The Golden Bird

In the olden time there was a king, who had behind his palace a beautiful pleasure-garden in which there was a tree that bore golden apples. When the apples were getting ripe they were counted, but on the very next morning one was missing. This was told to the King, and he ordered that a watch should be kept every night beneath the tree. The King had three sons, the eldest of whom he sent, as soon as night came on, into the garden; but when midnight came he could not keep himself from sleeping, and next morning again an apple was gone. The following night the second son had to keep watch, it fared no better with him; as soon as twelve o'clock had struck he fell asleep, and in the morning an apple was gone. Now it came to the turn of the third son to watch; and he was quite ready, but the King had not much trust in him, and thought that he would be of less use even than his brothers; but at last he let him go. The youth lay down beneath the tree, but kept awake, and did not let sleep master him. When it struck twelve, something rustled through the air, and in the moonlight he saw a bird coming whose feathers were all shining with gold. The bird alighted on the tree, and had just plucked off an apple, when the youth shot an arrow at him. The bird flew off, but the arrow had struck his plumage, and one of his golden feathers fell down. The youth picked it up, and the next morning took it to the King and told him what he had seen in the night. The King called his council together, and everyone declared that a feather like this was worth more than the whole kingdom.“If the feather is so precious,”declared the King,“one alone will not do for me; I must and will have the whole bird!”

The eldest son set out; he trusted to his cleverness, and thought that he would easily find the Golden Bird. When he had gone some distance he saw a Fox sitting at the edge of a wood, so he cocked his gun and took aim at him. The Fox cried,“Do not shoot me! and in return I will give you some good counsel. You are on the way to the Golden Bird; and this evening you will come to a village in which stand two inns opposite to one another. One of them is lighted up brightly, and all goes on merrily within, but do not go into it; go rather into the other, even though it seems a bad one.”

“How can such a silly beast give wise advice?”thought the King's son, and he pulled the trigger. But he missed the Fox, who stretched out his tail and ran quickly into the wood. So he pursued his way, and by evening came to the village where the two inns were; in one they were singing and dancing; the other had a poor, miserable look.“I should be a fool, indeed,”he thought,“if I were to go into the shabby tavern, and pass by the good one.”So he went into the cheerful one, lived there in riot and revel, and forgot the bird and his father, and all good counsels.

When some time had passed, and the eldest son for month after month did not come back home, the second set out, wishing to find the Golden Bird. The Fox met him as he had met the eldest, and gave him the good advice of which he took no heed. He came to the two inns, and his brother was standing at the window of the one from which came the music, and called out to him. He could not resist, but went inside and lived only for pleasure.

Again some time passed, and then the King's youngest son wanted to set off and try his luck, but his father would not allow it.“It is of no use,”said he,“he will find the Golden Bird still less than his brothers, and if a mishap were to befall him he knows not how to help himself; he is a little wanting at the best.”But at last, as he had no peace, he let him go.

Again the Fox was sitting outside the wood, and begged for his life, and offered his good advice. The youth was good-natured, and said,“Be easy, little Fox, I will do you no harm.”

“You shall not repent it,”answered the Fox;“and that you may get on more quickly, get up behind on my tail.”And scarcely had he seated himself when the Fox began to run, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled in the wind. When they came to the village the youth got off; he followed the good advice, and without looking round turned into the little inn, where he spent the night quietly. The next morning, as soon as he got into the open country, there sat the Fox already, and said,“I will tell you further what you have to do. Go on quite straight, and at last you will come to a castle, in front of which a whole regiment of soldiers is lying, but do not trouble yourself about them, for they will all be asleep and snoring. Go through the midst of them straight into the castle, and go through all the rooms, till at last you will come to a chamber where a Golden Bird is hanging in a wooden cage. Close by, there stands an empty gold cage for show, but beware of taking the bird out of the common cage and putting it into the fine one, or it may go badly with you.”With these words the Fox again stretched out his tail, and the King's son seated himself upon it, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled in the wind. When he came to the castle he found everything as the Fox had said. The King's son went into the chamber where the Golden Bird was shut up in a wooden cage, whilst a golden one stood hard by; and the three golden apples lay about the room.“But,”thought he,“it would be absurd if I were to leave the beautiful bird in the common and ugly cage,”so he opened the door, laid hold of it, and put it into the golden cage. But at the same moment the bird uttered a shrill cry. The soldiers awoke, rushed in, and took him off to prison. The next morning he was taken before a court of justice, and as he confessed everything, was sentenced to death. The King, however, said that he would grant him his life on one condition namely, if he brought him the Golden Horse which ran faster than the wind; and in that case he should receive, over and above, as a reward, the Golden Bird.

The King's son set off, but he sighed and was sorrowful, for how was he to find the Golden Horse? But all at once he saw his old friend the Fox sitting on the road.“Look you,”said the Fox,“this has happened because you did not give heed to me. However, be of good courage. I will give you my help, and tell you how to get to the Golden Horse. You must go straight on, and you will come to a castle, where in the stable stands the horse. The grooms will be lying in front of the stable; but they will be asleep and snoring, and you can quietly lead out the Golden Horse. But of one thing you must take heed; put on him the common saddle of wood and leather, and not the golden one, which hangs close by, else it will go ill with you.”Then the Fox stretched out his tail, the King's son seated himself upon it, and away he went over stock and stone until his hair whistled in the wind. Everything happened just as the Fox had said;the prince came to the stable in which the Golden Horse was standing, but just as he was going to put the common saddle upon him, he thought,“It will be a shame to such a beautiful beast, if I do not give him the good saddle which belongs to him by right.”But scarcely had the golden saddle touched the horse than he began to neigh loudly. The grooms awoke, seized the youth, and threw him into prison. The next morning he was sentenced by the court to death; but the King promised to grant him his life, and the Golden Horse as well, if he could bring back the beautiful princess from the Golden Castle.

With a heavy heart the youth set out; yet luckily for him he soon found the trusty Fox.“I ought only to leave you to your ill-luck,”said the Fox,“but I pity you, and will help you once more out of your trouble. This road takes you straight to the Golden Castle, you will reach it by eventide; and at night when everything is quiet the beautiful princess goes to the bathing-house to bathe. When she enters it, run up to her and give her a kiss, then she will follow you, and you can take her away with you;only do not allow her to take leave of her parents first, or it will go ill with you.”Then the Fox stretched out his tail, the King's son seated himself upon it, and away the Fox went, over stock and stone, till his hair whistled in the wind. When he reached the Golden Castle it was just as the Fox had said. He waited until midnight, when everything lay in deep sleep, and the beautiful princess was going to the bathing-house. Then he sprang out and gave her a kiss. She said that she would like to go with him, but she asked him pitifully, and with tears, to allow her first to take leave of her parents. At first he withstood her prayer, but when she wept more and more, and fell at his feet, he at last gave in. But no sooner had the maiden reached the bedside of her father than he and all the rest in the castle awoke, and the youth was laid hold of and put into prison.

The next morning the King said to him,“Your life is forfeited, and you can only find mercy if you take away the hill which stands in front of my windows, and prevents my seeing beyond it; and you must finish it all within eight days. If you do that you shall have my daughter as your reward.”The King's son began, and dug and shovelled without leaving off, but when after seven days he saw how little he had done, and how all his work was as good as nothing, he fell into great sorrow and gave up all hope. But on the evening of the seventh day the Fox appeared and said,“You do not deserve that I should take any trouble about you; but just go away and lie down to sleep, and I will do the work for you.”The next morning when he awoke and looked out of the window the hill had gone. The youth ran, full of joy, to the King, and told him that the task was fulfilled, and whether he liked it or not, the King had to hold to his word and give him his daughter.

So the two set forth together, and it was not long before the trusty Fox came up with them.“You have certainly got what is best,”said he,“but the Golden Horse also belongs to the maiden of the Golden Castle.”

“How shall I get it?”asked the youth.

“That I will tell you,”answered the Fox;“first take the beautiful maiden to the King who sent you to the Golden Castle. There will be unheard-of rejoicing; they will gladly give you the Golden Horse, and will bring it out to you. Mount it as soon as possible, and offer your hand to all in farewell; last of all to the beautiful maiden. And as soon as you have taken her hand swing her up on to the horse, and gallop away, and no one will be able to bring you back, for the horse runs faster than the wind.”

All was carried out successfully, and the King's son carried off the beautiful princess on the Golden Horse. The Fox did not remain behind, and he said to the youth,“Now I will help you to get the Golden Bird. When you come near to the castle where the Golden Bird is to be found, let the maiden get down, and I will take her into my care. Then ride with the Golden Horse into the castle-yard; there will be great rejoicing at the sight, and they will bring out the Golden Bird for you. As soon as you have the cage in your hand gallop back to us, and take the maiden away again.”When the plan had succeeded, and the King's son was about to ride home with his treasures, the Fox said,“Now you shall reward me for my help.”

“What do you require for it?”asked the youth.

“When you get into the wood yonder, shoot me dead, and chop off my head and feet.”

“That would be fine gratitude,”said the King's son.“I cannot possibly do that for you.”

The Fox said,“If you will not do it I must leave you, but before I go away I will give you a piece of good advice. Be careful about two things. Buy no gallows'-flesh, and do not sit at the edge of any well.”And then he ran into the wood.

The youth thought,“That is a wonderful beast, he has strange whims;who is going to buy gallows'-flesh? and the desire to sit at the edge of a well it has never yet seized me.”He rode on with the beautiful maiden, and his road took him again through the village in which his two brothers had remained. There was a great stir and noise, and, when he asked what was going on, he was told that two men were going to be hanged. As he came nearer to the place he saw that they were his brothers, who had been playing all kinds of wicked pranks, and had squandered all their wealth. He inquired whether they could not be set free.“If you will pay for them,”answered the people;“but why should you waste your money on wicked men, and buy them free.”He did not think twice about it, but paid for them, and when they were set free they all went on their way together.

They came to the wood where the Fox had first met them, as it was cool and pleasant within it, the two brothers said,“Let us rest a little by the well, and eat and drink.”He agreed, and whilst they were talking he forgot himself, and sat down upon the edge of the well without thinking of any evil. But the two brothers threw him backwards into the well, took the maiden, the Horse, and the Bird, and went home to their father.“Here we bring you not only the Golden Bird,”said they;“we have won the Golden Horse also, and the maiden from the Golden Castle.”Then was there great joy; but the Horse would not eat, the Bird would not sing, and the maiden sat and wept.

But the youngest brother was not dead. By good fortune the well was dry, and he fell upon soft moss without being hurt, but he could not get out again. Even in this strait the faithful Fox did not leave him: it came and leapt down to him, and upbraided him for having forgotten its advice.“But yet I cannot give it up so,”he said;“I will help you up again into daylight.”He bade him grasp his tail and keep tight hold of it; and then he pulled him up.“You are not out of all danger yet,”said the Fox.“Your brothers were not sure of your death, and have surrounded the wood with watchers, who are to kill you if you let yourself be seen.”But a poor man was sitting upon the road, with whom the youth changed clothes, and in this way he got to the King's palace. No one knew him, but the Bird began to sing, the Horse began to eat, and the beautiful maiden left off weeping. The King, astonished, asked,“What does this mean?”Then the maiden said,“I do not know, but I have been so sorrowful and now I am so happy! I feel as if my true bridegroom had come.”She told him all that had happened, although the other brothers had threatened her with death if she were to betray anything. The King commanded that all people who were in his castle should be brought before him; and amongst them came the youth in his ragged clothes; but the maiden knew him at once and fell upon his neck. The wicked brothers were seized and put to death, but he was married to the beautiful maiden and declared heir to the King.

But how did it fare with the poor Fox? Long afterwards the King's son was once again walking in the wood, when the Fox met him and said,“You have everything now that you can wish for, but there is never an end to my misery, and yet it is in your power to free me,”and again he asked him with tears to shoot him dead and chop off his head and feet. So he did it, and scarcely was it done when the Fox was changed into a man, and was no other than the brother of the beautiful princess, who at last was freed from the magic charm which had been laid upon him. And now nothing more was wanting to their happiness as long as they lived.

金鸟

古代有一个国王，他的宫殿后面有一座美丽的花园，园中有一棵能结出金苹果的树。苹果熟了的时候，是数了数的，可是第二天就发现少了一只。国王得到报告，下令每天夜里都要有人在树下看守。国王有三个儿子，夜幕降临时，他派大儿子到花园去，半夜时分，他熬不住睡着了，第二天早晨又少了一只苹果。第二夜该二儿子去看守，他也好不了多少：钟敲十二点时，他睡着了，早上发现又少了一只苹果。现在轮到第三个儿子了，他也做好了准备，但国王不怎么信得过他，以为他可能还不如他的两个哥哥；不过最终还是准许他去了。这年轻人躺在树下，他醒着，不让睡意控制自己。钟敲十二下时，他听见空中传来“嗖嗖”的响声，月光下看见飞来一只鸟儿，浑身羽毛金光闪耀。鸟儿落在树上，它正要啄下一只苹果，年轻人向它射了一箭。鸟飞走了，但那支箭射中它的羽毛，一根金羽毛落到地上。年轻人把它捡起来，第二天送去给国王看，向他讲述夜间看到的情景。国王召集他的大臣，人人都说像这样的羽毛一根就比整个王国还要宝贵。“既然这羽毛这么珍贵，”国王宣称，“只有一根远远不够，我要整只金鸟，无论如何都要得到它！”

于是大王子启程去找金鸟，他自以为很聪明，找到它不成问题。他走了一段路，看见一只狐狸蹲在森林边上，他举起火枪向它瞄准。狐狸大叫：“别开枪，我要给你出个好主意。你要去找金鸟，今天晚上你将走到一个村庄，那儿有两家客店彼此隔街相对。一家灯火明亮、热闹非凡，这一家你可别进去，要进另一家客店，虽然它看起来破败、冷清。”

“这么愚蠢的畜生还能给我出什么好主意！”王子心里想着，就扣动扳机，但没打中，狐狸竖起尾巴飞快跑进森林。王子一路走下去，傍晚来到两家客店隔街相望的村子，一家客店里有人在唱歌跳舞，另一家却冷冷清清，一副寒碜相。“要是放着这家热闹的客店不住，”他想，“去住那穷酸客店，我就真是个傻瓜了。”他便走进那家热闹的客店，在那里花天酒地，把金鸟儿、父王和所有忠告、教诲统统忘了。

过了一段时日，左等右等，总不见大儿子回来，二王子就启程去寻找金鸟。他像大王子一样，也遇见了狐狸，狐狸给他出个好主意，但他听不进去。他走近那两家客店，他哥哥站在传出喧嚣声的那家客店窗前呼唤他。他抵挡不住诱惑，便进去尽情享乐。

又过了一段时间，小王子也要出去试试运气，父亲不让他去。“这是白费力气，”他说，“他还不如他哥哥，怎么能找到金鸟？要是遇上什么不幸，他也毫无办法；三兄弟就数他最无能。”但国王被他吵得心神不宁，最后也只好让他走了。那只狐狸又蹲在森林边上，求他饶命，同时要给他忠告。小王子心地善良，说：“放心吧，小狐狸，我不伤害你。”

“我不会让你后悔的，”狐狸回答说，“你骑在我的尾巴上，这样能快一点到。”小王子刚骑上去，狐狸就飞奔起来，越过种种障碍，毛发在风中嗖嗖作响。他们来到那座村庄，小王子下来，他接受狐狸的忠告，径直走进那家寒碜的小客店，安安静静地在那里过了一夜。第二天早晨他走到田野上，狐狸已经蹲在那里，它说：“我还要告诉你该怎么办。你一直朝前面走，最后你会走到一座宫殿前面，那里躺着一大群士兵，你不用管他们，他们都在睡觉、打呼噜。你从他们中间穿过去，径直走进宫殿，穿过所有房间，最后你就到了一间挂着一个木鸟笼的房间，金鸟就在那木鸟笼里。旁边有一个空的华丽的金鸟笼，那是放在那儿当摆设的，你可得当心别把金鸟从那个难看的鸟笼里拿出来放进华丽的鸟笼里去，否则你会遭殃的。”说完这一席话，狐狸又翘起尾巴，让王子骑上去：狐狸飞奔起来，越过种种障碍，毛发在风中嗖嗖响。到了王宫一看，果然一切全跟狐狸说的一模一样。王子走进那房间，金鸟蹲在木鸟笼里，旁边还有一个金鸟笼；三只金苹果随便地放在地上。他想：“让这只美丽的鸟儿待在又平常、又难看的鸟笼里，太可惜了！”便打开鸟笼，捉住金鸟，把它放到金鸟笼里面。就在这一瞬间，金鸟一声尖叫，士兵们醒了，冲进来把他捉进监牢。第二天早晨，他在法庭受审，因为他对一切供认不讳，便被判处死刑。但是，国王说可以饶他不死，不过有一个条件：如果他能把那匹跑得比风还快的金马找来给他，他还可以赏赐他金鸟。

王子上路了，但他唉声叹气，心中悲伤，叫他到哪儿去找金马呢？忽然，他看见他的老朋友狐狸蹲在路旁。“你看，”狐狸说，“你不听我的话，事情搞糟了。不过你要振作起来，我还要关照你，告诉你怎么找到金马。你一直朝前走，就会走到一座宫殿那儿，金马就在马厩里。马厩前面躺着几个马夫，他们都睡着了在打呼噜，你可以从容不迫地把马牵出来。不过有一点你要注意：要给那匹马装上用木料和皮革做的马鞍，不能给它装上金马鞍，否则你会遭殃的。”说罢，狐狸翘起尾巴，王子骑上去，狐狸飞奔起来，越过种种障碍，毛发在风中嗖嗖作响。一切果然和狐狸说的一模一样。他走进金马所在的马厩，但当他要把次的马鞍放在马背上的时候，他想：“如果我不给他安上一副和他般配的鞍子，那就太辱没这匹好马了。”金马鞍刚碰着马背，那马一声长嘶，众马夫醒了，捉住年轻人，把他投入监狱。第二天，法庭判处他死刑，但国王允诺饶他一命，并把金马赠送给他，条件是如果他能把美丽的公主从黄金宫殿里带出来的话。

年轻人心情沉重地踏上旅途，幸运的是，他很快就见到了忠实的狐狸。“我本该叫你吃些苦头才是，”狐狸说，“不过我同情你，我要再一次帮助你摆脱困境。这条路直通黄金宫殿，晚上你就到那儿了。夜深人静时，美丽的公主要去浴室洗浴。她一进去，你随即跟上去给她一个吻，她就会跟你走，你就可以把她带走了。只是千万不能让公主和她父母告别，否则你就要遭殃。”说罢，狐狸翘起尾巴，王子骑上去，狐狸飞奔起来，越过种种障碍，毛发在风中嗖嗖响。到了黄金宫殿，情况果然像狐狸说的那样。他等到午夜时分，人们全都沉沉入梦了，美丽的少女走进浴室，他立即冲上去吻了她一下。她说，她愿意和他一起走，但她流着眼泪恳求他允许她和她父母告别。起初他不同意她的请求，但她哭得越来越伤心，还跪在他脚下哀求，他终于让步了。可是，公主刚走近她父亲床前，他就醒了，宫中所有人都醒了，他们把王子抓起来，关进监狱。

第二天早晨，国王对他说：“你的命完了，如果你在八天内能把在窗前挡住我的视线的那座山铲走，就饶你不死，还要把我女儿嫁给你。”王子开始不停地挖山，七天过后，他看自己挖得太少，所干的活加起来和没干也差不多，十分伤心，不再抱什么希望了。第七天晚上狐狸来了，说：“你那么不听劝告，不值得我帮助。不过，你就睡觉去吧，我替你干活。”第二天早晨他一觉醒来，望着窗外，那座山已经不见了。年轻人兴高采烈地跑去向国王报告事情办好了，不管国王愿意不愿意，他只得遵守诺言，把女儿许给他。

于是王子带上公主一起上路，走了没多久，忠实的狐狸来找他们，说：“最好的你虽然有了，但是金马还得和金殿公主在一起。”

“怎样才能得到金马呢？”王子问。

“我来告诉你，”狐狸回答说，“你先带着美丽的公主去见派你去金殿的国王。他一定非常高兴，愿意把金马牵出来送给你。你立即骑上马，俯身伸手向所有的人们告别，最后向美丽的公主告别时，你抓住她的手，一下子把她拉上马，远走高飞，没有人能追上你，因为金马跑得比风还快。”

一切顺利完成了，王子带上美丽的公主骑着金马走了。狐狸并没留下，它对王子说：“现在我还要帮你得到金鸟。快到关着金鸟的宫殿的时候，你让公主下马，我来保护她。你骑着金马进宫去。他们见了，一定非常高兴，会把金鸟给你拿出来。鸟笼一到了你手里，你立刻飞奔回来找我们，接走你的公主。”计策成功了，王子正要带着他的宝贝骑马回家，这时，狐狸说：“我帮了你的忙，现在该你报答我了。”

“你想要什么？”年轻人问。

“我们到了那座森林里面，你就开枪把我打死，砍下我的脑袋和爪子。”

“这不是忘恩负义嘛！”王子说，“我绝不能这样待你。”

狐狸说：“如果你不愿意这么做，我只好离开你。不过在我走之前，我还要给你一个忠告。两件事你要当心：不要买绞架上的肉，不要坐在水井旁边。”狐狸说罢，跑进森林里去了。

年轻人心里想：“这真是只奇特的动物，净是些古怪念头。谁会去买绞架上的肉！还有，我从来也没想过要在水井旁边坐一下。”他带着美丽的公主继续骑马往前走，又来到他的两个哥哥待着的那个村子。那里人声鼎沸，人群熙熙攘攘。他问出什么事了，有人告诉他要吊死两个人。他走近一看，原来是他的两个哥哥，他们干尽了坏事，花光了所有钱财。他问能不能放了他们。“如果您肯花钱赎他们，当然可以，”人们回答说，“可是您花钱买这两个坏蛋干什么呀？”他想也不想一下，就付钱赎了他们；两人获释，三兄弟结伴同行。

他们来到当初遇见狐狸的那座森林，太阳很毒，森林里清凉舒适，两个哥哥说：“我们在水井旁边坐下休息一会儿，吃点东西，喝点水吧。”小王子同意，说话间不知不觉就在水井旁边坐下，丝毫没料到会有什么危险。两个哥哥从后面把他推到井里，带着公主、金马和金鸟回家去见他们的父王。“我们不仅带回金鸟，”他们说，“还把金马和金殿公主都抢过来了。”大家喜气洋洋，但金马不吃草，金鸟不唱歌，公主坐着只是哭泣。

小弟弟并没有死。幸亏那井是口枯井，他摔在绵软的苔藓上，没有受伤，可是没法出来。这次又是那只忠实的狐狸救他脱险，它跳下井，责骂他忘了它的忠告。“我不能丢下你不管，”它说，“我要帮你重见天日。”它叫小王子紧紧抓住它的尾巴，然后把王子拉上去。“你还没有完全脱离危险，”狐狸说，“你的两个哥哥还不能确定你已经死了，他们派兵把这片林子包围了起来，你一露面，就会被他们杀死。”这时恰巧有个穷人坐在路边，王子和他换穿衣服，用这个办法回到国王宫中。没有一个人认出他，可是鸟儿又开始歌唱，马儿又开始吃草，美丽的公主也不再哭了。国王纳闷地问道：“这是怎么回事？”公主说：“我不知道，但是我原来那么伤心，现在我非常快乐。我觉得是我真正的未婚夫回来了。”尽管那两个哥哥威胁她，如果她泄漏什么，就要将她处死，她还是把发生的一切事情原原本本讲给了国王听。国王命令把王宫里所有的人都带来见他，小王子也来了，他衣衫褴褛，像个穷人，但公主一眼就认出他来，搂着他的脖子。那两个邪恶的哥哥被抓住处死，他和美丽的公主结婚了，并被指定为国王的继承人。

可怜的狐狸后来怎么样了？很久以后，有一天，王子又到森林里去，狐狸遇见他，说：“你希望得到的一切，现在你都有了，可是我的苦难还没有尽头，你是完全有能力解救我的。”它再次恳求王子射死它，砍下它的头和爪子。王子照它说的做了，刚刚做完，狐狸马上变成一个人，此人正是美丽的公主的哥哥，他终于解除了身上的魔法而获救。他们一生再没有什么痛苦，生活得非常幸福。