安徒生童話:Soup from a Sausage Skewer肉腸籤子湯
“Soup from a Sausage Skewer”
E had such an excellent dinner yesterday，“ said an old mouse of the female sex to another who had not been present at the feast. ”I sat number twenty-one below the mouse-king， which was not a bad place. Shall I tell you what we had？ Everything was first rate. Mouldy bread， tallow candle， and sausage. And then， when we had finished that course， the same came on all over again； it was as good as two feasts. We were very sociable， and there was as much joking and fun as if we had been all of one family circle. Nothing was left but the sausage skewers， and this formed a subject of conversation， till at last it turned to the proverb， 'Soup from sausage skins；' or， as the people in the neighboring country call it， 'Soup from a sausage skewer.' Every one had heard the proverb， but no one had ever tasted the soup， much less prepared it. A capital toast was drunk to the inventor of the soup， and some one said he ought to be made a relieving officer to the poor. Was not that witty？ Then the old mouse-king rose and promised that the young lady-mouse who should learn how best to prepare this much-admired and savory soup should be his queen， and a year and a day should be allowed for the purpose.“
“That was not at all a bad proposal，” said the other mouse； “but how is the soup made？”
“Ah， that is more than I can tell you. All the young lady mice were asking the same question. They wished very much to be queen， but they did not want to take the trouble of going out into the world to learn how to make soup， which was absolutely necessary to be done first. But it is not every one who would care to leave her family， or her happy corner by the fire-side at home， even to be made queen. It is not always easy to find bacon and cheese-rind in foreign lands every day， and it is not pleasant to have to endure hunger， and be perhaps， after all， eaten up alive by the cat.”
Most probably some such thoughts as these discouraged the majority from going out into the world to collect the required information. Only four mice gave notice that they were ready to set out on the journey. They were young and lively， but poor. Each of them wished to visit one of the four divisions of the world， so that it might be seen which was the most favored by fortune. Every one took a sausage skewer as a traveller's staff， and to remind them of the object of their journey. They left home early in May， and none of them returned till the first of May in the following year， and then only three of them. Nothing was seen or heard of the fourth， although the day of decision was close at hand. “Ah， yes， there is always some trouble mixed up with the GREatest pleasure，” said the mouse-king； but he gave orders that all the mice within a circle of many miles should be invited at once. They were to assemble in the kitchen， and the three travelled mice were to stand in a row before them， while a sausage skewer， covered with crape， was to be stuck up instead of the missing mouse. No one dared to express an opinion until the king spoke， and desired one of them to go on with her story. And now we shall hear what she said.
What the First Little Mouse Saw and Heard on Her Travels
HEN I first went out into the world，“ said the little mouse， ”I fancied， as so many of my age do， that I already knew everything， but it was not so. It takes years to acquire GREat knowledge. I went at once to sea in a ship bound for the north. I had been told that the ship's cook must know how to prepare every dish at sea， and it is easy enough to do that with plenty of sides of bacon， and large tubs of salt meat and mouldy flour. There I found plenty of delicate food， but no opportunity for learning how to make soup from a sausage skewer. We sailed on for many days and nights； the ship rocked fearfully， and we did not escape without a wetting. As soon as we arrived at the port to which the ship was bound， I left it， and went on shore at a place far towards the north. It is a wonderful thing to leave your own little corner at home， to hide yourself in a ship where there are sure to be some nice snug corners for shelter， then suddenly to find yourself thousands of miles away in a foreign land. I saw large pathless forests of pine and birch trees， which smelt so strong that I sneezed and thought of sausage. There were great lakes also which looked as black as ink at a distance， but were quite clear when I came close to them. Large swans were floating upon them， and I thought at first they were only foam， they lay so still； but when I saw them walk and fly， I knew what they were directly. They belong to the goose species， one can see that by their walk. No one can attempt to disguise family descent. I kept with my own kind， and associated with the forest and field mice， who， however， knew very little， especially about what I wanted to know， and which had actually made me travel abroad. The idea that soup could be made from a sausage skewer was to them such an out-of-the-way， unlikely thought， that it was repeated from one to another through the whole forest. They declared that the problem would never be solved， that the thing was an impossibility. How little I thought that in this place， on the very first night， I should be initiated into the manner of its preparation.
“It was the height of summer， which the mice told me was the reason that the forest smelt so strong， and that the herbs were so fragrant， and the lakes with the white swimming swans so dark， and yet so clear. On the margin of the wood， near to three or four houses， a pole， as large as the mainmast of a ship， had been erected， and from the summit hung wreaths of flowers and fluttering ribbons； it was the Maypole. Lads and lasses danced round the pole， and tried to outdo the violins of the musicians with their singing. They were as merry as ever at sunset and in the moonlight， but I took no part in the merry-making. What has a little mouse to do with a Maypole dance？ I sat in the soft moss， and held my sausage skewer tight. The moon threw its beams particularly on one spot where stood a tree covered with exceedingly fine moss. I may almost venture to say that it was as fine and soft as the fur of the mouse-king， but it was GREen， which is a color very agreeable to the eye. All at once I saw the most charming little people marching towards me. They did not reach higher than my knee； they looked like human beings， but were better proportioned， and they called themselves elves. Their clothes were very delicate and fine， for they were made of the leaves of flowers， trimmed with the wings of flies and gnats， which had not a bad effect. By their manner， it appeared as if they were seeking for something. I knew not what， till at last one of them espied me and came towards me， and the foremost pointed to my sausage skewer， and said， 'There， that is just what we want； see， it is pointed at the top； is it not capital？' and the longer he looked at my pilgrim's staff， the more delighted he became. 'I will lend it to you，' said I， 'but not to keep.'
“'Oh no， we won't keep it！' they all cried； and then they seized the skewer， which I gave up to them， and danced with it to the spot where the delicate moss GREw， and set it up in the middle of the green. They wanted a maypole， and the one they now had seemed cut out on purpose for them. Then they decorated it so beautifully that it was quite dazzling to look at. Little spiders spun golden threads around it， and then it was hung with fluttering veils and flags so delicately white that they glittered like snow in the moonshine. After that they took colors from the butterfly's wing， and sprinkled them over the white drapery which gleamed as if covered with flowers and diamonds， so that I could not recognize my sausage skewer at all. Such a maypole had never been seen in all the world as this. Then came a great company of real elves. Nothing could be finer than their clothes， and they invited me to be present at the feast； but I was to keep at a certain distance， because I was too large for them. Then commenced such music that it sounded like a thousand glass bells， and was so full and strong that I thought it must be the song of the swans. I fancied also that I heard the voices of the cuckoo and the black-bird， and it seemed at last as if the whole forest sent forth glorious melodies—the voices of children， the tinkling of bells， and the songs of the birds； and all this wonderful melody came from the elfin maypole. My sausage peg was a complete peal of bells. I could scarcely believe that so much could have been produced from it， till I remembered into what hands it had fallen. I was so much affected that I wept tears such as a little mouse can weep， but they were tears of joy. The night was far too short for me； there are no long nights there in summer， as we often have in this part of the world. When the morning dawned， and the gentle breeze rippled the glassy mirror of the forest lake， all the delicate veils and flags fluttered away into thin air； the waving garlands of the spider's web， the hanging bridges and galleries， or whatever else they may be called， vanished away as if they had never been. Six elves brought me back my sausage skewer， and at the same time asked me to make any request， which they would grant if in their power； so I begged them， if they could， to tell me how to make soup from a sausage skewer.
“'How do we make it？' said the chief of the elves with a smile. 'Why you have just seen it； you scarcely knew your sausage skewer again， I am sure.'
“they think themselves very wise， thought I to myself. Then I told them all about it， and why I had travelled so far， and also what promise had been made at home to the one who should discover the method of preparing this soup. 'What use will it be，' I asked， 'to the mouse-king or to our whole mighty kingdom that I have seen all these beautiful things？ I cannot shake the sausage peg and say， Look， here is the skewer， and now the soup will come. That would only produce a dish to be served when people were keeping a fast.'
“then the elf dipped his finger into the cup of a violet， and said to me， 'Look here， I will anoint your pilgrim's staff， so that when you return to your own home and enter the king's castle， you have only to touch the king with your staff， and violets will spring forth and cover the whole of it， even in the coldest winter time； so I think I have given you really something to carry home， and a little more than something.'”
But before the little mouse explained what this something more was， she stretched her staff out to the king， and as it touched him the most beautiful bunch of violets sprang forth and filled the place with perfume. The smell was so powerful that the mouse-king ordered the mice who stood nearest the chimney to thrust their tails into the fire， that there might be a smell of burning， for the perfume of the violets was overpowering， and not the sort of scent that every one liked.
“But what was the something more of which you spoke just now？” asked the mouse-king.
“Why，” answered the little mouse， “I think it is what they call 'effect；'” and thereupon she turned the staff round， and behold not a single flower was to be seen upon it！ She now only held the naked skewer， and lifted it up as a conductor lifts his baton at a concert. “Violets， the elf told me，” continued the mouse， “are for the sight， the smell， and the touch； so we have only now to produce the effect of hearing and tasting；” and then， as the little mouse beat time with her staff， there came sounds of music， not such music as was heard in the forest， at the elfin feast， but such as is often heard in the kitchen—the sounds of boiling and roasting. It came quite suddenly， like wind rushing through the chimneys， and seemed as if every pot and kettle were boiling over. The fire-shovel clattered down on the brass fender； and then， quite as suddenly， all was still，—nothing could be heard but the light， vapory song of the tea-kettle， which was quite wonderful to hear， for no one could rightly distinguish whether the kettle was just beginning to boil or going to stop. And the little pot steamed， and the GREat pot simmered， but without any regard for each； indeed there seemed no sense in the pots at all. And as the little mouse waved her baton still more wildly， the pots foamed and threw up bubbles， and boiled over； while again the wind roared and whistled through the chimney， and at last there was such a terrible hubbub， that the little mouse let her stick fall.
“That is a strange sort of soup，” said the mouse-king； “shall we not now hear about the preparation？”
“That is all，” answered the little mouse， with a bow.
“That all！” said the mouse-king； “then we shall be glad to hear what information the next may have to give us.”What the Second Mouse Had to Tell
WAS born in the library， at a castle，“ said the second mouse. ”Very few members of our family ever had the good fortune to get into the dining-room， much less the store-room. On my journey， and here to-day， are the only times I have ever seen a kitchen. We were often obliged to suffer hunger in the library， but then we gained a GREat deal of knowledge. The rumor reached us of the royal prize offered to those who should be able to make soup from a sausage skewer. Then my old grandmother sought out a manuscript which， however， she could not read， but had heard it read， and in it was written， 'Those who are poets can make soup of sausage skewers.' She then asked me if I was a poet. I felt myself quite innocent of any such pretensions. Then she said I must go out and make myself a poet. I asked again what I should be required to do， for it seemed to me quite as difficult as to find out how to make soup of a sausage skewer. My grandmother had heard a great deal of reading in her day， and she told me three principal qualifications were necessary—understanding， imagination， and feeling. 'If you can manage to acquire these three， you will be a poet， and the sausage-skewer soup will be quite easy to you.'
“So I went forth into the world， and turned my steps towards the west， that I might become a poet. Understanding is the most important matter in everything. I knew that， for the two other qualifications are not thought much of； so I went first to seek for understanding. Where was I to find it？ 'Go to the ant and learn wisdom，' said the GREat Jewish king. I knew that from living in a library. So I went straight on till I came to the first great ant-hill， and then I set myself to watch， that I might become wise. The ants are a very respectable people， they are wisdom itself. All they do is like the working of a sum in arithmetic， which comes right. 'To work and to lay eggs，' say they， 'and to provide for posterity， is to live out your time properly；' and that they truly do. They are divided into the clean and the dirty ants， their rank is pointed out by a number， and the ant-queen is number ONE； and her opinion is the only correct one on everything； she seems to have the whole wisdom of the world in her， which was just the important matter I wished to acquire. She said a great deal which was no doubt very clever； yet to me it sounded like nonsense. She said the ant-hill was the loftiest thing in the world， and yet close to the mound stood a tall tree， which no one could deny was loftier， much loftier， but no mention was made of the tree. One evening an ant lost herself on this tree； she had crept up the stem， not nearly to the top， but higher than any ant had ever ventured； and when at last she returned home she said that she had found something in her travels much higher than the ant-hill. The rest of the ants considered this an insult to the whole community； so she was condemned to wear a muzzle and to live in perpetual solitude. A short time afterwards another ant got on the tree， and made the same journey and the same discovery， but she spoke of it cautiously and indefinitely， and as she was one of the superior ants and very much respected， they believed her， and when she died they erected an eggshell as a monument to her memory， for they cultivated a great respect for science. I saw，” said the little mouse， “that the ants were always running to and fro with her burdens on their backs. Once I saw one of them drop her load； she gave herself a great deal of trouble in trying to raise it again， but she could not succeed. Then two others came up and tried with all their strength to help her， till they nearly dropped their own burdens in doing so； then they were obliged to stop for a moment in their help， for every one must think of himself first. And the ant-queen remarked that their conduct that day showed that they possessed kind hearts and good understanding. 'These two qualities，' she continued， 'place us ants in the highest degree above all other reasonable beings. Understanding must therefore be seen among us in the most prominent manner， and my wisdom is greater than all.' And so saying she raised herself on her two hind legs， that no one else might be mistaken for her. I could not therefore make an error， so I ate her up. We are to go to the ants to learn wisdom， and I had got the queen.
“I now turned and went nearer to the lofty tree already mentioned， which was an oak. It had a tall trunk with a wide-spreading top， and was very old. I knew that a living being dwelt here， a dryad as she is called， who is born with the tree and dies with it. I had heard this in the library， and here was just such a tree， and in it an oak-maiden. She uttered a terrible scream when she caught sight of me so near to her； like many women， she was very much afraid of mice. And she had more real cause for fear than they have， for I might have gnawed through the tree on which her life depended. I spoke to her in a kind and friendly manner， and begged her to take courage. At last she took me up in her delicate hand， and then I told her what had brought me out into the world， and she promised me that perhaps on that very evening she should be able to obtain for me one of the two treasures for which I was seeking. She told me that Phantaesus was her very dear friend， that he was as beautiful as the god of love， that he remained often for many hours with her under the leafy boughs of the tree which then rustled and waved more than ever over them both. He called her his dryad， she said， and the tree his tree； for the grand old oak， with its gnarled trunk， was just to his taste. The root， spreading deep into the earth， the top rising high in the fresh air， knew the value of the drifted snow， the keen wind， and the warm sunshine， as it ought to be known. 'Yes，' continued the dryad， 'the birds sing up above in the branches， and talk to each other about the beautiful fields they have visited in foreign lands； and on one of the withered boughs a stork has built his nest，—it is beautifully arranged， and besides it is pleasant to hear a little about the land of the pyramids. All this pleases Phantaesus， but it is not enough for him； I am obliged to relate to him of my life in the woods； and to go back to my childhood， when I was little， and the tree so small and delicate that a stinging-nettle could overshadow it， and I have to tell everything that has happened since then till now that the tree is so large and strong. Sit you down now under the GREen bindwood and pay attention， when Phantaesus comes I will find an opportunity to lay hold of his wing and to pull out one of the little feathers. That feather you shall have； a better was never given to any poet， it will be quite enough for you.'
“And when Phantaesus came the feather was plucked， and，” said the little mouse， “I seized and put it in water， and kept it there till it was quite soft. It was very heavy and indigestible， but I managed to nibble it up at last. It is not so easy to nibble one's self into a poet， there are so many things to get through. Now， however， I had two of them， understanding and imagination； and through these I knew that the third was to be found in the library. A GREat man has said and written that there are novels whose sole and only use appeared to be that they might relieve mankind of overflowing tears—a kind of sponge， in fact， for sucking up feelings and emotions. I remembered a few of these books， they had always appeared tempting to the appetite； they had been much read， and were so greasy， that they must have absorbed no end of emotions in themselves. I retraced my steps to the library， and literally devoured a whole novel， that is， properly speaking， the interior or soft part of it； the crust， or binding， I left. When I had digested not only this， but a second， I felt a stirring within me； then I ate a small piece of a third romance， and felt myself a poet. I said it to myself， and told others the same. I had head-ache and back-ache， and I cannot tell what aches besides. I thought over all the stories that may be said to be connected with sausage pegs， and all that has ever been written about skewers， and sticks， and staves， and splinters came to my thoughts； the ant-queen must have had a wonderfully clear understanding. I remembered the man who placed a white stick in his mouth by which he could make himself and the stick invisible. I thought of sticks as hobby-horses， staves of music or rhyme， of breaking a stick over a man's back， and heaven knows how many more phrases of the same sort relating to sticks， staves， and skewers. All my thoughts rein on skewers， sticks of wood， and staves； and as I am， at last， a poet， and I have worked terribly hard to make myself one， I can of course make poetry on anything. I shall therefore be able to wait upon you every day in the week with a poetical history of a skewer. And that is my soup.”
“In that case，” said the mouse-king， “we will hear what the third mouse has to say.”
“Squeak， squeak，” cried a little mouse at the kitchen door； it was the fourth， and not the third， of the four who were contending for the prize， one whom the rest supposed to be dead. She shot in like an arrow， and overturned the sausage peg that had been covered with crape. She had been running day and night. She had watched an opportunity to get into a goods train， and had travelled by the railway； and yet she had arrived almost too late. She pressed forward， looking very much ruffled. She had lost her sausage skewer， but not her voice； for she began to speak at once as if they only waited for her， and would hear her only， and as if nothing else in the world was of the least consequence. She spoke out so clearly and plainly， and she had come in so suddenly， that no one had time to stop her or to say a word while she was speaking. And now let us hear what she said.
What the Fourth Mouse， Who Spoke Before the Third， Had to Tell
STARTED off at once to the largest town，“ said she， ”but the name of it has escaped me. I have a very bad memory for names. I was carried from the railway， with some forfeited goods， to the jail， and on arriving I made my escape， and ran into the house of the turnkey. The turnkey was speaking of his prisoners， especially of one who had uttered thoughtless words. These words had given rise to other words， and at length they were written down and registered： 'The whole affair is like making soup of sausage skewers，' said he， 'but the soup may cost him his neck.'
“Now this raised in me an interest for the prisoner，” continued the little mouse， “and I watched my opportunity， and slipped into his apartment， for there is a mouse-hole to be found behind every closed door. The prisoner looked pale； he had a GREat beard and large， sparkling eyes. There was a lamp burning， but the walls were so black that they only looked the blacker for it. The prisoner scratched pictures and verses with white chalk on the black walls， but I did not read the verses. I think he found his confinement wearisome， so that I was a welcome guest. He enticed me with bread-crumbs， with whistling， and with gentle words， and seemed so friendly towards me， that by degrees I gained confidence in him， and we became friends； he divided his bread and water with me， gave me cheese and sausage， and I really began to love him. Altogether， I must own that it was a very pleasant intimacy. He let me run about on his hand， and on his arm， and into his sleeve； and I even crept into his beard， and he called me his little friend. I forgot what I had come out into the world for； forgot my sausage skewer which I had laid in a crack in the floor—it is lying there still. I wished to stay with him always where I was， for I knew that if I went away the poor prisoner would have no one to be his friend， which is a sad thing. I stayed， but he did not. He spoke to me so mournfully for the last time， gave me double as much bread and cheese as usual， and kissed his hand to me. Then he went away， and never came back. I know nothing more of his history.
