The Beam

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

---

There was once an enchanter who was standing in the midst of a great crowdof people performing his wonders. He had a cock brought in, which lifteda heavy beam and carried it as if it were as light as a feather. Buta girl was present who had just found a bit of four-leaved clover, andhad thus become so wise that no deception could stand out against her,and she saw that the beam was nothing but a straw. So she cried, "Youpeople, do you not see that it is a straw that the cock is carrying,and no beam?" Immediately the enchantment vanished, and the people sawwhat it was, and drove the magician away in shame and disgrace. He,however, full of inward anger, said, "I will soon revenge myself?"

　　After some time the girl's wedding-day came, and she was decked out,and went in a great procession over the fields to the place where thechurch was. All at once she came to a stream which was very much swollen,and there was no bridge and no plank to cross it. Then the bride nimblytook her clothes up, and wanted to wade through it. And just as shewas thus standing in the water, a man, and it was the enchanter, criedmockingly close beside her, "Aha! Where are thine eyes that thou takestthat for water?" Then her eyes were opened, and she saw that she wasstanding with her clothes lifted up in the middle of a field that wasblue with the flowers of blue flax. Then all the people saw it likewise,and chased her away with ridicule and laughter.

---