The Three Sons of Fortune
A father once called his three sons before him, and he gave to the
first a cock, to the second a scythe, and to the third a cat. I am already aged, said he,
my death is nigh, and I have wished to provide for you before my end, money I have not,
and what I now give you seems of little worth, but all depends on your making a sensible
use of it. Only seek out a country where such things are still unknown, and your fortune
is made.
After the father's death the eldest went away with his cock, but
wherever he came the cock was already known, in the towns he saw him from a long distance,
sitting upon the steeples and turning round with the wind, and in the villages he heard
more than one crowing, no one would show any wonder at the creature, so that it did not
look as if he would make his fortune by it.
At last, however, it happened that he came to an island where the
people knew nothing about cocks, and did not even understand how to divide their time.
They certainly knew when it was morning or evening, but at night, if they did not sleep
through it, not one of them knew how to find out the time.
Look. Said he, what a proud creature. It has a ruby-red crown upon
its head, and wears spurs like a knight, it calls you three times during the night, at
fixed hours, and when it calls for the last time, the sun soon rises. But if it crows by
broad daylight, then take notice, for there will certainly be a change of weather.
The people were well pleased, for a whole night they did not sleep,
and listened with great delight as the cock at two, four, and six o'clock, loudly and
clearly proclaimed the time. They asked if the creature were for sale, and how much he
wanted for it. About as much gold as an ass can carry, answered he. A ridiculously small
price for such a precious creature. They cried unanimously, and willingly gave him what he
had asked.
When he came home with his wealth his brothers were astonished, and
the second said, well, I will go forth and see whether I cannot get rid of my scythe as
profitably. But it did not look as if he would, for laborers met him everywhere, and they
had scythes upon their shoulders as well as he.
At last, however, he chanced upon an island where the people knew
nothing of scythes. When the corn was ripe there, they took cannon out to the fields and
shot it down. Now this was rather an uncertain affair, many shot right over it, others hit
the ears instead of the stems, and shot them away, whereby much was lost, and besides all
this, it made a terrible noise. So the man set to work and mowed it down so quietly and
quickly that the people opened their mouths with astonishment. They agreed to give him
what he wanted for the scythe, and he received a horse laden with as much gold as it could
carry.
And now the third brother wanted to take his cat to the right man.
He fared just like the others, so long as he stayed on the mainland there was nothing to
be done. Every place had cats, and there were so many of them that new-born kittens were
generally drowned in the ponds.
At last he sailed over to an island, and it luckily happened that no
cats had ever yet been seen there, and that the mice had got the upper hand so much that
they danced upon the tables and benches whether the master were at home or not. The people
complained bitterly of the plague, the king himself in his palace did not know how to
protect himself against them, mice squeaked in every corner, and gnawed whatever they
could lay hold of with their teeth.
But now the cat began her chase, and soon cleared a couple of rooms,
and the people begged the king to buy the wonderful beast for the country. The king
willingly gave what was asked, which was a mule laden with gold, and the third brother
came home with the greatest treasure of all.
The cat made herself merry with the mice in the royal palace, and
killed so many that they could not be counted. At last she grew warm with the work and
thirsty, so she stood still, lifted up her head and cried, mew. Mew.
When they heard this strange cry, the king and all his people were
frightened, and in their terror ran all at once out of the palace. Then the king took
counsel what was best to be done, at last it was determined to send a herald to the cat,
and demand that she should leave the palace, or if not, she was to expect that force would
be used against her. The councillors said, rather will we let ourselves be plagued with
the mice, for to that misfortune we are accustomed, than give up our lives to such a
monster as this. A noble youth, therefore, was sent to ask the cat whether she would
peaceably quit the castle. But the cat, whose thirst had become still greater, merely
answered, mew. Mew. The youth understood her to say, "Most certainly not. Most
certainly not." And took this answer to the king.
Then, said the councillors, she shall yield to force. Cannon were
brought out, and the palace was soon in flames. When the fire reached the room where the
cat was sitting, she sprang safely out of the window, but the besiegers did not leave off
until the whole palace was shot down to the ground.
--The
End-- |
