The Three Apprentices

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

---

There were once three apprentices, who had agreed to keep always togetherwhile travelling, and always to work in the same town. At one time,however, their masters had no more work to give them, so that at lastthey were in rags, and had nothing to live on. Then one of them said,"What shall we do? We cannot stay here any longer, we will travel oncemore, and if we do not find any work in the town we go to, we willarrange with the innkeeper there, that we are to write and tell himwhere we are staying, so that we can always have news of each other,and then we will separate." And that seemed best to the others also.They went forth, and met on the way a richly-dressed man who askedwho they were. "We are apprentices looking for work; Up to this timewe have kept together, but if we cannot find anything to do we aregoing to separate." "There is no need for that," said the man, "if youwill do what I tell you, you shall not want for gold or for work; nay,you shall become great lords, and drive in your carriages!" One of themsaid, "If our souls and salvation be not endangered, we will certainlydo it." "They will not," replied the man, "I have no claim on you."One of the others had, however, looked at his feet, and when he saw ahorse's foot and a man's foot, he did not want to have anything to dowith him. The Devil, however, said, "Be easy, I have no designs on you,but on another soul, which is half my own already, and whose measure shallbut run full." As they were now secure, they consented, and the Deviltold them what he wanted. The first was to answer, "All three of us,"to every question; the second was to say, "For money," and the third,"And quite right too!" They were always to say this, one after the other,but they were not to say one word more, and if they disobeyed this order,all their money would disappear at once, but so long as they observed it,their pockets would always be full. As a beginning, he at once gave themas much as they could carry, and told them to go to such and such an innwhen they got to the town. They went to it, and the innkeeper came to meetthem, and asked if they wished for anything to eat? The first replied,"All three of us." "Yes," said the host, "that is what I mean." Thesecond said, "For money." "Of course," said the host. The third said,"And quite right too!" "Certainly it is right," said the host.

　　Good meat and drink were now brought to them, and they were well waitedon. After the dinner came the payment, and the innkeeper gave the billto the one who said, "All three of us," the second said, "For money," andthe third, "and quite right too!" "Indeed it is right," said the host,"all three pay, and without money I can give nothing." They, however,paid still more than he had asked. The lodgers, who were looking on,said, "These people must be mad." "Yes, indeed they are," said the host,"they are not very wise." So they stayed some time in the inn, and saidnothing else but, "All three of us," "For money," and "And quite righttoo!" But they saw and knew all that was going on. It so happened that agreat merchant came with a large sum of money, and said, "Sir host, takecare of my money for me, here are three crazy apprentices who might stealit from me." The host did as he was asked. As he was carrying the trunkinto his room, he felt that it was heavy with gold. Thereupon he gave thethree apprentices a lodging below, but the merchant came up-stairs intoa separate apartment. When it was midnight, and the host thought thatall were asleep, he came with his wife, and they had an axe and struckthe rich merchant dead; and after they had murdered him they went to bedagain. When it was day there was a great outcry; the merchant lay deadin bed bathed in blood. All the guests ran at once but the host said,"The three crazy apprentices have done this;" the lodgers confirmedit, and said, "It can have been no one else." The innkeeper, however,had them called, and said to them, "Have you killed the merchant?""All three of us," said the first, "For money," said the second; and thethird added, "And quite right too!" "There now, you hear," said the host,"they confess it themselves." They were taken to prison, therefore, andwere to be tried. When they saw that things were going so seriously,they were after all afraid, but at night the Devil came and said,"Bear it just one day longer, and do not play away your luck, not onehair of your head shall be hurt."

　　The next morning they were led to the bar, and the judge said, "Are youthe murderers?" "All three of us." "Why did you kill the merchant?" "Formoney." "You wicked wretches, you have no horror of your sins?" "Andquite right too!" "They have confessed, and are still stubborn," saidthe judge, "lead them to death instantly." So they were taken out, and thehost had to go with them into the circle. When they were taken hold of bythe executioner's men, and were just going to be led up to the scaffoldwhere the headsman was standing with naked sword, a coach drawn by fourblood-red chestnut horses came up suddenly, driving so fast that fireflashed from the stones, and someone made signs from the window witha white handkerchief. Then said the headsman, "It is a pardon coming,"and "Pardon! pardon!" was called from the carriage also. Then the Devilstepped out as a very noble gentleman, beautifully dressed, and said,"You three are innocent; you may now speak, make known what you haveseen and heard." Then said the eldest, "We did not kill the merchant,the murderer is standing there in the circle," and he pointed to theinnkeeper. "In proof of this, go into his cellar, where many others whomhe has killed are still hanging." Then the judge sent the executioner'smen thither, and they found it was as the apprentices said, and whenthey had informed the judge of this, he caused the innkeeper to beled up, and his head was cut off. Then said the Devil to the three,"Now I have got the soul which I wanted to have, and you are free,and have money for the rest of your lives."

---