THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda
arbre
treewhichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhenthey
commençaient
begantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.Thekingbecamevery
en colère
angryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthe
troisième
thirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,for
peur
fearsomeharmshouldcometohim:cependant
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcame
voler
flyingthatwasofpuregold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson
sauta
jumpedupandshotanarrowatit.Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyit
tomber
droppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenvolé
flewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwill
arriverez
reachavillageintheevening;andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail
au-dessus
aboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothe
village
villagewherethetwoinnswere;andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedvery
sale
dirty,andpoor.‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Time
passé
passedon;andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe
fenêtre
windowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Time
passa
passedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
Cependant
However,atlastitwasconvenu
agreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstoneso
vite
quickthattheirhairwhistledinthevent
wind.Whentheycametothe
village
village,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewas
commençait
beginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleand
passez
passonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,
sinon
otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthevent
wind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand
portèrent
carriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthe
tribunal
courtsattojudgehim;andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden
cheval
horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthevent
wind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegolden
cheval
horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethe
cheval
horsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythe
cheval
horsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthevent
wind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthe
cheval
horse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe
tribunal
courttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwas
convenu
agreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincesse
princess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthecheval
horsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthe
cheval
horse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnightthe
princesse
princessgoestothebathing-house:gouptoherandgivehera
embrassez
kiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmetthe
princesse
princessgoingtothebathandgaveherthebaiser
kiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathis
pieds
feet,tillatlastheconsented;butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessin
huit
eightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedfor
sept
sevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimthe
princesse
princess.Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandthe
princesse
princess;‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautiful
princesse
princess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegolden
cheval
horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;butshakehandswiththe
princesse
princesslast.Thenlifther
rapidement
quicklyontothehorsebehindyou;Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththe
princesse
princessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistheright
cheval
horse,hewillbringoutthebird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee
si
whetheritisthetruegoldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,the
princesse
princessmountedagain,andtheymontée
rodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththe
princesse
princess,tillatlasthecametothevillage
villagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideofthe
fleuve
river,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideofthefleuve
river;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and
jetèrent
threwhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincesse
princess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthe
cheval
horsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesse
princesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthe
rive
bankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
sinon
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutofthe
fleuve
river,andsaidtohim,ashegotupontherive
bank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scour
court,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthecheval
horsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincesse
princessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadthe
princesse
princessgiventohimagain;andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadand
pieds
feet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenare
nés
borntogoodluck:alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sept
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
so
prie
praypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,
jeta
threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapital
cheval
horse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto
monter
rideonhorseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
he
trébuche
tripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtoporter
carry:tobesureitissilver,butitisso
lourd
heavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumy
cheval
horse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein
porter
carryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’
Cependant
However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe
cheval
horse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androulé
rodemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthe
cheval
horsefullgallop;andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas
jeté
thrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.His
cheval
horsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno
blague
joke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhiscou
neck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave
lait
milk,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyour
cheval
horse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherd
sauté
jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlya
morceau
pieceofbread(andIcertainement
certainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcan
lait
milkmycowanddrinkthelait
milk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora
verre
glassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s
village
village.Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto
traverser
cross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhisbouche
mouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwill
traire
milkmycowandquenchmythirst’:sohetiedhertothestumpofa
arbre
tree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;butnota
goutte
dropwastobehad.Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim
lait
milkandbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast
commencé
begantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsucha
coup
kickontheheadasknockedhimdown;andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto
traire
milkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyouno
lait
milk:don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whata
honte
shametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine
gras
fatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits
jambe
leg.Soonhejogged,andall
semblait
seemednowtogorightwithhim:hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbe
autrement
otherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman
portant
carryingafinewhitegoose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
this
conduit
ledtofurtherchat;andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwent
gai
gayandsmilingwithhim.Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how
lourd
heavyitis,andyetitisonlyhuit
eightweeksold.Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof
graisse
fatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkof
graisse
fat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymancommença
begantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you
semblez
seemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
Inthe
village
villageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigvolé
stolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbeto
jeter
throwyouintothehorse-pond.PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor
né
born;buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: