Grimms’ Fairy Tales Progressive German B1 Translation Books

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautiful

garten

garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andat

mitternacht

midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganother

apfel

applewasgone.

Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,anda

vogel

birdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;

andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.

Butthearrowdidthe

vogel

birdnoharm;

onlyitdroppedagoldenfeatherfromits

schwanz

tail,andthenflewaway.

Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthe

rat

councilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegolden

vogel

birdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;

sohetookhis

bogen

bowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegolden

vogel

bird.

Youwillreachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinns

gegenüber

oppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmay

erscheinen

appeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansucha

tier

beastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupits

schwanz

tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.

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

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateand

trank

drankathisease,andforgotthe

vogel

bird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegood

rat

advice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegolden

vogel

birdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.

Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldto

suchen

seekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.

Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy

schwanz

tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockand

stein

stonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis

reise

journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoa

schloss

castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe

schloss

castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegolden

vogel

birdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;

butdonottrytotakethe

vogel

birdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis

schwanz

tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockand

stein

stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegolden

vogel

birdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine

vogel

birdinthisshabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.

Butthe

vogel

birdsetupsucha

laut

loudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegolden

vogel

birdgivenhimforhisown.

Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenona

plötzlich

suddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe

schloss

castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:

byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:

takeawaythehorse

ruhig

quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’s

schwanz

tail,andawaytheywentoverstockand

stein

stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehe

verdient

deservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutso

laut

loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethe

vogel

birdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththe

vogel

birdandthehorse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwill

ankommen

arriveatacastle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis

schwanz

tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockand

stein

stonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothe

schloss

castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothe

bad

bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythe

hügel

hillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthis

hügel

hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthe

hügel

hillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwas

entfernt

removedhemustgivehimtheprincess.

Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;

andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

but

schütteln

shakehandswiththeprincesslast.

Then

heben

liftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe

burg

castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthe

vogel

bird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegolden

vogel

bird;

This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;

theycarriedoffthe

vogel

bird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.

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

sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreat

lärm

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

boden

bottomoftheriver’sbed:

luckilyitwasnearly

trocken

dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghis

rat

advice;

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy

schwanz

tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthe

vogel

birdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenareborntogoodluck:

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

Theworldmayvery

wahrscheinlich

likelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

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

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis

schulter

shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancamein

sicht

sight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.

‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthe

stuhl

chairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhe

kaum

hardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethis

last

loadtocarry:

tobesureitis

silber

silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmy

schulter

shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe

silber

silver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy

last

loadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthat

silber

silveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthe

silber

silver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlinga

fröhlich

merrytune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.

Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga

kuh

cow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona

tier

beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyour

kuh

cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmart

tier

beastthatplayedmethis

trick

trick,andhasspoiledmybest

mantel

coat,yousee,inthispuddle;

which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and

käse

cheese,everyday,intothebargain.

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

kuh

cowforyourhorse;

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

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe

kuh

cowgoodmorning,andawayherode.

Hansbrushedhis

mantel

coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhis

kuh

cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof

brot

bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterand

käse

cheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy

kuh

cowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis

brot

bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis

kuh

cowtowardshismother’svillage.

Butthe

hitze

heatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathis

zunge

tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmy

kuh

cowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnotadropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis

kuh

cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterand

käse

cheese,wasallthattimeutterly

trocken

dry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy

tier

beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;

andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga

schwein

piginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas

trocken

dry,andwantedtomilkhis

kuh

cow,butfoundthecowwas

trocken

drytoo.

Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

your

kuh

cowwillgiveyounomilk:

don’tyouseesheisanold

tier

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

Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadry

kuh

cow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwerea

schwein

pignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

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

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat

schwein

pigforthecow.’‘Heaven

belohne

rewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthe

kuh

cow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.

Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

thisledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.

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

‘butifyoutalkoffat,my

schwein

pigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortof

kerl

fellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Your

schwein

pigmaygetyouintoascrape.

InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada

schwein

pigstolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’s

schwein

pig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethe

schwein

pigwaseitherbredorborn;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

Select Store

Scan with Camera