Grimms’ Fairy Tales Gradually Hardening Danish A2 Translation Books

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda

træ

treewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealways

talt

counted,andaboutthetimewhenthey

begyndte

begantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecamevery

vred

angryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthe

træet

tree.

Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefell

søvn

asleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andatmidnighthetoofell

søvn

asleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.

Thenthe

tredje

thirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

men

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungman

lagde

laidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Asthe

klokken

clockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpure

guld

gold;

andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson

sprang

jumpedupandshotanarrowatit.

Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyitdroppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthen

fløj

flewaway.

Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwas

værd

worthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;

sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.

Youwillreacha

landsby

villageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail

over

aboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andinthe

om aftenen

eveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedvery

beskidt

dirty,andpoor.

‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe

vinduet

windowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.

Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.

Men

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.

Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefox

begyndte

begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewas

begyndte

beginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfast

sover

asleepandsnoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;

butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,

ellers

otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.

Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand

bar

carriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthe

retten

courtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,

medmindre

unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden

hest

horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.

Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.

Iwillstill,

men

however,tellyouhowtofindthegolden

hest

horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgo

lige

straightontillyoucometothecastlewherethe

hesten

horsestandsinhisstall:

byhissidewillliethegroomfast

sovende

asleepandsnoring:

takeawaythe

hesten

horsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthe

hesten

horse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe

retten

courttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautiful

prinsesse

princess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthe

hesten

horsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthe

hesten

horse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.

lige

straighton,andinthe

om aftenen

eveningyouwillarriveatacastle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgivehera

kys

kiss,andshewillletyou

føre

leadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andshe

indvilligede

agreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathis

fødder

feet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughter

medmindre

unlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedfor

syv

sevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.

Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautiful

prinsesse

princess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;

andyouwillmountthegolden

hest

horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.

Thenlifther

hurtigt

quicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwill

ride

rideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistheright

hest

horse,hewillbringoutthebird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee

whetheritisthetruegoldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;

theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andthey

red

rodeontoagreatwood.

Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:

sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

red

rodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;

andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;

sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’

medmindre

unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.

Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.

Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;

andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and

kastede

threwhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,the

hesten

horse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.

‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;

butthe

hesten

horsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.

Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:

luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;

ellers

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutofthe

floden

river,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohe

klædte

dressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthe

hesten

horsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadand

fødder

feet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenare

født

borntogoodluck:

alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.

Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.

Syv

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,

kastede

threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhis

vej

roadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingone

fod

footafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapital

hest

horse.

‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto

ride

rideonhorseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoon

fods

footthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadto

bære

carry:

tobesureitissilver,butitisso

tungt

heavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumy

hest

horse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein

bære

carryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe

hesten

horse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,and

red

rodemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittle

hurtigere

faster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthe

hesten

horsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas

kastet

thrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.

His

hest

horsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno

spøg

joke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhis

hals

neck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;

which,bytheby,

lugter

smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave

mælk

milk,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.

WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyour

hest

horse;

Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thentheshepherd

sprang

jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayhe

red

rode.

Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlya

stykke

pieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora

glas

glassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s

landsby

village.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto

krydse

cross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhis

mund

mouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofa

træ

tree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnota

dråbe

dropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim

mælk

milkandbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast

begyndte

begantothinkhimverytroublesome;

andatlastgavehimsucha

spark

kickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.

Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

yourcowwillgiveyouno

mælk

milk:

don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?

Whata

skam

shametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwereapignow—likethat

fede

fatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine

fede

fatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits

ben

leg.

Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

this

førte

ledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthen

begyndte

begantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how

tungt

heavyitis,andyetitisonly

otte

eightweeksold.

Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof

fedt

fatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;

‘butifyoutalkof

fedt

fat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountryman

begyndte

begantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you

ser ud

seemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.

Inthe

landsby

villageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapig

stjålet

stolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbeto

smide

throwyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor

født

born;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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