THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
चोंच
beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanतीर
arrowatit.Butthe
तीर
arrowdidthebirdnoharm;onlyitdroppedagolden
पंख
featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.Thegolden
पंख
featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthe
धन
wealthofthekingdom:Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
लोमड़ी
foxsitting;sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
लोमड़ी
foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodसलाह
counsel;Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
सुखद
pleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis
तीर
arrowatthefox;buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthe
लोमड़ी
fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnot
सामना
withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and
रोक
preventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
लोमड़ी
fox,andheardthesamegoodसलाह
counsel.Buthewasthankfultothe
लोमड़ी
fox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothe
लोमड़ी
foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andtheलोमड़ी
foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s
सलाह
counsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyसराय
innandrestedthereallnightathisआराम
ease.Inthemorningcamethe
लोमड़ी
foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsina
लकड़ी
woodencage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
पिंजरे
cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillपश्चाताप
repentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
लोमड़ी
foxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhungina
लकड़ी
woodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldenपिंजरे
cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
पिंजरे
cage.Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthe
लोमड़ी
foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomyसलाह
counsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis
स्टाल
stall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
लोमड़ी
foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyou
सलाह
counsel.Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
लोमड़ी
foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
लोमड़ी
foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
लोमड़ी
foxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
लोमड़ी
fox,‘itcanbedone.Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
लोमड़ी
foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
लोमड़ी
foxsaid;theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthe
लोमड़ी
foxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:sothe
लोमड़ी
foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodसलाह
counsel:bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthe
फांसी
gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
लोमड़ी
foxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandसुखद
pleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
सौभाग्य
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassoखड़ी
steepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheold
लोमड़ी
foxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
लोमड़ी
foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
पड़ोसी
neighbourHans.Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena
वफादार
faithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso
धीरे
softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthe
घुड़सवार
horseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,the
घुड़सवार
horsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandtheकोड़ा
whipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsजोर
loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis
कोड़ा
whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerryधुन
tune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandno
दुख
sorrow,Afigforthemorrow!Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbythe
किनारे
road-side.Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
चरवाहा
shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’s
आराम
leisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,मक्खन
butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whata
महान
nobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.Thenthe
चरवाहा
shepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthis
सौदा
bargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
मक्खन
butterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
सराय
inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonas
दोपहर
nooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleathern
टोपी
captomilkinto;butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
मक्खन
butterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhile
बेहोश
senseless.Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe
कसाई
butcher,ashehelpedhimup.Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthe
कसाई
butchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandताज़ा
refreshyourself;yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnot
कोमल
tenderenoughforme.Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe
कसाई
butcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
दयालुता
kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavetheकसाई
butcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravelling
साथी
companionashehadatlastgot?Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite
हंस
goose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
कहानी
tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotaketheहंस
goosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe
तौला
weigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
बीच
Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘my
योग्य
worthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: