安徒生故事雙語
童話區別於一般的小說和故事之處，就在於它能借助幻想的力量，使我們平常見的各種平凡人物和現象，展現出不平凡的奇異光彩，為小讀者展開一個“幻想世界”。下面是小編為你整理的，希望對你有用!
篇1：the REAL PRINCESS豌豆公主
there was once a Prince who wished to marry aPrincess; but then she must be a real Princess. Hetravelled all over the world in hopes of finding such alady; but there was always something wrong.Princesses he found in plenty; but whether theywere real Princesses it was impossible for him todecide， for now one thing， now another， seemedto him not quite right about the ladies. At last hereturned to his palace quite cast down， because hewished so much to have a real Princess for his wife.
One evening a fearful tempest arose， it thundered and lightened， and the rain poureddown from the sky in torrents： besides， it was as dark as pitch. All at once there was heard aviolent knocking at the door， and the old King， the Prince's father， went out himself toopen it.
It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain and the wind，she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from her hair，and her clothes clung to herbody. She said she was a real Princess.
“Ah! we shall soon see that!” thought the old Queen-mother; however， she said not aword of what she was going to do; but went quietly into the bedroom，took all the bed-clothes off the bed， and put three little peas on the bedstead. She then laid twenty mattressesone upon another over the three peas， and put twenty feather beds over the mattresses.
Upon this bed the Princess was to pass the night.
the next morning she was asked how she had slept. “Oh， very badly indeed!” she replied. “I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through. I do not know what was in my bed，but I had something hard under me， and am all over black and blue. It has hurt me so much!”
Now it was plain that the lady must be a real Princess， since she had been able to feel thethree little peas through the twenty mattresses and twenty feather beds. None but a realPrincess could have had such a delicate sense of feeling.
the Prince accordingly made her his wife; being now convinced that he had found a realPrincess. The three peas were however put into the cabinet of curiosities， where they are stillto be seen， provided they are not lost.
Wasn't this a lady of real delicacy?
豌豆公主
從前有一位王子，他想找一位公主結婚，但她必須是一位真正的公主。
他走遍了全世界，想要尋到這樣的一位公主。可是無論他到什麼地方，他總是碰到一些障礙。公主倒有的是，不過他沒有辦法斷定她們究竟是不是真正的公主。她們總是有些地方不大對頭。
結果，他只好回家來，心中很不快活，因為他是那麼渴望著得到一位真正的公主。
有一天晚上，忽然起了一陣可怕的暴風雨。天空在掣電，在打雷，在下著大雨。這真有點使人害怕!
這時，有人在敲門，老國王就走過去開門。
站在城外的是一位公主。可是，天哪!經過了風吹雨打之後，她的樣子是多麼難看啊!水沿著她的頭髮和衣服向下面流，流進鞋尖，又從腳跟流出來。
她說她是一個真正的公主。
“是的，這點我們馬上就可以考查出來。”老皇后心裡想，可是她什麼也沒說。她走進臥房，把所有的被褥都搬開，在床榻上放了一粒豌豆。於是她取出二十床墊子，把它們壓在豌豆上。隨後，她又在這些墊子上放了二十床鴨絨被。
這位公主夜裡就睡在這些東西上面。
早晨大家問她昨晚睡得怎樣。
“啊，不舒服極了!”公主說，“我差不多整夜沒合上眼!天曉得我床上有件什麼東西?我睡到一塊很硬的東西上面，弄得我全身發青發紫，這真怕人!”
現在大家就看出來了。她是一位真正的公主，因為壓在這二十床墊子和二十床鴨絨被下面的一粒豌豆，她居然還能感覺得出來。除了真正的公主以外，任何人都不會有這麼嫩的面板的。
因此那位王子就選她為妻子了，因為現在他知道他得到了一位真正的公主。這粒豌豆因此也就被送進了博物館，如果沒有人把它拿走的話，人們現在還可以在那兒看到它呢。
篇2：the Swan's Nest天鵝的巢
BETWEEN the Baltic and the North Sea there liesan old swan's nest， wherein swans are born andhave been born that shall never die.
In olden times a flock of swans flew over theAlps to the GREen plains around Milan， where it wasdelightful to dwell. This flight of swans men calledthe Lombards.
Another flock， with shining plumage and honest eyes， soared southward to Byzantium;the swans established themselves there close by the Emperor's throne， and spread theirwings over him as shields to protect him. They received the name of Varangians.
On the coast of France there sounded a cry of fear， for the blood-stained swans that camefrom the North with fire under their wings; and the people prayed， “Heaven deliver us fromthe wild Northmen.”
On the fresh sward of England stood the Danish swan by the open seashore， with thecrown of three kingdoms on his head; and he stretched out his golden sceptre over the land.The heathens on the Pomerian coast bent the knee， and the Danish swans came with thebanner of the Cross and with the drawn sword.
“That was in the very old times，” you say.
In later days two mighty swans have been seen to fly from the nest. A light shone farthrough the air， far over the lands of the earth; the swan， with the strong beating of hiswings， scattered the twilight mists， and the starry sky was seen， and it was as if it camenearer to the earth. That was the swan Tycho Brahe.
“Yes， then，” you say; “but in our own days?”
We have seen swan after swan soar by in glorious flight. One let his pinions glide over thestrings of the golden harp， and it resounded through the North. Norway's mountains seemedto rise higher in the sunlight of former days; there was a rustling among the pine trees andthe birches; the gods of the North， the heroes， and the noble women， showed themselvesin the dark forest depths.
We have seen a swan beat with his wings upon the marble crag， so that it burst， andthe forms of beauty imprisoned in the stone stepped out to the sunny day， and men in thelands round about lifted up their heads to behold these mighty forms.
We have seen a third swan spinning the thread of thought that is fastened from country tocountry round the world， so that the word may fly with lightning speed from land to land.
And our Lord loves the old swan's nest between the Baltic and the North Sea. And whenthe mighty birds come soaring through the air to destroy it， even the callow young standround in a circle on the margin of the nest， and though their breasts may be struck so thattheir blood flows， they bear it， and strike with their wings and their claws.
Centuries will pass by， swans will fly forth from the nest， men will see them and hearthem in the world， before it shall be said in spirit and in truth， “This is the last swan—the lastsong from the swan's nest.”
在波羅的海和北海之間有一個古老的天鵝窠。它名叫丹麥。天鵝就是在它裡面生出來的，過去和現在都是這樣。它們的名字永遠不會被人遺忘。
在遠古的時候，有一群天鵝飛過阿爾卑斯山，在“五月的國度”1裡的綠色平原上落下來。住在這兒是非常幸福的。
這一群天鵝叫做“長鬍子人”.另外一群長著發亮的羽毛和誠實的眼睛的天鵝，飛向南方，在拜占庭3落下來。它們在皇帝的座位周圍住下來，同時伸開它們的白色大翅膀，保護他的盾牌。
法國的海岸上升起一片驚恐的聲音，因為嗜血狂的天鵝，拍著帶有火焰的翅膀，正在從北方飛來。人們祈禱著說：“願上帝把我們從這些野蠻的北歐人手中救出來!”
一隻丹麥的天鵝2站在英國碧綠的草原上，站在廣闊的海岸旁邊。他的頭上戴著代表三個王國的皇冠;他把他的王節伸向這個國家的土地上。
波美爾3海岸上的異教徒都在地上跪下來，因為丹麥的天鵝，帶著繪有十字的旗幟和拔出的劍，向這兒飛來了。
那是很久很久以前的事情!你會這樣說。
不過離我們的時代不遠，還有兩隻強大的天鵝從窠裡飛出來了。
一道光射過天空，射到世界的每個國土上。這隻天鵝拍著他的強大的翅膀，撒下一層黃昏的煙霧。接著星空漸漸變得更清楚，好像是快要接近地面似的。這隻天鵝的名字是透卻·布拉赫4.“是的，那是多少年以前的事情!”你可能說，“但是在我們的這個時代呢?”
在我們的這個時代裡，我們曾看見過許多天鵝在美麗地飛翔：有一隻1把他的翅膀輕輕地在金豎琴的弦上拂過去。這琴聲響遍了整個的北國：挪威的山似乎在古代的太陽光中增高了不少;松林和赤楊發出沙沙的迴音;北國的神仙、英雄和貴婦人在深黑的林中偷偷地露出頭角。
我們看到一隻天鵝在一個大理石山上拍著翅膀2，把這座山弄得崩裂了。被囚禁在這山中的美的形體，現在走到明朗的太陽光中來。世界各國的人抬起他們的頭來，觀看這些絕美的形體。
我們看到第三隻天鵝3紡著思想的線。這線繞著地球從這個國家牽到那個國家，好使語言像閃電似的從這個國家傳到那個國家。
我們的上帝喜歡這個位於波羅的海和北海之間的天鵝窠。讓那些強暴的鳥兒從空中飛來顛覆它吧。“永遠不準有這類事情發生!”甚至羽毛還沒有長全的小天鵝都會在這窠的邊緣守衛——我們已經看到過這樣的事情。他們可以讓他們的柔嫩的胸脯被啄得流血，但他們會用他們的嘴和爪鬥爭下去。
許多世紀將會過去，但是天鵝將會不斷地從這個窠裡飛出來。世界上的人將會看見他們，聽見他們。要等人們真正說“這是最後的一隻天鵝，這是天鵝窠裡發出的一個最後的歌聲”，那時間還早得很呢!
篇3：the Old Street Lamp老路燈
DID you ever hear the story of the old streetlamp? It is not remarkably interesting， but for oncein a way you may as well listen to it. It was a mostrespectable old lamp， which had seen many，many years of service， and now was to retire with apension. It was this evening at its post for the lasttime， giving light to the street. His feelings weresomething like those of an old dancer at thetheatre， who is dancing for the last time， and knows that on the morrow she will be in hergarret， alone and forgotten. The lamp had very GREat anxiety about the next day， for heknew that he had to appear for the first time at the town hall，
o be inspected by the mayorand the council， who were to decide if he were fit for further service or not;—whether thelamp was good enough to be used to light the inhabitants of one of the suburbs， or in thecountry， at some factory; and if not， it would be sent at once to an iron foundry， to bemelted down. In this latter case it might be turned into anything， and he wondered very muchwhether he would then be able to remember that he had once been a street lamp， and ittroubled him exceedingly. Whatever might happen， one thing seemed certain， that he wouldbe separated from the watchman and his wife， whose family he looked upon as his own. Thelamp had first been hung up on that very evening that the watchman， then a robust youngman， had entered upon the duties of his office. Ah， well， it was a very long time since onebecame a lamp and the other a watchman. His wife had a little pride in those days; she seldomcondescended to glance at the lamp， excepting when she passed by in the evening， never inthe daytime. But in later years， when all these，—the watchman， the wife， and the lamp—had grown old， she had attended to it， cleaned it， and supplied it with oil. The old peoplewere thoroughly honest， they had never cheated the lamp of a single drop of the oil providedfor it.
This was the lamp's last night in the street， and to-morrow he must go to the town-hall，—two very dark things to think of. No wonder he did not burn brightly. Many other thoughtsalso passed through his mind. How many persons he had lighted on their way， and how muchhe had seen; as much， very likely， as the mayor and corporation themselves! None ofthese thoughts were uttered aloud， however; for he was a good， honorable old lamp，who would not willingly do harm to any one， especially to those in authority. As many thingswere recalled to his mind， the light would FLASH up with sudden brightness; he had， at suchmoments， a conviction that he would be remembered. “There was a handsome young manonce，” thought he; “it is certainly a long while ago， but I remember he had a little note，written on pink paper with a gold edge; the writing was elegant， evidently a lady's hand：twice he read it through， and kissed it， and then looked up at me， with eyes that said quiteplainly， 'I am the happiest of men!' Only he and I know what was written on this his firstletter from his lady-love. Ah， yes，
and there was another pair of eyes that I remember，—it isreally wonderful how the thoughts jump from one thing to another! A funeral passed throughthe street; a young and beautiful woman lay on a bier， decked with garlands of flowers， andattended by torches， which quite overpowered my light. All along the street stood the peoplefrom the houses， in crowds， ready to join the procession. But when the torches had passedfrom before me， and I could look round， I saw one person alone， standing， leaning againstmy post， and weeping. Never shall I forget the sorrowful eyes that looked up at me.” Theseand similar reflections occupied the old street lamp， on this the last time that his light wouldshine. The sentry， when he is relieved from his post， knows at least who will succeed him，and may whisper a few words to him， but the lamp did not know his successor， or he couldhave given him a few hints respecting rain， or mist， and could have informed him how farthe moon's rays would rest on the pavement， and from which side the wind generally blew，and so on.
On the bridge over the canal stood three persons， who wished to recommendthemselves to the lamp， for they thought he could give the office to whomsoever he chose.The first was a herring's head， which could emit light in the darkness. He remarked that itwould be a GREat saving of oil if they placed him on the lamp-post. Number two was a piece ofrotten wood， which also shines in the dark. He considered himself descended from an oldstem， once the pride of the forest. The third was a glow-worm， and how he found his waythere the lamp could not imagine， yet there he was， and could really give light as well as theothers. But the rotten wood and the herring's head declared most solemnly，
by all they heldsacred， that the glow-worm only gave light at certain times， and must not be allowed tocompete with themselves. The old lamp assured them that not one of them could givesufficient light to fill the position of a street lamp; but they would believe nothing he said. Andwhen they discovered that he had not the power of naming his successor， they said they werevery glad to hear it， for the lamp was too old and worn-out to make a proper choice.
At this moment the wind came rushing round the corner of the street， and through theair-holes of the old lamp. “What is this I hear?” said he; “that you are going away to-morrow? Is this evening the last time we shall meet? Then I must present you with a farewellgift. I will blow into your brain， so that in future you shall not only be able to remember all thatyou have seen or heard in the past， but your light within shall be so bright， that you shall beable to understand all that is said or done in your presence.”
“Oh， that is really a very， very GREat gift，” said the old lamp; “I thank you mostheartily. I only hope I shall not be melted down.”
“That is not likely to happen yet，” said the wind; “and I will also blow a memory into you，so that should you receive other similar presents your old age will pass very pleasantly.”
“That is if I am not melted down，” said the lamp. “But should I in that case still retain mymemory?”
“Do be reasonable， old lamp，” said the wind， puffing away.
At this moment the moon burst forth from the clouds. “What will you give the old lamp?”asked the wind.
“I can give nothing，” she replied; “I am on the wane， and no lamps have ever given melight while I have frequently shone upon them.” And with these words the moon hid herselfagain behind the clouds， that she might be saved from further importunities. Just then a dropfell upon the lamp， from the roof of the house， but the drop explained that he was a giftfrom those gray clouds， and perhaps the best of all gifts. “I shall penetrate you sothoroughly，” he said， “that you will have the power of becoming rusty， and， if you wish it，to crumble into dust in one night.”
But this seemed to the lamp a very shabby present， and the wind thought so too. “Doesno one give any more? Will no one give any more?” shouted the breath of the wind， as loudas it could. Then a bright falling star came down， leaving a broad， luminous streak behind it.
“What was that?” cried the herring's head. “Didnot a star fall? I really believe it went into the lamp.Certainly， when such high-born personages try forthe office， we may as well say 'Good-night，' andgo home.”
And so they did， all three， while the old lampthrew a wonderfully strong light all around him.
“This is a glorious gift，” said he; “the brightstars have always been a joy to me， and havealways shone more brilliantly than I ever couldshine， though I have tried with my whole might; and now they have noticed me， a poor oldlamp， and have sent me a gift that will enable me to see clearly everything that I remember，as if it still stood before me， and to be seen by all those who love me. And herein lies thetruest pleasure， for joy which we cannot share with others is only half enjoyed.”
“That sentiment does you honor，” said the wind; “but for this purpose wax lights will benecessary. If these are not lighted in you， your particular faculties will not benefit others inthe least. The stars have not thought of this; they suppose that you and every other lightmust be a wax taper： but I must go down now.” So he laid himself to rest.
“Wax tapers， indeed!” said the lamp， “I have never yet had these， nor is it likely I evershall. If I could only be sure of not being melted down!”
the next day. Well， perhaps we had better pass over the next day. The evening hadcome， and the lamp was resting in a grandfather's chair， and guess where! Why， at the oldwatchman's house. He had begged， as a favor， that the mayor and corporation would allowhim to keep the street lamp， in consideration of his long and faithful service， as he hadhimself hung it up and lit it on the day he first commenced his duties， four-and-twenty yearsago. He looked upon it almost as his own child; he had no children， so the lamp was given tohim. There it lay in the GREat arm-chair near to the warm stove. It seemed almost as if it hadgrown larger，
for it appeared quite to fill the chair. The old people sat at their supper， castingfriendly glances at the old lamp， whom they would willingly have admitted to a place at thetable. It is quite true that they dwelt in a cellar， two yards deep in the earth， and they had tocross a stone passage to get to their room， but within it was warm and comfortable and stripsof list had been nailed round the door. The bed and the little window had curtains， andeverything looked clean and neat. On the window seat stood two curious flower-pots which asailor， named Christian， had brought over from the East or West Indies. They were of clay，and in the form of two elephants， with open backs; they were hollow and filled with earth，and through the open space flowers bloomed. In one grew some very fine chives or leeks; thiswas the kitchen garden. The other elephant， which contained a beautiful geranium， theycalled their flower garden. On the wall hung a large colored print， representing the congress ofVienna， and all the kings and emperors at once. A clock，
with heavy weights， hung on thewall and went “tick， tick，” steadily enough; yet it was always rather too fast， which，however， the old people said was better than being too slow. They were now eating theirsupper， while the old street lamp， as we have heard， lay in the grandfather's arm-chair nearthe stove. It seemed to the lamp as if the whole world had turned round; but after a while theold watchman looked at the lamp， and spoke of what they had both gone through together，—in rain and in fog; during the short bright nights of summer， or in the long winter nights，through the drifting snow-storms， when he longed to be at home in the cellar. Then the lampfelt it was all right again. He saw everything that had happened quite clearly， as if it werepassing before him. Surely the wind had given him an excellent gift. The old people were veryactive and industrious， they were never idle for even a single hour. On Sunday afternoonsthey would bring out some books， generally a book of travels which they were very fond of.The old man would read aloud about Africa， with its great forests and the wild elephants，while his wife would listen attentively， stealing a glance now and then at the clay elephants，which served as flower-pots.
“I can almost imagine I am seeing it all，” she said; and then how the lamp wished for awax taper to be lighted in him， for then the old woman would have seen the smallest detail asclearly as he did himself. The lofty trees， with their thickly entwined branches， the nakednegroes on horseback， and whole herds of elephants treading down bamboo thickets withtheir broad， heavy feet.
“What is the use of all my capabilities，” sighed the old lamp， “when I cannot obtain anywax lights; they have only oil and tallow here， and these will not do.” One day a GREat heapof wax-candle ends found their way into the cellar. The larger pieces were burnt， and thesmaller ones the old woman kept for waxing her thread. So there were now candles enough，but it never occurred to any one to put a little piece in the lamp.
“Here I am now with my rare powers，” thought the lamp， “I have faculties within me，but I cannot share them; they do not know that I could cover these white walls with beautifultapestry， or change them into noble forests， or， indeed， to anything else they might wishfor.” The lamp， however， was always kept clean and shining in a corner where it attracted alleyes. Strangers looked upon it as lumber， but the old people did not care for that; theyloved the lamp. One day—it was the watchman's birthday—the old woman approached thelamp， smiling to herself， and said， “I will have an illumination to-day in honor of my oldman.” And the lamp rattled in his metal frame， for he thought， “Now at last I shall have alight within me，” but after all no wax light was placed in the lamp，
but oil as usual. The lampburned through the whole evening， and began to perceive too clearly that the gift of thestars would remain a hidden treasure all his life. Then he had a dream; for， to one with hisfaculties， dreaming was no difficulty. It appeared to him that the old people were dead， andthat he had been taken to the iron foundry to be melted down. It caused him quite as muchanxiety as on the day when he had been called upon to appear before the mayor and thecouncil at the town-hall. But though he had been endowed with the power of falling into decayfrom rust when he pleased，
he did not make use of it. He was therefore put into the melting-furnace and changed into as elegant an iron candlestick as you could wish to see， oneintended to hold a wax taper. The candlestick was in the form of an angel holding a nosegay，in the centre of which the wax taper was to be placed. It was to stand on a GREen writingtable， in a very pleasant room; many books were scattered about， and splendid paintingshung on the walls. The owner of the room was a poet， and a man of intellect; everything hethought or wrote was pictured around him. Nature showed herself to him sometimes in the darkforests， at others in cheerful meadows where the storks were strutting about， or on thedeck of a ship sailing across the foaming sea with the clear， blue sky above， or at night theglittering stars. “What powers I possess!” said the lamp， awaking from his dream; “I couldalmost wish to be melted down; but no， that must not be while the old people live. They loveme for myself alone， they keep me bright， and supply me with oil. I am as well off as thepicture of the congress， in which they take so much pleasure.” And from that time he felt atrest in himself， and not more so than such an honorable old lamp really deserved to be.
你聽見過那個老路燈的故事嗎?它並不是怎麼特別有趣，不過聽它一次也沒有關係。
這是一個非常和善的老路燈。它服務了許多許多年，但是現在沒有人要它了。現在是它最後一晚待在桿子上，照著這條街。它的心情很像一個跳芭蕾舞的老舞女：現在是她最後一晚登臺，她知道明天她就要回到頂樓1裡去了。這個“明天”引起路燈的恐怖，因為它知道它將第一次要在市政府出現，被“36位先生”2審查一番，看它是不是還能繼續服務。
那時就要決定：要不要把它送去照亮一座橋，還是送到鄉下的一個工廠裡去，也可能直接送到一個鍊鐵廠去被熔掉。在這種情形下，它可能被改造成為任何東西。不過，它不知道，它是不是還能記得它曾經一度做過路燈——這問題使它感到非常煩惱。
不管情形怎樣，它將會跟那個守夜人和他的妻子分開——它一直把他們當做自己的家屬。它當路燈的時候也正是他當守夜人的時候。那時他的老婆頗有點自負。她只有在晚上走過路燈的時候，才瞧它一眼;在白天她是不睬它的。不過最近幾年間，他們三個人——守夜人、老婆和路燈——都老了;這位太太也來照料它，洗擦它，在它裡面加加油。這對夫婦是非常誠實的;他們從來不揩路燈的一滴油。
現在是路燈在街上的最後一晚了;明天它就得到市政府去。這兩件事情它一想起就難過!人們不難想像，它現在點燃的勁頭不大。不過它的腦子裡面也起了許多別的感想。它該是看過多少東西，該是照過多少東西啊，可能它看過的東西還比得上那“36位先生”呢。不過它不願意講出來，因為它是一個和善的老路燈。它不願意觸怒任何人，更不願意觸怒那些當權的人。它想起許多事情;偶爾之間，它的亮光就閃一下，好像它有這樣的感覺：“是的，人們也會記得我!曾經有一位美貌的年輕人——是的，那是很久很久以前的事了!他拿著一封信走來——一封寫在有金邊的、粉紅色的紙上的信，它的字跡是那麼美麗，像是一位小姐的手筆。
他把它讀了兩次，吻了它一下，然後抬起頭來看著我，他的眼睛在說：”我是一個最幸福的人!“只有他和我知道他的戀人的第一封信所寫的是甚麼東西。我還記起了另一對眼睛。說來也真妙，我們的思想會那麼漫無邊際!街上有一個盛大的送葬的行列。有一個年輕美麗的少婦躺在一個棺材裡。棺材擱在鋪滿了天鵝絨的、蓋滿了花朵和花圈的柩車上，許多火炬幾乎把我的眼睛都弄昏了。整個人行道上都擠滿了人，他們都跟在柩車後面。不過當火炬看不見了的時候，我向周圍望了一眼：還有一個人倚著路燈桿子在哭泣呢。我永遠也忘記不了那雙望著我的悲傷的眼睛!”
許多這類的回憶在老路燈的思想中閃過——這個今晚最後一次照著的老路燈。
一個要下班的哨兵最低限度會知道誰來接他的班，還可以和接班的人交代幾句話。但是路燈卻不知道它的繼承人;它可能供給一點關於雨和霧這類事情的情況，關於月亮在人行道上能照多遠、風兒多半會從哪方吹來這類材料。
有三個東西站在排水溝的橋上，它們把自己介紹給路燈，因為它們以為路燈可以讓位給它們。一個是青魚的頭——它在黑暗中可以發出亮光。它覺得如果有它待在路燈桿子上，人們可以節省許多油。另一個是一塊朽木——它也可以發出閃光。它對自己說，它的光起碼比魚頭的光要亮一點;何況它還是森林中一株最漂亮的樹的最後遺體。第三個是螢火蟲。這一位是甚麼地方的，路燈想像不出來。但是它卻居然來了，而且還在發著光。不過朽木和青魚頭髮誓說，螢火蟲只能在一定的時刻內發光，因此不能考慮它。
老路燈說它們哪個也發不出足夠的光，來完成一個路燈的任務。但是它們都不相信這話。當它們聽說老路燈自己不能把位置讓給別人的時候，它們很高興，覺得這是因為路燈老糊塗了，不會選擇繼承人。
在這同時，風兒從街角那邊走來，向老路燈的通風口裡吹，並且說：“我剛才聽到的這些話是甚麼意思呢?難道你明天就要離開嗎?難道這就是我看到你的最後一晚麼?那麼我送給你一件禮物吧!我將用一種特殊的方式向你的腦蓋骨裡吹，使你不僅能清楚地記得你看見過或聽到過的一切東西，同時還要使你有一個清醒的頭腦，使你能看到人們在你面前談到或講到的事情。”“是的，那真是太好了!”老路燈說。“我感謝你，只要我不會被熔掉!”“大概還不會的，”風兒說。“現在我將吹起你的記憶。如果你能多有幾件這樣的禮物，你的老年就可以過得很愉快了!”“只要我不會被熔掉!”路燈說。“也許，即使如此，你還能保證我有記憶吧!”“老路燈，請放得有理智些吧!”風兒說。於是風就吹起來。這時月亮走出來了。 “你將送點甚麼禮物呢?”風兒問。“我甚麼也不送，”月亮說。“我快要缺口了。燈兒從來不借光給我。相反地，我倒常常借光給他。”
說完這話以後，月亮就又鑽到雲塊後面去了，它不願意人們來麻煩它。
有一滴水從通風口裡落進來。這滴水好像是從屋頂上滴下來的。不過它說它是從烏雲上滴下來的，而且還有一件禮物——可能是一件最好的禮物。“我將浸潤你的全身，使得你——如果你願意的話——獲得一種力量，叫你一夜就把全身鏽掉，化成灰塵。”
不過路燈認為這是一件很不好的禮物;風兒也同意這種看法。“再沒有更好的嗎?再沒有更好的嗎?”風呼呼地使勁吹著。
這時一顆明亮的流星落下來了，形成一條長長的光帶。“那是甚麼?”青魚頭大聲說。“不是一顆星落下來了麼?我以為它落到路燈裡去了!如果地位這樣高的人物也來要他的位置，那麼我們最好還是回去睡覺的好!”
它這樣做了，其餘的兩位也這樣做了!不過老路燈忽然發出一道強烈的光來。“這是一件可愛的禮物，”它說。“我一直非常喜愛這些明星，他們發出那麼美麗的光，不管我怎樣努力和爭取，我自己是怎麼也做不到的;他們居然注意起我這個寒磣的老路燈來，派一顆星送一件禮物給我，使我有一種機能把我所能記得的和看見的東西也讓我所喜歡的人能夠看到。這才是真正的快樂哩。因為凡是我們不能跟別人共享的快樂，只能算是一半的快樂。”“這是一種值得尊敬的想法!”風兒說。“不過你不知道，為了達到這種目的，蠟燭是必要的。如果你的身體裡沒有燃著一支蠟燭，別人也不會看見你的任何東西。星星沒有想到這一點，他們以為凡是發光的東西，身體裡都有一根蠟燭。但是我現在困了!”風兒說，“我要睡了!”於是風就睡下了。
第二天——是的，我們可以把第二天跳過去。第二天晚上，路燈躺在一張椅子上。這是在甚麼地方呢?在那個老守夜人的屋子裡。他曾經請求過那“36位先生”准許他保留住這盞燈，作為他長期忠實服務的一種報酬。他們對他的要求大笑了一通;他們把這路燈送給了他。現在這燈就躺在一個溫暖的火爐旁的靠椅上。路燈彷彿比以前長得更大了，因為它幾乎把整個椅子都塞滿了。
這對老夫婦正在坐著吃晚飯，同時用溫柔的眼光望著這個老路燈。他們倒很想讓它坐上飯桌呢。
