TRUYỆN CỔ ANDERSEN - Trang 948

was thrilling through every fibre of root and stem and leaf, rising even to
the highest branches. The tree felt itself stretching and spreading out, while
through the root beneath the earth ran the warm vigor of life. As he grew
higher and still higher, with increased strength, his topmost boughs became
broader and fuller; and in proportion to his growth, so was his self-
satisfaction increased, and with it arose a joyous longing to grow higher and
higher, to reach even to the warm, bright sun itself. Already had his topmost
branches pierced the clouds, which floated beneath them like troops of birds
of passage, or large white swans; every leaf seemed gifted with sight, as if it
possessed eyes to see. The stars became visible in broad daylight, large and
sparkling, like clear and gentle eyes. They recalled to the memory the well-
known look in the eyes of a child, or in the eyes of lovers who had once met
beneath the branches of the old oak. These were wonderful and happy
moments for the old tree, full of peace and joy; and yet, amidst all this
happiness, the tree felt a yearning, longing desire that all the other trees,
bushes, herbs, and flowers beneath him, might be able also to rise higher, as
he had done, and to see all this splendor, and experience the same
happiness. The grand, majestic oak could not be quite happy in the midst of
his enjoyment, while all the rest, both great and small, were not with him.
And this feeling of yearning trembled through every branch, through every
leaf, as warmly and fervently as if they had been the fibres of a human
heart. The summit of the tree waved to and fro, and bent downwards as if in
his silent longing he sought for something. Then there came to him the
fragrance of thyme, followed by the more powerful scent of honeysuckle
and violets; and he fancied he heard the note of the cuckoo. At length his
longing was satisfied. Up through the clouds came the green summits of the
forest trees, and beneath him, the oak saw them rising, and growing higher
and higher. Bush and herb shot upward, and some even tore themselves up
by the roots to rise more quickly. The birch-tree was the quickest of all.
Like a lightning flash the slender stem shot upwards in a zigzag line, the
branches spreading around it like green gauze and banners. Every native of
the wood, even to the brown and feathery rushes, grew with the rest, while
the birds ascended with the melody of song. On a blade of grass, that