“the jailer took possession of me now. He said something about soup from a sausage skewer， but I could not trust him. He took me in his hand certainly， but it was to place me in a cage like a tread-mill. Oh how dreadful it was！ I had to run round and round without getting any farther in advance， and only to make everybody laugh. The jailer's grand-daughter was a charming little thing. She had curly hair like the brightest gold， merry eyes， and such a smiling mouth.
“'You poor little mouse，' said she， one day as she peeped into my cage， 'I will set you free.' She then drew forth the iron fastening， and I sprang out on the window-sill， and from thence to the roof. Free！ free！ that was all I could think of； not of the object of my journey. It GREw dark， and as night was coming on I found a lodging in an old tower， where dwelt a watchman and an owl. I had no confidence in either of them， least of all in the owl， which is like a cat， and has a great failing， for she eats mice. One may however be mistaken sometimes； and so was I， for this was a respectable and well-educated old owl， who knew more than the watchman， and even as much as I did myself. The young owls made a great fuss about everything， but the only rough words she would say to them were， 'You had better go and make some soup from sausage skewers.' She was very indulgent and loving to her children. Her conduct gave me such confidence in her， that from the crack where I sat I called out 'squeak.' This confidence of mine pleased her so much that she assured me she would take me under her own protection， and that not a creature should do me harm. The fact was， she wickedly meant to keep me in reserve for her own eating in winter， when food would be scarce. Yet she was a very clever lady-owl； she explained to me that the watchman could only hoot with the horn that hung loose at his side； and then she said he is so terribly proud of it， that he imagines himself an owl in the tower；—wants to do great things， but only succeeds in small； all soup on a sausage skewer. Then I begged the owl to give me the recipe for this soup. 'Soup from a sausage skewer，' said she， 'is only a proverb amongst mankind， and may be understood in many ways. Each believes his own way the best， and after all， the proverb signifies nothing.' 'Nothing！' I exclaimed. I was quite struck. Truth is not always agreeable， but truth is above everything else， as the old owl said. I thought over all this， and saw quite plainly that if truth was really so far above everything else， it must be much more valuable than soup from a sausage skewer. So I hastened to get away， that I might be home in time， and bring what was highest and best， and above everything—namely， the truth. The mice are an enlightened people， and the mouse-king is above them all. He is therefore capable of making me queen for the sake of truth.”
“Your truth is a falsehood，” said the mouse who had not yet spoken； “I can prepare the soup， and I mean to do so.”
How It Was Prepared
DID not travel，“ said the third mouse； ”I stayed in this country： that was the right way. One gains nothing by travelling—everything can be acquired here quite as easily； so I stayed at home. I have not obtained what I know from supernatural beings. I have neither swallowed it， nor learnt it from conversing with owls. I have got it all from my reflections and thoughts. Will you now set the kettle on the fire—so？ Now pour the water in—quite full—up to the brim； place it on the fire； make up a good blaze； keep it burning， that the water may boil； it must boil over and over. There， now I throw in the skewer. Will the mouse-king be pleased now to dip his tail into the boiling water， and stir it round with the tail. The longer the king stirs it， the stronger the soup will become. Nothing more is necessary， only to stir it.“
“Can no one else do this？” asked the king.
“No，” said the mouse； “only in the tail of the mouse-king is this power contained.”
And the water boiled and bubbled， as the mouse-king stood close beside the kettle. It seemed rather a dangerous performance； but he turned round， and put out his tail， as mice do in a dairy， when they wish to skim the cream from a pan of milk with their tails and afterwards lick it off. But the mouse-king's tail had only just touched the hot steam， when he sprang away from the chimney in a GREat hurry， exclaiming， “Oh， certainly， by all means， you must be my queen； and we will let the soup question rest till our golden wedding， fifty years hence； so that the poor in my kingdom， who are then to have plenty of food， will have something to look forward to for a long time， with great joy.”
And very soon the wedding took place. But many of the mice， as they were returning home， said that the soup could not be properly called “soup from a sausage skewer，” but “soup from a mouse's tail.” They acknowledged also that some of the stories were very well told； but that the whole could have been managed differently. “I should have told it so—and so—and so.” These were the critics who are always so clever afterwards.
When this story was circulated all over the world， the opinions upon it were divided； but the story remained the same. And， after all， the best way in everything you undertake， GREat as well as small， is to expect no thanks for anything you may do， even when it refers to “soup from a sausage skewer.”
