The King had three sons, the eldest of whom he sent, as soon as nightcame on, into the garden; but when midnight came he could not keephimself from sleeping, and next morning again an apple was gone.
The following night the second son had to keep watch, it fared no betterwith him; as soon as twelve o'clock had struck he fell asleep, and inthe morning an apple was gone.
Now it came to the turn of the third son to watch; and he was quite ready,but the King had not much trust in him, and thought that he would be ofless use even than his brothers; but at last he let him go. The youthlay down beneath the tree, but kept awake, and did not let sleep masterhim. When it struck twelve, something rustled through the air, and inthe moonlight he saw a bird coming whose feathers were all shining withgold. The bird alighted on the tree, and had just plucked off an apple,when the youth shot an arrow at him. The bird flew off, but the arrowhad struck his plumage, and one of his golden feathers fell down. Theyouth picked it up, and the next morning took it to the King and toldhim what he had seen in the night. The King called his council together,and everyone declared that a feather like this was worth more thanthe whole kingdom. "If the feather is so precious," declared the King,"one alone will not do for me; I must and will have the whole bird!"
The eldest son set out; he trusted to his cleverness, and thought thathe would easily find the Golden Bird. When he had gone some distance hesaw a Fox sitting at the edge of a wood, so he cocked his gun and tookaim at him. The Fox cried, "Do not shoot me! and in return I will giveyou some good counsel. You are on the way to the Golden Bird; and thisevening you will come to a village in which stand two inns opposite toone another. One of them is lighted up brightly, and all goes on merrilywithin, but do not go into it; go rather into the other, even though itseems a bad one." "How can such a silly beast give wise advice?" thoughtthe King's son, and he pulled the trigger. But he missed the Fox, whostretched out his tail and ran quickly into the wood.
So he pursued his way, and by evening came to the village where the twoinns were; in one they were singing and dancing; the other had a poor,miserable look. "I should be a fool, indeed," he thought, "if I were togo into the shabby tavern, and pass by the good one." So he went intothe cheerful one, lived there in riot and revel, and forgot the birdand his father, and all good counsels.
When some time had passed, and the eldest son for month after monthdid not come back home, the second set out, wishing to find the GoldenBird. The Fox met him as he had met the eldest, and gave him the goodadvice of which he took no heed. He came to the two inns, and his brotherwas standing at the window of the one from which came the music, andcalled out to him. He could not resist, but went inside and lived onlyfor pleasure.
Again some time passed, and then the King's youngest son wanted to set offand try his luck, but his father would not allow it. "It is of no use,"said he, "he will find the Golden Bird still less than his brothers,and if a mishap were to befall him he knows not how to help himself;he is a little wanting at the best." But at last, as he had no peace,he let him go.
Again the Fox was sitting outside the wood, and begged for his life,and offered his good advice. The youth was good-natured, and said,"Be easy, little Fox, I will do you no harm." "You shall not repent it,"answered the Fox; "and that you may get on more quickly, get up behindon my tail." And scarcely had he seated himself when the Fox began torun, and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled inthe wind. When they came to the village the youth got off; he followedthe good advice, and without looking round turned into the little inn,where he spent the night quietly.
The next morning, as soon as he got into the open country, there sat theFox already, and said, "I will tell you further what you have to do. Goon quite straight, and at last you will come to a castle, in front ofwhich a whole regiment of soldiers is lying, but do not trouble yourselfabout them, for they will all be asleep and snoring. Go through themidst of them straight into the castle, and go through all the rooms,till at last you will come to a chamber where a Golden Bird is hangingin a wooden cage. Close by, there stands an empty gold cage for show,but beware of taking the bird out of the common cage and putting it intothe fine one, or it may go badly with you." With these words the Foxagain stretched out his tail, and the King's son seated himself upon it,and away he went over stock and stone till his hair whistled in the wind.
When he came to the castle he found everything as the Fox had said. TheKing's son went into the chamber where the Golden Bird was shut up ina wooden cage, whilst a golden one stood hard by; and the three goldenapples lay about the room. "But," thought he, "it would be absurd ifI were to leave the beautiful bird in the common and ugly cage," so heopened the door, laid hold of it, and put it into the golden cage. But atthe same moment the bird uttered a shrill cry. The soldiers awoke, rushedin, and took him off to prison. The next morning he was taken before acourt of justice, and as he confessed everything, was sentenced to death.
The King, however, said that he would grant him his life on one conditionnamely, if he brought him the Golden Horse which ran faster than thewind; and in that case he should receive, over and above, as a reward,the Golden Bird.
The King's son set off, but he sighed and was sorrowful, for how washe to find the Golden Horse? But all at once he saw his old friend theFox sitting on the road. "Look you," said the Fox, "this has happenedbecause you did not give heed to me. However, be of good courage. Iwill give you my help, and tell you how to get to the Golden Horse. Youmust go straight on, and you will come to a castle, where in the stablestands the horse. The grooms will be lying in front of the stable;but they will be asleep and snoring, and you can quietly lead out theGolden Horse. But of one thing you must take heed; put on him the commonsaddle of wood and leather, and not the golden one, which hangs closeby, else it will go ill with you." Then the Fox stretched out his tail,the King's son seated himself upon it, and away he went over stock andstone until his hair whistled in the wind.
Everything happened just as the Fox had said; the prince came to thestable in which the Golden Horse was standing, but just as he was going toput the common saddle upon him, he thought, "It will be a shame to sucha beautiful beast, if I do not give him the good saddle which belongs tohim by right." But scarcely had the golden saddle touched the horse thanhe began to neigh loudly. The grooms awoke, seized the youth, and threwhim into prison. The next morning he was sentenced by the court to death;but the King promised to grant him his life, and the Golden Horse as well,if he could bring back the beautiful princess from the Golden Castle.
With a heavy heart the youth set out; yet luckily for him he soonfound the trusty Fox. "I ought only to leave you to your ill-luck,"said the Fox, "but I pity you, and will help you once more out of yourtrouble. This road takes you straight to the Golden Castle, you willreach it by eventide; and at night when everything is quiet the beautifulprincess goes to the bathing-house to bathe. When she enters it, run upto her and give her a kiss, then she will follow you, and you can takeher away with you; only do not allow her to take leave of her parentsfirst, or it will go ill with you."
Then the Fox stretched out his tail, the King's son seated himself uponit, and away the Fox went, over stock and stone, till his hair whistledin the wind.
When he reached the Golden Castle it was just as the Fox had said. Hewaited until midnight, when everything lay in deep sleep, and thebeautiful princess was going to the bathing-house. Then he sprang outand gave her a kiss. She said that she would like to go with him, but sheasked him pitifully, and with tears, to allow her first to take leave ofher parents. At first he withstood her prayer, but when she wept moreand more, and fell at his feet, he at last gave in. But no sooner hadthe maiden reached the bedside of her father than he and all the restin the castle awoke, and the youth was laid hold of and put into prison.
The next morning the King said to him, "Your life is forfeited, and youcan only find mercy if you take away the hill which stands in frontof my windows, and prevents my seeing beyond it; and you must finishit all within eight days. If you do that you shall have my daughter asyour reward."
The King's son began, and dug and shovelled without leaving off, butwhen after seven days he saw how little he had done, and how all hiswork was as good as nothing, he fell into great sorrow and gave up allhope. But on the evening of the seventh day the Fox appeared and said,"You do not deserve that I should take any trouble about you; but justgo away and lie down to sleep, and I will do the work for you."
The next morning when he awoke and looked out of the window the hill hadgone. The youth ran, full of joy, to the King, and told him that the taskwas fulfilled, and whether he liked it or not, the King had to hold tohis word and give him his daughter.
So the two set forth together, and it was not long before the trusty Foxcame up with them. "You have certainly got what is best," said he, "butthe Golden Horse also belongs to the maiden of the Golden Castle." "Howshall I get it?" asked the youth. "That I will tell you," answered theFox; "first take the beautiful maiden to the King who sent you to theGolden Castle. There will be unheard-of rejoicing; they will gladly giveyou the Golden Horse, and will bring it out to you. Mount it as soonas possible, and offer your hand to all in farewell; last of all to thebeautiful maiden. And as soon as you have taken her hand swing her up onto the horse, and gallop away, and no one will be able to bring you back,for the horse runs faster than the wind."
All was carried out successfully, and the King's son carried off thebeautiful princess on the Golden Horse.
The Fox did not remain behind, and he said to the youth, "Now I willhelp you to get the Golden Bird. When you come near to the castle wherethe Golden Bird is to be found, let the maiden get down, and I will takeher into my care. Then ride with the Golden Horse into the castle-yard;there will be great rejoicing at the sight, and they will bring out theGolden Bird for you. As soon as you have the cage in your hand gallopback to us, and take the maiden away again."
When the plan had succeeded, and the King's son was about to ridehome with his treasures, the Fox said, "Now you shall reward me for myhelp." "What do you require for it?" asked the youth. "When you get intothe wood yonder, shoot me dead, and chop off my head and feet."
"That would be fine gratitude," said the King's son. "I cannot possiblydo that for you."
The Fox said, "If you will not do it I must leave you, but beforeI go away I will give you a piece of good advice. Be careful abouttwo things. Buy no gallows'-flesh, and do not sit at the edge of anywell." And then he ran into the wood.
The youth thought, "That is a wonderful beast, he has strange whims;who is going to buy gallows'-flesh? and the desire to sit at the edgeof a well it has never yet seized me."
He rode on with the beautiful maiden, and his road took him again throughthe village in which his two brothers had remained. There was a greatstir and noise, and, when he asked what was going on, he was told thattwo men were going to be hanged. As he came nearer to the place he sawthat they were his brothers, who had been playing all kinds of wickedpranks, and had squandered all their wealth. He inquired whether theycould not be set free. "If you will pay for them," answered the people;"but why should you waste your money on wicked men, and buy them free." Hedid not think twice about it, but paid for them, and when they were setfree they all went on their way together.
They came to the wood where the Fox had first met them, as it was cooland pleasant within it, the two brothers said, "Let us rest a little bythe well, and eat and drink." He agreed, and whilst they were talking heforgot himself, and sat down upon the edge of the well without thinkingof any evil. But the two brothers threw him backwards into the well, tookthe maiden, the Horse, and the Bird, and went home to their father. "Herewe bring you not only the Golden Bird," said they; "we have won theGolden Horse also, and the maiden from the Golden Castle." Then wasthere great joy; but the Horse would not eat, the Bird would not sing,and the maiden sat and wept.
But the youngest brother was not dead. By good fortune the well wasdry, and he fell upon soft moss without being hurt, but he could notget out again. Even in this strait the faithful Fox did not leave him:it came and leapt down to him, and upbraided him for having forgottenits advice. "But yet I cannot give it up so," he said; "I will help youup again into daylight." He bade him grasp his tail and keep tight holdof it; and then he pulled him up.
"You are not out of all danger yet," said the Fox. "Your brothers werenot sure of your death, and have surrounded the wood with watchers,who are to kill you if you let yourself be seen." But a poor man wassitting upon the road, with whom the youth changed clothes, and in thisway he got to the King's palace.
No one knew him, but the Bird began to sing, the Horse began to eat,and the beautiful maiden left off weeping. The King, astonished, asked,"What does this mean?" Then the maiden said, "I do not know, but I havebeen so sorrowful and now I am so happy! I feel as if my true bridegroomhad come." She told him all that had happened, although the other brothershad threatened her with death if she were to betray anything.
The King commanded that all people who were in his castle should bebrought before him; and amongst them came the youth in his raggedclothes; but the maiden knew him at once and fell upon his neck. Thewicked brothers were seized and put to death, but he was married to thebeautiful maiden and declared heir to the King.
But how did it fare with the poor Fox? Long afterwards the King's sonwas once again walking in the wood, when the Fox met him and said, "Youhave everything now that you can wish for, but there is never an end tomy misery, and yet it is in your power to free me," and again he askedhim with tears to shoot him dead and chop off his head and feet. So hedid it, and scarcely was it done when the Fox was changed into a man,and was no other than the brother of the beautiful princess, who atlast was freed from the magic charm which had been laid upon him. Andnow nothing more was wanting to their happiness as long as they lived.
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