Снігова королева
What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what Happened Afterward
Hefoundwholefigureswhichrepresentedawrittenword;buthenevercouldmanagetorepresentjustthewordhewanted—thatwordwas"eternity"; andtheSnowQueenhadsaid,"Ifyoucandiscoverthatfigure,youshallbeyourownmaster,andIwillmakeyouapresentofthewholeworldandapairofnewskates." Buthecouldnotfinditout.
"Iamgoingnowtowarmlands,"saidtheSnowQueen."Imusthavealookdownintotheblackcaldrons." ItwasthevolcanoesVesuviusandEtnathatshemeant. Andthenawaysheflew,andKaysatquitealoneintheemptyhallsoficethatweremileslong,andlookedattheblocksofice,andthoughtandthoughttillhisskullwasalmostcracked. Therehesatquitebenumbedandmotionless;onewouldhaveimaginedhewasfrozentodeath.
SuddenlylittleGerdasteppedthroughthegreatportalintothepalace.Thegatewasformedofcuttingwinds; butGerdarepeatedhereveningprayer,andthewindswerelaidasthoughtheyslept;andthelittlemaidenenteredthevast,empty,coldhalls.ThereshebeheldKay: sherecognisedhim,flewtoembracehim,andcriedout,herarmsfirmlyholdinghimthewhile, "Kay,sweetlittleKay!HaveIthenfoundyouatlast?"
Buthesatquitestill,benumbedandcold.ThenlittleGerdashedburningtears; andtheyfellonhisbosom,theypenetratedtohisheart,theythawedthelumpsofice,andconsumedthesplintersofthelooking-glass;helookedather,andshesangthehymn:
"Theroseinthevalleyisbloomingsosweet,
Andangelsdescendtherethechildrentogreet."
