THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda
boom
treewhichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswerealways
geteld
counted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegonnen
begantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.Thekingbecamevery
boos
angryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightundertheboom
tree.Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthe
derde
thirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,for
angst
fearsomeharmshouldcometohim:echter
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanliggen
laidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.Asthe
klok
clockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcamevliegen
flyingthatwasofpuregoud
gold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson
sprong
jumpedupandshotanarrowatit.Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyit
vallen
droppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenvloog
flewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwas
waard
worthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwill
bereiken
reachavillageinthe's avonds
evening;andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail
boven
aboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andinthe
avond
eveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedvery
vuil
dirty,andpoor.‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothe
slimme
smarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe
raam
windowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
Echter
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefox
begon
begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind
wind.Whentheycametothe
dorp
village,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewas
begon
beginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightvooruit
forward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,
anders
otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind
wind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand
voor
carriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthe
rechtbank
courtsattojudgehim;andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden
paard
horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind
wind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,
echter
however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenpaard
horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethe
paard
horsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfast
slapen
asleepandsnoring:takeawaythe
paard
horsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind
wind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthe
paard
horse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe
rechtbank
courttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautiful
prinses
princess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthepaard
horsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthe
paard
horse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andinthe
's avonds
eveningyouwillarriveatacastle.Attwelveo’clockatnightthe
prinses
princessgoestothebathing-house:gouptoherandgivehera
kus
kiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmetthe
prinses
princessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekus
kiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathis
voeten
feet,tillatlastheconsented;butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessin
acht
eightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedfor
zeven
sevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimthe
prinses
princess.Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandthe
prinses
princess;‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautiful
prinses
princess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegolden
paard
horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;butshakehandswiththe
prinses
princesslast.Thenlifther
snel
quicklyontothehorsebehindyou;Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththe
prinses
princessatthedoor,andyouwillrijden
rideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistheright
paard
horse,hewillbringoutthebird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee
of
whetheritisthetruegoldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,the
prinses
princessmountedagain,andtheyreden
rodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
He
reed
rodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothedorp
villagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideofthe
rivier
river,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftherivier
river;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and
wierpen
threwhimdownthebank,andtooktheprinses
princess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthe
paard
horsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprinses
princesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthe
oever
bankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
anders
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhe
trok
pulledhimoutoftherivier
river,andsaidtohim,ashegotupontheoever
bank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohekleedde
dressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’shof
court,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthepaard
horsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprinses
princessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadthe
prinses
princessgiventohimagain;andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadand
voeten
feet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenare
geboren
borntogoodluck:alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthe
sneller
faster.Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Zeven
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,
gooide
threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisweg
roadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,draggingone
voet
footafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalpaard
horse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto
rijden
rideonhorseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
he
struikelt
tripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonvoet
footthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtodragen
carry:tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumy
paard
horse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsucha
zware
heavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe
paard
horse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,andreed
rodemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittle
sneller
faster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas
gegooid
thrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.His
paard
horsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘This
rijden
ridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisnek
neck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthis
slimme
smartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,
ruikt
smellsnotverylikeanosegay.Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave
melk
milk,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyour
paard
horse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherd
sprong
jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayhereed
rode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlya
stuk
pieceofbread(andIzeker
certainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora
glas
glassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s
dorp
village.Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto
oversteken
cross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismond
mouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwill
melken
milkmycowandquenchmythirst’:sohetiedhertothestumpofa
boom
tree,andheldhisleatherncaptomelk
milkinto;butnota
druppel
dropwastobehad.Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim
melk
milkandbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckin
melken
milking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegon
begantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsucha
schop
kickontheheadasknockedhimdown;andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto
melken
milkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyouno
melk
milk:don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whata
schande
shametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethat
dikke
fatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine
dikke
fatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits
been
leg.Soonhejogged,andall
leek
seemednowtogorightwithhim:hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbe
anders
otherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman
droeg
carryingafinewhitegoose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
this
leidde
ledtofurtherchat;andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayand
glimlachend
smilingwithhim.Thecountrymanthen
begon
begantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonly
acht
eightweeksold.Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof
vet
fatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkof
vet
fat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegon
begantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you
lijkt
seemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
Inthe
dorp
villageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbeto
gooien
throwyouintothehorse-pond.PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor
geboren
born;buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: