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The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, YOUTH, 7. Claus Leaves the Forest

YOUTH, 7. Claus Leaves the Forest

When good Queen Zurline had touched the golden chalice with her fair lips and it had passed around the circle in honor of the travelers' return, the Master Woodsman of the World, who had not yet spoken, turned his gaze frankly upon Claus and said: "Well?" The boy understood, and rose slowly to his feet beside Necile. Once only his eyes passed around the familiar circle of nymphs, every one of whom he remembered as a loving comrade; but tears came unbidden to dim his sight, so he gazed thereafter steadfastly at the Master. "I have been ignorant," said he, simply, "until the great Ak in his kindness taught me who and what I am. You, who live so sweetly in your forest bowers, ever fair and youthful and innocent, are no fit comrades for a son of humanity. For I have looked upon man, finding him doomed to live for a brief space upon earth, to toil for the things he needs, to fade into old age, and then to pass away as the leaves in autumn. Yet every man has his mission, which is to leave the world better, in some way, than he found it. I am of the race of men, and man's lot is my lot. For your tender care of the poor, forsaken babe you adopted, as well as for your loving comradeship during my boyhood, my heart will ever overflow with gratitude. My foster-mother," here he stopped and kissed Necile's white forehead, "I shall love and cherish while life lasts. But I must leave you, to take my part in the endless struggle to which humanity is doomed, and to live my life in my own way." "What will you do?" asked the Queen, gravely. "I must devote myself to the care of the children of mankind, and try to make them happy," he answered. "Since your own tender care of a babe brought to me happiness and strength, it is just and right that I devote my life to the pleasure of other babes. Thus will the memory of the loving nymph Necile be planted within the hearts of thousands of my race for many years to come, and her kindly act be recounted in song and in story while the world shall last. Have I spoken well, O Master?" "You have spoken well," returned Ak, and rising to his feet he continued: "Yet one thing must not be forgotten. Having been adopted as the child of the Forest, and the playfellow of the nymphs, you have gained a distinction which forever separates you from your kind. Therefore, when you go forth into the world of men you shall retain the protection of the Forest, and the powers you now enjoy will remain with you to assist you in your labors. In any need you may call upon the Nymphs, the Ryls, the Knooks and the Fairies, and they will serve you gladly. I, the Master Woodsman of the World, have said it, and my Word is the Law!" Claus looked upon Ak with grateful eyes. "This will make me mighty among men," he replied. "Protected by these kind friends I may be able to make thousands of little children happy. I will try very hard to do my duty, and I know the Forest people will give me their sympathy and help." "We will!" said the Fairy Queen, earnestly. "We will!" cried the merry Ryls, laughing. "We will!" shouted the crooked Knooks, scowling. "We will!" exclaimed the sweet nymphs, proudly. But Necile said nothing. She only folded Claus in her arms and kissed him tenderly. "The world is big," continued the boy, turning again to his loyal friends, "but men are everywhere. I shall begin my work near my friends, so that if I meet with misfortune I can come to the Forest for counsel or help." With that he gave them all a loving look and turned away. There was no need to say good by, by for him the sweet, wild life of the Forest was over. He went forth bravely to meet his doom--the doom of the race of man--the necessity to worry and work. But Ak, who knew the boy's heart, was merciful and guided his steps. Coming through Burzee to its eastern edge Claus reached the Laughing Valley of Hohaho. On each side were rolling green hills, and a brook wandered midway between them to wind afar off beyond the valley. At his back was the grim Forest; at the far end of the valley a broad plain. The eyes of the young man, which had until now reflected his grave thoughts, became brighter as he stood silent, looking out upon the Laughing Valley. Then on a sudden his eyes twinkled, as stars do on a still night, and grew merry and wide. For at his feet the cowslips and daisies smiled on him in friendly regard; the breeze whistled gaily as it passed by and fluttered the locks on his forehead; the brook laughed joyously as it leaped over the pebbles and swept around the green curves of its banks; the bees sang sweet songs as they flew from dandelion to daffodil; the beetles chirruped happily in the long grass, and the sunbeams glinted pleasantly over all the scene. "Here," cried Claus, stretching out his arms as if to embrace the Valley, "will I make my home!" That was many, many years ago. It has been his home ever since. It is his home now.

YOUTH, 7. Claus Leaves the Forest JUGEND, 7. der Weihnachtsmann verlässt den Wald JUVENTUD, 7. Claus abandona el bosque JEUNESSE, 7. Le Père Noël quitte la forêt YOUTH, 7.クラウス、森を去る MŁODZIEŻ, 7. Mikołaj opuszcza las ЮНІСТЬ, 7. Клаус виходить з лісу

When good Queen Zurline had touched the golden chalice with her fair lips and it had passed around the circle in honor of the travelers' return, the Master Woodsman of the World, who had not yet spoken, turned his gaze frankly upon Claus and said: "Well?" عندما لمست الملكة الطيبة زورلين الكأس الذهبية بشفتيها الجميلتين ودورت حول الدائرة تكريمًا لعودة المسافرين، وجه سيد حطاب العالم، الذي لم يتكلم بعد، نظرته بصراحة إلى كلوز وقال: "حسنًا؟" The boy understood, and rose slowly to his feet beside Necile. لقد فهم الصبي الأمر، ووقف ببطء على قدميه بجوار نيكيلي. O menino entendeu e levantou-se lentamente ao lado de Necile. Once only his eyes passed around the familiar circle of nymphs, every one of whom he remembered as a loving comrade; but tears came unbidden to dim his sight, so he gazed thereafter steadfastly at the Master. ذات مرة فقط مرت عيناه حول الدائرة المألوفة من الحوريات، اللاتي كان يتذكر كل واحدة منهن كرفيق محب؛ لكن الدموع جاءت دون منع لتحجب بصره، لذلك حدق بعد ذلك بثبات إلى السيد. "I have been ignorant," said he, simply, "until the great Ak in his kindness taught me who and what I am. قال ببساطة: «لقد كنت جاهلًا، حتى علمني آك العظيم بلطفه من أكون وما أنا. You, who live so sweetly in your forest bowers, ever fair and youthful and innocent, are no fit comrades for a son of humanity. أنت، الذي تعيش بشكل لطيف للغاية في تعريشات الغابات الخاصة بك، دائمًا ما تكون عادلاً وشبابيًا وبريئًا، لست رفاقًا مناسبين لابن الإنسانية. Você, que vive tão docemente em seus abrigos na floresta, sempre belo, jovem e inocente, não é um companheiro adequado para um filho da humanidade. For I have looked upon man, finding him doomed to live for a brief space upon earth, to toil for the things he needs, to fade into old age, and then to pass away as the leaves in autumn. لقد نظرت إلى الإنسان، ووجدته محكومًا عليه أن يعيش لفترة قصيرة على الأرض، وأن يكدح من أجل الأشياء التي يحتاج إليها، ثم يتلاشى في سن الشيخوخة، ثم يختفي مثل أوراق الشجر في الخريف. Yet every man has his mission, which is to leave the world better, in some way, than he found it. ومع ذلك فإن لكل إنسان مهمته، وهي أن يترك العالم بطريقة ما أفضل مما وجده. I am of the race of men, and man's lot is my lot. أنا من جنس البشر، ونصيب الإنسان هو نصيبي. Eu sou da raça dos homens, e a sorte do homem é a minha sorte. For your tender care of the poor, forsaken babe you adopted, as well as for your loving comradeship during my boyhood, my heart will ever overflow with gratitude. على رعايتك الرقيقة للطفل الفقير المهجور الذي تبنته، وكذلك على رفاقك المحببين خلال طفولتي، سوف يفيض قلبي بالامتنان. My foster-mother," here he stopped and kissed Necile's white forehead, "I shall love and cherish while life lasts. أمي بالتبني،" هنا توقف وقبل جبين نيكيلي الأبيض، "سأحب وأعتز ما دامت الحياة. Minha mãe adotiva,” ele parou e beijou a testa branca de Necile, “eu amarei e cuidarei enquanto a vida durar. But I must leave you, to take my part in the endless struggle to which humanity is doomed, and to live my life in my own way." لكن يجب أن أتركك، لأقوم بدوري في الصراع الذي لا ينتهي والذي محكوم على الإنسانية به، ولأعيش حياتي بطريقتي الخاصة. "What will you do?" "ماذا ستفعل؟" asked the Queen, gravely. سألت الملكة بجدية. "I must devote myself to the care of the children of mankind, and try to make them happy," he answered. فأجاب: "يجب أن أكرس نفسي لرعاية أطفال البشرية، ومحاولة إسعادهم". "Since your own tender care of a babe brought to me happiness and strength, it is just and right that I devote my life to the pleasure of other babes. "بما أن رعايتك الرقيقة لطفل جلبت لي السعادة والقوة، فمن العدل والصواب أن أكرس حياتي لمتعة الأطفال الآخرين. Thus will the memory of the loving nymph Necile be planted within the hearts of thousands of my race for many years to come, and her kindly act be recounted in song and in story while the world shall last. وهكذا ستُزرع ذكرى الحورية المحببة نيكيلي في قلوب الآلاف من أبناء عرقي لسنوات عديدة قادمة، وسيتم سرد عملها اللطيف في الأغنية والقصة بينما سيستمر العالم. Have I spoken well, O Master?" "You have spoken well," returned Ak, and rising to his feet he continued: "Yet one thing must not be forgotten. Having been adopted as the child of the Forest, and the playfellow of the nymphs, you have gained a distinction which forever separates you from your kind. بعد أن تم تبنيك كطفل الغابة، ورفيق الحوريات، فقد اكتسبت تمييزًا يفصلك إلى الأبد عن نوعك. Therefore, when you go forth into the world of men you shall retain the protection of the Forest, and the powers you now enjoy will remain with you to assist you in your labors. لذلك، عندما تخرج إلى عالم البشر، ستحتفظ بحماية الغابة، وستظل القوى التي تتمتع بها الآن معك لمساعدتك في أعمالك. In any need you may call upon the Nymphs, the Ryls, the Knooks and the Fairies, and they will serve you gladly. في أي حاجة، يمكنك استدعاء الحوريات والريلز والنوك والجنيات، وسوف يخدمونك بكل سرور. I, the Master Woodsman of the World, have said it, and my Word is the Law!" أنا، سيد الحطاب في العالم، قلت ذلك، وكلمتي هي القانون!" Claus looked upon Ak with grateful eyes. "This will make me mighty among men," he replied. فأجاب: "هذا سيجعلني عظيما بين الرجال". "Protected by these kind friends I may be able to make thousands of little children happy. "بحماية هؤلاء الأصدقاء الطيبين، قد أتمكن من إسعاد آلاف الأطفال الصغار. I will try very hard to do my duty, and I know the Forest people will give me their sympathy and help." "We will!" said the Fairy Queen, earnestly. قالت الملكة الجنية بجدية. "We will!" cried the merry Ryls, laughing. بكى ريلز المرح وهو يضحك. "We will!" shouted the crooked Knooks, scowling. صاح نوك الملتوي عابسًا. "We will!" exclaimed the sweet nymphs, proudly. - صرخت الحوريات اللطيفات بفخر. But Necile said nothing. She only folded Claus in her arms and kissed him tenderly. لقد طويت كلوز بين ذراعيها فقط وقبلته بحنان. "The world is big," continued the boy, turning again to his loyal friends, "but men are everywhere. واصل الصبي حديثه متوجهًا مرة أخرى إلى أصدقائه المخلصين: «العالم كبير، لكن الرجال موجودون في كل مكان. I shall begin my work near my friends, so that if I meet with misfortune I can come to the Forest for counsel or help." سأبدأ عملي بالقرب من أصدقائي، حتى إذا واجهت مصيبة أستطيع القدوم إلى الغابة للحصول على المشورة أو المساعدة.» With that he gave them all a loving look and turned away. There was no need to say good by, by for him the sweet, wild life of the Forest was over. He went forth bravely to meet his doom--the doom of the race of man--the necessity to worry and work. لقد انطلق بشجاعة ليواجه عذابه - عذاب الجنس البشري - ضرورة القلق والعمل. But Ak, who knew the boy's heart, was merciful and guided his steps. لكن آك الذي عرف قلب الصبي كان رحيما ويرشد خطواته. Coming through Burzee to its eastern edge Claus reached the Laughing Valley of Hohaho. مرورًا ببورزي إلى حافتها الشرقية، وصل كلاوس إلى وادي هوهاهو الضاحك. On each side were rolling green hills, and a brook wandered midway between them to wind afar off beyond the valley. على كل جانب كانت هناك تلال خضراء متموجة، وكان جدول يتجول في منتصف الطريق بينهما ليتعرج بعيدًا وراء الوادي. At his back was the grim Forest; at the far end of the valley a broad plain. The eyes of the young man, which had until now reflected his grave thoughts, became brighter as he stood silent, looking out upon the Laughing Valley. أصبحت عيون الشاب، التي كانت حتى الآن تعكس أفكاره الجسيمة، أكثر إشراقا عندما وقف صامتا، ينظر إلى الوادي الضاحك. Then on a sudden his eyes twinkled, as stars do on a still night, and grew merry and wide. وفجأة، لمعت عيناه، كما تفعل النجوم في ليلة ساكنة، واتسعت واتسعت. For at his feet the cowslips and daisies smiled on him in friendly regard; the breeze whistled gaily as it passed by and fluttered the locks on his forehead; the brook laughed joyously as it leaped over the pebbles and swept around the green curves of its banks; the bees sang sweet songs as they flew from dandelion to daffodil; the beetles chirruped happily in the long grass, and the sunbeams glinted pleasantly over all the scene. "Here," cried Claus, stretching out his arms as if to embrace the Valley, "will I make my home!" صاح كلاوس وهو يمد ذراعيه وكأنه يعانق الوادي: «هنا، هل سأجعل مني بيتًا لي؟» That was many, many years ago. It has been his home ever since. It is his home now.