Grimms’ Fairy Tales Gradually Hardening Slovenian B1

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautiful

vrt

garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andat

polnoči

midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganother

jabolko

applewasgone.

Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;

andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.

Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyitdroppeda

zlati

goldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.

Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdvery

zlahka

easily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;

sohetookhis

lok

bowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.

Youwillreachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmay

zdi

appeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansucha

zver

beastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupits

rep

tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.

‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegood

nasvet

advice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.

Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.

Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy

rep

tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis

potovanje

journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoa

gradu

castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe

grad

castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;

butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis

rep

tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,and

spodaj

belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.

Butthebirdsetupsucha

glasno

loudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.

Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis

potovanje

journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe

gradu

castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:

byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:

takeawaythehorse

tiho

quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’s

rep

tail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreat

škoda

pitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutso

glasno

loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveata

gradu

castle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis

rep

tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.

Astheycametothe

grad

castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothe

kopel

bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythe

hrib

hillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthis

hrib

hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.

Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;

andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.

Then

dvignite

liftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe

grad

castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;

theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.

Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:

sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;

andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;

sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.

Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhim

proti

towardstheirhome.

Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;

andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.

‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;

butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.

Theyoungestsonfelltothe

dno

bottomoftheriver’sbed:

luckilyitwasnearly

suho

dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy

rep

tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.

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.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis

ramo

shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.

‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:

tobesureitis

srebro

silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmy

ramo

shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe

srebro

silver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthat

srebro

silveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthe

srebro

silver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlinga

veselo

merrytune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.

Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga

kravo

cow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona

zveri

beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyour

krava

cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmart

zver

beastthatplayedmethis

trik

trick,andhasspoiledmybest

plašč

coat,yousee,inthispuddle;

which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and

sir

cheese,everyday,intothebargain.

WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy

kravo

cowforyourhorse;

Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.

Hansbrushedhis

plašč

coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhis

kravo

cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof

kruha

bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterand

sir

cheesewithit;

andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy

kravo

cowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis

kruh

bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis

kravo

cowtowardshismother’svillage.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathis

jezik

tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.

‘Icanfinda

zdravilo

cureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmy

kravo

cowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnotadropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis

krava

cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterand

sir

cheese,wasallthattimeutterly

suha

dry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy

zver

beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;

andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas

suha

dry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwas

suha

drytoo.

Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

your

krava

cowwillgiveyounomilk:

don’tyouseesheisanold

zver

beast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?

Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlya

suho

drycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwereapignow—likethatfat

gospod

gentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthe

kravo

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

veliko

plentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;

‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.

InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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