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take from him his gold； for we have need of it。
and the young fisherman rose up and crept towards the room of the
merchant； and over the feet of the merchant there was lying a
curved sword； and the tray by the side of the merchant held nine
purses of gold。 and he reached out his hand and touched the sword；
and when he touched it the merchant started and awoke； and leaping
up seized himself the sword and cried to the young fisherman； dost
thou return evil for good； and pay with the shedding of blood for
the kindness that i have shown thee？
and his soul said to the young fisherman； strike him； and he
struck him so that he swooned and he seized then the nine purses of
gold； and fled hastily through the garden of pomegranates； and set
his face to the star that is the star of morning。
and when they had gone a league from the city； the young fisherman
beat his breast； and said to his soul； why didst thou bid me slay
the merchant and take his gold？ surely thou art evil。
but his soul answered him； be at peace； be at peace。
nay； cried the young fisherman； i may not be at peace； for all
that thou hast made me to do i hate。 thee also i hate； and i bid
thee tell me wherefore thou hast wrought with me in this wise。
and his soul answered him； when thou didst send me forth into the
world thou gavest me no heart； so i learned to do all these things
and love them。
what sayest thou？ murmured the young fisherman。
thou knowest； answered his soul； thou knowest it well。 hast
thou forgotten that thou gavest me no heart？ i trow not。 and so
trouble not thyself nor me； but be at peace； for there is no pain
that thou shalt not give away； nor any pleasure that thou shalt not
receive。
and when the young fisherman heard these words he trembled and said
to his soul； nay； but thou art evil； and hast made me forget my
love； and hast tempted me with temptations； and hast set my feet in
the ways of sin。
and his soul answered him； thou hast not forgotten that when thou
didst send me forth into the world thou gavest me no heart。 e；
let us go to another city； and make merry； for we have nine purses
of gold。
but the young fisherman took the nine purses of gold； and flung
them down； and trampled on them。
nay； he cried； but i will have nought to do with thee； nor will
i journey with thee anywhere； but even as i sent thee away before；
so will i send thee away now； for thou hast wrought me no good。
and he turned his back to the moon； and with the little knife that
had the handle of green vipers skin he strove to cut from his feet
that shadow of the body which is the body of the soul。
yet his soul stirred not from him； nor paid heed to his mand；
but said to him； the spell that the witch told thee avails thee no
more； for i may not leave thee； nor mayest thou drive me forth。
once in his life may a man send his soul away； but he who receiveth
back his soul must keep it with him for ever； and this is his
punishment and his reward。
and the young fisherman grew pale and clenched his hands and cried；
she was a false witch in that she told me not that。
nay； answered his soul； but she was true to him she worships；
and whose servant she will be ever。
and when the young fisherman knew that he could no longer get rid
of his soul； and that it was an evil soul and would abide with him
always； he fell upon the ground weeping bitterly。
and when it was day the young fisherman rose up and said to his
soul； i will bind my hands that i may not do thy bidding； and
close my lips that i may not speak thy words； and i will return to
the place where she whom i love has her dwelling。 even to the sea
will i return； and to the little bay where she is wont to sing； and
i will call to her and tell her the evil i have done and the evil
thou hast wrought on me。
and his soul tempted him and said； who is thy love； that thou
shouldst return to her？ the world has many fairer than she is。
there are the dancing…girls of
。。
石榴之屋星孩
星孩
从前有两个穷苦的樵夫正穿越一个大松林往家赶路。那是冬天的一个寒风刺骨的夜晚。
地上铺着厚厚的雪，树枝上积压着雪，在他们走过的时候，两旁的小树枝接连不断地被霜折
断，他们来到山涧的瀑布前时，霜也一动不动地停在空中，因为冰雪之王已经吻过她了。
这一夜实在是太冷了，就连鸟兽也不知道该怎么办才好。
“噢！”狼一边叫着，一边夹着尾巴从灌木林丛一拐一敲地走出来，“这真是倒霉的天
气，政府为什么不想想办法呢？”
“喔！喔！喔！”绿色梅花雀喳喳地叫道，“年迈的地球已经死了，他们已经用白寿衣
把她给收殓了。”
“地球要出嫁了，这是她的结婚礼服，”斑鸠们在一起彼此悄悄地说。他们的小红脚都
被冻坏了，不过他们觉得自己有责任用乐观浪漫的看法看待这一切。
“胡说！”狼咆哮着说。“我告诉你们这都是政府的过错，如果你们不相信我的话，我
会吃掉你们的。”狼有着完全务实的思想，他永远都不会找不到好的论点的。
“唔，就我个人而言，”啄木鸟说，他是一个天生的哲学家，“我关心的不是用作解释
的原子理论。如果一件事是什么样子，那么就本该如此，只是眼下实在是太冷了。”天气的
确是冷透了。住在高高杉树上的小松鼠们互相摩擦着鼻子来取暖，野兔们在自己的洞中龟缩
着身子，甚至不敢朝外而看上一眼。唯一好像欢喜这种天气的只有大角鸥了。他们的羽毛让
白霜冻得硬邦邦的，不过他们并不在意，他们不停地转动着他们那又大又黄的眼睛，隔着林
子彼此呼唤着，“吐威特！吐威特！吐威特！吐威特！今天的气候多么好呀！”
两个樵夫继续不停地往前赶着路，并起劲地朝自己的手指手上吹热气，脚上笨大的带铁
钉的靴子在雪块上踏行着。有一次他们陷进了一个深深的雪坑里去，等他们出来的时候浑身
上下白得就跟磨房的磨面师一样，这时石头也是很滑的；有一次他们在坚硬光滑的冰上跌倒
了，这冰是沼地上的水结成的，他们身上的柴捆跌落了，他们只好拾起来，重新捆绑好；还
有一次他们以为自己迷了路，心中害怕的不得了，因为他们深知雪对那些睡在她怀中的人是
很残酷的。不过他们信任那位好心的圣马丁（司旅行之神），他会照顾所有出门的人，于是
他们又照来路退回，小心翼翼地迈着脚步，最后他们终于来到了森林的出口处，并看见下面
山谷的远处亮着他们所在村庄的灯光。
发现自己已脱离了危境，他俩真是欣喜若狂，高兴得大笑起来，大地在他们眼中就好像
是一朵银白色的鲜花，月亮如同一朵金花。
然而笑过之后，他们又陷入了忧愁，因为他们想起了自己的穷困家境，一位樵夫对另一
个人说，“我们为什么要高兴呢，要知道生活是为有钱人准备的，不是为我们这样的穷人？
我们还不如冻死在森林中呢，或者让什么野兽抓住我们把我咬死。”
“真是如此，”他的伙伴回答说，“有些人享有的太多了，而另一些人却得到的太少
了。不公平已经把世界给瓜分了，除了忧愁之外，没有一件东西是公平分配的。”
可是就在他们相互悲叹各自的不幸生活时，一件奇怪的事情发生了。从天上掉下来一颗
非常明亮，非常美丽的星。它经过其它星星的身旁，从天边滑落了下来，他们惊讶地望着
它，在他们看来它似乎就落在小羊圈旁边不到一箭之遥的一丛柳树的后面。
“啊！谁要是找到它就可以得到一坛子黄金！”他们惊叫着，跑了出去，他们太想得到
黄金了。
其中一人跑得快一些，他超过了同伴，奋力穿过柳树丛，来到了树的另一边，呀！在雪
地上的确躺着一个黄金样的东西。他急忙赶过去，弯下身去用手去摸它，它是一件用金线织
的斗篷，上面精心地绣着好多星星，并叠成了许多折子。他大声地对自己的同伴说他已经找
到了从天上掉下来的财宝，等他的同伴走近时，他俩就在雪地上坐下来，把斗篷上的折子解
开，准备把金子拿出