“昨天的晚餐好極了！”一隻老母耗子對一隻沒有參加那次宴會的耗子說。“我在老耗子王旁邊第二十一個坐位上，算是很不壞了！現在我給你講講那一道道的菜，安排得好極了！黴麵包、燻肉皮、油脂燭的頭和肉腸。——然後從頭再來一遍，我們就如同吃了兩頓飯一樣。氣氛令人舒暢，大家盡講些愉快的，瞎扯了一陣，就像一家人一樣。除開肉腸籤子外，甚麼東西都沒有剩下。於是我們便談起它們來，接着便談到肉腸籤子燒湯；這事我們大家當然都聽說過，可是誰也沒有嘗過這種湯，更不要說懂得怎麼去做它了。宴會上大家爲發明燒這種湯的乾一杯，他配得上做濟貧院院長！挺好玩，是不是？老耗子王站了起來許諾說，年輕耗子中誰能把這種湯燒得最可口，誰便可以被立爲他的皇后，從當天算起她們可以考慮整整一年。”“這並不算太壞！”另外那隻耗子說道，“可是這種湯怎麼個燒法呢？”“”是啊，怎麼個燒法？“她們大家，所有的母耗子，小的老的，也都問起這一點。她們都想當皇后，可是卻又都不願意找那種麻煩跑到茫茫世界裏去學，而這又是必要的！再說誰也沒有離開家，離開藏身角落的本事。在外頭並不是每天都能碰到乾酪皮，聞得到燻肉皮味的。不行，要捱餓的，是啊，說不定會活活被貓吃掉的。”
這些大約也就是嚇着大多數耗子不敢出去學這門手藝的想法。只有四隻耗子，年輕勇敢，可是貧寒，挺身而出。她們願各自去世界四角中的一角，於是問題是，誰的運氣好。她們只帶上一根肉腸籤子，以便記住她們遠行是爲了甚麼；籤子也算作她們漂亮的手杖。
五月頭上她們出發，一年後的五月初她們回來。但是隻回來了三隻，第四隻沒有露面，也沒有誰聽到過關於她的甚麼。現在到了決定的日子了。“在自己最愉快的時刻總也要有幾分憂傷！”耗子王說道。但是他還是下令，邀請附近方圓好幾裏地之內所有的耗子。他們都要集會在廚房裏，那三隻遠遊的耗子排成一行單獨在一邊；爲那沒有露面的第四隻耗子插了一根肉腸籤子，籤子上綁着黑紗。三隻耗子講述之前，耗子王沒有講下一步該說些甚麼之前，誰也不可以說自己的意見。
現在我們可以聽到了。
二、第一隻小耗子在遠行中看到和學到了甚麼
“在我進入茫茫世界的時候，”小耗子說道，“我以爲，就和許多與我年齡相仿的夥伴一樣，我已經汲取了整個世界的智慧。可是並非如此。要做到這一點，要很長很長的時間。我立刻漂洋過海，搭了一艘要往北去的船。我聽說在海上廚師要懂得對付任何場面，不過，要是你手頭有許多許多燻肉，一桶桶的鹹肉和黴麵粉，那對付甚麼場合都不是難事；生活太舒服了！但是你卻學不到怎麼拿肉腸籤子來燒湯。我們航行了好多天好多夜，我們受盡了顛簸，捱了不少雨澆。我們到達我們要去的口岸的時候，我就離開了船；那是老遠的北方。”離開自己呆慣了的角落，離開家，是很奇妙的。乘船，那也是一個角落，一下子突然跑到幾百裏之外，來到一個陌生的國家。那裏滿是野生樹林子，有云杉和白樺，這些樹的氣味濃極了！我不喜歡它！野生植物有一股刺激味，我打起嚏噴來，我想到了肉腸。裏面有很大的林中湖，近看水很清，但是從遠處看，卻黑得像墨水一樣。上面浮着白天鵝，我還以爲是水沫子，它們很安靜地浮在水面。可是我看見它們飛，看見它們走，所以我認出了它們。它們和鵝是一族的，這從它們行走的姿態便可以看出，沒有誰可以隱藏住自己的家族身世！我跟我的族類聚在一起，和松鼠和田鼠在一起。順便說一下，它們懂得的事真少得要命！特別是關於烹調方面的。而我之所以到國外去，正是爲了烹調。用肉腸籤子燒湯是可能的這種想法對它們來講真是非同小可。這種想法馬上便傳遍了整個樹林，但它們卻認爲完全不可能有辦法解決這個問題。我完全沒有想到，就在這個地方，就在那個晚上，我竟然找到了做法。那正是仲夏時分，所以樹林的氣味才這麼濃郁，它們說，所以植物的味道才這麼刺激，湖才這麼清澈但又如此黑，上面浮着白天鵝。在樹林的邊上，在三、四所屋子中間，立着一根桿子；高得像船上的大桅桿一樣，頂上掛着花環和絛帶，那是五朔節花柱1.姑娘和小夥子圍着它跳舞，隨着音樂師的提琴的拍節唱歌。在日落和月光中過得十分愉快，不過我沒有參加，一個小耗子到樹林舞會去幹甚麼！我坐在軟和的蘚苔上，拿着我的肉腸籤子。月亮的光特別照着一塊地方，那裏有一棵樹和一片蘚苔。蘚苔柔和極了，是啊，我敢說和老耗子王的皮一樣柔和，但是它的顏色是綠的，這對眼睛是非常有益的。之後突然有一羣非常好看的小人像操練一樣走來，這些人小得還夠不到我的膝蓋，他們看上去像人，但是身材更勻稱。他們稱自己是山精，穿着很精緻的花衣裳，衣邊用蒼蠅和蚊子翅膀鑲着，一點也不醜。一開始他們便好像在找甚麼似的，我可不知道找甚麼。但是接着便有兩個朝我走來，顯得最高貴的那個指着我的肉腸籤子說：“我們要用的正是這個東西！它的頭是削尖了的，它太好了！”他看着我的漂亮手杖。“”借可以，但不能要我的！“我說道。”“不要你的！”他們一起這樣說道。我鬆了手，他們拿走了肉腸籤子。他們帶着它，跳着舞走到了那一小片蘚苔地，把肉腸籤子插在綠蘚苔地的正中央。他們也要有自己的五朔節花柱，現在他們得到的這一根，你們知道，對他們來說，好像是專門爲這個而削的一樣。接着他們便把它裝飾起來；是啊，後來便像個樣子了。“小蜘蛛繞着它吐絲，掛上了很輕柔的紗和旗。織得細緻極了，在月光中白得和雪一樣，甚至刺花了我的眼睛。他們用蝴蝶翅膀的顏色滴染那些白色的紗，紗上便顯出一朵朵花和一顆顆鑽石。我都不再認得我的肉腸籤子了，他們打扮成的這麼一根五朔節花柱在世界上是找不到可以與之相比的。到這時，來了一大隊山精，他們全身裸露，再美也沒有了。我被邀請觀看這盛況，但是得站得遠遠的，因爲我對他們來說是太大了。”後來開始表演！就好像有上千只玻璃鍾在響一樣，既豐富又強烈；我想是天鵝在唱，是的，我似乎也聽到杜鵑和鶇2在唱，最後好像整個樹林都在合着一齊唱。有孩子的聲音，有鐘聲，有鳥聲，最美的調子；所有這些好聽的聲音都是從山精的五朔花柱傳出來的，真是一部完整的鐘鈴合奏；那是我的肉腸籤子。我從來沒有覺得過它會發出這樣的聲音。但這要看它落在誰的手裏。我真的感動極了；我哭了，一個小耗子能哭的那樣哭法，純粹是快樂的。“夜真是太短了！不過在那邊這些日子夜只能這麼長了。在黎明的時候，颳起了風，樹林中湖泊的水面被吹皺了。所有那些精細、飄忽的紗和旗都飛到了天上；片片葉子間那些蜘蛛絲織成的搖曳的涼亭、吊橋、欄杆，各種各樣玩意兒，都飛得無影無蹤。來了六個山精，送回我的肉腸籤子，問我有甚麼願望他們可以滿足的；於是我便請他們告訴我，怎麼樣用肉腸籤子燒湯。”“就是剛纔做的那樣！”那位最高貴的說，笑了：“是啊，你剛纔看過了！你大概不再辨認得出你的肉腸籤子了吧！”“”您的意思是說就那麼做！“我說道，並且直截說了我爲甚麼出來周遊，家裏又怎麼期待於我。”我看見了所有這一場熱鬧，“我問道，”這對耗子王和我們那一大個國家有甚麼好處！我總不能幾下子把它從肉腸籤子裏搖了出來，說湯來了！要知道，那總得是大家吃飽後再進的一道吃的呀！“”接着山精把他的小指頭戳到一朵藍色的紫羅蘭裏，對我說：“注意！現在我給你的漂亮手杖抹點東西，在你回到耗子王的宮堡的時候，用桿子碰一下你的國王的發熱的胸口，那麼整根桿子便會開滿紫羅蘭，即便是最寒冷的冬天也都是這樣。瞧，你總算帶了點甚麼東西回家了，而且還不是一小點呢！”“不過小耗子還沒有說那一小點是甚麼，她便把桿子掉向國王的胸口。真的，一下子開出了一大束最漂亮的花，味道濃郁極了；耗子王只得命令站得靠煙囪最近的那些耗子立刻把它們的尾巴伸到火裏，燒點焦味出來；因爲那紫羅蘭的味道讓大家受不了，那不是它們所喜歡的。”可是你說的那一小點呢？“耗子王問道。”是啊，“小耗子說道，”那大概就是大夥兒所謂的效果了吧！“於是她又掉過了肉腸籤子。這時上面的花全沒有了，她拿着的是一根光禿禿的籤子，她把它像一根牙籤似地舉了起來。”紫羅蘭是讓人用眼看，用鼻子聞和用手摸的，“山精告訴我，”不過，還剩下有給耳朵聽的和給舌頭嘗的！“接着她打起拍子來；音樂響了起來，不是樹林裏小山精們舉行歡宴時的那種音樂，不是的，是在廚房裏可以聽到的那種。吶，真夠熱鬧的！突然一下子，好像風颳過了所有的煙囪，呼呼地響；盆盆罐罐都溢了出來，火鏟子在敲撞黃銅鍋，接着突然之間，一切又都安靜了下來。可以聽到茶壺的低沉的歌聲，非常奇怪，也不知道它是結尾呢還是剛開始。小瓦壺裏水開了，大瓦罐裏水開了，誰都不把別的放在眼裏，就好像瓦罐都沒有了理智。小耗子不停地揮動着自己的指揮棒，——盆盆罐罐都冒氣，起泡，溢了出來，風呼呼響，煙囪也在叫- -呵嗨！真可怕，連小耗子自己也拿不住指揮棒了。”這湯可真夠嗆！“老耗子王說道，”該上湯了吧？“”全在這兒了！“小耗子說道，行了個屈膝禮。”全在這兒！好吧，讓我們聽一聽下一個有甚麼說的！“耗子王說道。
三、第二隻小耗子說些甚麼
“我出生在宮廷圖書館裏，”第二隻小耗子說道，“我和我們家的許多成員都沒有那種榮幸能進入餐廳，更不用說進到食物儲藏室了。現在我周遊了一遍，今天又到了這裏，我這才第一次看見一間廚房。在圖書館裏，我們真是時常捱餓的，不過我們得到了不少知識。國王爲能夠用肉腸籤子燒湯的人設獎的消息傳到了我們那裏，於是我的老祖母拖來了一份手稿。她讀不了它，可是她聽人念過，裏面說：”若是你是個詩人，你便可以用肉腸籤子燒湯了，“她問我是不是一位詩人。我說我那裏會是詩人，她說那麼我必須想法變成個詩人。可是做詩人有些甚麼條件呢，我問道，因爲找條件對我就跟做湯一樣困難。可是祖母聽到過別人讀；她說必須有三條：”智能、想像力和感覺！要是你身上有些這樣的東西，那麼你便成了詩人，便肯定能用肉腸籤子燒出湯來。“”於是我便往西去到那茫茫世界裏，想法變成詩人。“我知道任何事物當中最重要的是智能，其餘那兩部分不是那麼了不起！所以首先我便去找智能；是啊，牠居住在那兒？去螞蟻那兒也許就會變聰明！猶太國有一位國王是這麼說的3，這我是在圖書館裏知道的。直到我到達第一個大螞蟻丘之前我一路沒有停過，我在螞蟻丘那裏藏起來，等着變聰穎。”那是一大簇螞蟻，牠們簡直就是智能，牠們那裏甚麼東西都像是一道算得準確無誤的算術答題。工作和生螞蟻蛋都是爲了現實的生活，並且顧及到未來，牠們就是這麼做的。牠們分成乾淨的螞蟻和骯髒的；等級是用一個數字來表示的。蟻后是第一號，她的意見是唯一正確的，因爲她已經吸收了所有的智慧，知道這一點對我很重要。她說了許多，非常聰明，聰明得讓我覺得她的話都很蠢了。她說，牠們的丘堆是這個世界上最高的；可是就在丘堆緊旁邊就有一棵樹，樹比丘堆高，高得很多，這是不能否認的，所以也就沒有再談這個問題了。有一天傍晚，有一隻螞蟻在那一帶迷了路，爬到了樹幹上，還沒有爬到樹尖，但是到了比任何螞蟻以前到過的都要高一些的地方。牠回了自己巢裏，牠在丘堆裏把外面有高得多的東西這件事講了出來。可是，所有的螞蟻都認爲這是對整個社會的侮辱，於是這螞蟻便被判把嘴矇住，而且永遠不許和大家在一起。然而不久之後，有另外一隻螞蟻爬到了那棵樹上，同樣地經歷了一遍，有了同樣的發現，牠談到了這件事，正如牠們說的，口氣很有分寸，有些含糊其詞，由於它是一個受尊敬的螞蟻，是乾淨一類的螞蟻，於是其他的便相信了牠。在牠死後，牠們爲牠豎起了一個螞蟻蛋，算是紀念碑，因爲它們很尊敬科學。“”我看見，“小耗子說，”螞蟻把它們的蛋背在背上不停地跑。有一隻螞蟻的蛋掉落下來，牠費盡氣力要把它弄到背上去，但總辦不到。這時來了另外兩隻用盡氣力來幫忙，使得牠們自己背上的蛋差一點也掉了下來，於是牠們就不再幫了，因爲總是要首先顧自己的。關於這一點蟻后說，這件事表現了愛心和智能。“這兩者使我們在一切有理智的生靈中有最高的位置。智能應是最重要的，而我有最大的智能！”於是她站在後腳上，立了起來，她非常討厭，——我不會錯的，我把她吞了。去螞蟻那兒也許就能變聰明！現在我有了蟻后了！“我走近前面說過的那棵大樹。那是一棵橡樹，樹幹很高大，樹冠很宏偉，是棵很老的樹。我知道這裏住着一個生靈，一位婦人，她被人稱爲樹精，和樹同生同死；我在圖書館裏聽到過這一點。現在我看到了這樣一棵樹，看見了這樣一位橡樹婦人。看到我離她那麼近的時候，她尖叫了一聲；她，和所有的夫人一樣，很害怕耗子。但是她比起別的夫人來害怕的理由更多一些，因爲我可以啃樹，而剛纔說過她的性命是與樹相關聯的。我和藹地和懇切地說話，給她勇氣，她把我放在她那清秀的手裏。在她得知我爲甚麼跑到這廣闊的大世界裏來之後，她答應，說我說不定當天晚上便可以獲得我正在尋找的兩件寶貝之一。她說，想像力是她的非常要好的朋友，他漂亮得就和愛情之神一樣，說他經常到樹下樹葉茂密的枝子上休息，一到這樣的時候，風便更加強勁地在他們兩人上面颯颯刮過。他把她稱作是自己的樹精，她這樣說道，樹便成了他的樹。這節節疤疤粗壯而美麗的橡樹正是他所中意的，樹根在地裏深深地、牢牢地長着，樹桿和樹冠高高地伸向清新的天空。樹桿和樹冠懂得紛飛飄揚的雪、尖銳的風和溫暖的陽光，這些都是應該知道的。是的，她是這樣說的：”鳥兒在上邊歌唱，講述異國的事！在那唯一的一根死枝上鸛築了巢，裝點得很美，可以聽到些關於金字塔之國的事。這些想像力都很喜歡，這對他還不夠，我還得對他講從我還很小，樹還很稚嫩，一根蕁麻就可以把它遮住起，一直到現在樹已經長得這麼大這麼壯實爲止樹林中的生活的情況。現在你到車葉草下面去坐着，好生注意着，等想像力來了，我自會找機會掐他的翅膀，拽一根羽毛下來給你，任何詩人也得不到比它更好的了；——這就夠了！“”想像力來了，羽毛被扯了下來，我拿到了它，“小耗子說道，”我把它浸在水裏直到它變得柔軟！——即使這樣，要把它吞掉還是很難，可是我把它嚼碎！要嚼成一個詩人很不容易，要嚼下許多許多去。現在我有兩樣了，智能和想像力。有了它們，我現在知道了，第三種東西要在圖書館裏去找。有一位偉人曾經這麼說過和寫過，說有這麼一類長篇小說，寫這種東西單隻爲了吸乾人們的多餘的淚水，也就是說是一種可以吸收感覺的海綿體。我記得有兩本這樣的書，樣子總那麼合我的胃口。它被人讀過很多很多次，上面盡沾着油垢，它們一定吸收了說不盡的財富。“我回家到了圖書館裏，立刻就把差不多一整部長篇小說吃掉，也就是說那些柔軟的，真正的。而那硬皮、書殼，我則沒有動，讓它留着。在我啃完它，又啃了另一本之後，我已經感覺到我腹中有某種東西在蠢動了，我又啃了第三本一點兒，於是我成了詩人，我對自己這麼說，對別的人也這麼說。我有些頭痛，心肝五臟有點疼，我說不清我的那許多疼痛。現在我想，哪些故事能和一根肉腸籤子編在一起。於是我的思想中就跑出了許多許多的籤子，蟻后有過非凡的智能；我想起了那個人，他把一根白色的籤子放進嘴裏，於是他和籤子便隱掉了外形4.我想到裏面有根籤子的老啤酒5，想到站在籤子上，前面插根釘棺木用的籤子。我的思想裏全是籤子！關於這些籤子，在你已經是詩人的時候，一定能夠做出詩來的。現在我是了，我費盡辛苦達到了！這樣，我便會一個星期裏每天敬奉您一根籤子，一個故事， ——是的，這就是我的湯！”“好吧，讓我們聽聽第三隻！”耗子王說道。“吱！吱！”廚房門那兒傳來了這樣的聲音。一隻小耗子，那是第四隻，牠們以爲死掉了的那一隻，吱吱叫着進來了。牠跑着撞倒了那纏了黑紗的肉腸籤子。牠白天黑夜的跑着，牠還有機會在鐵路上搭過貨車；儘管這樣牠還是差一點來遲了。牠擠了進來，一身毛亂蓬蓬的，把自己的肉腸籤子給丟掉了，但並沒有丟掉聲音。牠馬上就講了起來，就好像大家只等着聽牠的故事，只要聽牠的，世界上其他一切都和世界無關似的；牠立刻講了起來，都倒了出來。牠來得如此突然，在牠講的時候，誰也沒有時間來制止牠和反對它所講的。好了，讓我們聽聽！
四、搶在第三隻耗子前講話的第四耗子知道都說了些甚麼
