The Garden of Paradise · page 21 2 3101I have just come from China, where I danced round the porcelain tower till all the bells jingled again.102In the streets an official flogging was taking place, and bamboo canes were being broken on the shoulders of men of every high position, from the first to the ninth grade.103They cried, 'Many thanks, my fatherly benefactor;' but I am sure the words did not come from their hearts, so I rang the bells till they sounded, 'ding, ding-dong.'"104"You are a wild boy," said the old woman; "it is well for you that you are going to-morrow to the garden of paradise; you always get improved in your education there.105Drink deeply from the fountain of wisdom while you are there, and bring home a bottleful for me."106"That I will," said the East Wind; "but why have you put my brother South in a bag?107Let him out; for I want him to tell me about the phoenix-bird.108The princess always wants to hear of this bird when I pay her my visit every hundred years.109If you will open the sack, sweetest mother, I will give you two pocketfuls of tea, green and fresh as when I gathered it from the spot where it grew."110"Well, for the sake of the tea, and because you are my own boy, I will open the bag."111She did so, and the South Wind crept out, looking quite cast down, because the prince had seen his disgrace.112"There is a palm-leaf for the princess," he said. "113The old phoenix, the only one in the world, gave it to me himself.114He has scratched on it with his beak the whole of his history during the hundred years he has lived.115She can there read how the old phoenix set fire to his own nest, and sat upon it while it was burning, like a Hindoo widow.checked by a teacher116The dry twigs around the nest crackled and smoked till the flames burst forth and consumed the phoenix to ashes.117Amidst the fire lay an egg, red hot, which presently burst with a loud report, and out flew a young bird.118He is the only phoenix in the world, and the king over all the other birds.119He has bitten a hole in the leaf which I give you, and that is his greeting to the princess."120"Now let us have something to eat," said the mother of the Winds.121So they all sat down to feast on the roasted stag; and as the prince sat by the side of the East Wind, they soon became good friends.122"Pray tell me," said the prince, "who is that princess of whom you have been talking! and where lies the garden of paradise?"123"Ho! ho!" said the East Wind, "would you like to go there?124Well, you can fly off with me to-morrow; but I must tell you one thing--no human being has been there since the time of Adam and Eve. I suppose you have read of them in your Bible."125"Of course I have," said the prince.126"Well," continued the East Wind, "when they were driven out of the garden of paradise, it sunk into the earth; but it retained its warm sunshine, its balmy air, and all its splendor.127The fairy queen lives there, in the island of happiness, where death never comes, and all is beautiful.128I can manage to take you there to-morrow, if you will sit on my back.129But now don't talk any more, for I want to go to sleep;" and then they all slept.130When the prince awoke in the early morning, he was not a little surprised at finding himself high up above the clouds.131He was seated on the back of the East Wind, who held him faithfully; and they were so high in the air that woods and fields, rivers and lakes, as they lay beneath them, looked like a painted map.132"Good morning," said the East Wind. "133You might have slept on a while; for there is very little to see in the flat country over which we are passing unless you like to count the churches; they look like spots of chalk on a green board."134The green board was the name he gave to the green fields and meadows.135"It was very rude of me not to say good-bye to your mother and your brothers," said the prince.136"They will excuse you, as you were asleep," said the East Wind; and then they flew on faster than ever.137The leaves and branches of the trees rustled as they passed.checked by a teacher138When they flew over seas and lakes, the waves rose higher, and the large ships dipped into the water like diving swans.139As darkness came on, towards evening, the great towns looked charming; lights were sparkling, now seen now hidden, just as the sparks go out one after another on a piece of burnt paper.140The prince clapped his hands with pleasure; but the East Wind advised him not to express his admiration in that manner, or he might fall down, and find himself hanging on a church steeple.141The eagle in the dark forests flies swiftly; but faster than he flew the East Wind.142The Cossack, on his small horse, rides lightly o'er the plains; but lighter still passed the prince on the winds of the wind.143"There are the Himalayas, the highest mountains in Asia," said the East Wind. "144We shall soon reach the garden of paradise now."145Then, they turned southward, and the air became fragrant with the perfume of spices and flowers.146Here figs and pomegranates grew wild, and the vines were covered with clusters of blue and purple grapes.147Here they both descended to the earth, and stretched themselves on the soft grass, while the flowers bowed to the breath of the wind as if to welcome it. "148Are we now in the garden of paradise?" asked the prince.149"No, indeed," replied the East Wind; "but we shall be there very soon.150Do you see that wall of rocks, and the cavern beneath it, over which the grape vines hang like a green curtain?151Through that cavern we must pass.152Wrap your cloak round you; for while the sun scorches you here, a few steps farther it will be icy cold.153The bird flying past the entrance to the cavern feels as if one wing were in the region of summer, and the other in the depths of winter."154"So this then is the way to the garden of paradise?" asked the prince, as they entered the cavern.155It was indeed cold; but the cold soon passed, for the East Wind spread his wings, and they gleamed like the brightest fire.156As they passed on through this wonderful cave, the prince could see great blocks of stone, from which water trickled, hanging over their heads in fantastic shapes.157Sometimes it was so narrow that they had to creep on their hands and knees, while at other times it was lofty and wide, like the free air.158It had the appearance of a chapel for the dead, with petrified organs and silent pipes. "159We seem to be passing through the valley of death to the garden of paradise," said the prince.160But the East Wind answered not a word, only pointed forwards to a lovely blue light which gleamed in the distance.161The blocks of stone assumed a misty appearance, till at last they looked like white clouds in moonlight.162The air was fresh and balmy, like a breeze from the mountains perfumed with flowers from a valley of roses.163A river, clear as the air itself, sparkled at their feet, while in its clear depths could be seen gold and silver fish sporting in the bright water, and purple eels emitting sparks of fire at every moment, while the broad leaves of the water-lilies, that floated on its surface, flickered with all the colors of the rainbow.164The flower in its color of flame seemed to receive its nourishment from the water, as a lamp is sustained by oil.165A marble bridge, of such exquisite workmanship that it appeared as if formed of lace and pearls, led to the island of happiness, in which bloomed the garden of paradise.checked by a teacher166The East Wind took the prince in his arms, and carried him over, while the flowers and the leaves sang the sweet songs of his childhood in tones so full and soft that no human voice could venture to imitate.167Within the garden grew large trees, full of sap; but whether they were palm-trees or gigantic water-plants, the prince knew not.168The climbing plants hung in garlands of green and gold, like the illuminations on the margins of old missals or twined among the initial letters.169Birds, flowers, and festoons appeared intermingled in seeming confusion.170Close by, on the grass, stood a group of peacocks, with radiant tails outspread to the sun. The prince touched them, and found, to his surprise, that they were not really birds, but the leaves of the burdock tree, which shone with the colors of a peacock's tail.171The lion and the tiger, gentle and tame, were springing about like playful cats among the green bushes, whose perfume was like the fragrant blossom of the olive.172The plumage of the wood-pigeon glistened like pearls as it struck the lion's mane with its wings; while the antelope, usually so shy, stood near, nodding its head as if it wished to join in the frolic.173The fairy of paradise next made her appearance.174Her raiment shone like the sun, and her serene countenance beamed with happiness like that of a mother rejoicing over her child.175She was young and beautiful, and a train of lovely maidens followed her, each wearing a bright star in her hair.176The East Wind gave her the palm-leaf, on which was written the history of the phoenix; and her eyes sparkled with joy.177She then took the prince by the hand, and led him into her palace, the walls of which were richly colored, like a tulip-leaf when it is turned to the sun. The roof had the appearance of an inverted flower, and the colors grew deeper and brighter to the gazer.178The prince walked to a window, and saw what appeared to be the tree of knowledge of good and evil, with Adam and Eve standing by, and the serpent near them. "179I thought they were banished from paradise," he said.180The princess smiled, and told him that time had engraved each event on a window-pane in the form of a picture; but, unlike other pictures, all that it represented lived and moved,--the leaves rustled, and the persons went and came, as in a looking-glass.181He looked through another pane, and saw the ladder in Jacob's dream, on which the angels were ascending and descending with outspread wings.182All that had ever happened in the world here lived and moved on the panes of glass, in pictures such as time alone could produce.183The fairy now led the prince into a large, lofty room with transparent walls, through which the light shone.184Here were portraits, each one appearing more beautiful than the other--millions of happy beings, whose laughter and song mingled in one sweet melody: some of these were in such an elevated position that they appeared smaller than the smallest rosebud, or like pencil dots on paper.185In the centre of the hall stood a tree, with drooping branches, from which hung golden apples, both great and small, looking like oranges amid the green leaves.186It was the tree of knowledge of good and evil, from which Adam and Eve had plucked and eaten the forbidden fruit, and from each leaf trickled a bright red dewdrop, as if the tree were weeping tears of blood for their sin. "187Let us now take the boat," said the fairy: "a sail on the cool waters will refresh us.188But we shall not move from the spot, although the boat may rock on the swelling water; the countries of the world will glide before us, but we shall remain still."189It was indeed wonderful to behold.190First came the lofty Alps, snow-clad, and covered with clouds and dark pines.191The horn resounded, and the shepherds sang merrily in the valleys.192The banana-trees bent their drooping branches over the boat, black swans floated on the water, and singular animals and flowers appeared on the distant shore.193New Holland, the fifth division of the world, now glided by, with mountains in the background, looking blue in the distance.194They heard the song of the priests, and saw the wild dance of the savage to the sound of the drums and trumpets of bone; the pyramids of Egypt rising to the clouds; columns and sphinxes, overthrown and buried in the sand, followed in their turn; while the northern lights flashed out over the extinguished volcanoes of the north, in fireworks none could imitate.195The prince was delighted, and yet he saw hundreds of other wonderful things more than can be described. "196Can I stay here forever?" asked he.197"That depends upon yourself," replied the fairy. "198If you do not, like Adam, long for what is forbidden, you can remain here always."199"I should not touch the fruit on the tree of knowledge," said the prince; "there is abundance of fruit equally beautiful."200"Examine your own heart," said the princess, "and if you do not feel sure of its strength, return with the East Wind who brought you.1 2 3← previousOur Auntnext →The Pea Blossom↑ back to Fairy Tales of Hans Christian AndersenThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/140/page/2/