安徒生童话英文阅读(2)

　　“That's not so bad,” said the soldier. “But what am I to give you, you old witch? for you will not do it for nothing, I fancy . ”

　　“No,” replied the witch, “not a single farthing will I have . You shall only bring me an old tinder-box which my grandmother forgot when she was down there last . ”

　　“Then tie the rope round my body,” cried the soldier.

　　“Here it is,” said the witch, “and here's my bluechecked apron . ”

　　Then the soldier climbed up into the tree, let himself slip down into the hole, and stood, as the witch had said, in the great hall where the many hundred lamps were burning.

　　Now he opened the first door. Ugh! There sat the dog with eyes as big as tea-cups, staring at him. “You' re a nice fellow!” exclaimed the soldier; and he set him on the witch' s apron, and took as many copper farthings as his pockets would hold, and then locked the chest, set the dog on it again, and went into the second chamber. Aha! There sat the dog with eyes as big as mill-wheels .

　　“You should not stare so hard at me , ” said the soldier; “you might strain your eyes.” And he set the dog up on the witch' s apron . When he saw the silver money in the chest, he threw away all the copper money he had, and filled his pockets and his knapsack with silver only . Then he went into the third chamber. Oh, but that was horrid ! The dog there really had eyes as big as the round tower and they turned round and round in his head like wheels .

　　“Good evening!” said the soldier; and he touched his cap , for he had never seen such a dog as that before . When he had looked at him a little more closely, he thought, “That will do,” and lifted him down to the floor, and opened the chest . Mercy ! What a quantity of gold was there ! He could buy with it the whole of Copenhagen , and the sugar pigs of the cake-woman , and all the tin soldiers , whips , and rocking-horses in the whole world . Yes , that was a quantity of money ! Now the soldier threw away all the silver coin with which he had filled his pockets and his knapsack, and took gold instead : yes , all his pockets , his knapsack, his boots, and his cap were filled , so that he could scarcely walk . Now indeed he had plenty of money. He put the dog, on the chest , shut the door , and then called up through the tree , “Now pull me up , you old witch . ”