The Good Bargain

There was once a peasant who had driven his cow to the fair, and sold her for seven talers. On the way home he had to pass a pond, and already from afar he heard the frogs crying, aik, aik, aik, aik. Well, said he to himself, they are talking without rhyme or reason, it is seven that I have received, not eight. When he got to the water, he cried to them, stupid animals that you are. Don't you know better than that. It is seven thalers and not eight. The frogs, however, stuck to their, aik aik, aik, aik. Come, then, if you won't believe it, I can count it out to you. And he took his money out of his pocket and counted out the seven talers, always reckoning four and twenty groschen to a taler. The frogs, however, paid no attention to his reckoning, but still cried, aik, aik, aik, aik. What, cried the peasant, quite angry, if you know better than I, count it yourselves, and threw all the money at them into the water. He stood still and wanted to wait until they were through and had returned to him what was his, but the frogs maintained their opinion and cried continually, aik, aik, aik, aik. And besides that, did not throw the money out again. He still waited a long while until evening came on and he was forced to go home. Then he abused the frogs and cried, you water-splashers, you thick-heads, you goggle-eyes, you have great mouths and can screech till you hurt one's ears, but you cannot count seven talers. Do you think I'm going to stand here till you get through. And with that he went away, but the frogs still cried, aik, aik, aik, aik, after him till he went home sorely vexed. After a while he bought another cow, which he slaughtered, and he made the calculation that if he sold the meat well he might gain as much as the two cows were worth, and have the hide into the bargain. When therefore he got to the town with the meat, a great pack of dogs were gathered together in front of the gate, with a large greyhound at the head of them, which jumped at the meat, sniffed at it, and barked, wow, wow, wow. As there was no stopping him, the peasant said to him, yes, yes, I know quite well that you are saying wow, wow, wow, because you want some of the meat, but I should be in a fine state if I were to give it to you. The dog, however, answered nothing but wow, wow. Will you promise not to devour it all then, and will you go bail for your companions. Wow, wow, wow, said the dog. Well, if you insist on it, I will leave it for you, I know you well, and know whom you serve, but this I tell you, I must have my money in three days or else it will go ill with you, you can just bring it out to me. Thereupon he unloaded the meat and turned back again. The dogs fell upon it and loudly barked, wow, wow. The countryman, who heard them from afar, said to himself, hark, now they all want some, but the big one is responsible to me for it. When three days had passed, the countryman thought, to-night my money will be in my pocket, and was quite delighted. But no one would come and pay it. There is no trusting any one now, said he. At last he lost patience, and went into the town to the butcher and demanded his money. The butcher thought it was a joke, but the peasant said, jesting apart, I will have my money. Did not the big dog bring you the whole of the slaughtered cow three days ago. Then the butcher grew angry, snatched a broomstick and drove him out. Wait, said the peasant, there is still some justice in the world, and went to the royal palace and begged for an audience. He was led before the king, who sat there with his daughter, and asked him what injury he had suffered. Alas, said he, the frogs and the dogs have taken from me what is mine, and the butcher has paid me for it with the stick. And he related at full length what had happened. Thereupon the king's daughter began to laugh heartily, and the king said to him, I cannot give you justice in this, but you shall have my daughter to wife for it - in her whole life she has never yet laughed as she has just done at you, and I have promised her to him who could make her laugh. You may thank God for your good fortune. Oh, answered the peasant, I do not want her at all. I have a wife already, and she is one too many for me, when I go home, it is just as if I had a wife standing in every corner. Then the king grew angry, and said, you are a boor. Ah, lord king, replied the peasant, what can you expect from an ox, but beef. Stop, answered the king, you shall have another reward. Be off now, but come back in three days, and then you shall have five hundred counted out in full. When the peasant went out by the gate, the sentry said, you have made the king's daughter laugh, so you will certainly receive something good. Yes, that is what I think, answered the peasant, five hundred are to be counted out to me. Listen, said the soldier, give me some of it. What can you do with all that money. As it is you, said the peasant, you shall have two hundred, present yourself in three days, time before the king, and let it be paid to you. A Jew, who was standing by and had heard the conversation, ran after the peasant, held him by the coat, and said, oh, wonder of God, what a child of fortune you are. I will change it for you, I will change it for you into small coins, what do you want with the great talers. Jew, said the countryman, three hundred can you still have, give it to me at once in coin, in three days from this, you will be paid for it by the king. The Jew was delighted with the small profit, and brought the sum in bad groschen, three of which were worth two good ones. After three days had passed, according to the king's command, the peasant went before the king. Pull his coat off, said the latter, and he shall have his five hundred. Ah, said the peasant, they no longer belong to me, I presented two hundred of them to the sentry, and three hundred the Jew has changed for me, so by right nothing at all belongs to me. In the meantime the soldier and the Jew entered and claimed what they had gained from the peasant, and they received the blows strictly counted out. The soldier bore it patiently and knew already how it tasted, but the Jew said sorrowfully, alas, alas, are these the heavy talers. The king could not help laughing at the peasant, and when all his anger was spent, he said, as you have already lost your reward before it fell to your lot, I will give you compensation. Go into my treasure chamber and get some money for yourself, as much as you will. The peasant did not need to be told twice, and stuffed into his big pockets whatsoever would go in. Afterwards he went to an inn and counted out his money. The Jew had crept after him and heard how he muttered to himself, that rogue of a king has cheated me after all, why could he not have given me the money himself, and then I should have known what I had. How can I tell now if what I have had the luck to put in my pockets is right or not. Good heavens, said the Jew to himself, that man is speaking disrespectfully of our lord the king, I will run and inform, and then I shall get a reward, and he will be punished as well. When the king heard of the peasant's words he fell into a passion, and commanded the Jew to go and bring the offender to him. The Jew ran to the peasant, you are to go at once to the lord king in the very clothes you have on. I know what's right better than that, answered the peasant, I shall have a new coat made first. Do you think that a man with so much money in his pocket should go there in his ragged old coat. The Jew, as he saw that the peasant would not stir without another coat, and as he feared that if the king's anger cooled, he himself would lose his reward, and the peasant his punishment, said, I will out of pure friendship lend you a coat for the short time. What people will not do for love. The peasant was contented with this, put the Jew's coat on, and went off with him. The king reproached the countryman because of the evil speaking of which the Jew had informed him. Ah, said the peasant, what a Jew says is always false - no true word ever comes out of his mouth. That rascal there is capable of maintaining that I have his coat on. What is that, shrieked the Jew, is the coat not mine. Have I not lent it to you out of pure friendship, in order that you might appear before the lord king. When the king heard that, he said, the Jew has assuredly deceived one or the other of us, either myself or the peasant. And again he ordered something to be counted out to him in hard thalers. The peasant, however, went home in the good coat, with the good money in his pocket, and said to himself, this time I have made it.

The Good Bargain

十二兄弟

从前有一个国王和一个王后，他们幸福地生活在一起，并且生了十二个孩子，可这十二个孩子全是男孩。国王对王后说：“你快要生第十三个孩子了。要是这 个孩子是个女孩，我就下令杀掉那十二个男孩，好让她得到更多的财产，并且让她继承王位。”国王不只是说说而已，他甚至让人做了十二副棺材，在棺材里装满刨 花，还在里面放上一个小寿枕。他让人把棺材全部锁进一个密室，把秘室的钥匙交给王后，不许她告诉任何人。


　　做母亲的现在整天坐在那里伤心，终于有一天，一直和她呆在一起的最小的儿子——她给他起了个《圣经》上的名字便雅明——问她：“亲爱的妈妈，你为什么 这样忧伤？”“亲爱的孩子，”她回答，“我不能告诉你。”可是便雅明老是缠着王后，终于逼得她打开了密室，让他看了那十二副里面装满了刨花的棺材。她随后 说：“我亲爱的便雅明，这些棺材是你父亲为你和你的十一个哥哥准备的，因为如果我生下一个小妹妹，你们就会被杀死，用这些棺材埋葬掉。”她边说边哭，便雅 明安慰她说：“别哭了，亲爱的妈妈，我们不会被杀死的。我们可以逃走。”可是王后说：“你和十一个哥哥逃到森林里去吧！你们要时刻派人在能找到的最高的树 上放哨，注视城堡里的高塔。如果我生下的是个小弟弟，我就升起一面白旗，你们就可以回来了。如果我生下的是个小妹妹，我就升起一面红旗，你们就赶紧远走高 飞，愿上帝保佑你们。我每天晚上都会起来为你们祈祷，祈祷你们在冬天能有炉火暖暖身子，祈祷你们在夏天不要中暑。”

　　在接受了母亲的祝福之后，十二位王子便来到了森林里。他们一个个轮流放哨，坐在最高的橡树上，望着王宫里的高塔。十一天过去了，轮到便雅明放哨。他看 到高塔上升起了一面旗子，可这旗子不是白色的，而是血红色的，这意味着他们只有死路一条。当便雅明的哥哥们听到这个消息后都气坏了，说：“难道要我们大家 为一个女孩去死吗？我们发誓要为自己报仇，不管在什么地方，只要见到女孩，就一定让她流出鲜红的血液！”

　　于是，他们便向森林的深处走去，在森林中最黑暗的地方发现了一座被人使了魔法的小空屋。他们说：“我们就住在这里。便雅明，你是我们当中年纪最小、身 子最弱的，所以你就呆在家里看家，我们其他人出去找吃的东西。”随后，他们走进林子去射野兔、野鹿、各种各样的鸟和鸽子，并且寻找任何可以吃的东西，一起 带回来给便雅明，让他做好了给大家填肚子。他们在这小屋子里一起生活了十年，并没有感到时间很长。

　　王后生下的小姑娘现在也长大了。她心地善良，美丽可爱，额头上还有一颗金色的星星。一天大扫除，她看到洗的衣服里有十二件男衬衣，便问她的妈妈：“这 些衬衣是谁穿的呀？它们太小了，肯定不是爸爸穿的。”王后心情沉重地回答：“亲爱的孩子，这些是你十二个哥哥的衣服。”小姑娘说：“我的十二个哥哥在哪里 呀？我怎么从来没有听说过他们呀？”王后回答：“他们四处流浪，只有上帝才知道他们在哪里。”说着，王后把小姑娘带到密室那里，打开门，让她看了里面装着 刨花和寿枕的十二副棺材。她说：“这些棺材是为你的哥哥们准备的，但他们在你出世前偷偷逃跑了。”王后把事情的的经过原原本本地告诉了小姑娘，而小姑娘则 说：“不要伤心，亲爱的妈妈。我去把哥哥们找回来。”

　　于是，她带上那十二件衬衣，径直向森林走去。她走了整整一天，傍晚时来到了这座被人使了魔法的小屋。她走进小屋，看到里面有个少年。看到她长得非常漂 亮，而且身上穿着华丽的衣服，额头上还有一颗金色的星星，少年感到很惊讶，便问：“你从哪里来？要到哪里去？”她回答：“我是公主，在寻找我的十二个哥 哥。哪怕是走到天涯海角，我也一定要找到他们。”她说着便拿出他们的十二件衬衣给他看，便雅明这才知道她是他的妹妹。他说：“我叫便雅明，是你最小的哥 哥。”公主高兴得哭了起来，便雅明也流下了热泪。他们亲热地又是亲吻又是拥抱。过了一会儿，便雅明说：“亲爱的妹妹，我们还有一件麻烦事。我们十二个人发 过誓，要杀掉我们见到的任何一个姑娘，因为我们就是为了一个女孩而被迫逃离王国的。”她说：“只要能救我的十二个哥哥，我愿意去死。”

　　“不行，”便雅明回答，“你不会死的。你先躲在这只桶下面，等十一个哥哥回来，我会说服他们的。”

　　于是，公主便躲到了桶下面。晚上，另外十一位王子打猎回来时，便雅明已经把晚饭做好了。他们在桌子旁坐下来，边吃边问：“有什么新闻吗？”便雅明说： “难道你们什么也不知道？”“没有，”他们回答。便雅明说：“你们去了森林，我一个人呆在家里，可我知道的却比你们知道的还要多。”“快告诉我们吧，”他 们嚷道。他说：“不过你们得向我保证，决不杀死见到的第一个女孩。”“好的，”他们一起说，“我们饶了她。快把新闻告诉我们吧。”

　　便雅明说：“我们的妹妹来了！”然后，他提起木桶，公主从里面走出来了。只见她穿着华丽的衣服，额头上有一颗金色的星星，显得非常美丽、温柔、文雅。他们一个个喜出望外，搂着她的脖子，亲吻她，真心实意地爱她。

　　从此，她便和便雅明呆在家里，帮他做家务。十一个哥哥去森林里打猎，抓来鹿、斑鸠和别的鸟，让小妹妹和便雅明仔细烧好了填肚子。小姑娘出去捡柴火，采 来花草当蔬菜，把锅子放在火塘上，总是在十一个哥哥回来之前把饭菜做好。她还收拾小屋，给小床铺上了漂漂亮亮、干干净净的床单。哥哥们对她非常满意，和她 快乐地生活在一起。

　　有一天，留在家里的公主和便雅明做了一顿非常丰盛的饭菜，等着哥哥们回来后一起坐下来开心地又吃又喝。这座被人使了魔法的屋子有个小花园，里面开着十 二朵百合花。公主想让哥哥们高兴一下，便摘下了那十二朵花，准备在吃晚饭时送给每位哥哥一朵。但是，就在她摘下那些百合花的同时，十二个哥哥变成了十二只 乌鸦，从森林上空飞了过去。屋子和花园也立刻消失了，荒凉的森林里现在只剩下了公主一个人。她朝四周看了看，见身边站着一位老太婆。老太婆说：“我的孩 子，瞧你都干了些什么！你为什么不让那些花长在那儿呢？那些花就是你的哥哥呀。他们现在要永远变成乌鸦了。”

　　小姑娘哭着问：“难道没有办法救他们了吗？”

　　“没有，”老太婆说，“这个世界上只有一个办法能救你的哥哥们，可这个办法太难了，你不会愿意用这个办法救他们的，因为你要做七年哑巴，不能说话也不能笑。要是你说了一个字，哪怕是离七年只有一个小时，你的一切努力都会付诸东流——他们会因你说了一个字而全部死掉。”

　　公主心中想：“我知道，我一定能救活我的哥哥们。”于是，她就走到一棵大树旁，爬上去坐在上面纺纱，既不说话也不笑。说来也巧，一位年轻的国王打猎来 到了这座森林。国王有条大狼犬，它跑到公主坐着的大树下，不停地围着大树跳上跳下，对着姑娘吠叫不止。国王跟了过来，看到了额头上有金色星星的美丽公主， 一下子就被她的美貌迷住了。他大声问她愿不愿意做他的妻子。她没有开口回答，但微微点了点头。于是，国王便亲自爬到树上，把她抱下来放到马背上，带着她回 到宫中。庄严的婚礼壮观而又热闹，可新娘却既不说话也不欢笑。他们一起幸福地生活了好几年。国王的母亲是个邪恶的女人，开始说新王后的坏话了，她对国王 说：“你带回来的姑娘是个穷要饭的。谁知道她在搞什么鬼名堂呢！就算她是个哑巴，就算她不会说话，可她总能笑一笑吧？从来不笑的人一定心肠很坏！”国王起 初不相信这些话，可他的母亲一直在他的面前念叨，而且总是说王后干了这样那样的坏事，到后来，国王终于被蒙住了，而且判了王后死刑。

　　王宫的院子里点燃了一大堆火，王后将被这堆火烧死。国王站在楼上的窗口前，眼泪汪汪地看着，因为他仍然深深地爱着王后。就在王后被紧紧地绑在火刑架 上，红红的火舌开始吞噬她的衣裳时，七年的最后一刹那终于过去了。空中传来了一阵呼啦呼啦的声音，十二只乌鸦飞到这里落了下来。它们刚落地就变成了王后的 十二个哥哥。他们拆掉火堆，扑灭火焰，把他们的好妹妹放了下来，并且亲吻她、拥抱她。王后现在终于能开口说话了，她把自己当哑巴、从来不笑的原因告诉了国 王。国王知道她清白无辜后，非常高兴，与她幸福地生活在一起，直到白发千古。国王那邪恶的母亲受到了审判，被塞进一只装着沸油和毒蛇的大桶，死得很惨。

十二兄弟

The Twelve Brothers

There were once upon a time a king and a queen who lived happily together and had twelve children, but they were all boys. Then said the king to his wife, if the thirteenth child which you are about to bring into the world, is a girl, the twelve boys shall die, in order that her possessions may be great, and that the kingdom may fall to her alone. He even caused twelve coffins to be made, which were already filled with shavings, and in each lay a little death pillow, and he had them taken into a locked-up room, and then he gave the queen the key of it, and bade her not to speak of this to anyone. 

The mother, however, now sat and lamented all day long, until the youngest son, who was always with her, and whom she had named benjamin, from the bible, said to her, dear mother, why are you so sad. 

Dearest child, she answered, I may not tell you. But he let her have no rest until she went and unlocked the room, and showed him the twelve coffins ready filled with shavings. Then she said, my dearest benjamin, your father has had these coffins made for you and for your eleven brothers, for if I bring a little girl into the world, you are all to be killed and buried in them. And as she wept while she was saying this, the son comforted her and said, weep not, dear mother, we will save ourselves, and go hence. But she said, go forth into the forest with your eleven brothers, and let one sit constantly on the highest tree which can be found, and keep watch, looking towards the tower here in the castle. If I give birth to a little son, I will put up a white flag, and then you may venture to come back. But if I bear a daughter, I will hoist a red flag, and then fly hence as quickly as you are able, and may the good God protect you. And every night I will rise up and pray for you - in winter that you may be able to warm yourself at a fire, and in summer that you may not faint away in the heat. 

After she had blessed her sons therefore, they went forth into the forest. They each kept watch in turn, and sat on the highest oak and looked towards the tower. When eleven days had passed and the turn came to benjamin, he saw that a flag was being raised. It was, however, not the white, but the blood-red flag which announced that they were all to die. When the brothers heard that, they were very angry and said, are we all to suffer death for the sake of a girl. We swear that we will avenge ourselves - wheresoever we find a girl, her red blood shall flow. 

Thereupon they went deeper into the forest, and in the midst of it, where it was the darkest, they found a little bewitched hut, which was standing empty. Then said they, here we will dwell, and you benjamin, who are the youngest and weakest, you shall stay at home and keep house, we others will go out and fetch food. 

Then they went into the forest and shot hares, wild deer, birds and pigeons, and whatsoever there was to eat. This they took to benjamin, who had to dress it for them in order that they might appease their hunger. They lived together ten years in the little hut, and the time did not appear long to them. 

The little daughter which their mother the queen had given birth to, was now grown up. She was good of heart, and fair of face, and had a golden star on her forehead. Once, on a great washing, she saw twelve men's shirts among the things, and asked her mother, to whom do these twelve shirts belong, for they are far too small for father. Then the queen answered with a heavy heart, dear child, these belong to your twelve brothers. Said the maiden, where are my twelve brothers, I have never yet heard of them. She replied, God knows where they are, they are wandering about the world. Then she took the maiden and opened the chamber for her, and showed her the twelve coffins with the shavings, and the death pillows. These coffins, said she, were destined for your brothers, who went away secretly before you were born, and she related to her how everything had happened. Then said the maiden, dear mother, weep not, I will go and seek my brothers. 

So she took the twelve shirts and went forth, and straight into the great forest. She walked the whole day, and in the evening she came to the bewitched hut. Then she entered it and found a young boy, who asked, from whence do you come, and whither are you bound, and was astonished that she was so beautiful, and wore royal garments, and had a star on her forehead. And she answered, I am a king's daughter, and am seeking my twelve brothers, and I will walk as far as the sky is blue until I find them. And she showed him the twelve shirts which belonged to them. Then benjamin saw that she was his sister, and said, I am benjamin, your youngest brother. And she began to weep for joy, and benjamin wept also, and they kissed and embraced each other with the greatest love. But after this he said, dear sister, there is still one difficulty. We have agreed that every maiden whom we meet shall die, because we have been obliged to leave our kingdom on account of a girl. Then said she, I will willingly die, if by so doing I can save my twelve brothers. 

No, answered he, you shall not die. Seat yourself beneath this tub until our eleven brothers come, and then I will soon come to an agreement with them. 

She did so, and when it was night the others came from hunting, and their dinner was ready. And as they were sitting at table, and eating, they asked, what news is there. Said benjamin, don't you know anything. No, they answered. He continued, you have been in the forest and I have stayed at home, and yet I know more than you do. Tell us then, they cried. He answered, but promise me that the first maiden who meets us shall not be killed. 

Yes, they all cried, she shall have mercy, only do tell us. Then said he, our sister is here, and he lifted up the tub, and the king's daughter came forth in her royal garments with the golden star on her forehead, and she was beautiful, delicate and fair. Then they were all rejoiced, and fell on her neck, and kissed and loved her with all their hearts. 

Now she stayed at home with benjamin and helped him with the work. The eleven went into the forest and caught game, and deer, and birds, and wood-pigeons that they might have food, and the little sister and benjamin took care to make it ready for them. She sought for the wood for cooking and herbs for vegetables, and put the pans on the fire so that the dinner was always ready when the eleven came. She likewise kept order in the little house, and put beautifully white clean coverings on the little beds and the brothers were always contented and lived in great harmony with her. 

Once upon a time the two at home had prepared a wonderful feast, and when they were all together, they sat down and ate and drank and were full of gladness. There was, however, a little garden belonging to the bewitched house wherein stood twelve lily flowers, which are likewise called student-lilies. She wished to give her brothers pleasure, and plucked the twelve flowers, and thought she would present each brother with one while at dinner. But at the self-same moment that she plucked the flowers the twelve brothers were changed into twelve ravens, and flew away over the forest, and the house and garden vanished likewise. And now the poor maiden was alone in the wild forest, and when she looked around, an old woman was standing near her who said, my child, what have you done. Why did you not leave the twelve white flowers growing. They were your brothers, who are now forevermore changed into ravens. The maiden said, weeping, is there no way of saving them. 

No, said the woman, there is but one in the whole world, and that is so hard that you will not save them by it, for you must be dumb for seven years, and may not speak or laugh, and if you speak one single word, and only an hour of the seven years is wanting, all is in vain, and your brothers will be killed by the one word. 

Then said the maiden in her heart, I know with certainty that I shall set my brothers free, and went and sought a high tree and seated herself in it and spun, and neither spoke nor laughed. Now it so happened that a king was hunting in the forest, who had a great greyhound which ran to the tree on which the maiden was sitting, and sprang about it, whining, and barking at her. Then the king came by and saw the beautiful king's daughter with the golden star on her brow, and was so charmed with her beauty that he called to ask her if she would be his wife. She made no answer, but nodded a little with her head. So he climbed up the tree himself, carried her down, placed her on his horse, and bore her home. Then the wedding was solemnized with great magnificence and rejoicing, but the bride neither spoke nor smiled. When they had lived happily together for a few years, the king's mother, who was a wicked woman, began to slander the young queen, and said to the king, this is a common beggar girl whom you have brought back with you. Who knows what wicked tricks she practises secretly. Even if she be dumb, and not able to speak, she still might laugh for once. But those who do not laugh have bad consciences. 

At first the king would not believe it, but the old woman urged this so long, and accused her of so many evil things, that at last the king let himself be persuaded and sentenced her to death. And now a great fire was lighted in the courtyard in which she was to be burnt, and the king stood above at the window and looked on with tearful eyes, because he still loved her so much. And when she was bound fast to the stake, and the fire was licking at her clothes with its red tongue, the last instant of the seven years expired. Then a whirring sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came flying towards the place, and sank downwards, and when they touched the earth they were her twelve brothers, whom she had saved. They tore the fire asunder, extinguished the flames, set their dear sister free, and kissed and embraced her. And now as she dared to open her mouth and speak, she told the king why she had been dumb, and had never laughed. The king rejoiced when he heard that she was innocent, and they all lived in great unity until their death. The wicked step-mother was taken before the judge, and put into a barrel filled with boiling oil and venomous snakes, and died an evil death.

The Twelve Brothers

魔鬼和他的祖母

从前爆发了一场大战，国王招募了许多士兵，而发给士兵的军饷少得可怜，士兵简直无以聊生。于是，三个士兵相约逃跑。只听一个士兵对另两个说：“如果 我们被抓住，就会被绞死，怎样才能顺利地逃走呢？”另一个说：“瞧那边不是块玉米地吗？如果我们藏到里面，谁能找到我们？再说，部队又不许进入玉米地，何 况明天他们就要出发了！”他们偷偷溜进了玉米地。不过部队并没有像他们想象的那样出发，而是继续驻扎在玉米地的周围。他们三人在里面藏了两天两夜，简直快 饿死了。如果他们现在就出来那是必死无疑了。他们想：“如果在这里悄悄死去，那逃跑又有什么意义呢？”正在这时，空中有一条火龙，向他们飞下来，问他们为 什么藏在那儿。他们告诉它说：“我们三个都是当兵的，由于军饷太少，就当了逃兵。可现在，呆在这里我们只会饿死，就是出去也会被绞死。”“假如你们甘愿为 我当七年的奴仆，”龙说，“我保证能把你们带出去，根本不会被抓住。”“既然如此，我们还有什么法子呢？”他们回答说。于是龙用爪子钳住他们三个，飞过军 营的上空，最后将他们放到了远处的地上。原来这条龙不是别人，而是一个魔鬼，他给了三人一条小鞭，说：“只要将鞭子啪啪地抽响，你们四周就会涌现许多金 子，要多少就有多少。这样你们就可以过上富翁的生活，有马骑，有车坐。可七年一过，你们就归我啦！”他拿着一本簿子逼着他们一一签字。“不过到时后我会给 你们一个谜语猜，”他接着说，“如果猜对了，你们就自由了，不再属我的管束了。”说完，龙便飞走了。

他们就带着鞭子开始旅行了，果然他们有了许多金子。他们换上了华丽的衣服，招摇过市；他们住的是富丽堂皇的宫殿，出进都是马车来马车去，吃的 尽是山珍海味。不过他们也没干什么坏事。时光飞逝，眨眼功夫，七年期限就到了。他们中的两个就焦虑不安起来，而另一个却不急不慢，只听他说：“兄弟们，别 害怕，我的头脑够好使的，我准能猜出谜语的。”他们来到外面的开阔地坐下，那两人仍是神色紧张。这时，一位老太婆向他们走来，问他们为何如此悲伤。“你老 要知道干什么呢？就是知道了您也帮不上忙。”他们没好气地说。“只管把你的心事告诉给我听，没准我能帮得上忙！”老太婆说道。于是三人告诉她，他们是魔鬼 的仆人，差不多有整整七年了，魔鬼给他们弄来了许多金子，多得不计其数；不过他们都和魔鬼写了卖身契，如果七年后他们猜不出谜语，就等于把自己出卖给魔鬼 了。老太婆听完说：“你们要想得救，你们中一人得走进森林里去，到一座像小屋模样的悬岩前，他得跨进去，以后就能找到救星。”那两个闷闷不乐的士兵想道： “这哪能救我们？”因而坐着不动。而那个开心的士兵却站起来，径直往森林中走去。

他找到了石头房并走了进去。屋里坐着位老太龙钟的老婆子，她就是魔鬼的祖母。她问士兵从哪来，到这来要干什么。士兵把发生的一切都告诉了她， 老婆子很喜欢这士兵，动了恻隐之心，便答应帮他。他揭开了地窖上的一块大石板，对士兵说：“你藏进去，这里你可听到外面的一切，千万坐好，不要动。等龙来 了，我会问它那个谜语，他会把什么都告诉我的，你仔细听好啦。”

夜晚十二点，龙飞来要饭吃。老祖母摆好了桌子，端上酒菜。魔鬼很高兴，他一边吃喝，一边拉家常。祖母问它那天过得怎样，得到了多少灵魂。“今 天运气可真不好，”它说，“不过我抓了三个士兵，这可是十拿九稳的。”“真的吗？三个士兵！他们可有两下子，他们能逃脱的。”魔鬼轻蔑地一笑，说：“他们 肯定归我！我还有个谜语给他们猜，不过他们肯定猜不出。”老祖母问：“是个什么样的谜语？”“这我可以告诉你，在辽阔的北 海有只死长尾猿，那是他们的烤肉；一头鲸的肋骨是他们的银勺子；一条空心的老马腿是他们的酒杯。”等魔鬼睡着后，老祖母揭开石板，让士兵上来，说：“这些 都记牢了没有？””记住了，都记住了，这下我得救了。”随后他从另一条路走，悄悄地从窗户爬了出去，以最快的速度跑到了同伴身边。他向他们讲了鬼是如何中 了它祖母的计，他又怎样得知了谜底。这下三个人可高兴啦，他们拿起了鞭子，抽出了许多金币，让它们满地乱滚。

整整的七年过去了，魔鬼带着那本簿子来了，他让他们看自己签过的字，说：“我将带你们去地狱，让你们在那里吃顿饭；你们要是能猜出会吃什么样 的烤肉，你们就自由了，我们的协议不再生效，并且我可以让你们留着这鞭子。”只听第一个士兵说道：“在辽阔的北海有只死长尾猿，那肯定是烤肉。”魔鬼又惊 又气，又问第二个，“那你们用的是什么勺子？”“鲸的肋骨将是我们的勺子。”魔鬼这下气歪了脸，他咆哮着问了第三个问题， “哼！你们可知道酒杯会是什么吗？”“一条老马的腿将是我们的酒杯。”魔鬼怒吼着飞走了，它的魔力再也管不了他们了。从此他们三人留下了那条鞭子，需要钱 时就抽几下，一起愉快地生活着，一直到死。

The Devil and His Grandmother

There was a great war, and the king had many soldiers, but gave them small pay, so small that they could not live upon it, so three of them agreed among themselves to desert. One of them said to the others, "If we are caught we shall be hanged on the gallows, how shall we manage it?" Another said, "Look at that great cornfield, if we were to hide ourselves there, no one could find us, the troops are not allowed to enter it, and to-morrow they are to march away." They crept into the corn, only the troops did not march away, but remained lying all round about it. They stayed in the corn for two days and two nights, and were so hungry that they all but died, but if they had come out, their death would have been certain. Then said they, "What is the use of our deserting if we have to perish miserably here?"


But now a fiery dragon came flying through the air, and it came down to them, and asked why they had concealed themselves there. They answered, "We are three soldiers who have deserted because the pay was so bad, and now we shall have to die of hunger if we stay here, or to dangle on the gallows if we go out." "If you will serve me for seven years," said the dragon, "I will convey you through the army so that no one shall seize you." "We have no choice and are compelled to accept," they replied. Then the dragon caught hold of them with his claws, and carried them away through the air over the army, and put them down again on the earth far from it, but the dragon was no other than the devil. He gave them a small whip and said, "Whip with it and crack it, and then as much gold will spring up round about as you can wish for, then you can live like great lords, keep horses, and drive your carriages, but when the seven years have come to an end, you are my property."


Then he put before them a book which they were all three forced to sign. "But first I will ask you a riddle," said he, "and if you can guess it, you shall be free, and released from my power." Then the dragon flew away from them, and they went away with their whip, had gold in plenty, ordered themselves rich apparel, and traveled about the world. Wherever they were they lived in pleasure and magnificence, rode on horseback, drove in carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wicked. The time slipped quickly by, and when the seven years were coming to an end, two of them were terribly anxious and alarmed, but the third took the affair easily, and said, "Brothers, fear nothing, I still have my wits about me, I shall guess the riddle." They went out into the open country and sat down, and the two pulled sorrowful faces. Then an aged woman came up to them who inquired why they were so sad. "Well," said they, "what has that got to do with you? After all, you cannot help us." "Who knows?" said she. "Just confide your trouble to me." So they told her that they had been the devil's servants for nearly seven years, and that he had provided them with gold as though it were hay, but that they had sold themselves to him, and were forfeited to him, if at the end of the seven years they could not guess a riddle.


The old woman said, "If you are to be saved, one of you must go into the forest, there he will come to a fallen rock which looks like a little house, he must enter that, and then he will obtain help." The two melancholy ones thought to themselves, "That will still not save us," and stayed where they were, but the third, the merry one, got up and walked on in the forest until he found the rockhouse. In the little house a very aged woman was sitting, who was the devil's grandmother, and asked the soldier where he came from, and what he wanted there. He told her everything that had happened, and as he pleased her well, she had pity on him, and said she would help him. She lifted up a great stone which lay above a cellar, and said, "Conceal yourself there, you can hear everything that is said here, only sit still, and do not stir. When the dragon comes, I will question him about the riddle, he tells everything to me, so listen carefully to his answer."


At twelve o'clock at night, the dragon came flying thither, and asked for his dinner. The grandmother laid the table, and served up food and drink, so that he was pleased, and they ate and drank together. In the course of conversation, she asked him what kind of a day he had had, and how many souls he had got. "Nothing went very well to-day," he answered, "but I have laid hold of three soldiers, I have them safe." "Indeed? Three soldiers, they're clever, they may escape you yet." The devil said mockingly, "They are mine. I will set them a riddle, which they will never be able to guess." "What riddle is that?" she inquired. "I will tell you, in the great north sea lies a dead dogfish, that shall be your roast meat, and the rib of a whale shall be your silver spoon, and a hollow old horse's hoof shall be your wineglass."


When the devil had gone to bed, the old grandmother raised up the stone, and let out the soldier. "Did you give heed to everything?" "Yes," said he, "I know enough, and will save myself." Then he had to go back another way, through the window, secretly and with all speed to his companions. He told them how the devil had been outwitted by the old grandmother, and how he had learned the answer to the riddle from him. Then they were all delighted, and of good cheer, and took the whip and whipped so much gold for themselves that it ran all over the ground.


When the seven years had fully gone by, the devil came with the book, showed the signatures, and said, "I will take you with me to hell. There you shall have a meal. If you can guess what kind of roast meat you will have to eat, you shall be free and released from your bargain, and may keep the whip as well." Then the first soldier began and said, "In the great north sea lies a dead dogfish, that no doubt is the roast meat."


The devil was angry, and began to mutter, "Hm. Hm. Hm." And asked the second, "But what will your spoon be?" "The rib of a whale, that is to be our silver spoon." The devil made a wry face, again growled, "Hm. Hm. Hm." He said to the third, "And do you also know what your wineglass is to be?" "An old horse's hoof is to be our wineglass." Then the devil flew away with a loud cry, and had no more power over them, but the three kept the whip, whipped as much money for themselves with it as they wanted, and lived happily to their end.

三个纺纱女

 从前有个女孩，非常懒惰，怎么着都不愿意纺纱。

终于有一天，母亲感到忍无可忍，就打了她一顿，她于是嚎啕大哭起来。正巧这时王后乘车从门前经过，听见了哭声，吩咐把车停下来，进屋问那位母亲为什么 打女儿。做母亲的怎好意思说自己的女儿如何如何的懒惰，于是就回答说：“我叫她不要再纺了，可她就是不听，在纺车上仍然纺个不停。

我穷啊，哪买得起那么多的亚麻呀。”

王后听了说道：“我最爱纺纱。让你的女儿随我进宫去吧，我有的是亚麻，她愿意纺多少就纺多少。”

母亲听了这话，打心眼儿里高兴，满口答应下来，王后便带着女孩走了。

她们到了王宫之后，王后领着女孩上了楼，把三间库房指给她看，只见库房里装满了最好的亚麻。“喏，你就为我纺这些亚麻吧，”王后说道，“你什么时候纺完了，就嫁给我的长子。”

女孩听了心里一阵惊恐——即使她每天从早纺到晚，纺到她三百岁的时候，也休想把那么多的亚麻纺完。剩下女孩独自一人时，她就哭了起来。她就这样哭哭啼 啼地坐着，一晃儿三天过去了，还没动手纺纱呢。第三天，女孩不知如何是好，忧心忡忡地来到窗前。恰在这时她看见有三个女人走了过来：第一个女人的一个脚板 又宽又平；第二个的下嘴唇很长，耷拉到下巴上；而第三个的一只大拇指非常宽大。这三个女人走到窗下停住了脚，问女孩为什么忧心忡忡，她就向她们诉说了自己 的苦恼。“只要你不嫌我们丢人，”他们对女孩说道，“请我们参加你的婚礼，说我们是你的表姐，并且让我们与你同桌喝喜酒，我们就帮你把这些亚麻纺完。”

“我非常乐意。”女孩回答说。

说罢，女孩就让这三个长相奇特的女人进屋来。她们进来后刚一坐下就开始纺纱。每次王后来，女孩生怕王后发现，便把那三个纺纱女藏起来，而让王后看已经纺好的纱。王后看了之后，对她赞不绝口。

库房里所有的亚麻都纺完了，这三个纺织女便跟女孩告别，临行前对她说道：“你可千万不要忘记了对我们许下的诺言，这关系到你自己的幸福啊。”

女孩领着王后看了三间空荡荡的库房和堆得像小山似的纱线，王后于是就安排了婚礼。

“我有三位表姐，”女孩说，“她们待我非常好。在我自己幸福如意的时候，怎么也不愿意冷漠了她们。请允许我邀请她们来参加婚礼，并且让她们在婚宴上和我们坐在一起。”

王后和王子欣然同意。婚礼那天，三个纺纱女果然来了。她们打扮得怪模怪样的，很令人发笑。新娘马上迎上去说：

“欢迎你们，亲爱的表姐们。”

“你的几个表姐怎么长得这么丑？”王子问道。随后，他转身走到那个大脚板女人身边，问道：“您的一只脚怎么会这样大呢？”

“踏纺车踏的呗。”她回答道。

新郎又走到第二个女人身旁，问道：“您的嘴唇怎么会耷拉着呢？”

“舔麻线舔的呗。”她回答说。

然后他问第三个女人：“您的大拇指怎么会这样宽呢？”

“捻麻线捻的呗。”她回答说。

王子听罢三人的回答，大惊失色，于是就说：“我美丽的新娘今后绝不再碰纺车一下。”

就这样，女孩从此再也用不着干纺纱这个讨厌的活儿了。

The Three Spinners

There was once a girl who was idle and would not spin, and let her mother say what she would, she could not bring her to it. At last the mother was once so overcome with anger and impatience, that she beat her, at which the girl began to weep loudly. Now at this very moment the queen drove by, and when she heard the weeping she stopped her carriage, went into the house and asked the mother why she was beating her daughter so that the cries could be heard out on the road. Then the woman was ashamed to reveal the laziness of her daughter and said, I cannot get her to leave off spinning. She insists on spinning for ever and ever, and I am poor, and cannot procure the flax. Then answered the queen, there is nothing that I like better to hear than spinning, and I am never happier than when the wheels are humming. Let me have your daughter with me in the palace. I have flax enough, and there she shall spin as much as she likes. The mother was heartily satisfied with this, and the queen took the girl with her. When they had arrived at the palace, she led her up into three rooms which were filled from the bottom to the top with the finest flax. Now spin me this flax, said she, and when you have done it, you shall have my eldest son for a husband, even if you are poor. I care not for that, your untiring industry is dowry enough. The girl was secretly terrified, for she could not have spun the flax, no, not if she had lived till she was three hundred years old, and had sat at it every day from morning till night. When therefore she was alone, she began to weep, and sat thus for three days without moving a finger. On the third day came the queen, and when she saw that nothing had yet been spun, she was surprised, but the girl excused herself by saying that she had not been able to begin because of her great distress at leaving her mother's house. The queen was satisfied with this, but said when she was going away, tomorrow you must begin to work. When the girl was alone again, she did not know what to do, and in her distress went to the window. Then she saw three women coming towards her, the first of whom had a broad flat foot, the second had such a great underlip that it hung down over her chin, and the third had a broad thumb. They remained standing before the window, looked up, and asked the girl what was amiss with her. She complained of her trouble, and then they offered her their help and said, if you will invite us to the wedding, not be ashamed of us, and will call us your aunts, and likewise will place us at your table, we will spin up the flax for you, and that in a very short time. With all my heart, she replied, do but come in and begin the work at once. Then she let in the three strange women, and cleared a place in the first room, where they seated themselves and began their spinning. The one drew the thread and trod the wheel, the other wetted the thread, the third twisted it, and struck the table with her finger, and as often as she struck it, a skein of thread fell to the ground that was spun in the finest manner possible. The girl concealed the three spinners from the queen, and showed her whenever she came the great quantity of spun thread, until the latter could not praise her enough. When the first room was empty she went to the second, and at last to the third, and that too was quickly cleared. Then the three women took leave and said to the girl, do not forget what you have promised us - it will make your fortune. When the maiden showed the queen the empty rooms, and the great heap of yarn, she gave orders for the wedding, and the bridegroom rejoiced that he was to have such a clever and industrious wife, and praised her mightily. I have three aunts, said the girl, and as they have been very kind to me, I should not like to forget them in my good fortune, allow me to invite them to the wedding, and let them sit with us at table. The queen and the bridegroom said, why should we not allow that. Therefore when the feast began, the three women entered in strange apparel, and the bride said, welcome, dear aunts. Ah, said the bridegroom, how do you come by these odious friends. Thereupon he went to the one with the broad flat foot, and said, how do you come by such a broad foot. By treading, she answered, by treading. Then the bridegroom went to the second, and said, how do you come by your falling lip. By licking, she answered, by licking. Then he asked the third, how do you come by your broad thumb. By twisting the thread, she answered, by twisting the thread. On this the king's son was alarmed and said, neither now nor ever shall my beautiful bride touch a spinning-wheel. And thus she got rid of the hateful flax-spinning.