THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautiful
बगीचे
garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andat
आधी रात
midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherसेब
applewasgone.Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsome
नुकसान
harmshouldcometohim:however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustling
शोर
noiseintheair,andaपक्षी
birdcameflyingthatwasofशुद्ध
puregold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthe
पक्षी
birdnoharm;onlyitdroppeda
सुनहरा
goldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthe
परिषद
councilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthe
राज्य
kingdom:Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegolden
पक्षी
birdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhis
धनुष
bowandmadereadytoshootatit.Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegolden
पक्षी
bird.Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinns
सामने
oppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansucha
जानवर
beastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;buthemissedit,anditsetupits
पूंछ
tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthis
आकर्षक
charmingplace’;sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthe
पक्षी
bird,andhiscountrytoo.Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegood
सलाह
advice:butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegolden
पक्षी
birdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothe
व्यापक
wideworldtoseekforthegoldenपक्षी
bird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnot
कोशिश
attempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy
पूंछ
tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis
यात्रा
journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoaमहल
castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe
महल
castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenपक्षी
birdsitsinawoodencage;closebyitstandsabeautiful
सुनहरा
goldencage;butdonottrytotakethe
पक्षी
birdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintotheसुंदर
handsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthisपूंछ
tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethe
महल
castlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegolden
पक्षी
birdhunginawoodencage,andनीचे
belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine
पक्षी
birdinthisshabbycage’;soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthe
पक्षी
birdsetupsuchaजोर
loudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegolden
पक्षी
birdgivenhimforhisown.Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis
यात्रा
journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonaअचानक
suddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe
महल
castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorse
चुपचाप
quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’sपूंछ
tail,andawaytheywentoverस्टॉक
stockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreat
अफ़सोस
pitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutso
जोर
loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethe
पक्षी
birdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththe
पक्षी
birdandthehorse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveata
महल
castle.Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
पूंछ
tail,andsoawaytheywentoverस्टॉक
stockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.Astheycametothe
महल
castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtotheस्नान
bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythe
पहाड़ी
hillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthisपहाड़ी
hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthe
पहाड़ी
hillwasgone;sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe
महल
castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthe
पक्षी
bird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetrue
सुनहरा
goldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthe
पक्षी
bird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreat
शोर
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
पक्षी
bird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,the
पक्षी
birdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothe
तल
bottomoftheriver’sbed:luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghis
सलाह
advice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy
पूंछ
tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andtheपक्षी
birdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohis
राज्य
kingdom.Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpof
चांदी
silverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceof
चांदी
silverintoit,threwitoverhisकंधे
shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancamein
दृष्टि
sight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthe
कुर्सी
chairbyhisfireside;hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethis
भार
loadtocarry:tobesureitis
चांदी
silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyकंधे
shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe
चांदी
silver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy
भार
loadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveaweary
कार्य
tasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tooktheचांदी
silver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.
‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga
गाय
cow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona
जानवर
beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyour
गाय
cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartजानवर
beastthatplayedmethisचाल
trick,andhasspoiledmybestकोट
coat,yousee,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and
पनीर
cheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy
गाय
cowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe
गाय
cowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhis
कोट
coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhisगाय
cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof
रोटी
bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandपनीर
cheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy
गाय
cowanddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis
रोटी
bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis
गाय
cowtowardshismother’svillage.Butthe
गर्मी
heatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathisजीभ
tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfinda
इलाज
cureforthis,’thoughthe;‘nowIwillmilkmy
गाय
cowandquenchmythirst’:sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis
गाय
cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterandपनीर
cheese,wasallthattimeutterlyसूखी
dry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy
जानवर
beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas
सूखी
dry,andwantedtomilkhisगाय
cow,butfoundthecowwasसूखी
drytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
your
गाय
cowwillgiveyounomilk:don’tyouseesheisanold
जानवर
beast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlya
सूखी
drycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethatfat
सज्जन
gentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heaven
पुरस्कृत
rewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutchertheगाय
cow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfind
बहुत
plentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolook
गंभीर
grave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortof
साथी
fellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: