The Seven Ravens

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

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There was once a man who had seven sons, and still he had no daughter,however much he wished for one. At length his wife again gave him hopeof a child, and when it came into the world it was a girl. The joywas great, but the child was sickly and small, and had to be privatelybaptized on account of its weakness. The father sent one of the boysin haste to the spring to fetch water for the baptism. The other sixwent with him, and as each of them wanted to be first to fill it, thejug fell into the well. There they stood and did not know what to do,and none of them dared to go home. As they still did not return, thefather grew impatient, and said, "They have certainly forgotten it forsome game, the wicked boys!" He became afraid that the girl would haveto die without being baptized, and in his anger cried, "I wish the boyswere all turned into ravens." Hardly was the word spoken before he hearda whirring of wings over his head in the air, looked up and saw sevencoal-black ravens flying away. The parents could not recall the curse,and however sad they were at the loss of their seven sons, they stillto some extent comforted themselves with their dear little daughter,who soon grew strong and every day became more beautiful. For a long timeshe did not know that she had had brothers, for her parents were carefulnot to mention them before her, but one day she accidentally heard somepeople saying of herself, "that the girl was certainly beautiful, butthat in reality she was to blame for the misfortune which had befallenher seven brothers." Then she was much troubled, and went to her fatherand mother and asked if it was true that she had had brothers, and whathad become of them? The parents now dared keep the secret no longer,but said that what had befallen her brothers was the will of Heaven,and that her birth had only been the innocent cause. But the maidentook it to heart daily, and thought she must deliver her brothers. Shehad no rest or peace until she set out secretly, and went forth into thewide world to trace out her brothers and set them free, let it cost whatit might. She took nothing with her but a little ring belonging to herparents as a keepsake, a loaf of bread against hunger, a little pitcher ofwater against thirst, and a little chair as a provision against weariness.

　　And now she went continually onwards, far, far to the very end ofthe world. Then she came to the sun, but it was too hot and terrible,and devoured little children. Hastily she ran away, and ran to the moon,but it was far too cold, and also awful and malicious, and when it sawthe child, it said, "I smell, I smell the flesh of men." On this she ranswiftly away, and came to the stars, which were kind and good to her,and each of them sat on its own particular little chair. But the morningstar arose, and gave her the drumstick of a chicken, and said, "If youthou hast not that drumstick thou canst not open the Glass mountain,and in the Glass mountain are thy brothers."

　　The maiden took the drumstick, wrapped it carefully in a cloth, and wentonwards again until she came to the Glass mountain. The door was shut,and she thought she would take out the drumstick; but when she undid thecloth, it was empty, and she had lost the good star's present. What wasshe now to do? She wished to rescue her brothers, and had no key to theGlass mountain. The good sister took a knife, cut off one of her littlefingers, put it in the door, and succeeded in opening it. When she hadgone inside, a little dwarf came to meet her, who said, "My child, whatare you looking for?" "I am looking for my brothers, the seven ravens,"she replied. The dwarf said, "The lord ravens are not at home, but ifyou will wait here until they come, step in." Thereupon the little dwarfcarried the ravens' dinner in, on seven little plates, and in sevenlittle glasses, and the little sister ate a morsel from each plate,and from each little glass she took a sip, but in the last little glassshe dropped the ring which she had brought away with her.

　　Suddenly she heard a whirring of wings and a rushing through the air, andthen the little dwarf said, "Now the lord ravens are flying home." Thenthey came, and wanted to eat and drink, and looked for their littleplates and glasses. Then said one after the other, "Who has eatensomething from my plate? Who has drunk out of my little glass? It wasa human mouth." And when the seventh came to the bottom of the glass,the ring rolled against his mouth. Then he looked at it, and saw that itwas a ring belonging to his father and mother, and said, "God grant thatour sister may be here, and then we shall be free." When the maiden, whowas standing behind the door watching, heard that wish, she came forth,and on this all the ravens were restored to their human form again. Andthey embraced and kissed each other, and went joyfully home.

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