THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertain
kung
kinghadabeautifulgarden,och
andinthegardenstoodatreesom
whichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswere
alltid
alwayscounted,andaboutthetid
timewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynatt
nightoneofthemwasgone.The
kungen
kingbecameveryangryatdetta
this,andorderedthegardenertohålla
keepwatchallnightunderthetree.Thegardenersethiseldest
son
sontowatch;butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,
och
andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.Then
den
thesecondsonwasorderedtotitta
watch;andatmidnighthe
också
toofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.Then
den
thethirdsonofferedtohålla
keepwatch;butthegardenerat
först
firstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohonom
him:however,atlastheconsented,
och
andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunder
underthetreetowatch.Astheclockstrucktwelvehe
hörde
heardarustlingnoiseintheair,och
andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;och
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheapplesmed
withitsbeak,thegardener’sson
sonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.Men
Butthearrowdidthebirdinte
noharm;onlyitdropped
en
agoldenfeatherfromitstail,och
andthenflewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothe
kungen
kinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledsamman
together.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworth
mer
morethanallthewealthofthekingdom:Then
den
thegardener’seldestsonsetut
outandthoughttofindden
thegoldenbirdveryeasily;och
andwhenhehadgonebuten
alittleway,hecametoen
awood,andbythesida
sideofthewoodhesåg
sawafoxsitting;sohe
tog
tookhisbowandmaderedo
readytoshootatit.Thenthefox
sade
said,‘Donotshootme,forIkommer
willgiveyougoodcounsel;I
vet
knowwhatyourbusinessis,och
andthatyouwanttohitta
findthegoldenbird.You
kommer
willreachavillageintheevening;och
andwhenyougetthere,youkommer
willseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,en
oneofwhichisverypleasantoch
andbeautifultolookat:gå
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheandra
other,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobemycket
verypoorandmean.’Butthesonen
sonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcanett sådant
suchabeastasthisveta
knowaboutthematter?’Sohesköt
shothisarrowatthefox;men
buthemissedit,anditsetupp
upitstailaboveitsbackoch
andranintothewood.Thenhe
gick
wenthisway,andintheeveningkom
cametothevillagewherethetvå
twoinnswere;andin
en
oneofthesewerepeoplesjöng
singing,anddancing,andfeasting;men
buttheotherlookedverydirty,och
andpoor.‘Ishouldbe
väldigt
verysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIgick
wenttothatshabbyhouse,och
andleftthischarmingplace’;sohe
gick
wentintothesmarthouse,och
andateanddrankathisease,och
andforgotthebird,andhisland
countrytoo.Timepassedon;
och
andastheeldestsondidnotkom
comeback,andnotidingswereheardofhonom
him,thesecondsonsetout,och
andthesamethinghappenedtohonom
him.Hemetthefox,
som
whogavehimthegoodadvice:men
butwhenhecametothetvå
twoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstod
standingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,och
andcalledtohimtocomein;och
andhecouldnotwithstandden
thetemptation,butwentin,och
andforgotthegoldenbirdoch
andhiscountryinthesamma
samemanner.Timepassedon
igen
again,andtheyoungestsontooville
wishedtosetoutintoden
thewideworldtoseekforden
thegoldenbird;buthis
far
fatherwouldnotlistentoitforen
alongwhile,forhewasmycket
veryfondofhisson,och
andwasafraidthatsomeillluckkan
mighthappentohimalso,och
andpreventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedheshould
gå
go,forhewouldnotvila
restathome;andashe
kom
cametothewood,heträffade
metthefox,andheardthesamma
samegoodcounsel.Buthewasthankfultothefox,
och
anddidnotattempthisliv
lifeashisbrothershadgjort
done;sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,
och
andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatner
down,andthefoxbegantospringa
run,andawaytheywentöver
overstockandstonesoquickthattheirhår
hairwhistledinthewind.När
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonen
sonfollowedthefox’scounsel,och
andwithoutlookingabouthimgick
wenttotheshabbyinnoch
andrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethefox
igen
againandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,och
andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichligger
lieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepoch
andsnoring:takenonoticeof
dem
them,butgointothecastleoch
andpassonandontillyoukommer
cometoaroom,whereden
thegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;närheten
closebyitstandsavacker
beautifulgoldencage;butdonot
försök
trytotakethebirdut
outoftheshabbycageoch
andputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyoukommer
willrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedut
outhistailagain,andtheunge
youngmansathimselfdown,och
andawaytheywentoverstockoch
andstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Innan
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhade
hadsaid:sothesonwentin
och
andfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhängde
hunginawoodencage,och
andbelowstoodthegoldencage,och
andthethreegoldenapplessom
thathadbeenlostwerelåg
lyingclosebyit.Then
tänkte
thoughthetohimself,‘Itkommer
willbeaverydrollsak
thingtobringawaysuchen
afinebirdinthisshabbycage’;sohe
öppnade
openedthedoorandtookholdofitoch
andputitintothegoldencage.Men
