onCE upon a time there was little girl, pretty and dainty. But in summer time she was obliged to go barefooted because she was poor, and in winter she had to wear large wooden shoes, so that her little instep grew quite red.
In the middle of the village lived an old shoemakers wife; she sat down and made, as well as she could, a pair of little shoes out of some old pieces of red cloth. They were clumsy, but she meant well, for they were intended for the little girl, whose name was Karen.
Karen received the shoes and wore them for the first time on the day of her mothers funeral. They were certainly not suitable for mourning; but she had no others, and so she put her bare feet into them and walked behind the humble1 coffin2.
Just then a large old carriage came by, and in it sat an old lady; she looked at the little girl, and taking pity on her, said to the clergyman, Look here, if you will give me the little girl, I will take care of her.
Karen believed that this was all on account of the red shoes, but the old lady thought them hideous3, and so they were burnt. Karen herself was dressed very neatly4 and cleanly; she was taught to read and to sew, and people said that she was pretty. But the mirror told her, You are more than prettyyou are beautiful.
One day the Queen was travelling through that part of the country, and had her little daughter, who was a princess, with her. All the people, amongst them Karen too, streamed towards the castle, where the little princess, in fine white clothes, stood before the window and allowed herself to be stared at. She wore neither a train nor a golden crown, but beautiful red morocco shoes; they were indeed much finer than those which the shoemakers wife had sewn for little Karen. There is really nothing in the world that can be compared to red shoes!
Karen was now old enough to be /confirm/ied; she received some new clothes, and she was also to have some new shoes. The rich shoemaker in the town took the measure of her little foot in his own room, in which there stood great glass cases full of pretty shoes and white slippers5. It all looked very lovely, but the old lady could not see very well, and therefore did not get much pleasure out of it. Amongst the shoes stood a pair of red ones, like those which the princess had worn. How beautiful they were! and the shoemaker said that they had been made for a counts daughter, but that they had not fitted her.
I suppose they are of shiny leather? asked the old lady. They shine so.
Yes, they do shine, said Karen. They fitted her, and were bought. But the old lady knew nothing of their being red, for she would never have allowed Karen to be confirmed in red shoes, as she was now to be.
Everybody looked at her feet, and the whole of the way from the church door to the choir6 it seemed to her as if even the ancient figures on the monuments, in their stiff collars and long black robes, had their eyes fixed7 on her red shoes. It was only of these that she thought when the clergyman laid his hand upon her head and spoke8 of the holy baptism, of the covenant9 with God, and told her that she was now to be a grown-up Christian10. The organ pealed11 forth12 solemnly, and the sweet childrens voices mingled13 with that of their old leader; but Karen thought only of her red shoes. In the afternoon the old lady heard from everybody that Karen had worn red shoes. She said that it was a shocking thing to do, that it was very improper14, and that Karen was always to go to church in future in black shoes, even if they were old.
On the following Sunday there was Communion. Karen looked first at the black shoes, then at the red oneslooked at the red ones again, and put them on.
The sun was shining gloriously, so Karen and the old lady went along the footpath15 through the corn, where it was rather dusty.
At the church door stood an old crippled soldier leaning on a crutch16; he had a wonderfully long beard, more red than white, and he bowed down to the ground and asked the old lady whether he might wipe her shoes. Then Karen put out her little foot too. Dear me, what pretty dancing-shoes! said the soldier. Sit fast, when you dance, said he, addressing the shoes, and slapping the soles with his hand.
The old lady gave the soldier some money and then went with Karen into the church.
And all the people inside looked at Karens red shoes, and all the figures gazed at them; when Karen knelt before the altar and put the golden goblet17 to her mouth, she thought only of the red shoes. It seemed to her as though they were swimming about in the goblet, and she forgot to sing the psalm18, forgot to say the Lords Prayer.
Now every one came out of church, and the old lady stepped into her carriage. But just as Karen was lifting up her foot to get in too, the old soldier said: Dear me, what pretty dancing shoes! and Karen could not help it, she was obliged to dance a few steps; and when she had once begun, her legs continued to dance. It seemed as if the shoes had got power over them. She danced round the church corner, for she could not sTOP; the coachman had to run after her and seize her. He lifted her into the carriage, but her feet continued to dance, so that she kicked the good old lady violently. At last they took off her shoes, and her legs were at rest.
At home the shoes were put into the cupboard, but Karen could not help looking at them.
Now the old lady fell ill, and it was said that she would not rise from her bed again. She had to be nursed and waited upon, and this was no ones duty more than Karens. But there was a grand ball in the town, and Karen was invited. She looked at the red shoes, saying to herself that there was no sin in doing that; she put the red shoes on, thinking there was no harm in that either; and then she went to the ball; and commenced to dance. #p#
But when she wanted to go to the right, the shoes danced to the left, and when she wanted to dance up the room, the shoes danced down the room, down the stairs through the street, and out through the gates of the town. She danced, and was obliged to dance, far out into the dark wood. Suddenly something shone up among the trees, and she believed it was the moon, for it was a face. But it was the old soldier with the red beard; he sat there nodding his head and said: Dear me, what pretty dancing shoes!
She was frightened, and wanted to throw the red shoes away; but they stuck fast. She tore off her stockings, but the shoes had grown fast to her feet. She danced and was obliged to go on dancing over field and meadow, in rain and sunshine, by night and by daybut by night it was most horrible.
She danced out into the open churchyard; but the dead there did not dance. They had something better to do than that. She wanted to sit down on the paupers grave where the bitter fern grows; but for her there was neither peace nor rest. And as she danced past the open church door she saw an angel there in long white robes, with wings reaching from his shoulders down to the earth; his face was stern and grave, and in his hand he held a broad shining sword.
Dance you shall, said he, dance in your red shoes till you are pale and cold, till your skin shrivels up and you are a skeleton! Dance you shall, from door to door, and where proud and wicked children live you shall knock, so that they may hear you and fear you! Dance you shall, dance!
Mercy! cried Karen. But she did not hear what the angel answered, for the shoes carried her through the gate into the fields, along highways and byways, and unceasingly she had to dance.
One morning she danced past a door that she knew well; they were singing a psalm inside, and a coffin was being carried out covered with flowers. Then she knew that she was forsaken19 by every one and damned by the angel of God.
She danced, and was obliged to go on dancing through the dark night. The shoes bore her away over thorns and stumps20 till she was all torn and bleeding; she danced away over the heath to a lonely little house. Here, she knew, lived the executioner; and she tapped with her finger at the window and said:
Come out, come out! I cannot come in, for I must dance.
And the executioner said: I dont suppose you know who I am. I strike off the heads of the wicked, and I notice that my axe21 is tingling22 to do so.
Dont cut off my head! said Karen, for then I could not repent23 of my sin. But cut off my feet with the red shoes.
And then she confessed all her 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 forest.
And he carved her a pair of wooden feet and some crutches24, and taught her a psalm which is always sung by sinners; she kissed the hand that guided the axe, and went away over the heath.
Now, I have suffered enough for the red shoes, she said; I will go to church, so that people can see me. And she went quickly up to the church-door; but when she came there, the red shoes were dancing before her, and she was frightened, and turned back.
During the whole week she was sad and wept many bitter tears, but when Sunday came again she said: Now I have suffered and striven enough. I believe I am quite as good as many of those who sit in church and give themselves airs. And so she went boldly on; but she had not got farther than the churchyard gate when she saw the red shoes dancing along before her. Then she became terrified, and turned back and repented25 right heartily26 of her sin.
She went to the parsonage, and begged that she might be taken into service there. She would be industrious27, she said, and do everything that she could; she did not mind about the wages as long as she had a roof over her, and was with good people. The pastor28s wife had pity on her, and took her into service. And she was industrious and thoughtful. She sat quiet and listened when the pastor read aloud from the Bible in the evening. All the children liked her very much, but when they spoke about dress and grandeur29 and beauty she would shake her head.
On the following Sunday they all went to church, and she was asked whether she wished to go too; but, with tears in her eyes, she looked sadly at her crutches. And then the others went to hear Gods Word, but she went alone into her little room; this was only large enough to hold the bed and a chair. Here she sat down with her hymn30-book, and as she was reading it with a pious31 mind, the wind carried the notes of the organ over to her from the church, and in tears she lifted up her face and said: O God! help me!
Then the sun shone so brightly, and right before her stood an angel of God in white robes; it was the same one whom she had seen that night at the church-door. He no longer carried the sharp sword, but a beautiful green branch, full of roses; with this he touched the ceiling, which rose up very high, and where he had touched it there shone a golden star. He touched the walls, which opened wide apart, and she saw the organ which was pealing32 forth; she saw the pictures of the old pastors33 and their wives, and the congregation sitting in the polished chairs and singing from their hymn-books. The church itself had come to the poor girl in her narrow room, or the room had gone to the church. She sat in the pew with the rest of the pastors household, and when they had finished the hymn and looked up, they nodded and said, It was right of you to come, Karen.
