Grimms’ Fairy Tales Gradually Hardening Swedish B2 Books

THEGOLDENBIRD

Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.

Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrow

mogna

ripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.

Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.

Thegardenersethis

äldste

eldestsontowatch;

butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.

Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;

andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.

Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;

butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:

however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.

Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;

andasitwas

knäppte

snappingatoneoftheappleswithits

näbben

beak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotan

pil

arrowatit.

Butthe

pilen

arrowdidthebirdnoharm;

onlyitdroppedagolden

fjäder

featherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.

Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.

Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:

Thenthegardener’s

äldste

eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;

andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawa

räv

foxsitting;

sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.

Thenthe

räven

foxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougood

råd

counsel;

Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.

Youwillreachavillageintheevening;

andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisvery

trevlig

pleasantandbeautifultolookat:

gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothis

pil

arrowatthefox;

buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.

Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;

andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;

buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.

‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;

sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathis

lätthet

ease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.

Timepassedon;

andasthe

äldste

eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.

Hemetthe

räven

fox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:

butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his

äldste

eldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;

andhecouldnot

stå emot

withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesame

sätt

manner.

Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;

buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasvery

förtjust

fondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,and

hindra

preventhiscomingback.

However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;

andashecametothewood,hemetthe

räven

fox,andheardthesamegood

råd

counsel.

Buthewasthankfultothe

räven

fox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;

sothe

räven

foxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthe

räven

foxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhair

visslade

whistledinthewind.

Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’s

råd

counsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.

Inthemorningcamethe

räven

foxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawhole

trupp

troopofsoldiersfastasleepand

snarkar

snoring:

takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawoodencage;

closebyitstandsabeautifulgolden

bur

cage;

butdonottrytotakethebirdoutofthe

slitna

shabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwill

ångra

repentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhair

visslade

whistledinthewind.

Beforethecastlegateallwasasthe

räven

foxhadsaid:

sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden

buren

cage,andbelowstoodthegolden

buren

cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.

Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthis

shabby

shabbycage’;

soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden

buren

cage.

Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.

Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;

andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunasswiftlyasthewind;

andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.

Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreat

förtvivlan

despair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthe

räven

foxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomy

råd

counsel.

Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.

Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhis

stall

stall:

byhissidewillliethe

brudgummen

groomfastasleepandsnoring:

takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathern

sadeln

saddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhair

visslade

whistledinthewind.

Allwentright,andthe

brudgummen

groomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegolden

sadeln

saddle.

Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.

‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;

‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegolden

sadeln

saddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.

Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.

Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;

buttheold

räven

foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?

Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;

yetwillIoncemoregiveyou

råd

counsel.

Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.

Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:

gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;

buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthe

räven

foxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhair

visslade

whistledagain.

Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthe

räven

foxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.

Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;

butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.

Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:

andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the

räven

foxcameandsaid.

‘Liedownandgotosleep;

Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;

sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.

Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;

‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthe

räven

fox,‘itcanbedone.

Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”

Thenhewillbevery

glad

joyful;

andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;

butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.

Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;

Allwentright:

thenthe

räven

foxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;

andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;

butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;

This,too,happenedasthe

räven

foxsaid;

theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.

Thenthe

räven

foxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:

sothe

räven

foxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougood

råd

counsel:

bewareoftwothings;

ransomnoonefromthe

galgen

gallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.

Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.

Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;

andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecame

närmare

nearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;

sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheir

frihet

liberty.

Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.

Andastheycametothewoodwherethe

räven

foxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’s

råd

counsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;

andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.

‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;

butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.

Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:

lyckligtvis

luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwasso

brant

steepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.

Thentheold

räven

foxcameoncemore,and

skällde

scoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;

otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:

‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcamesecretlytotheking’scourt,andwas

knappt

scarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.

Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;

andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;

andaftertheking’sdeathhewas

arvinge

heirtohiskingdom.

Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold

räven

foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.

HANSINLUCK

Somemenareborntogoodluck:

alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.

Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?

whatcanitknowaboutthematter?

OneoftheseluckybeingswasneighbourHans.

Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.

Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;

Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:

sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeena

trogen

faithfulandgoodservant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.

Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,and

joggade

joggedoffonhisroadhomewards.

Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.

‘Ah!’saidHans

högt

aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideon

hästryggen

horseback!

Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;

hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso

mjukt

softlybutthehorsemanhearditall,andsaid,‘Well,friend,whydoyougoonfootthen?’‘Ah!’saidhe,‘Ihavethisloadtocarry:

tobesureitissilver,butitissoheavythatIcan’tholdupmyhead,andyoumustknowithurtsmyshouldersadly.’‘Whatdoyousayofmakinganexchange?’saidthehorseman.

‘Iwillgiveyoumyhorse,andyoushallgivemethesilver;

whichwillsaveyouagreatdealoftroubleincarryingsuchaheavyloadaboutwithyou.’‘Withallmyheart,’saidHans:

‘butasyouaresokindtome,Imusttellyouonething—youwillhaveawearytasktodrawthatsilveraboutwithyou.’However,thehorsemangotoff,tookthesilver,helpedHansup,gavehimthebridleintoonehandandthewhipintotheother,andsaid,‘Whenyouwanttogoveryfast,smackyourlips

högt

loudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.

Hanswasdelightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhis

piska

whip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerry

melodi

tune,andanothersinging,.

‘Nocareandno

sorg

sorrow,Afigforthemorrow!

Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;

andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbythe

vägkanten

road-side.

Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa

herde

shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.

Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthat

snubblar

stumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.

However,I’moffnowonceforall:

Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhas

förstört

spoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthis

pöl

puddle;

which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.

Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,

smör

butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.

WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouareso

förtjust

fondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;

Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.

‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.

Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.

Hans

borstade

brushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthisbargainaveryluckyone.

‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy

smör

butterandcheesewithit;

andwhenIam

törstig

thirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:

andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoan

värdshus

inn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.

Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.

Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.

‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;

‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:

sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleatherncaptomilkinto;

butnotadropwastobehad.

Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand

smör

butterandcheese,wasallthattime

helt

utterlydry?

Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.

Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimvery

besvärlig

troublesome;

andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;

andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.

Lyckligtvis

Luckilyabutchersooncameby,drivingapiginawheelbarrow.

‘Whatisthematterwithyou,myman?’saidthebutcher,ashehelpedhimup.

Hanstoldhimwhathadhappened,howhewasdry,andwantedtomilkhiscow,butfoundthecowwasdrytoo.

Thenthebutchergavehimaflaskofale,saying,‘There,drinkandrefreshyourself;

yourcowwillgiveyounomilk:

don’tyouseesheisanoldbeast,goodfornothingbuttheslaughter-house?’‘Alas,alas!’saidHans,‘whowouldhavethoughtit?

Whatashametotakemyhorse,andgivemeonlyadrycow!

IfIkillher,whatwillshebegoodfor?

Ihatecow-beef;

itisnottenderenoughforme.

Ifitwereapignow—likethatfatgentlemanyouaredrivingalongathisease—onecoulddosomethingwithit;

itwouldatanyratemakesausages.’‘Well,’saidthebutcher,‘Idon’tliketosayno,whenoneisaskedtodoakind,neighbourlything.

TopleaseyouIwillchange,andgiveyoumyfinefatpigforthecow.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyour

vänlighet

kindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;

andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.

Soonhe

joggade

jogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:

hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;

buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.

Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?

Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhite

gås

goose.

Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;

thisledtofurtherchat;

andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.

Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhis

berättelse

tale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethe

gåsen

goosetoachristening.

‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.

Whoever

steker

roastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,ashe

vägde

weigheditinhishand;

‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’

Tiden

Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.

‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘myworthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.

Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.

InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.

IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.

Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.

Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.

PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.

‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.

Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;

buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell:

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