The Giant and the Tailor
A certain tailor who was great at boasting but
ill at doing, took it into his head to go abroad for a while, and look about the world. As
soon as he could manage it, he left his work-shop, and wandered on his way, over hill and
dale, sometimes hither, sometimes, thither, but ever on and on. Once on his way he
perceived in the blue distance a steep hill, and behind it a tower reaching to the clouds,
which rose up out of a wild dark forest. Thunder and lightning, cried the tailor, what is
that, and as he was strongly goaded by curiosity, he went boldly towards it. But how he
did gaze and gape when he came near it, for the tower had legs, and leapt in one bound
over the steep hill, and was now standing as an all-powerful giant before him. What do you
want here, you tiny fly's leg, cried the giant, with a voice as if it were thundering on
every side. The tailor whimpered, I want just to look about and see if I can earn a bit of
bread for myself, in this forest. If that is what you are after, said the giant, you may
have a place with me. If it must be, why not. What wages shall I receive. You shall hear
what wages you shall have. Every year three hundred and sixty-five days, and when it is
leap-year, one more into the bargain. Does that suit you. All right, replied the tailor,
and thought, in his own mind, a man must cut his coat according to his cloth. I will try
to get away as fast as I can. At this the giant said to him, go, little ragamuffin, and
fetch me a jug of water. Had I not better bring the well itself at once, and the spring
too, asked the boaster, and went with the pitcher to the water. What, the well and the
spring too, growled the giant in his beard, for he was somewhat of a silly dolt, and began
to be afraid. That knave is not a fool, he has a mandrake in his body. Be on your guard,
old Hans, this is no serving-man for you. When the tailor had brought the water, the giant
bade him go into the forest, and cut a couple of blocks of wood and bring them back. Why
not the whole forest, at once, with one stroke. The whole forest, young and old, with all
that is there, both gnarled and smooth, and the well and its spring too, growled the
credulous giant in his beard, and was still more terrified. The knave can do much more
than bake apples, and has a mandrake in his body. Be on your guard, old Hans, this is no
serving-man for you. When the tailor had brought the wood, the giant commanded him to
shoot two or three wild boars for supper. Why not rather a thousand at one shot, and bring
them all here, inquired the insolent tailor. What, cried the timid giant in great terror.
Let well alone to-night, and lie down to rest. The giant was so terribly alarmed that he
could not close an eye all night long for thinking what would be the best way to get rid
of this accursed sorcerer of a servant. Time brings counsel. Next morning the giant and
the tailor went to a marsh, round which stood a number of willow-trees. Then said the
giant, listen, tailor, seat yourself on one of the willow-branches. I long of all things
to see if you are big enough to bend it down. All at once the tailor was sitting on it,
holding his breath, and making himself heavy, so heavy that the bough bent down. When,
however, he was compelled to draw breath, it hurled him - for unfortunately he had not put
his goose in his pocket - so high into the air that he never was seen again, and this to
the great delight of the giant. If the tailor has not fallen down again, he must still be
hovering about in the air.
--The End-- |
