THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautiful
jardín
garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboreoro
goldenapples.Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andat
medianoche
midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganothermanzana
applewasgone.Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclock
golpeó
strucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andapájaro
birdcameflyingthatwasofpuro
puregold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthe
pájaro
birdnoharm;onlyitdroppeda
oro
goldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.The
oro
goldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthe
reino
kingdom:Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthe
oro
goldenbirdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhis
arco
bowandmadereadytoshootatit.Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthe
oro
goldenbird.Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmay
parezca
appeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabestia
beastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;buthemissedit,anditsetupits
cola
tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthe
pájaro
bird,andhiscountrytoo.Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthe
oro
goldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothe
ancho
wideworldtoseekfortheoro
goldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnot
intentó
attempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy
cola
tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandpiedra
stonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis
viaje
journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastillo
castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe
castillo
castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenpájaro
birdsitsinawoodencage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethe
pájaro
birdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthiscola
tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandpiedra
stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethe
castillo
castlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethe
oro
goldenbirdhunginawoodencage,anddebajo
belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreeoro
goldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine
pájaro
birdinthisshabbycage’;soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothe
oro
goldencage.Butthebirdsetupsucha
fuerte
loudscreamthatallthesoldiersdespertaron
awoke,andtheytookhimprisionero
prisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,it
condenó
sentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingtheoro
goldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethe
oro
goldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis
viaje
journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthe
oro
goldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe
castillo
castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’s
cola
tail,andawaytheywentoverstockandpiedra
stonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthe
oro
goldensaddle.Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthe
oro
goldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsofuerte
loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisionero
prisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentenciado
sentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethe
pájaro
birdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththe
pájaro
birdandthehorse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwill
llegarás
arriveatacastle.Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
cola
tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandpiedra
stonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.Astheycametothe
castillo
castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebaño
bathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butsuplicó
beggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirsthe
negó
refused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguards
despertaron
awokeandhewastakenprisionero
prisoneragain.Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyou
caves
digawaythehillthatstopsthevista
viewfrommywindow.’Nowthiscolina
hillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorninghe
despertó
awokeandthehillwasgone;sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwas
quitado
removedhemustgivehimtheprincess.Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthe
oro
goldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;but
estrecha
shakehandswiththeprincesslast.Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe
castillo
castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthe
pájaro
bird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegolden
pájaro
bird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthe
pájaro
bird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungman
negó
refusedtodoit:sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreat
ruido
noiseanduproar;andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhim
hacia
towardstheirhome.Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehe
sospechaba
suspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthepájaro
bird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,the
pájaro
birdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothe
fondo
bottomoftheriver’sbed:luckilyitwasnearly
seco
dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy
cola
tailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthepájaro
birdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohis
reino
kingdom.Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.
HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayvery
probable
likelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhis
hombro
shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,
arrastrando
draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinvista
sight,trottinggailyalongonacapital
capitalhorse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthe
silla
chairbyhisfireside;hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethis
carga
loadtocarry:tobesureitis
plata
silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyhombro
shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethe
plata
silver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy
carga
loadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveaweary
tarea
tasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tooktheplata
silver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlinga
alegre
merrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga
vaca
cow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetupona
bestia
beastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyour
vaca
cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbestia
beastthatplayedmethistruco
trick,andhasspoiledmybestabrigo
coat,yousee,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and
queso
cheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy
vaca
cowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe
vaca
cowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhis
abrigo
coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhisvaca
cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof
pan
bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandqueso
cheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy
vaca
cowanddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis
pan
bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis
vaca
cowtowardshismother’svillage.Butthe
caliente
heatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathislengua
tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfinda
cura
cureforthis,’thoughthe;‘nowIwillmilkmy
vaca
cowandquenchmythirst’:sohe
ató
tiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis
vaca
cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterandqueso
cheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasy
bestia
beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga
cerdo
piginawheelbarrow.‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas
seco
dry,andwantedtomilkhisvaca
cow,butfoundthecowwasseco
drytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
your
vaca
cowwillgiveyounomilk:don’tyouseesheisanold
bestia
beast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadry
vaca
cow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwerea
cerdo
pignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat
cerdo
pigforthecow.’‘Heavenrecompense
rewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthevaca
cow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsucha
viaje
travellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurther
charla
chat;andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,my
cerdo
pigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave
grave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Your
cerdo
pigmaygetyouintoascrape.InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada
cerdo
pigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’s
cerdo
pig.Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethe
cerdo
pigwaseitherbredorborn;buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: