Дюймовочка

           Pleaseflyawaywithme,dearlittleThumbelina, youwhosavedmylifewhenIlayfrozeninadarkholeintheearth." 

           "Yes,Iwillgowithyou!"saidThumbelina. Shesatonhisback,putherfeetonhisoutstretchedwings,andfastenedhersashtooneofhisstrongestfeathers. Thentheswallowsoaredintotheairoverforestsandoverlakes,highupoverthegreatmountainsthatarealwayscappedwithsnow. WhenThumbelinafeltcoldinthechillair, shecreptunderthebird’swarmfeathers,withonlyherlittleheadstuckouttowatchallthewonderfulsightsbelow. 

           Atlengththeycametothewarmcountries. Therethesunshonefarmorebrightlythaniteverdoeshere,andtheskyseemedtwiceashigh.Alongtheditchesandhedgerowsgrewmarvelousgreenandbluegrapes. Lemonsandorangeshunginthewoods. Theairsmelledsweetlyofmyrtleandthyme. Bythewayside,theloveliestchildrenranhitherandthither,playingwiththebrightlycoloredbutterflies. 

           Buttheswallowflewonstillfarther,anditbecamemoreandmorebeautiful. Undermagnificentgreentrees,ontheshoreofabluelaketherestoodanancientpalaceofdazzlingwhitemarble. Theloftypillarswerewreathedwithvines,andatthetopofthemmanyswallowshadmadetheirnests. OnenestbelongedtotheswallowwhocarriedThumbelina. 

           "Thisismyhome,"theswallowtoldher. "Ifyouwillchooseoneofthosegloriousflowersinbloomdownbelow,Ishallplaceyouinit,andyouwillhaveallthatyourheartdesires." 

           "Thatwillbelovely,"shecried,andclappedhertinyhands.