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamatt
thatallthesoldiersawoke,och
andtheytookhimprisoneroch
andcarriedhimbeforethekungen
king.Thenextmorningthecourt
satt
sattojudgehim;and
när
whenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldförde
bringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichkunde
couldrunasswiftlyasthewind;och
andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisegen
own.Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,
och
andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisvän
friendthefoxmethim,och
andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathar
hashappenedonaccountofyournotlyssnade
listeningtomycounsel.Iwill
ändå
still,however,tellyouhowtohittar
findthegoldenhorse,ifyouwillgör
doasIbidyou.You
måste
mustgostraightontillyoukommer
cometothecastlewherethehorsestår
standsinhisstall:byhis
sida
sidewillliethegroomfastasleepoch
andsnoring:takeawaythehorsequietly,
men
butbesuretoputthegamla
oldleathernsaddleuponhim,och
andnotthegoldenonethatisnära
closebyit.’Thenthesonen
sonsatdownonthefox’stail,och
andawaytheywentoverstockoch
andstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allt
Allwentright,andthegroomlåg
laysnoringwithhishanduponden
thegoldensaddle.Butwhenthe
sonen
sonlookedatthehorse,hetyckte
thoughtitagreatpitytosätta
puttheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwill
ge
givehimthegoodone,’sa
saidhe;‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashe
tog
tookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeoch
andcriedoutsoloud,thatalla
alltheguardsraninoch
andtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasigen
againbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,och
andwassentencedtodie.Men
Butitwasagreed,that,om
ifhecouldbringthitherthevackra
beautifulprincess,heshouldlive,och
andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisegen
own.Thenhewenthis
väg
wayverysorrowful;butthe
gamla
oldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulyssnade
listentome?Ifyouhad,youwould
ha
havecarriedawayboththebirdoch
andthehorse;yetwillIoncemore
ge
giveyoucounsel.Gostraighton,
och
andintheeveningyoukommer
willarriveatacastle.Attwelveo’clockat
natten
nighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:gå
gouptoherandge
giveherakiss,andshekommer
willletyouleadherbort
away;buttakecareyoudonotsufferherto
gå
goandtakeleaveofherfar
fatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedut
outhistail,andsobort
awaytheywentoverstockoch
andstonetilltheirhairwhistledigen
again.Astheycametothecastle,
allt
allwasasthefoxhade
hadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheunge
youngmanmettheprincessgick
goingtothebathandgav
gaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtospringa
runawaywithhim,butbeggedmed
withmanytearsthathekom
wouldlethertakeleaveofherfar
father.Atfirstherefused,
men
butsheweptstillmoreoch
andmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;men
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shus
housetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisonerigen
again.Thenhewasbroughtbeforethe
kungen
king,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallaldrig
neverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigbort
awaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigsom
thatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitbort
away:andwhenhehad
arbetat
workedforsevendays,andhade
haddoneverylittle,thefoxkom
cameandsaid.‘Liedown
och
andgotosleep;I
kommer
willworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeoch
andthehillwasgone;sohe
gick
wentmerrilytotheking,och
andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemåste
mustgivehimtheprincess.Then
den
thekingwasobligedtohålla
keephisword,andawayåkte
wenttheyoungmanandden
theprincess;‘Ifyouwill
bara
onlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.När
Whenyoucometothekungen
king,andheasksforden
thebeautifulprincess,youmustsäga
say,“Heresheis!”Thenhe
kommer
willbeveryjoyful;andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyareto
ge
giveyou,andputoutyourhand
handtotakeleaveofdem
them;butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorse
bakom
behindyou;Allwentright:
thenthefox
sade
said,‘Whenyoucometothecastledär
wherethebirdis,Iwillstanna
staywiththeprincessatthedörren
door,andyouwillrideinoch
andspeaktotheking;och
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hekommer
willbringoutthebird;men
butyoumustsitstill,och
andsaythatyouwanttotitta
lookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;Här
This,too,happenedasthefoxsa
said;theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmounted
igen
again,andtheyrodeontoen
agreatwood.Thenthefox
kom
came,andsaid,‘Praykillmig
me,andcutoffmyhuvud
headandmyfeet.’Buttheunge
youngmanrefusedtodoit:sothefox
sa
said,‘Iwillatanyratege
giveyougoodcounsel:bewareof
två
twothings;ransomnoonefromthegallows,
och
andsitdownbythesidan
sideofnoriver.’Theniväg
awayhewent.Herodeon
med
withtheprincess,tillatlasthekom
cametothevillagewherehehade
hadlefthistwobrothers.Och
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseoch
anduproar;andwhenhe
frågade
askedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesade
said,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashekom
camenearer,hesawthatthetvå
twomenwerehisbrothers,whohade
hadturnedrobbers;sohe
sade
said,‘Cannottheyinanysätt
waybesaved?’Butthepeoplesade
said‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhispengar
moneyupontherascalsandköpa
buytheirliberty.Thenhedidnot
stannade
staytothinkaboutthematter,utan
butpaidwhatwasasked,och
andhisbrothersweregivenup,och
andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhem
home.Andastheycametothewoodwherethefox
först
firstmetthem,itwassocooloch
andpleasantthatthetwobrotherssade
said,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,och
andrestawhile,toäta
eatanddrink.’Sohesade
said,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,och
andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;och
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theykom
camebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,och
andtooktheprincess,thehorse,och
andthebird,andwenthem
hometothekingtheirmaster,och
andsaid.‘Allthishavewe
vunnit
wonbyourlabour.’Thendet
therewasgreatrejoicingmade;men
butthehorsewouldnotäta
eat,thebirdwouldnotsjunga
sing,andtheprincesswept.Den
Theyoungestsonfelltoden
thebottomoftheriver’sbed:luckilyitwasnearlydry,
men
buthisboneswerealmostbroken,och
andthebankwassosteepthathekunde
couldfindnowaytogetut
out.Thentheoldfox
kom
cameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotföljde
followinghisadvice;otherwisenoevilwould
hade
havebefallenhim:‘Yet,’said
han
he,‘Icannotleaveyouhär
here,solayholdofmytailoch
andholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,och
andsaidtohim,ashekom
gotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershar
havesetwatchtokillyou,om
iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasen
apoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,och
andwasscarcelywithinthedoorsnär
whenthehorsebegantoäta
eat,andthebirdtosjunga
sing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhe
gick
wenttotheking,andberättade
toldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;och
andtheywereseizedandpunished,och
andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;och
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.A
lång
longwhileafter,hewenttogick
walkonedayinthewood,och
andtheoldfoxmethonom
him,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestodöda
killhim,andcutoffhishuvud
headandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Vissa
Somemenareborntogoodlycka
luck:alltheydoor
försöker
trytodocomesright—allthatfaller
fallstothemissomycket
muchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomycket
muchthefaster.Theworld
kanske
mayverylikelynotalwaystänker
thinkofthemastheytänker
thinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyforthevärlden
world?whatcanitknow
om
aboutthematter?Oneof
dessa
theseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.Sevenlongyearshe
hade
hadworkedhardforhismaster.Atlasthe
sade
said,‘Master,mytimeisup;I
måste
mustgohomeandseemystackars
poormotheroncemore:sopray
lön
paymemywagesandlåt
letmego.’Andthemastersade
said,‘Youhavebeenafaithfuloch
andgoodservant,Hans,soyourlön
payshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimen
alumpofsilverasstor
bigashishead.Hans
tog
tookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitöver
overhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashe
gick
wentlazilyon,draggingonefootefter
afteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailylängs
alongonacapitalhorse.‘Ah!’
sade
saidHansaloud,‘whatafin
finethingitistorideonhorseback!Där
Therehesitsaseasyoch
andhappyasifhewasathemma
home,inthechairbyhisfireside;hetrips
mot
againstnostones,savesshoe-leather,och
andgetsonhehardlyvet
knowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlymen
butthehorsemanhearditallt
all,andsaid,‘Well,friend,varför
whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’sa
saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobe
säker
sureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’thålla
holdupmyhead,andyoumåste
mustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousäger
sayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwill
ge
giveyoumyhorse,andyoushallge
givemethesilver;which
kommer
willsaveyouagreatdealofbesvär
troubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutmed
withyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’sa
saidHans:‘butasyouareso
snäll
kindtome,Imustsäga
tellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutmed
withyou.’However,thehorsemankommer
gotoff,tookthesilver,hjälpte
helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehanden
handandthewhipintotheandra
other,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogå
goveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,och
andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimself
upp
up,squaredhiselbows,turnedut
outhistoes,crackedhiswhip,och
androdemerrilyoff,oneminut
minutewhistlingamerrytune,och
andanothersinging,.‘Nocare
och
andnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!Efter
Afteratimehethoughthebort
shouldliketogoalite
littlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsoch
andcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefull
fullgallop;andbeforeHans
visste
knewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,och
andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.Hishorse
kom
wouldhaveranoff,ifen
ashepherdwhowascomingby,körde
drivingacow,hadnotstoppat
stoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,
och
andgotuponhislegsigen
again,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,när
whenamanhasthetur
lucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesoch
andflingshimoffasom
ifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moff
nu
nowonceforall:I
gillar
likeyourcownowagreatdealbättre
