THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthe
jardinero
gardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.The
jardinero
gardenersethiseldestsontowatch;butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthe
jardinero
gardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithits
pico
beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanflecha
arrowatit.Butthe
flecha
arrowdidthebirdnoharm;onlyitdroppedagolden
pluma
featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.Thegolden
pluma
featherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa
zorro
foxsitting;sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthe
zorro
foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery
agradable
pleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothat
mal
shabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthe
zorro
fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnot
resistir
withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanera
manner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and
impidiera
preventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthe
zorro
fox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.Buthewas
agradecido
thankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothe
zorro
foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthezorro
foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairsilbaban
whistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttothe
mal
shabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethe
zorro
foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetropa
troopofsoldiersfastasleepandroncando
snoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawooden
jaula
cage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden
jaula
cage;butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabby
jaula
cageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillarrepentirás
repentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairsilbaba
whistledinthewind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe
zorro
foxhadsaid:sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden
jaula
cage,andbelowstoodthegoldenjaula
cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthis
mal
shabbycage’;soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
jaula
cage.Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,
suspirando
sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthezorro
foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis
establo
stall:byhissidewillliethe
novio
groomfastasleepandsnoring:takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern
silla
saddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairsilbaba
whistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthe
novio
groomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensilla
saddle.Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathern
silla
saddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden
silla
saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
zorro
foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe
zorro
foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairsilbó
whistledagain.Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe
zorro
foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
zorro
foxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwas
obligado
obligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe
zorro
fox,‘itcanbedone.Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwill
montarás
mountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthe
zorro
foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthe
zorro
foxsaid;theycarriedoffthebird,theprincess
montar
mountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.Thenthe
zorro
foxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:sothe
zorro
foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:cuidado
bewareoftwothings;ransomnoonefromthe
horca
gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseand
alboroto
uproar;andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheir
libertad
liberty.Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethe
zorro
foxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandagradable
pleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
afortunadamente
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheold
zorro
foxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.
Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewas
heredero
heirtohiskingdom.Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
zorro
foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
vecino
neighbourHans.Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgood
criado
servant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHans
en voz alta
aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideoncaballo
horseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso
suavemente
softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthe
jinete
horseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:
‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,the
jinete
horsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthelátigo
whipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsen voz alta
loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis
látigo
whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutesilbando
whistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,A
higo
figforthemorrow!Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
pastor
shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,
tristemente
sadlyvexed,andsaidtothepastor
shepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthattropieza
stumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas
estropeado
spoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthischarco
puddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
mantequilla
butter,andcheese,everyday,intothetrato
bargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidthe
pastor
shepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whata
noble
nobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.Thenthe
pastor
shepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hans
cepilló
brushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
mantequilla
butterandcheesewithit;andwhenIam
sed
thirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan
posada
inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonas
mediodía
nooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothe
tronco
stumpofatree,andheldhisleatherngorra
captomilkinto;butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
mantequilla
butterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,the
inquieto
uneasybeastbegantothinkhimveryproblemático
troublesome;andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhile
sin sentido
senseless.Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthe
carnicero
butcher,ashehelpedhimup.Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.
Thenthe
carnicero
butchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:
don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!
IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnot
tierno
tenderenoughforme.Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;
itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthe
carnicero
butcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour
bondad
kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethecarnicero
butcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythe
cuerda
stringthatwastiedtoitsleg.Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite
ganso
goose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis
historia
tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotaketheganso
goosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe
pesaba
weigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
Mientras tanto
Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.
Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,the
escudero
squirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadly
asustado
frightened.‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: