The Gold-Children
There was once a poor man and a poor woman who had nothing but a
little cottage, and who earned their bread by fishing, and always lived from hand to
mouth. But it came to pass one day when the man was sitting by the water-side, and casting
his net, that he drew out a fish entirely of gold. As he was looking at the fish, full of
astonishment, it began to speak and said, listen, fisherman, if you will throw me back
again into the water, I will change your little hut into a splendid castle.
Then the fisherman answered, of what use is a castle to me, if I
have nothing to eat. The gold fish continued, that shall be taken care of, there will be a
cupboard in the castle in which, when you open it, shall be dishes of the most delicate
meats, and as many of them as you can desire. If that be true, said the man, then I can
well do you a favor. Yes, said the fish, there is, however, the condition that you shall
disclose to no one in the world, whosoever he may be, whence your good luck has come, if
you speak but one single word, all will be over. Then the man threw the wonderful fish
back again into the water, and went home.
But where his hovel had formerly stood, now stood a great castle. He
opened wide his eyes, entered, and saw his wife dressed in beautiful clothes, sitting in a
splendid room, and she was quite delighted, and said, husband, how has all this come to
pass. It suits me very well. Yes, said the man, it suits me too, but I am frightfully
hungry, just give me something to eat. Said the wife, but I have got nothing and don't
know where to find anything in this new house. There is no need of your knowing, said the
man, for I see yonder a great cupboard, just unlock it. When she opened it, there stood
cakes, meat, fruit, wine, quite a bright prospect.
Then the woman cried joyfully, what more can you want, my dear. And
they sat down, and ate and drank together. When they had had enough, the woman said, but
husband, whence come all these riches. Alas, answered he, do not question me about it, for
I dare not tell you anything. If I disclose it to anyone, then all our good fortune will
disappear. Very good, said she, if I am not to know anything, then I do not want to know
anything. However, she was not in earnest. She never rested day or night, and she goaded
her husband until in his impatience he revealed that all was owing to a wonderful golden
fish which he had caught, and to which in return he had given its liberty. And as soon as
the secret was out, the splendid castle with the cupboard immediately disappeared, they
were once more in the old fisherman's hut, and the man was obliged to follow his former
trade and fish.
But fortune would so have it, that he once more drew out the golden
fish. Listen, said the fish, if you will throw me back into the water again, I will once
more give you the castle with the cupboard full of roast and boiled meats. Only be firm,
for your life's sake don't reveal from whom you have it, or you will lose it all again. I
will take good care, answered the fisherman, and threw the fish back into the water. Now
at home everything was once more in its former magnificence, and the wife was overjoyed at
their good fortune, but curiosity left her no peace, so that after a couple of days she
began to ask again how it had come to pass, and how he had managed to secure it. The man
kept silence for a short time, but at last she made him so angry that he broke out, and
betrayed the secret.
In an instant the castle disappeared, and they were back again in
their old hut. Now you have got what you want, said he, and we can gnaw at a bare bone
again. Ah, said the woman, I had rather not have riches if I am not to know from whom they
come, for then I have no peace.
The man went back to fish, and after a while he chanced to draw out
the gold fish for a third time. Listen, said the fish, I see very well that I am fated to
fall into your hands, take me home and cut me into six pieces. Give your wife two of them
to eat, two to your horse and bury two of them in the ground, then they will bring you a
blessing. The fisherman took the fish home with him, and did as it had bidden him. It came
to pass, however, that from the two pieces that were buried in the ground two golden
lilies sprang up, that the horse had two golden foals, and the fisherman's wife bore two
children who were made entirely of gold. The children grew up, became tall and handsome,
and the lilies and horses grew likewise. Then they said, father, we want to mount our
golden steeds and travel out in the world. But he answered sorrowfully, how shall I bear
it if you go away, and I know not how it fares with you. Then they said, the two golden
lilies remain here. By them you can see how it is with us. If they are fresh, then we are
in health. If they are withered, we are ill. If they perish, then we are dead.
So they rode forth and came to an inn, in which were many people,
and when they perceived the gold-children they began to laugh, and jeer. When one of them
heard the mocking he felt ashamed and would not go out into the world, but turned back and
went home again to his father. But the other rode forward and reached a great forest. As
he was about to enter it, the people said, it is not safe for you to ride through, the
wood is full of robbers who would treat you badly. You will fare ill, and when they see
that you are all of gold, and your horse likewise, they will assuredly kill you.
But he would not allow himself to be frightened, and said, I must
and will ride through it. Then he took bear-skins and covered himself and his horse with
them, so that the gold was no more to be seen, and rode fearlessly into the forest. When
he had ridden onward a little he heard a rustling in the bushes, and heard voices speaking
together. From one side came cries of, there is one, but from the other, let him go, 'tis
a bearskin, as poor and bare as a church-mouse, what should we gain from him. So the
gold-child rode joyfully through the forest, and no evil befell him.
One day he entered a village wherein he saw a maiden, who was so
beautiful that he did not believe that any more beautiful than she existed in the world.
And as such a mighty love took possession of him, he went up to her and said, I love you
with my whole heart, will you be my wife. He, too, pleased the maiden so much that she
agreed and said, yes, I will be your wife, and be true to you my whole life long.
Then they were married, and just as they were in the greatest
happiness, home came the father of the bride, and when he saw that his daughter's wedding
was being celebrated, he was astonished, and said, where is the bridegroom. They showed
him the gold-child, who, however, still wore his bear-skins. Then the father said
wrathfully, a bearskin shall never have my daughter. And was about to kill him. Then the
bride begged as hard as she could, and said, he is my husband, and I love him with all my
heart. Until at last he allowed himself to be appeased. Nevertheless the idea never left
his thoughts, so that next morning he rose early, wishing to see whether his daughter's
husband was a common ragged beggar. But when he peeped in, he saw a magnificent golden man
in the bed, and the cast-off bear-skins lying on the ground. Then he went back and
thought, what a good thing it was that I restrained my anger. I would have committed a
great crime.
But the gold-child dreamed that he rode out to hunt a splendid stag,
and when he awoke in the morning, he said to his wife, I must go out hunting. She was
uneasy, and begged him to stay there, and said, you might easily meet with a great
misfortune. But he answered, I must and will go.
Thereupon he got up, and rode forth into the forest, and it was not
long before a fine stag crossed his path exactly according to his dream. He aimed and was
about to shoot it, when the stag ran away. He gave chase over hedges and ditches for the
whole day without feeling tired, but in the evening the stag vanished from his sight, and
when the gold-child looked round him, he was standing before a little house, wherein sat a
witch.
He knocked and a little old woman came out and asked, what are you
doing so late in the midst of the great forest. Have you not seen a stag. Yes, answered
she, I know the stag well. And thereupon a little dog which had come out of the house with
her, barked at the man violently. Will you be silent, you odious toad, said he, or I will
shoot you dead. Then the witch cried out in a passion, what will you slay my little dog.
And immediately transformed him, so that he lay like a stone, and his bride awaited him in
vain and thought, that which I so greatly dreaded, which lay so heavily on my heart, has
come upon him.
But at home the other brother was standing by the gold-lilies, when
one of them suddenly drooped. Good heavens, said he, my brother has met with some great
misfortune I must away to see if I can possibly rescue him. Then the father said, stay
here, if I lose you also, what shall I do. But he answered, I must and will go forth.
Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode forth and entered the
great forest, where his brother lay turned to stone. The old witch came out of her house
and called him, wishing to entrap him also, but he did not go near her, and said, I will
shoot you, if you will not bring my brother to life again. She touched the stone, though
very unwillingly, with her forefinger, and he was immediately restored to his human shape.
And the two gold-children rejoiced when they saw each other again, kissed and caressed
each other, and rode away together out of the forest the one home to his bride, and the
other to his father.
The father then said, I knew well that you had rescued your brother,
for the golden lily suddenly rose up and blossomed out again. Then they lived happily, and
they prospered until their death.
--The
End-- |
