FAIRY　TALES　OF　HANS　CHRISTIAN　ANDERSEN
  THE　METAL　PIG
  by　Hans　Christian　Andersen
  IN　the　city　of　Florence；　not　far　from　the　Piazza　del　Granduca；
  runs　a　little　street　called　Porta　Rosa。　In　this　street；　just　in
  front　of　the　market…place　where　vegetables　are　sold；　stands　a　pig；
  made　of　brass　and　curiously　formed。　The　bright　color　has　been
  changed　by　age　to　dark　green；　but　clear；　fresh　water　pours　from　the
  snout；　which　shines　as　if　it　had　been　polished；　and　so　indeed　it
  has；　for　hundreds　of　poor　people　and　children　seize　it　in　their
  hands　as　they　place　their　mouths　close　to　the　mouth　of　the　animal；
  to　drink。　It　is　quite　a　picture　to　see　a　half…naked　boy　clasping　the
  well…formed　creature　by　the　head；　as　he　presses　his　rosy　lips
  against　its　jaws。　Every　one　who　visits　Florence　can　very　quickly
  find　the　place；　he　has　only　to　ask　the　first　beggar　he　meets　for　the
  Metal　Pig；　and　he　will　be　told　where　it　is。
  It　was　late　on　a　winter　evening；　the　mountains　were　covered　with
  snow；　but　the　moon　shone　brightly；　and　moonlight　in　Italy　is　like　a
  dull　winter's　day　in　the　north；　indeed　it　is　better；　for　clear　air
  seems　to　raise　us　above　the　earth；　while　in　the　north　a　cold；　gray；
  leaden　sky　appears　to　press　us　down　to　earth；　even　as　the　cold　damp
  earth　shall　one　day　press　on　us　in　the　grave。　In　the　garden　of　the
  grand　duke's　palace；　under　the　roof　of　one　of　the　wings；　where　a
  thousand　roses　bloom　in　winter；　a　little　ragged　boy　had　been　sitting
  the　whole　day　long；　a　boy；　who　might　serve　as　a　type　of　Italy；
  lovely　and　smiling；　and　yet　still　suffering。　He　was　hungry　and
  thirsty；　yet　no　one　gave　him　anything；　and　when　it　became　dark；　and
  they　were　about　to　close　the　gardens；　the　porter　turned　him　out。　He
  stood　a　long　time　musing　on　the　bridge　which　crosses　the　Arno；　and
  looking　at　the　glittering　stars；　reflected　in　the　water　which　flowed
  between　him　and　the　elegant　marble　bridge　Della　Trinita。　He　then
  walked　away　towards　the　Metal　Pig；　half　knelt　down；　clasped　it　with
  his　arms；　and　then　put　his　mouth　to　the　shining　snout　and　drank　deep
  draughts　of　the　fresh　water。　Close　by；　lay　a　few　salad…leaves　and
  two　chestnuts；　which　were　to　serve　for　his　supper。　No　one　was　in　the
  street　but　himself；　it　belonged　only　to　him；　so　he　boldly　seated
  himself　on　the　pig's　back；　leaned　forward　so　that　his　curly　head　could
  rest　on　the　head　of　the　animal；　and；　before　he　was　aware；　he　fell
  asleep。
  It　was　midnight。　The　Metal　Pig　raised　himself　gently；　and　the
  boy　heard　him　say　quite　distinctly；　〃Hold　tight；　little　boy；　for　I
  am　going　to　run；〃　and　away　he　started　for　a　most　wonderful　ride。
  First；　they　arrived　at　the　Piazza　del　Granduca；　and　the　metal　horse
  which　bears　the　duke's　statue；　neighed　aloud。　The　painted
  coats…of…arms　on　the　old　council…house　shone　like　transparent
  pictures；　and　Michael　Angelo's　David　tossed　his　sling；　it　was　as　if
  everything　had　life。　The　metallic　groups　of　figures；　among　which
  were　Perseus　and　the　Rape　of　the　Sabines；　looked　like　living
