THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautiful
tuin
garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregouden
goldenapples.Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andat
middernacht
midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherappel
applewasgone.Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,anda
vogel
birdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthe
vogel
birdnoharm;onlyitdroppeda
gouden
goldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.The
gouden
goldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthe
koninkrijk
kingdom:Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthe
gouden
goldenbirdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhis
boog
bowandmadereadytoshootatit.Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthe
gouden
goldenbird.Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinns
tegenover
oppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmay
lijkt
appeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;buthemissedit,anditsetupits
staart
tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthis
charmante
charmingplace’;sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthe
vogel
bird,andhiscountrytoo.Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthe
gouden
goldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldto
zoek
seekforthegoldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnot
probeerde
attempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy
staart
tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandsteen
stonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis
reis
journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoakasteel
castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe
kasteel
castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegouden
goldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;closebyitstandsabeautiful
gouden
goldencage;butdonottrytotakethe
vogel
birdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthisstaart
tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandsteen
stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethe
kasteel
castlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethe
gouden
goldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbeneden
belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegouden
goldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine
vogel
birdinthisshabbycage’;soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothe
gouden
goldencage.Butthebirdsetupsucha
luid
loudscreamthatallthesoldiersontwaakten
awoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,it
veroordeelde
sentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegouden
goldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethe
gouden
goldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis
reis
journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonaplotseling
suddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthe
gouden
goldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe
kasteel
castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorse
rustig
quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegouden
goldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’sstaart
tail,andawaytheywentoverstockandsteen
stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthe
gouden
goldensaddle.Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehe
verdient
deservesit.’Ashetookupthegouden
goldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoluid
loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwasveroordeeld
sentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethe
vogel
birdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththe
vogel
birdandthehorse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwill
kom
arriveatacastle.Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
staart
tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandsteen
stonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.Astheycametothe
kasteel
castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebad
bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butsmeekte
beggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirsthe
weigerde
refused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythe
heuvel
hillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthisheuvel
hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthe
heuvel
hillwasgone;sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwas
verwijderd
removedhemustgivehimtheprincess.Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthe
gouden
goldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;but
schud
shakehandswiththeprincesslast.Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe
kasteel
castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthe
vogel
bird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetrue
gouden
goldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthe
vogel
bird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungman
weigerde
refusedtodoit:sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreat
lawaai
noiseanduproar;andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthe
vogel
bird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,the
vogel
birdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothe
bodem
bottomoftheriver’sbed:luckilyitwasnearly
droog
dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy
staart
tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthevogel
birdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohis
koninkrijk
kingdom.Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayvery
waarschijnlijk
likelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpof
zilver
silverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis
schouder
shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,
slepen
draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinzicht
sight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthe
stoel
chairbyhisfireside;hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhe
nauwelijks
hardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethislading
loadtocarry:tobesureitis
zilver
silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyschouder
shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe
zilver
silver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy
lading
loadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthat
zilver
silveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthezilver
silver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,
trok
drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga
koe
cow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona
beest
beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyour
koe
cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeest
beastthatplayedmethistruc
trick,andhasspoiledmybestjas
coat,yousee,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and
kaas
cheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy
koe
cowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe
koe
cowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhis
jas
coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiskoe
cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof
brood
bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandkaas
cheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy
koe
cowanddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis
brood
bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis
koe
cowtowardshismother’svillage.Butthe
hitte
heatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonabrede
wideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistong
tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmy
koe
cowandquenchmythirst’:sohe
bond
tiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis
koe
cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterandkaas
cheese,wasallthattimeutterlydroog
dry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,and
beheren
managingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeest
beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga
varken
piginawheelbarrow.‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas
droog
dry,andwantedtomilkhiskoe
cow,butfoundthecowwasdroog
drytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
your
koe
cowwillgiveyounomilk:don’tyouseesheisanold
beest
beast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlya
droge
drycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwerea
varken
pignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat
varken
pigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthekoe
cow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwas
gebonden
tiedtoitsleg.Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfind
veel
plentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,my
varken
pigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortof
kerel
fellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Your
varken
pigmaygetyouintoascrape.InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada
varken
pigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’s
varken
pig.Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethe
varken
pigwaseitherbredorborn;buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: