The Shadow · page 21 2 3101There was no light, or at least it seemed in partial darkness, for the door of a whole suite of rooms stood open, and they were brilliantly lighted.102The blaze of light would have killed me, had I approached too near the maiden myself, but I was cautious, and took time, which is what every one ought to do."103"And what didst thou see?" asked the learned man.104"I saw everything, as you shall hear.105But--it really is not pride on my part, as a free man and possessing the knowledge that I do, besides my position, not to speak of my wealth--I wish you would say you to me instead of thou."106"I beg your pardon," said the learned man; "it is an old habit, which it is difficult to break.107You are quite right; I will try to think of it.108But now tell me everything that you saw."109"Everything," said the shadow; "for I saw and know everything."110"What was the appearance of the inner rooms?" asked the scholar. "111Was it there like a cool grove, or like a holy temple?112Were the chambers like a starry sky seen from the top of a high mountain?"113"It was all that you describe," said the shadow; "but I did not go quite in--I remained in the twilight of the ante-room--but I was in a very good position,--I could see and hear all that was going on in the court of poetry."114"But what did you see?115Did the gods of ancient times pass through the rooms?116Did old heroes fight their battles over again?checked by a teacher117Were there lovely children at play, who related their dreams?"118"I tell you I have been there, and therefore you may be sure that I saw everything that was to be seen.119If you had gone there, you would not have remained a human being, whereas I became one; and at the same moment I became aware of my inner being, my inborn affinity to the nature of poetry.120It is true I did not think much about it while I was with you, but you will remember that I was always much larger at sunrise and sunset, and in the moonlight even more visible than yourself, but I did not then understand my inner existence.121In the ante-room it was revealed to me.122I became a man; I came out in full maturity.123But you had left the warm countries.124As a man, I felt ashamed to go about without boots or clothes, and that exterior finish by which man is known.125So I went my own way; I can tell you, for you will not put it in a book.126I hid myself under the cloak of a cake woman, but she little thought who she concealed.127It was not till evening that I ventured out.128I ran about the streets in the moonlight.129I drew myself up to my full height upon the walls, which tickled my back very pleasantly.130I ran here and there, looked through the highest windows into the rooms, and over the roofs.131I looked in, and saw what nobody else could see, or indeed ought to see; in fact, it is a bad world, and I would not care to be a man, but that men are of some importance.132I saw the most miserable things going on between husbands and wives, parents and children,--sweet, incomparable children.133I have seen what no human being has the power of knowing, although they would all be very glad to know--the evil conduct of their neighbors.134Had I written a newspaper, how eagerly it would have been read!135Instead of which, I wrote directly to the persons themselves, and great alarm arose in all the town I visited.136They had so much fear of me, and yet how dearly they loved me.137The professor made me a professor.138The tailor gave me new clothes; I am well provided for in that way.139The overseer of the mint struck coins for me.140The women declared that I was handsome, and so I became the man you now see me.141And now I must say adieu.142Here is my card.143I live on the sunny side of the street, and always stay at home in rainy weather."144And the shadow departed.145"This is all very remarkable," said the learned man.146Years passed, days and years went by, and the shadow came again. "147How are you going on now?" he asked.148"Ah!" said the learned man; "I am writing about the true, the beautiful, and the good; but no one cares to hear anything about it.149I am quite in despair, for I take it to heart very much."150"That is what I never do," said the shadow; "I am growing quite fat and stout, which every one ought to be.151You do not understand the world; you will make yourself ill about it; you ought to travel; I am going on a journey in the summer, will you go with me?152I should like a travelling companion; will you travel with me as my shadow?153It would give me great pleasure, and I will pay all expenses."154"Are you going to travel far?" asked the learned man.155"That is a matter of opinion," replied the shadow. "156At all events, a journey will do you good, and if you will be my shadow, then all your journey shall be paid."157"It appears to me very absurd," said the learned man.158"But it is the way of the world," replied the shadow, "and always will be."159Then he went away.160Everything went wrong with the learned man.161Sorrow and trouble pursued him, and what he said about the good, the beautiful, and the true, was of as much value to most people as a nutmeg would be to a cow.162At length he fell ill. "163You really look like a shadow," people said to him, and then a cold shudder would pass over him, for he had his own thoughts on the subject.164"You really ought to go to some watering-place," said the shadow on his next visit. "165There is no other chance for you.166I will take you with me, for the sake of old acquaintance.167I will pay the expenses of your journey, and you shall write a description of it to amuse us by the way.168I should like to go to a watering-place; my beard does not grow as it ought, which is from weakness, and I must have a beard.169Now do be sensible and accept my proposal; we shall travel as intimate friends."170And at last they started together.171The shadow was master now, and the master became the shadow.172They drove together, and rode and walked in company with each other, side by side, or one in front and the other behind, according to the position of the sun. The shadow always knew when to take the place of honor, but the learned man took no notice of it, for he had a good heart, and was exceedingly mild and friendly.173One day the master said to the shadow, "We have grown up together from our childhood, and now that we have become travelling companions, shall we not drink to our good fellowship, and say thee and thou to each other?"174"What you say is very straightforward and kindly meant," said the shadow, who was now really master. "175I will be equally kind and straightforward.176You are a learned man, and know how wonderful human nature is.177There are some men who cannot endure the smell of brown paper; it makes them ill.178Others will feel a shuddering sensation to their very marrow, if a nail is scratched on a pane of glass.179I myself have a similar kind of feeling when I hear any one say thou to me.180I feel crushed by it, as I used to feel in my former position with you.181You will perceive that this is a matter of feeling, not pride.182I cannot allow you to say thou to me; I will gladly say it to you, and therefore your wish will be half fulfilled."183Then the shadow addressed his former master as thou.184"It is going rather too far," said the latter, "that I am to say you when I speak to him, and he is to say thou to me."185However, he was obliged to submit.186They arrived at length at the baths, where there were many strangers, and among them a beautiful princess, whose real disease consisted in being too sharp-sighted, which made every one very uneasy.187She saw at once that the new comer was very different to every one else. "188They say he is here to make his beard grow," she thought; "but I know the real cause, he is unable to cast a shadow."189Then she became very curious on the matter, and one day, while on the promenade, she entered into conversation with the strange gentleman.190Being a princess, she was not obliged to stand upon much ceremony, so she said to him without hesitation, "Your illness consists in not being able to cast a shadow."191"Your royal highness must be on the high road to recovery from your illness," said he. "192I know your complaint arose from being too sharp-sighted, and in this case it has entirely failed.193I happen to have a most unusual shadow.194Have you not seen a person who is always at my side?195Persons often give their servants finer cloth for their liveries than for their own clothes, and so I have dressed out my shadow like a man; nay, you may observe that I have even given him a shadow of his own; it is rather expensive, but I like to have things about me that are peculiar."196"How is this?" thought the princess; "am I really cured?197This must be the best watering-place in existence.198Water in our times has certainly wonderful power.199But I will not leave this place yet, just as it begins to be amusing.200This foreign prince--for he must be a prince--pleases me above all things.1 2 3← previousThe Saucy Boynext →The Shepherdess and the Sheep↑ back to Fairy Tales of Hans Christian AndersenThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/165/page/2/