Andersen's Fairy Tales, The Red Shoes, part 4

The Red Shoes, part 4

Here, she knew, dwelt the executioner; and she tapped with her fingers at the window, and said, "Come out! Come out! I cannot come in, for I am forced to dance!" And the executioner said, "Thou dost not know who I am, I fancy? I strike bad people's heads off; and I hear that my axe rings!" "Don't strike my head off!" said Karen. "Then I can't repent of my sins! But strike off my feet in the red shoes!" And then she confessed her entire sin, and the executioner struck off her feet with the red shoes, but the shoes danced away with the little feet across the field into the deep wood.

And he carved out little wooden feet for her, and crutches, taught her the psalm criminals always sing; and she kissed the hand which had wielded the axe, and went over the heath.

"Now I have suffered enough for the red shoes!" said she. "Now I will go into the church that people may see me!" And she hastened towards the church door: but when she was near it, the red shoes danced before her, and she was terrified, and turned round. The whole week she was unhappy, and wept many bitter tears; but when Sunday returned, she said, "Well, now I have suffered and struggled enough! I really believe I am as good as many a one who sits in the church, and holds her head so high!" And away she went boldly; but she had not got farther than the churchyard gate before she saw the red shoes dancing before her; and she was frightened, and turned back, and repented of her sin from her heart.

And she went to the parsonage, and begged that they would take her into service; she would be very industrious, she said, and would do everything she could; she did not care about the wages, only she wished to have a home, and be with good people. And the clergyman's wife was sorry for her and took her into service; and she was industrious and thoughtful. She sat still and listened when the clergyman read the Bible in the evenings. All the children thought a great deal of her; but when they spoke of dress, and grandeur, and beauty, she shook her head.

The following Sunday, when the family was going to church, they asked her whether she would not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully, with tears in her eyes, at her crutches.

The Red Shoes, part 4 Los zapatos rojos, parte 4 Les chaussures rouges, partie 4 Os sapatos vermelhos, parte 4

Here, she knew, dwelt the executioner; and she tapped with her fingers at the window, and said, "Come out! Sie wusste, dass hier der Henker wohnte, und sie klopfte mit den Fingern an das Fenster und sagte: "Komm heraus! Come out! I cannot come in, for I am forced to dance!" Ich kann nicht reinkommen, denn ich bin gezwungen zu tanzen!" And the executioner said, "Thou dost not know who I am, I fancy? Und der Henker sagte: "Du weißt nicht, wer ich bin, oder? I strike bad people's heads off; and I hear that my axe rings!" Ich schlage bösen Menschen die Köpfe ab, und ich höre, dass meine Axt klingelt!" "Don't strike my head off!" said Karen. "Then I can't repent of my sins! "Dann kann ich meine Sünden nicht bereuen! But strike off my feet in the red shoes!" And then she confessed her entire sin, and the executioner struck off her feet with the red shoes, but the shoes danced away with the little feet across the field into the deep wood. Und dann gestand sie ihre ganze Sünde, und der Scharfrichter schlug ihr mit den roten Schuhen die Füße ab, aber die Schuhe tanzten mit den Füßchen über das Feld in den tiefen Wald davon.

And he carved out little wooden feet for her, and crutches, taught her the psalm criminals always sing; and she kissed the hand which had wielded the axe, and went over the heath. Und er schnitzte ihr kleine Holzfüße und Krücken, lehrte sie den Psalm, den Verbrecher immer singen, und sie küsste die Hand, die die Axt geführt hatte, und ging über die Heide.

"Now I have suffered enough for the red shoes!" "Jetzt habe ich genug für die roten Schuhe gelitten!" said she. "Now I will go into the church that people may see me!" "Jetzt werde ich in die Kirche gehen, damit die Leute mich sehen können!" And she hastened towards the church door: but when she was near it, the red shoes danced before her, and she was terrified, and turned round. Und sie eilte zur Kirchentür; als sie aber nahe daran war, tanzten die roten Schuhe vor ihr, und sie erschrak und wandte sich um. The whole week she was unhappy, and wept many bitter tears; but when Sunday returned, she said, "Well, now I have suffered and struggled enough! Die ganze Woche über war sie unglücklich und weinte viele bittere Tränen; aber als der Sonntag zurückkehrte, sagte sie: "Nun habe ich genug gelitten und gekämpft! I really believe I am as good as many a one who sits in the church, and holds her head so high!" Ich glaube wirklich, ich bin so gut wie manch einer, der in der Kirche sitzt und sein Haupt so hoch hält!" And away she went boldly; but she had not got farther than the churchyard gate before she saw the red shoes dancing before her; and she was frightened, and turned back, and repented of her sin from her heart. Und sie ging kühn fort; aber sie war nicht weiter als bis zum Tor des Kirchhofs gekommen, als sie die roten Schuhe vor sich tanzen sah; und sie erschrak, kehrte um und bereute ihre Sünde von Herzen.

And she went to the parsonage, and begged that they would take her into service; she would be very industrious, she said, and would do everything she could; she did not care about the wages, only she wished to have a home, and be with good people. Und sie ging zum Pfarrhaus und bat darum, dass man sie in den Dienst nehmen würde; sie würde sehr fleißig sein, sagte sie, und alles tun, was sie könne; der Lohn sei ihr egal, sie wolle nur ein Zuhause haben und bei guten Menschen sein. And the clergyman's wife was sorry for her and took her into service; and she was industrious and thoughtful. Und die Frau des Pfarrers hatte Mitleid mit ihr und nahm sie in ihren Dienst; und sie war fleißig und aufmerksam. She sat still and listened when the clergyman read the Bible in the evenings. Sie saß still und hörte zu, wenn der Pfarrer abends aus der Bibel las. All the children thought a great deal of her; but when they spoke of dress, and grandeur, and beauty, she shook her head. Alle Kinder hielten sehr viel von ihr, aber wenn sie von Kleidung, Pracht und Schönheit sprachen, schüttelte sie den Kopf.

The following Sunday, when the family was going to church, they asked her whether she would not go with them; but she glanced sorrowfully, with tears in her eyes, at her crutches. Am folgenden Sonntag, als die Familie zur Kirche ging, fragten sie sie, ob sie nicht mitgehen wolle, aber sie blickte traurig und mit Tränen in den Augen auf ihre Krücken.