--- title: The Shepherd's Story of the Bond of Friendship — Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Shepherd's Story of the Bond of Friendship, «Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen» by H. C. Andersen: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The little dwelling in which we lived was of clay, but the door-posts were columns of fluted marble, found --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/page/2/) [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 Shepherd's Story of the Bond of Fr… # The Shepherd's Story of the Bond of Friendship · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/) **2** - [101](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/101/) — His stories were as strange as the legends of the priests of olden times. - [102](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/102/) — "How much you know!" - [103](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/103/) — I exclaimed, "and what wonders you can relate?" - [104](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/104/) — "I think what you once told me, the finest of all," he replied; "you told me of a thing that has never been out of my thoughts--of the good old custom of 'the bond of friendship,'--a custom I should like to follow. - [105](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/105/) — Brother, let you and I go to church, as your father and Anastasia's father once did. - [106](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/106/) — Your sister Anastasia is the most beautiful and most innocent of maidens, and she shall consecrate the deed. - [107](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/107/) — No people have such grand old customs as we Greeks." - [108](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/108/) — Anastasia blushed like a young rose, and my mother kissed Aphtanides. - [109](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/109/) — At about two miles from our cottage, where the earth on the hill is sheltered by a few scattered trees, stood the little church, with a silver lamp hanging before the altar. - [110](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/110/) — I put on my best clothes, and the white tunic fell in graceful folds over my hips. - [111](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/111/) — The red jacket fitted tight and close, the tassel on my Fez cap was of silver, and in my girdle glittered a knife and my pistols. - [112](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/112/) — Aphtanides was clad in the blue dress worn by the Greek sailors; on his breast hung a silver medal with the figure of the Virgin Mary, and his scarf was as costly as those worn by rich lords. - [113](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/113/) — Every one could see that we were about to perform a solemn ceremony. - [114](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/114/) — When we entered the little, unpretending church, the evening sunlight streamed through the open door on the burning lamp, and glittered on the golden picture frames. - [115](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/115/) — We knelt down together on the altar steps, and Anastasia drew near and stood beside us. - [116](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/116/) — A long, white garment fell in graceful folds over her delicate form, and on her white neck and bosom hung a chain entwined with old and new coins, forming a kind of collar. - [117](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/117/) — Her black hair was fastened into a knot, and confined by a headdress formed of gold and silver coins which had been found in an ancient temple. — checked by a teacher - [118](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/118/) — No Greek girl had more beautiful ornaments than these. - [119](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/119/) — Her countenance glowed, and her eyes were like two stars. - [120](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/120/) — We all three offered a silent prayer, and then she said to us, "Will you be friends in life and in death?" - [121](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/121/) — "Yes," we replied. - [122](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/122/) — "Will you each remember to say, whatever may happen, 'My brother is a part of myself; his secret is my secret, my happiness is his; self-sacrifice, patience, everything belongs to me as they do to him?'" - [123](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/123/) — And we again answered, "Yes." - [124](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/124/) — Then she joined out hands and kissed us on the forehead, and we again prayed silently. - [125](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/125/) — After this a priest came through a door near the altar, and blessed us all three. - [126](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/126/) — Then a song was sung by other holy men behind the altar-screen, and the bond of eternal friendship was confirmed. - [127](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/127/) — When we arose, I saw my mother standing by the church door, weeping. - [128](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/128/) — How cheerful everything seemed now in our little cottage by the Delphian springs! - [129](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/129/) — On the evening before his departure, Aphtanides sat thoughtfully beside me on the slopes of the mountain. - [130](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/130/) — His arm was flung around me, and mine was round his neck. - [131](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/131/) — We spoke of the sorrows of Greece, and of the men of the country who could be trusted. - [132](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/132/) — Every thought of our souls lay clear before us. - [133](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/133/) — Presently I seized his hand: "Aphtanides," I exclaimed, "there is one thing still that you must know,--one thing that till now has been a secret between myself and Heaven. - [134](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/134/) — My whole soul is filled with love,--with a love stronger than the love I bear to my mother and to thee. - [135](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/135/) — "And whom do you love?" asked Aphtanides. - [136](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/136/) — And his face and neck grew red as fire. - [137](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/137/) — "I love Anastasia," I replied. - [138](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/138/) — Then his hand trembled in mine, and he became pale as a corpse. - [139](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/139/) — I saw it, I understood the cause, and I believe my hand trembled too. - [140](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/140/) — I bent towards him, I kissed his forehead, and whispered, "I have never spoken of this to her, and perhaps she does not love me. - [141](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/141/) — Brother, think of this; I have seen her daily, she has grown up beside me, and has become a part of my soul." - [142](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/142/) — "And she shall be thine," he exclaimed; "thine! - [143](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/143/) — I may not wrong thee, nor will I do so. - [144](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/144/) — I also love her, but tomorrow I depart. - [145](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/145/) — In a year we will see each other again, but then you will be married; shall it not be so? - [146](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/146/) — I have a little gold of my own, it shall be yours. - [147](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/147/) — You must and shall take it." - [148](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/148/) — We wandered silently homeward across the mountains. - [149](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/149/) — It was late in the evening when we reached my mother's door. - [150](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/150/) — Anastasia held the lamp as we entered; my mother was not there. - [151](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/151/) — She looked at Aphtanides with a sweet but mournful expression on her face. " - [152](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/152/) — To-morrow you are going to leave us," she said. " - [153](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/153/) — I am very sorry." - [154](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/154/) — "Sorry!" he exclaimed, and his voice was troubled with a grief as deep as my own. - [155](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/155/) — I could not speak; but he seized her hand and said, "Our brother yonder loves you, and is he not dear to you? - [156](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/156/) — His very silence now proves his affection." - [157](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/157/) — Anastasia trembled, and burst into tears. - [158](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/158/) — Then I saw no one, thought of none, but her. - [159](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/159/) — I threw my arms round her, and pressed my lips to hers. - [160](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/160/) — As she flung her arms round my neck, the lamp fell to the ground, and we were in darkness, dark as the heart of poor Aphtanides. - [161](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/161/) — Before daybreak he rose, kissed us all, and said "Farewell," and went away. - [162](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/162/) — He had given all his money to my mother for us. - [163](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/163/) — Anastasia was betrothed to me, and in a few days afterwards she became my wife. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/36/) **2** - ← previous: [The Flying Trunk](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/35/) - next →: [The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/37/) - ↑ back to [Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/)