It was mercy, said she.
The organ played and the childrens voices in the choir sounded soft and lovely. The bright warm sunshine streamed through the window into the pew where Karen sat, and her heart became so filled with it, so filled with peace and joy, that it broke. Her soul flew on the sunbeams to Heaven, and no one was there who asked after the Red Shoes.#p#
以前有一个小姑娘一个很可爱的、好看的小姑娘。不过她夏季得打着一双赤脚走路，由于她非常贫穷。冬季她拖着一双沉重的木鞋，脚背都给磨红了，这是非常不好受的。
在村子的正中央住着一个年老的女鞋匠。她用旧红布匹，坐下来尽她最大的努力缝出了一双小鞋。这双鞋的样子相当笨，但她的用意非常不错，由于这双鞋是为这个小姑娘缝的。这个小女孩名叫珈伦。
在她的母亲入葬的那天，她得到了这双红鞋。这是她首次穿。的确，这不是服丧时穿的东西；但她却没别的鞋子穿。所以她就把一双小赤脚伸进来，跟在一个简陋的棺材后面走。
这个时候突然有一辆非常大的二手车子开过来了。车子里坐着一位年老的太太。她看到了这位小女孩，很可怜她，于是就对牧师（注：在旧时的欧洲，孤儿没家，就由当地的牧师照管。）说：
把这小女孩交给我吧，我会待她非常不错的！
珈伦以为这是由于她那双红鞋的原故。不过老太太说红鞋非常讨厌，所以把这双鞋烧掉了。不过目前珈伦却穿起干净整齐的衣服来。她学着念书和做针线，其他人都说她很讨人喜欢。不过她的镜子说：你不但可爱；你真的是漂亮。
有一次皇后旅游全国；她携带她的小女儿一道，而这就是一个公主。老百姓都拥到宫殿门口来看，珈伦也在他们中间。那位小公主穿着漂亮的白衣服，站在窗子里面，让大伙来看她。她既没拖着后裾，也没戴上金王冠，但她穿着一双华丽的红鞣皮鞋。比起那个女鞋匠为小珈伦做的那双鞋来，这双鞋当然是漂亮得多。世界上没什么东西能跟红鞋比较！
目前珈伦已经非常大，可以受坚信礼了。她将会有新衣服穿；她也会穿到新鞋子。城里一个富有些鞋匠把她的小脚量了一下这件事是在他一个人店里、在他一个人的一个小房间里做的。那儿有很多大玻璃架子，里面陈列着很多整齐的鞋子和擦得发亮的靴子。这全都非常漂亮，不过那位老太太的双眼看不了解，所以不感到兴趣。在这很多鞋子之中有一双红鞋；它跟公主所穿的那双完全相同。它们是多么漂亮啊！鞋匠说这双鞋是为一位伯爵的小姐做的，但它们不太合她的脚。
那肯定是漆皮做的，老太太说，因此才如此发亮！
是的，发亮！珈伦说。
鞋子非常合她的脚，所以她就买下来了。不过老太太不了解那是红色的，由于她决不会让珈伦穿着一双红鞋去受坚信礼。但珈伦却去了。
所有些人都在看着她的那双脚。当她在教堂里走向那个圣诗歌唱班门口的时候，她就感觉仿佛那些墓石上的雕像，那些戴着硬领和穿着黑长袍的牧师，与他们的太太的画像都在盯着她的一双红鞋。牧师把手搁在她的头上，讲着神圣的洗礼、她与上帝的誓约与当一个基督徒的责任，正在这个时候，她心中只想着她的这双鞋。风琴奏出庄严的音乐来，孩子们的悦耳的声音唱着圣诗，那个年老的圣诗队长也在唱，但珈伦只想着她的红鞋。
那天下午老太太听大伙说那双鞋是红的。于是她就说，这未免太胡闹了，太不成体统了。她还说，从此将来，珈伦再到教堂去，需要穿着黑鞋子，即便是旧的也没关系。
下一个星期日要举行圣餐。珈伦看了看那双黑鞋，又看了看那双红鞋再一次又看了看红鞋，最后决定还是穿上那双红鞋。
太阳照耀得很漂亮。珈伦和老太太在田野的小径上走。路上有的灰尘。
教堂门口有一个残废的老兵，拄着一根拐杖站着。他留着一把非常奇怪的长胡子。这胡子与其说是白的，还不如说是红的由于它本来就是红的。他把腰几乎弯到地上去了；他回老太太说，他能不能擦擦她鞋子上的灰尘。珈伦也把她的小脚伸出来。
这是多么好看的舞鞋啊！老兵说，你在跳舞的时候穿它比较合适！于是他就用手在鞋底上敲了几下。老太太送了几个银毫给这兵士，然后便携带珈伦走进教堂里去了。
教堂里所有些人都看着珈伦的这双红鞋，所有些画像也都在看着它们。当珈伦跪在圣餐台面前、嘴里衔着金圣餐杯的时候，她只想着她的红鞋它们好像是浮在她面前的圣餐杯里。她忘记了唱圣诗；她忘记了念祷告。
目前大伙都走出了教堂。老太太走进她的车子里去，珈伦也抬起脚踏进车子里去。这个时候站在旁边的那个老兵说：多么漂亮的舞鞋啊！
珈伦经不起这番赞美：她要跳几个步子。她刚开始，一双腿就不停地跳起来。这双鞋仿佛控制住了她的腿似的。她绕着教堂的一角跳她没方法停下来。车夫不能不跟在她后面跑，把她抓住，抱进车子里去。不过她的一双脚仍在跳，结果她猛烈地踢到那位好心肠的太太身上去了。最后他们脱下她的鞋子；如此，她的腿才算安静下来。
这双鞋子被放在家的一个橱柜里，但珈伦忍不住要去看看。
目前老太太病得躺下来了；大伙都说她大概是不会好了。她得有人看护和照料，但这种工作不应该是其他人而应该是由珈伦做的。不过这个时候城里有一个盛大的舞会，珈伦也被请去了。她望了望这位好不了的老太太，又瞧了瞧那双红鞋她感觉瞧瞧也没什么害处。她穿上了这双鞋穿穿也没什么害处。不过这么一来，她就去参加舞会了，而且开始跳起舞来。
但当她要向右转的时候，鞋子却向左侧跳。当她想要向上走的时候，鞋子却要向下跳，要走下楼梯，一直走到街上，走出城门。她舞着，而且不能不舞，一直舞到黑森林里去。
树林中有一道光。她想这肯定是月亮了，由于她看到一个面孔。不过这是那个有红胡子的老兵。他在坐着，点着头，同时说：#p#
多么漂亮的舞鞋啊！这个时候她就害怕起来，想把这双红鞋扔掉。但它们扣得非常紧。于是她扯着她的袜子，但鞋已经生到她脚上去了。她跳起舞来，而且不能不跳到田野和草原上去，在雨里跳，在太阳里也跳，在夜里跳，在白天也跳。最可怕的是在夜里跳。她跳到一个教堂的坟墓里去，不过那儿的死者并不跳舞：他们有比跳舞还要好的事情要做。她想在一个长满了苦艾菊的没钱人的坟上坐下来，不过她静不下来，也没方法休息。当她跳到教堂敞着的大门口的时候，她看到一位穿白长袍的安琪儿。她的翅膀从肩上一直拖到脚下，她的面孔是庄严而沉着，手中拿着一把明晃晃的剑。
你得跳舞呀！她说，穿着你的红鞋跳舞，一直跳到你发白和发冷，一直跳到你的身体干缩成为一架骸骨。你要从这家门口跳到那家门口。你要到一些骄傲自大的孩子们住着的地方去敲门，好叫他们听到你，怕你！你要跳舞，不停地跳舞！
请饶了我吧！珈伦叫起来。
不过她没听到安琪儿的回答，由于这双鞋把她带外出，到田野上去了，带到大路上和小路上去了。她得不停地跳舞。有一天早晨她跳过一个非常熟识的门口。里面有唱圣诗的声音，大家抬出一口棺材，上面装饰着花朵。这个时候她才了解那个老太太已经去世了。于是她感觉她已经被大伙丢弃，被上帝的安琪儿责罚。
她跳着舞，她不能不跳着舞在漆黑的夜里跳着舞。这双鞋携带她走过荆棘的野蔷薇；这类东西把她刺得流血。她在荒地上跳，一直跳到一个孤零零的小屋子面前去。她了解这儿住着一个刽子手。她用手指在玻璃窗上敲了一下，同时说：
请出来吧！请出来吧！我进去不了呀，由于我在跳舞！刽子手说：
你或许不了解我是哪个吧？我就是砍掉坏人脑袋的人呀。我已经感觉到我的斧子在颤动！
请勿砍掉我的头吧，珈伦说，由于假如你如此做，那样我就不可以忏悔我的罪过了。但请你把我这双穿着红鞋的脚砍掉吧！
于是她就说出了她的罪过。刽子手把她那双穿着红鞋的脚砍掉。不过这双鞋携带她的小脚跳到田野上，一直跳到*?黑的森林里去了。
他为她配了一双木脚和一根拐杖，同时教给她一首死囚们常常唱的圣诗。她吻了一下那只握着斧子的手，然后就向荒地上走去。
我为这双红鞋已经吃了不少的苦头，她说，目前我要到教堂里去，好叫人们看看我。
于是她就非常快地向教堂的大门走去，但当她走到那儿的时候，那双红鞋就在她面前跳着舞，弄得她害怕起来。所以她就走回来。
她悲哀地过了整整一个星期，流了很多伤心的眼泪。不过当星期日到来的时候，她说：
唉，我吃苦和斗争已经够久了！我想我目前跟教堂里那些昂着头的人没什么两样！
于是她就大胆地走出去。但当她刚刚走到教堂门口的时候，她又看到那双红鞋在她面前跳舞：这个时候她害怕起来，立刻往回走，同时真诚地忏悔她的罪过。
她走到牧师的家去，请求在他家当一个佣人。她想勤恳地工作，尽她的力量做事。她不计较薪资；她只不过期望有一个住处，跟好人在一块。牧师的太太怜悯她，把她留下来做活。她是非常勤快和用心思的。晚间，当牧师在高声地朗读《圣经》的时候，她就静静地坐下来听。这家的孩子都爱她。不过当他们谈到衣服、排场利像皇后那样的漂亮的时候，她就摇摇头。
第二个星期天，一家人全到教堂去做礼拜。他们问她是否也想去。她满眼含着泪珠，凄惨地把她的拐杖望了一下。于是这家人就去听上帝的训诫了。只有她孤独地回到她的小房间里去。这儿不太宽，只能放一张床和一张椅子。她拿着一本圣诗集坐在这儿，用一颗真诚的心来读里面的字句。风儿把教堂的风琴声向她吹来。她抬起被眼泪润湿了的脸，说：
上帝啊，请帮助我！
这个时候太阳在光明地照着。一位穿白衣服的安琪儿她一天晚上在教堂门口见到过的那位安琪儿在她面前出现了。不过她手中不再是拿着那把锐利的剑，而是拿着一根开满了玫瑰花的绿枝。她用它触了一下天花板，于是天花板就升得非常高。但凡她所触到的地方，就有一颗明亮的金星出现。她把墙触了一下，于是墙就分开。这个时候她就看到那架奏着音乐的风琴和绘着牧师及牧师太太的一些古老画像。做礼拜的人都坐在非常讲究的席位上，唱着圣诗集里的诗。假如说这不是教堂自动来到这个狭小房间里的可怜的女生面前，那就是她已经到了教堂里面去。她和牧师家的人一同坐在席位上。当他们念完了圣诗、抬起头来看的时候，他们就点点头，说：对了，珈伦，你也到这儿来了！
我得到了宽恕！她说。
风琴奏着音乐。孩子们的合唱是很好听和可爱的。明朗的太阳光温暖地从窗子那儿射到珈伦坐的席位上来。她的心充满了那样多的阳光、和平和快乐，弄得后来爆裂了。她的灵魂飘在太阳的光线上飞进天国。哪个也没再问*?她的那双红鞋。（１８４５年）
这是一块充满了宗教意味的小故事，源自作者儿时的回忆。安徒生的爸爸都虔信上帝。这现象在穷困的人中非常常见，由于他们在现实日常找不到任何出路的时候，就幻想上帝能拯救他们。安徒生儿时就是在这种氛围中度过的。信上帝需要无条件地真诚，不可以有任何杂念。这个小故事中的主人公珈伦偏偏有了杂念，因而遭到惩罚，只有经过折磨和苦难，断绝了杂念和思想净化了将来，她才得到了宽恕，她的灵魂才得以升向天国由于她到底是一个纯真的孩子。关于这个故事安徒生手记中说：在《我的一生的童话》中，我曾说过在我受坚信礼的时候，首次穿着一双靴子。当我在教堂的地上走着的时候，靴子在地上发出吱咯、吱咯的响声。这使我感到非常得意，由于如此，做礼拜的人就都能听得见我穿的靴子是多么新。但突然间感到我的心不诚。我的内心开始恐慌起来：我的思想集中在靴子上，而没集中在上帝身上。关于此事的回忆，就促进我写出这篇《红鞋》。
