THEGOLDENBIRD
Acertainkinghadabeautifulgarden,andinthegardenstoodatreewhichboregoldenapples.
Theseappleswerealwayscounted,andaboutthetimewhentheybegantogrowripeitwasfoundthateverynightoneofthemwasgone.
Thekingbecameveryangryatthis,andorderedthegardenertokeepwatchallnightunderthetree.
Thegardenersethiseldestsontowatch;
butabouttwelveo’clockhefellasleep,andinthemorninganotheroftheappleswasmissing.
Thenthesecondsonwasorderedtowatch;
andatmidnighthetoofellasleep,andinthemorninganotherapplewasgone.
Thenthethirdsonofferedtokeepwatch;
butthegardeneratfirstwouldnotlethim,forfearsomeharmshouldcometohim:
however,atlastheconsented,andtheyoungmanlaidhimselfunderthetreetowatch.
Astheclockstrucktwelveheheardarustlingnoiseintheair,andabirdcameflyingthatwasofpuregold;
andasitwassnappingatoneoftheappleswithitsbeak,thegardener’ssonjumpedupandshotanarrowatit.
Butthearrowdidthebirdnoharm;
onlyitdroppedagoldenfeatherfromitstail,andthenflewaway.
Thegoldenfeatherwasbroughttothekinginthemorning,andallthecouncilwascalledtogether.
Everyoneagreedthatitwasworthmorethanallthewealthofthekingdom:
Thenthegardener’s
старший
eldestsonsetoutandthoughttofindthegoldenbirdveryeasily;andwhenhehadgonebutalittleway,hecametoawood,andbythesideofthewoodhesawafoxsitting;
sohetookhisbowandmadereadytoshootatit.
Thenthefoxsaid,‘Donotshootme,forIwillgiveyougoodcounsel;
Iknowwhatyourbusinessis,andthatyouwanttofindthegoldenbird.
Youwillreachavillageintheevening;
andwhenyougetthere,youwillseetwoinnsoppositetoeachother,oneofwhichisverypleasantandbeautifultolookat:
gonotinthere,butrestforthenightintheother,thoughitmayappeartoyoutobeverypoorandmean.’Butthesonthoughttohimself,‘Whatcansuchabeastasthisknowaboutthematter?’Soheshothisarrowatthefox;
buthemissedit,anditsetupitstailaboveitsbackandranintothewood.
Thenhewenthisway,andintheeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;
andinoneofthesewerepeoplesinging,anddancing,andfeasting;
buttheotherlookedverydirty,andpoor.
‘Ishouldbeverysilly,’saidhe,‘ifIwenttothatshabbyhouse,andleftthischarmingplace’;
sohewentintothesmarthouse,andateanddrankathisease,andforgotthebird,andhiscountrytoo.
Timepassedon;
andasthe
старший
eldestsondidnotcomeback,andnotidingswereheardofhim,thesecondsonsetout,andthesamethinghappenedtohim.Hemetthefox,whogavehimthegoodadvice:
butwhenhecametothetwoinns,his
старший
eldestbrotherwasstandingatthewindowwherethemerrymakingwas,andcalledtohimtocomein;andhecouldnot
витримати
withstandthetemptation,butwentin,andforgotthegoldenbirdandhiscountryinthesameчином
manner.Timepassedonagain,andtheyoungestsontoowishedtosetoutintothewideworldtoseekforthegoldenbird;
buthisfatherwouldnotlistentoitforalongwhile,forhewasvery
любив
fondofhisson,andwasafraidthatsomeillluckmighthappentohimalso,andpreventhiscomingback.However,atlastitwasagreedheshouldgo,forhewouldnotrestathome;
andashecametothewood,hemetthefox,andheardthesamegoodcounsel.
Buthewasthankfultothefox,anddidnotattempthislifeashisbrothershaddone;
sothefoxsaid,‘Situponmytail,andyouwilltravelfaster.’Sohesatdown,andthefoxbegantorun,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonesoquickthattheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Whentheycametothevillage,thesonfollowedthefox’scounsel,andwithoutlookingabouthimwenttotheshabbyinnandrestedthereallnightathisease.
Inthemorningcamethefoxagainandmethimashewasbeginninghisjourney,andsaid,‘Gostraightforward,tillyoucometoacastle,beforewhichlieawholetroopofsoldiersfastasleepandsnoring:
takenonoticeofthem,butgointothecastleandpassonandontillyoucometoaroom,wherethegoldenbirdsitsinawooden
клітці
cage;closebyitstandsabeautifulgoldencage;
butdonottrytotakethebirdoutoftheshabbycageandputitintothehandsomeone,otherwiseyouwillrepentit.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistailagain,andtheyoungmansathimselfdown,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Beforethecastlegateallwasasthefoxhadsaid:
sothesonwentinandfoundthechamberwherethegoldenbirdhunginawooden
клітці
cage,andbelowstoodthegoldenклітці
cage,andthethreegoldenapplesthathadbeenlostwerelyingclosebyit.Thenthoughthetohimself,‘Itwillbeaverydrollthingtobringawaysuchafinebirdinthisshabbycage’;
soheopenedthedoorandtookholdofitandputitintothegolden
клітку
cage.Butthebirdsetupsuchaloudscreamthatallthesoldiersawoke,andtheytookhimprisonerandcarriedhimbeforetheking.
Thenextmorningthecourtsattojudgehim;
andwhenallwasheard,itsentencedhimtodie,unlessheshouldbringthekingthegoldenhorsewhichcouldrunas
швидко
swiftlyasthewind;andifhedidthis,hewastohavethegoldenbirdgivenhimforhisown.
Sohesetoutoncemoreonhisjourney,sighing,andingreatdespair,whenonasuddenhisfriendthefoxmethim,andsaid,‘Youseenowwhathashappenedonaccountofyournotlisteningtomycounsel.
Iwillstill,however,tellyouhowtofindthegoldenhorse,ifyouwilldoasIbidyou.
Youmustgostraightontillyoucometothecastlewherethehorsestandsinhisstall:
byhissidewillliethegroomfastasleepandsnoring:
takeawaythehorsequietly,butbesuretoputtheoldleathernsaddleuponhim,andnotthegoldenonethatisclosebyit.’Thenthesonsatdownonthefox’stail,andawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledinthewind.
Allwentright,andthegroomlaysnoringwithhishanduponthegoldensaddle.
Butwhenthesonlookedatthehorse,hethoughtitagreatpitytoputtheleathernsaddleuponit.
‘Iwillgivehimthegoodone,’saidhe;
‘Iamsurehedeservesit.’Ashetookupthegoldensaddlethegroomawokeandcriedoutsoloud,thatalltheguardsraninandtookhimprisoner,andinthemorninghewasagainbroughtbeforethecourttobejudged,andwassentencedtodie.
Butitwasagreed,that,ifhecouldbringthitherthebeautifulprincess,heshouldlive,andhavethebirdandthehorsegivenhimforhisown.
Thenhewenthiswayverysorrowful;
buttheold
лисиця
foxcameandsaid,‘Whydidnotyoulistentome?Ifyouhad,youwouldhavecarriedawayboththebirdandthehorse;
yetwillIoncemoregiveyoucounsel.
Gostraighton,andintheeveningyouwillarriveatacastle.
Attwelveo’clockatnighttheprincessgoestothebathing-house:
gouptoherandgiveherakiss,andshewillletyouleadheraway;
buttakecareyoudonotsufferhertogoandtakeleaveofherfatherandmother.’Thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,andsoawaytheywentoverstockandstonetilltheirhairwhistledagain.
Astheycametothecastle,allwasasthefoxhadsaid,andattwelveo’clocktheyoungmanmettheprincessgoingtothebathandgaveherthekiss,andsheagreedtorunawaywithhim,butbeggedwithmanytearsthathewouldlethertakeleaveofherfather.
Atfirstherefused,butsheweptstillmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,tillatlastheconsented;
butthemomentshecametoherfather’shousetheguardsawokeandhewastakenprisoneragain.
Thenhewasbroughtbeforetheking,andthekingsaid,‘Youshallneverhavemydaughterunlessineightdaysyoudigawaythehillthatstopstheviewfrommywindow.’Nowthishillwassobigthatthewholeworldcouldnottakeitaway:
andwhenhehadworkedforsevendays,andhaddoneverylittle,the
лисиця
foxcameandsaid.‘Liedownandgotosleep;
Iwillworkforyou.’Andinthemorningheawokeandthehillwasgone;
sohewentmerrilytotheking,andtoldhimthatnowthatitwasremovedhemustgivehimtheprincess.
Thenthekingwasobligedtokeephisword,andawaywenttheyoungmanandtheprincess;
‘Ifyouwillonlylisten,’saidthefox,‘itcanbedone.
Whenyoucometotheking,andheasksforthebeautifulprincess,youmustsay,“Heresheis!”
Thenhewillbeveryjoyful;
andyouwillmountthegoldenhorsethattheyaretogiveyou,andputoutyourhandtotakeleaveofthem;
butshakehandswiththeprincesslast.
Thenliftherquicklyontothehorsebehindyou;
Allwentright:
thenthefoxsaid,‘Whenyoucometothecastlewherethebirdis,Iwillstaywiththeprincessatthedoor,andyouwillrideinandspeaktotheking;
andwhenheseesthatitistherighthorse,hewillbringoutthebird;
butyoumustsitstill,andsaythatyouwanttolookatit,toseewhetheritisthetruegoldenbird;
This,too,happenedasthefoxsaid;
theycarriedoffthebird,theprincessmountedagain,andtheyrodeontoagreatwood.
Thenthefoxcame,andsaid,‘Praykillme,andcutoffmyheadandmyfeet.’Buttheyoungmanrefusedtodoit:
sothefoxsaid,‘Iwillatanyrategiveyougoodcounsel:
bewareoftwothings;
ransomnoonefromthegallows,andsitdownbythesideofnoriver.’Thenawayhewent.
Herodeonwiththeprincess,tillatlasthecametothevillagewherehehadlefthistwobrothers.
Andthereheheardagreatnoiseanduproar;
andwhenheaskedwhatwasthematter,thepeoplesaid,‘Twomenaregoingtobehanged.’Ashecame
ближче
nearer,hesawthatthetwomenwerehisbrothers,whohadturnedrobbers;sohesaid,‘Cannottheyinanywaybesaved?’Butthepeoplesaid‘No,’unlesshewouldbestowallhismoneyupontherascalsandbuytheirliberty.
Thenhedidnotstaytothinkaboutthematter,butpaidwhatwasasked,andhisbrothersweregivenup,andwentonwithhimtowardstheirhome.
Andastheycametothewoodwherethefoxfirstmetthem,itwassocoolandpleasantthatthetwobrotherssaid,‘Letussitdownbythesideoftheriver,andrestawhile,toeatanddrink.’Sohesaid,‘Yes,’andforgotthefox’scounsel,andsatdownonthesideoftheriver;
andwhilehesuspectednothing,theycamebehind,andthrewhimdownthebank,andtooktheprincess,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometothekingtheirmaster,andsaid.
‘Allthishavewewonbyourlabour.’Thentherewasgreatrejoicingmade;
butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsing,andtheprincesswept.
Theyoungestsonfelltothebottomoftheriver’sbed:
щастя
luckilyitwasnearlydry,buthisboneswerealmostbroken,andthebankwassosteepthathecouldfindnowaytogetout.Thentheold
лисиця
foxcameoncemore,andscoldedhimfornotfollowinghisadvice;otherwisenoevilwouldhavebefallenhim:
‘Yet,’saidhe,‘Icannotleaveyouhere,solayholdofmytailandholdfast.’Thenhepulledhimoutoftheriver,andsaidtohim,ashegotuponthebank,‘Yourbrothershavesetwatchtokillyou,iftheyfindyouinthekingdom.’Sohedressedhimselfasapoorman,andcame
таємно
secretlytotheking’scourt,andwasscarcelywithinthedoorswhenthehorsebegantoeat,andthebirdtosing,andtheprincessleftoffweeping.Thenhewenttotheking,andtoldhimallhisbrothers’roguery;
andtheywereseizedandpunished,andhehadtheprincessgiventohimagain;
andaftertheking’sdeathhewasheirtohiskingdom.
Alongwhileafter,hewenttowalkonedayinthewood,andtheold
лисиця
foxmethim,andbesoughthimwithtearsinhiseyestokillhim,andcutoffhisheadandfeet.HANSINLUCK
Somemenareborntogoodluck:
alltheydoortrytodocomesright—allthatfallstothemissomuchgain—alltheirgeeseareswans—alltheircardsaretrumps—tossthemwhichwayyouwill,theywillalways,likepoorpuss,alightupontheirlegs,andonlymoveonsomuchthefaster.
Theworldmayverylikelynotalwaysthinkofthemastheythinkofthemselves,butwhatcaretheyfortheworld?
whatcanitknowaboutthematter?
Oneoftheseluckybeingswas
сусід
neighbourHans.Sevenlongyearshehadworkedhardforhismaster.
Atlasthesaid,‘Master,mytimeisup;
Imustgohomeandseemypoormotheroncemore:
sopraypaymemywagesandletmego.’Andthemastersaid,‘Youhavebeenafaithfulandgood
слугою
servant,Hans,soyourpayshallbehandsome.’Thenhegavehimalumpofsilverasbigashishead.Hanstookouthispocket-handkerchief,putthepieceofsilverintoit,threwitoverhisshoulder,andjoggedoffonhisroadhomewards.
Ashewentlazilyon,draggingonefootafteranother,amancameinsight,trottinggailyalongonacapitalhorse.
‘Ah!’saidHans
вголос
aloud,‘whatafinethingitistorideonhorseback!Therehesitsaseasyandhappyasifhewasathome,inthechairbyhisfireside;
hetripsagainstnostones,savesshoe-leather,andgetsonhehardlyknowshow.’Hansdidnotspeakso
тихо
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,smackyourlipsloudlytogether,andcry“Jip!”’.
Hanswas
захваті
delightedashesatonthehorse,drewhimselfup,squaredhiselbows,turnedouthistoes,crackedhiswhip,androdemerrilyoff,oneminutewhistlingamerryмелодію
tune,andanothersinging,.‘Nocareandnosorrow,A
фіг
figforthemorrow!Afteratimehethoughtheshouldliketogoalittlefaster,sohesmackedhislipsandcried‘Jip!’Awaywentthehorsefullgallop;
andbeforeHansknewwhathewasabout,hewasthrownoff,andlayonhisbackbytheroad-side.
Hishorsewouldhaveranoff,ifa
пастир
shepherdwhowascomingby,drivingacow,hadnotstoppedit.Hanssooncametohimself,andgotuponhislegsagain,
сумно
sadlyvexed,andsaidtotheshepherd,‘Thisridingisnojoke,whenamanhasthelucktogetuponabeastlikethisthatstumblesandflingshimoffasifitwouldbreakhisneck.However,I’moffnowonceforall:
Ilikeyourcownowagreatdealbetterthanthissmartbeastthatplayedmethistrick,andhasspoiledmybestcoat,yousee,inthispuddle;
which,bytheby,smellsnotverylikeanosegay.
Onecanwalkalongatone’sleisurebehindthatcow—keepgoodcompany,andhavemilk,
масло
butter,andcheese,everyday,intothebargain.WhatwouldIgivetohavesuchaprize!’‘Well,’saidtheshepherd,‘ifyouaresofondofher,Iwillchangemycowforyourhorse;
Iliketodogoodtomyneighbours,eventhoughIlosebyitmyself.’‘Done!’saidHans,merrily.
‘Whatanobleheartthatgoodmanhas!’thoughthe.
Thentheshepherdjumpeduponthehorse,wishedHansandthecowgoodmorning,andawayherode.
Hansbrushedhiscoat,wipedhisfaceandhands,restedawhile,andthendroveoffhiscowquietly,andthoughthis
угоду
bargainaveryluckyone.‘IfIhaveonlyapieceofbread(andIcertainlyshallalwaysbeabletogetthat),Ican,wheneverIlike,eatmy
масло
butterandcheesewithit;andwhenIamthirstyIcanmilkmycowanddrinkthemilk:
andwhatcanIwishformore?’Whenhecametoaninn,hehalted,ateupallhisbread,andgaveawayhislastpennyforaglassofbeer.
Whenhehadrestedhimselfhesetoffagain,drivinghiscowtowardshismother’svillage.
Buttheheatgrewgreaterassoonasnooncameon,tillatlast,ashefoundhimselfonawideheaththatwouldtakehimmorethananhourtocross,hebegantobesohotandparchedthathistongueclavetotheroofofhismouth.
‘Icanfindacureforthis,’thoughthe;
‘nowIwillmilkmycowandquenchmythirst’:
sohetiedhertothestumpofatree,andheldhisleathern
шапку
captomilkinto;butnotadropwastobehad.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatthiscow,whichwastobringhimmilkand
масло
butterandcheese,wasallthattimeабсолютно
utterlydry?Hanshadnotthoughtoflookingtothat.
Whilehewastryinghisluckinmilking,andmanagingthematterveryclumsily,theuneasybeastbegantothinkhimverytroublesome;
andatlastgavehimsuchakickontheheadasknockedhimdown;
andtherehelayalongwhilesenseless.
Щастя
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.’‘Heavenrewardyouforyourkindnessandself-denial!’saidHans,ashegavethebutcherthecow;
andtakingthepigoffthewheel-barrow,droveitaway,holdingitbythestringthatwastiedtoitsleg.
Soonhejogged,andallseemednowtogorightwithhim:
hehadmetwithsomemisfortunes,tobesure;
buthewasnowwellrepaidforall.
Howcoulditbeotherwisewithsuchatravellingcompanionashehadatlastgot?
Thenextmanhemetwasacountrymancarryingafinewhitegoose.
Thecountrymanstoppedtoaskwhatwaso’clock;
thisledtofurtherchat;
andHanstoldhimallhisluck,howhehadsomanygoodbargains,andhowalltheworldwentgayandsmilingwithhim.
Thecountrymanthenbegantotellhistale,andsaidhewasgoingtotakethegoosetoachristening.
‘Feel,’saidhe,‘howheavyitis,andyetitisonlyeightweeksold.
Whoeverroastsandeatsitwillfindplentyoffatuponit,ithaslivedsowell!’‘You’reright,’saidHans,asheweigheditinhishand;
‘butifyoutalkoffat,mypigisnotrifle.’
Тим часом
Meantimethecountrymanbegantolookgrave,andshookhishead.‘Harkye!’saidhe,‘my
гідний
worthyfriend,youseemagoodsortoffellow,soIcan’thelpdoingyouakindturn.Yourpigmaygetyouintoascrape.
InthevillageIjustcamefrom,thesquirehashadapigstolenoutofhissty.
IwasdreadfullyafraidwhenIsawyouthatyouhadgotthesquire’spig.
Ifyouhave,andtheycatchyou,itwillbeabadjobforyou.
Theleasttheywilldowillbetothrowyouintothehorse-pond.
PoorHanswassadlyfrightened.
‘Goodman,’criedhe,‘praygetmeoutofthisscrape.
Iknownothingofwherethepigwaseitherbredorborn;
buthemayhavebeenthesquire’sforaughtIcantell: