開篇：寫作不僅是一種記錄，更是一種創(chuàng)造，它讓我們能夠捕捉那些稍縱即逝的靈感，將它們永久地定格在紙上。下面是小編精心整理的12篇雙語童話，希望這些內容能成為您創(chuàng)作過程中的良師益友，陪伴您不斷探索和進步。

第1篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Once upon a time there was a forester. He went into the woods to hunt, and after entering the woods he heard a sound of crying, as though it were a little child. Following the sound, he finally came to a tall tree, at the top of which a little child was sitting. His mother had fallen asleep under the tree with the child. A bird of prey1 had seen him in her arms, flown down, picked him up in its beak2, and then set him on the tall tree.

The forester climbed the tree, brought the child down, and thought, "I will take the child home with me, and bring him up with my Lenchen."

So he took him home, and the two children grew up together. The child whom he had found on the tree was called Foundling-Bird, because a bird had carried him away. Foundling-Bird and Lenchen loved each other so much, ever so much, that whenever they did not see one another they were sad.

Now the forester had an old cook. One evening she took two buckets3 and began to fetch water. She did not go out to the well just once, but many times.

Lenchen saw this and said, "Listen, old Sanna, why are you fetching so much water?"

"If you won't tell anyone, I will tell you."

So Lenchen said that she would not tell anyone, and then the cook said, "Early tomorrow morning when the forester is out hunting I will heat the water, and when it is boiling in the kettle4 I will throw Foundling-Bird into it and cook him.

The forester got up very early the next morning and went out hunting. When he left, the children were still in bed.

Then Lenchen said to Foundling-Bird, "If you will never leave me, I will never leave you either."

Foundling-Bird said, "Never, ever."

Then Lenchen said, "Then I will tell you that last night old Sanna carried so many buckets of water into the house that I asked her why she was doing that. She said that if I would not tell anyone she would tell me. I said that I would be sure not to tell anyone, and she said that early tomorrow morning when father was out hunting, she would boil a kettle full of water, throw you into it, and cook you. But let us hurry and get up, get dressed, and run away together.

So the two children got up, hurriedly got dressed, and went away.

When the water in the kettle was boiling, the cook went into the bedroom to get Foundling-Bird and throw him into it. But when she went to their room and to their beds, both the children were gone.

Then she became terribly frightened and said to herself, "What will I say when the forester comes home and sees that the children are gone. I must hurry and follow them and get them back again."

Then the cook sent out three servants who were to run after the children and bring them back. The children were sitting at the edge5 of the woods when they saw the three servants running toward6 them from afar.

Lenchen said to Foundling-Bird, "Never leave me, and I will never leave you."

Foundling-Bird said, "Never, ever."

Then Lenchen said, "You, turn into a rosebush, and I to a rose on it."

When the three servants reached the edge of the woods nothing was there but a rosebush with one rose on it, but the children were nowhere."

Then they said, "There is nothing to be done here," and they went home and told the cook that they had seen nothing out there but a little rosebush with one rose on it.

Then the old cook scolded7 them, saying, "You simpletons, you should have cut the rosebush in two and then broken off the rose and brought it home with you. Hurry up and do it."

So they had to go out and look for the second time. The children, however, saw them coming from afar.

Lenchen said, "Foundling-Bird, never leave me, and I will never leave you."

Foundling-Bird said, "Never, ever."

Lenchen said, "You, turn into a church, and I to the chandelier in it."

When the three servants arrived, nothing was there but a church with a chandelier in it. So they said to one another, "What can we do here? Let us go home."

When they reached home, the cook asked if they had found them, and they said that they had found nothing but a church with a chandelier in it.

The cook scolded them, saying, "You fools, why didn't you break down the church and bring the chandelier home with you?"

This time the old cook herself got up and with the three servants went out after the children.

The children, however, saw from afar that the three servants were coming, with the cook tottering8 after them.

Then Lenchen said, "Foundling-Bird, never leave me, and I will never leave you."

Foundling-Bird said, "Never, ever."

Lenchen said, "Turn into a pond, and I to a duck upon it."

The cook came up to them, and when she saw the pond she leaned9 out over it and was about to drink it up. But the duck quickly came swimming toward her, took hold of her head with its beak, and pulled her into the water, where the old witch10 drowned.

Then the children went home together, and were very happy, and if they have not died, they are still alive.

第2篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Once upon a time there was a peasant who had money and land enough, but as rich as he was, there was still something missing from his happiness: He had no children with his wife. Often when he went to the city with the other peasants, they would mock him and ask him why he had no children. He finally became angry, and when he returned home, he said, "I will have a child, even if it is a hedgehog."

Then his wife had a baby, and the top half was a hedgehog and the bottom half a boy. When she saw the baby, she was horrified1 and said, "Now see what you have wished upon us!"

The man said, "It cannot be helped. The boy must be baptized, but we cannot ask anyone to be his godfather."

The woman said, "And the only name that we can give him is Hans-My-Hedgehog."

When he was baptized, the pastor2 said, "Because of his quills3 he cannot be given an ordinary bed." So they put a little straw behind the stove and laid him in it. And he could not drink from his mother, for he would have stuck her with his quills. He lay there behind the stove for eight years, and his father grew tired of him, and thought, "if only he would die." But he did not die, but just lay there.

Now it happened that there was a fair in the city, and the peasant wanted to go. He asked his wife what he should bring her.

"A little meat, some bread rolls, and things for the household," she said. Then he asked the servant girl, and she wanted a pair of slippers4 and some fancy stockings.

Finally, he also said, "Hans-My-Hedgehog, what would you like?"

"Father," he said, "bring me some bagpipes5."

When the peasant returned home he gave his wife what he had brought for her, meat and bread rolls. Then he gave the servant girl the slippers and fancy stockings. And finally he went behind the stove and gave Hans-My-Hedgehog the bagpipes.

When Hans-My-Hedgehog had them, he said, "Father, go to the blacksmith's and have my cock-rooster shod, then I will ride away and never again come back." The father was happy to get rid of him, so he had his rooster shod, and when it was done, Hans-My-Hedgehog climbed on it and rode away. He took pigs and donkeys with him, to tend in the forest.

In the forest the rooster flew into a tall tree with him. There he sat and watched over the donkeys and the pigs. He sat there for years, until finally the herd6 had grown large. His father knew nothing about him. While sitting in the tree, he played his bagpipes and made beautiful music.

One day a king came by. He was lost and heard the music. He was amazed to hear it, and sent a servant to look around and see where it was coming from. He looked here and there but only saw a little animal sitting high in a tree. It looked like a rooster up there with a hedgehog sitting on it making the music.

The king said to the servant that he should ask him why he was sitting there, and if he knew the way back to his kingdom. Then Hans-My-Hedgehog climbed down from the tree and told him that he would show him the way if the king would promise in writing to give him the first thing that greeted him at the royal court upon his arrival home.

The king thought, "I can do that easily enough. Hans-My-Hedgehog cannot understand writing, and I can put down what I want to."

Then the king took pen and ink and wrote something, and after he had done so, Hans-My-Hedgehog showed him the way, and he arrived safely at home. His daughter saw him coming from afar, and was so overjoyed that she ran to meet him and kissed him. He thought about Hans-My-Hedgehog and told her what had happened, that he was supposed to have promised the first thing that greeted him to a strange animal that rode a rooster and made beautiful music. But instead he had written that this would not happen, for Hans-My-Hedgehog could not read. The princess was happy about this, and said that it was a good thing, for she would not have gone with him in any event.

Hans-My-Hedgehog tended the donkeys and pigs, was of good cheer, and sat in the tree blowing on his bagpipes.

Now it happened that another king came this way with his servants and messengers. He too got lost and did not know the way back home because the forest was so large. He too heard the beautiful music from afar, and asked one of his messengers to go and see what it was and where it was coming from. The messenger ran to the tree where he saw Hans-My-Hedgehog astride the cock-rooster. The messenger asked him what he was doing up there.

"I am tending my donkeys and pigs. What is it that you want?" replied Hans-My-Hedgehog.

The messenger said that they were lost and could not find their way back to their kingdom, and asked him if he could not show them the way.

Then Hans-My-Hedgehog climbed down from the tree with his rooster and told the old king that he would show him the way if he would give him the thing that he first met at home before the royal castle.

The king said yes and signed a promise to Hans-My-Hedgehog.

When that was done, Hans-My-Hedgehog rode ahead on his rooster showing them the way, and the king safely reached his kingdom. When the king arrived at his court there was great joy. Now he had an only daughter who was very beautiful. She ran out to him, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, and was ever so happy that her old father had returned.

She asked him where he had been during his long absence, and he told her how he had lost his way and almost not made it home again, but that as he was making his way through a great forest he had come upon a half hedgehog, half human astride a rooster sitting in a tall tree and making beautiful music who had shown him the way, but whom he had promised whatever first met him at the royal court, and it was she herself, and he was terribly sorry.

But she promised that she would go with him when he came, for the love of her old father.

Hans-My-Hedgehog tended his pigs, and the pigs had more pigs, until there were so many that the whole forest was full. Then Hans-My-Hedgehog let his father know that they should empty out all the stalls in the village, because he was coming with such a large herd of pigs that everyone who wanted to would be able to take part in the slaughter7.

It saddened the father to hear this, for he thought that Hans-My-Hedgehog had long since died. But Hans-My-Hedgehog mounted his cock-rooster, drove the pigs ahead of himself into the village, and had them butchered. What a slaughter! What a commotion8! They could hear the noise two hours away!

Afterward9 Hans-My-Hedgehog said, "Father, have my cock-rooster shod a second time at the blacksmith's. Then I will ride away and not come back again as long as I live." So the father had the cock-rooster shod, and was happy that Hans-My-Hedgehog was not coming back.

Hans-My-Hedgehog rode into the first kingdom. The king had ordered that if anyone should approach who was carrying bagpipes and riding on a rooster, that he should be shot at, struck down, and stabbed, to prevent him from entering the castle. Thus when Hans-My-Hedgehog rode up, they attacked him with bayonets, but he spurred his rooster on, flew over the gate and up to the king's window. Landing there, he shouted to him, to give him what he had promised, or it would cost him and his daughter their lives.

Then the king told the princess to go out to him, in order to save his life and her own as well. She put on a white dress, and her father gave her a carriage with six horses, magnificent servants, money, and property. She climbed aboard and Hans-My-Hedgehog took his place beside her with his rooster and bagpipes. They said farewell and drove off.

The king thought that he would never see them again. However, it did not go as he thought it would, for when they had traveled a short distance from the city, Hans-My-Hedgehog pulled off her beautiful clothes and stuck her with his quills until she was bloody10 all over. "This is the reward for your deceit. Go away. I do not want you." With that he sent her back home, and she was cursed as long as she lived.

Hans-My-Hedgehog, astride his cock-rooster and carrying his bagpipes, rode on to the second kingdom where he had also helped the king find his way. This one, in contrast, had ordered that if anyone looking like Hans-My-Hedgehog should arrive, he should be saluted11 and brought to the royal castle with honors and with a military escort.

When the princess saw him she was horrified, because he looked so strange, but she thought that nothing could be done about it, because she had promised her father to go with him. She welcomed Hans-My-Hedgehog, and they were married. Then he was taken to the royal table, and she sat next to him while they ate and drank.

That evening when it was time to go to bed, she was afraid of his quills, but he told her to have no fear, for he would not hurt her. He told the old king to have four men keep watch by their bedroom door. They should make a large fire. He said that he would take off his hedgehog skin after going into the bedroom, and before getting into bed. The men should immediately pick it up and throw it into the fire, and then stay there until it was completely consumed by the fire.

When the clock struck eleven, he went into the bedroom, took off the hedgehog skin, and laid it down by the bed. The men rushed in, grabbed it, and threw it into the fire, and as soon as the fire consumed it, he was redeemed12, and he lay there in bed entirely13 in the shape of a human. But he was as black as coal, as though he had been charred14. The king sent for his physician, who washed him with good salves and balms. Then he became white and was a handsome young gentleman.

When the princess saw what had happened, she was overjoyed, and they got up and ate and drank. Now their wedding was celebrated15 for real, and Hans-My-Hedgehog inherited the old king's kingdom.

Some years later he traveled with his wife to his father, and said that he was his son. But the father said that he did not have a son. He had had one, but he had been born with quills like a hedgehog and had gone off into the world. Then he said that he was the one, and the old father rejoiced and returned with him to his kingdom.

My tale is done, And has gone To Gustchen's home.

從前有個富有的農夫，他的金錢可車載斗量，他的田地遍布農莊。可是他美滿的生活中有一大缺憾，那就是他沒有孩子。他進城的時候，經常受到同行農夫的冷嘲熱諷，他們問他為什么沒有孩子。最后他實在忍受不住，變得十分惱怒，回到家中便氣憤地說：“我得有個孩子，哪怕是個刺猬也成。”于是他的老婆生了個怪孩子，上半身是刺猬，下半身是男孩。

他老婆嚇壞了，埋怨他說：“你瞧你，這就是你帶來的惡運。”農夫無奈地說：“米已成粥，現(xiàn)在如何是好？這孩子得接受洗禮，可誰能當他的教父呢？”老婆嘆道：“給他取什么名子呢？

就叫刺猬漢斯吧。“

接受洗禮后，牧師說：“他渾身是刺，不能睡在普通的床上。”于是在爐子后邊鋪了些干草，刺猬漢斯就睡在上面。他的母親無法給他喂奶，因為他的刺會扎傷母親。他就這樣在爐子后面躺了八年，父親對他煩透了，暗中思忖：“他真不如死了好！”可是他躺在那里，活得很頑強。城里要舉行集市，農夫在去趕集前，問老婆要帶些什么回來。“家里缺些肉和幾個白面包。”她說。然后又問女仆，女仆要一雙拖鞋和幾雙繡花的長襪子。最后他還問刺猬，“你想要什么，我的刺猬漢斯？”“親愛的父親，”他說，“我想要風笛。”當父親回到家中時，他帶回來老婆要的肉和白面包、女仆要的拖鞋和繡花長襪子，然后走到爐子后面，把風笛交給了刺猬漢斯。刺猬漢斯接過風笛，又說：“親愛的父親，請去鐵匠鋪給大公雞釘上掌子，我要騎著大公雞出門，不再回來啦。”聽到這話，父親不禁暗暗高興，心想這下我可擺脫他啦。他立刻去給公雞釘了掌子，然后，刺猬漢斯騎上公雞上路了，并且隨身帶走了幾只豬和驢，他準備在森林里喂養(yǎng)它們。他們走進森林，大公雞帶著他飛上了一棵大樹。此后他就在樹上呆了許多許多年，一邊照看著他的驢和豬，直到把它們喂養(yǎng)大，他的父親絲毫不知他的消息。這么多年他還在樹上吹著他的風笛，演奏著非常美妙的樂曲。一次，一個迷了路的國王從附近路過，聽見了美妙的音樂，感到吃驚，立刻派他的侍從前去查找笛聲是從何處傳來的。他四周尋找，只發(fā)現(xiàn)在高高的樹上有一只小動物，看上去像一只騎著公雞的刺猬在演奏。于是國王命令侍從上前詢問他為何坐在那里，知道不知道通往他的王國的道路。刺猬漢斯從樹上下來，對國王說如果他肯寫一份保證，上面說一旦他到了家，將他在王宮院中遇到的第一件東西賜予他，他就給國王指明道路。國王心想：“這事容易，刺猬漢斯大字不識，反正我寫什么他都不知道。”于是國王取來筆墨，寫了一份保證，寫完后，刺猬漢斯給他指了路，國王平平安安地回到了家。他的女兒老遠就看見了，喜出望外地奔過來迎接他，還高興地吻了他。這時他想起了刺猬漢斯，并告訴了她事情的經過，他是如何被迫答應將他回家后遇見的第一件東西賞給一只非常奇怪的動物，它像騎馬似地騎著一只大公雞，還演奏著美妙的樂曲。不過他并沒有按照它的意思寫，他寫的是它不應得到它想得到的東西。公主聽后很高興，夸她父親做的好，因為她從未想過要和刺猬一起生活。

刺猬漢斯同往常一樣，照看著他的驢和豬，經常是快快樂樂地坐在樹上吹奏他的風笛。

一天，又有一個國王帶著隨從和使者路過這里，他們也迷了路，森林又大又密，他們迷失了回家的方向。他也聽見了從不遠的地方傳來的樂曲，便問使者那是什么，命令他過去看看。使者走到樹下，看見樹頂上有只公雞，刺猬漢斯騎在公雞的背上。使者問他在上面干什么，“我在放我的驢和我的豬，您想做什么？”使者說他們迷路了，無法回到自己的王國，問他能不能為他們指路。刺猬漢斯和公雞從樹上下來，對年邁的國王說如果國王愿意將他在王宮前面遇到的第一件東西賜給他，他就會告訴他路怎么走。國王回答得干脆：“好啊，”

并寫下保證書交給刺猬漢斯。然后漢斯騎著大公雞走在前面，給他們指出了路，國王平平安安地回到自己的王國。當他到了王宮前的庭院時，只見那兒一片歡騰。國王有一個非常美麗的獨生女兒，她跑上前來迎接他，一下子摟住了他的脖子，老父親的歸來讓她十分欣慰。她問他究竟上哪兒去了這么長的時間。他說了他是如何迷了路，幾乎回不來了，可是當他穿過一座大森林的時候，一只在高高的樹上騎著公雞吹風笛的半刺猬半人的怪物給他指出了方向，并幫助他走出了森林，可是他答應作為回報，將他在宮院里遇到的第一件東西賜予他，現(xiàn)在他首先遇到的是她，為此國王感到很難受。沒想到公主卻語出驚人，說：為了她所熱愛的父親，她愿意在漢斯來的時候跟他同去。

刺猬漢斯仍舊悉心照料著他的豬群，豬群變得越來越大，以至整座森林已經給擠滿了。

于是刺猬漢斯決定不再住在林子里面了，他給父親捎去口信，說把村里的所有豬圈都騰空，他將趕一大群牲畜回去，把所有會殺豬的人都招來。他父親知道此事后感到很難堪，因為他一直以為刺猬漢斯早就死了呢。刺猬漢斯舒舒服服地坐在公雞背上，趕著一群豬進了村莊。

他一聲令下，屠宰開始啦。只見刀起斧落，血肉一片，殺豬的聲音方圓數(shù)里可聞！此事完畢后刺猬漢斯說：“父親，請再去鐵匠鋪給公雞釘一回掌吧，這回我走后一輩子也不回來啦。”父親又一次給公雞上了掌，他感到一陣輕松，因為刺猬漢斯永遠不回來了。

刺猬漢斯騎著公雞到了第一個王國。那里的國王下令，只要看到騎著公雞手持風笛的人，大家要一起舉起弓箭，拿起刀槍，把他阻擋在王宮外面。所以當刺猬漢斯到了城門前的時候，他們全都舉起槍矛向他沖來。只見他用鞋刺磕了一下公雞，那公雞就飛了起來，越過城門，落在了國王的窗前。漢斯高聲叫著國王必須兌現(xiàn)諾言，把屬于他的給他，否則他將要國王和他女兒的性命。國王此時很害怕，他央求女兒跟漢斯走，只有這樣才能挽救她自己和她父親的生命。于是她全身穿上了白衣，帶著父親送給她的一輛六匹馬拉的馬車和一群漂亮的侍女，以及金子和財寶，坐進馬車，把漢斯和公雞還有風笛安置在她身旁，然后一齊起程離去了。國王以為他再也見不著女兒了，可是他萬萬沒想到，他們出城不遠，刺猬漢斯便把她漂亮的衣服剝了下來，隨后用自己身上的刺把她刺得全身鮮血淋漓。“這就是對你們虛偽狡詐的回報，”他說，“你走吧，我不會要你的。”說完他把她趕了回去，從此以后她一生都讓人瞧不起。

刺猬漢斯騎著公雞，吹著風笛繼續(xù)向第二個國王的國度走去，他曾經為那個國王指過路。那個國王下令，只要有人長得像刺猬漢斯，要對他行舉手禮，保護他的安全，向他高唱萬歲，并將他引到王宮。

沒料到國王的女兒看見他，卻被他的怪模樣嚇了一跳。這時她告誡自己不得改變主意，因為她曾向父親許過諾言。所以她出來迎接刺猬漢斯，并與他結為百年之好。兩人走到王宮的餐桌旁，并排坐下，享受著美酒佳肴。傍晚來臨，他們該上床休息了，可是她害怕他身上的刺，他安慰她不必害怕，說她不會受到任何傷害的。同時他還要求老國王派四名士兵守在洞房的門邊，點燃一堆火，等他走進洞房門準備上床前，他自己會從刺猬皮中爬出來，把刺猬皮扔在床邊，他們要立即跑過去，拿起刺猬皮扔進火里，在它燒光之前不得離開。鐘敲響了十一點，他步入洞房，脫掉刺猬皮，扔在床邊。士兵飛快跑過來，揀起刺猬皮扔進火中。

第3篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A peasant had driven his cow to the fair and sold her for seven talers. On the way home he had to walk past a pond, and already from afar he heard the frogs crying, "ak, ak, ak, ak" [which in his language sounded like, "eight, eight, eight, eight"].

"Well," he said he to himself, "they are talking nonsense. It is seven that I was paid, not eight."

When he reached the water, he shouted to them, "You are stupid creatures. Don't you know any better than that? It is seven talers, not eight."

The frogs, however, kept up with their "ak, ak, ak, ak."

"Now then, if you won't believe it, I can count it out for you." Then taking his money out of his pocket, he counted out the seven talers, twenty-four groschens in each one.

However, the frogs paid no attention to his counting, and again cried out, "ak, ak, ak, ak."

"Aha!" shouted the peasant, quite angry. "If you think that you know better than I do, then count it yourselves," and he threw all the money at them into the water. He stood still, wanting to stay there until they were finished and had returned his money to him, but the frogs did not budge1 from their opinion, and continued to cry out, "ak, ak, ak, ak." And furthermore, they did not throw the money back to him.

He waited a long time, until evening finally came, and he had to go home. Then he cursed the frogs, shouting at them, "You water-splashers, you thick-heads, you goggle-eyes, you have big mouths and can shout until a person's ears hurt, but you cannot count seven talers. Do you think that I want to stand here until you are finished?"

Then he walked away, with the frogs still crying out after him, "ak, ak, ak, ak." He arrived at home in a sour mood.

Some time later he bought himself another cow, which he slaughtered2. He calculated that if he sold the meat for a good price, he could earn as much as the two cows had been worth together, and have the hide as well.

He went to town with the meat. An entire pack of dogs had gathered together just outside the town gate, with a large greyhound at the head of the pack. The greyhound jumped at the meat, sniffing3 and barking, "bow, wow, bow, wow."

When the dog would not stop, the peasant said to him, "Yes, I understand that you are saying, "bow, wow," because you want some of the meat, but I would be in a fine state if I gave it to you."

The dog's only answer was, "bow, wow."

"Will you not eat it all up, and will you be responsible for your companions?"

"Bow, wow, " said the dog.

"Well, if you insist on it, I will leave it with you. I know you well, and I know who your master is. But I am telling you, I must have my money in three days, or you will be sorry. You can just bring it out to me."

With this he unloaded the meat and turned back toward home. The dogs jumped on the meat, barking loudly, "bow, wow."

The peasant heard them from afar and said to himself, "Listen, they all want some, but the big dog will be responsible for it."

When three days had passed, the peasant thought, "Tonight you'll have the money in your pocket," and was quite satisfied. But no one came to pay him.

"No one is to be trusted nowadays," he said.

Finally he lost his patience and went to town and to the butcher, from whom he demanded his money. The butcher thought it was a joke, but the peasant said, "All joking aside, I want my money. Did not the big dog bring home to you an entire slaughtered cow three days ago?"

Then the butcher grew angry, picked up a broomstick and chased him out.

"Wait," said the peasant. "There is still some justice in the world," and he went to the royal palace and asked for a hearing. He was led before the king, who was sitting there with his daughter. The king asked him what injury he had suffered.

"Alas4," he said, "the frogs and the dogs stole my belongings5 from me, and the butcher paid me for my losses with a stick." Then he told them everything that had happened.

At this the king's daughter began to laugh out loud, and the king said to him, "I cannot make that right for you, but instead you shall have my daughter for your wife. She had never laughed before in her whole life, until just now at you, and I have promised her to the man who could make her laugh. You can thank God for your good fortune."

"Oh," answered the peasant, "I do not want her. I have one wife at home already, and she is too much for me. Whenever I go home, it is just as if I had a wife standing6 in every corner."

Then the king grew angry, and said, "You are a lout7."

"Alas, your majesty8," answered the peasant, "what can you expect from an ox, but beef?"

"Wait," replied the king. "You shall have another reward. Get out of here for now, but come back in three days, and then five hundred shall be counted out for you in full."

When the peasant passed through the gate, the sentry9 said, "You made the king's daughter laugh, so you must have received something very good."

"Yes, that is right," answered the peasant. "Five hundred are to be counted out to me."

"Listen," said the soldier. "Give me some of it. How can you spend all that money?"

"Because it is you," said the peasant, "you shall have two hundred. In three days report to the king, and have it counted out for you."

A Jew, who had been standing nearby and had overheard the conversation, ran after the peasant, took hold of his coat, and said, "Miracle of God, what a child of fortune you are! I will change it for you. I will change it for you into smaller coins. What do you want with hard talers?"

"Jew," said the peasant, "You can have three hundred. Give it to me right now in coins. Three days from now you will be paid for it by the king."

The Jew was delighted with his small profit, and brought the sum in bad groschens, three of which were worth two good ones. After three days had passed, in keeping with the king's order, the peasant went before the king.

"Pull off his coat," said the king "He shall have his five hundred."

"Alas," said the peasant, "they no longer belong to me. I gave two hundred of them to the sentry, and the Jew has changed three hundred for me, so rightfully nothing more belongs to me."

In the meantime the soldier and the Jew entered and demanded what they had received from the peasant, and they received the blows carefully counted out.

The soldier bore it patiently, for he already knew how it tasted, but the Jew cried out pitifully, "Oh my, oh my, are these the hard talers?"

The king had to laugh at the peasant, and when his anger had subsided10, he said, "Because you lost your reward even before you received it, I will replace it for you. Go into my treasure chamber11 and take as much money for yourself as you want."

The peasant did not need to be told twice, and he stuffed as much as would fit into his big pockets. After that he went to an inn and counted out his money.

The Jew had crept after him and heard him muttering to himself, "That rascal12 of a king has cheated me after all. If he himself had given me the money, then I would know how much I have. Now how can I know if what I had the luck to put into my pockets is right?"

"God forbid," said the Jew to himself, "he is speaking disrespectfully of his majesty. I will run and report him, and then I shall get a reward, and furthermore he will be punished."

When the king heard what the peasant had said he fell into a rage, and ordered the Jew to go and bring the offender13 to him.

The Jew ran to the peasant and said, "You are to go to his majesty the king at once, and just as you are."

"I know better than that what is right," answered the peasant. "First let me have a new coat made for myself. Do you think that a man with so much money in his pockets should go before the king in this tattered14 old coat?"

The Jew, seeing that the peasant could not be moved without another coat, and fearing that if the king's anger cooled, he himself would lose his reward, and the peasant his punishment, said, "Out of pure friendship I will lend you a handsome coat for a little while. What people will not do for love!"

The peasant was satisfied with this, put on the Jew's coat, and went off with him.

The king confronted the peasant with the evil things the Jew had accused him of saying.

"Oh," said the peasant, "what a Jew says is always a lie. No true word ever comes out of his mouth. That rascal there is even capable of claiming that I have his coat on."

"What are you saying?" shouted the Jew. "Is that coat not mine? Did I not lend it to you out of pure friendship, so that you could appear before his majesty the king?"

When the king heard this, he said, "For sure the Jew has deceived one of us, either myself or the peasant." And once again he had the Jew paid out in hard talers.

The peasant, however, went home wearing the good coat and with the good money in his pockets, saying to himself, "This time I made it."#p#

從前有個農夫，趕著一頭母牛去集市出售，結果賣了七個銀幣。在回家的路上，他經過一個池塘，遠遠地就聽到青蛙們在叫：「呱——呱——呱——呱——。「嘿，農夫自言自語地說，「你們真是在胡說八道。我只賣了七個銀幣，不是八個。他走到池塘邊，沖著青蛙喊道：「你們這些愚蠢的東西！難道你們還沒有搞清楚嗎？是七個銀幣，不是八個！可是青蛙還在那里叫著：「呱，呱，呱，呱。「我說，要是你們真的不相信，我可以數(shù)給你們看。農夫說著便從口袋里掏出錢來數(shù)，并把二十個小錢算成一個銀幣，結果數(shù)來數(shù)去還是七個銀幣，然而青蛙們根本不管他數(shù)出來的錢是多少，只管一個勁地叫著：「呱，呱，呱，呱。「甚么？農夫生氣地喊道，「要是你們自以為懂得比我還多，那你們就自己去數(shù)吧。他說著把錢全部扔進了水里。他站在池塘邊，等待著青蛙們把錢數(shù)完后還給他，可是青蛙們卻固執(zhí)己見，仍然叫著：「呱，呱，呱，呱。牠們再也沒有把錢還回來。農夫在那里等了很久，一直等到天黑，才不得不回家。臨走的時候，他大聲罵青蛙：「你們這些水鬼，你們這些蠢貨，你們這些闊嘴巴、鼓眼睛的傢伙！你們整天吵得別人耳朵根不得清靜，而你們居然連七個銀幣都數(shù)不清！你們以為我會一直呆在這里等著你們把錢數(shù)清嗎？他說完這番話就走了，而青蛙們還在喊著：

「呱，呱，呱，呱，氣得他到家時仍然憋著一肚子氣。

過了一陣子，農夫又買了一頭牛，把牠宰了。他一算計，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不僅可以掙回兩頭牛的錢，而且還白得一張牛皮。於是，他把肉運到了城里；可是城門口有一大群狗，領頭的是一只大狼犬。大狼犬圍著牛肉跳來跳去，一面聞一面「汪，汪，汪地叫著。農夫看到自己怎么也制止不了牠，便對牠說：「是的，是的，我知道你那 '汪，汪，汪'的意思。你是想吃點肉，可要是我們肉給了你，我自己就倒霉了！但是狼犬只是回答「汪，汪，汪。「那么你愿不愿意答應不把肉全吃完，并且愿意為其他狗作擔保呢？「汪，汪，汪，狼犬叫著。「好吧，要是你硬要這么做，我就把肉都留在這里。我認識你，也知道你在誰家當差。我把話說在頭里，你必須在三天內把錢還給我，不然我叫你好看！你可以把錢送到我家去。說著，農夫就把肉卸在地上，轉身回家去了。那群狗一下子撲到牛肉上，大聲叫著：「汪，汪，汪！

農夫在遠處聽到牠們的叫聲，自言自語地說：「聽啊，牠們現(xiàn)在都想吃一點，但賬得由那頭大狼犬付。

三天過去了，農夫想：「今晚我的錢就可以裝在我的口袋里了。想到這里，他非常高興。然而誰也沒有來給他還錢。「這年月誰也不能相信！他說。到最后他終於不耐煩了，只好進城找屠夫要錢。屠夫以為他是在開玩笑，可是農夫說：「誰和你開玩笑？我要我的錢！難道你的那條大狼犬三天前沒有把一整頭牛的肉給你送來嗎？屠夫這次真的發(fā)火了，一把抓起掃帚把農夫趕了出去。「你等著，農夫說，「這世界上還有公道呢！他說著就跑到王宮去喊冤，結果被帶去見國王。國王正和公主坐在一起，他問農夫有甚么冤屈。「天哪！他說，「青蛙和狗把我的錢拿走了，屠夫不但不認賬，還用掃帚打我。接著，他把事情從頭至尾講了一遍，逗得公主開心地哈哈大笑。國王對他說：「這件事情我無法為你主持公道，不過我可以把我女兒嫁給你。她一輩子還從來沒有像笑你那樣大笑過；我許過愿，要把她嫁給能使她發(fā)笑的人。你能交上這樣的好運，真得感謝上帝！

「哦，農夫回答，「我才不想娶你女兒呢。我已經有了一個老婆，而這個老婆我都嫌多。每次我回到家里，總覺得到處都有她似的。國王一聽就生了氣，說：「你真是個蠢貨！「嗨，國王老爺，農夫說，「除了牛肉，你還能指望從牛身上得到甚么呢？「等等，國王說，「我另外給你一樣獎賞吧。你現(xiàn)在去吧，過三天再回來。我要給你整整五百塊銀元。

農夫從宮門出來時，衛(wèi)兵問他：「你把公主逗笑了，肯定得到甚么獎賞了吧？「我想是吧，農夫說，「國王要給我整整五百塊銀元呢。「你聽我說，衛(wèi)兵說，「你要那么多錢干甚么？分一點給我吧！「既然是你嘛，農夫說，「我就給你兩百塊吧。你三天后去見國王，讓他把錢付給你好了。站在旁邊的一位猶太人聽到了他們的談話，趕緊追上農夫，拽著他的外衣說：「我的天哪，你的運氣真好啊！你要那些大銀元做甚么？把它們換給我吧，我給你換成小錢。「猶太人，農夫說，「你還有三百塊銀元好拿，趕緊把小錢給我吧。三天后讓國王把錢給你好了。猶太人很高興自己佔到了便宜，給農夫拿來了一些壞銅錢。這種壞銅錢三枚只能值兩枚。三天過去了，農夫按國王的吩咐，來到了國王的面前。國王突然說道：「脫掉他的外衣，給他五百板子。「嗨，農夫說道，「這五百已經不屬於我了。我把其中的兩百送給了衛(wèi)兵，把另外的三百換給了猶太人，所以它們根本不屬於我。就在這時，衛(wèi)兵和猶太人進來向國王要錢，結果分別如數(shù)挨了板子。衛(wèi)兵因為嘗過板子的滋味，所以挺了過來；猶太人卻傷心地說：「天哪，天哪，這就是那些沉重的銀元嗎？國王忍不住對農夫笑了，怒氣也消失了。他說：「既然你在得到給你的獎賞之前就已經失去了，我愿意給你一些補償。你到我的寶庫去取一些錢吧！愿意拿多少就拿多少。這句話農夫一聽就懂，把他的大口袋裝得滿滿的，然后他走進一家酒店，數(shù)著他的錢。猶太人悄悄跟在他的后面，聽見他在低聲嘀咕：「那個混蛋國王到底還是把我給騙了！他干嗎不自己把錢給我呢？這樣我就能知道他究竟給了我多少。他現(xiàn)在讓我自己把錢裝進口袋，我怎么知道有多少錢呢？「我的天哪，猶太人心中想道，「這個傢伙居然在說國王大人的壞話。我要跑去告訴國王，這樣我就能得到獎賞，而這傢伙就會受到懲罰。

國王聽了農夫說過的話大發(fā)雷霆，命令猶太人去把農夫抓來。猶太人跑到農夫那里，對他說：「國王讓你趕緊去見他。「我知道怎么去更好，農夫回答，「我要先請裁縫給我做件新外套。你認為口袋里裝著這么多錢的人能穿著這身舊衣服去見國王嗎？猶太人看到農夫怎么也不愿意穿著舊衣服去見國王，怕時間一長國王的怒火平息了，自己會得不到獎賞，農夫也會免遭懲罰，便對他說：「純粹是出於友誼，我暫時把我的外套借給你。為了友愛，人可是甚么事情都肯做的呀！農夫對這種安排很滿意，便穿上猶太人的外套，和他一起去見國王。

國王責問農夫為甚么要說猶太人所告發(fā)的那些壞話。

第4篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A man and a woman lived in a village. The woman was so lazy that she never wanted to do any work. She never finished what the man gave her to spin, and what she did spin she did not wind onto a reel, but left it tangled1 on the bobbin. If the man scolded her, she always had a quick tongue, and would say, "Well, how can I wind it up? I don't have a reel. First you must go into the woods and get me one."

"If that's the problem," said the man, "then I'll go into the woods, and get some wood for a reel."

Then the woman was afraid that once he had the wood, he would make a reel out of it, and she would have to wind up her yarn2, and then begin to spin with an empty wheel. She thought about this a little while, and then a good idea came to her. She secretly followed the man into the woods. When he had climbed into a tree to select and cut the wood, she crept into the brush below, where he could not see her, and cried upward:

Cut wood for a reel, and you shall die, Wind onto it, and ruin your life.

The man listened, laid down his ax for a while, and thought about what it could mean.

"Well," he said at last, "what can it have been? Your ears must have been ringing. Don't get alarmed for nothing." So he took hold of the ax once more and was about to chop away when again there came a call from below:

Cut wood for a reel, and you shall die, Wind onto it, and ruin your life.

He stopped, took fright, and wondered what was happening. But a little while later he took heart again, and for a third time he reached for the ax and was about to chop away.

But for a third time there came a call from below, saying loudly:

Cut wood for a reel, and you shall die, Wind onto it, and ruin your life.

That was enough for him. He no longer had any desire to cut wood, so he hastily climbed down from the tree, and set forth3 toward home.

The woman took a shortcut4 and ran as fast as she could in order to get home first. When he entered the parlor5, she put on an innocent look as if nothing had happened, and said, "Well, did you bring a good piece of wood for a reel?"

"No," he said, "I see very well that winding6 onto a reel is not possible," and he told her what had happened to him in the woods. From then on he said nothing more about it.

Nevertheless, a short time later the man began to complain again about the disorder7 in the house. "Wife," he said, "it is a real shame that the spun8 yarn is just lying there on the bobbin."

"Do you know what?" she said. "Because we still don't have a reel, you go up into the loft9. I will stand down below and throw the bobbin up to you, then you will throw it down to me, and thus we can make a skein after all."

"Yes, that will work," said the man.

So they did it, and when they were finished, he said, "The yarn is skeined. Now it must be boiled."

The woman was again concerned, and said, "Yes, we will boil it early tomorrow morning," but she was secretly planning another trick.

Early in the morning she got up, started a fire, and put the kettle on. However, instead of the yarn, she put in a clump10 of tow and let it boil away. Then she went to the man who was still lying in bed, and said to him, "I must go out for a while. Get up now and look after the yarn in the kettle on the fire. Do it right now, because if the cock crows and you are not looking after the yarn, it will turn into tow."

The man agreed, and did not delay. He got up at once, as fast as he could, and went into the kitchen. But when he reached the kettle and looked in, he saw with horror nothing but a clump of tow.

Afterward11 the poor man was as quiet as a mouse and said nothing at all, thinking that it was his fault, that he was to blame. And in the future he said nothing more about yarn and spinning. But you yourself must admit that she was a disgusting woman.

從前，村子里住著對夫妻。妻子懶得總是不想干活，丈夫讓她紡紗她總紡不完，就是紡好了也不繞成團，而是在地上纏成一大團。每次丈夫說她，她總是有理，說：「沒有卷軸，叫我怎么去卷呢？你有本事就到森林里砍些木頭給我做一個。「如果是那樣的話，丈夫說，「我就到森林砍些木頭為你做一個吧！可女人又害怕起來，如果有了木頭，做成卷軸，她就只得繞線了。她腦子一轉，想了條好計，便悄悄地跟在丈夫的后面走進森林。丈夫爬上一棵樹去挑好木頭來做料，她就溜進丈夫看不到的樹叢中，向上面喊道：

「伐木做軸，難逃一死；絞盤纏線，沒好下場。

丈夫聽后放下了斧子，細細體會著這話的含義，最后自言自語道：「唉，管它呢！一定是我耳朵的錯覺，我可不想嚇唬自己。說完，他又揚起斧子，準備要砍。突然樹下又喊：

「伐木做軸，難逃一死；絞盤纏線，沒好下場。

丈夫又驚又怕，再次放下了斧子，朝四周張望。但過了一會，他又鼓起了勇氣，抓起斧子要干，但是樹下第三次喊了起來，而且聲音更大：

第5篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A man had seven sons, but however much he wished for a daughter, he did not have one yet. Finally his wife gave him hope for another child, and when it came into the world it was indeed a girl. Great was their joy, but the child was sickly and small, and because of her weakness, she was to be given an emergency baptism.

The father sent one of the boys to run quickly to the well and get some water for the baptism. The other six ran along with him. Because each one of them wanted to be first one to dip out the water, the jug2 fell into the well. There they stood not knowing what to do, and not one of them dared to go home.

When they did not return the father grew impatient, and said, "They have forgotten what they went after because they were playing, those godless boys."

Fearing that the girl would die without being baptized, he cried out in anger, "I wish that those boys would all turn into ravens."

He had hardly spoken these words when he heard a whirring sound above his head, and looking up, he saw seven coal-black ravens flying up and away.

The parents could not take back the curse, and however sad they were at the loss of their seven sons, they were still somewhat comforted because of their dear little daughter, who soon gained strength and became more beautiful every day.

For a long time she did not know that she had had brothers, for her parents took care not to mention them to her. However, one day she accidentally overheard some people talking about her. They said that she was beautiful enough, but that in truth she was to blame for her seven brothers' misfortune. This troubled her greatly, and she went to her father and mother and asked them if she indeed had had brothers, and what had happened to them.

Her parents could no longer keep the secret, but said that it had been heaven's fate, and that her birth had been only the innocent cause. However, this ate at the girl's conscience every day, and she came to believe that she would have to redeem3 her brothers.

She had neither rest nor peace until she secretly set forth4 and went out into the wide world, hoping to find her brothers and to set them free, whatever it might cost. She took nothing with her but a little ring as a remembrance from her parents, a loaf of bread for hunger, a little jug of water for thirst, and a little chair for when she got tired.

She walked on and on —— far, far to the end of the world. She came to the sun, but it was too hot and terrible, and ate little children. She hurried away, and ran to the moon, but it was much too cold, and also frightening and wicked, and when it saw the child, it said, "I smell, smell human flesh."

Then she hurried away, and came to the stars, and they were friendly and good to her, each one sitting on its own little chair. When the morning star arose, it gave her a chicken bone, and said, "Without that chicken bone you cannot open the glass mountain, and your brothers are inside the glass mountain."

The girl took the bone, wrapped it up well in a cloth, and went on her way again until she came to the glass mountain. The door was locked, and she started to take out the chicken bone, but when she opened up the cloth, it was empty. She had lost the gift of the good stars.

What could she do now? She wanted to rescue her brothers, but she had no key to the glass mountain. The good little sister took a knife, cut off one of her little fingers, put it into the door, and fortunately the door opened.

After she had gone inside a little dwarf5 came up to her and said, "My child, what are you looking for?"

"I am looking for my brothers, the seven ravens," she replied.

The dwarf said, "The lord ravens are not at home, but if you want to wait here until they return, step inside."

Then the dwarf carried in the ravens' dinner on seven little plates, and in seven little cups. The sister ate a little bit from each plate and took a little sip6 from each cup. Into the last cup she dropped the ring that she had brought with her.

Suddenly she heard a whirring and rushing sound in the air, and the dwarf said, "The lord ravens are flying home now."

They came, wanted to eat and drink, and looked for their plates and cups. Then one after the other of them said, "Who has been eating from my plate? Who has been drinking from my cup? It was a human mouth."

When the seventh one came to the bottom of his cup, the ring rolled toward him. Looking at it, he saw that it was a ring from their father and mother, and said, "God grant that our sister might be here; then we would be set free."

The girl was listening from behind the door, and when she heard this wish she came forth. Then the ravens were restored to their human forms again. They hugged and kissed one another, and went home happily.#p#副標題#e#

第6篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

There was a cook whose name was Gretel. She wore shoes with red heels, and whenever she went out wearing them she would turn this way and that way, and she was very cheerful, thinking, "You are a beautiful girl!"

Then after returning home, because she was so happy, she would drink a swallow of wine, and the wine would give her an appetite, so she would taste the best of what she had cooked, until she was quite full, and then she would say, "The cook has to know how the food tastes."

One day her master said to her, "Gretel, this evening a guest is coming. Prepare two chickens for me, the best way that you can."

"Yes indeed, sir," answered Gretel. She killed the chickens, scalded them, plucked1 them, stuck them on the spit, and then, as evening approached, put them over the fire to roast. The chickens began to brown, and were nearly done, but the guest had not yet arrived.

Gretel called to her master, "If the guest doesn't come, I'll have to take the chickens from the fire. And it will be a crying shame if they're not eaten soon, because they're at their juicy best right now."

The master answered, "You're right. I'll run and fetch the guest myself."

As soon as the master had turned his back, Gretel set the spit and the chickens aside and thought, "Standing2 here by the fire has made me sweaty and thirsty. Who knows when they will be back? Meanwhile I'll just run down into the cellar3 and take a swallow."

So she ran down, lifted a jug4 to her lips, saying, "God bless it for you, Gretel!" and took a healthy drink. "Wine belongs together," she said further. "It's not good to keep it apart," and took another healthy drink.

Then she went and placed the chickens over the fire again, basted5 them with butter, and cheerfully6 turned the spit. Because the roasting chickens smelled so good, she thought, "They could be lacking something. I'd better taste them!" She tested them with her fingers, and said, "My, these chickens are good! It's a sin7 and a shame that they won't be eaten at once!"

She ran to the window to see if her master and his guest were arriving, but she saw no one. Returning to the chickens, she said, "That one wing is burning. I'd better just eat it." So she cut it off and ate it, and it tasted very good. When she had finished it, she thought, "I'd better eat the other one too, or the master will see that something is missing8."

When both wings had been eaten, she once again looked for her master, but could not see him. Then it occurred to her, "Who knows? Perhaps they've gone somewhere else to eat and aren't coming here at all." Then she said, "Well, Gretel, be of good cheer! The one has already been cut into. Have another drink and eat the rest of it. When it's gone, you can relax. Why should this good gift of God go to waste?"

So she ran to the cellar once again, downed a noble drink, and cheerfully finished off the first chicken. When the one chicken was gone, and her master still had not yet returned, she looked at the other chicken and said, "Where the one is, the other should follow. The two belong together. What is right for the one, can't be wrong for the other. I believe that if I have another drink, it will do me no harm." So she took another hearty9 drink, and sent the second chicken running after the first one.

Just as she was making the most of it, her master returned, calling out, "Gretel, hurry up, the guest is right behind me."

"Yes, sir, I'm getting it ready," answered Gretel.

Meanwhile the master saw that the table was set, and he picked up the large knife that he wanted to carve the chickens with, and stood in the hallway sharpening10 it.

The guest arrived and knocked politely on the door. Gretel ran to see who it was, and when she saw that it was the guest, she held a finger before her mouth, and said, "Be quiet! Be quiet! Hurry and get away from here. If my master catches you, you'll be sorry. Yes, he invited you for an evening meal, but all he really wants is to cut off both of your ears. Listen, he's sharpening his knife for it right now."

The guest heard the whetting11 and ran back down the steps as fast as he could.

Then Gretel, who was not a bit lazy, ran to her master, crying, "Just what kind of a guest did you invite?"

"Why, Gretel? What do you mean by that?"

"Well," she said, "he took both of the chickens off the platter, just as I was about to carry them out, and then ran away with them."

"Now that's a fine tune12!" said the master, feeling sorry about the loss of the good chickens. "At the least, he could have left one of them, so I would have something to eat."

He called out to him to stop, but the guest pretended not to hear. Then he ran after him, the knife still in his hand, shouting, "Just one! Just one!" But the guest could only think that he wanted him to give up one of his ears, so he ran as though there were a fire burning beneath him, in order to get home with both ears.#p#副標題#e#

從前有個名叫格蕾特的廚娘，她有一雙紅跟鞋。每當她穿著這雙鞋子外出的時候，總是左邊右邊來回轉，心里讚美著自己：「你真是個挺漂亮的姑娘呢！回到家，她總要高興地喝上一口酒，而酒又能開胃，所以無論自己做的甚么菜她都覺得味道極好，直到吃得飽飽的才罷休，并且說：「廚娘一定得知道飯菜的味道如何。

有一次，主人對她說：「格蕾特，今晚我有個朋友要來，準備兩只燒雞，味道一定要好。「我會把這事兒辦好的。格蕾特回答道。她殺了兩只雞，用開水燙過，拔了毛之后又把它們用鐵焊插上。傍晚時分，她將雞放到火上去烤，雞漸漸變成棕色，差不多快烤好了，可客人還沒有到。格蕾特對主人喊道：「如果客人還不來，我只好把雞從火上挪開了。但是現(xiàn)在是雞味道最好的時候，不趁這會兒吃簡直太可惜了。主人說：「我這就去把客人接來。說完轉身走了。格蕾特把插著雞的鐵焊放在一邊，想：「老待在火邊讓人又渴又熱。誰知道他們甚么時候才來，還是先到地窖里去拿杯喝的吧。於是，她跑到地窖，端著個大酒壺，說了句「上帝保佑你，格蕾特。就喝了一大口酒。可她覺得酒應該源源不斷地喝才是，於是又痛痛快快喝了一大口。

第7篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

There was a man whose wife died, and a woman whose husband died. The man had a daughter, and the woman also had a daughter. The girls were acquainted with each other and went for a walk together. Afterwards they came to the woman in her house.

The woman said to the man's daughter, "Listen, tell your father that I would like to marry him, and then you shall wash yourself in milk every morning and drink wine, but my own daughter shall wash herself in water and drink water."

The girl went home and told her father what the woman had said.

The man said, "What shall I do? Marriage is a joy, but also a torment1."

Finally, being unable to reach a decision, he pulled off his boot and said, "Take this boot. It has a hole in its sole. Take it to the attic2, hang it on the big nail, and then pour water into it. If it holds the water, then I shall again take a wife, but if the water runs through it, then I shall not."

The girl did as she was told, but the water pulled the hole shut, and the boot filled up to the top. She told her father what had happened. Then he himself went up, and when he saw that she was right, he went to the widow and wooed her, and the wedding was held.

The next morning when the two girls got up, there was milk for the man's daughter to wash in and wine for her to drink, but there was water for the woman's daughter to wash herself with and water for her to drink. On the second morning there was water for washing and water to drink for the man's daughter as well as for the woman's daughter. And on the third morning there was water for washing and water to drink for the man's daughter, and milk for washing and wine to drink for the woman's daughter, and so it continued.

The woman became her stepdaughter's worst enemy, and from one day to the next she did whatever she could to make the stepdaughter's life more miserable3. Furthermore, she was envious4 because her stepdaughter was beautiful and kind, while her own daughter was ugly and disgusting.

Once in winter, when everything was frozen as hard as a stone, and the hills and valleys were covered with snow, the woman made a dress of paper, called her stepdaughter, and said, "Here, put this dress on and go out into the woods and fetch me a basketful of strawberries. I have a longing5 for some."

"Good heaven." said the girl. "Strawberries don't grow in the winter. The ground is frozen, and furthermore the snow has covered everything. And why am I to go out in this paper dress? It is so cold outside that one's breath freezes. The wind will blow through the dress, and the thorns will tear it from my body."

"Will you contradict me?" said the stepmother. "Be on your way, and do not let me see you again until you have the basketful of strawberries." Then she gave her a little piece of hard bread and said, "You can eat from this all day," while thinking, "You will freeze and starve to death out there, and I shall never see you again."

The girl obeyed and put on the paper dress and went out with the basket. There was nothing but snow far and wide, and not a green blade was to be seen. After coming into the woods she saw a small house. Three little dwarfs6 peeped out. She greeted them and gently knocked on the door.

They shouted, "Come in," and she went into the room and sat down on the bench by the stove to warm herself and eat her breakfast.

The dwarfs said, "Give us some of it, too."

"Gladly," she said, and broke her piece of bread in two, giving them half."

They asked, "What are you doing here in the woods in the wintertime and in your thin dress."

"Oh," she answered, "I am supposed to gather a basketful of strawberries, and am not allowed to go home until I have them."

When she had eaten her bread they gave her a broom and said, "Sweep away the snow next to the back door."

Once she was outside, the three little men said to one another, "What shall we give her for being so polite and good and sharing her bread with us."

The first one said, "I grant her that every day she shall grow more beautiful."

The second one said, "I grant her that gold pieces shall fall from her mouth every time she speaks a word."

The third one said, "I grant her that a king shall come and take her to wife."

The girl did what the dwarfs told her to, and with the broom she swept the snow away from behind the little house, and what do you think she found? Nothing other than ripe strawberries, which came up out of the snow quite dark red. Joyfully7 she gathered her basketful, thanked the little men, shook hands with each of them, then ran home to take her stepmother what she had demanded.

Upon entering she said, "Good-evening," and a piece of gold fell out of her mouth. Then she told what had happened to her in the woods, but with every word she spoke8 gold pieces fell from her mouth, and soon the whole room was covered with them.

"Just look at her arrogance," shouted the stepsister, "to throw gold about in such a manner." But she was secretly envious, and she too wanted to go into the woods to look for strawberries.

The mother said, "No, my dear little daughter, it is too cold. You could freeze to death."

However, her daughter gave no peace, so finally the mother gave in. She sewed a magnificent fur coat for her and had her put it on. She gave her buttered bread and cake for her journey.

The girl went into the woods and straight up to the little house. The three little dwarfs peeped out again, but she did not greet them. Without looking at them and without greeting them, she stumbled into the room, sat down by the stove, and began to eat her buttered bread and cake.

"Give us some of it," shouted the little men.#p#

She replied, "There is not enough for me myself. How can I give some of it to others?"

When she was finished eating they said, "Here is a broom for you. Sweep in front of the back door."

"Sweep for yourselves," she answered. "I am not your maid."

Seeing that they were not going to give her anything, she walked out the door.

Then the little men said to one another, "What shall we give her for being so impolite and having a wicked and envious heart that will never let her give a thing to anyone?"

The first one said, "I grant that every day she shall grow uglier."

The second one said, "I grant that a toad9 shall jump out of her mouth with every word she says."

The third one said, "I grant that she shall die an unfortunate death."

The girl looked outside for strawberries, but finding none, she went home angrily. And when she opened her mouth to tell her mother what had happened to her in the woods, a toad jumped out of her mouth with every word she said, so that everyone was repulsed10 by her.

The stepmother now became even more angry, and she could think of nothing else but how she could torment the man's daughter, who nonetheless grew more beautiful every day. Finally she took a kettle, set it on the fire, and boiled yarn11 in it. When it was boiled, she hung it on the poor girl's shoulder, gave her an ax, and told her to go to the frozen river, chop a hole in the ice, and rinse12 the yarn. She obeyed, went to the river and chopped a hole in the ice. While she was chopping, a splendid carriage approached, with the king seated inside.

The carriage stopped, and the king asked, "My child, who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"I am a poor girl, and I am rinsing13 yarn."

The king felt compassion14, and when he saw how very beautiful she was, he said to her, "Will you ride with me?"

"Gladly," she answered, for she was happy to get away from the mother and sister.

So she got into the carriage and rode away with the king. When they arrived at his palace their wedding was celebrated15 with great pomp, just as the little men had promised the girl.

A year later the young queen gave birth to a son, and when the stepmother heard of her good fortune, she came with her daughter to the palace, pretending that she wanted to pay her a visit. But when the king went out, and no one else was present, the wicked woman seized the queen by the head, and her daughter seized her by the feet, and lifting her out of her bed, they threw her out the window into the stream that flowed by.

After that the ugly daughter lay down in the bed, and the old woman covered her up over her head. When the king returned and wanted to speak to his wife, the old woman said, "Quiet. Quiet. You cannot talk to her now. She has a very high fever. You must let her rest today."

The king suspected no evil, and did not return until the next morning. As he then talked with his wife, and she answered him, a toad jumped out with every word, whereas previously16 a piece of gold had fallen out. When he asked what was the matter, the old woman said that it came from her high fever, and that she would soon lose it.

During the night the kitchen boy saw a duck swimming along the gutter17, and it said, "King, what are you doing? Are you awake or are you asleep?"

Receiving no answer, it said, "What are my guests doing?"

Then the kitchen boy answered, "They are fast asleep."

She asked further, "What is my little baby doing?"

He answered, "He is sound asleep in his cradle."

Then, in the form of the queen, she went upstairs, nursed the baby, fluffed up his cover, tucked him in, and then she swam off through the gutter as a duck.

She came in the same manner for two nights. On the third night, she said to the kitchen boy, "Go and tell the king to take his sword and on the threshold to swing it over me three times."

The kitchen boy ran and told this to the king, who came with his sword and swung it over the spirit three times, and after the third time, his wife was standing18 before him, vigorous, alive, and healthy, as she had been before.

The king was elated, but he kept the queen hidden in a room until the Sunday when the baby was to be baptized. At the baptism he said, "What does a person deserve who drags someone out of bed and throws him into the water?"

The old woman answered, "The scoundrel deserves nothing better than to be put into a barrel stuck full of nails, and then rolled downhill into the water."

Then the king said, "You have pronounced your own sentence."

He ordered such a barrel to be brought. The old woman and her daughter were put into it, and the top was hammered shut. Then the barrel was rolled downhill until it fell into the river. #p#

從前，有個男人死了妻子，有個女人死了丈夫。這個男人有個女兒，這個女人也有個女兒。兩個小姑娘互相認識，經常一起出去散步。有一天，她們散完步后一起來到女人的家里，女人對男人的女兒說：「聽著，告訴你爸爸，說我愿意嫁給他，從此你天天早晨都能用牛奶洗臉，還能喝上葡萄酒，而我自己的女兒只能用水洗臉，也只能喝清水。小姑娘回到家中，把女人的話告訴了她爸爸。男人說：「我該怎么辦呢？結婚是喜事，可也會帶來痛苦。他遲遲拿不定主意，最后脫下一只靴子，說：「這只靴子的底上有個洞。你把它拎到閣樓上去，把它掛在一根大釘子上，然后往里面灌些水。要是水沒有漏出來，我就再娶個妻子；可要是水漏了出來，我就不娶。姑娘按她父親所說的辦了。可是水使得洞脹攏了，靴子里灌滿了水也沒有漏出來。她把結果告訴了她父親，父親又親自上來察看，看到情況果然如此，便去向那寡婦求婚，然后舉行了婚禮。

第一天早晨，兩個姑娘起來后，在男人的女兒的面前果然放著洗臉的牛奶和喝的葡萄酒，而在女人的女兒的面前放著的只有洗臉的清水和喝的清水。第二天早晨，男人的女兒和女人的女兒的面前都放著洗臉的清水和喝的清水。到了第三天早晨，男人的女兒的面前放著洗臉用的清水和喝的清水，而女人的女兒的面前卻放著洗臉用的牛奶和喝的葡萄酒。以后天天都是這樣。那女人成了她繼女的死敵，對她一天壞似一天，她還萬分嫉妒她的繼女，因為她的繼女美麗可愛，而她自己的女兒又丑又令人討厭。

冬天到了，一切都凍得像石頭一樣硬，山頂和山谷都被大雪覆蓋著。一天，女人用紙做了件衣服，把她的繼女叫過來，說：「聽著，你穿上這件衣服，到森林里去給我採一籃草莓，我很想吃。「天哪！姑娘說，「冬天怎么會有草莓呢？地上都結了冰，大雪把一切都蓋住了，再說，我怎么能穿著這身紙衣服出去呢？外面冷得連呼出的氣都能凍起來。風會往這衣服里面吹，荊棘也會把它掛破的。「你敢跟我頂嘴？繼母說，「你快給我去！要是沒有採到一籃草莓，你就別想回來！然后她又給姑娘一小塊硬梆梆的麵包，說：「這是你一天的口糧，心里卻在想：「你在外面不會凍死也會餓死的，別想再回來煩我。

姑娘只好順從地穿上紙衣服，提著籃子走了出去。外面一片冰天雪地，連一棵綠草都找不到。她來到森林里后，看到一座小房子，里面有三個小矮人在向外張望。她向他們問好，然后輕輕地敲了敲門。他們叫「進來，她便走進屋，坐在爐子旁的長凳上烤火，吃她的早飯。小矮人們說：「也分一點給我們吧。「好的，她說著便把麵包掰成兩半，給了他們一半。他們問：「你大冬天穿著這身薄薄的衣服到森林里來干嗎？「唉，她回答，「我得採一籃草莓，否則我就回不了家了。等她吃完麵包后，他們遞給她一把掃帚，說：「去幫我們把后門的雪掃掉吧。可等她出去后，三個小矮人卻商量了起來：「她這么可愛，又把麵包分給了我們，我們送她甚么好呢？第一個矮人說：「我送給她的禮物是：她一天比一天更美麗。第二個矮人說：「我送給她的禮物是：她一開口說話就吐出金子來。第三個矮人說：「我送給她的禮物是：一個國王娶她當王后。

姑娘這時正按照他們的吩咐，用掃帚把小屋后面的雪掃掉。她看到了甚么？雪下面露出了紅彤彤的草莓！她高興極了，趕緊裝了滿滿一籃子，謝了小矮人，還和他們一一握手道別，然后帶著她繼母垂涎的東西跑回家去了。誰知，她進門剛說了聲「晚上好，嘴里就掉出來一塊金子！於是，她把自己在森林里遇到的事情講了出來，而且每講一句，嘴里就掉出來一塊金子，弄得家里很快就堆滿了金子。「瞧她那副德行！繼母的女兒嚷道，「就這樣亂扔金子！她心里嫉妒得要命，也渴望著到森林里去採草莓。她母親卻說：「不行，我的好女兒，外面太冷了，你會凍死的。可是她女兒纏著不放，她最后只好讓步。她給女兒縫了件皮襖，硬要她穿上；然后又給她抹了黃油的麵包和蛋糕，讓她帶著路上吃。

這個姑娘進了森林之后，逕直向小屋走去。三個小矮人又在屋里向外張望，可是她根本不和他們打招呼，既不看他們，也不和他們說話，大搖大擺地走進屋，一屁股坐到爐子旁，吃起自己的麵包和蛋糕來。「分一點給我們吧，小矮人們說；可是她卻回答：「這都不夠我自己吃的，怎么能分給別人呢？等她吃完，他們又說：「這里有把掃帚，把后門的雪掃乾凈。她回答：「我又不是你們的傭人。看到他們不會給她任何禮物了，她便自己沖出了屋子。三個小矮人商量道：「像她這種壞心腸的小懶鬼，又不肯施舍給別人東西，我們該送她甚么呢？第一個矮人說：「我讓她長得一天比一天丑！第二個矮人說：「我讓她一開口說話就從嘴里跳出一只癩蛤蟆！第三個矮人說：「我讓她不得好死！姑娘在屋外找草莓，可一個也找不到，只好氣鼓鼓地回家去了。她開口給母親講自己在森林里的遭遇，可是，她每講一句話，嘴里就跳出來一只癩蛤蟆，把大家都嚇壞了。#p#

這一來繼母更是氣壞了，千方百計地盤算著怎么折磨丈夫的女兒，可是這姑娘卻長得一天比一天更美。終於，繼母取出一只鍋子，架在火堆上，在里面煮線團。線團煮過之后，她把它撈出來，搭在姑娘的肩膀上，然后又給姑娘一把斧頭，讓她去結冰的小河，在冰面上鑿一個洞，在洞里漂洗線團。姑娘順從地來到河邊，走到河中央鑿冰。她正鑿著，岸上駛來了一輛華麗的馬車，里面坐著國王。馬車停了下來，國王問：「姑娘，你是誰？在這里干甚么？「我是個可憐的女孩，在這里漂洗線團。國王很同情她，而且又看到她長得這么美麗，便對她說：「你愿意和我一起走嗎？「當然愿意啦。她回答，因為她非常高興能離開繼母和繼母的女兒。姑娘坐到國王的馬車上，和國王一起回到宮中。他倆立刻就舉行了婚禮，正像三個小矮人許諾過的一樣。一年后，年輕的王后生下了一個兒子。她的繼母早已聽說她交上了好運，這時也帶著親生女兒來到王宮，假裝是來看王后的。可是看到國王剛出去，而且旁邊又沒有別人，這壞心腸的女人就抓住王后的頭，她的女兒抓住王后的腳，把她從床上抬下來，從窗口把她扔進了外面的大河里。然后，繼母的丑女兒躺在床上，老婆子從頭到腳把她蓋了起來。當國王回到房間，想和他的妻子說話的時候，老婆子叫了起來：「噓，唬，不要打攪她，她現(xiàn)在正在發(fā)汗。今天不要打攪她。國王絲毫沒有懷疑，一直等到第二天早晨才過來。他和妻子說話，誰知她剛開口，嘴里就跳出來一只癩蛤蟆，而不像從前那樣掉出金子來。國王問這是怎么回事，老婆子便說這是發(fā)汗發(fā)出來的，很快就會好的。但是當天夜里，王宮里的小幫工看見一只鴨子從下水道里游了出來，而且聽見它說：

「國王，你在做甚么？

你是睡著了還是醒著？

看到小幫工沒有回答，它又說：

「我的兩位客人在做甚么？

小幫工說：

「她們睡熟了。

鴨子又問：

「我的小寶寶在做甚么？

小幫工回答：

第8篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and only one goat. But as the goat supported all of them with her milk, she was obliged to have good food, and to be taken every day to pasture. The sons did this, in turn.

Once the eldest1 took her to the churchyard, where the finest herbs were to be found, and let her eat and run about there. At night when it was time to go home he asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"

The goat answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

"Come home, then," said the youth, and took hold of the cord around her neck, led her into the stable, and tied her up securely.

"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had as much food as she ought?"

"Oh," answered the son, "she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."

But the father wished to satisfy himself, and went down to the stable, stroked the dear animal, and asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?"

The goat answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

"What do I hear?" cried the tailor, and ran upstairs and said to the youth, "Hey, you liar2, you said the goat had had enough, and have let her hunger." And in his anger he took the yardstick3 from the wall, and drove him out with blows.

Next day it was the turn of the second son, who sought a place next to the garden hedge where nothing but good herbs grew, and the goat gobbled them all up. At night when he wanted to go home, he asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?" I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

"Come home then," said the youth, and led her home, and tied her up in the stable.

"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had as much food as she ought?"

"Oh," answered the son, "she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."

The tailor would not rely on this, but went down to the stable and said, "Goat, have you had enough?"

The goat answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

"The godless wretch4!" cried the tailor, to let such a good animal hunger, and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with the yardstick.

Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do his duty well, and sought out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let the goat devour5 them. In the evening when he wanted to go home, he asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"

The goat answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

"Come home then," said the youth, and led her into the stable, and tied her up.

"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had her full share of food?"

"She has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."

The tailor was distrustful, went down, and asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"

The wicked beast answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

"Oh, the brood of liars6!" cried the tailor, "Each as wicked and forgetful of his duty as the other. You shall no longer make a fool of me!" And quite beside himself with anger, he ran upstairs and tanned the poor young fellow's back so vigorously with the yardstick that he leaped out of the house.

The old tailor was now alone with his goat. Next morning he went down into the stable, stroked the goat and said, "Come, my dear little animal, I myself will take you to feed." He took her by the rope and led her to green hedges, and amongst yarrow and whatever else goats like to eat. "Here you may for once eat to your heart's content," he said to her, and let her browse7 till evening. Then he asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?"

She answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!

"Come home then," said the tailor, and led her into the stable, and tied her fast. When he was going away, he turned around again and said, "Well, are you satisfied for once?"

But the goat behaved no better for him, and cried, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!

When the tailor heard that, he was shocked, and saw clearly that he had driven away his three sons without cause. "Wait, you ungrateful creature," he cried, "it is not enough to drive you away, I will brand you so that you will no more dare to show yourself amongst honest tailors." He quickly ran upstairs, fetched his razor, lathered8 the goat's head, and shaved her as clean as the palm of his hand. And as the yardstick would have been too honorable for her, he grabbed a whip, and gave her such blows with it that she bounded away with tremendous leaps.

When the tailor was thus left quite alone in his house he fell into great grief, and would gladly have had his sons back again, but no one knew where they were gone.

The eldest had apprenticed9 himself to a joiner, and learned industriously10 and tirelessly, and when the time came for him to be on his way, his master presented him with a little table which was not particularly beautiful, and was made of common wood, but which had one good property. If anyone set it out, and said, "table be set," the good little table was at once covered with a clean little cloth, and a plate was there, and a knife and fork beside it, and dishes with boiled meats and roasted meats, as many as there was room for, and a great glass of red wine shone, so that it made the heart glad.

The young journeyman thought, "With this you have enough for your whole life," and went joyously11 about the world and never troubled himself at all whether an inn was good or bad, or if anything was to be found in it or not. When it suited him, he did not enter an inn at all, but either on the plain, in a wood, a meadow, or wherever he fancied, he took his little table off his back, set it down before him, and said, "table be set," and then everything appeared that his heart desired.

At length he took it into his head to go back to his father, whose anger would now be appeased12, and who would now willingly receive him with his magic table. It came to pass that on his way home, he came one evening to an inn which was filled with guests. They bade him welcome, and invited him to sit and eat with them, for otherwise he would have difficulty in getting anything.

"No," answered the joiner, "I will not take the few morsels13 out of your mouths. Rather than that, you shall be my guests."

They laughed, and thought he was jesting with them. He but placed his wooden table in the middle of the room, and said, "Table be set." Instantly it was covered with food, so good that the host could never have procured14 it, and the smell of it ascended15 pleasantly to the nostrils16 of the guests.

"Fall to, dear friends," said the joiner, and the guests when they saw that he meant it, did not need to be asked twice, but drew near, pulled out their knives and attacked it valiantly17. And what surprised them the most was that when a dish became empty, a full one instantly took its place of its own accord.

The innkeeper stood in one corner and watched the affair. He did not at all know what to say, but thought, "You could easily find a use for such a cook as that in your household."

The joiner and his comrades made merry until late into the night. At length they lay down to sleep, and the young journeyman also went to bed, and set his magic table against the wall. The host's thoughts, however, let him have no rest. It occurred to him that there was a little old table in his backroom which looked just like the journeyman's and he brought it out, and carefully exchanged it for the wishing table. Next morning the joiner paid for his bed, took up his table, never thinking that he had got a false one, and went his way.

At midday he reached his father, who received him with great joy. "Well, my dear son, what have you learned?" he said to him.

"Father, I have become a joiner."

"A good trade," replied the old man. "But what have you brought back with you from your apprenticeship18?"

"Father, the best thing which I have brought back with me is this little table."

The tailor inspected it on all sides and said, "You did not make a masterpiece when you made this. It is a bad old table."

"But it is a table-be-set," replied the son. "When I set it out, and tell it to set itself, the most beautiful dishes immediately appear on it, and wine also, which gladdens the heart. Just invite all our relatives and friends. They shall refresh and enjoy themselves for once, for the table will fill them all."

When the company was assembled, he put his table in the middle of the room and said, "Table be set," but the little table did not move, and remained just as bare as any other table which does not understand language. Then the poor journeyman became aware that his table had been changed, and was ashamed at having to stand there like a liar. The relatives, however, mocked him, and were forced to go home without having eaten or drunk.

The father brought out his scraps19 again, and went on tailoring, but the son found work with a master joiner.

The second son had gone to a miller20 and had apprenticed himself to him. When his years were over, the master said, "As you have conducted yourself so well, I give you a donkey of a peculiar21 kind, which neither draws a cart nor carries a sack."

"What good is he then?" asked the young journeyman.

"He spews forth22 gold," answered the miller. "If you set him on a cloth and say 'Bricklebrit,' the good animal will spew forth gold pieces for you from back and front."

"That is a fine thing," said the journeyman, and thanked the master, and went out into the world. When he had need of gold, he had only to say "Bricklebrit" to his donkey, and it rained gold pieces, and he had nothing to do but pick them off the ground. Wherever he went, the best of everything was good enough for him, and the more expensive the better, for he had always a full purse. When he had looked about the world for some time, he thought, "You must seek out your father. If you go to him with the gold-donkey he will forget his anger, and receive you well."

It came to pass that he came to the same inn in which his brother's table had been exchanged. He led his donkey by the bridle23, and the host was about to take the animal from him and tie him up, but the young journeyman said, "Don't trouble yourself, I will take my nag24 into the stable, and tie him up myself too, for I must know where he is."

This struck the host as odd, and he thought that a man who was forced to look after his donkey himself, could not have much to spend. But when the stranger put his hand in his pocket and brought out two gold pieces, and said he was to provide something good for him, the host opened his eyes wide, and ran and sought out the best he could muster25. After dinner the guest asked what he owed. The innkeeper did not see why he should not double the bill, and said the journeyman must give two more gold pieces. He felt in his pocket, but his gold was just at an end.

"Wait an instant, sir," said he, "I will go and fetch some money." But he took the tablecloth26 with him. The innkeeper could not imagine what this meant, and being curious, stole after him, and as the guest bolted the stable door, he peeped through a hole left by a knot in the wood.

The stranger spread out the cloth under the animal and cried, "Bricklebrit," and immediately the beast began to let gold pieces fall from back and front, so that it fairly rained down money onto the ground.

"Eh, my word," said the innkeeper. "Ducats are quickly coined there. A purse like that is not bad." The guest paid his bill and went to bed, but in the night the innkeeper stole down into the stable, led away the master of the mint, and tied up another donkey in his place.

Early next morning the journeyman traveled away with his donkey, and thought that he had his gold-donkey. At midday he reached his father, who rejoiced to see him again, and gladly took him in.

"What have you made of yourself, my son?" asked the old man.

"A miller, dear father," he answered.

"What have you brought back with you from your travels."

"Nothing else but a donkey."

"There are donkeys enough here," said the father, "I would rather have had a good goat."

"Yes," replied the son, "but it is no common donkey, but a gold-donkey. When I say 'Bricklebrit' the good beast spews forth a whole sheetful of gold pieces. Just summon all our relatives here, and I will make them rich folks."

"That suits me well," said the tailor, "for then I shall have no need to torment27 myself any longer with the needle," and he himself ran out and called the relatives together. As soon as they were assembled, the miller bade them make way, spread out his cloth, and brought the donkey into the room.

"Now watch," said he, and cried, "Bricklebrit," but what fell were not gold pieces, and it was clear that the animal knew nothing of the art, for not every donkey attains28 such perfection. Then the poor miller made a long face, saw that he had been betrayed, and begged pardon of the relatives, who went home as poor as they came. There was no help for it, the old man had to take up his needle once more, and the youth hired himself to a miller.

The third brother had apprenticed himself to a turner, and as that is skilled labor29, he was the longest in learning. His brothers, however, told him in a letter how badly things had gone with them, and how the innkeeper had cheated them of their beautiful wishing gifts on the last evening before they reached home. When the turner had served his time, and was about to set forth, as he had conducted himself so well, his master presented him with a sack saying, "There is a cudgel in it."

"I can take the sack with me," said he, "and it may serve me well, but why should the cudgel be in it. It only makes it heavy."

"I will tell you why," replied the master. "If anyone has done anything to injure you, do but say, 'Cudgel out of the sack,' and the cudgel will leap forth among the people, and play such a dance on their backs that they will not be able to stir or move for a week. And it will not quit until you say, 'Cudgel into the sack.'"

The journeyman thanked him, and put the sack on his back, and when anyone came too near him and wished to attack him, he said, "Cudgel out of the sack," and instantly the cudgel sprang out and beat the dust out of their coats and jackets, right on their backs, not waiting until they had taken them off, and it was done so quickly, that before anyone was aware, it was already his own turn.

In the evening the young turner reached the inn where his brothers had been cheated. He laid his sack on the table before him, and began to talk of all the wonderful things which he had seen in the world. "Yes," said he, "table-be-sets, gold-donkeys, and things of that kind —— extremely good things which I by no means despise —— but these are nothing in comparison with the treasure which I have obtained and am carrying about with me here in my sack."

The innkeeper pricked30 up his ears. "What in the world can that be?" he thought. "The sack must be filled with nothing but jewels. I ought to get them cheap too, for all good things come in threes."

When it was time for sleep, the guest stretched himself out on the bench, laying his sack beneath him for a pillow. When the innkeeper thought his guest was lying in a sound sleep, he went to him and pushed and pulled quite gently and carefully at the sack to see if he could possibly take it away and lay another in its place.

The turner, however, had been waiting for this for a long time, and now just as the innkeeper was about to give a hearty31 tug32, he cried, "Cudgel out of the sack!"

Instantly the little cudgel came forth, and falling on the innkeeper gave him a sound thrashing. The innkeeper cried for mercy, but the louder he cried, the harder the cudgel beat the time on his back, until at length he fell to the ground exhausted33.

Then the turner said, "If you do not give back the table-be-set and the gold-donkey, the dance shall start again from the beginning."

"Oh, no!" cried the innkeeper, quite humbly34, "I will gladly give everything back, only make the accursed kobold creep back into the sack."

Then the journeyman said, "I will let mercy take the place of justice, but beware of getting into mischief35 again" Then he cried, "Cudgel into the sack," and let him rest.

Next morning the turner went home to his father with the table-be-set, and the gold-donkey. The tailor rejoiced when he saw him once more, and asked him likewise what he had learned in foreign parts. "Dear father," said he, "I have become a turner."

"A skilled trade," said the father. "What have you brought back with you from your travels?"

"A precious thing, dear father," replied the son, "a cudgel in the sack."

"What!" cried the father, "A cudgel! That's worth your trouble! From every tree you can cut yourself one."

"But not one like this, dear father. If I say, 'Cudgel out of the sack,' the cudgel springs out and leads anyone ill-disposed toward me a weary dance, and never stops until he lies on the ground and prays for fair weather. Look you, with this cudgel have I rescued the table-be-set and the gold-donkey which the thievish innkeeper took away from my brothers. Now let them both be sent for, and invite all our relatives. I will give them to eat and to drink, and will fill their pockets with gold as well."

The old tailor had not much confidence. Nevertheless he summoned the relatives together. Then the turner spread a cloth in the room and led in the gold-donkey, and said to his brother, "Now, dear brother, speak to him."

The miller said, "Bricklebrit," and instantly the gold pieces rained down on the cloth like a cloudburst, and the donkey did not stop until every one of them had so much that he could carry no more. (I can see by your face that you would have liked to be there as well.)

Then the turner brought out the little table and said, "Now, dear brother, speak to it." And scarcely had the joiner said, "Table be set," than it was spread and amply covered with the most exquisite36 dishes. Then such a meal took place as the good tailor had never yet known in his house, and the whole party of relatives stayed together until after nightfall, and were all merry and glad. The tailor locked his needle and thread and yardstick and pressing iron into a chest, and lived with his three sons in joy and splendor37.

What, however, happened to the goat who was to blame for the tailor driving out his three sons? That I will tell you.

She was ashamed that she had a bald head, and ran to a fox's hole and crept into it. When the fox came home, he was met by two great eyes shining out of the darkness, and was terrified and ran away. A bear met him, and as the fox looked quite disturbed, he said, "What is the matter with you, Brother Fox, why do you look like that?"

"Ah," answered Redskin, "a fierce beast is in my cave and stared at me with its fiery38 eyes."

"We will soon drive him out," said the bear, and went with him to the cave and looked in, but when he saw the fiery eyes, fear seized on him likewise. He would have nothing to do with the furious beast, and took to his heels.

The bee met him, and as she saw that he was ill at ease, she said, "Bear, you are really pulling a very pitiful face. What has become of all your cheerfulness?"

"It is all very well for you to talk," replied the bear. "A furious beast with staring eyes is in Redskin's house, and we can't drive him out."

The bee said, "Bear, I pity you. I am a poor weak creature whom you would not turn aside to look at, but still, I believe I can help you." She flew into the fox's cave, lit on the goat's smoothly39 shorn head, and stung her so violently, that she sprang up, crying "meh, meh," and ran forth into the world as if mad, and to this hour no one knows where she has gone.

很久以前有個裁縫，他有三個兒子。家里養(yǎng)了一頭羊，全家人靠羊奶生活，所以必須把它喂好養(yǎng)好。三個兒子輪流去放羊。一天，大兒子把羊趕到了教堂的院子里，因為那里的草長得十分茂盛。羊一邊吃草一邊歡蹦亂跳，傍晚，該回家了，大兒子問羊：「你吃飽了嗎？羊兒回答：

「我已經吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

咩……咩……

「那我們回家吧。男孩說著就拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，并把它拴進棚里。

老裁縫問：「羊吃飽了沒有？

「它吃得很飽，一根都吃不下了。父親想證實一下，於是來到羊圈，撫摸著心愛的牲口問：「羊啊，你吃飽了沒有？

「我哪里能吃得飽？

跳越小溝一道道，沒見到一根草。

咩……咩……

「太不像話了！老裁縫喊著跑上樓質問兒子：「你這小子！你說羊吃飽了，可它明明餓著！一氣之下，他從墻上取下板尺，將兒子一陣痛打趕出了家門。

第二天輪到二兒子放羊。他在花園的籬笆旁找到一片肥嫩的鮮草，羊兒一點一點的全吃光了。傍晚，男孩想回家，就問羊：「你吃飽了嗎？羊兒回答：

「我已經吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

咩……咩……

「那我們回家吧。男孩說著就拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，又拴好了。

老裁縫問：「羊吃飽了沒有？

「它吃得很飽，一根都吃不下了。但父親不信，於是來到羊圈，撫摸著心愛的牲口問：「羊啊，你吃飽了沒有？

「我哪里能吃得飽？

跳越小溝一道道，沒見到一根草。

咩……咩……

「這個壞蛋！難道想把這溫馴的牲口餓死嗎？他叫著跑上樓，用板尺將年輕人趕了出去。

現(xiàn)在輪到第三個兒子去放羊了。他想把事情做好，於是找到一片水草茂盛的灌木叢，讓羊在那里吃個夠。晚上他想回家時問：「你吃飽了嗎？羊兒回答：

「我已經吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

咩……咩……

「那我們回家吧。男孩說著拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，也拴好了。

老裁縫問：「羊喂飽了沒有？

「它吃得很飽，一根都吃不下了。裁縫不信，於是來到羊圈，問：「羊啊，你吃飽了沒有？

「我哪里能吃得飽？

跳越小溝一道道，沒見到一根草。

咩……咩……

「唉呀，這個騙人精！一個比一個不負責任！別想再欺騙我！他氣得不得了，跑上樓用板尺狠狠地抽打孩子，使他不得不逃出了家門。

家里只剩下他和羊了。第二天一早，他來到羊圈，撫摸著羊說：「走吧，親愛的小羊。我要親自帶你上牧場。他牽著繩子，帶著羊來到綠油油的草地。那里生長著氏草以及各種羊愛吃的草。「這下你可以吃個心滿意足了。他對羊說。他讓羊吃到夜幕降臨時分，然后問：「羊啊，你吃飽了嗎？羊回答說：

「我已經吃了許多，一根都不想再碰。

咩……咩……

「那我們回家吧。老裁縫說著拉起繩子，牽著羊回家，并拴好了。

臨走，老裁縫回頭說：「這下你總算吃飽了！但是羊并沒給他滿意的回答，說：

「我哪里能吃得飽？

跳越小溝一道道，沒見到一根草。

咩……咩……

裁縫聽了大吃一驚，他立刻認識到自己錯怪了三個兒子，便喊道：「等著瞧，你這沒良心的傢伙！趕走你也太便宜你了，我要在你身上做個記號，讓你沒臉見誠實的裁縫！

他匆匆上樓，拿來一把剃鬚刀，在羊頭上抹上肥皂，將羊頭剃得像手掌心一樣光。裁縫認為用板尺打它還太便宜了它，於是取出鞭子，狠狠地抽打起羊來，羊發(fā)瘋似地逃走了。

裁縫孤身一人在家，心里十分難過。想讓兒子們回來，又不知他們的去向。大兒子到了一個木匠那里當學徒，他非常努力、刻苦，期滿之后，師傅在他臨行前送給他一張小餐桌。桌子是用普通木料做成的，外表也不漂亮，看不出有甚么特別。但是只要把小桌放在那兒，對它說：「小餐桌，快撐開，聽話的小餐桌就會馬上鋪好潔白的桌布，擺好刀叉，一盤盤煮的、烤的美味佳餚便擺滿小桌，還有一大杯美酒使人心花怒放。年輕人想：「夠我一輩子享用的了。於是心情愉快地周游起世界來，根本不用考慮旅館是不是好，有沒有飯菜供應。有時他乾脆不住客棧，在田野、森林或草原上隨便一個讓他高興的地方呆下來，從背上取下小桌擺在面前，說一聲：「小餐桌，快撐開。愛吃甚么就有甚么。他就這么過了一段日子。后來他想該回到父親身邊去了，父親也早該消氣了，再說他帶著這張會自動擺酒菜的餐桌回家，父親一定會高興地接待他的。歸途中的一個晚上，他走進一家旅店，那里剛巧住滿了，但人們歡迎他，請他一道吃飯，說否則就沒吃的了。

木匠回答說：「不用了，我不愿意從你們嘴里搶東西吃，寧可請你們跟我一塊兒吃。旅客們哈哈大笑，說他真會開玩笑。他將小餐桌擺到房間中央，說：「小餐桌，快撐開！頓時，一桌豐盛的酒菜出現(xiàn)了，店主可沒法做到這樣。木匠說：「朋友們，動手啊！客人們一看他是真心誠意的，便不再客氣，挪近餐桌，拿起刀叉大吃起來。最讓他們驚奇的是每當一碗吃完時，立刻就會有一只盛得滿滿的碗自動替換空碗。店主站在一個角落里看呆了，簡直不知道說甚么好。他想：「假如我的店里也有這么個寶貝就好了。

木匠和那些朋友們高興地吃喝著，直到深夜。后來大家都去睡覺了，年輕人把小魔桌靠在墻上，也睡了。店主卻無法入睡，他想起儲藏室里有張小桌樣子很像那張魔桌，於是拿出來，小心翼翼地將魔桌換走了。

第二天早上，木匠付了房錢，背上小餐桌繼續(xù)趕路，他壓根兒沒想到這張小桌已是假的了。

中午時分，他回到父親身邊。父親見了他也格外高興，問：「親愛的兒子，你都學了點甚么？「我學會了做木工。「這可是門有用的手藝，你學徒回來帶了點啥？「我?guī)Щ貋淼淖詈玫臇|西就數(shù)這張小餐桌了。裁縫把餐桌四面打量了一下，說：「你做得不怎么樣呢。這是張又舊又破的桌子。兒子回答說：「但是這張桌子會自動擺出酒菜來呢。只要我擺好桌子，對它說：'小餐桌，快撐開！'小桌上就會擺滿美味佳餚和令人胃口大開的美酒。把我們的親戚朋友都請來，讓他們也盡情享受一下吧，桌上的東西可以讓大家都吃個夠。

大家都應邀而來，他將桌子擺在房子中央，說：「小餐桌，快撐開！可小桌毫無反應，桌上仍是空空如也，和其他桌子一樣。這位可憐的小伙子這才發(fā)現(xiàn)桌子被人調包了。他萬分羞愧，覺得自己好像是個騙子。親戚們也嘲笑他，然后既沒吃也沒喝就回去了。父親又重操舊業(yè)維持生計，小伙子也到一個師傅那兒干活去了。

再說二兒子來到一個磨坊師傅那里當學徒。期滿時，師傅說：「因為你表現(xiàn)很好，我送你一頭驢。它既不拉車也不馱東西。「那它會干甚么呢？小伙子問。「它會吐金子。只要你將它牽到一塊布上對它說：'布里科布里特'，它前面吐的后面拉的全是金幣。「這真是個寶貝。於是他謝過師傅，就去周游世界了。每當需要錢用時，他就對驢子說「布里科布里特，金幣就像下雨一般落下來，他只需要從地上撿起來就是了。不管走到哪兒，他總是要最好的、最貴的東西，因為他的錢包總是鼓鼓的。這樣過了一段日子后，他想：我該回去看看父親了，我?guī)线@金驢子回去，他一定不會再生氣，而且會好好款待我的。

他剛巧來到他兄弟曾住過的那家旅店，就是偷換了小餐桌的那家。當?shù)曛饕舆^他手中的韁繩拴牲口時，他緊緊抓住韁繩說：「不用了，我自己牽它去牲口棚吧。我知道它必須拴在甚么地方。

店主人感到很奇怪，認為一個要親自照料牲口的人準沒甚么錢。可是當陌生人從口袋里掏出兩塊金幣，讓他去給他買些好吃的東西時，店主驚愕得瞪大了眼睛，然后跑出去為他買了最好的食品。吃過之后，客人問還欠多少錢，店主想要雙倍的價錢，就說還得多付幾個金幣。小伙子伸手到口袋里去掏，可錢剛好用完了。

「店主先生，請您稍等片刻，我去取錢來。說完就拿起一塊臺布走了。

店主不知道這是甚么意思，很好奇地悄悄跟在后面想看個究竟。因為客人把牲口棚的門閂上了，他只好從墻上的一個小孔往里看。只見陌生人將桌布鋪在地上，讓驢子站在上面，喊了聲「布里科布里特，驢子立刻前吐后拉，金幣像雨點般落下。

「天哪！金幣轉眼就鑄好了，這樣的錢包可真不賴呢！

客人付完房錢躺下睡了。夜里，店主偷偷溜進牲口棚，牽走了「錢大王，而在原來的地方拴了一匹普通驢子。第二天一大早，小伙子牽著驢子走了，以為自己牽的是金驢。中午時分，他來到了父親身邊，父親見到他十分快樂，很愿意讓他回家。

老人問：「孩子，你現(xiàn)在做哪一行？兒子回答說：「親愛的爸爸，我是磨坊師傅了。「你旅行回來帶了甚么回家？「帶了一頭驢子。父親說：「這里多的是毛驢，我情愿要頭溫馴的羊。兒子說：「可我?guī)Щ貋淼牟皇瞧胀H子，而是一頭金驢。只要我對它說：'布里科布里特'，這頭聽話的牲口就會吐出滿滿一包金子。你把親戚們都找來，我讓他們都成為富翁。裁縫說：「我很樂意。這樣我就不用再操針線勞頓了。他自己跑去將親戚都找了來，等大家到齊后，磨坊師傅讓他們坐下，在地上鋪了一塊布，把驢子牽了進來。「現(xiàn)在請注意！說著他對驢子喊了聲「布里科布里特。然而驢子沒吐也沒拉出任何金幣，說明這牲口對此一竅不通，因為并非所有驢子都能吐出金幣的。這位可憐的磨坊師傅拉長了臉，知道被騙了，於是請求親友們原諒。他們散去時和來的時候一樣窮。

且說老三在一個旋工那兒當學徒，因為這門手藝技術性強，他學的時間也最長。他的兩個哥哥在一封信中將他們的不幸遭遇告訴了他，說他們在回家前最后一夜住的那家旅店的店主如何偷換了他們的寶物。出師時，因為他學得好，師傅送給他一個口袋，對他說：「口袋里有根棍。「口袋或許有用，我可以帶上，可棍子除了增加我的負擔還有甚么用？師傅回答說：「我這就告訴你，如果有人欺負了你，只要說聲'棍子，出袋！'它就會自動跳出來，在欺負你的人背上亂敲亂打，讓他們一個星期都動彈不得。直到你說'棍子，回袋！'它才會打住。

第9篇

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Once upon a time there was a rich man who had a servant who served him diligently1 and honestly. Every morning he was the first one out of bed, and at night the last one to go to bed. Whenever there was a difficult job that nobody wanted to do, he was always the first to volunteer. He never complained at any of this, but was contented2 with everything and always happy.

When his year was over, his master gave him no wages, thinking, "That is the smartest thing to do, for it will save me something. He won't leave me, but will gladly stay here working for me."

The servant said nothing, but did his work the second year as he had done before, and when at the end of this year he again received no wages, he still stayed on without complaining. When the third year had passed, the master thought it over, then put his hand into his pocket, but pulled out nothing.

However, this time the servant said, "Master, I have served you honestly for three years. Be so good as to give me what by rights I have coming to me. I would like to be on my way and see something else of the world."

"Yes, my good servant," answered the old miser3, "you have served me without complaint, and you shall be kindly4 rewarded."

With this he put his hand into his pocket, then counted out three hellers one at a time, saying, "There, you have a heller for each year. That is a large and generous reward. Only a few masters would pay you this much."

The good servant, who understood little about money, put his wealth into his pocket, and thought, "Ah, now that I have a full purse, why should I worry and continue to plague myself with hard work?"

So he set forth5, uphill and down, singing and jumping for joy.

Now it came to pass that as he was passing by a thicket6 a little dwarf7 stepped out, and called to him, "Where are you headed, Brother Merry? You don't seem to be burdened down with cares."

"Why should I be sad?" answered the servant. "I have everything I need. Three years' wages are jingling8 in my pocket.

"How much is your treasure?" the dwarf asked him.

"How much? Three hellers in real money, precisely9 counted."

"Listen," said the dwarf, "I am a poor and needy10 man. Give me your three hellers. I can no longer work, but you are young and can easily earn your bread."

Now because the servant had a good heart and felt pity for the dwarf, he gave him his three hellers, saying, "In God's name, I won't miss them."

Then the dwarf said, "Because I see that you have a good heart I will grant you three wishes, one for each heller. They shall all be fulfilled."

"Aha," said the servant. "You are a miracle worker. Well, then, if it is to be so, first of all I wish for a blowpipe that will hit everything I aim at; second, for a fiddle11, that when I play it, anyone who hears it will have to dance; and third, that whenever I ask a favor of anyone, it will be granted."

"You shall have all that," said the dwarf. He reached into the bush, and what do you think, there lay a fiddle and a blowpipe, all ready, just as if they had been ordered. He gave them to the servant, saying, "No one will ever be able to deny any request that you might make."

"What more could my heart desire?" said the servant to himself, and went merrily on his way.

Soon afterward12 he met a Jew with a long goatee, who was standing13 listening to a bird singing high up in the top of a tree.

"One of God's own miracles," he shouted, "that such a small creature should have such a fearfully loud voice. If only it were mine! If only someone would sprinkle some salt on its tail!"

"If that is all you want," said the servant, "then the bird shall soon be down here." He took aim, hit it precisely, and the bird fell down into a thorn hedge.

"Rogue14," he said to the Jew, "Go and fetch the bird out for yourself."

"My goodness," said the Jew, "don't call me a rogue, sir, but I will be the dog and get the bird out for myself. After all, you're the one who shot it."

Then he lay down on the ground and began crawling into the thicket. When he was in the middle of the thorns, the good servant could not resist the temptation to pick up his fiddle and begin to play.

The Jew's legs immediately began to move, and he jumped up. The more the servant fiddled15 the better went the dance. However, the thorns ripped apart the Jew's shabby coat, combed his beard, and pricked16 and pinched him all over his body.

"My goodness," cried the Jew, "what do I want with your fiddling17? Stop playing, sir. I don't want to dance."

But the servant did not listen to him, and thought, "You have fleeced people often enough, and now the thorn hedge shall do the same to you." He began to play all over again, so that the Jew had to jump even higher, leaving scraps18 from his coat hanging on the thorns.

"Oh, woe19 is me!" cried the Jew. "I will give the gentleman anything he asks, if only he quits fiddling, even a purse filled with gold."

"If you are so generous," said the servant, "then I will stop my music. But I must praise the singular way that you dance to it." Then he took his purse he went on his way.

The Jew stood there quietly watching the servant until he was far off and out of sight, and then he screamed out with all his might, "You miserable20 musician, you beer-house fiddler! Wait until I catch you alone. I will chase you until you wear the soles off your shoes. You ragamuffin, just put a groschen in your mouth, so that you will be worth six hellers." He continued to curse as fast as he could speak. As soon as he had thus refreshed himself a little, and caught his breath again, he ran into the town to the judge.

"Judge, sir," he said, "Oh, woe is me! See how a godless man has robbed me and abused me on the open road. A stone on the ground would feel sorry for me. My clothes are ripped into shreds21. My body is pricked and scratched to pieces. And what little I owned has been taken away with my purse —— genuine ducats, each piece more beautiful than the others. For God's sake, let the man be thrown into prison."

The judge asked, "Was it a soldier who cut you up like that with his saber?"

"God forbid," said the Jew. "He didn't have a naked dagger22, but rather a blowpipe hanging from his back, and a fiddle from his neck. The scoundrel can easily be recognized."

The judge sent his people out after him. They found the good servant, who had been walking along quite slowly. And they found the purse with the money on him as well.

When he was brought before the judge he said, "I did not touch the Jew, nor take his money. He offered it to me freely, so that I would stop fiddling, because he could not stand my music."

"God forbid!" cried the Jew. "He is reaching for lies like flies on the wall."

The judge did not believe his story, and said, "That is a poor excuse. No Jew would do that." And because he had committed robbery on the open road, the good servant was sentenced to the gallows23.

As he was being led away, the Jew screamed after him, "You good-for-nothing. You dog of a musician. Now you will receive your well earned reward."

The servant walked quietly up the ladder with the hangman, but on the last rung he turned around and said to the judge, "Grant me just one request before I die."

"Yes," said the judge, "if you do not ask for your life."

"I do not ask for life," answered the servant, "but let me play my fiddle one last time."

The Jew cried out miserably24, "For God's sake, do not allow it! Do not allow it!"

But the judge said, "Why should I not grant him this short pleasure? It has been promised to him, and he shall have it." In any event, he could not have refused because of the gift that had been bestowed25 on the servant.

The Jew cried, "Oh, woe is me! Tie me up. Tie me up tightly."

The good servant took his fiddle from his neck, and made ready. As he played the first stroke, they all began to quiver and shake: the judge, the clerks, and the court officials. The rope fell out of the hand of the one who was going to tie up the Jew.

At the second stroke they all lifted their legs. The hangman released the good servant and made ready to dance.

At the third stroke everyone jumped up and began to dance. The judge and the Jew were out in front and were the best at jumping. Soon everyone who had gathered in the marketplace out of curiosity was dancing with them, old and young, fat and thin, all together with each other. Even the dogs that had run along with the crowd stood up on their hind26 legs and hopped27 along as well. The longer he played, the higher the dancers jumped, until they were knocking their heads together and crying out terribly.

Finally the judge, quite out of breath, shouted, "I will give you your life, but just stop fiddling."

The good servant listened to this, then took his fiddle, hung it around his neck again, and climbed down the ladder. He went up to the Jew, who was lying upon the ground gasping28 for air, and said, "You rogue, now confess where you got the money, or I will take my fiddle off my neck and begin to play again."

"I stole it. I stole it," he cried. "But you have honestly earned it."

With that the judge had the Jew led to the gallows and hanged as a thief.

一個農場主有一個忠誠的仆人，這個仆人辛辛苦苦地給他干了三年的活，而他卻沒有給仆人付過任何工錢。最后仆人打定主意，如果農場主再不付給他工錢，他就不再干下去了。

他找到農場主說：“我為你勤勤懇懇地做了這么久的事，相信你會根據(jù)我的勞動付給我應得的工錢。”農場主是一個極其吝惜的守財奴，他知道這個仆人頭腦非常簡單，所以，只拿出三便士給他，也就是一年一便士的工錢。可憐的仆人竟以為這是一筆大數(shù)目的錢財，自言自語地說：“我為什么還要在這兒拚命干活，還要在生活這么差的地方待下去呢？我現(xiàn)在可以到外面廣闊的世界里去游玩，去尋找自己的快樂呀！”說完，他把錢放進自己的錢袋里，離開了農莊，開始了他的漫游旅程。

一天，當他翻過山嶺，獨自又唱又跳地走在一片田野上時，他遇到了一個小矮人。小矮人問他是什么事使得他這么高興愉快，他回答說：“嗨！為什么要愁眉苦臉呢？我身體健康，口袋里有我三年儲蓄的一大筆工錢，還有什么好擔心的呢？”小矮人說道：“到底有多少錢呀？”仆人回答道：“整整三便士。”小矮人試探道：“我太窮困了，真希望你能把那些錢給我。”仆人心地很善良，看到他個子這么矮，的確是個貧困的樣子，對他很同情，就把自己的錢都給了他。作為回報，小矮人對他說：“你有這么一顆善良的心，我將滿足你三個愿望——一便士一個，你喜歡什么就選擇什么。”仆人很高興自己交上了好運，說道：“我喜歡的東西很多，但并不是錢。第一，我要一張弓，用這張弓，任何被我瞄準的東西都會掉下來；第二，我要一架小提琴，當我演奏時，每個聽到琴聲的人都會跳起舞來；第三，我希望每個人都會滿足我提出的要求。”小矮人說他就會有他希望的東西，說完，就像變戲法似地拿出一副弓箭和一架小提琴給了他，然后就不見了。

誠實的仆人懷著驚奇而又興奮的心情上路了。要是說他前一陣子是十分快樂的話，那他現(xiàn)在可以說是一百分的快樂，他唱得比剛才更歡，跳得更起勁了。不久，他遇見了一個老守財奴，在他們相遇的地方有一棵樹，樹梢的嫩枝上站著一只鳥兒，鳥兒叫得正歡。守財奴說道：“喲！多么漂亮的鳥啊！要是能買到這樣一只鳥，花多少錢我也愿意。”仆人聽見后說道：“如果真是這樣，我很快就會要它下來。”說罷，他舉起他的弓，望上瞄準，那鳥兒馬上掉下來落進了樹下的灌木叢中。守財奴一見，也不談錢的事，馬上爬進樹叢中去找鳥兒，但他剛剛爬到里面時，仆人拿起小提琴拉了起來。隨著琴聲的傳出，守財奴開始跳起舞來，他在樹叢中跳來跳去，越跳越高，樹叢中的荊棘很快就鉤破了他的衣裳，使他渾身的衣裳都成了破布條，身上也被劃破，傷痕累累，鮮血淋漓。守財奴哭道：“哎喲！看在上帝的份上！大師，大師呀！請別再拉小提琴了，我做了什么要遭受這份罪啊？”仆人說道：“你吝嗇小氣，剝削了許許多多的貧窮人們，這只是你得到的報應。”說完，他拉起了另一首曲子。守財奴開始哀求他，答應給他錢，讓他能停止跳舞、爬出樹叢。但他卻又不肯多給錢。

仆人就把琴聲拉得更響了，守財奴跟著跳得越來越劇烈，出的錢也越來越多，最后他答應把錢袋里的整整一百個金幣都給仆人，這些金幣都是他剛剛從窮人那兒榨取來的。當仆人看到這么多錢，說道：“我就同意你的請求了。”于是，他拿起錢袋，收好提琴，高高興興地又踏上了旅途。

仆人一走，守財奴慢慢地從樹叢中爬了出來，他渾身衣不遮體，一副凄凄慘慘的樣子，不禁憤恨不已，開始考慮起怎樣進行報復來，他要用奸計來對付仆人。最后他跑到法官那里，控告說有一個惡棍強迫他進行交易，騙搶了他的錢財，這個家伙的背后掛著一張弓，脖子上挎著一架小提琴。法官聽了，派出巡警到處去找，說不管在哪里找到都要把他帶到法庭來。巡警們不久就抓到了這個仆人，并把他帶到了法庭，要對他進行審判。

守財奴開始了他的控告，說仆人騙搶了他的錢財。仆人分辯說：“不是這樣，事實是我為你演奏一首曲子后你給我的報酬。”但是法官說這是不可能的事情，駁回了仆人的辯護詞，判了他絞刑，草草地將這個案子結了。

仆人被帶了出去，但當他站在絞刑架臺子上時，他說道：“法官大人，請答應我最后一個心愿。”法官回答說：“只要你的要求不是赦免你，我都可以答應。”“我不是要求你赦免我，只是想請你允許我最后演奏一次小提琴。”守財奴一聽，大叫道：“啊，不！不！看在上帝的份上，千萬不要聽他演奏！千萬不要讓他演奏！”法官卻說道：“就讓他演奏吧，他很快就會演奏完的。”其實，這完全是小矮人送給他的第三件禮物，沒有人能夠拒絕他的要求。

第10篇

關鍵詞:家庭雙語環(huán)境;語言學習機制;語言刺激

中圖分類號:G4文獻標識碼:A 文章編號:1672-3198(2010)06-0231-02

孩子生下來完全不會說話,也聽不懂任何語言。可是,每個健康的孩子生下來都是語言天才。在一個母語環(huán)境里,他們只花兩三年就能掌握運用母語。對于孩子是如何掌握語言這個問題,不同學派有不同解釋,但經過大量的語言學和語音學研究證明:環(huán)境是語言學習的關鍵因素。國外研究發(fā)現(xiàn):很早就學第二語言的孩子,其母語和二語的學習中心幾乎是在腦部的同一個位置上。孩子如能用學母語的方式學英語,就會使英語的學習變得更容易。而學母語和英語的時間越相近,腦部處理這兩種不同語言的區(qū)域就越近。

1 營造家庭雙語環(huán)境

家庭對學校而言,有更多的機會和孩子交流,也有更多的機會教孩子英語。在家庭營造雙語環(huán)境有助于孩子更快掌握英語。

專家指出,兒童學習語言的黃金時期是1-3歲。孩子三歲入園,之前基本在家中和家人渡過,在這短短三年,孩子基本可以掌握母語。如果以教母語的方法來教英語,是否可行。很多家長會說:“不行!我們不會教。”其實語言的本質是一樣的,用教母語的方法教英語就行了!試著回想一下,每個父母是怎樣教孩子說話的。不斷地說,不斷地重復,看到什么說什么,孩子一點點的回應就是父母最大的獎勵。其實任何語言都是一樣的:從聽――模仿――不斷重復――簡單句子――對話,學習途徑也是從單詞――短語――句子――長句子――復合句。可又有父母提出疑問:“我的發(fā)音不準怎么辦?”其實并不是每個家長都是受過專業(yè)普通話訓練的教師,不也是照樣教會孩子漢語嗎?難道南方人和北方人就完全不能用普通話交流了嗎?語言的本質是運用和交流,孩子的發(fā)音是否準確還可以讓老師糾正,但如果完全被標準束縛,錯過學習語言的關鍵期,就得花更長時間幫助孩子掌握英語了。那么,父母就應該在家嘗試用雙語交流。

如果父母在家能講些英語,哪怕是簡單的詞匯和句型,對于孩子也是個學習的機會。聽到父母用雙語交流,孩子就會認為英語和母語一樣是用來和別人交流的,學會英語和母語都是自然而然的。父母可以:

(1)看到什么,說什么。在路上見汽車說car, 商店就說shop.數(shù)糖果、上下樓梯也用one, two,three…… 單詞要從身邊的人和物開始,從熟悉的環(huán)境開始。

(2)充分利用手勢和肢體語言,特別是夸張的表情動作等,如:生氣(angry),高興(happy),悲傷(sad),困(sleepy),驚訝(surprise)。夸張的表情動作特別能吸引低年齡段的孩子。

(3)多利用圖片,實物。父母可以購買各種卡片,也可以從雜志上剪下各種圖片,和孩子說說圖片上的東西。去超市時,可以收集商品的宣傳冊,教孩子說各種商品名稱,描述它們的用途。還可以和孩子進行看圖說詞的比賽。

(4)學會單詞后學組詞和句子,如apple, red apple, do you like red apple?先掌握日常生活中常用短語和句型,如:每天早上起床,對孩子說 “Good morning.”睡前說 “Good night”,穿鞋子說 “Put on your shoes, please.”如果父母不在家,可以鼓勵孩子扮演父母,用雙語和自己心愛的玩具打招呼,玩游戲,過家家等。

(5)利用生活場景。如吃飯了,說Dinner time. Are you hungry?給孩子洗臉時,一邊洗一邊教孩子念念英語兒歌“Wash your face, Wash your eyes, Wash your nose, Wash your……去超市時問問孩子”What do you want?”“What’s it?”。

(6)邊游戲邊學:很多游戲適用于小朋友,如(1)“Wolf,wolf,what time is it?” “It‘s five o’clock.”;(2)學習方位詞, 用where is….?的游戲。父母事先藏起一玩具,問:”where is it?”孩子找出并回答: “It is under the table.”對于低年齡段的孩子可以由父母回答,孩子依照回答去找。(3)TouchingGame用于學習身體部位名稱。父母發(fā)指令nose,孩子摸鼻子,也可以由孩子發(fā)指令等游戲,父母只要用心就能在日常生活中發(fā)現(xiàn),發(fā)明各種小游戲,和孩子一起輕松自然地學英語。

(7)利用磁帶,CD,DVD動畫影片等媒體設備。很多家長很忙,或是不太會英語,可以利用這些媒體設備,每天給孩子聽,跟說,聽音樂童謠,讓孩子隨時隨地都能聽到英語,培養(yǎng)語感,營造雙語環(huán)境。童謠,可以糾正孩子的語音語調,增加孩子的詞匯量,音樂的韻律不但能讓孩子感到開心、愉快,也能加深他們的記憶力。

(8)讓孩子隨時隨地看到,聽到英語。除了聽,還可以讓孩子看。在布置房間時,可以在房間內貼上各種卡片,父母可以用電腦打印單詞,貼在家具上。如:在電話上貼telephone, 在墻上貼wall等,注意字體要夠大,高度不能太高,否則孩子很難看到。

(9)10分鐘睡前故事時間。父母再忙,也要每天抽10分鐘和孩子講講故事。如果能用英語朗讀或講故事就更好了。父母可以買些符合孩子年齡的英文故事,每晚給孩子念10分鐘。剛開始也可以念英語童謠。還可以用英語進行簡單交流,”Are you happy today? How was you day?等。但要注意堅持!

(10)表演時間。每天晚飯后或周末,全家可以來場演出,演出內容可以是英語歌曲,童謠,英語故事,扮演童話劇中的角色等,哪怕是用英語數(shù)數(shù)也行。表演可以讓孩子有表現(xiàn)力,成就感。

家長應該明白:父母可以讓孩子接觸一門外語,但是不要期望立刻看到成效,要抱著“只問耕耘,不問收獲”的心態(tài)。就像教孩子母語一樣,也是經過一段時間,孩子才開口說話。語言的學習是依靠記憶和理解的,需要通過不斷重復來鼓勵語言的學習。而且每個孩子學習語言的進度都是不一樣的。當孩子能正確說出單詞時,父母的一個親吻,擁抱,大拇指,獎勵一張小小的粘紙都會使孩子產生自信和自豪感。

2 合理運用色彩營造環(huán)境

澳大利亞的心理學家維兒納的實驗證明:兒童,特別是學齡前兒童,對事物的認識、辨別、選擇,多是根據(jù)對視覺有強烈感染力的色彩進行的。美國學者研究發(fā)現(xiàn):悅目明朗的色彩能夠通過視神經傳遞到大腦神經細胞,從而有利于促進人的智力發(fā)育。在和諧色彩中生活的少年兒童,其創(chuàng)造力高于普通環(huán)境中的成長者。若常處于讓人心情壓抑的色彩環(huán)境中,則會影響大腦神經細胞的發(fā)育,從而使智力下降。 例如書房用淡藍色裝飾,使人能夠集中精力學習、研究;冷色及亮度較低的色彩可以使人精力集中,情緒安定。

父母利用不同色彩為孩子營造童話般的色彩世界的同時,也有利于孩子的語言學習。

首先,孩子房間的色彩裝飾可以運用粉色和冷色調,有利于精力集中,情緒安定;第二,用于學習,游戲的圖片,單詞,字母卡可以用紅、黃、橙色等鮮艷的色彩,可使吸引孩子注意,產生興奮感。特別是黨孩子情緒不佳時,鮮艷的色彩可以刺激孩子學習游戲的熱情;第三,充分利用“色彩寶庫”――大自然。父母可以和孩子用雙語描述每天看到的色彩,天空,樹木,衣服等不同色彩,如:I’m wearing red dress. The sky is blue.孩子在辨別色彩的同時也會不知不覺掌握英語。

總之,父母應想方設法讓英語和母語一樣成為家庭生活的一個部分,成為交流的一種必要工具,相信你的孩子會很快掌握雙語!

參考文獻

[1]靳松,高旭東.也談雙語教學和雙語教育[J].河北建筑科技學院學報,2005,(01).

[2]周之南.從心理語言學看雙語教育[J].黑龍江高教研究,2003,(2).

第11篇

心態(tài)――寬容理性

讓孩子盡早接觸英語只是一種早教啟蒙、開發(fā)智力的方式，其目的并不在技能的掌握上，這和將來他入學后系統(tǒng)學習英語有著本質的不同。所以在孩子學習的過程中，家長應保持平常心，寬容地對待一些細節(jié)，不要把語言問題夸大、不要因效果不理想而責備孩子、也不要過分強調英語的重要性而給孩子壓力。孩子語言能力的提高有一個循序漸進的過程，我們應把孩子的快樂放在第一位，給他提供良好的學習環(huán)境和氛圍，讓他在潛移默化中接觸和學習英語。

興趣――用心熏陶

興趣是學習的前提，更是最大動力。研究表明，兒童在快樂的時候接收能力最佳，因此在引導孩子學英語時，家長一定要注重滿足他的好奇心，盡量用符合孩子年齡特點的方式來啟發(fā)引導，讓學英語如讀童話書或看卡通一樣有趣；同時還要交錯使用多變的教學方法，如游戲、兒歌、繞口令、情境對話等。我們不必急于將所有句法都一次性傳授給孩子，他自己在學習過程中發(fā)掘而來的知識會更有意義，家長的工作只是引導孩子進入殿堂，學習的主體仍在孩子身上。

教材――因材施教

教材的好壞會直接影響孩子的學習效果，家長在選擇時不妨參考以下方法：1、根據(jù)年齡或學習程度挑選。一般教材都會在包裝上標注適合的孩子年齡，或階段寫明初級、中級等梯度，家長可根據(jù)孩子的實際情況對照挑選。2、參考網絡及親友的口碑。少兒英語學習已成趨勢，走在我們前面有經驗的家長和專家大有人在，聰明的家長不妨參考一下別人的評價，像《E2兒童英語》、《迪士尼神奇英語》、《洪恩gogo學英語》、《天線寶寶（英文版）》等都是口碑不錯的教材。

機構――注重正規(guī)

市面上各種雙語興趣班、幼兒園遍地開花、良莠不齊，家長一定要用心選擇，否則浪費時間和金錢不說，還耽誤了孩子的學習時機。為孩子選擇學習機構時可以參考幾個標準：1、關注機構的教學評估，了解幼兒園英語教學的資格和質量；2、了解教師是否持證上崗，英語水平是否達到通用中級以上。3、注意幼兒園和培訓機構是否使用正規(guī)教材；4、是否使用英語教學的多媒體設施、有沒有一定數(shù)量的教具；5、有沒有足夠的辦學經驗和資歷，是否請了英語顧問或幼教專家，盡量避免選擇新興又漫天開價的機構。

環(huán)境――雙語交流

在家中創(chuàng)造一個雙語的環(huán)境，讓孩子接觸盡可能多的英語對學習有很大幫助。家長可以常給孩子播放英文歌曲，讓他在起床后、吃飯時、游戲中都沐浴在歌聲中；還可以提供一些雙語動畫片的影碟給孩子看；有條件的家庭還可以根據(jù)實際情況分配語言的使用，讓孩子經常在不同的情景中接觸兩種語言，創(chuàng)造聽說讀的機會；更重要的是無論在游戲、看碟、背單詞、閱讀、學教材中，家長都陪同孩子一起進行，創(chuàng)造親子共學的環(huán)境。

第12篇

英國《自然》雜志 2007年5月24日

對美國、墨西哥等國而言，颶風可以說是最嚴重的自然災害之一。2005年的“卡特里娜”颶風造成的浩劫，至今還讓很多人記憶猶新。一些科學家的警告則更加讓人心驚，那就是隨著全球變暖，北大西洋赤道地區(qū)的颶風強度和發(fā)生頻率都可能會進一步增加。

然而，圍繞著這樣一個氣候預測，依然有著很多爭論。原因很簡單，現(xiàn)在對于颶風強度和間隔時間的準確記錄也只有幾十年的時間，還很難在更長的歷史尺度內，對颶風的形成機制進行分析。

美國馬薩諸塞州的物理學家，通過精巧的設計，成功地把時間追溯到百年以及千年尺度，為解開颶風的活動之謎提供了新線索。

加勒比海東北部波多黎各的別克斯島上，有一個名為LPG的瀉湖。這個湖泊被80米寬、2米到3米高的屏障與大海隔開，洋流平穩(wěn)，在過去6000年中海平面上升很小，可以說是一個靜謐之地。

惟一造成震蕩的，就是強颶風帶來的暴風雨。颶風過后，在湖底會形成大量沉積物。通過對這些沉積物的研究，就可以了解到颶風的發(fā)生頻率。研究顯示，在過去5000年中，無論以百年還是千年尺度來評判，強颶風的發(fā)生頻率都是在不斷變化的。這種頻率，與“厄爾尼諾”（El Nino）事件以及非洲赤道地區(qū)的降雨有著很強的關聯(lián)性。

強烈的“厄爾尼諾”現(xiàn)象，會降低北大西洋熱帶地區(qū)的垂直風切變。目前普遍認為，風切變的減弱會有利于這一地區(qū)的颶風形成，無論從強度上還是發(fā)生頻率上。西非季風則可能通過另外一種機制與颶風關聯(lián)：非洲赤道地區(qū)的對流風暴的增強，會導致向東的能量輸送增加，從而增加北大西洋地區(qū)強颶風發(fā)生的可能性。

或許，要真正理解全球變暖在未來將怎么改變強颶風，就必須先了解氣溫上升將如何影響“厄爾尼諾”現(xiàn)象以及西非季風。

語言的面孔

美國《科學》雜志 2007年5月25日

四個月到六個月大的孩子，能夠做些什么？也許我們普遍的印象中，這些孩子只會四處看來看去、試圖去抓東西和流口水。但加拿大英屬哥倫比亞大學的科學家發(fā)現(xiàn)了他們天才的一面：這些孩子能夠讀懂不同語言所對應的視覺化表達。也就是說，哪怕電視機處于靜音狀態(tài)，僅通過觀察說話者嘴部和面部的運動及形狀，兒童就可以分辨出語言上是否存在變化。

這是一個令人吃驚的發(fā)現(xiàn)。之前，科學家們認為孩子是通過聲音的節(jié)奏或者說韻律，來分辨不同語言的。

科學家們對96名兒童進行了測試，年齡分別為四個月、六個月和八個月；既有來自單一的英語家庭的，也有來自英語和法語雙語家庭的。在4英尺外的27英寸電視屏幕上，播放著三個人分別用英語和法語兩種語言，依次來朗讀經典童話《小王子》的靜音鏡頭。

測試結果顯示，四個月或者六個月大的孩子，無論來自單一英語家庭或雙語家庭，當電視上的人改變說話的語言時，他們都會長時間地凝視屏幕。這意味著，孩子們已經覺察到，電視上的語言已經發(fā)生了變化。