THEGOLDENBIRD
A
certo
certainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodaalbero
treewhichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswerealways
contate
counted,andaboutthetimewhentheycominciavano
begantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthe
terzo
thirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,for
paura
fearsomeharmshouldcometohim:however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcame
volando
flyingthatwasofpureoro
gold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson
saltò
jumpedupandshotanarrowatit.Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyit
cadere
droppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenvolato
flewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwill
raggiungerete
reachavillageintheevening;andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail
sopra
aboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothe
villaggio
villagewherethetwoinnswere;andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedvery
sporco
dirty,andpoor.‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothe
intelligente
smarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.Time
passato
passedon;andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe
finestra
windowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Time
passò
passedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefox
cominciò
begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthevento
wind.Whentheycametothe
villaggio
village,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Go
dritto
straightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleand
passate
passonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,
altrimenti
otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthevento
wind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerand
portarono
carriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthe
corte
courtsattojudgehim;andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegolden
cavallo
horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthevento
wind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegolden
cavallo
horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgo
dritto
straightontillyoucometothecastlewherethecavallo
horsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfast
addormentato
asleepandsnoring:takeawaythe
cavallo
horsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthevento
wind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthe
cavallo
horse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe
corte
courttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautiful
principessa
princess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthecavallo
horsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhave
portato
carriedawayboththebirdandthecavallo
horse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnightthe
principessa
princessgoestothebathing-house:gouptoherandgivehera
bacio
kiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmetthe
principessa
princessgoingtothebathandgaveherthebacio
kiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessin
otto
eightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedfor
sette
sevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimthe
principessa
princess.Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandthe
principessa
princess;‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautiful
principessa
princess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegolden
cavallo
horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;butshakehandswiththe
principessa
princesslast.Thenlifther
velocemente
quicklyontothehorsebehindyou;Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththe
principessa
princessatthedoor,andyouwillcavalcherai
rideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistheright
cavallo
horse,hewillbringoutthebird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee
se
whetheritisthetruegoldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
they
portarono
carriedoffthebird,theprincipessa
princessmountedagain,andtheyandarono
rodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
He
cavalcare
rodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillaggio
villagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideofthe
fiume
river,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideofthefiume
river;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and
gettarono
threwhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincipessa
princess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthe
cavallo
horsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincipessa
princesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
altrimenti
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhe
tirò
pulledhimoutofthefiume
river,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohevestì
dressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scorte
court,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthecavallo
horsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincipessa
princessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadthe
principessa
princessgiventohimagain;andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthe
più velocemente
faster.Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sette
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
so
prego
praypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthe
pezzo
pieceofsilverintoit,gettò
threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,draggingone
piede
footafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalcavallo
horse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto
cavalcare
rideonhorseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadto
portare
carry:tobesureitissilver,butitisso
pesante
heavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumy
cavallo
horse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein
portare
carryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe
cavallo
horse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,andcavalcato
rodemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittle
veloce
faster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthecavallo
horsefullgallop;andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewas
gettato
thrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.His
cavallo
horsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno
scherzo
joke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhiscollo
neck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthis
intelligente
smartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave
latte
milk,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyour
cavallo
horse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherd
saltò
jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayheandò
rode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlya
pezzo
pieceofbread(andIcertamente
certainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcan
latte
milkmycowanddrinkthelatte
milk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora
bicchiere
glassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s
villaggio
village.Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto
attraversare
cross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhisbocca
mouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofa
albero
tree,andheldhisleatherncaptolatte
milkinto;butnota
goccia
dropwastobehad.Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim
latte
milkandbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast
iniziato
begantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsucha
calcio
kickontheheadasknockedhimdown;andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto
mungere
milkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyouno
latte
milk:don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemy
cavallo
horse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethat
grasso
fatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine
grasso
fatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits
gamba
leg.Soonhejogged,andall
sembravano
seemednowtogorightwithhim:hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbe
diversamente
otherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman
trasportava
carryingafinewhitegoose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
this
portato
ledtofurtherchat;andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayand
sorridente
smilingwithhim.Thecountrymanthen
iniziato
begantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how
pesante
heavyitis,andyetitisonlyotto
eightweeksold.Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof
grasso
fatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkof
grasso
fat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymancominciò
begantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you
sembri
seemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
Inthe
villaggio
villageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigrubato
stolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredor
nato
born;buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: