan， where it wasdelightful to dwell. This flight of swans men calledthe Lombards.

Another flock， with shining plumage and honest eyes， soared southward to Byzantium;the swans established themselves there close by the Emperor's throne， and spread theirwings over him as shields to protect him. They received the name of Varangians.

On the coast of France there sounded a cry of fear， for the blood-stained swans that camefrom the North with fire under their wings; and the people prayed， “Heaven deliver us fromthe wild Northmen.”

On the fresh sward of England stood the Danish swan by the open seashore， with thecrown of three kingdoms on his head; and he stretched out his golden sceptre over the land.The heathens on the Pomerian coast bent the knee， and the Danish swans came with thebanner of the Cross and with the drawn sword.

“That was in the very old times，” you say.

In later days two mighty swans have been seen to fly from the nest. A light shone farthrough the air， far over the lands of the earth; the swan， with the strong beating of hiswings， scattered the twilight mists， and the starry sky was seen， and it was as if it camenearer to the earth. That was the swan Tycho Brahe.

“Yes， then，” you say; “but in our own days?”

We have seen swan after swan soar by in glorious flight. One let his pinions glide over thestrings of the golden harp， and it resounded through the North. Norway's mountains seemedto rise higher in the sunlight of former days; there was a rustling among the pine trees andthe birches; the gods of the North， the heroes， and the noble women， showed themselvesin the dark forest depths.

We have seen a swan beat with his wings upon the marble crag， so that it burst， andthe forms of beauty imprisoned in the stone stepped out to the sunny day， and men in thelands round about lifted up their heads to behold these mighty forms.

We have seen a third swan spinning the thread of thought that is fastened from country tocountry round the world， so that the word may fly with lightning speed from land to land.

And our Lord loves the old swan's nest between the Baltic and the North Sea. And whenthe mighty birds come soaring through the air to destroy it， even the callow young standround in a circle on the margin of the nest， and though their breasts may be struck so thattheir blood flows， they bear it， and strike with their wings and their claws.

Centuries will pass by， swans will fly forth from the nest， men will see them and hearthem in the world， before it shall be said in spirit and in truth， “This is the last swan—the lastsong from the swan's nest.”

在波罗的海和北海之间有一个古老的天鹅窠。它名叫丹麦。天鹅就是在它里面生出来的，过去和现在都是这样。它们的名字永远不会被人遗忘。

在远古的时候，有一群天鹅飞过阿尔卑斯山，在“五月的国度”1里的绿色平原上落下来。住在这儿是非常幸福的。

这一群天鹅叫做“长鬍子人”.另外一群长着发亮的羽毛和诚实的眼睛的天鹅，飞向南方，在拜占庭3落下来。它们在皇帝的座位周围住下来，同时伸开它们的白色大翅膀，保护他的盾牌。

法国的海岸上升起一片惊恐的声音，因为嗜血狂的天鹅，拍着带有火焰的翅膀，正在从北方飞来。人们祈祷着说：“愿上帝把我们从这些野蛮的北欧人手中救出来!”

一只丹麦的天鹅2站在英国碧绿的草原上，站在广阔的海岸旁边。他的头上戴着代表三个王国的皇冠;他把他的王节伸向这个国家的土地上。

波美尔3海岸上的异教徒都在地上跪下来，因为丹麦的天鹅，带着绘有十字的旗帜和拔出的剑，向这儿飞来了。

那是很久很久以前的事情!你会这样说。

不过离我们的时代不远，还有两只强大的天鹅从窠里飞出来了。

一道光射过天空，射到世界的每个国土上。这只天鹅拍着他的强大的翅膀，撒下一层黄昏的烟雾。接着星空渐渐变得更清楚，好像是快要接近地面似的。这只天鹅的名字是透却·布拉赫4.“是的，那是多少年以前的事情!”你可能说，“但是在我们的这个时代呢?”

在我们的这个时代里，我们曾看见过许多天鹅在美丽地飞翔：有一只1把他的翅膀轻轻地在金竖琴的弦上拂过去。这琴声响遍了整个的北国：挪威的山似乎在古代的太阳光中增高了不少;松林和赤杨发出沙沙的回音;北国的神仙、英雄和贵妇人在深黑的林中偷偷地露出头角。

我们看到一只天鹅在一个大理石山上拍着翅膀2，把这座山弄得崩裂了。被囚禁在这山中的美的形体，现在走到明朗的太阳光中来。世界各国的人抬起他们的头来，观看这些绝美的形体。

我们看到第三只天鹅3纺着思想的线。这线绕着地球从这个国家牵到那个国家，好使语言像闪电似的从这个国家传到那个国家。

我们的上帝喜欢这个位於波罗的海和北海之间的天鹅窠。让那些强暴的鸟儿从空中飞来颠覆它吧。“永远不准有这类事情发生!”甚至羽毛还没有长全的小天鹅都会在这窠的边缘守卫——我们已经看到过这样的事情。他们可以让他们的柔嫩的胸脯被啄得流血，但他们会用他们的嘴和爪斗争下去。

许多世纪将会过去，但是天鹅将会不断地从这个窠里飞出来。世界上的人将会看见他们，听见他们。要等人们真正说“这是最后的一只天鹅，这是天鹅窠里发出的一个最后的歌声”，那时间还早得很呢!

安徒生故事双语篇3：the Old Street Lamp老路灯

DID you ever hear the story of the old streetlamp? It is not remarkably interesting， but for oncein a way you may as well listen to it. It was a mostrespectable old lamp， which had seen many，many years of service， and now was to retire with apension. It was this evening at its post for the lasttime， giving light to the street. His feelings weresomething like those of an old dancer at thetheatre， who is dancing for the last time， and knows that on the morrow she will be in hergarret， alone and forgotten. The lamp had very GREat anxiety about the next day， for heknew that he had to appear for the first time at the town hall，

o be inspected by the mayorand the council， who were to decide if he were fit for further service or not;—whether thelamp was good enough to be used to light the inhabitants of one of the suburbs， or in thecountry， at some factory; and if not， it would be sent at once to an iron foundry， to bemelted down. In this latter case it might be turned into anything， and he wondered very muchwhether he would then be able to remember that he had once been a street lamp， and ittroubled him exceedingly. Whatever might happen， one thing seemed certain， that he wouldbe separated from the watchman and his wife， whose family he looked upon as his own. Thelamp had first been hung up on that very evening that the watchman， then a robust youngman， had entered upon the duties of his office. Ah， well， it was a very long time since onebecame a lamp and the other a watchman. His wife had a little pride in those days; she seldomcondescended to glance at the lamp， excepting when she passed by in the evening， never inthe daytime. But in later years， when all these，—the watchman， the wife， and the lamp—had grown old， she had attended to it， cleaned it， and supplied it with oil. The old peoplewere thoroughly honest， they had never cheated the lamp of a single drop of the oil providedfor it.

This was the lamp's last night in the street， and to-morrow he must go to the town-hall，—two very dark things to think of. No wonder he did not burn brightly. Many other thoughtsalso passed through his mind. How many persons he had lighted on their way， and how muchhe had seen; as much， very likely， as the mayor and corporation themselves! None ofthese thoughts were uttered aloud， however; for he was a good， honorable old lamp，who would not willingly do harm to any one， especially to those in authority. As many thingswere recalled to his mind， the light would FLASH up with sudden brightness; he had， at suchmoments， a conviction that he would be remembered. “There was a handsome young manonce，” thought he; “it is certainly a long while ago， but I remember he had a little note，written on pink paper with a gold edge; the writing was elegant， evidently a lady's hand：twice he read it through， and kissed it， and then looked up at me， with eyes that said quiteplainly， 'I am the happiest of men!' Only he and I know what was written on this his firstletter from his lady-love. Ah， yes，

and there was another pair of eyes that I remember，—it isreally wonderful how the thoughts jump from one thing to another! A funeral passed throughthe street; a young and beautiful woman lay on a bier， decked with garlands of flowers， andattended by torches， which quite overpowered my light. All along the street stood the peoplefrom the houses， in crowds， ready to join the procession. But when the torches had passedfrom before me， and I could look round， I saw one person alone， standing， leaning againstmy post， and weeping. Never shall I forget the sorrowful eyes that looked up at me.” Theseand similar reflections occupied the old street lamp， on this the last time that his light wouldshine. The sentry， when he is relieved from his post， knows at least who will succeed him，and may whisper a few words to him， but the lamp did not know his successor， or he couldhave given him a few hints respecting rain， or mist， and could have informed him how farthe moon's rays would rest on the pavement， and from which side the wind generally blew，and so on.

On the bridge over the canal stood three persons， who wished to recommendthemselves to the lamp， for they thought he could give the office to whomsoever he chose.The first was a herring's head， which could emit light in the darkness. He remarked that itwould be a GREat saving of oil if they placed him on the lamp-post. Number two was a piece ofrotten wood， which also shines in the dark. He considered himself descended from an oldstem， once the pride of the forest. The third was a glow-worm， and how he found his waythere the lamp could not imagine， yet there he was， and could really give light as well as theothers. But the rotten wood and the herring's head declared most solemnly，

by all they heldsacred， that the glow-worm only gave light at certain times， and must not be allowed tocompete with themselves. The old lamp assured them that not one of them could givesufficient light to fill the position of a street lamp; but they would believe nothing he said. Andwhen they discovered that he had not the power of naming his successor， they said they werevery glad to hear it， for the lamp was too old and worn-out to make a proper choice.

At this moment the wind came rushing round the corner of the street， and through theair-holes of the old lamp. “What is this I hear?” said he; “that you are going away to-morrow? Is this evening the last time we shall meet? Then I must present you with a farewellgift. I will blow into your brain， so that in future you shall not only be able to remember all thatyou have seen or heard in the past， but your light within shall be so bright， that you shall beable to understand all that is said or done in your presence.”

“Oh， that is really a very， very GREat gift，” said the old lamp; “I thank you mostheartily. I only hope I shall not be melted down.”

“That is not likely to happen yet，” said the wind; “and I will also blow a memory into you，so that should you receive other similar presents your old age will pass very pleasantly.”

“That is if I am not melted down，” said the lamp. “But should I in that case still retain mymemory?”

“Do be reasonable， old lamp，” said the wind， puffing away.

At this moment the moon burst forth from the clouds. “What will you give the old lamp?”asked the wind.

“I can give nothing，” she replied; “I am on the wane， and no lamps have ever given melight while I have frequently shone upon them.” And with these words the moon hid herselfagain behind the clouds， that she might be saved from further importunities. Just then a dropfell upon the lamp， from the roof of the house， but the drop explained that he was a giftfrom those gray clouds， and perhaps the best of all gifts. “I shall penetrate you sothoroughly，” he said， “that you will have the power of becoming rusty， and， if you wish it，to crumble into dust in one night.”

But this seemed to the lamp a very shabby present， and the wind thought so too. “Doesno one give any more? Will no one give any more?” shouted the breath of the wind， as loudas it could. Then a bright falling star came down， leaving a broad， luminous streak behind it.

“What was that?” cried the herring's head. “Didnot a star fall? I really believe it went into the lamp.Certainly， when such high-born personages try forthe office， we may as well say 'Good-night，' andgo home.”

And so they did， all three， while the old lampthrew a wonderfully strong light all around him.

“This is a glorious gift，” said he; “the brightstars have always been a joy to me， and havealways shone more brilliantly than I ever couldshine， though I have tried with my whole might; and now they have noticed me， a poor oldlamp， and have sent me a gift that will enable me to see clearly everything that I remember，as if it still stood before me， and to be seen by all those who love me. And herein lies thetruest pleasure， for joy which we cannot share with others is only half enjoyed.”

“That sentiment does you honor，” said the wind; “but for this purpose wax lights will benecessary. If these are not lighted in you， your particular faculties will not benefit others inthe least. The stars have not thought of this; they suppose that you and every other lightmust be a wax taper： but I must go down now.” So he laid himself to rest.

“Wax tapers， indeed!” said the lamp， “I have never yet had these， nor is it likely I evershall. If I could only be sure of not being melted down!”

the next day. Well， perhaps we had better pass over the next day. The evening hadcome， and the lamp was resting in a grandfather's chair， and guess where! Why， at the oldwatchman's house. He had begged， as a favor， that the mayor and corporation would allowhim to keep the street lamp， in consideration of his long and faithful service， as he hadhimself hung it up and lit it on the day he first commenced his duties， four-and-twenty yearsago. He looked upon it almost as his own child; he had no children， so the lamp was given tohim. There it lay in the GREat arm-chair near to the warm stove. It seemed almost as if it hadgrown larger，

for it appeared quite to fill the chair. The old people sat at their supper， castingfriendly glances at the old lamp， whom they would willingly have admitted to a place at thetable. It is quite true that they dwelt in a cellar， two yards deep in the earth， and they had tocross a stone passage to get to their room， but within it was warm and comfortable and stripsof list had been nailed round the door. The bed and the little window had curtains， andeverything looked clean and neat. On the window seat stood two curious flower-pots which asailor， named Christian， had brought over from the East or West Indies. They were of clay，and in the form of two elephants， with open backs; they were hollow and filled with earth，and through the open space flowers bloomed. In one grew some very fine chives or leeks; thiswas the kitchen garden. The other elephant， which contained a beautiful geranium， theycalled their flower garden. On the wall hung a large colored print， representing the congress ofVienna， and all the kings and emperors at once. A clock，

with heavy weights， hung on thewall and went “tick， tick，” steadily enough; yet it was always rather too fast， which，however， the old people said was better than being too slow. They were now eating theirsupper， while the old street lamp， as we have heard， lay in the grandfather's arm-chair nearthe stove. It seemed to the lamp as if the whole world had turned round; but after a while theold watchman looked at the lamp， and spoke of what they had both gone through together，—in rain and in fog; during the short bright nights of summer， or in the long winter nights，through the drifting snow-storms， when he longed to be at home in the cellar. Then the lampfelt it was all right again. He saw everything that had happened quite clearly， as if it werepassing before him. Surely the wind had given him an excellent gift. The old people were veryactive and industrious， they were never idle for even a single hour. On Sunday afternoonsthey would bring out some books， generally a book of travels which they were very fond of.The old man would read aloud about Africa， with its great forests and the wild elephants，while his wife would listen attentively， stealing a glance now and then at the clay elephants，which served as flower-pots.

“I can almost imagine I am seeing it all，” she said; and then how the lamp wished for awax taper to be lighted in him， for then the old woman would have seen the smallest detail asclearly as he did himself. The lofty trees， with their thickly entwined branches， the nakednegroes on horseback， and whole herds of elephants treading down bamboo thickets withtheir broad， heavy feet.

“What is the use of all my capabilities，” sighed the old lamp， “when I cannot obtain anywax lights; they have only oil and tallow here， and these will not do.” One day a GREat heapof wax-candle ends found their way into the cellar. The larger pieces were burnt， and thesmaller ones the old woman kept for waxing her thread. So there were now candles enough，but it never occurred to any one to put a little piece in the lamp.

“Here I am now with my rare powers，” thought the lamp， “I have faculties within me，but I cannot share them; they do not know that I could cover these white walls with beautifultapestry， or change them into noble forests， or， indeed， to anything else they might wishfor.” The lamp， however， was always kept clean and shining in a corner where it attracted alleyes. Strangers looked upon it as lumber， but the old people did not care for that; theyloved the lamp. One day—it was the watchman's birthday—the old woman approached thelamp， smiling to herself， and said， “I will have an illumination to-day in honor of my oldman.” And the lamp rattled in his metal frame， for he thought， “Now at last I shall have alight within me，” but after all no wax light was placed in the lamp，

but oil as usual. The lampburned through the whole evening， and began to perceive too clearly that the gift of thestars would remain a hidden treasure all his life. Then he had a dream; for， to one with hisfaculties， dreaming was no difficulty. It appeared to him that the old people were dead， andthat he had been taken to the iron foundry to be melted down. It caused him quite as muchanxiety as on the day when he had been called upon to appear before the mayor and thecouncil at the town-hall. But though he had been endowed with the power of falling into decayfrom rust when he pleased，

he did not make use of it. He was therefore put into the melting-furnace and changed into as elegant an iron candlestick as you could wish to see， oneintended to hold a wax taper. The candlestick was in the form of an angel holding a nosegay，in the centre of which the wax taper was to be placed. It was to stand on a GREen writingtable， in a very pleasant room; many books were scattered about， and splendid paintingshung on the walls. The owner of the room was a poet， and a man of intellect; everything hethought or wrote was pictured around him. Nature showed herself to him sometimes in the darkforests， at others in cheerful meadows where the storks were strutting about， or on thedeck of a ship sailing across the foaming sea with the clear， blue sky above， or at night theglittering stars. “What powers I possess!” said the lamp， awaking from his dream; “I couldalmost wish to be melted down; but no， that must not be while the old people live. They loveme for myself alone， they keep me bright， and supply me with oil. I am as well off as thepicture of the congress， in which they take so much pleasure.” And from that time he felt atrest in himself， and not more so than such an honorable old lamp really deserved to be.

你听见过那个老路灯的故事吗?它并不是怎么特别有趣，不过听它一次也没有关系。

这是一个非常和善的老路灯。它服务了许多许多年，但是现在没有人要它了。现在是它最后一晚待在桿子上，照着这条街。它的心情很像一个跳芭蕾舞的老舞女：现在是她最后一晚登台，她知道明天她就要回到顶楼1里去了。这个“明天”引起路灯的恐怖，因为它知道它将第一次要在市政府出现，被“36位先生”2审查一番，看它是不是还能继续服务。

那时就要决定：要不要把它送去照亮一座桥，还是送到乡下的一个工厂里去，也可能直接送到一个炼铁厂去被熔掉。在这种情形下，它可能被改造成为任何东西。不过，它不知道，它是不是还能记得它曾经一度做过路灯——这问题使它感到非常烦恼。

不管情形怎样，它将会跟那个守夜人和他的妻子分开——它一直把他们当做自己的家属。它当路灯的时候也正是他当守夜人的时候。那时他的老婆颇有点自负。她只有在晚上走过路灯的时候，才瞧它一眼;在白天她是不睬它的。不过最近几年间，他们三个人——守夜人、老婆和路灯——都老了;这位太太也来照料它，洗擦它，在它里面加加油。这对夫妇是非常诚实的;他们从来不揩路灯的一滴油。

现在是路灯在街上的最后一晚了;明天它就得到市政府去。这两件事情它一想起就难过!人们不难想像，它现在点燃的劲头不大。不过它的脑子里面也起了许多别的感想。它该是看过多少东西，该是照过多少东西啊，可能它看过的东西还比得上那“36位先生”呢。不过它不愿意讲出来，因为它是一个和善的老路灯。它不愿意触怒任何人，更不愿意触怒那些当权的人。它想起许多事情;偶尔之间，它的亮光就闪一下，好像它有这样的感觉：“是的，人们也会记得我!曾经有一位美貌的年轻人——是的，那是很久很久以前的事了!他拿着一封信走来——一封写在有金边的、粉红色的纸上的信，它的字迹是那么美丽，像是一位小姐的手笔。

他把它读了两次，吻了它一下，然后抬起头来看着我，他的眼睛在说：”我是一个最幸福的人!“只有他和我知道他的恋人的第一封信所写的是甚么东西。我还记起了另一对眼睛。说来也真妙，我们的思想会那么漫无边际!街上有一个盛大的送葬的行列。有一个年轻美丽的少妇躺在一个棺材里。棺材搁在铺满了天鹅绒的、盖满了花朵和花圈的柩车上，许多火炬几乎把我的眼睛都弄昏了。整个人行道上都挤满了人，他们都跟在柩车后面。不过当火炬看不见了的时候，我向周围望了一眼：还有一个人倚着路灯桿子在哭泣呢。我永远也忘记不了那双望着我的悲伤的眼睛!”

许多这类的回忆在老路灯的思想中闪过——这个今晚最后一次照着的老路灯。

一个要下班的哨兵最低限度会知道谁来接他的班，还可以和接班的人交代几句话。但是路灯却不知道它的继承人;它可能供给一点关於雨和雾这类事情的情况，关於月亮在人行道上能照多远、风儿多半会从哪方吹来这类材料。

有三个东西站在排水沟的桥上，它们把自己介绍给路灯，因为它们以为路灯可以让位给它们。一个是青鱼的头——它在黑暗中可以发出亮光。它觉得如果有它待在路灯桿子上，人们可以节省许多油。另一个是一块朽木——它也可以发出闪光。它对自己说，它的光起码比鱼头的光要亮一点;何况它还是森林中一株最漂亮的树的最后遗体。第三个是萤火虫。这一位是甚么地方的，路灯想像不出来。但是它却居然来了，而且还在发着光。不过朽木和青鱼头发誓说，萤火虫只能在一定的时刻内发光，因此不能考虑它。

老路灯说它们哪个也发不出足够的光，来完成一个路灯的任务。但是它们都不相信这话。当它们听说老路灯自己不能把位置让给别人的时候，它们很高兴，觉得这是因为路灯老糊涂了，不会选择继承人。

在这同时，风儿从街角那边走来，向老路灯的通风口里吹，并且说：“我刚才听到的这些话是甚么意思呢?难道你明天就要离开吗?难道这就是我看到你的最后一晚么?那么我送给你一件礼物吧!我将用一种特殊的方式向你的脑盖骨里吹，使你不仅能清楚地记得你看见过或听到过的一切东西，同时还要使你有一个清醒的头脑，使你能看到人们在你面前谈到或讲到的事情。”“是的，那真是太好了!”老路灯说。“我感谢你，只要我不会被熔掉!”“大概还不会的，”风儿说。“现在我将吹起你的记忆。如果你能多有几件这样的礼物，你的老年就可以过得很愉快了!”“只要我不会被熔掉!”路灯说。“也许，即使如此，你还能保证我有记忆吧!”“老路灯，请放得有理智些吧!”风儿说。於是风就吹起来。这时月亮走出来了。 “你将送点甚么礼物呢?”风儿问。“我甚么也不送，”月亮说。“我快要缺口了。灯儿从来不借光给我。相反地，我倒常常借光给他。”

说完这话以后，月亮就又钻到云块后面去了，它不愿意人们来麻烦它。

有一滴水从通风口里落进来。这滴水好像是从屋顶上滴下来的。不过它说它是从乌云上滴下来的，而且还有一件礼物——可能是一件最好的礼物。“我将浸润你的全身，使得你——如果你愿意的话——获得一种力量，叫你一夜就把全身锈掉，化成灰尘。”

不过路灯认为这是一件很不好的礼物;风儿也同意这种看法。“再没有更好的吗?再没有更好的吗?”风呼呼地使劲吹着。

这时一颗明亮的流星落下来了，形成一条长长的光带。“那是甚么?”青鱼头大声说。“不是一颗星落下来了么?我以为它落到路灯里去了!如果地位这样高的人物也来要他的位置，那么我们最好还是回去睡觉的好!”

它这样做了，其余的两位也这样做了!不过老路灯忽然发出一道强烈的光来。“这是一件可爱的礼物，”它说。“我一直非常喜爱这些明星，他们发出那么美丽的光，不管我怎样努力和争取，我自己是怎么也做不到的;他们居然注意起我这个寒碜的老路灯来，派一颗星送一件礼物给我，使我有一种机能把我所能记得的和看见的东西也让我所喜欢的人能够看到。这才是真正的快乐哩。因为凡是我们不能跟别人共享的快乐，只能算是一半的快乐。”“这是一种值得尊敬的想法!”风儿说。“不过你不知道，为了达到这种目的，蜡烛是必要的。如果你的身体里没有燃着一支蜡烛，别人也不会看见你的任何东西。星星没有想到这一点，他们以为凡是发光的东西，身体里都有一根蜡烛。但是我现在困了!”风儿说，“我要睡了!”於是风就睡下了。

第二天——是的，我们可以把第二天跳过去。第二天晚上，路灯躺在一张椅子上。这是在甚么地方呢?在那个老守夜人的屋子里。他曾经请求过那“36位先生”准许他保留住这盏灯，作为他长期忠实服务的一种报酬。他们对他的要求大笑了一通;他们把这路灯送给了他。现在这灯就躺在一个温暖的火炉旁的靠椅上。路灯彷彿比以前长得更大了，因为它几乎把整个椅子都塞满了。

这对老夫妇正在坐着吃晚饭，同时用温柔的眼光望着这个老路灯。他们倒很想让它坐上饭桌呢。

他们住的地方事实上是一个地窖，比地面要低两码。要走进这房间里去，人们得通过一个有石子铺地的过道。不过这里是很舒适的;门上贴着许多布条，一切东西都显得清洁和整齐;床的周围和小窗上都挂着帘子。窗台上放着两个奇怪的花盆——是水手克利斯仙从东印度或西印度带回来的。

那是用泥土烧成的两只象。这两只动物都没有背;不过代替背的是人们放在它们身躯中的土，土里还开出了花：一只象里长出美丽的青葱——这是这对老年人的菜园;另一只象里长出一棵大天竺葵——这是他们的花园。墙上挂着一张大幅的彩色画，描写维也纳会议1的情景。你一眼就可以看到所有的国王和皇帝。那架有沉重的铅摆的、波尔霍尔姆钟2在“滴答!滴答!”地走着，而它老是走得太快。不过这对老年人说，这比走得慢要好得多。

他们吃着晚饭。这个路灯，正如刚才说过了的，是躺在火炉旁边的一个靠椅上。对路灯说来，这就好像整个世界翻了一个面。不过这个老守夜人望着它，谈起他们两人在雨和雾中，在短短的明朗的夏夜里，在那雪花纷飞、使人想要回到地窖里的家去的那些生活经历，这时候，老路灯的头脑就又变得清醒起来。那些生活又清清楚楚地在他面前出现。是的，风儿把它弄得亮起来了。

这对老人是很朴素和勤俭的。他们没有浪费过一分钟。在星期日下午他们总是拿出一两本书来读——一般说来，总是游记一类的读物。老头儿高声地读着关於非洲、关於藏有大森林和野象的故事。老太太总是注意地听着，同时偷偷地望着那对作为花盆的泥像。“我几乎像是亲眼看到过的一样!”她说。

这时路灯特别希望它身体里能有一根蜡烛在燃着，好叫这个老太太像它一样能把一切东西都看得清清楚楚：那些枝丫交叉在一起的、高大的树啦，骑在马上的裸体黑人啦，用又宽又笨的脚在芦苇和灌木上踩过去的一群一群的象啦。“如果我没有蜡烛，那么我的机能又有甚么用呢?”路灯歎了一口气。“他们只有清油和牛油烛，这个不成!”

有一天，地窖里有了一扎蜡烛头，顶大的那几根被点着了;最小的那几根老太太要在做针线时用来擦线。这样一来，蜡烛倒是有了，但是没有人想起放一小根到路灯里面去。“我现在和我稀有的机能全在这儿!”路灯想。“我身体里面甚么都有，但是我没有办法让他们来分享!他们不知道，我能在这白色的墙上变出最美丽的壁毡、丰茂的森林，和他们所能希望看到的一切东西。”

但是路灯待在墙角里，被擦得乾乾净净，弄得整整齐齐，引起所有的眼睛注意。人们说它是一件老废料;不过那对老年夫妇倒不在乎，仍然爱这路灯。

有一天老守夜人的生日到来了。老太太走近这盏灯，温和地微笑了一下，说：“我今晚要为他把灯点一下!”

路灯把它的铁盖嘎嘎地响了一下，因为它想：“现在我要为他们亮起来了。”但是它里面只是加进了油，而没有放蜡烛。路灯点了一整晚，只有现在它才懂得，星星所送给它的礼物——一切礼物之中最好一件礼物——恐怕只能算是它余生中一件专用的“秘宝”了。这时它做了一个梦——凡是一个有稀有机能的人，做梦是不太难的。它梦见这对老夫妇都死了，它自己则被送进一个铁铺里被熔掉了。它惊恐的程度，跟它那天要到市政府去、要被那“36位先生”检查时差不多。虽然假如它愿意的话，它有一种能力可以使自己生锈和化为灰尘，但是它并不这样做。它却走进熔炉里去，被铸成了一架可以插蜡烛的最漂亮的烛台。它的形状是一个抱着花束的安琪儿;而蜡烛就插在这个花束的中央。这烛台在一张绿色的写字台上佔了一个地位。这房间是非常舒适的;房间里有许多书籍，墙上挂着许多名画。这是一个诗人的房间。他所想的和写的东西都在它的周围展开。这房间有时变成深郁的森林，有时变成太阳光照着的、有颧鸟在漫步的草原，有时变成在波涛汹涌的海上航行着的船。“我有多么奇妙的机能啊!”老路灯醒来的时候说。“我几乎想要熔化了!不成!只要这对老夫妇还活着，我决不能这样做!他们因为我是一个路灯才爱我。我像他们的一个孩子。

他们洗擦我，喂我油吃。我现在情况好得像整个维也纳会议，这真是一件了不起的事情!“

从那时候起，它享受着内心的平安，而这个和善的老路灯也应当有这种享受。