THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING
THE one who could do the most incredible thing should have the king's daughter and the half of his kingdom．
The young men，and even the old ones，strained all their thoughts，sinews，and muscles；two ate themselves to death，and one drank until he died，to do the most incredible thing according to their own taste，but it was not inthis way it was to be done．Little boys in the streets prac-tised spitting on their own backs，they considered that the most incredible thing．
On a certain day an exhibition was to be held of what each had to show as the most incredible．The judges who were chosen were children from three years old to people upin the sixties．There was a whole exhibition of incredible things，but all soon agreed that the most incredible was ahuge clock in a case marvellously designed inside and out．
On the stroke of every hour living figures came out，which showed what hour was striking：there were twelverepresentations in all，with moving figures and with musicand conversation．
"That was the most incredible thing，"the peoplesaid．
The clock struck one，and Moses stood on the moun－tain and wrote down on the tables of the law the first com-mandment，"There is only one true God．"
The clock struck two，and the garden of Eden ap－peared，where Adam and Eve met，happy both of them，without having so much as a wardrobe；they did not needone either．
On the stroke of three，the three kings from the Eastwere shown；one of them was coal－black，but he could nothelp that，—the sun had blackened him．They came withincense and treasures．
On the stroke of four came the four seasons：springwith a cuckoo on a budding beech-bough；summer with agrasshopper on a stalk of ripe corn；autumn with an emptystork's nest—the birds were flown；winter with an oldcrow which could tell stories in the chimney－corner，oldmemories．
When the clock struck five，the five senses ap－peared—sight as a spectacle-maker，hearing as a copper－smith，smell sold violets and woodruff，taste was cook，andfeeling was an undertaker with crape down to his heels．
The clock struck six；and there sat a gambler whothrew the dice，and the highest side was turned up andshowed six．
Then came the seven days of the week，or the sevendeadly sins，people were not certain which；they belongedto each other and were not easily distinguished．
Then came a choir of monks and sang the eighto'clock service．
On the stroke of nine came the nine muses；one wasbusy with astronomy；one with historical archives；the oth-ers belonged to the theatre．
On the stroke of ten，Moses again came forward withthe tables of the law，on which stood all God's command-ments，and they were ten．
The clock struck again；then little boys and girlsdanced and hopped about．They played a game，and sang，"Two and two and seven，the clock has struck eleven．"
When twelve struck the watchman appeared with hisfur cap and halberd：he sang the old watch verse：
"'Twas at the midnight hour Our Saviour He was born．"
And while he sang，roses grew and changed into an－gel－heads borne on rainbow-coloured wings．
It was charming to hear，and lovely to see．The wholewas a matchless work of art—the most incredible thing，every one said．
Tile designer of it was a young man，good－heartedand happy as a child，a true friend，and good to his oldparents；he deserved the Princess and the half of thekingdom．
The day of decision arrived；the whole of the townhad a holiday，and the Princess sat on the throne，whichhad got new horse－hair，but which was not any more com－fortable．The judges round about looked very knowingly atthe one who was to win，and he stood glad and confident；his good fortune was certain，he had made the most in－credible thing．
"No，I shall do that now！"shouted just then a longbony fellow．"I am the man for the most incrediblething，"and he swung a great axe at the work of art．
"Crash，crash！"and there lay the whole of it．Wheels and springs flew in all directions：everything wasdestroyed．
"That I could do！"said the man．"My work hasovercome his and overcome all of you．I have done themost incredible thing．"
"To destroy such a work of art！"said the judges．"Yes，certainly that is the most incredible thing．"
All the people said the same，and so he was to havethe Princess and the half of the kingdom，for a promise isa promise，even if it is of the most incredible kind．
It was announced with trumpet-blast from the ram- parts and from all the towers that the marriage should becelebrated．The Princess was not quite pleased about it，but she looked charming and was gorgeously dressed．Thechurch shone with candles；it shows best late in theevening．The noble maidens of the town sang and led thebride forward；the knights sang and accompanied thebridegroom．He strutted as if he could never be broken．
Now the singing stopped and one could have heard apin fall，but in the midst of the silence the great churchhdoor flew open with a crash and clatter，and boom！boom！the whole of the clock－work came marching up thepassage and planted itself between the bride and bride－groom．Dead men cannot walk again，we know that verywell，but a work of art can walk again；the body wasknocked to pieces，but not the spirit；the spirit of thework walked，and that in deadly earnest．
The work of art stood there precisely as if it werewhole and untouched．The hours struck，the one after theother，up to twelve，and the figures swarmed forward；first Moses：flames of fire seemed to flash from hisforehead；he threw the heavy stone tables down on the feetof the bridegroom and pinned them to the church floor．
"I cannot lift them again，"said Moses，"you haveknocked my arm off！Stand as you stand now！"
Then came Adam and Eve，the wise men from the Eaet，and the four Seasons；each of these told him un-pleasant truths，and said"For shame！"
But he was not in the least ashamed．
All the figures which each stroke of the clock had toexhibit came out of it，and all increased to a terrible size；there seemed scarcely to be room for the real people；andwhen at the stroke of twelve the watchman appeared withhis fur cap and halberd，there was a wonderful commotion；the watchman walked straight up to the bridegroom andstruck him on the forehead with his halberd．
"Lie there，"he said，"like for like！we are avengedand our master as well！we vanish！"
And so the whole work disappeared；but the candlesround about in the church became great bouquets，and thegilded stars on the ceiling of the church sent out long，clear beams，and the organ played of itself．All the peoplesaid it was the most incredible thing they had ever experi-enced．
"Will you then summon the right one！"said thePrincess，"the one who made the work of art；let him bemy lord and husband．"
And he stood in the church with the whole of the peo－ple for his retinue．All were glad and all blessed him；there was not one who was jealous—and that was the mostincredible thing of all．
谁能做出一件最难使人相信的事情，谁就可以得到国王的女儿和他的半个王国。
年轻人——甚至还有老年人——为这事绞尽了脑汁，竭尽了全力。有两个人把自己啃死了，有一个人喝酒喝得醉死了：他们都是照自己的一套办法来做出最难使人相信的事情，但是这种做法都不合乎要求。街上的小孩子都在练习朝自己背上吐唾沫——他们以为这就是最难使人相信的事情。
一天，有一个展览会开幕了；会上每人表演一件最难使人相信的事情。裁判员都是从三岁的孩子到90岁的老头子中挑选出来的。大家展出的最难使人相信的事情倒是不少，但是大家很快就取得了一致的意见，认为最难使人相信的一件东西是一座有框子的大钟：它里里外外的设计都非常奇妙。
它每敲一次就有活动的人形跳出来指明时刻。这样的表演一共有12次，每次都出现了能说能唱的活动人形。
钟敲一下，摩西就站在山上，在石板上写下第一道神谕：“真正的上帝只有一个。”
钟敲两下，伊甸园就出现了：亚当和夏娃两人在这儿会面，他们都非常幸福，虽然他们两人连一个衣柜都没有——他们也没有这个必要。
钟敲三下，东方就出现了三王。他们之中有一位黑得像炭，但是他也没有办法，因为太阳把他晒黑了，他们带来薰香和贵重的物品。
钟敲四下，四季就出现了。春天带来一只杜鹃，它栖在一根含苞的山毛榉枝上。夏天带来蚱蜢，它栖在一根熟了的麦秆上。秋天带来鹳鸟的一个空窝——鹳鸟都已经飞走了。冬天带来一只老乌鸦，它栖在火炉的一旁，讲着故事和旧时的回忆。
“五官”在钟敲5下的时候出现：视觉成了一个眼镜制造匠；听觉成了一个铜匠；嗅觉在卖紫罗兰和车叶草；味觉是一个厨子；感觉是一个承办丧事的人，他戴的黑纱一直拖到脚跟。
钟敲了6下。一个赌徒坐着掷骰子：最大的那一面朝上，上面是6点。
接着一星期的7天（或者7大罪过）出现了——人们不知道究竟是谁：他们都是半斤八两，不容易辨别。
于是一个僧人组成的圣诗班到来了，他们唱晚间八点钟的颂歌。
9位缪斯女神随着钟敲9下到来了：一位是天文学家，一位管理历史文件，其余的则跟戏剧有关。
钟敲10下，摩西带着他的诫条又来了——上帝的神谕就在这里面，一共有10条。
钟又敲起来了。男孩子和女孩子在跳来跳去；他们一面在玩一种游戏，一面在唱歌：
滴答，滴答，滴滴答， 钟敲了11下！
钟敲了12下。守夜人戴着毡帽、拿着“晨星”来了，他唱着一支古老的守夜歌：
这恰恰是半夜的时辰， 我们的救主已经出生！
当他正在唱的时候，玫瑰花长出来了，变成一个安琪儿的头，被托在五彩的翅膀上。
这听起来真是愉快，看起来真是美丽。这是无比的、最难使人相信的艺术品——大家都这样说。
制作它的是一个年轻的艺术家。他的心肠好，像孩子一样地快乐，他是一个忠实的朋友，对他上了年纪的父母非常孝顺。他应该得到那位公主和半个王国。
最后评判的一天到来了。全城都在张灯结彩。公主坐在王座上——坐垫里新添了马尾，但这并不使人觉得更舒服或更愉快。四周的裁判员会意地对那个快要获得胜利的人望了一眼——这人显得非常有把握和高兴：他的幸运是肯定的，因为他创造出了一件最难使人相信的东西。
“嗨，现在轮到我了！”这时一个又高又瘦的人大声说。“我才是做一件最难使人相信的事情的人呢！”
于是他对着这件艺术品挥起一把大斧头。
“噼！啪！哗啦！”全都完了。齿轮和弹簧到处乱飞；什么都毁掉了！
“这只有我才能做得出来！”这人说。“我的工作打倒了他的和每个人的工作。我做出了最难使人相信的事情！”
“你把这样一件艺术品毁掉了！”裁判员说，“这的确是最难使人相信的事情！”
所有在场的人都说着同样的话。他将得到公主和半个王国，因为一个诺言究竟是一个诺言，即使它最难使人相信也罢。
喇叭在城墙上和城楼上这样宣布：“婚礼就要举行了！”公主并不觉得太高兴，不过她的样子很可爱，衣服穿得也华丽。教堂里都点起了蜡烛，在黄昏中特别显得好看。城里的一些贵族小姐们，一面唱着歌，一面扶着公主走出来。骑士们也一面伴着新郎，一面唱着歌。他摆出一副堂而皇之的架子，好像谁也打不倒他似的。
歌声现在停止了。静得很，连一根针落到地上都听得见。不过在这沉寂之中，教堂的大门忽然嘎的一声开了，于是——砰！砰！钟的各种机件在走廊上走过去了，停在新娘和新郎中间。我们都知道，死人是不能再起来走路的，不过一件艺术品却是可以重新走路的：它的身体被打得粉碎，但是它的精神是完整的。艺术的精神在显灵；而这决不是开玩笑。
这件艺术品明明白白地站在那儿，好像它是非常完整，从来没有被毁坏过似的。钟在接二连三地敲着，一直敲到12点。那些人形都走了出来：第一个是摩西——他的额头上似乎在射出火光。他把刻着诫条的石块扔在新郎的脚上，把他钉在地上。
“我没有办法把它们搬开，”摩西说，“因为你打断了我的手臂！请你就待在这儿吧！”
接着亚当和夏娃、东方来的圣者和四季都来了。他们每人都说出那个很不好听的真理：
“你好羞耻呀！”
但是他一点也不感到羞耻。
那些在钟上每敲一次就出现的人形，都变得可怕地庞大起来，弄得真正的人几乎没有地方站得住脚。当钟敲到12下的时候，守夜人就戴着毡帽，拿着“晨星”走出来。这时起了一阵惊人的骚动。守夜人大步走到新郎身边，用“晨星”在他的额上痛打。
“躺在这儿吧，”他说，“一报还一报！我们现在报了仇，那位艺术家也报了仇！我们要去了！”
整个艺术品都不见了；不过教堂四周的蜡烛都变成了大朵的花束，同时天花板上的金星也射出长长的、明亮的光线来。风琴自动地奏起来了。大家都说，这是他们从来没有看见过的一件最难使人相信的事情。
“请你们把那位真正的人召进来！”公主说。“那位制造这件艺术品的人才是我的主人和丈夫！”
于是他走进教堂里来，所有的人都成了他的随从。大家都非常高兴，大家都祝福他。没有一个人嫉妒他——这真是一件最难使人相信的事情！
这篇故事最初发表在1870年9月纽约出版的《青少年河边杂志》第4卷上，在第二个月它又发表在哥本哈根出版的《新丹麦每月出版物》上。什么是“最难使人相信的事情？”这个故事本身已经说明了，那就是真正的艺术品。虽然“它的身体被打得粉碎，但是它的精神是完整的。艺术的精神在显灵，而这决不是开玩笑。”由于它，最难使人相信的奇迹才能出现。
关于这个故事，安徒生在他日记中的记载说明它是写于1870年4月下旬。他在1870年5月14日写给《青少年河边杂志》的编者斯古德的信说：“一星期以前，我寄给你为《青少年河边杂志》写的一篇新的故事《曾祖父》。今天我寄给你一篇完全新的作品（即《最难使人相信的事情》）。这也可以说是我写的一篇最好的故事。像《曾祖父》一样，在你的刊物没有发表以前，它将不在丹麦出版。”
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