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Grimms' Fairy Tales
The
Two Brothers
There were once upon a time two brothers,
one rich and the other poor. The rich one was a goldsmith
and evil-hearted. The poor one supported himself by making
brooms, and was good and honourable. The poor one had two
children, who were twin brothers and as like each other
as two drops of water. The two boys went backwards and forwards
to the rich house, and often got some of the scraps to eat.
It happened once when the poor man was going into the forest
to fetch brush-wood, that he saw a bird which was quite
golden and more beautiful than any he had ever chanced to
meet with. He picked up a small stone, threw it at him,
and was lucky enough to hit him, but one golden feather
only fell down, and the bird flew away. The man took the
feather and carried it to his brother, who looked at it
and said, "It is pure gold!" and gave him a great
deal of money for it. Next day the man climbed into a birch-tree,
and was about to cut off a couple of branches when the same
bird flew out, and when the man searched he found a nest,
and an egg lay inside it, which was of gold. He took the
egg home with him, and carried it to his brother, who again
said, "It is pure gold," and gave him what it
was worth. At last the goldsmith said, "I should indeed
like to have the bird itself." The poor man went into
the forest for the third time, and again saw the golden
bird sitting on the tree, so he took a stone and brought
it down and carried it to his brother, who gave him a great
heap of gold for it. "Now I can get on," thought
he, and went contentedly home.
The goldsmith was crafty and cunning, and knew very well
what kind of a bird it was. He called his wife and said,
"Roast me the gold bird, and take care that none of
it is lost. I have a fancy to eat it all myself." The
bird, however, was no common one, but of so wondrous a kind
that whosoever ate its heart and liver found every morning
a piece of gold beneath his pillow. The woman made the bird
ready, put it on the spit, and let it roast. Now it happened
that while it was at the fire, and the woman was forced
to go out of the kitchen on account of some other work,
the two children of the poor broom-maker ran in, stood by
the spit and turned it round once or twice. And as at that
very moment two little bits of the bird fell down into the
dripping-tin, one of the boys said, "We will eat these
two little bits; I am so hungry, and no one will ever miss
them." Then the two ate the pieces, but the woman came
into the kitchen and saw that they were eating something
and said, "What have ye been eating?" "Two
little morsels which fell out of the bird," answered
they. "That must have been the heart and the liver,"
said the woman, quite frightened, and in order that her
husband might not miss them and be angry, she quickly killed
a young cock, took out his heart and liver, and put them
beside the golden bird. When it was ready, she carried it
to the goldsmith, who consumed it all alone, and left none
of it. Next morning, however, when he felt beneath his pillow,
and expected to bring out the piece of gold, no more gold
pieces were there than there had always been.
The two children did not know what a piece of good-fortune
had fallen to their lot. Next morning when they arose, something
fell rattling to the ground, and when they picked it up
there were two gold pieces! They took them to their father,
who was astonished and said, "How can that have happened?"
When next morning they again found two, and so on daily,
he went to his brother and told him the strange story. The
goldsmith at once knew how it had come to pass, and that
the children had eaten the heart and liver of the golden
bird, and in order to revenge himself, and because he was
envious and hard-hearted, he said to the father, "Thy
children are in league with the Evil One, do not take the
gold, and do not suffer them to stay any longer in thy house,
for he has them in his power, and may ruin thee likewise."
The father feared the Evil One, and painful as it was to
him, he nevertheless led the twins forth into the forest,
and with a sad heart left them there.
And now the two children ran about the forest, and sought
the way home again, but could not find it, and only lost
themselves more and more. At length they met with a huntsman,
who asked, "To whom do you children belong?" "We
are the poor broom-maker's boys," they replied, and
they told him that their father would not keep them any
longer in the house because a piece of gold lay every morning
under their pillows. "Come," said the huntsman,
"that is nothing so very bad, if at the same time you
keep honest, and are not idle." As the good man liked
the children, and had none of his own, he took them home
with him and said, "I will be your father, and bring
you up till you are big." They learnt huntsmanship
from him, and the piece of gold which each of them found
when he awoke, was kept for them by him in case they should
need it in the future.
When they were grown up, their foster-father one day took
them into the forest with him, and said, "To-day shall
you make your trial shot, so that I may release you from
your apprenticeship, and make you huntsmen." They went
with him to lie in wait and stayed there a long time, but
no game appeared. The huntsman, however, looked above him
and saw a covey of wild geese flying in the form of a triangle,
and said to one of them, "Shoot me down one from each
corner." He did it, and thus accomplished his trial
shot. Soon after another covey came flying by in the form
of the figure two, and the huntsman bade the other also
bring down one from each corner, and his trial shot was
likewise successful. "Now," said the foster-father,
"I pronounce you out of your apprenticeship; you are
skilled huntsmen." Thereupon the two brothers went
forth together into the forest, and took counsel with each
other and planned something. And in the evening when they
had sat down to supper, they said to their foster-father,
"We will not touch food, or take one mouthful, until
you have granted us a request." Said he, "What,
then, is your request?" They replied, "We have
now finished learning, and we must prove ourselves in the
world, so allow us to go away and travel." Then spake
the old man joyfully, "You talk like brave huntsmen,
that which you desire has been my wish; go forth, all will
go well with you." Thereupon they ate and drank joyously
together.
When the appointed day came, their foster-father presented
each of them with a good gun and a dog, and let each of
them take as many of his saved-up gold pieces as he chose.
Then he accompanied them a part of the way, and when taking
leave, he gave them a bright knife, and said, "If ever
you separate, stick this knife into a tree at the place
where you part, and when one of you goes back, he will will
be able to see how his absent brother is faring, for the
side of the knife which is turned in the direction by which
he went, will rust if he dies, but will remain bright as
long as he is alive." The two brothers went still farther
onwards, and came to a forest which was so large that it
was impossible for them to get out of it in one day. So
they passed the night in it, and ate what they had put in
their hunting-pouches, but they walked all the second day
likewise, and still did not get out. As they had nothing
to eat, one of them said, "We must shoot something
for ourselves or we shall suffer from hunger," and
loaded his gun, and looked about him. And when an old hare
came running up towards them, he laid his gun on his shoulder,
but the hare cried,
"Dear huntsman, do but let me live,
Two little ones to thee I'll give,"
and sprang instantly into the thicket, and brought two
young ones. But the little creatures played so merrily,
and were so pretty, that the huntsmen could not find it
in their hearts to kill them. They therefore kept them with
them, and the little hares followed on foot. Soon after
this, a fox crept past; they were just going to shoot it,
but the fox cried,
"Dear hunstman, do but let me live,
Two little ones I'll also give."
He, too, brought two little foxes, and the huntsmen did
not like to kill them either, but gave them to the hares
for company, and they followed behind. It was not long before
a wolf strode out of the thicket; the huntsmen made ready
to shoot him, but the wolf cried,
"Dear huntsman, do but let me live,
Two little ones I'll likewise give."
The huntsmen put the two wolves beside the other animals,
and they followed behind them. Then a bear came who wanted
to trot about a little longer, and cried:
"Dear huntsman, do but let me live,
Two little ones I, too, will give."
The two young bears were added to the others, and there
were already eight of them. At length who came? A lion came,
and tossed his mane. But the huntsmen did not let themselves
be frightened and aimed at him likewise, but the lion also
said,
"Dear huntsman, do but let me live,
Two little ones I, too, will give."
And he brought his little ones to them, and now the huntsmen
had two lions, two bears, two wolves, two foxes, and two
hares, who followed them and served them. In the meantime
their hunger was not appeased by this, and they said to
the foxes, "Hark ye, cunning fellows, provide us with
something to eat. You are crafty and deep." They replied,
"Not far from here lies a village, from which we have
already brought many a fowl; we will show you the way there."
So they went into the village, bought themselves something
to eat, had some food given to their beasts, and then travelled
onwards. The foxes, however, knew their way very well about
the district and where the poultry-yards were, and were
able to guide the huntsmen.
Now they travelled about for a while, but could find no
situations where they could remain together, so they said,
"There is nothing else for it, we must part."
They divided the animals, so that each of them had a lion,
a bear, a wolf, a fox, and a hare, then they took leave
of each other, promised to love each other like brothers
till their death, and stuck the knife which their foster-father
had given them, into a tree, after which one went east,
and the other went west.
The younger, however, arrived with his beasts in a town
which was all hung with black crape. He went into an inn,
and asked the host if he could accommodate his animals.
The innkeeper gave him a stable, where there was a hole
in the wall, and the hare crept out and fetched himself
the head of a cabbage, and the fox fetched himself a hen,
and when he had devoured that got the cock as well, but
the wolf, the bear, and the lion could not get out because
they were too big. Then the innkeeper let them be taken
to a place where a cow was just then lying on the grass,
that they might eat till they were satisfied. And when the
huntsman had taken care of his animals, he asked the innkeeper
why the town was thus hung with black crape? Said the host,
"Because our King's only daughter is to die to-morrow."
The huntsman inquired if she was "sick unto death?"
"No," answered the host, "she is vigorous
and healthy, nevertheless she must die!" "How
is that?" asked the huntsman. "There is a high
hill without the town, whereon dwells a dragon who every
year must have a pure virgin, or he lays the whole country
waste, and now all the maidens have already been given to
him, and there is no longer anyone left but the King's daughter,
yet there is no mercy for her; she must be given up to him,
and that is to be done to-morrow." Said the huntsman,
"Why is the dragon not killed?" "Ah,"
replied the host, "so many knights have tried it, but
it has cost all of them their lives. The King has promised
that he who conquers the dragon shall have his daughter
to wife, and shall likewise govern the kingdom after his
own death."
The huntsman said nothing more to this, but next morning
took his animals, and with them ascended the dragon's hill.
A little church stood at the top of it, and on the altar
three full cups were standing, with the inscription, "Whosoever
empties the cups will become the strongest man on earth,
and will be able to wield the sword which is buried before
the threshold of the door." The huntsman did not drink,
but went out and sought for the sword in the ground, but
was unable to move it from its place. Then he went in and
emptied the cups, and now he was strong enough to take up
the sword, and his hand could quite easily wield it. When
the hour came when the maiden was to be delivered over to
the dragon, the King, the marshal, and courtiers accompanied
her. From afar she saw the huntsman on the dragon's hill,
and thought it was the dragon standing there waiting for
her, and did not want to go up to him, but at last, because
otherwise the whole town would have been destroyed, she
was forced to go the miserable journey. The King and courtiers
returned home full of grief; the King's marshal, however,
was to stand still, and see all from a distance.
When the King's daughter got to the top of the hill, it
was not the dragon which stood there, but the young huntsman,
who comforted her, and said he would save her, led her into
the church, and locked her in. It was not long before the
seven-headed dragon came thither with loud roaring. When
he perceived the huntsman, he was astonished and said, "What
business hast thou here on the hill?" The huntsman
answered, "I want to fight with thee." Said the
dragon, "Many knights have left their lives here, I
shall soon have made an end of thee too," and he breathed
fire out of seven jaws. The fire was to have lighted the
dry grass, and the huntsman was to have been suffocated
in the heat and smoke, but the animals came running up and
trampled out the fire. Then the dragon rushed upon the huntsman,
but he swung his sword until it sang through the air, and
struck off three of his heads. Then the dragon grew right
furious, and rose up in the air, and spat out flames of
fire over the huntsman, and was about to plunge down on
him, but the huntsman once more drew out his sword, and
again cut off three of his heads. The monster became faint
and sank down, nevertheless it was just able to rush upon
the huntsman, but he with his last strength smote its tail
off, and as he could fight no longer, called up his animals
who tore it in pieces. When the struggle was ended, the
huntsman unlocked the church, and found the King's daughter
lying on the floor, as she had lost her senses with anguish
and terror during the contest. He carried her out, and when
she came to herself once more, and opened her eyes, he showed
her the dragon all cut to pieces, and told her that she
was now delivered. She rejoiced and said, "Now thou
wilt be my dearest husband, for my father has promised me
to him who kills the dragon." Thereupon she took off
her necklace of coral, and divided it amongst the animals
in order to reward them, and the lion received the golden
clasp. Her pocket-handkerchief, however, on which was her
name, she gave to the huntsman, who went and cut the tongues
out of the dragon's seven heads, wrapped them in the handkerchief,
and preserved them carefully.
That done, as he was so faint and weary with the fire and
the battle, he said to the maiden, "We are both faint
and weary, we will sleep awhile." Then she said, "yes,"
and they lay down on the ground, and the huntsman said to
the lion, "Thou shalt keep watch, that no one surprises
us in our sleep," and both fell asleep. The lion lay
down beside them to watch, but he also was so weary with
the fight, that he called to the bear and said, "Lie
down near me, I must sleep a little: if anything comes,
waken me." Then the bear lay down beside him, but he
also was tired, and called the wolf and said, "Lie
down by me, I must sleep a little, but if anything comes,
waken me." Then the wolf lay down by him, but he was
tired likewise, and called the fox and said, "Lie down
by me, I must sleep a little; if anything comes, waken me."
Then the fox lay down beside him, but he too was weary,
and called the hare and said, "Lie down near me, I
must sleep a little, and if anything should come, waken
me." Then the hare sat down by him, but the poor hare
was tired too, and had no one whom he could call there to
keep watch, and fell asleep. And now the King's daughter,
the huntsman, the lion, the bear, the wolf, the fox, and
the hare, were all sleeping a sound sleep. The marshal,
however, who was to look on from a distance, took courage
when he did not see the dragon flying away with the maiden,
and finding that all the hill had become quiet, ascended
it. There lay the dragon hacked and hewn to pieces on the
ground, and not far from it were the King's daughter and
a huntsman with his animals, and all of them were sunk in
a sound sleep. And as he was wicked and godless he took
his sword, cut off the huntsman's head, and seized the maiden
in his arms, and carried her down the hill. Then she awoke
and was terrified, but the marshal said, "Thou art
in my hands, thou shalt say that it was I who killed the
dragon." "I cannot do that," she replied,
"for it was a huntsman with his animals who did it."
Then he drew his sword, and threatened to kill her if she
did not obey him, and so compelled her that she promised
it. Then he took her to the King, who did not know how to
contain himself for joy when he once more looked on his
dear child in life, whom he had believed to have been torn
to pieces by the monster. The marshal said to him, "I
have killed the dragon, and delivered the maiden and the
whole kingdom as well, therefore I demand her as my wife,
as was promised." The King said to the maiden, "Is
what he says true?" "Ah, yes," she answered,
"it must indeed be true, but I will not consent to
have the wedding celebrated until after a year and a day,"
for she thought in that time she should hear something of
her dear huntsman.
The animals, however, were still lying sleeping beside
their dead master on the dragon's hill, and there came a
great humble-bee and lighted on the hare's nose, but the
hare wiped it off with his paw, and went on sleeping. The
humble-bee came a second time, but the hare again rubbed
it off and slept on. Then it came for the third time, and
stung his nose so that he awoke. As soon as the hare was
awake, he roused the fox, and the fox, the wolf, and the
wolf the bear, and the bear the lion. And when the lion
awoke and saw that the maiden was gone, and his master was
dead, he began to roar frightfully and cried, "Who
has done that? Bear, why didst thou not waken me?"
The bear asked the wolf, "Why didst thou not waken
me?" and the wolf the fox, "Why didst thou not
waken me?" and the fox the hare, "Why didst thou
not waken me?" The poor hare alone did not know what
answer to make, and the blame rested with him. Then they
were just going to fall upon him, but he entreated them
and said, "Kill me not, I will bring our master to
life again. I know a mountain on which a root grows which,
when placed in the mouth of any one, cures him of all illness
and every wound. But the mountain lies two hundred hours
journey from here." The lion said, "In four-and-twenty
hours must thou have run thither and have come back, and
have brought the root with thee." Then the hare sprang
away, and in four-and-twenty hours he was back, and brought
the root with him. The lion put the huntsman's head on again,
and the hare placed the root in his mouth, and immediately
everything united together again, and his heart beat, and
life came back. Then the huntsman awoke, and was alarmed
when he did not see the maiden, and thought, "She must
have gone away whilst I was sleeping, in order to get rid
of me." The lion in his great haste had put his master's
head on the wrong way round, but the huntsman did not observe
it because of his melancholy thoughts about the King's daughter.
But at noon, when he was going to eat something, he saw
that his head was turned backwards and could not understand
it, and asked the animals what had happened to him in his
sleep. Then the lion told him that they, too, had all fallen
asleep from weariness, and on awaking, had found him dead
with his head cut off, that the hare had brought the life-giving
root, and that he, in his haste, had laid hold of the head
the wrong way, but that he would repair his mistake. Then
he tore the huntsman's head off again, turned it round,
and the hare healed it with the root.
The huntsman, however, was sad at heart, and travelled
about the world, and made his animals dance before people.
It came to pass that precisely at the end of one year he
came back to the same town where he had delivered the King's
daughter from the dragon, and this time the town was gaily
hung with red cloth. Then he said to the host, "What
does this mean? Last year the town was all hung with black
crape, what means the red cloth to-day?" The host answered,
"Last year our King's daughter was to have been delivered
over to the dragon, but the marshal fought with it and killed
it, and so to-morrow their wedding is to be solemnized,
and that is why the town was then hung with black crape
for mourning, and is to-day covered with red cloth for joy?"
Next day when the wedding was to take place, the huntsman
said at mid-day to the inn-keeper, "Do you believe,
sir host, that I while with you here to-day shall eat bread
from the King's own table?" "Nay," said the
host, "I would bet a hundred pieces of gold that that
will not come true." The huntsman accepted the wager,
and set against it a purse with just the same number of
gold pieces. Then he called the hare and said, "Go,
my dear runner, and fetch me some of the bread which the
King is eating." Now the little hare was the lowest
of the animals, and could not transfer this order to any
the others, but had to get on his legs himself. "Alas!"
thought he, "if I bound through the streets thus alone,
the butchers' dogs will all be after me." It happened
as he expected, and the dogs came after him and wanted to
make holes in his good skin. But he sprang away, have you
have never seen one running? and sheltered himself in a
sentry-box without the soldier being aware of it. Then the
dogs came and wanted to have him out, but the soldier did
not understand a jest, and struck them with the butt-end
of his gun, till they ran away yelling and howling. As soon
as the hare saw that the way was clear, he ran into the
palace and straight to the King's daughter, sat down under
her chair, and scratched at her foot. Then she said, "Wilt
thou get away?" and thought it was her dog. The hare
scratched her foot for the second time, and she again said,
"Wilt thou get away?" and thought it was her dog.
But the hare did not let itself be turned from its purpose,
and scratched her for the third time. Then she peeped down,
and knew the hare by its collar. She took him on her lap,
carried him into her chamber, and said, "Dear Hare,
what dost thou want?" He answered, "My master,
who killed the dragon, is here, and has sent me to ask for
a loaf of bread like that which the King eats." Then
she was full of joy and had the baker summoned, and ordered
him to bring a loaf such as was eaten by the King. The little
hare said, "But the baker must likewise carry it thither
for me, that the butchers' dogs may do no harm to me."
The baker carried if for him as far as the door of the inn,
and then the hare got on his hind legs, took the loaf in
his front paws, and carried it to his master. Then said
the huntsman, "Behold, sir host, the hundred pieces
of gold are mine." The host was astonished, but the
huntsman went on to say, "Yes, sir host, I have the
bread, but now I will likewise have some of the King's roast
meat."
The host said, "I should indeed like to see that,"
but he would make no more wagers. The huntsman called the
fox and said, "My little fox, go and fetch me some
roast meat, such as the King eats." The red fox knew
the bye-ways better, and went by holes and corners without
any dog seeing him, seated himself under the chair of the
King's daughter, and scratched her foot. Then she looked
down and recognized the fox by its collar, took him into
her chamber with her and said, "Dear fox, what dost
thou want?" He answered, "My master, who killed
the dragon, is here, and has sent me. I am to ask for some
roast meat such as the King is eating." Then she made
the cook come, who was obliged to prepare a roast joint,
the same as was eaten by the King, and to carry it for the
fox as far as the door. Then the fox took the dish, waved
away with his tail the flies which had settled on the meat,
and then carried it to his master. "Behold, sir host,"
said the huntsman, "bread and meat are here but now
I will also have proper vegetables with it, such as are
eaten by the King." Then he called the wolf, and said,
"Dear Wolf, go thither and fetch me vegetables such
as the King eats." Then the wolf went straight to the
palace, as he feared no one, and when he got to the King's
daughter's chamber, he twitched at the back of her dress,
so that she was forced to look round. She recognized him
by his collar, and took him into her chamber with her, and
said, "Dear Wolf, what dost thou want?" He answered,
"My master, who killed the dragon, is here, I am to
ask for some vegetables, such as the King eats." Then
she made the cook come, and he had to make ready a dish
of vegetables, such as the King ate, and had to carry it
for the wolf as far as the door, and then the wolf took
the dish from him, and carried it to his master. "Behold,
sir host," said the huntsman, "now I have bread
and meat and vegetables, but I will also have some pastry
to eat like that which the King eats." He called the
bear, and said, "Dear Bear, thou art fond of licking
anything sweet; go and bring me some confectionery, such
as the King eats." Then the bear trotted to the palace,
and every one got out of his way, but when he went to the
guard, they presented their muskets, and would not let him
go into the royal palace. But he got up on his hind legs,
and gave them a few boxes on the ears, right and left, with
his paws, so that the whole watch broke up, and then he
went straight to the King's daughter, placed himself behind
her, and growled a little. Then she looked behind her, knew
the bear, and bade him go into her room with her, and said,
"Dear Bear, what dost thou want?" He answered,
"My master, who killed the dragon, is here, and I am
to ask for some confectionery, such as the King eats."
Then she summoned her confectioner, who had to bake confectionery
such as the King ate, and carry it to the door for the bear;
then the bear first licked up the comfits which had rolled
down, and then he stood upright, took the dish, and carried
it to his master. "Behold, sir host," said the
huntsman, "now I have bread, meat, vegetables and confectionery,
but I will drink wine also, and such as the King drinks."
He called his lion to him and said, "Dear Lion, thou
thyself likest to drink till thou art intoxicated, go and
fetch me some wine, such as is drunk by the King."
Then the lion strode through the streets, and the people
fled from him, and when he came to the watch, they wanted
to bar the way against him, but he did but roar once, and
they all ran away. Then the lion went to the royal apartment,
and knocked at the door with his tail. Then the King's daughter
came forth, and was almost afraid of the lion, but she knew
him by the golden clasp of her necklace, and bade him go
with her into her chamber, and said, "Dear Lion, what
wilt thou have?" He answered, "My master, who
killed the dragon, is here, and I am to ask for some wine
such as is drunk by the King." Then she bade the cup-bearer
be called, who was to give the lion some wine like that
which was drunk by the King. The lion said, "I will
go with him, and see that I get the right wine." Then
he went down with the cup-bearer, and when they were below,
the cup-bearer wanted to draw him some of the common wine
that was drunk by the King's servants, but the lion said,
"Stop, I will taste the wine first," and he drew
half a measure, and swallowed it down at one draught. "No,"
said he, "that is not right." The cup-bearer looked
at him askance, but went on, and was about to give him some
out of another barrel which was for the King's marshal.
The lion said, "Stop, let me taste the wine first,"
and drew half a measure and drank it. "That is better,
but still not right," said he. Then the cup-bearer
grew angry and said, "How can a stupid animal like
you understand wine?" But the lion gave him a blow
behind the ears, which made him fall down by no means gently,
and when he had got up again, he conducted the lion quite
silently into a little cellar apart, where the King's wine
lay, from which no one ever drank. The lion first drew half
a measure and tried the wine, and then he said, That may
possibly be the right sort, and bade the cup-bearer fill
six bottles of it. And now they went upstairs again, but
when the lion came out of the cellar into the open air,
he reeled here and there, and was rather drunk, and the
cup-bearer was forced to carry the wine as far as the door
for him, and then the lion took the handle of the basket
in his mouth, and took it to his master. The huntsman said,
"Behold, sir host, here have I bread, meat, vegetables,
confectionery and wine such as the King has, and now I will
dine with my animals," and he sat down and ate and
drank, and gave the hare, the fox, the wolf, the bear, and
the lion also to eat and to drink, and was joyful, for he
saw that the King's daughter still loved him. And when he
had finished his dinner, he said, "Sir host, now have
I eaten and drunk, as the King eats and drinks, and now
I will go to the King's court and marry the King's daughter."
Said the host, "How can that be, when she already has
a betrothed husband, and when the wedding is to be solemnized
to-day?" Then the huntsman drew forth the handkerchief
which the King's daughter had given him on the dragon's
hill, and in which were folded the monster's seven tongues,
and said, "That which I hold in my hand shall help
me to do it." Then the innkeeper looked at the handkerchief,
and said, "Whatever I believe, I do not believe that,
and I am willing to stake my house and courtyard on it."
The huntsman, however, took a bag with a thousand gold pieces,
put it on the table, and said, "I stake that on it."
Now the King said to his daughter, at the royal table,
"What did all the wild animals want, which have been
coming to thee, and going in and out of my palace?"
She replied, "I may not tell you, but send and have
the master of these animals brought, and you will do well."
The King sent a servant to the inn, and invited the stranger,
and the servant came just as the huntsman had laid his wager
with the innkeeper. Then said he, "Behold, sir host,
now the King sends his servant and invites me, but I do
not go in this way." And he said to the servant, "I
request the Lord King to send me royal clothing, and a carriage
with six horses, and servants to attend me." When the
King heard the answer, he said to his daughter, "What
shall I do?" She said, "Cause him to be fetched
as he desires to be, and you will do well." Then the
King sent royal apparel, a carriage with six horses, and
servants to wait on him. When the huntsman saw them coming,
he said, "Behold, sir host, now I am fetched as I desired
to be," and he put on the royal garments, took the
handkerchief with the dragon's tongues with him, and drove
off to the King. When the King saw him coming, he said to
his daughter, "How shall I receive him?" She answered,
"Go to meet him and you will do well." Then the
King went to meet him and led him in, and his animals followed.
The King gave him a seat near himself and his daughter,
and the marshal, as bridegroom, sat on the other side, but
no longer knew the huntsman. And now at this very moment,
the seven heads of the dragon were brought in as a spectacle,
and the King said, "The seven heads were cut off the
dragon by the marshal, wherefore to-day I give him my daughter
to wife." The the huntsman stood up, opened the seven
mouths, and said, "Where are the seven tongues of the
dragon?" Then was the marshal terrified, and grew pale
and knew not what answer he should make, and at length in
his anguish he said, "Dragons have no tongues."
The huntsman said, "Liars ought to have none, but the
dragon's tongues are the tokens of the victor," and
he unfolded the handkerchief, and there lay all seven inside
it. And he put each tongue in the mouth to which it belonged,
and it fitted exactly. Then he took the handkerchief on
which the name of the princess was embroidered, and showed
it to the maiden, and asked to whom she had given it, and
she replied, "To him who killed the dragon." And
then he called his animals, and took the collar off each
of them and the golden clasp from the lion, and showed them
to the maiden and asked to whom they belonged. She answered,
"The necklace and golden clasp were mine, but I divided
them among the animals who helped to conquer the dragon."