他們住的地方事實上是一個地窖，比地面要低兩碼。要走進這房間裡去，人們得通過一個有石子鋪地的過道。不過這裡是很舒適的;門上貼著許多布條，一切東西都顯得清潔和整齊;床的周圍和小窗上都掛著簾子。窗臺上放著兩個奇怪的花盆——是水手克利斯仙從東印度或西印度帶回來的。
那是用泥土燒成的兩隻象。這兩隻動物都沒有背;不過代替背的是人們放在它們身軀中的土，土裡還開出了花：一隻象里長出美麗的青蔥——這是這對老年人的菜園;另一隻象里長出一棵大天竺葵——這是他們的花園。牆上掛著一張大幅的彩色畫，描寫維也納會議1的情景。你一眼就可以看到所有的國王和皇帝。那架有沉重的鉛擺的、波爾霍爾姆鍾2在“滴答!滴答!”地走著，而它老是走得太快。不過這對老年人說，這比走得慢要好得多。
他們吃著晚飯。這個路燈，正如剛才說過了的，是躺在火爐旁邊的一個靠椅上。對路燈說來，這就好像整個世界翻了一個面。不過這個老守夜人望著它，談起他們兩人在雨和霧中，在短短的明朗的夏夜裡，在那雪花紛飛、使人想要回到地窖裡的家去的那些生活經歷，這時候，老路燈的頭腦就又變得清醒起來。那些生活又清清楚楚地在他面前出現。是的，風兒把它弄得亮起來了。
這對老人是很樸素和勤儉的。他們沒有浪費過一分鐘。在星期日下午他們總是拿出一兩本書來讀——一般說來，總是遊記一類的讀物。老頭兒高聲地讀著關於非洲、關於藏有大森林和野象的故事。老太太總是注意地聽著，同時偷偷地望著那對作為花盆的泥像。“我幾乎像是親眼看到過的一樣!”她說。
這時路燈特別希望它身體裡能有一根蠟燭在燃著，好叫這個老太太像它一樣能把一切東西都看得清清楚楚：那些枝丫交叉在一起的、高大的樹啦，騎在馬上的裸體黑人啦，用又寬又笨的腳在蘆葦和灌木上踩過去的一群一群的象啦。“如果我沒有蠟燭，那麼我的機能又有甚麼用呢?”路燈歎了一口氣。“他們只有清油和牛油燭，這個不成!”
有一天，地窖裡有了一紮蠟燭頭，頂大的那幾根被點著了;最小的那幾根老太太要在做針線時用來擦線。這樣一來，蠟燭倒是有了，但是沒有人想起放一小根到路燈裡面去。“我現在和我稀有的機能全在這兒!”路燈想。“我身體裡面甚麼都有，但是我沒有辦法讓他們來分享!他們不知道，我能在這白色的牆上變出最美麗的壁氈、豐茂的森林，和他們所能希望看到的一切東西。”
但是路燈待在牆角里，被擦得乾乾淨淨，弄得整整齊齊，引起所有的眼睛注意。人們說它是一件老廢料;不過那對老年夫婦倒不在乎，仍然愛這路燈。
有一天老守夜人的生日到來了。老太太走近這盞燈，溫和地微笑了一下，說：“我今晚要為他把燈點一下!”
路燈把它的鐵蓋嘎嘎地響了一下，因為它想：“現在我要為他們亮起來了。”但是它裡面只是加進了油，而沒有放蠟燭。路燈點了一整晚，只有現在它才懂得，星星所送給它的禮物——一切禮物之中最好一件禮物——恐怕只能算是它餘生中一件專用的“祕寶”了。這時它做了一個夢——凡是一個有稀有機能的人，做夢是不太難的。它夢見這對老夫婦都死了，它自己則被送進一個鐵鋪裡被熔掉了。它驚恐的程度，跟它那天要到市政府去、要被那“36位先生”檢查時差不多。雖然假如它願意的話，它有一種能力可以使自己生鏽和化為灰塵，但是它並不這樣做。它卻走進熔爐裡去，被鑄成了一架可以插蠟燭的最漂亮的燭臺。它的形狀是一個抱著花束的安琪兒;而蠟燭就插在這個花束的中央。這燭臺在一張綠色的寫字檯上佔了一個地位。這房間是非常舒適的;房間裡有許多書籍，牆上掛著許多名畫。這是一個詩人的房間。他所想的和寫的東西都在它的周圍展開。這房間有時變成深鬱的森林，有時變成太陽光照著的、有顴鳥在漫步的草原，有時變成在波濤洶湧的海上航行著的船。“我有多麼奇妙的機能啊!”老路燈醒來的時候說。“我幾乎想要熔化了!不成!只要這對老夫婦還活著，我決不能這樣做!他們因為我是一個路燈才愛我。我像他們的一個孩子。
他們洗擦我，餵我油吃。我現在情況好得像整個維也納會議，這真是一件了不起的事情!“
從那時候起，它享受著內心的平安，而這個和善的老路燈也應當有這種享受。