THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautiful
trädgård
garden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregyllene
goldenapples.Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andat
midnatt
midnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotheräpple
applewasgone.Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsome
skada
harmshouldcometohim:however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,anda
fågel
birdcameflyingthatwasofrent
puregold;andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthebirdno
skadade
harm;onlyitdroppeda
gyllene
goldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthe
rådet
councilwascalledtogether.Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’seldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthe
gyllene
goldenbirdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhis
båge
bowandmadereadytoshootatit.Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthe
gyllene
goldenbird.Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinns
mittemot
oppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupits
svans
tailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthis
charmiga
charmingplace’;sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andastheeldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.
Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,hiseldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;
andhecouldnotwithstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthe
gyllene
goldenbirdandhiscountryinthesamemanner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothe
breda
wideworldtoseekforthegyllene
goldenbird;buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasveryfondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.
However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnot
försökte
attempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmy
svans
tail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstock
stockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghis
resa
journey,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoaslott
castle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:takenonoticeofthem,butgointothe
slottet
castleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegyllene
goldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;closebyitstandsabeautiful
gyllene
goldencage;butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothe
vackra
handsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthissvans
tailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstock
stockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethe
gyllene
goldenbirdhunginawoodencage,andnedan
belowstoodthegoldencage,andthethreegyllene
goldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafine
fågel
birdinthisshabbycage’;soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothe
gyllene
goldencage.Butthebirdsetupsucha
högt
loudscreamthatallthesoldiersvaknade
awoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,it
dömde
sentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegyllene
goldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethe
gyllene
goldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.Sohesetoutoncemoreonhis
resa
journey,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthe
gyllene
goldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothe
slottet
castlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorse
tysthet
quietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegyllene
goldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’ssvans
tail,andawaytheywentoverstock
stockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthe
gyllene
goldensaddle.Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreat
synd
pitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehe
förtjänar
deservesit.’Ashetookupthegyllene
goldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsohögt
loud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheoldfoxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?
Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveata
slott
castle.Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthis
svans
tail,andsoawaytheywentoverstock
stockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.Astheycametothe
slottet
castle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbad
beggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.Atfirsthe
vägrade
refused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguards
vaknade
awokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyou
gräver
digawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,thefoxcameandsaid.
‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorninghe
vaknade
awokeandthehillwasgone;sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthe
gyllene
goldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;but
skaka
shakehandswiththeprincesslast.Then
lyft
liftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothe
slottet
castlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetrue
gyllene
goldenbird;This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungman
vägrade
refusedtodoit:sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecamenearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;
sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhim
mot
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
botten
bottomoftheriver’sbed:luckilyitwasnearly
torrt
dry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheoldfoxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghis
råd
advice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmy
svans
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
axeln
shoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.Ashewentlazilyon,
drar
draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsikte
sight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.‘Ah!’saidHansaloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!
Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhe
knappt
hardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeaksosoftlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:tobesureitis
silver
silver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyaxeln
shouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;
whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavy
last
loadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveaweary
uppgift
tasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,
drog
drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,knäckte
crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerrytune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,Afigforthemorrow!
Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifashepherdwhowascomingby,drivinga
ko
cow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.
However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyour
ko
cownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartodjuret
beastthatplayedmethistricket
trick,andhasspoiledmybestkappa
coat,yousee,inthispuddle;which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,butter,and
ost
cheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemy
ko
cowforyourhorse;Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthe
kon
cowgoodmorning,andawayherode.Hansbrushedhis
kappa
coat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhisko
cowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceof
bröd
bread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmybutterandost
cheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmy
ko
cowanddrinkthemilk:andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhis
bröd
bread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghis
ko
cowtowardshismother’svillage.Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfona
bred
wideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistunga
tongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.‘Icanfinda
botemedel
cureforthis,’thoughthe;‘nowIwillmilkmy
ko
cowandquenchmythirst’:sohe
band
tiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthis
kon
cow,whichwastobringhimmilkandbutterandost
cheese,wasallthattimeutterlytorr
dry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,and
hanterar
managingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasyodjuret
beastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivinga
gris
piginawheelbarrow.‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.
Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewas
torr
dry,andwantedtomilkhisko
cow,butfoundthecowwastorr
drytoo.Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;
your
ko
cowwillgiveyounomilk:don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?
Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlya
torr
drycow!IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?
Ihatecow-beef;
itisnottenderenoughforme.
Ifitwerea
gris
pignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.
TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefat
gris
pigforthecow.’‘Heavenbelönar
rewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthekon
cow;andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurther
chatt
chat;andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfind
massor
plentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;‘butifyoutalkoffat,my
gris
pigisnotrifle.’Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortof
kollega
fellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Your
gris
pigmaygetyouintoascrape.InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashada
gris
pigstolenoutofhissty.IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’s
gris
pig.Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: