--- title: The Butterfly — Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen · full text with trees description: The Butterfly, «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: There was once a butterfly who wished for a bride, and, as may be supposed, he wanted to choose a very pretty one from among the flowers. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/) / The Butterfly # The Butterfly The Butterfly of «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen: the whole text, 59 sentences and 978 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/1/) — There was once a butterfly who wished for a bride, and, as may be supposed, he wanted to choose a very pretty one from among the flowers. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/2/) — He glanced, with a very critical eye, at all the flower-beds, and found that the flowers were seated quietly and demurely on their stalks, just as maidens should sit before they are engaged; but there was a great number of them, and it appeared as if his search would become very wearisome. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/3/) — The butterfly did not like to take too much trouble, so he flew off on a visit to the daisies. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/4/) — The French call this flower "Marguerite," and they say that the little daisy can prophesy. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/5/) — Lovers pluck off the leaves, and as they pluck each leaf, they ask a question about their lovers; thus: "Does he or she love me?--Ardently? - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/6/) — Distractedly? - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/7/) — Very much? - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/8/) — A little? - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/9/) — Not at all?" and so on. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/10/) — Every one speaks these words in his own language. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/11/) — The butterfly came also to Marguerite to inquire, but he did not pluck off her leaves; he pressed a kiss on each of them, for he thought there was always more to be done by kindness. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/12/) — "Darling Marguerite daisy," he said to her, "you are the wisest woman of all the flowers. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/13/) — Pray tell me which of the flowers I shall choose for my wife. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/14/) — Which will be my bride? - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/15/) — When I know, I will fly directly to her, and propose." - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/16/) — But Marguerite did not answer him; she was offended that he should call her a woman when she was only a girl; and there is a great difference. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/17/) — He asked her a second time, and then a third; but she remained dumb, and answered not a word. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/18/) — Then he would wait no longer, but flew away, to commence his wooing at once. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/19/) — It was in the early spring, when the crocus and the snowdrop were in full bloom. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/20/) — "They are very pretty," thought the butterfly; "charming little lasses; but they are rather formal." - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/21/) — Then, as the young lads often do, he looked out for the elder girls. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/22/) — He next flew to the anemones; these were rather sour to his taste. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/23/) — The violet, a little too sentimental. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/24/) — The lime-blossoms, too small, and besides, there was such a large family of them. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/25/) — The apple-blossoms, though they looked like roses, bloomed to-day, but might fall off to-morrow, with the first wind that blew; and he thought that a marriage with one of them might last too short a time. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/26/) — The pea-blossom pleased him most of all; she was white and red, graceful and slender, and belonged to those domestic maidens who have a pretty appearance, and can yet be useful in the kitchen. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/27/) — He was just about to make her an offer, when, close by the maiden, he saw a pod, with a withered flower hanging at the end. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/28/) — "Who is that?" he asked. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/29/) — "That is my sister," replied the pea-blossom. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/30/) — "Oh, indeed; and you will be like her some day," said he; and he flew away directly, for he felt quite shocked. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/31/) — A honeysuckle hung forth from the hedge, in full bloom; but there were so many girls like her, with long faces and sallow complexions. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/32/) — No; he did not like her. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/33/) — But which one did he like? - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/34/) — Spring went by, and summer drew towards its close; autumn came; but he had not decided. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/35/) — The flowers now appeared in their most gorgeous robes, but all in vain; they had not the fresh, fragrant air of youth. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/36/) — For the heart asks for fragrance, even when it is no longer young; and there is very little of that to be found in the dahlias or the dry chrysanthemums; therefore the butterfly turned to the mint on the ground. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/37/) — You know, this plant has no blossom; but it is sweetness all over,--full of fragrance from head to foot, with the scent of a flower in every leaf. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/38/) — "I will take her," said the butterfly; and he made her an offer. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/39/) — But the mint stood silent and stiff, as she listened to him. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/40/) — At last she said,-- - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/41/) — "Friendship, if you please; nothing more. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/42/) — I am old, and you are old, but we may live for each other just the same; as to marrying--no; don't let us appear ridiculous at our age." - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/43/) — And so it happened that the butterfly got no wife at all. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/44/) — He had been too long choosing, which is always a bad plan. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/45/) — And the butterfly became what is called an old bachelor. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/46/) — It was late in the autumn, with rainy and cloudy weather. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/47/) — The cold wind blew over the bowed backs of the willows, so that they creaked again. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/48/) — It was not the weather for flying about in summer clothes; but fortunately the butterfly was not out in it. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/49/) — He had got a shelter by chance. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/50/) — It was in a room heated by a stove, and as warm as summer. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/51/) — He could exist here, he said, well enough. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/52/) — "But it is not enough merely to exist," said he, "I need freedom, sunshine, and a little flower for a companion." - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/53/) — Then he flew against the window-pane, and was seen and admired by those in the room, who caught him, and stuck him on a pin, in a box of curiosities. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/54/) — They could not do more for him. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/55/) — "Now I am perched on a stalk, like the flowers," said the butterfly. " - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/56/) — It is not very pleasant, certainly; I should imagine it is something like being married; for here I am stuck fast." - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/57/) — And with this thought he consoled himself a little. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/58/) — "That seems very poor consolation," said one of the plants in the room, that grew in a pot. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/15/59/) — "Ah," thought the butterfly, "one can't very well trust these plants in pots; they have too much to do with mankind." - ← previous: [The Buckwheat](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/14/) - next →: [A Cheerful Temper](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/16/) - ↑ back to [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/)