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Grimms' Fairy Tales
The
Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
A certain father had two sons, the elder of
whom was smart and sensible, and could do everything, but
the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor understand
anything, and when people saw him they said, "There's
a fellow who will give his father some trouble!" When
anything had to be done, it was always the elder who was
forced to do it; but if his father bade him fetch anything
when it was late, or in the night-time, and the way led
through the churchyard, or any other dismal place, he answered
"Oh, no, father, I'll not go there, it makes me shudder!"
for he was afraid. Or when stories were told by the fire
at night which made the flesh creep, the listeners sometimes
said "Oh, it makes us shudder!" The younger sat
in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could
not imagine what they could mean. "They are always
saying 'it makes me shudder, it makes me shudder!' It does
not make me shudder," thought he. "That, too,
must be an art of which I understand nothing."
Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day
"Hearken to me, thou fellow in the corner there, thou
art growing tall and strong, and thou too must learn something
by which thou canst earn thy living. Look how thy brother
works, but thou dost not even earn thy salt." "Well,
father," he replied, "I am quite willing to learn
something -- indeed, if it could but be managed, I should
like to learn how to shudder. I don't understand that at
all yet." The elder brother smiled when he heard that,
and thought to himself, "Good God, what a blockhead
that brother of mine is! He will never be good for anything
as long as he lives. He who wants to be a sickle must bend
himself betimes."
The father sighed, and answered him "thou shalt soon
learn what it is to shudder, but thou wilt not earn thy
bread by that."
Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit,
and the father bewailed his trouble, and told him how his
younger son was so backward in every respect that he knew
nothing and learnt nothing. "Just think," said
he, "when I asked him how he was going to earn his
bread, he actually wanted to learn to shudder." "If
that be all," replied the sexton, "he can learn
that with me. Send him to me, and I will soon polish him."
The father was glad to do it, for he thought, "It will
train the boy a little." The sexton therefore took
him into his house, and he had to ring the bell. After a
day or two, the sexton awoke him at midnight, and bade him
arise and go up into the church tower and ring the bell.
"Thou shalt soon learn what shuddering is," thought
he, and secretly went there before him; and when the boy
was at the top of the tower and turned round, and was just
going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a white figure
standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole. "Who
is there?" cried he, but the figure made no reply,
and did not move or stir. "Give an answer," cried
the boy, "or take thy self off, thou hast no business
here at night."
The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that
the boy might think he was a ghost. The boy cried a second
time, "What do you want here? -- speak if thou art
an honest fellow, or I will throw thee down the steps!"
The sexton thought, "he can't intend to be as bad as
his words," uttered no sound and stood as if he were
made of stone. Then the boy called to him for the third
time, and as that was also to no purpose, he ran against
him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it fell
down ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon
he rang the bell, went home, and without saying a word went
to bed, and fell asleep. The sexton's wife waited a long
time for her husband, but he did not come back. At length
she became uneasy, and wakened the boy, and asked, "Dost
thou not know where my husband is? He climbed up the tower
before thou didst." "No, I don't know," replied
the boy, "but some one was standing by the sounding
hole on the other side of the steps, and as he would neither
give an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel,
and threw him downstairs, just go there and you will see
if it was he. I should be sorry if it were." The woman
ran away and found her husband, who was lying moaning in
the corner, and had broken his leg.
She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened
to the boy's father. "Your boy," cried she, "has
been the cause of a great misfortune! He has thrown my husband
down the steps and made him break his leg. Take the good-for-nothing
fellow away from our house." The father was terrified,
and ran thither and scolded the boy. "What wicked tricks
are these?" said he, "the devil must have put
this into thy head." "Father," he replied,
"do listen to me. I am quite innocent. He was standing
there by night like one who is intending to do some evil.
I did not know who it was, and I entreated him three times
either to speak or to go away." "Ah," said
the father, "I have nothing but unhappiness with you.
Go out of my sight. I will see thee no more."
"Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it
is day. Then will I go forth and learn how to shudder, and
then I shall, at any rate, understand one art which will
support me." "Learn what thou wilt," spake
the father, "it is all the same to me. Here are fifty
thalers for thee. Take these and go into the wide world,
and tell no one from whence thou comest, and who is thy
father, for I have reason to be ashamed of thee." "Yes,
father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more
than that, I can easily keep it in mind."
When day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty thalers
into his pocket, and went forth on the great highway, and
continually said to himself, "If I could but shudder!
If I could but shudder!" Then a man approached who
heard this conversation which the youth was holding with
himself, and when they had walked a little farther to where
they could see the gallows, the man said to him, "Look,
there is the tree where seven men have married the ropemaker's
daughter, and are now learning how to fly. Sit down below
it, and wait till night comes, and you will soon learn how
to shudder." "If that is all that is wanted,"
answered the youth, "it is easily done; but if I learn
how to shudder as fast as that, thou shalt have my fifty
thalers. Just come back to me early in the morning."
Then the youth went to the gallows, sat down below it, and
waited till evening came. And as he was cold, he lighted
himself a fire, but at midnight the wind blew so sharply
that in spite of his fire, he could not get warm. And as
the wind knocked the hanged men against each other, and
they moved backwards and forwards, he thought to himself
"Thou shiverest below by the fire, but how those up
above must freeze and suffer!" And as he felt pity
for them, he raised the ladder, and climbed up, unbound
one of them after the other, and brought down all seven.
Then he stirred the fire, blew it, and set them all round
it to warm themselves. But they sat there and did not stir,
and the fire caught their clothes. So he said, "Take
care, or I will hang you up again." The dead men, however,
did not hear, but were quite silent, and let their rags
go on burning. On this he grew angry, and said, "If
you will not take care, I cannot help you, I will not be
burnt with you," and he hung them up again each in
his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fell asleep,
and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have
the fifty thalers, and said, "Well, dost thou know
how to shudder?" "No," answered he, "how
was I to get to know? Those fellows up there did not open
their mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old
rags which they had on their bodies get burnt." Then
the man saw that he would not get the fifty thalers that
day, and went away saying, "One of this kind has never
come my way before."
The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to
mutter to himself, "Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah,
if I could but shudder!" A waggoner who was striding
behind him heard that and asked, "Who are you?"
"I don't know," answered the youth. Then the waggoner
asked, "From whence comest thou?" "I know
not." "Who is thy father?" "That I may
not tell thee." "What is it that thou art always
muttering between thy teeth." "Ah," replied
the youth, "I do so wish I could shudder, but no one
can teach me how to do it." "Give up thy foolish
chatter," said the waggoner. "Come, go with me,
I will see about a place for thee." The youth went
with the waggoner, and in the evening they arrived at an
inn where they wished to pass the night. Then at the entrance
of the room the youth again said quite loudly, "If
I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!" The host
who heard this, laughed and said, "If that is your
desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for you here."
"Ah, be silent," said the hostess, "so many
inquisitive persons have already lost their lives, it would
be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as these should
never see the daylight again."
But the youth said, "However difficult it may be,
I will learn it and for this purpose indeed have I journeyed
forth." He let the host have no rest, until the latter
told him, that not far from thence stood a haunted castle
where any one could very easily learn what shuddering was,
if he would but watch in it for three nights. The King had
promised that he who would venture should have his daughter
to wife, and she was the most beautiful maiden the sun shone
on. Great treasures likewise lay in the castle, which were
guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then
be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough. Already
many men had gone into the castle, but as yet none had come
out again. Then the youth went next morning to the King
and said if he were allowed he would watch three nights
in the haunted castle. The King looked at him, and as the
youth pleased him, he said, "Thou mayest ask for three
things to take into the castle with thee, but they must
be things without life." Then he answered, "Then
I ask for a fire, a turning lathe, and a cutting-board with
the knife." The King had these things carried into
the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing
near, the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in
one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knife beside
it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. "Ah, if
I could but shudder!" said he, "but I shall not
learn it here either." Towards midnight he was about
to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it, something cried
suddenly from one corner, "Au, miau! how cold we are!"
"You simpletons!" cried he, "what are you
crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the
fire and warm yourselves." And when he had said that,
two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat
down on each side of him, and looked savagely at him with
their fiery eyes. After a short time, when they had warmed
themselves, they said, "Comrade, shall we have a game
at cards?" "Why not?" he replied, "but
just show me your paws." Then they stretched out their
claws. "Oh," said he, "what long nails you
have! Wait, I must first cut them for you." Thereupon
he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-board
and screwed their feet fast. "I have looked at your
fingers," said he, "and my fancy for card-playing
has gone," and he struck them dead and threw them out
into the water. But when he had made away with these two,
and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every
hole and corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot
chains, and more and more of them came until he could no
longer stir, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire,
pulled it to pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched
them for a while quietly, but at last when they were going
too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried, "Away
with ye, vermin," and began to cut them down. Part
of them ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into
the fish-pond. When he came back he fanned the embers of
his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, his
eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to
sleep. Then he looked round and saw a great bed in the corner.
"That is the very thing for me," said he, and
got into it. When he was just going to shut his eyes, however,
the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the
whole of the castle. "That"s right," said
he, "but go faster." Then the bed rolled on as
if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down, over thresholds
and steps, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upside
down, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts
and pillows up in the air, got out and said, "Now any
one who likes, may drive," and lay down by his fire,
and slept till it was day. In the morning the King came,
and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought
the evil spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said
he, "After all it is a pity, -- he is a handsome man."
The youth heard it, got up, and said, "It has not come
to that yet." Then the King was astonished, but very
glad, and asked how he had fared. "Very well indeed,"
answered he; "one night is past, the two others will
get over likewise." Then he went to the innkeeper,
who opened his eyes very wide, and said, "I never expected
to see thee alive again! Hast thou learnt how to shudder
yet?" "No," said he, "it is all in vain.
If some one would but tell me."
The second night he again went up into the old castle,
sat down by the fire, and once more began his old song,
"If I could but shudder." When midnight came,
an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; at first
it was low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet
for awhile, and at length with a loud scream, half a man
came down the chimney and fell before him. "Hollo!"
cried he, "another half belongs to this. This is too
little!" Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring
and howling, and the other half fell down likewise. "Wait,"
said he, "I will just blow up the fire a little for
thee." When he had done that and looked round again,
the two pieces were joined together, and a frightful man
was sitting in his place. "That is no part of our bargain,"
said the youth, "the bench is mine." The man wanted
to push him away; the youth, however, would not allow that,
but thrust him off with all his strength, and seated himself
again in his own place. Then still more men fell down, one
after the other; they brought nine dead men's legs and two
skulls, and set them up and played at nine-pins with them.
The youth also wanted to play and said "Hark you, can
I join you?" "Yes, if thou hast any money."
"Money enough," replied he, "but your balls
are not quite round." Then he took the skulls and put
them in the lathe and turned them till they were round.
"There, now, they will roll better!" said he.
"Hurrah! Now it goes merrily!" He played with
them and lost some of his money, but when it struck twelve,
everything vanished from his sight. He lay down and quietly
fell asleep. Next morning the King came to inquire after
him. "How has it fared with you this time?" asked
he. "I have been playing at nine-pins," he answered,
"and have lost a couple of farthings." "Hast
thou not shuddered then?" "Eh, what?" said
he, "I have made merry. If I did but know what it was
to shudder!"
The third night he sat down again on his bench and said
quite sadly, "If I could but shudder." When it
grew late, six tall men came in and brought a coffin. Then
said he, "Ha, ha, that is certainly my little cousin,
who died only a few days ago," and he beckoned with
his finger, and cried "Come, little cousin, come."
They placed the coffin on the ground, but he went to it
and took the lid off, and a dead man lay therein. He felt
his face, but it was cold as ice. "Stop," said
he, "I will warm thee a little," and went to the
fire and warmed his hand and laid it on the dead man's face,
but he remained cold. Then he took him out, and sat down
by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his arms
that the blood might circulate again. As this also did no
good, he thought to himself "When two people lie in
bed together, they warm each other," and carried him
to the bed, covered him over and lay down by him. After
a short time the dead man became warm too, and began to
move. Then said the youth, "See, little cousin, have
I not warmed thee?" The dead man, however, got up and
cried, "Now will I strangle thee."
"What!" said he, "is that the way thou thankest
me? Thou shalt at once go into thy coffin again," and
he took him up, threw him into it, and shut the lid. Then
came the six men and carried him away again. "I cannot
manage to shudder," said he. "I shall never learn
it here as long as I live."
Then a man entered who was taller than all others, and
looked terrible. He was old, however, and had a long white
beard. "Thou wretch," cried he, "thou shalt
soon learn what it is to shudder, for thou shalt die."
"Not so fast," replied the youth. "If I am
to die, I shall have to have a say in it." "I
will soon seize thee," said the fiend. "Softly,
softly, do not talk so big. I am as strong as thou art,
and perhaps even stronger." "We shall see,"
said the old man. "If thou art stronger, I will let
thee go -- come, we will try." Then he led him by dark
passages to a smith's forge, took an axe, and with one blow
struck an anvil into the ground. "I can do better than
that," said the youth, and went to the other anvil.
The old man placed himself near and wanted to look on, and
his white beard hung down. Then the youth seized the axe,
split the anvil with one blow, and struck the old man's
beard in with it. "Now I have thee," said the
youth. "Now it is thou who will have to die."
Then he seized an iron bar and beat the old man till he
moaned and entreated him to stop, and he would give him
great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let him go.
The old man led him back into the castle, and in a cellar
showed him three chests full of gold. "Of these,"
said he, "one part is for the poor, the other for the
king, the third is thine." In the meantime it struck
twelve, and the spirit disappeared; the youth, therefore,
was left in darkness. "I shall still be able to find
my way out," said he, and felt about, found the way
into the room, and slept there by his fire. Next morning
the King came and said "Now thou must have learnt what
shuddering is?" "No," he answered; "what
can it be? My dead cousin was here, and a bearded man came
and showed me a great deal of money down below, but no one
told me what it was to shudder." "Then,"
said the King, "thou hast delivered the castle, and
shalt marry my daughter." "That is all very well,"
said he, "but still I do not know what it is to shudder."
Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated;
but howsoever much the young king loved his wife, and however
happy he was, he still said always "If I could but
shudder -- if I could but shudder." And at last she
was angry at this. Her waiting-maid said, "I will find
a cure for him; he shall soon learn what it is to shudder."
She went out to the stream which flowed through the garden,
and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons brought to her. At
night when the young king was sleeping, his wife was to
draw the clothes off him and empty the bucketful of cold
water with the gudgeons in it over him, so that the little
fishes would sprawl about him. When this was done, he woke
up and cried "Oh, what makes me shudder so? -- what
makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know what it is
to shudder!"
Source: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household Tales, trans.
Margaret Hunt (London: George Bell, 1884), 1:11-20. |