  persons；　and　cries　of　terror　sounded　from　them　all　across　the　noble
  square。　By　the　Palazzo　degli　Uffizi；　in　the　arcade；　where　the　nobility
  assemble　for　the　carnival；　the　Metal　Pig　stopped。　〃Hold　fast；〃　said
  the　animal；　〃hold　fast；　for　I　am　going　up　stairs。〃
  The　little　boy　said　not　a　word；　he　was　half　pleased　and　half
  afraid。　They　entered　a　long　gallery；　where　the　boy　had　been　before。
  The　walls　were　resplendent　with　paintings；　here　stood　statues　and
  busts；　all　in　a　clear　light　as　if　it　were　day。　But　the　grandest
  appeared　when　the　door　of　a　side　room　opened；　the　little　boy　could
  remember　what　beautiful　things　he　had　seen　there；　but　to…night
  everything　shone　in　its　brightest　colors。　Here　stood　the　figure　of　a
  beautiful　woman；　as　beautifully　sculptured　as　possible　by　one　of　the
  great　masters。　Her　graceful　limbs　appeared　to　move；　dolphins　sprang　at
  her　feet；　and　immortality　shone　from　her　eyes。　The　world　called　her
  the　Venus　de'　Medici。　By　her　side　were　statues；　in　which　the　spirit　of
  life　breathed　in　stone；　figures　of　men；　one　of　whom　whetted　his　sword；
  and　was　named　the　Grinder；　wrestling　gladiators　formed　another
  group；　the　sword　had　been　sharpened　for　them；　and　they　strove　for
  the　goddess　of　beauty。　The　boy　was　dazzled　by　so　much　glitter；　for　the
  walls　were　gleaming　with　bright　colors；　all　appeared　living　reality。
  As　they　passed　from　hall　to　hall；　beauty　everywhere　showed　itself；
  and　as　the　Metal　Pig　went　step　by　step　from　one　picture　to　the
  other；　the　little　boy　could　see　it　all　plainly。　One　glory　eclipsed
  another；　yet　there　was　one　picture　that　fixed　itself　on　the　little
  boy's　memory；　more　especially　because　of　the　happy　children　it
  represented；　for　these　the　little　boy　had　seen　in　daylight。　Many
  pass　this　picture　by　with　indifference；　and　yet　it　contains　a　treasure
  of　poetic　feeling；　it　represents　Christ　descending　into　Hades。　They
  are　not　the　lost　whom　the　spectator　sees；　but　the　heathen　of　olden
  times。　The　Florentine；　Angiolo　Bronzino；　painted　this　picture；　most
  beautiful　is　the　expression　on　the　face　of　the　two　children；　who
  appear　to　have　full　confidence　that　they　shall　reach　heaven　at　last。
  They　are　embracing　each　other；　and　one　little　one　stretches　out　his
  hand　towards　another　who　stands　below　him；　and　points　to　himself；　as
  if　he　were　saying；　〃I　am　going　to　heaven。〃　The　older　people　stand　as
  if　uncertain；　yet　hopeful；　and　they　bow　in　humble　adoration　to　the
  Lord　Jesus。　On　this　picture　the　boy's　eyes　rested　longer　than　on　any
  other：　the　Metal　Pig　stood　still　before　it。　A　low　sigh　was　heard。
  Did　it　come　from　the　picture　or　from　the　animal？　The　boy　raised　his
  hands　towards　the　smiling　children；　and　then　the　Pig　ran　off　with
  him　through　the　open　vestibule。
  〃Thank　you；　thank　you；　you　beautiful　animal；〃　said　the　little　boy；
  caressing　the　Metal　Pig　as　it　ran　down　the　steps。
  〃Thanks　to　yourself　also；〃　replied　the　Metal　Pig；　〃I　have　helped
  you　and　you　have　helped　me；　for　it　is　only　when　I　have　an　innocent
  child　on　my　back　that　I　receive　the　power　to　run。　Yes；　as　you　see；　I
  can　even　venture　under　the　rays　of　the　lamp；　in　front　of　the　picture
  of　the　Madonna；　but　I　may　not　enter　the　church；　still　from　without；
  and　while　you　are　upon　my　back；　I　may　look　in　through　the　open　door。
  Do　not　get　down　yet；　for　if　you　do；　then　I　shall　be　lifeless；　as　you
  have　seen　me　in　the　Porta　Rosa。〃
  〃I　will　stay　with　you；　my　dear　creature；〃　said　the　little　boy。
  So　then　they　went　on　at　a　rapid　pace　through　the　streets　of
  Florence；　till　they　came　to　the　square　before　the　church　of　Santa
  Croce。　The　folding…doors　flew　open；　and　light　streamed　from　the
  altar　through　the　church　into　the　deserted　square。　A　wonderful　blaze
  of　light　streamed　from　one　of　the　monuments　in　the　left…side　aisle；
  and　a　thousand　moving　stars　seemed　to　form　a　glory　round　it；　even
  the　coat…of…arms　on　the　tomb…stone　shone；　and　a　red　ladder　on　a　blue
  field　gleamed　like　fire。　It　was　the　grave　of　Galileo。　The　monument
  is　unadorned；　but　the　red　ladder　is　an　emblem　of　art；　signifying
  that　the　way　to　glory　leads　up　a　shining　ladder；　on　which　the　prophets
  of　mind　rise　to　heaven；　like　Elias　of　old。　In　the　right　aisle　of　the
  church　every　statue　on　the　richly　carved　sarcophagi　seemed　endowed
  with　life。　Here　stood　Michael　Angelo；　there　Dante；　with　the　laurel
  wreath　round　his　brow；　Alfieri　and　Machiavelli；　for　here　side　by
  side　rest　the　great　men…　the　pride　of　Italy。　The　church　itself　is　very
  beautiful；　even　more　beautiful　than　the　marble　cathedral　at
  Florence；　though　not　so　large。　It　seemed　as　if　the　carved　vestments
  stirred；　and　as　if　the　marble　figures　they　covered　raised　their
  heads　higher；　to　gaze　upon　the　brightly　colored　glowing　altar　where
  the　white…robed　boys　swung　the　golden　censers；　amid　music　and　song；
  while　the　strong　fragrance　of　incense　filled　the　church；　and
  streamed　forth　into　the　square。　The　boy　stretched　forth　his　hands
  towards　the　light；　and　at　the　same　moment　the　Metal　Pig　started
  again　so　rapidly　that　he　was　obliged　to　cling　tightly　to　him。　The　wind
  whistled　in　his　ears；　he　heard　the　church　door　creak　on　its　hinges
  as　it　closed；　and　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　had　lost　his　senses…
  then　a　cold　shudder　passed　over　him；　and　he　awoke。
  It　was　morning；　the　Metal　Pig　stood　in　its　old　place　on　the
  Porta　Rosa；　and　the　boy　found　he　had　slipped　nearly　off　its　back。　Fear
  and　trembling　came　upon　him　as　he　thought　of　his　mother；　she　had
  sent　him　out　the　day　before　to　get　some　money；　he　had　not　done　so；　and
  now　he　was　hungry　and　thirsty。　Once　more　he　clasped　the　neck　of　his
  metal　horse；　kissed　its　nose；　and　nodded　farewell　to　it。　Then　he
  wandered　away　into　one　of　the　narrowest　streets；　where　there　was
  scarcely　room　for　a　loaded　donkey　to　pass。　A　great　iron…bound　door
  stood　ajar；　he　passed　through；　and　climbed　up　a　brick　staircase；
  with　dirty　walls　and　a　rope　for　a　balustrade；　till　he　came　to　an
  open　gallery　hung　with　rags。　From　here　a　flight　of　steps　led　down　to　a
  court；　where　from　a　well　water　was　drawn　up　b