Then spake the huntsman, "When I, tired with the fight,
was resting and sleeping, the marshal came and cut off my
head. Then he carried away the King's daughter, and gave
out that it was he who had killed the dragon, but that he
lied I prove with the tongues, the handkerchief, and the
necklace." And then he related how his animals had
healed him by means of a wonderful root, and how he had
travelled about with them for one year, and had at length
again come there and had learnt the treachery of the marshal
by the inn-keeper's story. Then the King asked his daughter,
"Is it true that this man killed the dragon?"
And she answered, "Yes, it is true. Now can I reveal
the wicked deed of the marshal, as it has come to light
without my connivance, for he wrung from me a promise to
be silent. For this reason, however, did I make the condition
that the marriage should not be solemnized for a year and
a day." Then the King bade twelve councillors be summoned
who were to pronounce judgment on the marshal, and they
sentenced him to be torn to pieces by four bulls. The marshal
was therefore executed, but the King gave his daughter to
the huntsman, and named him his viceroy over the whole kingdom.
The wedding was celebrated with great joy, and the young
King caused his father and his foster-father to be brought,
and loaded them with treasures. Neither did he forget the
inn-keeper, but sent for him and said, "Behold, sir
host, I have married the King's daughter, and your house
and yard are mine." The host said, "Yes, according
to justice it is so." But the young King said, "It
shall be done according to mercy," and told him that
he should keep his house and yard, and gave him the thousand
pieces of gold as well.
And now the young King and Queen were thoroughly happy,
and lived in gladness together. He often went out hunting
because it was a delight to him, and the faithful animals
had to accompany him. In the neighborhood, however, there
was a forest of which it was reported that it was haunted,
and that whosoever did but enter it did not easily get out
again. The young King, however, had a great inclination
to hunt in it, and let the old King have no peace until
he allowed him to do so. So he rode forth with a great following,
and when he came to the forest, he saw a snow-white hart
and said to his people, "Wait here until I return,
I want to chase that beautiful creature," and he rode
into the forest after it, followed only by his animals.
The attendants halted and waited until evening, but he did
not return, so they rode home, and told the young Queen
that the young King had followed a white hart into the enchanted
forest, and had not come back again. Then she was in the
greatest concern about him. He, however, had still continued
to ride on and on after the beautiful wild animal, and had
never been able to overtake it; when he thought he was near
enough to aim, he instantly saw it bound away into the far
distance, and at length it vanished altogether. And now
he perceived that he had penetrated deep into the forest,
and blew his horn but he received no answer, for his attendants
could not hear it. And as night, too, was falling, he saw
that he could not get home that day, so he dismounted from
his horse, lighted himself a fire near a tree, and resolved
to spend the night by it. While he was sitting by the fire,
and his animals also were lying down beside him, it seemed
to him that he heard a human voice. He looked round, but
could perceived nothing. Soon afterwards, he again heard
a groan as if from above, and then he looked up, and saw
an old woman sitting in the tree, who wailed unceasingly,
"Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am!" Said he, "Come
down, and warm thyself if thou art cold." But she said,
"No, thy animals will bite me." He answered, "They
will do thee no harm, old mother, do come down." She,
however, was a witch, and said, "I will throw down
a wand from the tree, and if thou strikest them on the back
with it, they will do me no harm." Then she threw him
a small wand, and he struck them with it, and instantly
they lay still and were turned into stone. And when the
witch was safe from the animals, she leapt down and touched
him also with a wand, and changed him to stone. Thereupon
she laughed, and dragged him and the animals into a vault,
where many more such stones already lay.
As, however, the young King did not come back at all, the
Queen's anguish and care grew constantly greater. And it
so happened that at this very time the other brother who
had turned to the east when they separated, came into the
kingdom. He had sought a situation, and had found none,
and had then travelled about here and there, and had made
his animals dance. Then it came into his mind that he would
just go and look at the knife that they had thrust in the
trunk of a tree at their parting, that he might learn how
his brother was. When he got there his brother's side of
the knife was half rusted, and half bright. Then he was
alarmed and thought, "A great misfortune must have
befallen my brother, but perhaps I can still save him, for
half the knife is still bright." He and his animals
travelled towards the west, and when he entered the gate
of the town, the guard came to meet him, and asked if he
was to announce him to his consort the young Queen, who
had for a couple of days been in the greatest sorrow about
his staying away, and was afraid he had been killed in the
enchanted forest? The sentries, indeed, thought no otherwise
than that he was the young King himself, for he looked so
like him, and had wild animals running behind him. Then
he saw that they were speaking of his brother, and thought,
"It will be better if I pass myself off for him, and
then I can rescue him more easily." So he allowed himself
to be escorted into the castle by the guard, and was received
with the greatest joy. The young Queen indeed thought that
he was her husband, and asked him why he had stayed away
so long. He answered, "I had lost myself in a forest,
and could not find my way out again any sooner." At
night he was taken to the royal bed, but he laid a two-edged
sword between him and the young Queen; she did not know
what that could mean, but did not venture to ask.
He remained in the palace a couple of days, and in the
meantime inquired into everything which related to the enchanted
forest, and at last he said, "I must hunt there once
more." The King and the young Queen wanted to persuade
him not to do it, but he stood out against them, and went
forth with a larger following. When he had got into the
forest, it fared with him as with his brother; he saw a
white hart and said to his people, "Stay here, and
wait until I return, I want to chase the lovely wild beast,"
and then he rode into the forest and his animals ran after
him. But he could not overtake the hart, and got so deep
into the forest that he was forced to pass the night there.
And when he had lighted a fire, he heard some one wailing
above him, "Oh, oh, oh, how cold I am!" Then he
looked up, and the self-same witch was sitting in the tree.
Said he, "If thou art cold, come down, little old mother,
and warm thyself." She answered, "No, thy animals
will bite me." But he said, "They will not hurt
thee." Then she cried, "I will throw down a wand
to thee, and if thou smitest them with it they will do me
no harm." When the huntsman heard that, he had no confidence
in the old woman, and said, "I will not strike my animals.
Come down, or I will fetch thee." Then she cried, "What
dost thou want? Thou shalt not touch me." But he replied,
"If thou dost not come, I will shoot thee." Said
she, "Shoot away, I do not fear thy bullets!"
Then he aimed, and fired at her, but the witch was proof
against all leaden bullets, and laughed, and yelled and
cried, "Thou shalt not hit me." The huntsman knew
what to do, tore three silver buttons off his coat, and
loaded his gun with them, for against them her arts were
useless, and when he fired she fell down at once with a
scream. Then he set his foot on her and said, Old witch,
if thou dost not instantly confess where my brother is,
I will seize thee with both my hands and throw thee into
the fire. She was in a great fright, begged for mercy and
said, He and his animals lie in a vault, turned to stone.
Then he compelled her to go thither with him, threatened
her, and said, Old sea-cat, now shalt thou make my brother
and all the human beings lying here, alive again, or thou
shalt go into the fire! She took a wand and touched the
stones, and then his brother with his animals came to life
again, and many others, merchants, artizans, and shepherds,
arose, thanked him for their deliverance, and went to their
homes. But when the twin brothers saw each other again,
they kissed each other and rejoiced with all their hearts.
Then they seized the witch, bound her and laid her on the
fire, and when she was burnt the forest opened of its own
accord, and was light and clear, and the King's palace could
be seen at about the distance of a three hours walk.
Thereupon the two brothers went home together, and on the
way told each other their histories. And when the youngest
said that he was ruler of the whole country in the King's
stead, the other observed, "That I remarked very well,
for when I came to the town, and was taken for thee, all
royal honours were paid me; the young Queen looked on me
as her husband, and I had to eat at her side, and sleep
in thy bed." When the other heard that, he became so
jealous and angry that he drew his sword, and struck off
his brother's head. But when he saw him lying there dead,
and saw his red blood flowing, he repented most violently:
"My brother delivered me," cried he, "and
I have killed him for it," and he bewailed him aloud.
Then his hare came and offered to go and bring some of the
root of life, and bounded away and brought it while yet
there was time, and the dead man was brought to life again,
and knew nothing about the wound.
After this they journeyed onwards, and the youngest said,
"Thou lookest like me, hast royal apparel on as I have,
and the animals follow thee as they do me; we will go in
by opposite gates, and arrive at the same time from the
two sides in the aged King's presence." So they separated,
and at the same time came the watchmen from the one door
and from the other, and announced that the young King and
the animals had returned from the chase. The King said,
"It is not possible, the gates lie quite a mile apart."
In the meantime, however, the two brothers entered the courtyard
of the palace from opposite sides, and both mounted the
steps. Then the King said to the daughter, "Say which
is thy husband. Each of them looks exactly like the other,
I cannot tell." Then she was in great distress, and
could not tell; but at last she remembered the necklace
which she had given to the animals, and she sought for and
found her little golden clasp on the lion, and she cried
in her delight, "He who is followed by this lion is
my true husband". Then the young King laughed and said,
"Yes, he is the right one," and they sat down
together to table, and ate and drank, and were merry. At
night when the young King went to bed, his wife said, "Why
hast thou for these last nights always laid a two-edged
sword in our bed? I thought thou hadst a wish to kill me."
Then he knew how true his brother had been.
From Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household Tales, trans. Margaret
Hunt (London: George Bell, 1884), 1:244-264. |