betterthanthissmartbeastthatspelade
playedmethistrick,andhar
hasspoiledmybestcoat,youser
see,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnot
mycket
verylikeanosegay.One
kan
canwalkalongatone’sleisurebakom
behindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,och
andhavemilk,butter,andcheese,varje
everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldI
ge
givetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’sade
saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofhenne
her,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;Iliketo
göra
dogoodtomyneighbours,även
eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’sa
saidHans,merrily.‘Whatanoble
hjärta
heartthatgoodmanhas!’tänkte
thoughthe.Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,
önskade
wishedHansandthecowgod
goodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisface
och
andhands,restedawhile,och
andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,och
andthoughthisbargainamycket
veryluckyone.‘IfI
har
haveonlyapieceofbreadOch
(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletofå
getthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,äta
eatmybutterandcheesemed
withit;andwhenIamthirstyI
kan
canmilkmycowanddricka
drinkthemilk:andwhat
kan
canIwishformore?’När
Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,åt
ateupallhisbread,och
andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.När
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffigen
again,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.Men
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassnart
soonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldta
takehimmorethanantimme
hourtocross,hebegantobesovarm
hotandparchedthathistongueclavetodet
theroofofhismouth.‘I
kan
canfindacureforthis,’tänkte
thoughthe;‘nowIwillmilkmycow
och
andquenchmythirst’:sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,
och
andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;men
butnotadropwastobehad.Whowould
ha
havethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastoge
bringhimmilkandbutteroch
andcheese,wasallthattiden
timeutterlydry?Hanshadnot
tänkt
thoughtoflookingtothat.Medan
Whilehewastryinghislycka
luckinmilking,andmanagingden
thematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantotänka
thinkhimverytroublesome;andatlast
gav
gavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimner
down;andtherehelay
en
alongwhilesenseless.Luckily
en
abutchersooncameby,körde
drivingapiginawheelbarrow.‘Whatis
det
thematterwithyou,myman?’sa
saidthebutcher,ashehjälpte
helpedhimup.Hanstoldhimwhat
hade
hadhappened,howhewasdry,och
andwantedtomilkhiscow,men
butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.Thenthebutcher
gav
gavehimaflaskofale,sade
saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;yourcow
kommer
willgiveyounomilk:don’tyou
ser
seesheisanoldbeast,bra
goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’sade
saidHans,‘whowouldhavetro
thoughtit?Whatashameto
ta
takemyhorse,andgivemebara
onlyadrycow!IfI
dödar
killher,whatwillshebebra
goodfor?Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottender
nog
enoughforme.Ifitwere
en
apignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouarekör
drivingalongathisease—onekunna
coulddosomethingwithit;itwouldat
alla
anyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tgillar
liketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoasnäll
kind,neighbourlything.TopleaseyouI
kommer
willchange,andgiveyoumyfina
finefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessoch
andself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;och
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,drev
droveitaway,holdingitbythestringsom
thatwastiedtoitsleg.Soonhejogged,
och
andallseemednowtogå
gorightwithhim:he
hade
hadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;men
buthewasnowwellrepaidforalla
all.Howcoulditbeotherwise
med
withsuchatravellingcompanionashehade
hadatlastgot?The
nästa
nextmanhemetwasen
acountrymancarryingafinevit
whitegoose.Thecountrymanstoppedto
fråga
askwhatwaso’clock;thisledtofurtherchat;
och
andHanstoldhimallhislycka
luck,howhehadsomånga
manygoodbargains,andhowallthevärlden
worldwentgayandsmilingmed
withhim.Thecountrymanthenbeganto
berätta
tellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtota
takethegoosetoachristening.‘Feel,’
sa
saidhe,‘howheavyitär
is,andyetitisbara
onlyeightweeksold.Whoeverroasts
och
andeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponden
it,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’sa
saidHans,asheweigheditinhishanden
hand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigis
ingen
notrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantose
lookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’
sa
saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemen
agoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpgöra
doingyouakindturn.Yourpig
kan
maygetyouintoascrape.InthevillageIjust
kom
camefrom,thesquirehashar
hadapigstolenoutofhissty.Iwasdreadfully
rädd
afraidwhenIsawyouatt
thatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.Om
Ifyouhave,andtheyfångar
catchyou,itwillbeett
abadjobforyou.Theleastthey
kommer
willdowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.Stackars
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.‘Goodman,’cried
han
he,‘praygetmeoutofhär
thisscrape.Iknownothingof
var
wherethepigwaseitherbredeller
orborn;buthemay
ha
havebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcansäga
tell: