第4章TheGoldenBird

第4章thegoldenbird

jnoldentimestherewasaking,whohadbehindhispalaceabeautifulpleasuregardeninwhichtherewasatreethatboregoldenapples.whentheapplesweregettingripetheywerecounted,butontheverynextmorningonewasmissing.thiswastoldtotheking,andheorderedthatawatchshouldbekepteverynightbeneaththetree.

thekinghadthreesons,theeldestofwhomhesent,assoonasnightcameon,intothegarden;butwhenmidnightcamehecouldnotkeephimselffromsleeping,andnextmorningagainanapplewasgone.

thefollowingnightthesecondsonhadtokeepwatch,butitfarednobetterwithhim;assoonastwelveo'clockhadstruckhefellasleep,andinthemorninganapplewasgone.

nowitcametotheturnofthethirdsontowatch,andhewasquiteready,butthekinghadnotmuchtrustinhim,andthoughtthathewouldbeoflessuseeventhanhisbrothers,butatlasthelethimgo.theyouthlaydownbeneaththetree,butkeptawake,anddidnotletsleepmasterhim.whenitstrucktwelve,somethingrustledthroughtheair,andinthemoonlighthesawabirdcomingwhosefeatherswereallshiningwithgold.thebirdalightedonthetree,andhadjustpluckedoffanapple,whentheyouthshotanarrowathim.thebirdflewoff,butthearrowhadstruckhisplumage,andoneofhisgoldenfeathersfelldown.theyouthpickeditup,andthenextmorningtookittothekingandtoldhimwhathehadseeninthenight.thekingcalledhiscounciltogether,andeveryonedeclaredthatafeatherlikethiswasworthmorethanthewholekingdom.“ifthefeatherissoprecious,”declaredtheking,“onealonewillnotdoforme;imustandwillhavethewholebird!”theeldestsonsetout,andtrustingtohiscleverness,thoughtthathewouldeasilyfindthegoldenbird.whenhehadgonesomedistancehesawafoxsittingattheedgeofawood,sohecockedhisgunandtookaimathim.thefoxcried:“donotshootme!andinreturniwillgiveyousomegoodcounsel.youareonthewaytothegoldenbird;andthiseveningyouwillcometoavillageinwhichstandtwoinnsoppositetooneanother.oneofthemislightedupbrightly,andallgoesonmerrilywithin,butdonotgointoit;goratherintotheother,eventhoughitlookslikeabadone.”“howcansuchasillybeastgivewiseadvice?”thoughttheking'sson,andhepulledtheer.buthemissedthefox,whostretchedouthistailandranquicklyintothewood.

sohepursuedhisway,andbyeveningcametothevillagewherethetwoinnswere;inonetheyweresinginganddancing;theotherhadapoor,miserablelook.“ishouldbeafool,indeed,”hethought,“ifiweretogointotheshabbytavern,andpassbythegoodone.”sohewentintothecheerfulone,livedthereinriotandrevel,andforgotthebird,hisfatherandallgoodcounsels.

whenmanymonthshadpassed,andtheeldestsondidnotcomebackhome,thesecondsetout,wishingtofindthegoldenbird.thefoxmethimashehadmettheeldest,andgavehimthegoodadviceofwhichhetooknoheed.hecametothetwoinns,andhisbrotherwasstandingatthewindowoftheonefromwhichcamethemusic,andcalledouttohim.hecouldnotresist,butwentinsideandlivedonlyforpleasure.

againsometimepassed,andthentheking'syoungestsonwantedtosetoffandtryhisluck,buthisfatherwouldnotallowit.“itisofnouse,”saidhe,“hewillfindthegoldenbirdstilllessthanhisbrothers,andifamishapweretobefallhimheknowsnothowtohelphimself;he'snottoobrightatthebest.”butatlast,ashehadnopeace,helethimgo.

againthefoxwassittingoutsidethewood,andedforhislife,andofferedhisgoodadvice.theyouthwasgood-natured,andsaid:“beeasy,littlefox,iwilldoyounoharm.”“youshallnotrepentit,”answeredthefox;“andthatyoumaygetonmorequickly,getupbehindonmytail.”andscarcelyhadheseatedhimselfwhenthefoxbegantorun,andawayhewentoverstockandstonetillhishairwhistledinthewind.whentheycametothevillagetheyouthgotoff;hefollowedthegoodadvice,andwithoutlookingroundturnedintothelittleinn,wherehespentthenightquietly.

thenextmorning,assoonashegotintotheopencountry,theresatthefoxalready,andsaid:“iwilltellyoufurtherwhatyouhavetodo.goonquitestraight,andatlastyouwillcometoacastle,infrontofwhichawholeregimentofsoldiersislying,butdonottroubleyourselfaboutthem,fortheywillallbeasleepandsnoring.gothroughthemidstofthemstraightintothecastle,andgothroughalltherooms,tillatlastyouwillcometoachamberwhereagoldenbirdishanginginawoodencage.closeby,therestandsanemptygoldcageforshow,butbewareoftakingthebirdoutofthecommoncageandputtingitintothefineone,oritmaygobadlywithyou.”withthesewordsthefoxagainstretchedouthistail,andtheking'ssonseatedhimselfuponit,andawayhewentoverstockandstonetillhishairwhistledinthewind.

whenhecametothecastlehefoundeverythingasthefoxhadsaid.theking'ssonwentintothechamberwherethegoldenbirdwasshutupinawoodencage,whilstagoldenonestoodhardby;andthethreegoldenappleslayabouttheroom.“but,”thoughthe,“itwouldbeabsurdifiweretoleavethebeautifulbirdinthecommonanduglycage,”soheopenedthedoor,laidholdofit,andputitintothegoldencage.butatthesamemomentthebirdutteredashrillcry.thesoldiersawoke,rushedin,andtookhimofftoprison.thenextmorninghewastakenbeforeacourtofjustice,andasheconfessedeverything,wassentencedtodeath.

theking,however,saidthathewouldgranthimhislifeononecondition—namely,ifhebroughthimthegoldenhorsewhichranfasterthanthewind;andinthatcaseheshouldreceive,overandabove,asareward,thegoldenbird.

theking'ssonsetoff,buthesighedandwassorrowful,forhowwashetofindthegoldenhorse?butallatoncehesawhisoldfriendthefoxsittingontheroad.“lookyou,”saidthefox,“thishashappenedbecauseyoudidnotgiveheedtome.however,beofgoodcourage.iwillgiveyoumyhelp,andtellyouhowtogettothegoldenhorse.youmustgostraighton,andyouwillcometoacastle,whereinthestablestandsthehorse.thegroomswillbelyinginfrontofthestable;buttheywillbeasleepandsnoring,andyoucanquietlyleadoutthegoldenhorse.butofonethingyoumusttakeheed;putonhimthecommonsaddleofwoodandleather,andnotthegoldenone,whichhangscloseby,elseitwillgoillwithyou.”thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,theking'ssonseatedhimselfuponit,andawayhewentoverstockandstoneuntilhishairwhistledinthewind.

everythinghappenedjustasthefoxhadsaid;theprincecametothestableinwhichthegoldenhorsewasstanding,butjustashewasgoingtoputthecommonsaddleuponhim,hethought:“suchabeautifulbeastwillbeshamedifidonotgivehimthegoodsaddlewhichbelongstohimbyright.”butscarcelyhadthegoldensaddletouchedthehorsethanhebegantoneighloudly.thegroomsawoke,seizedtheyouth,andthrewhimintoprison.thenextmorninghewassentencedbythecourttodeath;butthekingpromisedtogranthimhislife,andthegoldenhorseaswell,ifhecouldbringbackthebeautifulprincessfromthegoldencastle.

withaheavyhearttheyouthsetout;yetluckilyforhimhesoonfoundthetrustyfox.“ioughtonlytoleaveyoutoyourill-luck,”saidthefox,“butipityyou,andwillhelpyouoncemoreoutofyourtrouble.thisroadtakesyoustraighttothegoldencastle,youwillreachitbyeventide;andatnightwheneverythingisquietthebeautifulprincessgoestothebathing-housetobathe.whensheentersit,runuptoherandgiveherakiss,thenshewillfollowyou,andyoucantakeherawaywithyou;onlydonotallowhertotakeleaveofherparentsfirst,oritwillgoillwithyou.”

thenthefoxstretchedouthistail,theking'ssonseatedhimselfuponit,andawaywentthefox,overstockandstone,tillhishairwhistledinthewind.

whenhereachedthegoldencastleitwasjustasthefoxhadsaid.hewaiteduntilmidnight,wheneverythinglayindeepsleep,andthebeautifulprincesswasgoingtothebathinghouse.thenhesprangoutandgaveherakiss.shesaidthatshewouldliketogowithhim,butsheaskedhimpitifully,andwithtears,toallowherfirsttotakeleaveofherparents.atfirsthewithstoodherprayer,butwhensheweptmoreandmore,andfellathisfeet,heatlastgavein.butnosoonerhadthemaidenreachedthebedsideofherfatherthanheandalltherestinthecastleawoke,andtheyouthwaslaidholdofandputintoprison.

thenextmorningthekingsaidtohim:“yourlifeisforfeited,andyoucanonlyfindmercyifyoutakeawaythehillwhichstandsinfrontofmywindows,andpreventsmyseeingbeyondit;andyoumustfinishitallwithineightdays.ifyoudothatyoushallhavemydaughterasyourreward.”

theking'ssonbegan,anddugandshoveledwithoutstopping,butwhenaftersevendayshesawhowlittlehehaddone,andhowallhisworkwasasgoodasnothing,hefellintogreatsorrowandgaveupallhope.butontheeveningoftheseventhdaythefoxappearedandsaid:“youdonotdeservethatishouldtakeanytroubleaboutyou;butjustgoawayandliedowntosleep,andiwilldotheworkforyou.”

thenextmorningwhenheawokeandlookedoutofthewindowthehillhadgone.theyouthran,fullofjoy,totheking,andtoldhimthatthetaskwasfulfilled,andwhetherhelikeditornot,thekinghadtoholdtohiswordandgivehimhisdaughter.

sothetwosetforthtogether,anditwasnotlongbeforethetrustyfoxcameupwiththem.“youhavecertainlygotwhatisbest,”saidhe,“butthegoldenhorsealsobelongstothemaidenofthegoldencastle.”“howshalligetit?”askedtheyouth.“thatiwilltellyou,”answeredthefox;“firsttakethebeautifulmaidentothekingwhosentyoutothegoldencastle.therewillbeunheardofrejoicing;theywillgladlygiveyouthegoldenhorse,andwillbringitouttoyou.mountitassoonaspossible,andofferyourhandtoallinfarewell;lastofalltothebeautifulmaiden.andassoonasyouhavetakenherhandswingherupontothehorse,andgallopaway,andnoonewillbeabletobringyouback,forthehorserunsfasterthanthewind.”

allwascarriedoutessfully,andtheking'ssoncarriedoffthebeautifulprincessonthegoldenhorse.

thefoxdidnotremainbehind,andhesaidtotheyouth:“nowiwillhelpyoutogetthegoldenbird.whenyoucomeneartothecastlewherethegoldenbirdistobefound,letthemaidengetdown,andiwilltakeherintomycare.thenridewiththegoldenhorseintothecastleyard;therewillbegreatrejoicingatthesight,andtheywillbringoutthegoldenbirdforyou.assoonasyouhavethecageinyourhandgallopbacktous,andtakethemaidenawayagain.”

whentheplanhadeeded,andtheking'ssonwasabouttoridehomewithhistreasures,thefoxsaid:“nowyoushallrewardmeformyhelp.”“whatdoyourequireforit?”askedtheyouth.“whenyougetintothewoodyonder,shootmedead,andchopoffmyheadandfeet.”

“thatwouldbefinegratitude,”saidtheking'sson.“icannotpossiblydothatforyou.”

thefoxsaid:“ifyouwillnotdoitimustleaveyou,butbeforeigoawayiwillgiveyouapieceofgoodadvice.becarefulabouttwothings.buynogallowsflesh,anddonotsitattheedgeofanywell.”andthenheranintothewood.

theyouththought:“thatisawonderfulbeast,hehasstrangewhims;whoonearthwouldwanttobuygallowsflesh.asforthedesiretositattheedgeofawellithasneveryetoccurredtome.”

herodeonwiththebeautifulmaiden,andhisroadtookhimagainthroughthevillageinwhichhistwobrothershadremained.therewasagreatstirandnoise,and,whenheaskedwhatwasgoingon,hewastoldthattwomenweregoingtobehanged.ashecamenearertotheplacehesawthattheywerehisbrothers,whohadbeenplayingallkindsofwickedpranks,andhadsquanderedalltheirwealth.heinquiredwhethertheycouldnotbesetfree.“ifyouwillpayforthem,”answeredthepeople;“butwhyshouldyouwasteyourmoneyonwickedmen,andbuythemfree.”hedidnotthinktwiceaboutit,butpaidforthem,andwhentheyweresetfreetheyallwentontheirwaytogether.

theycametothewoodwherethefoxhadfirstmetthem,andasitwasahotday,butcoolandpleasantwithinthewood,thetwobrotherssaid:“letusrestalittlebythewell,andeatanddrink.”heagreed,andwhilsttheyweretalkingheforgothimself,andsatdownupontheedgeofthewellwithoutthinkingofanyevil.butthetwobrothersthrewhimbackwardsintothewell,tookthemaiden,thehorse,andthebird,andwenthometotheirfather.“herewebringyounotonlythegoldenbird,”saidthey;“wehavewonthegoldenhorsealso,andthemaidenfromthegoldencastle.”thenwastheregreatjoy;butthehorsewouldnoteat,thebirdwouldnotsingandthemaidensatandwept.

buttheyoungestbrotherwasnotdead.bygoodfortunethewellwasdry,andhefelluponsoftmosswithoutbeinghurt,buthecouldnotgetoutagain.eveninthisstraitthefaithfulfoxdidnotleavehim:itcameandleaptdowntohim,andupbraidedhimforhavingforgottenitsadvice.“butyeticannotgiveup,”hesaid;“iwillhelpyouupagainintodaylight.”hebadehimgrasphistailandkeeptightholdofit;andthenhepulledhimup.

“youarenotoutofalldangeryet,”saidthefox.“yourbrotherswerenotsureofyourdeath,andhavesurroundedthewoodwithwatchers,whoaretokillyouifyouletyourselfbeseen.”butapoormanwassittingupontheroad,withwhomtheyouthchangedclothes,andinthiswayhegottotheking'spalace.

nooneknewhim,butthebirdbegantosing,thehorsebegantoeat,andthebeautifulmaidenleftoffweeping.theking,astonished,asked:“whatdoesthismean?”thenthemaidensaid:“idonotknow,butihavebeensosorrowfulandnowiamsohappy!ifeelasifmytruebridegroomhadcome.”shetoldhimallthathadhappened,althoughtheotherbrothershadthreatenedherwithdeathifsheweretobetrayanything.

thekingcommandedthatallpeoplewhowereinhiscastleshouldbebroughtbeforehim;andamongstthemcametheyouthinhisedclothes;butthemaidenknewhimatonceandfelluponhisneck.thewickedbrotherswereseizedandputtodeath,buthewasmarriedtothebeautifulmaidenanddeclaredheirtotheking.

butwhathappenedtothepoorfox?longafterwardstheking'ssonwasonceagainwalkinginthewood,whenthefoxmethimandsaid:“youhaveeverythingnowthatyoucanwishfor,butthereisneveranendtomymisery,andyetitisinyourpowertofreeme,”andagainheaskedhimwithtearstoshoothimdeadandtochopoffhisheadandfeet.sohedidit,andscarcelywasitdonewhenthefoxwaschangedintoaman,andwasnootherthanthebrotherofthebeautifulprincess,whoatlastwasfreedfromthemagiccharmwhichhadbeenlaiduponhim.andnowtheyhadallthehappinesstheywantedaslongastheylived.