THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrow
modne
ripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethis
ældste
eldestsontowatch;butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
næb
beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanpil
arrowatit.Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyitdroppedagolden
fjer
featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.Thegolden
fjer
featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthe
rigdom
wealthofthekingdom:Thenthegardener’s
ældste
eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
ræv
foxsitting;sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
ræven
foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodråd
counsel;Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
behagelig
pleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis
pil
arrowatthefox;buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andasthe
ældste
eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.Hemetthe
ræven
fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his
ældste
eldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnot
modstå
withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemåde
manner.Timepassedonagain,andthe
yngste
youngestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasvery
glad
fondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andforhindre
preventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
ræven
fox,andheardthesamegoodråd
counsel.Buthewasthankfultothe
ræven
fox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothe
ræven
foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andtheræven
foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s
råd
counsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbykro
innandrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethe
ræven
foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnorker
snoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden
bur
cage;butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
bur
cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thentheræven
foxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
ræven
foxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden
bur
cage,andbelowstoodthegoldenbur
cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
bur
cage.Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunas
hurtigt
swiftlyasthewind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreat
fortvivlelse
despair,whenonasuddenhisfriendtheræven
foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomyråd
counsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern
sadel
saddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairfløjtede
whistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlay
snorkede
snoringwithhishanduponthegoldensadel
saddle.Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden
sadel
saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
ræv
foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyou
råd
counsel.Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
ræven
foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairfløjtede
whistledagain.Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
ræven
foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
ræven
foxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwas
tvunget
obligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
ræven
fox,‘itcanbedone.Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
ræven
foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
ræven
foxsaid;theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthe
ræven
foxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:sothe
ræven
foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodråd
counsel:bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthe
galgen
gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseand
larm
uproar;andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecame
tættere
nearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheir
frihed
liberty.Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
ræven
foxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’sråd
counsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
The
yngste
youngestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:heldigvis
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassostejl
steepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheold
ræv
foxcameoncemore,andskældte
scoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedand
straffet
punished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;andaftertheking’sdeathhewas
arving
heirtohiskingdom.Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
ræv
foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
naboen
neighbourHans.Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena
trofast
faithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,and
joggede
joggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHans
højt
aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso
blødt
softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhavea
træt
wearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipshøjt
loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswas
glad
delightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhispisk
whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutefløjte
whistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandno
sorg
sorrow,Afigforthemorrow!Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbythe
vejkanten
road-side.Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
hyrde
shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthat
snubler
stumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
smør
butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouareso
glad
fondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hans
børstede
brushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
smør
butterandcheesewithit;andwhenIam
tørstig
thirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
kro
inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawide
heide
heaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
smør
butterandcheese,wasallthattimehelt
utterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Heldigvis
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
venlighed
kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythe
snor
stringthatwastiedtoitsleg.Soonhe
joggede
jogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite
gås
goose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
historie
tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegåsen
goosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoever
steger
roastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashevejede
weigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
Mellemtiden
Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: