THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstooda
träd
treewhichboregoldenapples.Theseappleswerealways
räknades
counted,andaboutthetimewhentheybörjade
begantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.Thekingbecamevery
arg
angryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightundertheträdet
tree.Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthe
tredje
thirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
men
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlade
laidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpure
guld
gold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’sson
hoppade
jumpedupandshotanarrowatit.Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyitdroppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthen
flög
flewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwas
värd
worthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;
andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwill
nå
reachavillageintheevening;andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstail
över
aboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothe
by
villagewherethetwoinnswere;andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedvery
smutsig
dirty,andpoor.‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthe
fönstret
windowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.
Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
Men
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefox
började
begantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothe
byn
village,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewas
började
beginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gorakt
straightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastsover
asleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;
closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,
annars
otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andbelowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.
Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegoldencage.
Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthe
domstolen
courtsattojudgehim;andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,
om
unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhästen
horsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,
men
however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhästen
horse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgo
rakt
straightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehästen
horsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfast
sovande
asleepandsnoring:takeawaythe
hästen
horsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthe
hästen
horse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethe
domstolen
courttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthe
hästen
horsegivenhimforhisown.Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthe
hästen
horse;yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Go
rakt
straighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgivehera
kyss
kiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthe
kyssen
kiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathis
fötter
feet,tillatlastheconsented;butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughter
om
unlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedfor
sju
sevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegolden
hästen
horsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenlifther
snabbt
quicklyontothehorsebehindyou;Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwill
rida
rideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistheright
hästen
horse,hewillbringoutthebird;butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,tosee
om
whetheritisthetruegoldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
they
bar
carriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyred
rodeontoagreatwood.Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
He
red
rodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothebyn
villagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’
om
unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,and
kastade
threwhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehästen
horse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthe
hästen
horsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.
Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;
annars
otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhe
drog
pulledhimoutofthefloden
river,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Soheklädde
dressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehästen
horsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheoldfoxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadand
fötter
feet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenare
födda
borntogoodluck:alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.
Sju
Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.
Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,
kastade
threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,draggingone
fot
footafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhäst
horse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitisto
rida
rideonhorseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadto
bära
carry:tobesureitissilver,butitisso
tungt
heavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumy
häst
horse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroublein
bära
carryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,and
rop
cry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthe
hästen
horse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,andred
rodemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittle
snabbare
faster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehästen
horsefullgallop;andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
His
häst
horsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisno
skämt
joke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhishals
neck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,
luktar
smellsnotverylikeanosegay.Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhave
mjölk
milk,butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyour
häst
horse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherd
hoppade
jumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayhered
rode.Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.
‘IfIhaveonlya
bit
pieceofbread(andIsäkert
certainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcan
mjölka
milkmycowanddrinkthemjölka
milk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyfora
glas
glassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’s
by
village.Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourto
korsa
cross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismun
mouth.‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwill
mjölka
milkmycowandquenchmythirst’:sohetiedhertothestumpofa
träd
tree,andheldhisleatherncaptomjölka
milkinto;butnota
droppe
dropwastobehad.Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhim
mjölk
milkandbutterandcheese,wasallthattimeutterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeast
började
begantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsucha
spark
kickontheheadasknockade
knockedhimdown;andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.
‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedto
mjölka
milkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
yourcowwillgiveyouno
mjölk
milk:don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whata
skam
shametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwereapignow—likethat
feta
fatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfine
feta
fatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoits
ben
leg.Soonhejogged,andall
verkade
seemednowtogorightwithhim:hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountryman
bar
carryingafinewhitegoose.Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
this
ledde
ledtofurtherchat;andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthen
började
begantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.‘Feel,’saidhe,‘how
tung
heavyitis,andyetitisonlyåtta
eightweeksold.Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyof
fett
fatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkof
fett
fat,mypigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbörjade
begantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,you
verkar
seemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
Inthe
byn
villageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbeto
kasta
throwyouintothehorse-pond.PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: