THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertain
re
kinghadabeautifulgarden,e
andinthegardenstoodun
atreewhichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswere
sempre
alwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundche
thateverynightoneofthemwasandava
gone.Thekingbecameveryangryat
questo
this,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnotte
nightunderthetree.Thegardenersethiseldest
figlio
sontowatch;butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,
e
andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.Thenthesecond
figlio
sonwasorderedtowatch;e
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,e
andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.Thenthethird
figlio
sonofferedtokeepwatch;ma
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotletgli
him,forfearsomeharmshouldcometogli
him:however,atlastheconsented,
e
andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfsotto
underthetreetowatch.As
le
theclockstrucktwelvehesentì
heardarustlingnoiseinle
theair,andabirdvenne
cameflyingthatwasofpuregold;e
andasitwassnappingatoneofil
theappleswithitsbeak,il
thegardener’ssonjumpedupe
andshotanarrowatit.Ma
Butthearrowdidthebirdnon
noharm;onlyitdropped
una
agoldenfeatherfromitstail,e
andthenflewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothe
re
kinginthemorning,andtutto
allthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworth
più
morethanallthewealthofle
thekingdom:Thenthegardener’seldest
figlio
sonsetoutandthoughttotrovare
findthegoldenbirdveryeasily;e
andwhenhehadgonebutalittlestrada
way,hecametoawood,e
andbythesideofthewoodhevide
sawafoxsitting;sohe
prese
tookhisbowandmadereadytosparare
shootatit.Thenthefox
disse
said,‘Donotshootme,forIwilldarò
giveyougoodcounsel;I
so
knowwhatyourbusinessis,e
andthatyouwanttotrovare
findthegoldenbird.Youwillreach
un
avillageintheevening;e
andwhenyougetthere,youè
willseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,una
oneofwhichisverypleasante
andbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,
ma
butrestforthenightintheother,anche se
thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypovero
poorandmean.’Butthefiglio
sonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchuna
abeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;ma
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsschiena
backandranintothewood.Thenhe
andò
wenthisway,andinle
theeveningcametothevillagedove
wherethetwoinnswere;e
andinoneofthesewerepersone
peoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;ma
buttheotherlookedverydirty,e
andpoor.‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’
disse
saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbycasa
house,andleftthischarmingplace’;sohewentinto
il
thesmarthouse,andatee
anddrankathisease,e
andforgotthebird,andhispaese
countrytoo.Timepassedon;
e
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,e
andnotidingswereheardoflui
him,thesecondsonsetout,e
andthesamethinghappenedtolui
him.Hemetthefox,
che
whogavehimthegoodadvice:ma
butwhenhecametola
thetwoinns,hiseldestfratello
brotherwasstandingatthewindowdove
wherethemerrymakingwas,andchiamò
calledtohimtocomein;e
andhecouldnotwithstandil
thetemptation,butwentin,e
andforgotthegoldenbirde
andhiscountryinthestesso
samemanner.Timepassedon
di nuovo
again,andtheyoungestsontoodesiderò
wishedtosetoutintoil
thewideworldtoseekforil
thegoldenbird;buthis
padre
fatherwouldnotlistentoitforamolto tempo
longwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisfiglio
son,andwasafraidthatqualche
someillluckmighthappentohimalso,e
andpreventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedhe
dovesse
shouldgo,forhewouldnotriposare
restathome;andashecameto
la
thewood,hemetthefox,e
andheardthesamegoodcounsel.Ma
Buthewasthankfultothefox,e
anddidnotattempthisvita
lifeashisbrothershadfatto
done;sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,
e
andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesedette
satdown,andthefoxbegantocorrere
run,andawaytheywentoverstocke
andstonesoquickthattheircapelli
hairwhistledinthewind.Quando
Whentheycametothevillage,thefiglio
sonfollowedthefox’scounsel,e
andwithoutlookingabouthimandò
wenttotheshabbyinne
andrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthe
mattino
morningcamethefoxagaine
andmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,e
andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyouvenne
cometoacastle,beforewhichlieun
awholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepe
andsnoring:takenonoticeof
loro
them,butgointothecastlee
andpassonandontillyoucometouna
aroom,wherethegoldenbirdsiede
sitsinawoodencage;vicino
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;ma
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycagee
andputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistaildi nuovo
again,andtheyoungmansedette
sathimselfdown,andawaytheyandarono
wentoverstockandstonetilltheircapelli
hairwhistledinthewind.Prima
Beforethecastlegateallwasasla
thefoxhadsaid:sothe
figlio
sonwentinandfoundthechamberdove
wherethegoldenbirdhunginuna
awoodencage,andbelowstate
stoodthegoldencage,andthetre
threegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingvicino
closebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydroll
cosa
thingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinquesta
thisshabbycage’;sohe
aperto
openedthedoorandtookholdofite
andputitintothegoldencage.Ma
Butthebirdsetupsuchun
aloudscreamthatalli
thesoldiersawoke,andtheypresero
tookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforei
theking.Thenextmorning
la
thecourtsattojudgehim;e
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldportasse
bringthekingthegoldenhorseche
whichcouldrunasswiftlyasil
thewind;andifhe
faceva
didthis,hewastoavrebbero
havethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.Sohesetout
volta
oncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,e
andingreatdespair,whenonuna
asuddenhisfriendthefoxincontrò
methim,andsaid,‘Youseeora
nowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotascoltato
listeningtomycounsel.Iwill
ancora
still,however,tellyouhowtotrovare
findthegoldenhorse,ifyouwillfarai
doasIbidyou.You
dovete
mustgostraightontillyoucometoil
thecastlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleep
e
andsnoring:takeawaythehorsequietly,
ma
butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,e
andnotthegoldenoneche
thatisclosebyit.’Thenthefiglio
sonsatdownonthefox’stail,e
andawaytheywentoverstocke
andstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Tutto
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhismano
handuponthegoldensaddle.Ma
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hepensò
thoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwill
darò
givehimthegoodone,’disse
saidhe;‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawoke
e
andcriedoutsoloud,che
thatalltheguardsranine
andtookhimprisoner,andinthemattina
morninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,e
andwassentencedtodie.Ma
Butitwasagreed,that,se
ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldvissuto
live,andhavethebirde
andthehorsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhe
andò
wenthiswayverysorrowful;ma
buttheoldfoxcamee
andsaid,‘Whydidnotyouascoltato
listentome?Ifyou
avresti
had,youwouldhavecarriedawaybothil
thebirdandthehorse;ancora
yetwillIoncemoredarò
giveyoucounsel.Gostraighton,
e
andintheeveningyouwillarriveatun
acastle.Attwelveo’clockat
notte
nighttheprincessgoestola
thebathing-house:gouptoher
e
andgiveherakiss,e
andshewillletyouleadheraway;ma
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertoandare
goandtakeleaveofherpadre
fatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,e
andsoawaytheywentsu
overstockandstonetilltheircapelli
hairwhistledagain.Astheycametothecastle,
tutto
allwasasthefoxaveva
hadsaid,andattwelveo’clockthegiovane
youngmanmettheprincessandava
goingtothebathanddiede
gaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,ma
butbeggedwithmanytearsche
thathewouldlethertakelasciasse
leaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,
ma
butsheweptstillmoree
andmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;ma
butthemomentshecametoherfather’scasa
housetheguardsawokeandhewaspreso
takenprisoneragain.Thenhewas
portarono
broughtbeforetheking,andthere
kingsaid,‘Youshallneveravrai
havemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillche
thatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Ora
Nowthishillwassogrande
bigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:e
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,e
andhaddoneverylittle,la
thefoxcameandsaid.‘Liedown
e
andgotosleep;I
era
willworkforyou.’Andinla
themorningheawokeandla
thehillwasgone;sohe
andò
wentmerrilytotheking,e
andtoldhimthatnowche
thatitwasremovedhedoveva
mustgivehimtheprincess.Thenthe
re
kingwasobligedtokeephisparola
word,andawaywentthegiovane
youngmanandtheprincess;‘Ifyou
vuoi
willonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.Quando
Whenyoucometothere
king,andheasksforla
thebeautifulprincess,youmustdire
say,“Heresheis!”Thenhe
sarà
willbeveryjoyful;andyouwillmount
la
thegoldenhorsethattheyaretodaranno
giveyou,andputoutyourmano
handtotakeleaveofthem;ma
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.Thenliftherquicklyontothehorse
dietro
behindyou;Allwentright:
then
la
thefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometola
thecastlewherethebirdè
is,Iwillstaywithla
theprincessatthedoor,e
andyouwillrideine
andspeaktotheking;e
andwhenheseesthatitisil
therighthorse,hewillporterà
bringoutthebird;butyou
devi
mustsitstill,andsayche
thatyouwanttolookatit,tovedere
seewhetheritisthevero
truegoldenbird;This,too,
successo
happenedasthefoxsaid;theycarried
via
offthebird,theprincessmountedagain,e
andtheyrodeontoun
agreatwood.Thenthefox
venne
came,andsaid,‘Praykillme,e
andcutoffmyheade
andmyfeet.’Butthegiovane
youngmanrefusedtodoit:so
la
thefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyratedarò
giveyougoodcounsel:bewareof
due
twothings;ransomnoonefrom
il
thegallows,andsitdownbyil
thesideofnoriver.’Thenawayheandò
went.Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillage
dove
wherehehadlefthisdue
twobrothers.Andtherehe
sentì
heardagreatnoiseanduproar;e
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeopledisse
said,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hevide
sawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;sohe
disse
said,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Ma
Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlessheessere
wouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalse
andbuytheirliberty.Thenhedidnotstayto
pensare
thinkaboutthematter,butpagò
paidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,e
andwentonwithhimtowardstheircasa
home.Andastheycametothewood
dove
wherethefoxfirstmetli
them,itwassocoole
andpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussedette
sitdownbythesideoftheriver,e
andrestawhile,tomangiare
eatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’e
andforgotthefox’scounsel,e
andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;e
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theyvennero
camebehind,andthrewhimgiù
downthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,e
andthebird,andwentcasa
hometothekingtheirmaster,e
andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
ma
butthehorsewouldnotmangiare
eat,thebirdwouldnotcantare
sing,andtheprincesswept.Il
Theyoungestsonfelltoil
thebottomoftheriver’sletto
bed:luckilyitwasnearlydry,
ma
buthisboneswerealmostbroken,e
andthebankwassosteepche
thathecouldfindnomodo
waytogetout.Thentheoldfox
venne
cameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotseguito
followinghisadvice;otherwisenoevil
sarebbe
wouldhavebefallenhim:‘Yet,’
disse
saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouqui
here,solayholdofmytaile
andholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,e
andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershanno
havesetwatchtokillyou,se
iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapovero
poorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,e
andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantomangiare
eat,andthebirdtocantare
sing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhe
andò
wenttotheking,andraccontò
toldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;e
andtheywereseizedandpunished,e
andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;e
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.A
molto tempo
longwhileafter,hewenttowalkonegiorno
dayinthewood,andtheoldfoxincontrò
methim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokilllo
him,andcutoffhistesta
headandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Alcuni
Somemenareborntogoodfortuna
luck:alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthat
cadono
fallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillsempre
always,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,e
andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.Il
Theworldmayverylikelynotsempre
alwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,ma
butwhatcaretheyforil
theworld?whatcanit
sapere
knowaboutthematter?OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshe
aveva
hadworkedhardforhispadrone
master.Atlasthesaid,‘Master,my
tempo
timeisup;Imustgo
casa
homeandseemypoormadre
motheroncemore:sopraypaymemywages
e
andletmego.’Andthepadrone
mastersaid,‘Youhavebeenun
afaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhediede
gavehimalumpofsilverasgrande
bigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,
mise
putthepieceofsilverintolo
it,threwitoverhisshoulder,e
andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashe
andava
wentlazilyon,draggingonefootdopo
afteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.‘Ah!’
disse
saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!Therehe
siede
sitsaseasyandhappyasse
ifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;hetrips
contro
againstnostones,savesshoe-leather,e
andgetsonhehardlysa
knowshow.’Hansdidnotparlato
speaksosoftlybutthehorsemansentito
hearditall,andsaid,‘Well,amico
friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’detto
saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobe
sicuro
sureitissilver,butitissoheavyche
thatIcan’tholdupmytesta
head,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,
e
andyoushallgivemeil
thesilver;whichwillsaveyoua
grande
greatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withtutto
allmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindto
me
me,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawche
thatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,prese
tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonemano
handandthewhipintotheother,e
andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttoandare
goveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlyinsieme
together,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashe
sedeva
satonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,girato
turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,e
androdemerrilyoff,oneminuto
minutewhistlingamerrytune,e
andanothersinging,.‘Nocare
e
andnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!Dopo
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketoandare
goalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipse
andcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;e
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,e
andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.Hishorse
sarebbe
wouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdche
whowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotfermato
stoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,
e
andgotuponhislegsdi nuovo
again,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnon
nojoke,whenamanhasthefortuna
lucktogetuponabeastlikequesta
thisthatstumblesandflingshimvia
offasifitwouldrotto
breakhisneck.However,I’moffnow
volta
onceforall:Ilikeyourcow
ora
nowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatgiocato
playedmethistrick,andha
hasspoiledmybestcoat,youvedi
see,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotvery
come
likeanosegay.Onecan
camminare
walkalongatone’sleisuredietro
behindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,e
andhavemilk,butter,andcheese,ogni
everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldI
darei
givetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’disse
saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;Iliketo
fare
dogoodtomyneighbours,evenanche se
thoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’disse
saidHans,merrily.‘Whatanoble
cuore
heartthatgoodmanhas!’pensò
thoughthe.Thentheshepherdjumpedupon
il
thehorse,wishedHansandil
thecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhis
faccia
faceandhands,restedawhile,e
andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,e
andthoughthisbargainaveryfortunato
luckyone.‘IfIhave
solo
onlyapieceofbreadE
(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,mangiare
eatmybutterandcheesewithesso
it;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycow
e
anddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanI
desiderare
wishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,mangiato
ateupallhisbread,e
andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Quando
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffdi nuovo
again,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.Ma
Buttheheatgrewgreaterasappena
soonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashetrovò
foundhimselfonawideheaththatessere
wouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesocaldo
hotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Ican
trovare
findacureforthis,’pensò
thoughthe;‘nowIwillmilkmycow
e
andquenchmythirst’:sohetiedherto
il
thestumpofatree,e
andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;ma
butnotadropwastobehad.Who
fosse
wouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilke
andbutterandcheese,wastutto
allthattimeutterlydry?Hans
aveva
hadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.Mentre
Whilehewastryinghisfortuna
luckinmilking,andmanagingla
thematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantopensare
thinkhimverytroublesome;andatlast
dato
gavehimsuchakickonthetesta
headasknockedhimdown;e
andtherehelayamolto tempo
longwhilesenseless.Luckilyabutcher
presto
sooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.‘Whatis
il
thematterwithyou,myman?’disse
saidthebutcher,asheaiutava
helpedhimup.Hanstoldhimwhathad
successo
happened,howhewasdry,e
andwantedtomilkhiscow,ma
butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.Then
il
thebutchergavehimaflaskofale,dicendo
saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;yourcowwill
darà
giveyounomilk:don’tyou
vedi
seesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbutil
theslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whoè
wouldhavethoughtit?What
una
ashametotakemyhorse,e
andgivemeonlyadrycow!Se
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?I
odio
hatecow-beef;itisnottender
abbastanza
enoughforme.Ifitwere
un
apignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouareguidando
drivingalongathisease—onecouldfare
dosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyrate
fare
makesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketodire
sayno,whenoneischiede
askedtodoakind,neighbourlycosa
thing.TopleaseyouIwill
cambierò
change,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnesse
andself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;e
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringche
thatwastiedtoitsleg.Soonhejogged,
e
andallseemednowtoandare
gorightwithhim:he
aveva
hadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;ma
buthewasnowwellrepaidfortutti
all.Howcoulditbeotherwise
di
withsuchatravellingcompanionasheaveva
hadatlastgot?Thenextmanhe
incontrò
metwasacountrymancarryingun
afinewhitegoose.Thecountryman
fermò
stoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;questo
thisledtofurtherchat;e
andHanstoldhimallhisfortuna
luck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,e
andhowalltheworldwentgaye
andsmilingwithhim.Thecountrymanthenbeganto
raccontare
tellhistale,andsaidhewasandando
goingtotakethegoosetoun
achristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitis
solo
onlyeightweeksold.Whoeverroasts
e
andeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,itha
haslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’disse
saidHans,asheweigheditinhismano
hand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigis
non
notrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,e
andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’
disse
saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemun
agoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpfare
doingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageI
appena
justcamefrom,thesquirehashadun
apigstolenoutofhissty.Iwasdreadfullyafraid
quando
whenIsawyouthatyouhadgotil
thesquire’spig.Ifyou
hanno
have,andtheycatchyou,itsarà
willbeabadjobforyou.Il
Theleasttheywilldosarà
willbetothrowyouintoil
thehorse-pond.PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutof
questo
thisscrape.Iknownothingof
dove
wherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;ma
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: