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1、【英文文学】Czech Folk TalesPREFACEThe present collection has been selected from the following sources:Josef Kubín, Povídky kladsk, i., ii. (in “Nrodopisny vstník ?eskoslovansky”).V. Vondrk, Nkolik pohdek z Dubu u Vodan (S. Bohemia), in “?esky Lid,” xiii.V. Tille, Povídky sebra
2、n na Vala?sku (S. Moravia). “Nrodopisny sborník ?eskoslovansky,” Svazek vii. Prague, 1901.Elpl, ?ada pohdek a povstí nasbíranych v Lí?ni u Brna (Moravia).B. M. Kulda, Moravsk nrodní pohdky a povsti, i. (Prague, 1874). From Moravia.The first two stories (“Twelve Mon
3、ths,” “Ví?azko”) have been retold by the novelist Bo?ena Nmcov (from the Slovak).My translation could not be, of course, a literal one, because many phrases in the viiioriginal might seem strange to the English readers ear.Finally, I wish to express my thanks to Miss Eleanor Hull and Mr. Robi
4、n Flower for revising my English.JOSEF BAUDI?.London, October 1917. INTRODUCTIONThe present collection is intended to exemplify the spirit of the Czech race. It may perhaps be objected that folk-tale themes are part of a common stock belonging to all European races, and even to many primitive people
5、s: but though this is perfectly true, it is also no less certain that the spirit of the nation manifests itself in the manner of their telling. The selection has been made from all sorts of folk tales, artistic and primitive alike; and yet two things are common to all of them: the moral tendency and
6、 a sense of humour. By this I do not mean morality in the vulgar sense of retribution for evil, or of filial devotion, or the sentimental insistence upon “every one living happily ever afterwards,” and above all upon Jack marrying his Molly. I mean that higher sort of morality which was the mainspri
7、ng of Protestantism. It is often supposed that Protestantism is xivvery unfavourable to the development and preservation of folk tales; but those of Bohemia are certainly an exception to this rule. The Czech nation was the first to adopt the Protestant faith, and even to-day is still Protestant at h
8、eart, though the Habsburgs forced it back into the Catholic fold.The Czechs, then, have preserved their love for folk tales, adapting them to the higher morality and to the national sentiment, and discarding many of their supernatural features, or where the supernatural was allowed to remain for a m
9、oment, reverting very soon to the strict limits of probability. It is the very same method which, for example, Mr. Wells employs in some of his novels. That the Slav nations have a certain tendency to lay stress upon the ethical side in their folk tales has already been pointed out by the Czech poet
10、 Erben, whose tales have been translated into English in Wratislaws Collection.As for their humour, the Czechs have a natural tendency to satire. The best works in Old Czech literature are satires, and in modern times one of the most brilliant of Czech politicians, Karel Havli?ek, was also the great
11、est Czech satirist. This spirit may xvalso be seen in the present collection; but in every case the story-teller, instead of assuming the attitude of the morality preacher or of indulging in theatrical invective against the wickedness of the times, rests content with a good-humoured gibe at the foll
12、y of the world, at the frailty of his fellow-men, and, it may be, at his own.These two traits are inherent in the nature of the Czech people; and those who know their love of such tales and of the literature which has grown out of them, can realize their search for a haven of refuge from the cruel p
13、resent and their fond dream-pictures of a land where all was good, where at last everything was bound to end well, where truth and justice at last had conquered. Alas! to the victims of Habsburg rule and Austrian bayonets the bare possibility seemed utterly excluded. And yet why should they not drea
14、m of such a land? Amo quia absurdum! But at the very moment their humorous ego could not suppress a sneer. Yes, even in that wonderland which their fancy painted are foolish kings, ever prone to break their word: even there people are bad and stupid! But our tale says that the xvibad were vanquished
15、 and the foolish put to shame: let, then, the tale be told! And even as he tells it, his heart nurses the inward hope that the foreign tyrants who oppress him may one day be vanquished and annihilated.That such were the wishes of the Czech people, the Great War has shown. They have proved by their d
16、eeds their love of freedom; and to-day Czechs are fighting bravely in every Allied army and in their own national units formed in Russia. May their Austrian oppressors be brought to the ground, and may Bohemia regain the freedom for which she has longed for three centuries! THE TWELVE MONTHSOnce upo
17、n a time there lived a mother who had two daughters. One was her own child, the other her stepdaughter. She was very fond of her own daughter, but she would not so much as look at her stepdaughter. The only reason was that Maru?a, the stepdaughter, was prettier than her own daughter, Holena. The gen
18、tle-hearted Maru?a did not know how beautiful she was, and so she could never make out why her mother was so cross with her whenever she looked at her. She had to do all the housework, tidying up the cottage, cooking, washing, and sewing, and then she had to take the hay to the cow and look after he
19、r. She did all this work alone, while Holena spent the time adorning herself and lazing about. But Maru?a liked work, for she was a patient girl, and when her mother scolded and rated her, she bore it like a lamb. It was no 2good, however, for they grew crueller and crueller every day, only because
20、Maru?a was growing prettier and Holena uglier every day.At last the mother thought: “Why should I keep a pretty stepdaughter in my house? When the lads come courting here, they will fall in love with Maru?a and they wont look at Holena.”From that moment the stepmother and her daughter were constantl
21、y scheming how to get rid of poor Maru?a. They starved her and they beat her. But she bore it all, and in spite of all she kept on growing prettier every day. They invented torments that the cruellest of men would never have thought of.One dayit was in the middle of JanuaryHolena felt a longing for
22、the scent of violets.“Go, Maru?a, and get me some violets from the forest; I want to wear them at my waist and to smell them,” she said to her sister.“Great heavens! sister. What a strange notion! Who ever heard of violets growing under the snow?” said poor Maru?a.“You wretched tatterdemalion! how d
23、are you argue when I tell you to do something? Off you go at once, and if you dont bring 3me violets from the forest Ill kill you!” said Holena threateningly.The stepmother caught hold of Maru?a, turned her out of the door, and slammed it to after her. She went into the forest weeping bitterly. The
24、snow lay deep, and there wasnt a human footprint to be seen. Maru?a wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. She begged God to take her from the world.At last she saw a light in the distance. She went towards the glow, and came at last to the top of a mountain. A b
25、ig fire was burning there, and round the fire were twelve stones with twelve men sitting on them. Three of them had snow-white beards, three were not so old, and three were still younger. The three youngest were the handsomest of them all. They were not speaking, but all sitting silent. These twelve
26、 men were the twelve months. Great January sat highest of all; his hair and beard were as white as snow, and in his hand he held a club.Maru?a was frightened. She stood still for a time in terror, but, growing bolder, she went up to them and said: “Please, kind 4sirs, let me warm my hands at your fi
27、re. I am trembling with the cold.”Great January nodded, and asked her: “Why have you come here, my dear little girl? What are you looking for?”“I am looking for violets,” answered Maru?a.“This is no time to be looking for violets, for everything is covered with snow,” answered Great January.“Yes, I
28、know; but my sister Holena and my stepmother said that I must bring them some violets from the forest. If I dont bring them, theyll kill me. Tell me, fathers, please tell me where I can find them.”Great January stood up and went to one of the younger monthsit was Marchand, giving him the club, he sa
29、id: “Brother, take the high seat.”March took the high seat upon the stone and waved the club over the fire. The fire blazed up, the snow began to melt, the trees began to bud, and the ground under the young beech-trees was at once covered with grass and the crimson daisy buds began to peep through t
30、he grass. It was springtime. Under the bushes the violets were blooming 5among their little leaves, and before Maru?a had time to think, so many of them had sprung up that they looked like a blue cloth spread out on the ground.“Pick them quickly, Maru?a!” commanded March.Maru?a picked them joyfully
31、till she had a big bunch. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered merrily home.Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maru?a bringing the violets. They opened the door to her, and the scent of violets filled all the cottage.“Where did you get them?” asked Holena sulkil
32、y.“They are growing under the bushes in a forest on the high mountains.”Holena put them in her waistband. She let her mother smell them, but she did not say to her sister: “Smell them.”Another day she was lolling near the stove, and now she longed for some strawberries. So she called to her sister a
33、nd said: “Go, Maru?a, and get me some strawberries from the forest.”“Alas! dear sister, where could I find any 6strawberries? Who ever heard of strawberries growing under the snow?” said Maru?a.“You wretched little tatterdemalion, how dare you argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go at once and get
34、me the strawberries, or Ill kill you!”The stepmother caught hold of Maru?a and pushed her out of the door and shut it after her. Maru?a went to the forest weeping bitterly. The snow was lying deep, and there wasnt a human footprint to be seen anywhere. She wandered about for a long time, tortured by
35、 hunger and trembling with cold. At last she saw the light she had seen the other day. Overjoyed, she went towards it. She came to the great fire with the twelve months sitting round it.“Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire. I am trembling with cold.”Great January nodded, and asked he
36、r: “Why have you come again, and what are you looking for here?”“I am looking for strawberries.”“But it is winter now, and strawberries dont grow on the snow,” said January.“Yes, I know,” said Maru?a sadly; “but my sister Holena and my stepmother bade 7me bring them some strawberries, and if I dont
37、bring them, they will kill me. Tell me, fathers, tell me, please, where I can find them.”Great January arose. He went over to the month sitting opposite to himit was Juneand handed the club to him, saying: “Brother, take the high seat.”June took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over t
38、he fire. The fire shot up, and its heat melted the snow in a moment. The ground was all green, the trees were covered with leaves, the birds began to sing, and the forest was filled with all kinds of flowers. It was summer. The ground under the bushes was covered with white starlets, the starry blos
39、soms were turning into strawberries every minute. They ripened at once, and before Maru?a had time to think, there were so many of them that it looked as though blood had been sprinkled on the ground.“Pick them at once, Maru?a!” commanded June.Maru?a picked them joyfully till she had filled her apro
40、n full. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered 8merrily home. Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maru?a bringing the strawberries. Her apron was full of them. They ran to open the door for her, and the scent of the strawberries filled the whole cottage.“Where did
41、you pick them?” asked Holena sulkily.“There are plenty of them growing under the young beech-trees in the forest on the high mountains.”Holena took the strawberries, and went on eating them till she could eat no more. So did the stepmother too, but they didnt say to Maru?a: “Here is one for you.”Whe
42、n Holena had enjoyed the strawberries, she grew greedy for other dainties, and so on the third day she longed for some red apples.“Maru?a, go into the forest and get me some red apples,” she said to her sister.“Alas! sister dear, how am I to get apples for you in winter?” protested Maru?a.“You wretc
43、hed little tatterdemalion, how dare you argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go to the forest at once, and if you dont bring me the apples I will kill you!” threatened Holena. 9The stepmother caught hold of Maru?a and pushed her out of the door and shut it after her. Maru?a went to the forest weepin
44、g bitterly. The snow was lying deep; there wasnt a human footprint to be seen anywhere. But she didnt wander about this time. She ran straight to the top of the mountain where the big fire was burning. The twelve months were sitting round the fire; yes, there they certainly were, and Great January w
45、as sitting on the high seat.“Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire. I am trembling with cold.”Great January nodded, and asked her: “Why have you come here, and what are you looking for?”“I am looking for red apples.”“It is winter now, and red apples dont grow in winter,” answered Janua
46、ry.“Yes, I know,” said Maru?a sadly; “but my sister and my stepmother, too, bade me bring them some red apples from the forest. If I dont bring them, they will kill me. Tell me, father, tell me, please, where I could find them.”Great January rose up. He went over to 10one of the older monthsit was S
47、eptember. He handed the club to him and said: “Brother, take the high seat.”Month September took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over the fire. The fire began to burn with a red flame, the snow began to melt. But the trees were not covered with leaves; the leaves were wavering down o
48、ne after the other, and the cold wind was driving them to and fro over the yellowing ground. This time Maru?a did not see so many flowers. Only red pinks were blooming on the hillside, and meadow saffrons were flowering in the valley. High fern and thick ivy were growing under the young beech-trees. But Maru?a was only looking for red apples, and at last she saw an apple-tree with red apples hanging high among its branches.“Shake the tree at once, Maru?a!” commanded the month.Right gladly Maru?a shook the tree, and one apple fell down. She shook i