THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrow
maturare
ripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthe
giardiniere
gardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.The
giardiniere
gardenersethiseldestsontowatch;butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthe
giardiniere
gardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
becco
beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanfreccia
arrowatit.Butthe
freccia
arrowdidthebirdnoharm;onlyitdroppedagolden
piuma
featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.Thegolden
piuma
featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’s
maggiore
eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
volpe
foxsitting;sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
volpe
foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodconsiglio
counsel;Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
piacevole
pleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis
freccia
arrowatthefox;buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andasthe
maggiore
eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.Hemetthe
volpe
fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his
maggiore
eldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnot
resistere
withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemodo
manner.Timepassedonagain,andthe
giovane
youngestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasvery
affezionato
fondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andimpedire
preventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
volpe
fox,andheardthesamegoodconsiglio
counsel.Buthewasthankfultothe
volpe
fox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothe
volpe
foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthevolpe
foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s
consiglio
counsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbylocanda
innandrestedthereallnightathisagio
ease.Inthemorningcamethe
volpe
foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetruppa
troopofsoldiersfastasleepandrussano
snoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawooden
gabbia
cage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden
gabbia
cage;butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
gabbia
cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillpentirai
repentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
volpe
foxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthe
camera
chamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodengabbia
cage,andbelowstoodthegoldengabbia
cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
gabbia
cage.Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreat
disperazione
despair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthevolpe
foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomyconsiglio
counsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis
stalla
stall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepand
russa
snoring:takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern
sella
saddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlay
russare
snoringwithhishanduponthegoldensella
saddle.Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathern
sella
saddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden
sella
saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
volpe
foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyou
consiglio
counsel.Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
volpe
foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
volpe
foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
volpe
foxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
volpe
fox,‘itcanbedone.Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbevery
gioioso
joyful;andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
volpe
foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
volpe
foxsaid;theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthe
volpe
foxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:sothe
volpe
foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodconsiglio
counsel:bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthe
forca
gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseand
tumulto
uproar;andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
volpe
foxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpiacevole
pleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’sconsiglio
counsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
The
minore
youngestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:per fortuna
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheold
volpe
foxcameoncemore,andrimproverò
scoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcame
segretamente
secretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
volpe
foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
vicino
neighbourHans.Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena
fedele
faithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHans
ad alta voce
aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideona cavallo
horseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso
dolcemente
softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.
‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthe
frusta
whipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsforte
loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis
frusta
whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrymelodia
tune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandno
dolore
sorrow,Afigforthemorrow!Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
pastore
shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,
tristemente
sadlyvexed,andsaidtothepastore
shepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas
rovinato
spoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispozzanghera
puddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
burro
butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidthe
pastore
shepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whata
nobile
nobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.Thenthe
pastore
shepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hans
spazzolò
brushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisaffare
bargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
burro
butterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
locanda
inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonas
mezzogiorno
nooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawidebrughiera
heaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;
butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
burro
butterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimvery
fastidioso
troublesome;andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Fortunatamente
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe
macellaio
butcher,ashehelpedhimup.Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthe
macellaio
butchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrinfrescati
refreshyourself;yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnot
tenero
tenderenoughforme.Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe
macellaio
butcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
gentilezza
kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethemacellaio
butcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythe
corda
stringthatwastiedtoitsleg.Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravelling
compagno
companionashehadatlastgot?Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
storia
tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoever
arrostisce
roastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashepesava
weigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
Nel frattempo
Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,the
scudiero
squirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswas
tristemente
sadlyfrightened.‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: