第20章TheTwoTravellers

第20章thetwotravellers

hillandvaledonotmeet,butthechildrenofmendo,goodandbad.inthiswayashoe-makerandatailoroncemetontheirtravels.thetailorwasahandsomelittlefellowwhowasalwaysmerryandfullofenjoyment.hesawtheshoemakercomingtowardshimfromtheotherside,andasheobservedbyhisbagwhatkindofatradeheplied,hesangalittlemockingsongtohim:

sewmetheseam,

drawmethethread,

spreaditoverwithpitch,

knockthenailonthehead.

theshoemaker,however,couldnotbearajoke;hepulledafaceasifhehaddrunkvinegar,andmadeagestureasifhewereabouttoseizethetailorbythethroat.butthelittlefellowbegantolaugh,reachedhimhisbottle,andsaid:“noharmwasmeant,takeadrink,andswallowyourangerdown.”theshoemakertookaveryheartydrink,andthestormonhisfacebegantoclearaway.hegavethebottlebacktothetailor,andsaid:“itookaheartygulp;theysayitcomesfrommuchdrinking,butnotfromgreatthirst.shallwetraveltogether?”“allright,”answeredthetailor,“ifonlyitsuitsyoutogointoabigtownwherethereisnolackofwork.”“thatisjustwhereiwanttogo,”answeredtheshoemaker.“inasmallhamletthereisnothingtoearn,andinthecountry,peopleliketogobarefoot.”theytravelledthereforeonwardstogether,andalwayssetonefootbeforetheotherlikeaweaselinthesnow.

bothofthemhadtimeenough,butlittletobiteandtobreak.whentheyreachedatowntheywentaboutandpaidtheirrespectstothetradesmen,andbecausethetailorlookedsolivelyandmerry,andhadsuchfineredcheeks,everyonegavehimworkwillingly,andwhenluckwasgoodthemaster'sdaughtersgavehimakissbeneaththeporch,aswell.whenheagainfellinwiththeshoemaker,thetailorhadalwaysthemostinhisbundle.theill-temperedshoemakermadeawryface,andthought:“thegreatertherascalthemoretheluck”,butthetailorbegantolaughandtosing,andsharedallhegotwithhiscomrade.ifacoupleofpencejingledinhispockets,heorderedgoodcheer,andthumpedthetableinhisjoytilltheglassesdanced,anditwaslightlycome,lightlygo,withhim.

whentheyhadtravelledforsometime,theycametoagreatforestthroughwhichpassedtheroadtothecapital.twofootpaths,however,ledthroughitoneofwhichwasasevendays'journey,andtheotheronlytwo,butneitherofthetravellersknewwhichwaywastheshortone.theyseatedthemselvesbeneathanoak-tree,andtookcounseltogetherhowtheyshouldforecast,andforhowmanydaystheyshouldprovidethemselveswithbread.theshoemakersaid:“onemustlookbeforeoneleaps,iwilltakewithmebreadforaweek.”“what!”saidthetailor,“dragbreadforsevendaysonone'sbacklikeabeastofburden,andnotbeabletolookabout.ishalltrustingod,andnottroublemyselfaboutanything!themoneyihaveinmypocketisasgoodinsummerasinwinter,butinhotweatherbreadgetsdry,andmouldyintothebargain;evenmycoatdoesnotlastasfarasitmight.besides,whyshouldwenotfindtherightway?breadfortwodays,andthat'senough.”each,therefore,boughthisownbread,andthentheytriedtheirluckintheforest.

itwasasquietthereasinachurch.nowindstirred,nobrookmurmured,nobirdsang,andthroughthethickly-leavedbranchesnosunbeamforceditsway.theshoemakerspokeneveraword,thebreadweighedsoheavilyonhisbackthatthesweatstreameddownhiscrossandgloomyface.thetailor,however,wasquitemerry,hejumpedabout,whistledonaleaf,orsangasong,andthoughttohimself:“godinheavenmustbepleasedtoseemesohappy.”thislastedtwodays,butonthethirdtheforestwouldnotcometoanend,andthetailorhadeatenupallhisbread,soafterallhisheartsankdownayarddeeper.nevertheless,hedidnotlosecourage,butreliedongodandonhisluck.ontheeveningofthethirddayhelaydownhungryunderatree,androseagainnextmorninghungrystill;soalsopassedthefourthday,andwhentheshoemakerseatedhimselfonafallentreeanddevouredhisdinner,thetailorwasonlyaspectator.ifheedforalittlepieceofbread,theotherlaughedmockingly,andsaid:“youhavealwaysbeensomerry,nowyoucanseeforoncewhatitistobesad:thebirdswhichsingtooearlyinthemorningarestruckbythehawkintheevening.”inshort,hewaspitiless.butonthefifthmorningthepoortailorcouldnolongerstandup,andwashardlyabletoutteronewordforweakness;hischeekswerewhite,andhiseyesred.thentheshoemakersaidtohim:“iwillgiveyouabitofbreadto-day,butinreturnforit.iwillputoutyourrighteye.theunhappytailorwhostillwishedtosavehislife,hadtosubmit;heweptoncemorewithbotheyes,andthenheldthemout,andtheshoemaker,whohadaheartofstone,putouthisrighteyewithasharpknife.thetailorcalledtoiemembrancewhathismotherhadformerlysaidtohimwhenhehadbeeneatingsecretlyinthepantry.”“eatwhatonecan,andsufferwhatonemust.”whenhehadconsumedhisdearly-boughtbread,hegotonhislegsagain,forgothismiseryandcomfortedhimselfwiththethoughtthathecouldalwaysseeenoughwithoneeye.butonthesixthday,hungermadeitselffeltagain,andgnawedhimalmosttotheheart.intheeveninghefelldownbyatree,andontheseventhmorninghecouldnotraisehimselfupforfaintness,anddeathwascloseathand.thensaidtheshoemaker:“iwillshowmercyandgiveyoubreadoncemore,butyoushallnothaveitfornothing,ishallputoutyourothereyeforit.”andnowthetailorfelthowthoughtlesshislifehadbeen,prayedtogodforforgiveness,andsaid:“dowhatyouwill,iwillbearwhatimust,butrememberthatourlordgoddoesnotalwayslookonpassively,andthatanhourwillcomewhentheevildeedwhichyouhavedonetome,andwhichihavenotdeservedofyou,willberequited.whentimesweregoodwithme,isharedwhatihadwithyou.mytradeisofthatkindthateachstitchmustalwaysbeexactlyliketheother.ifinolongerhavemyeyesandcansewnomoreimustgoaing.atanyratedonotleavemeherealonewheniamblind,orishalldieofhunger.”theshoemaker,however,whohaddrivengodoutofhisheart,tooktheknifeandputouthislefteye.thenhegavehimabitofbreadtoeat,heldoutasticktohim,anddrewhimonbehindhim.

whenthesunwentdown,theygotoutoftheforest,andbeforethemintheopencountrystoodthegallows.thithertheshoemakerguidedtheblindtailor,andthenlefthimaloneandwenthisway.weariness,pain,andhungermadethewretchedmanfallasleep,andhesleptthewholenight.whendaydawnedheawoke,butknewnotwherehelay.twopoorsinnerswerehangingonthegallows,andacrowsatontheheadofeachofthem.thenoneofthemenwhohadbeenhangedbegantospeak,andsaid:“brother,areyouawake?”“yes,iamawake,”answeredthesecond.“theniwilltellyousomething,”saidthefirst,“thedewwhichthisnighthasfallendownoverusfromthegallows,giveseveryonewhowasheshimselfwithithiseyesagain.ifblindpeopledidbutknowthis,howmanywouldregaintheirsightwhodonotbelievethattobepossible.”

whenthetailorheardthat,hetookhispocket-handkerchief,presseditonthegrass,andwhenitwasmoistwithdew,washedthesocketsofhiseyeswithit.immediatelywasfulfilledwhatthemanonthegallowshadsaid,andacoupleofhealthyneweyesfilledthesockets.itwasnotlongbeforethetailorsawthesunrisebehindthemountains,intheplainbeforehimlaythegreatroyalcitywithitsmagnificentgatesandhundredtowers,andthegoldenballsandcrosseswhichwereonthespiresbegantoshine.hecoulddistinguisheveryleafonthetrees,sawthebirdswhichflewpast,andthemidgeswhichdancedintheair.hetookaneedleoutofhispocket,andashecouldthreaditaswellaseverhehaddone,hisheartdancedwithdelight.hethrewhimselfonhisknees,thankedgodforthemercyhehadshownhim,andsaidhismorningprayer.nordidheforgettoprayforthepoorsinnerswhowerehangingthereswingingagainsteachotherinthewindlikethependulumsofclocks.thenhetookhisbundleonhisbackandsoonforgotthepainofhearthehadendured,andwentonhiswaysingingandwhistling.thefirstthinghemetwasabrownfoalrunningaboutthefieldsatlarge.hecaughtitbythemane,andwantedtospringonitandrideintothetown.thefoal,however,edtobesetfree.“iamstilltooyoung,”itsaid,“evenalighttailorsuchasyouarewouldbreakmybackintwo—letmegotillihavegrownstrong.atimemayperhapscomewhenimayrewardyouforit.”

“runoff,”saidthetailor,“iseeyouarestillagiddything.”hegaveitatouchwithaswitchoveritsback,whereuponitkickedupitshindlegsforjoy,leaptoverhedgesandditches,andgallopedawayintotheopencountry.

butthelittletailorhadeatennothingsincethedaybefore.“thesuntobesurefillsmyeyes,”saidhe,“butthebreaddoesnotfillmymouth.thefirstthingthatcomesmywayandisevenhalfediblewillhavetosufferforit.”inthemeantimeastorksteppedsolemnlyoverthemeadowtowardshim.“halt,halt!”criedthetailor,andseizedhimbytheleg:“idon'tknowifyouaregoodtoeatornot,butmyhungerleavesmenogreatchoice.imustcutyourheadoff,androastyou.”“don'tdothat,”repliedthestork;“iamasacredbirdwhichbringsmankindgreatprofit,andnoonedoesmeaninjury.leavememylife,andimaydoyougoodinsomeotherway.”“well,beoff,cousinlonglegs,”saidthetailor.thestorkroseup,letitslonglegshangdown,andflewgentlyaway.

“what'stobetheendofthis?”saidthetailortohimselfatlast.“myhungergrowsgreaterandgreater,andmystomachmoreandmoreempty.whatsoevercomesinmywaynowislost.”atthismomenthesawacoupleofyoungduckswhichwereonapondcomeswimmingtowardshim.“youcomejustattherightmoment,”saidhe,andlaidholdofoneofthemandwasabouttowringitsneck.onthisanoldduckwhichwashiddenamongthereeds,begantoscreamloudly,andswamtohimwithopenbeak,andedhimurgentlytospareherdearchildren.“canyounotimagine,”saidshe,“howyourmotherwouldmournifanyonewantedtocarryyouoff,andgiveyouyourfinishingstroke?”“justbequiet,”saidthegood-temperedtailor,“youshallkeepyourchildren,”andputtheprisonerbackintothewater.

whenheturnedround,hewasstandinginfrontofanoldtreewhichwaspartlyhollow,andsawsomewildbeesflyinginandoutofit.“thereishallatoncefindtherewardofmygooddeed,”saidthetailor,“thehoneywillrefreshme.”butthequeen-beecameout,threatenedhimandsaid:“ifyoutouchmypeople,anddestroymynest,ourstingsshallpierceyourskinliketenthousandred-hotneedles.butifyouwillleaveusinpeaceandgoyourway,wewilldoyouaserviceforitanothertime.”

thelittletailorsawthatherealsonothingwastobedone.“threedishesemptyandnothingonthefourthisabaddinner!”heedhimselfthereforewithhisstarvedoutstomachintothetown,andasitwasjuststrikingtwelve,allwasready-cookedforhimintheinn,andhewasabletositdownatoncetodinner.whenhewassatisfiedhesaid:“nowiwillgettowork.”hewentroundthetown,soughtamaster,andsoonfoundagoodsituation.andashehadthoroughlylearnthistrade,itwasnotlongbeforehebecamefamous,andeveryonewantedtohavehisnewcoatmadebythelittletailor,whoseimportanceincreaseddaily.“icangonofurtherinskill,”saidhe,“andyetthingsimproveeveryday.”atlastthekingappointedhimcourttailor.

butwhatoddthingsdohappenintheworld!ontheverysamedayhisformercomradetheshoemakeralsobecamecourt-shoemaker.whenthelattercaughtsightofthetailor,andsawthathehadoncemoretwohealthyeyes,hisconsciencetroubledhim.“beforehetakesrevengeonme,”thoughthetohimself,“imustdigapitforhim.”he,however,whodigsapitforanother,fallsintoithimself.intheeveningwhenworkwasoverandithadgrowndusk,hestoletothekingandsaid:“lordking,thetailorisanarrogantfellowandhasboastedthathewillgetthegoldcrownbackagainwhichwaslostinancienttimes.”“thatwouldpleasemeverymuch,”saidtheking,andhecausedthetailortobebroughtbeforehimnextmorning,andorderedhimtogetthecrownbackagain,ortoleavethetownforever.“oho!”thoughtthetailor,“aroguegivesmorethanhehasgot.ifthesurlykingwantsmetodowhatcanbedonebynoone,iwillnotwaittillmorning,butwillgooutofthetownatonce,today.”hepackeduphisbundle,therefore,butwhenhewaswithoutthegatehecouldnothelpbeingsorrytogiveuphisgoodfortune,andturnhisbackonthetowninwhichallhadgonesowellwithhim.hecametothepondwherehehadmadetheacquaintanceoftheducks;atthatverymomenttheoldonewhoseyoungoneshehadspared,wassittingtherebytheshore,plumingherselfwithherbeak.sheknewhimagaininstantly,andaskedwhyhewashanginghisheadso.“youwillnotbesurprisedwhenyouhearwhathasbefallenme,”repliedthetailor,andtoldherhisfate.“ifthatbeall,”saidtheduck,“wecanhelpyou.thecrownfellintothewater,andliesdownbelowatthebottom;wewillsoonbringitupagainforyou.inthemeantimejustspreadoutyourhandkerchiefonthebank.”shediveddownwithhertwelveyoungones,andinfiveminutesshewasupagainandsatwiththecrownrestingonherwings,andthetwelveyoungoneswereswimmingroundaboutandhadputtheirbeaksunder,it,andwerehelpingtocarryit.theyswamtotheshoreandputthecrownonthehandkerchief.noonecanimaginehowmagnificentthecrownwas;whenthesunshoneonit,itgleamedlikeahundredthousandcarbuncles.thetailortiedhishandkerchieftogetherbythefourcorners,andcarriedittotheking,whowasfullofjoy,andputagoldchainroundthetailor'sneck.

whentheshoemakersawthatoneblowhadfailed,hecontrivedasecond,andwenttothekingandsaid:“lordking,thetailorhasbecomeinsolentagain;heboaststhathewillcopyinwaxthewholeoftheroyalpalace,witheverythingthatpertainstoit,looseoffast,insideandout.”thekingsentforthetailorandorderedhimtocopyinwaxthewholeoftheroyalpalace,witheverythingthatpertainedtoit,movableorimmovable,withinandwithout,andifhedidnoteedindoingthis,orifsomuchasonenailonthewallwerewanting,heshouldbeimprisonedforhiswholelifeunderground.

thetailorthought:“itgetsworseandworse!noonecanendurethat!”andthrewhisbundleonhisback,andwentforth.whenhecametothehollowtree,hesatdownandhunghishead.thebeescameflyingout,andthequeen-beeaskedhimifhehadastiffneck,sincehehunghisheadso.“alas,no,”answeredthetailor,“somethingquitedifferentweighsmedown,”andhetoldherwhatthekinghaddemandedofhim.thebeesbegantobuzzandhumamongstthemselves,andthequeen-beesaid:“justgohomeagain,butcomebacktomorrowatthistime,andbringalargesheetwithyou,andthenallwillbewell.”soheturnedbackagain,butthebeesflewtotheroyalpalaceandstraightintoitthroughtheopenwindows,creptroundaboutintoeverycorner,andinspectedeverythingmostcarefully.thentheyhurriedbackandmodelledthepalaceinwaxwithsuchrapiditythatanyonelookingonwouldhavethoughtitwasgrowingbeforehiseyes.bytheeveningallwasready,andwhenthetailorcamenextmorning,thewholeofthesplendidbuildingwasthere,andnotonenailinthewallortileoftheroofwaswanting,anditwasdelicatewithal,andwhiteassnow,andsmeltsweetashoney.thetailorwrappeditcarefullyinhisclothandtookittotheking,whocouldnotadmireitenough,placeditinhislargesthall,andinreturnforitpresentedthetailorwithalargestonehouse.

theshoemaker,however,didnotgiveup,butwentforthethirdtimetothekingandsaid:“lordking,ithascometothetailor'searsthatnowaterwillspringupinthecourt-yardofthecastle,andhehasboastedthatitshallriseupinthemidstofthecourtyardtoaman'sheightandbeclearascrystal.”thenthekingorderedthetailortobebroughtbeforehimandsaid:“ifastreamofwaterdoesnotriseinmycourtyardbytomorrowasyouhavepromised,theexecutionershallinthatveryplacemakeyoushorterbyahead.”thepoortailordidnottakelongtothinkaboutit,buthurriedouttothegate,andbecausethistimeitwasamatteroflifeanddeathtohim,tearsrolleddownhisface.whilsthewasthusgoingforthfullofsorrow,thefoaltowhichhehadformerlygivenitsliberty,andwhichhadnowbecomeabeautifulchestnuthorse,cameleapingtowardshim.“thetimehascome,”itsaidtothetailor,“whenicanrepayyouforyourgooddeed.iknowalreadywhatisneedfultoyou,butyoushallsoonhavehelp;getonme,mybackcancarrytwosuchasyou.”thetailor'scouragecamebacktohim;hejumpedupinonebound,andthehorsewentfullspeedintothetown,andrightuptothecourtyardofthecastle.itgallopedasquickaslightningthriceroundit,andatthethirdtimeitfellviolentlydown.atthesameinstant,however,therewasaterrificclapofthunder,afragmentofearthinthemiddleofthecourtyardspranglikeacannon-ballintotheair,andoverthecastle,anddirectlyafteritajetofwaterroseashighasamanonhorseback,andthewaterwasaspureascrystal,andthesunbeamsbegantodanceonit.whenthekingsawthis,hearoseinamazement,andwentandembracedthetailorinthesightofallmen.

butgoodfortunedidnotlastlong.thekinghaddaughtersinplenty,onestillprettierthantheother,buthehadnoson.sothemaliciousshoemakerbetookhimselfforthefourthtimetotheking,andsaid:“lordking,thetailorhasnotgivenuphisarrogance.hehasnowboastedthatifheliked,hecouldcauseasontobebroughttothelordkingthroughtheair.”thekingcommandedthetailortobesummoned,andsaid:“ifyoucauseasontobebroughttomewithinninedays,youshallhavemyeldestdaughtertowife.”“therewardisindeedgreat,”thoughtthelittletailor;“onewouldwillinglydosomethingforit,butthecherriesgrowtoohighforme,ificlimbforthem,theboughwillbreakbeneathme,andishallfall.”

hewenthome,seatedhimselfcross-edonhisworktable,andthoughtoverwhatwastobedone.“itcan'tbemanaged,”criedheatlast,“iwillgoaway;afterall,ican'tliveinpeacehere.”hetieduphisbundleandhurriedawaytothegate.whenhegottothemeadow,heperceivedhisoldfriendthestork,whowaswalkingbackwardsandforwardslikeaphilosopher.sometimeshestoodstill,tookafrogintocloseconsideration,andatlengthswalloweditdown.thestorkcametohimandgreetedhim.“isee,”hebegan,“thatyouhaveyourpackonyourback.whyareyouleavingthetown?”thetailortoldhimwhatthekinghadrequiredofhim,andhowhecouldnotperformit,andlamentedhismisfortune.“don'tletthatturnyourhairgrey,”saidthestork,“iwillhelpyououtofyourdifficulty.foralongtimenow,ihavecarriedthechildreninswaddling-clothesintothetown,soforonceinawayicanfetchalittleprinceoutofthewell.gohomeandbeeasy.inninedaysfromthistimerepairtotheroyalpalace,andtherewillicome.”thelittletailorwenthome,andattheappointedtimewasatthecastle.itwasnotlongbeforethestorkcameflyingthitherandtappedatthewindow.thetailoropenedit,andcousinlonglegscamecarefullyin,andwalkedwithsolemnstepsoverthesmoothmarblepavement.hehad,moreover,ababyinhisbeakthatwasaslovelyasanangel,andstretchedoutitslittlehandstothequeen.thestorklaiditinherlap,andshecaresseditandkissedit,andwasbesideherselfwithdelight.beforethestorkflewaway,hetookhistravellingbagoffhisbackandhandeditovertothequeen.inittherewerelittlepaperparcelswithcolouredsweetmeats,andtheyweredividedamongstthelittleprincesses.theeldest,however,receivednoneofthem,butinsteadgotthemerrytailorforahusband.“itseemstome,”saidhe,“justasifihadwonthehighestprize.mymotherwasrightafterall,shealwayssaidthatwhoevertrustsingodandonlyhasgoodluck,canneverfail.”

theshoemakerhadtomaketheshoesinwhichthelittletailordancedattheweddingfestival,afterwhichhewascommandedtoquitthetownforever.theroadtotheforestledhimtothegallows.wornoutwithanger,rage,andtheheatoftheday,hethrewhimselfdown.whenhehadclosedhiseyesandwasabouttosleep,thetwocrowsflewdownfromtheheadsofthemenwhowerehangingthere,andpeckedhiseyesout.inhismadnessheranintotheforestandmusthavediedthereofhunger,fornoonehasevereitherseenhimorheardofhimagain.