“我立刻便去了最大的城市，”牠說道，“名字我記不住，我不善於記名字。我乘上載着被沒收的貨物的火車來到了市議會大廳，又跑到了看管監獄的人那裏。他講到了他的犯人，特別談到一個盡講些不顧後果的話的犯人，他講的話別人又講來講去，寫成白紙黑字，由人說由人讀；”全是肉腸籤子燒的湯！“他說道，”可是這湯卻能讓他丟腦袋！“這就叫我對那個犯人有了興趣，”小耗子說道。“我注意找機會鑽到了他那裏；在上鎖的門後總有一個耗子洞！他面色蒼白，長着滿臉鬍鬚，一對大眼閃閃發光。燈在冒煙，四面的牆對此已很習慣，這些牆黑得不能再黑了。犯人又畫畫，又寫詩，用白粉筆塗在黑底子上。我沒有讀。我想，他是覺得膩味了；我是一個很受歡迎的客人。他用麵包屑，用口哨和溫和的話引誘我。他非常喜歡我，我也信任他，於是我們成了朋友。他和我分食麵包，共同飲水，給我乾酪和香腸；我過得好極了。但是我可以說，特別是我們的友好交往，才使我留下來的。他讓我爬到他的手掌上、爬到他的手臂上，一直到隔肢窩；他讓我在他的鬍鬚上爬，把我叫做他的小朋友。我對他很親熱。這種事總是有來有往的！我忘掉了我跑進這茫茫世界的使命，忘掉了我那藏在地板縫裏的肉腸籤子，它現在還在那裏呢。我願意留在那兒；要知道若是我走開了，那犯人便甚麼朋友也沒有了，在這個世界上這就太少了點了！我留下了，可他並沒有！最後那一回他十分悲哀地對我講話，加倍地給我麵包、乾酪皮，給我送來飛吻。他走了，再也沒有回來。我不知道他的往事。”肉腸籤子燒的湯！“看守監獄的人這麼說，於是我就去了他那裏，可是我不該相信他。他倒也把我放在手裏，可是他把我關進籠子裏，籠子裏裝着那種腳一踏便會滾動的？轆車；真要命！你跑呀跑，可是怎麼跑也還是在原地，只是引人笑，逗人樂！”那位看守的孫女是一個可愛的姑娘，長着金黃卷曲的頭髮，眼總是高高興興的，嘴也是笑哈哈的。“可憐的小耗子！”她說道，望進我那可怕的籠子裏，把鐵籤子抽了，——我一下子跳下到了窗框那兒，爬到外面屋簷上。自由了，自由了！我想到的只是這個，沒有想這次外出的目的。“這時天黑下來，快到夜晚了。我跑到一個古塔裏去藏身，裏面住着一位守塔的人和一隻貓頭鷹。對他們我誰都不相信，特別是貓頭鷹，牠像一隻貓，有吃耗子的大缺點。可是你也會弄錯的，我就是這樣。它是一隻很令人尊敬，非常有教養的小貓頭鷹；她知道的東西比守塔人知道的多得多，就和我一樣多。小貓頭鷹把甚麼事都攪得天翻地覆；”別拿肉腸籤子燒湯了！“她說道。這是她在這裏能說的最嚴厲的話，她對她自己的家庭非常真誠。我對她產生了很大的信任，在呆着的縫裏對她吱吱叫起來。她好像很喜歡這種信任，她向我保證，我會受到她的保護；任何動物也不許欺侮和傷害我，她要在冬天缺少食物的時候自己享用我。”她對甚麼事，對所有的事都知道得很透徹。她讓我相信，守塔人除非用那掛在身旁的號，否則他便不會吹。“他對這一點吹噓得天花亂墜，以爲他就是塔裏的貓頭鷹！想很了不起，可是卻很渺小！用肉腸籤子燒的湯！”我請她給我弄到方子，於是她便對我解釋說：“肉腸籤子燒湯只是人講話的一種方式，有各種不同的理解，每個人都認爲自己的理解是最正確的；可是一切一切實際上都就是這麼一回事！”“”就是這麼一回事！“我說道。我很吃驚！真理並不總是很令人舒服的，但是真理卻是至高無上的！老貓頭鷹也這樣說。我琢磨着，看出，在我把這至高無上的東西帶回的時候，那我帶回的東西比起肉腸籤子燒的湯可就多得多了。於是我便匆匆離開，及時趕回，帶來至高無上的、最好的東西：真理。耗子是有學問的一族，耗子王則是所有耗子中最最有學識的。由於真理的緣故，他是能立我爲後的。”“你的真理盡是些謊言！”那隻還沒有得到允許說話的耗子說道。“我會做這湯，我一定會做出它來！”
五、那湯是怎麼樣做出來的
“我沒有出去跑，”那第四隻耗子說道，“我在我們國家裏呆着，這樣做纔是對的！用不着出去跑，在這裏也照樣能得到一切。我留在這裏！我沒有去向那些超自然的生靈學，也沒有用吃的辦法去尋找，或者去跟貓頭鷹談。我是從自我思索中得到的。請您只消把罐子坐上，裝上水，裝得滿滿的，下面升上火！讓它燒，讓水燒開，一定要滾開！這時便可以把籤子丟進去！在這之後請耗子王不嫌棄把尾巴放進那滾開的水裏攪一攪！他攪的時間越長，湯便越濃；這沒有甚麼花費！用不着添甚麼配料，——只要攪！”“別的耗子攪行嗎？”耗子王問道。“不行！”那耗子說道，“那種力量只在耗子王的尾巴里纔會有！”
水滾開起來，耗子王緊靠旁邊站着，可以說是很危險的。牠把尾巴伸出來，就像耗子在放牛奶的屋子裏在一個罐子裏蹭奶上面的奶油然後舔尾巴一樣。但是牠剛把牠的尾巴伸到燙人的水蒸汽裏，牠立刻便跳了下來：“當然，你是我的皇后！”他說道，“湯等我們金婚紀念日再說吧！這樣我這個國家裏的那些貧苦耗子便有點可以高興的東西，長久地高興！”
之後，牠們結婚了！可是不少耗子回家的時候說，“這不能算是肉腸籤子燒的湯，更該叫做耗子尾巴湯！”——“講到的東西里有幾處講得相當好，他們覺得。但整個說來，可以完全是另一個樣！我可以把它講成這樣，這樣——！”
這是評論，評論總是很高明的——在事後。
故事傳遍了世界，看法各不相同。但故事保留完整，大事小事，肉腸籤子燒湯，總以這樣爲最好；只是你不要等着有人來道謝！
題注昔日丹麥人灌製肉腸，有用一根很細小的籤子將肉腸一頭封住的做法。人們用沸水煮洗，清洗這些籤子，以便反覆使用，於是便有了“肉腸籤子燒的清湯”的諺語，以喻那些言之無物的談話或文章。
1每年5月1日豎一根札有鮮花綠葉的柱子以表示慶賀，這是丹麥農村中的一種常見的風俗。但是在仲夏夜豎花柱在丹麥則很少見。安徒生1849年在瑞典參加過一次仲夏夜的晚會，瑞典人是圍着仲夏夜花柱跳舞唱歌的。不過那不能算五朔節花柱。
2一種陸棲林鳥，體約三寸。淡褐雜白羽毛。春日多善囀鳴。3這裏指的是猶太國王所羅門。歐洲有諺語說，要聰明，找螞蟻。人們說，這話是所羅門說的。
4丹麥民間有迷信，說，把一根剝了皮的樹枝放在嘴裏，人便會隱形不見。
5昔日丹麥人飲啤酒時，有時要摻些糖和燒酒，這樣他們便用一根籤子攪動啤酒，促使糖溶化。
