046-第1部分

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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；　but　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；　and　trusting　to　his　cleverness　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　looks
like　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　many　months　had　passed；　and　the　eldest　son　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's　not　too　bright　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　staight　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　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；　such　a　beautiful
beast　will　be　shamed　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　went　the　fox；　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　shoveled　without　stopping；　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　my　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　offe