Grimms’ Fairy Tales Gradually Hardening German B2

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrow

reif

ripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthe

gärtner

gardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

The

gärtner

gardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.

Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthe

gärtner

gardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;

andasitwas

schnappte

snappingatoneoftheappleswithits

schnabel

beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotan

pfeil

arrowatit.

Butthe

pfeil

arrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyitdroppedagolden

feder

featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.

Thegolden

feder

featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthe

reichtum

wealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’s

älteste

eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa

fuchs

foxsitting;

sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthe

fuchs

foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougood

rat

counsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.

Youwillreachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis

pfeil

arrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.

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

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andasthe

älteste

eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthe

fuchs

fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnot

widerstehen

withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesame

weise

manner.

Timepassedonagain,andthe

jüngste

youngestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and

verhindern

preventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthe

fuchs

fox,andheardthesamegood

rat

counsel.

Buthewasthankfultothe

fuchs

fox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothe

fuchs

foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthe

fuchs

foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s

rat

counsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabby

gasthaus

innandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethe

fuchs

foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepand

schnarcht

snoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden

käfig

cage;

butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby

käfig

cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwill

bereuen

repentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe

fuchs

foxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthe

kammer

chamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden

käfig

cage,andbelowstoodthegolden

käfig

cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden

käfig

cage.

Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.

Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreat

verzweiflung

despair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthe

fuchs

foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomy

rat

counsel.

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis

stall

stall:

byhissidewillliethe

bräutigam

groomfastasleepandsnoring:

takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthe

bräutigam

groomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegolden

sattel

saddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden

sattel

saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheold

fuchs

foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe

fuchs

foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe

fuchs

foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the

fuchs

foxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.

Thenthekingwas

gezwungen

obligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe

fuchs

fox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;

andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.

Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthe

fuchs

foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthe

fuchs

foxsaid;

theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.

Thenthe

fuchs

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

sothe

fuchs

foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougood

rat

counsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthe

galgen

gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreatnoiseand

aufruhr

uproar;

andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecame

näher

nearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;

sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheir

freiheit

liberty.

Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.

Andastheycametothewoodwherethe

fuchs

foxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’s

rat

counsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;

andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.

‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;

butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.

The

jüngste

youngestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:

glücklicherweise

luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwasso

steil

steepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheold

fuchs

foxcameoncemore,and

schimpfte

scoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcame

heimlich

secretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedand

bestraft

punished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewas

erbe

heirtohiskingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold

fuchs

foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenareborntogoodluck:

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

Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

Oneoftheseluckybeingswas

nachbar

neighbourHans.

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgood

knecht

servant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,and

joggte

joggedoffonhisroadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.

‘Ah!’saidHans

laut

aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideon

pferd

horseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso

leise

softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:

tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthe

reiter

horseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhavea

müde

wearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,the

reiter

horsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthe

peitsche

whipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlips

laut

loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis

peitsche

whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerry

melodie

tune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandno

trauer

sorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.

Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa

hirte

shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,

traurig

sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthat

stolpert

stumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas

verdorben

spoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthis

pfütze

puddle;

which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’s

freizeit

leisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,

butter

butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.

WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidthe

hirte

shepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;

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

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thenthe

hirte

shepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.

Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy

butter

butterandcheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonas

mittag

nooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawide

heide

heaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothe

stumpf

stumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnotadropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand

butter

butterandcheese,wasallthattime

völlig

utterlydry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;

andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Zum glück

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe

metzger

butcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.

Thenthe

metzger

butchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:

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

Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe

metzger

butcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour

freundlichkeit

kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethe

metzger

butcherthecow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.

Soonhe

joggte

jogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite

gans

goose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

thisledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis

geschichte

tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethe

gans

goosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.

Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe

gewogen

weigheditinhishand;

‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.

InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswas

traurig

sadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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