|
Grimms' Fairy Tales
The
Golden Bird
In the olden time there was a king, who had
behind his palace a beautiful pleasure-garden in which there
was a tree that bore golden apples. When the apples were
getting ripe they were counted, but on the very next morning
one was missing. This was told to the King, and he ordered
that a watch should be kept every night beneath the tree.
The King had three sons, the eldest of whom he sent, as
soon as night came on, into the garden; but when midnight
came he could not keep himself from sleeping, and next morning
again an apple was gone.
The following night the second son had to keep watch, it
fared no better with him; as soon as twelve o'clock had
struck he fell asleep, and in the morning an apple was gone.
Now it came to the turn of the third son to watch; and
he was quite ready, but the King had not much trust in him,
and thought that he would be of less use even than his brothers;
but at last he let him go. The youth lay down beneath the
tree, but kept awake, and did not let sleep master him.
When it struck twelve, something rustled through the air,
and in the moonlight he saw a bird coming whose feathers
were all shining with gold. The bird alighted on the tree,
and had just plucked off an apple, when the youth shot an
arrow at him. The bird flew off, but the arrow had struck
his plumage, and one of his golden feathers fell down. The
youth picked it up, and the next morning took it to the
King and told him what he had seen in the night. The King
called his council together, and everyone declared that
a feather like this was worth more than the whole kingdom.
"If the feather is so precious," declared the
King, "one alone will not do for me; I must and will
have the whole bird!"
The eldest son set out; he trusted to his cleverness, and
thought that he would easily find the Golden Bird. When
he had gone some distance he saw a Fox sitting at the edge
of a wood, so he cocked his gun and took aim at him. The
Fox cried, "Do not shoot me! and in return I will give
you some good counsel. You are on the way to the Golden
Bird; and this evening you will come to a village in which
stand two inns opposite to one another. One of them is lighted
up brightly, and all goes on merrily within, but do not
go into it; go rather into the other, even though it seems
a bad one." "How can such a silly beast give wise
advice?" thought the King's son, and he pulled the
trigger. But he missed the Fox, who stretched out his tail
and ran quickly into the wood.
So he pursued his way, and by evening came to the village
where the two inns were; in one they were singing and dancing;
the other had a poor, miserable look. "I should be
a fool, indeed," he thought, "if I were to go
into the shabby tavern, and pass by the good one."
So he went into the cheerful one, lived there in riot and
revel, and forgot the bird and his father, and all good
counsels.
When some time had passed, and the eldest son for month
after month did not come back home, the second set out,
wishing to find the Golden Bird. The Fox met him as he had
met the eldest, and gave him the good advice of which he
took no heed. He came to the two inns, and his brother was
standing at the window of the one from which came the music,
and called out to him. He could not resist, but went inside
and lived only for pleasure.
Again some time passed, and then the King's youngest son
wanted to set off and try his luck, but his father would
not allow it. "It is of no use," said he, "he
will find the Golden Bird still less than his brothers,
and if a mishap were to befall him he knows not how to help
himself; he is a little wanting at the best." But at
last, as he had no peace, he let him go.
Again the Fox was sitting outside the wood, and begged
for his life, and offered his good advice. The youth was
good-natured, and said, "Be easy, little Fox, I will
do you no harm." "You shall not repent it,"
answered the Fox; "and that you may get on more quickly,
get up behind on my tail." And scarcely had he seated
himself when the Fox began to run, and away he went over
stock and stone till his hair whistled in the wind. When
they came to the village the youth got off; he followed
the good advice, and without looking round turned into the
little inn, where he spent the night quietly.
The next morning, as soon as he got into the open country,
there sat the Fox already, and said, "I will tell you
further what you have to do. Go on quite straight, and at
last you will come to a castle, in front of which a whole
regiment of soldiers is lying, but do not trouble yourself
about them, for they will all be asleep and snoring. Go
through the midst of them straight into the castle, and
go through all the rooms, till at last you will come to
a chamber where a Golden Bird is hanging in a wooden cage.
Close by, there stands an empty gold cage for show, but
beware of taking the bird out of the common cage and putting
it into the fine one, or it may go badly with you."
With these words the Fox again stretched out his tail, and
the King's son seated himself upon it, and away he went
over stock and stone till his hair whistled in the wind.
When he came to the castle he found everything as the Fox
had said. The King's son went into the chamber where the
Golden Bird was shut up in a wooden cage, whilst a golden
one stood hard by; and the three golden apples lay about
the room. "But," thought he, "it would be
absurd if I were to leave the beautiful bird in the common
and ugly cage," so he opened the door, laid hold of
it, and put it into the golden cage. But at the same moment
the bird uttered a shrill cry. The soldiers awoke, rushed
in, and took him off to prison. The next morning he was
taken before a court of justice, and as he confessed everything,
was sentenced to death.
The King, however, said that he would grant him his life
on one condition namely, if he brought him the Golden Horse
which ran faster than the wind; and in that case he should
receive, over and above, as a reward, the Golden Bird.
The King's son set off, but he sighed and was sorrowful,
for how was he to find the Golden Horse? But all at once
he saw his old friend the Fox sitting on the road. "Look
you," said the Fox, "this has happened because
you did not give heed to me. However, be of good courage.
I will give you my help, and tell you how to get to the
Golden Horse. You must go straight on, and you will come
to a castle, where in the stable stands the horse. The grooms
will be lying in front of the stable; but they will be asleep
and snoring, and you can quietly lead out the Golden Horse.
But of one thing you must take heed; put on him the common
saddle of wood and leather, and not the golden one, which
hangs close by, else it will go ill with you." Then
the Fox stretched out his tail, the King's son seated himself
upon it, and away he went over stock and stone until his
hair whistled in the wind.
Everything happened just as the Fox had said; the prince
came to the stable in which the Golden Horse was standing,
but just as he was going to put the common saddle upon him,
he thought, "It will be a shame to such a beautiful
beast, if I do not give him the good saddle which belongs
to him by right." But scarcely had the golden saddle
touched the horse than he began to neigh loudly. The grooms
awoke, seized the youth, and threw him into prison. The
next morning he was sentenced by the court to death; but
the King promised to grant him his life, and the Golden
Horse as well, if he could bring back the beautiful princess
from the Golden Castle.
With a heavy heart the youth set out; yet luckily for him
he soon found the trusty Fox. "I ought only to leave
you to your ill-luck," said the Fox, "but I pity
you, and will help you once more out of your trouble. This
road takes you straight to the Golden Castle, you will reach
it by eventide; and at night when everything is quiet the
beautiful princess goes to the bathing-house to bathe. When
she enters it, run up to her and give her a kiss, then she
will follow you, and you can take her away with you; only
do not allow her to take leave of her parents first, or
it will go ill with you."
Then the Fox stretched out his tail, the King's son seated
himself upon it, and away the Fox went, over stock and stone,
till his hair whistled in the wind.
When he reached the Golden Castle it was just as the Fox
had said. He waited until midnight, when everything lay
in deep sleep, and the beautiful princess was going to the
bathing-house. Then he sprang out and gave her a kiss. She
said that she would like to go with him, but she asked him
pitifully, and with tears, to allow her first to take leave
of her parents. At first he withstood her prayer, but when
she wept more and more, and fell at his feet, he at last
gave in. But no sooner had the maiden reached the bedside
of her father than he and all the rest in the castle awoke,
and the youth was laid hold of and put into prison.
The next morning the King said to him, "Your life
is forfeited, and you can only find mercy if you take away
the hill which stands in front of my windows, and prevents
my seeing beyond it; and you must finish it all within eight
days. If you do that you shall have my daughter as your
reward."
The King's son began, and dug and shovelled without leaving
off, but when after seven days he saw how little he had
done, and how all his work was as good as nothing, he fell
into great sorrow and gave up all hope. But on the evening
of the seventh day the Fox appeared and said, 'You do not
deserve that I should take any trouble about you; but just
go away and lie down to sleep, and I will do the work for
you."
The next morning when he awoke and looked out of the window
the hill had gone. The youth ran, full of joy, to the King,
and told him that the task was fulfilled, and whether he
liked it or not, the King had to hold to his word and give
him his daughter.
So the two set forth together, and it was not long before
the trusty Fox came up with them. "You have certainly
got what is best," said he, "but the Golden Horse
also belongs to the maiden of the Golden Castle." "How
shall I get it?" asked the youth. "That I will
tell you," answered the Fox; "first take the beautiful
maiden to the King who sent you to the Golden Castle. There
will be unheard-of rejoicing; they will gladly give you
the Golden Horse, and will bring it out to you. Mount it
as soon as possible, and offer your hand to all in farewell;
last of all to the beautiful maiden. And as soon as you
have taken her hand swing her up on to the horse, and gallop
away, and no one will be able to bring you back, for the
horse runs faster than the wind."
All was carried out successfully, and the King's son carried
off the beautiful princess on the Golden Horse.
The Fox did not remain behind, and he said to the youth,
"Now I will help you to get the Golden Bird. When you
come near to the castle where the Golden Bird is to be found,
let the maiden get down, and I will take her into my care.
Then ride with the Golden Horse into the castle-yard; there
will be great rejoicing at the sight, and they will bring
out the Golden Bird for you. As soon as you have the cage
in your hand gallop back to us, and take the maiden away
again.
When the plan had succeeded, and the King's son was about
to ride home with his treasures, the Fox said, "Now
you shall reward me for my help." "What do you
require for it?" asked the youth. "When you get
into the wood yonder, shoot me dead, and chop off my head
and feet."
"That would be fine gratitude," said the King's
son. "I cannot possibly do that for you."
The Fox said, "If you will not do it I must leave
you, but before I go away I will give you a piece of good
advice. Be careful about two things. Buy no gallows'-flesh,
and do not sit at the edge of any well." And then he
ran into the wood.
The youth thought, "That is a wonderful beast, he
has strange whims; who is going to buy gallows'-flesh? and
the desire to sit at the edge of a well it has never yet
seized me."
He rode on with the beautiful maiden, and his road took
him again through the village in which his two brothers
had remained. There was a great stir and noise, and, when
he asked what was going on, he was told that two men were
going to be hanged. As he came nearer to the place he saw
that they were his brothers, who had been playing all kinds
of wicked pranks, and had squandered all their wealth. He
inquired whether they could not be set free. "If you
will pay for them," answered the people; "but
why should you waste your money on wicked men, and buy them
free." He did not think twice about it, but paid for
them, and when they were set free they all went on their
way together.
They came to the wood where the Fox had first met them,
as it was cool and pleasant within it, the two brothers
said, "Let us rest a little by the well, and eat and
drink." He agreed, and whilst they were talking he
forgot himself, and sat down upon the edge of the well without
thinking of any evil. But the two brothers threw him backwards
into the well, took the maiden, the Horse, and the Bird,
and went home to their father. "Here we bring you not
only the Golden Bird," said they; "we have won
the Golden Horse also, and the maiden from the Golden Castle."
Then was there great joy; but the Horse would not eat, the
Bird would not sing, and the maiden sat and wept.
But the youngest brother was not dead. By good fortune
the well was dry, and he fell upon soft moss without being
hurt, but he could not get out again. Even in this strait
the faithful Fox did not leave him: it came and leapt down
to him, and upbraided him for having forgotten its advice.
"But yet I cannot give it up so," he said; "I
will help you up again into daylight." He bade him
grasp his tail and keep tight hold of it; and then he pulled
him up.
"You are not out of all danger yet," said the
Fox. "Your brothers were not sure of your death, and
have surrounded the wood with watchers, who are to kill
you if you let yourself be seen." But a poor man was
sitting upon the road, with whom the youth changed clothes,
and in this way he got to the King's palace.
No one knew him, but the Bird began to sing, the Horse
began to eat, and the beautiful maiden left off weeping.
The King, astonished, asked, "What does this mean?"
Then the maiden said, "I do not know, but I have been
so sorrowful and now I am so happy! I feel as if my true
bridegroom had come." She told him all that had happened,
although the other brothers had threatened her with death
if she were to betray anything.
The King commanded that all people who were in his castle
should be brought before him; and amongst them came the
youth in his ragged clothes; but the maiden knew him at
once and fell upon his neck. The wicked brothers were seized
and put to death, but he was married to the beautiful maiden
and declared heir to the King.
But how did it fare with the poor Fox? Long afterwards
the King's son was once again walking in the wood, when
the Fox met him and said, "You have everything now
that you can wish for, but there is never an end to my misery,
and yet it is in your power to free me," and again
he asked him with tears to shoot him dead and chop off his
head and feet. So he did it, and scarcely was it done when
the Fox was changed into a man, and was no other than the
brother of the beautiful princess, who at last was freed
from the magic charm which had been laid upon him. And now
nothing more was wanting to their happiness as long as they
lived.
From Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household Tales, trans. Margaret
Hunt (London: George Bell, 1884), 1:227-235. |
