31 / The Girl Without Hands

A certain miller had little by little fallen into poverty, and had nothing left but his mill and a large apple-tree behind it. Once when he had gone into the forest to fetch wood, an old man stepped up to him whom he had never seen before, and said, "Why dost thou plague thyself with cutting wood, I will make thee rich, if thou wilt promise me what is standing behind thy mill?" "What can that be but my apple-tree?" thought the miller, and said, "Yes," and gave a written promise to the stranger. He, however, laughed mockingly and said, "When three years have passed, I will come and carry away what belongs to me," and then he went. When the miller got home, his wife came to meet him and said, "Tell me, miller, from whence comes this sudden wealth into our house? All at once every box and chest was filled; no one brought it in, and I know not how it happened." He answered, "It comes from a stranger who met me in the forest, and promised me great treasure. I, in return, have promised him what stands behind the mill; we can very well give him the big apple-tree for it." "Ah, husband," said the terrified wife, "that must have been the devil! He did not mean the apple-tree, but our daughter, who was standing behind the mill sweeping the yard."
The miller's daughter was a beautiful, pious girl, and lived through the three years in the fear of God and without sin. When therefore the time was over, and the day came when the Evil-one was to fetch her, she washed herself clean, and made a circle round herself with chalk. The devil appeared quite early, but he could not come near to her. Angrily, he said to the miller, "Take all water away from her, that she may no longer be able to wash herself, for otherwise I have no power over her." The miller was afraid, and did so. The next morning the devil came again, but she had wept on her hands, and they were quite clean. Again he could not get near her, and furiously said to the miller, "Cut her hands off, or else I cannot get the better of her." The miller was shocked and answered, "How could I cut off my own child's hands?" Then the Evil-one threatened him and said, "If thou dost not do it thou art mine, and I will take thee thyself." The father became alarmed, and promised to obey him. So he went to the girl and said, "My child, if I do not cut off both thine hands, the devil will carry me away, and in my terror I have promised to do it. Help me in my need, and forgive me the harm I do thee." She replied, "Dear father, do with me what you will, I am your child." Thereupon she laid down both her hands, and let them be cut off. The devil came for the third time, but she had wept so long and so much on the stumps, that after all they were quite clean. Then he had to give in, and had lost all right over her.

The miller said to her, "I have by means of thee received such great wealth that I will keep thee most delicately as long as thou livest." But she replied, "Here I cannot stay, I will go forth, compassionate people will give me as much as I require." Thereupon she caused her maimed arms to be bound to her back, and by sunrise she set out on her way, and walked the whole day until night fell. Then she came to a royal garden, and by the shimmering of the moon she saw that trees covered with beautiful fruits grew in it, but she could not enter, for there was much water round about it. And as she had walked the whole day and not eaten one mouthful, and hunger tormented her, she thought, "Ah, if I were but inside, that I might eat of the fruit, else must I die of hunger!" Then she knelt down, called on God the Lord, and prayed. And suddenly an angel came towards her, who made a dam in the water, so that the moat became dry and she could walk through it. And now she went into the garden and the angel went with her. She saw a tree covered with beautiful pears, but they were all counted. Then she went to them, and to still her hunger, ate one with her mouth from the tree, but no more. The gardener was watching; but as the angel was standing by, he was afraid and thought the maiden was a spirit, and was silent, neither did he dare to cry out, or to speak to the spirit. When she had eaten the pear, she was satisfied, and went and concealed herself among the bushes. The King to whom the garden belonged, came down to it next morning, and counted, and saw that one of the pears was missing, and asked the gardener what had become of it, as it was not lying beneath the tree, but was gone. Then answered the gardener, "Last night, a spirit came in, who had no hands, and ate off one of the pears with its mouth." The King said, "How did the spirit get over the water, and where did it go after it had eaten the pear?" The gardener answered, "Some one came in a snow-white garment from heaven who made a dam, and kept back the water, that the spirit might walk through the moat. And as it must have been an angel, I was afraid, and asked no questions, and did not cry out. When the spirit had eaten the pear, it went back again." The King said, "If it be as thou sayest, I will watch with thee to-night."

When it grew dark the King came into the garden and brought a priest with him, who was to speak to the spirit. All three seated themselves beneath the tree and watched. At midnight the maiden came creeping out of the thicket, went to the tree, and again ate one pear off it with her mouth, and beside her stood the angel in white garments. Then the priest went out to them and said, "Comest thou from heaven or from earth? Art thou a spirit, or a human being?" She replied, "I am no spirit, but an unhappy mortal deserted by all but God." The King said, "If thou art forsaken by all the world, yet will I not forsake thee." He took her with him into his royal palace, and as she was so beautiful and good, he loved her with all his heart, had silver hands made for her, and took her to wife.

After a year the King had to take the field, so he commended his young Queen to the care of his mother and said, "If she is brought to bed take care of her, nurse her well, and tell me of it at once in a letter." Then she gave birth to a fine boy. So the old mother made haste to write and announce the joyful news to him. But the messenger rested by a brook on the way, and as he was fatigued by the great distance, he fell asleep. Then came the Devil, who was always seeking to injure the good Queen, and exchanged the letter for another, in which was written that the Queen had brought a monster into the world. When the King read the letter he was shocked and much troubled, but he wrote in answer that they were to take great care of the Queen and nurse her well until his arrival. The messenger went back with the letter, but rested at the same place and again fell asleep. Then came the Devil once more, and put a different letter in his pocket, in which it was written that they were to put the Queen and her child to death. The old mother was terribly shocked when she received the letter, and could not believe it. She wrote back again to the King, but received no other answer, because each time the Devil substituted a false letter, and in the last letter it was also written that she was to preserve the Queen's tongue and eyes as a token that she had obeyed.

But the old mother wept to think such innocent blood was to be shed, and had a hind brought by night and cut out her tongue and eyes, and kept them. Then said she to the Queen, "I cannot have thee killed as the King commands, but here thou mayst stay no longer. Go forth into the wide world with thy child, and never come here again." The poor woman tied her child on her back, and went away with eyes full of tears. She came into a great wild forest, and then she fell on her knees and prayed to God, and the angel of the Lord appeared to her and led her to a little house on which was a sign with the words, "Here all dwell free." A snow-white maiden came out of the little house and said, 'Welcome, Lady Queen," and conducted her inside. Then they unbound the little boy from her back, and held him to her breast that he might feed, and laid him in a beautifully-made little bed. Then said the poor woman, "From whence knowest thou that I was a queen?" The white maiden answered, "I am an angel sent by God, to watch over thee and thy child." The Queen stayed seven years in the little house, and was well cared for, and by God's grace, because of her piety, her hands which had been cut off, grew once more.

At last the King came home again from the war, and his first wish was to see his wife and the child. Then his aged mother began to weep and said, "Thou wicked man, why didst thou write to me that I was to take those two innocent lives?" and she showed him the two letters which the Evil-one had forged, and then continued, "I did as thou badest me," and she showed the tokens, the tongue and eyes. Then the King began to weep for his poor wife and his little son so much more bitterly than she was doing, that the aged mother had compassion on him and said, "Be at peace, she still lives; I secretly caused a hind to be killed, and took these tokens from it; but I bound the child to thy wife's back and bade her go forth into the wide world, and made her promise never to come back here again, because thou wert so angry with her." Then spoke the King, "I will go as far as the sky is blue, and will neither eat nor drink until I have found again my dear wife and my child, if in the meantime they have not been killed, or died of hunger."

Thereupon the King travelled about for seven long years, and sought her in every cleft of the rocks and in every cave, but he found her not, and thought she had died of want. During the whole of this time he neither ate nor drank, but God supported him. At length he came into a great forest, and found therein the little house whose sign was, "Here all dwell free." Then forth came the white maiden, took him by the hand, led him in, and said, "Welcome, Lord King," and asked him from whence he came. He answered, "Soon shall I have travelled about for the space of seven years, and I seek my wife and her child, but cannot find them." The angel offered him meat and drink, but he did not take anything, and only wished to rest a little. Then he lay down to sleep, and put a handkerchief over his face.

Thereupon the angel went into the chamber where the Queen sat with her son, whom she usually called "Sorrowful," and said to her, "Go out with thy child, thy husband hath come." So she went to the place where he lay, and the handkerchief fell from his face. Then said she, "Sorrowful, pick up thy father's handkerchief, and cover his face again." The child picked it up, and put it over his face again. The King in his sleep heard what passed, and had pleasure in letting the handkerchief fall once more. But the child grew impatient, and said, "Dear mother, how can I cover my father's face when I have no father in this world? I have learnt to say the prayer, 'Our Father, which art in Heaven,' thou hast told me that my father was in Heaven, and was the good God, and how can I know a wild man like this? He is not my father." When the King heard that, he got up, and asked who they were. Then said she, "I am thy wife, and that is thy son, Sorrowful." And he saw her living hands, and said, "My wife had silver hands." She answered, "The good God has caused my natural hands to grow again;" and the angel went into the inner room, and brought the silver hands, and showed them to him. Hereupon he knew for a certainty that it was his dear wife and his dear child, and he kissed them, and was glad, and said, "A heavy stone has fallen from off mine heart." Then the angel of God gave them one meal with her, and after that they went home to the King's aged mother. There were great rejoicings everywhere, and the King and Queen were married again, and lived contentedly to their happy end.

没有手的姑娘

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从前有位磨房主，他越来越穷，除了磨房后有棵大大的苹果树外一无所有。有一天，他
到森林里去砍柴，一个他从没见过的老头走近前来对他说：“你何苦这么辛苦地砍柴呀？
只要你答应把你磨房后的东西给我，我就让你过富人的日子。”
“磨房后面不就是那棵苹果树吗？”磨房主想。“行。”他说着就写了个承诺给陌生
人。陌生人嘲笑地说：“三年之后，我会来取走属于我的东西。”说完便走了。
磨房主回到家中，妻子迎出来对他说：“快告诉我，咱们家这些财富突然从什么地方来
的？家里所有的箱笼一下子全被装满了，又没人来过，到底是怎么回事呀？”磨房主回答
说：“是我在森林里碰到的一个陌生人给的。他只要我们磨房后的东西作为回报。我们把那
棵大苹果树给他不就得了。”
“唉呀，老公，”妻子吓坏了，“那准是恶魔！他不是要苹果树，他要的是我们女儿，
她正在磨房后面扫院子呢。”
磨房主的女儿是个美丽、虔诚的姑娘，她敬畏上帝、没犯任何过失。三年过去了，在恶
魔要来带她走那天，她将自己从头到脚洗得干干净净，用粉笔绕着自己画了一个圈。恶魔很
早就来了，可就是没法靠近姑娘。他怒气冲冲地对磨房主说：“把水全给我拿走！让她没法
洗得那么干净。要不然我对她就没有魔法了。”
磨房主害怕，只得照办。第二天，恶魔又来了。可姑娘的泪水把她的手冲得十分干净。
恶魔还是没法靠近她，因此气势汹汹地对磨房主说：“把她的手砍掉，要不然我对她就没有
魔力了！”磨房主吓了一跳，回答说：“我怎么能砍自己孩子的手呢！”恶魔威胁说：“如
果你不这么做，你就是我的，我就要把你带走。”这位父亲吓坏了，答应照他说的去做。他
走到女儿跟前，对她说：“我的孩子，假如我不砍掉你的手，恶魔就要把我抓走，我吓坏
了，就答应了他。现在请你帮帮我，饶恕我对你的伤害吧。”姑娘回答说：“亲爱的父亲，
尽管砍吧，我是你的孩子。”说着，她伸出了双手，让父亲砍下了。
恶魔第三次来到磨房。可是姑娘一直在哭泣，泪水将残肢冲洗得十分洁净。恶魔只好放
弃了，而且对姑娘失去了所有权。
磨房主对女儿说：“我以你为代价换取了这么多财富。只要你活着，我就会让你过得舒
舒服服的。”可是姑娘回答说：“我不能住在这里，我情愿出去，有同情心的人们会给我所
需要的东西的，”她请人将她残废的手绑到身后，等太阳升起来的时候，便出发了。她走了
一整天，太阳下山时她来到一个皇家花园，在闪烁的月光中，她看到园子里挂满了诱人的果
子的果树。但是她无法进去，因为果园被一道满是水的深壕围住了。
姑娘已经走了整整一天了，而且没吃过任何东西。她饿得要命。“啊，如果我在果园里
面就能吃到水果了，”她想，“否则我准会饿死的！”她跪到地上向上帝祈祷。忽然，有个
天使向她走来，在水中筑起一道堤坝。这样一来，壕中的水干了，姑娘就可以走到果园去
了，天使陪着她一起进了果园。果园的树上挂满了迷人的梨子，可每个上面都编了号，姑娘
来到梨子树前，用嘴咬下一只吃了，然后满足地钻进了灌木丛。园丁看到了这一切，可见天
使站在姑娘身边，便以为是幽灵，有些害怕，所以不敢出声，更不敢大声喊叫。
果园的主人是个国王。第二天，他来到果园数梨时发现少了一个，而且并没有落在地
上。他问园丁怎么回事，园丁回复说：“昨晚来了个幽灵，没有手，用嘴咬掉了一个。”
“幽灵怎么越过水沟的呢？吃完梨之后上哪儿去了呢？”国王问。
园丁回答说：“有个浑身雪白的人从天而降。他筑起一道堤坝拦住了水，让幽灵走了过
来。我想那人准是个天使，所以有些惧怕，没敢出声。幽灵吃完梨就走了。”
“我今晚和你一起看看是不是真像你说的那样。”国王说。
天黑了，国王带着牧师来到果园。他要牧师来是为了和幽灵对话。他们三人坐在树下等
着、看着。半夜时分，姑娘从灌木丛里爬了出来，走到梨树下，用嘴咬下一个梨，身穿白袍
的天使仍然陪着她。牧师从树下走出来对他们说：“你们是从天上来的，还是从地下来的？
是人还是鬼？”姑娘回答说：“我不是鬼，我是个不幸的人。除了上帝外，人人都抛弃了
我。”国王接口说：“即使世界上所有的人都抛弃了你，我也不会那么做的。”他将姑娘带
回王宫，姑娘的美貌和善良使国王深深地爱上了她。他为姑娘做了一双银手，并娶她为妻。
一年以后，国王不得不远行。他将年轻的王后托咐给母亲，说：“假如她生了孩子，请
好好照顾她，同时尽快把消息告诉我。”后来姑娘果真生了个健康漂亮的男孩，国王年迈的
母亲立刻将这一令人振奋的消息写在信上派人给国王送去。但送信人在路上的一条小溪边歇
息的时候睡着了。再说那个恶魔一直想伤害好心的王后。这时，他将另一封信放进信使的口
袋里，上面说王后生了一个妖怪。国王收到信后十分震惊，而且百思不得其解。他回信要大
家仍悉心照料王后，一切等他回来再说。送信人带着国王的信往回走，又在来时歇息的地方
打了个盹。恶魔又把另一封信装进信使的口袋，上面要他们将王后和她生的孩子处死。
国王的母亲见信后大惊失色，简直不敢相信。因此又写了一封信给国王，可是没有回
音。因为恶魔每次都把信换了。最后一封信上要求把王后的舌头和眼睛挖出来留作服从国王
命令的见证。
国王的母亲哭了，她不愿意看到无辜的人被杀害。于是她趁天黑时杀了一头鹿，留下了
舌头和眼睛，然后对王后说：“我不愿按国王的命令杀你，但是你不能再住在这儿了。带着
孩子走吧，别再回来。”
可怜的妇人把孩子背到背上，含泪离开了王宫。她来到一座大森林里，跪下来向上帝祈
祷。天使来到她跟前，把她领到一座小屋前。那里挂着一块牌子，上面写着：“一切免
费。”一位雪白的侍女从屋里走出来说：“欢迎你，王后。”然后将她引进屋里。她将孩子
从王后背上解下来，抱到她怀里让孩子吃奶，随后将孩子放到一张做得极其精致的小床上。
可怜的妇人问：“你怎么知道我是个王后。”白侍女回答说：“我是个天使，上帝派我来照
顾你和孩子的。”王后在这里生活了七年，受到很好的照顾。由于她虔诚地信仰上帝，因此
上帝让她被砍断的双手又长了出来。
国王终于归来了，他的第一个愿望就是看看他的妻子和儿子。他年迈的妈妈哭着对他
说：“你这个坏家伙，为什么写信要我杀那两个无辜的人？”她拿出那两封被恶魔换了的信
给国王看，接着说：“我已经照办了。”说着拿出舌头和眼睛作证。
国王为可怜的妻子和儿子痛哭流涕，伤心的程度远超过他母亲。老母看他哭得实在可
怜，就对他说：“别哭了，她还活着。我悄悄地杀了一头鹿，取了那些证物。实际上我把孩
子绑到你妻子的背上，让她到野外谋生，要她别再回来，因为你信上似乎对她很恼怒。”国
王说：“只要我亲爱的妻子和儿子没被杀害或饿死，走遍天崖海角我也一定要找到他们，否
则我不吃也不喝。”
于是国王找了七年，不吃也不喝，但是上帝在暗中帮助他支撑着。他找遍了每一个石
缝、每一个山洞，但还是没有找到，他想她准是因为缺衣少食死了。最后他来到了大森林，
看到了小屋和上面挂着的“一切免费”的牌子。白衣侍女走出来，拉着他的手将他领进屋子
说：“欢迎光临，国王陛下。”又问他从何而来。国王回答说：“我出来寻找我妻子和孩子
已经七年了，我几乎找遍了每一个地方，可就是找不到。”天使请国王吃点肉、喝点酒，国
王什么也没吃，说只想休息一下。
他躺下，将一块手帕遮在脸上睡了。
天使走进王后和她儿子“悲伤”住的房间，对她说：“带着孩子出去吧，你丈夫找你们
来了。”于是王后带着儿子来到国王睡觉的地方。手帕从国王的脸上滑落到地上，王后对儿
子：“悲伤，去把你父亲的手帕捡起来，盖到他脸上。”孩子走过去，捡起手帕盖到国王脸
上。国王在睡梦中听到了，便很高兴地让手帕再次滑落到地上。可孩子不耐烦地说：“亲爱
的母亲，我在这世上不是没父亲吗？你怎么叫我用手帕盖住父亲的脸？我已经学会祈祷‘我
们在天之父’，你不是说我父亲在天国吗，是仁慈的上帝，现在怎么又说这陌生人是我父
亲？他不是我父亲。”国王一听，马上坐了起来，问他们是谁。王后回答说：“我是你的妻
子，他是你的儿子‘悲伤’。”
国王看到王后那双自然生长的手，说：“我妻子的手是银子做的。”王后回答说：“仁
慈的上帝让我又长出了一双手。”天使走进内室，拿出那双银手给国王看。这时国王才确信
这就是他亲爱的妻子和儿子，他亲吻了他们，高兴地说：“这下我心中的石头算是落地了。”
上帝派来的天使和他们一起吃了最后一顿饭。随后国王带着妻儿回到王宫，见到了老母
亲，到处一片欢腾。国王和王后再次举行了婚礼，从此永远幸福满足地生活在一起。
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32 / Clever Hans

The mother of Hans said, "Whither away, Hans?" Hans answered, "To Grethel." "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans." Hans comes to Grethel, "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What dost thou bring that is good?" "I bring nothing, I want to have something given me." Grethel presents Hans with a needle. Hans says, "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."
Hans takes the needle, sticks it into a hay-cart, and follows the cart home. "Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "Took nothing; had something given me." "What did Grethel give thee?" "Gave me a needle." "Where is the needle, Hans?" "Stuck it in the hay-cart." "That was ill done, Hans. Thou shouldst have stuck the needle in thy sleeve." "Never mind, I'll do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What dost thou bring that is good?" "I bring nothing; I want to have something given to me." Grethel presents Hans with a knife. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye Hans." Hans takes the knife, sticks it in his sleeve, and goes home. "Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "Took her nothing, she gave me something." "What did Grethel give thee?" "Gave me a knife." "Where is the knife, Hans?" "Stuck in my sleeve." "That's ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have put the knife in thy pocket." "Never mind, will do better next time." "Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother. " "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, I want something given me." Grethel presents Hans with a young goat. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans." Hans takes the goat, ties its legs, and puts it in his pocket. When he gets home it is suffocated. "Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "Took nothing, she gave me something." "What did Grethel give thee?" "She gave me a goat." "Where is the goat, Hans?" "Put it in my pocket." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have put a rope round the goat's neck." "Never mind, will do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans,?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans." Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, I want something given me." Grethel presents Hans with a piece of bacon. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans takes the bacon, ties it to a rope, and drags it away behind him. The dogs come and devour the bacon. When he gets home, he has the rope in his hand, and there is no longer anything hanging to it. "Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans." "Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." What didst thou take her?" "I took her nothing, she gave me something." "What did Grethel give thee?" "Gave me a bit of bacon." "Where is the bacon, Hans?" "I tied it to a rope, brought it home, dogs took it." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have carried the bacon on thy head." "Never mind, will do better next time." "Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans." "What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, but would have something given." Grethel presents Hans with a calf. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans takes the calf, puts it on his head, and the calf kicks his face. Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "I took nothing, but had something given me." "What did Grethel give thee?" "A calf." "Where hast thou the calf, Hans?" "I set it on my head and it kicked my face." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have led the calf, and put it in the stall." "Never mind, will do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, but would have something given." Grethel says to Hans, "I will go with thee."

Hans takes Grethel, ties her to a rope, leads her to the rack and binds her fast. Then Hans goes to his mother. "Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "I took her nothing." "What did Grethel give thee?" "She gave me nothing, she came with me." "Where hast thou left Grethel?" "I led her by the rope, tied her to the rack, and scattered some grass for her." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have cast friendly eyes on her." "Never mind, will do better."

Hans went into the stable, cut out all the calves', and sheep's eyes, and threw them in Grethel's face. Then Grethel became angry, tore herself loose and ran away, and became the bride of Hans.

称心如意的汉斯

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汉斯给他的雇主做了七年的工，这会儿他对雇主说：“主人，我的工作期限到了，现在
我想回家探望母亲，请您把工资付给我吧。”雇主说：“你很忠诚，干得也挺不错，根据你
的表现，我将付给你一笔可观的佣金。”于是，他给了汉斯一大块金子，那块金子有汉斯的
脑袋那么大，挺沉挺沉的。
汉斯掏出毛巾将金子包起来，扛在肩上，慢慢地上了回家的路。他拖动着脚一步一步地
走，显得非常吃力。走着走着，迎面跑过来一匹神骏非凡的马，望着坐在马上的人，汉斯禁
不住大声赞叹道：“啊哈！骑在马上可真是一件轻松欢快的事情，瞧他坐在上面就像是坐在
家里的椅子上，既能安安稳稳舒舒服服地走路，又不担心跘着石头，连鞋子也不会磨损，不
知不觉地就向前走了好远好远的路。”马上的人听到他说的话，便勒住马，问道：“喂，汉
斯，你为什么步行呢？”汉斯答道：“唉！我带着这个劳什子，尽管它是一块金子，但压得
我连头也抬不起来，肩膀也痛得厉害。”听到这话，骑马的人眼珠一转，说道：“你看我们
换一换行吗？我把马给你，你把金子给我。”汉斯连忙道：“正合我的心意，不过我得告诉
你这样一个事实——你一个人扛着它是很吃力的哟！”骑马人马上跳下马来，接过汉斯的金
子，又帮助他骑上马，然后把缰绳递到他的手里，说道：“要是你想跑快一点，只要咂着嘴
喊两声‘喔驾，喔驾’就行了。”
汉斯骑在马上，一付心满意足的样子，走了一会儿，他嫌马走得太慢了，想让它快一
点，于是，咂着嘴喊道：“喔驾，喔驾！”那马立即放开四蹄，全速奔驰起来。说时迟，那
时快，汉斯一个不留意，咚的一声从马上摔了下来，滚进了路边的一条泥沟里。
正在这时，一个农夫赶着一头母牛从旁边经过，看到了这情况，眼急手快地将汉斯的马
拦住了，好不容易才没有让那马跑掉。汉斯慢慢地从沟里爬起来，心里非常恼火，对那农夫
说道：“骑了这样一匹马，真令人扫兴，它腿一蹬，就把我给掀了下来，连脖子似乎也摔断
了，我可不想再骑它了。我真喜欢你这头母牛，你能一个人赶着它，悠闲地走在它的后面。
而且，每天都能挤到牛奶，还能加工得到奶油和干酪，要是我有这样一头母牛就好啦！”那
农夫马上应声道：“那好，如果你真喜欢这头牛，我愿意用我的这头牛换你这匹马。”汉斯
立即兴奋地说道：“行！”听到这句话，农夫翻身跳上马，急忙策马而去。
汉斯不慌不忙地赶着牛，边走边想，觉得这笔交易真是太合算了。现在我只要有一快面
包——我想肯定会有的——每当我高兴的时候，我就能吃到奶油面包加干酪了，当我口渴的
时候，还可以挤牛奶喝，有了这样称心如意的事，我还要什么其它的东西呢？”走着走着，
来到了一家小客栈。他停了下来，心情一高兴，竟将自己带的面包全吃光了，口袋里仅有的
几个便士也买了一杯啤酒喝。酒足饭饱之后，他赶着母牛向他母亲住的村庄走去。
随着中午的到来，天气变得越来越热。此刻，他正在一片空旷的荒野上，这荒野是那么
大，走过它得花一个来小时，而汉斯已开始觉得口干舌燥，酷热难当。“我可得想办法来对
付这又热又渴的鬼天气，”他想，“对了！现在我可以挤牛奶解渴嘛。”于是，他将母牛拴
在一棵枯树上，没有奶桶就用皮帽子来接奶，他那笨手笨脚的挤奶方法，不仅没有挤出一滴
奶，反而把牛给挤痛了，牛忍不住抬腿一脚。真倒霉，这一脚正好踢在汉斯的头上，将他踢
翻在地上昏了过去，很久都没有醒来。幸运的是不久便来了一个屠夫，用车子推了一头猪从
旁边经过，看到这情况，停下来把汉斯扶了起来，问道：“你这是怎么了？”汉斯把刚才发
生的一切告诉了他，屠夫便把自己的酒递给了他，说道：“喝点酒，提提神吧，你的牛之所
以挤不出奶，是因为它是一头老牛，除了将它送往屠宰场，看样子别无它用了。”“哎呀，
真是的，”汉斯叹道，“谁想到会是这样呢？我要是把它给杀了，有什么用呢？我又不喜欢
吃牛肉，牛肉吃起来一点也不嫩。要是这牛现在能变成一头猪的话，就有用了，猪肉味道鲜
嫩，还可以做成香肠。”“行！”屠夫说，“为了让你满意，我就将我的这头猪换你的牛
吧！”“上帝会因你的善举降福于你的！”汉斯说着将牛给了屠夫，上前把猪从车上解了下
来，将绳子拴在了猪的腿上，带着它又高高兴兴地上路了。
汉斯慢慢悠悠地边走边想，今天所有的事都很称心如意，尽管遇到了一些不愉快的事
情，但每次很快就有了良好的转机。现在他正觉得心满意足，迎面又来了一位乡下人，这位
乡下人腋窝下夹着一只漂亮的白鹅。看见汉斯，他停下来向他打听几点钟了，而汉斯却跟他
谈起了今天的称心事，进行了一些什么交易，交易中他如何如何占了便宜等等。乡下人听了
他的话，也对他说起他带着这只鹅是去参加一个洗礼仪式的，并将鹅递给汉斯说：“你掂一
掂，这鹅多重呀，其实它只养了八个星期，看它长得多好，将它红烧了吃，还可以烧出好多
的鹅油哩！”汉斯接过鹅掂了掂说道：“这鹅的确不错，但我的猪也不赖呀！”乡下人若有
所思地四下看了看，然后把头一摇说：“哎呀呀！我的好朋友，你这头猪说不定会给你带来
麻烦的，我刚刚经过的那个村庄，有个乡绅的猪被人从猪圈中给偷走了，我真替你担心，因
为我开始见到你的时候还以为你这头猪是那个乡绅的呢。要是你经过那村庄时给他们抓住，
那可不是闹着完的哟，至少他们也会把你扔进洗马池去。”
可怜的汉斯听到这话，一时被吓坏了，他大声道：“您真是一个好人，请帮我脱离这场
苦难吧。您对这儿比我熟悉，您把这头猪赶走，把您的鹅换给我吧！”乡下人马上说：“我
真不忍心见你陷入这种莫须有的劫难中，看样子我只得和你交换了。”说完，他从汉斯手中
接过绳子，牵着猪从道旁的小路离去了。汉斯也放心大胆地将鹅夹在腋下，向回家的路走
去，心里不停地想着：“交易总算做成了，真合算。我将有美味的红烧鹅肉吃了，烧出来的
鹅油可吃上半年，还有这洁白美丽的鹅毛，将它们装进枕头一定可以安安稳稳地睡个好觉，
我母亲肯定会高兴的。”
当路过最后一个村庄时，他看见一个磨刀的人推着一部小车。他刚干完活，嘴里唱着：
“翻山越岭到处游，
多么快乐无忧愁；
干起活来真轻松，
生活乐悠悠；
世间任我去和留，
愉快似我何所求？”
汉斯住脚看了一会儿，最后开口说道：“磨刀师傅，你干得这般愉快，你的活儿一定充
满乐趣。”磨刀人答道：“那是当然，我的手艺就和金子一样，一个优秀的磨刀人把手伸到
口袋里，随时都能掏出钱来，——哟！你在哪儿买的这么漂亮的鹅呀？”“我不是买的，是
用一头猪换来的。”“那猪是从哪儿买来的呢？”“是用一头母牛换来的。”“母牛呢？”
“是用一匹马换来的。”“马呢？”“是用像我的脑袋这么大的一块金子换来的。”“金子
呢？”“唉，那是我七年做工所得的工钱。”磨刀人接着说道：“看来你一直都很幸运，但
你要是随时把手伸到口袋里都能掏出钱来，那才真的是发财交好运了。”汉斯接口说：
“对，对！但怎么能办到呢？”磨刀人回答道：“你必须像我一样当一个磨刀人，这样的
话，你只要一块磨刀石就成，其余的就不用愁了。我这儿有一块磨刀石，只是已经磨去一部
分，不过它的价值并不比你这只鹅低，你想换吗？”汉斯连忙回答道：“这还用问吗？要是
把手伸进口袋里就能掏出钱来，那我就是这世上最幸福的人了，我还有什么可求呢？这只鹅
给你。”“好吧！”说着，磨刀人就地捡了一块粗糙的石头递给汉斯，“这是一块最好的石
头，你可得好好地保管，用它你能把一颗旧钉子磨掉。”
汉斯带着这块石头，怀着兴奋的心情离开了。他眼里闪烁着喜悦的光芒，自言自语地说
道：“我一定是在幸运时辰出生的，瞧我想要办的和所希望的每一件事都能称心如意地得到
满足。”
因为天一亮他就上路了，走了这么久，此刻已开始疲倦了，肚子也饿得咕咕叫，原来带
的东西都已吃完，就剩下的几便士也在换取母牛后，趁着那股高兴劲买了啤酒喝了，再加上
那块石头背在身上压得够呛。终于，他不再往前走了，慢慢吞吞地走到了一个池塘边，想在
这儿喝点水，休息一会儿。他小心翼翼地将那块石头放在池塘岸边靠近自己的地方，但就在
他俯下身子去喝水的时候，一不留神，轻轻地碰了那块石头一下，石头扑嗵一下子就滚到池
塘里去了，汉斯眼睁睁地看着那石头向水面深处沉没下去，他竟高兴得跳了起来。随即又跪
在地上，眼中闪烁着泪花，感谢上帝慈悲为怀，使他免去了继续遭受那块讨厌而又沉重石头
的折磨。“我多么幸运啊！”他叫了起来，“谁也没有我这么幸运了。”怀着轻松高兴的心
情，他起身又上路了。他就这样无牵无挂，无忧无虑地回到了母亲的身旁，回到了他早已渴
望回到的家。
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33 / The Three Languages

An aged count once lived in Switzerland, who had an only son, but he was stupid, and could learn nothing. Then said the father, "Hark thee, my son, I can get nothing into thy head, let me try as I will. Thou must go from hence, I will give thee into the care of a celebrated master, who shall see what he can do with thee." The youth was sent into a strange town, and remained a whole year with the master. At the end of this time, he came home again, and his father asked, "Now, my son, what hast thou learnt?" "Father, I have learnt what the dogs say when they bark." "Lord have mercy on us!" cried the father; "is that all thou hast learnt? I will send thee into another town, to another master." The youth was taken thither, and stayed a year with this master likewise. When he came back the father again asked, "My son, what hast thou learnt?" He answered, "Father, I have learnt what the birds say." Then the father fell into a rage and said, "Oh, thou lost man, thou hast spent the precious time and learnt nothing; art thou not ashamed to appear before mine eyes? I will send thee to a third master, but if thou learnest nothing this time also, I will no longer be thy father." The youth remained a whole year with the third master also, and when he came home again, and his father inquired, "My son, what hast thou learnt?" he answered, "Dear father, I have this year learnt what the frogs croak." Then the father fell into the most furious anger, sprang up, called his people thither, and said, "This man is no longer my son, I drive him forth, and command you to take him out into the forest, and kill him." They took him forth, but when they should have killed him, they could not do it for pity, and let him go, and they cut the eyes and the tongue out of a deer that they might carry them to the old man as a token.
The youth wandered on, and after some time came to a fortress where he begged for a night's lodging. "Yes," said the lord of the castle, "if thou wilt pass the night down there in the old tower, go thither; but I warn thee, it is at the peril of thy life, for it is full of wild dogs, which bark and howl without stopping, and at certain hours a man has to be given to them, whom they at once devour." The whole district was in sorrow and dismay because of them, and yet no one could do anything to stop this. The youth, however, was without fear, and said, "Just let me go down to the barking dogs, and give me something that I can throw to them; they will do nothing to harm me." As he himself would have it so, they gave him some food for the wild animals, and led him down to the tower. When he went inside, the dogs did not bark at him, but wagged their tails quite amicably around him, ate what he set before them, and did not hurt one hair of his head. Next morning, to the astonishment of everyone, he came out again safe and unharmed, and said to the lord of the castle, "The dogs have revealed to me, in their own language, why they dwell there, and bring evil on the land. They are bewitched, and are obliged to watch over a great treasure which is below in the tower, and they can have no rest until it is taken away, and I have likewise learnt, from their discourse, how that is to be done." Then all who heard this rejoiced, and the lord of the castle said he would adopt him as a son if he accomplished it successfully. He went down again, and as he knew what he had to do, he did it thoroughly, and brought a chest full of gold out with him. The howling of the wild dogs was henceforth heard no more; they had disappeared, and the country was freed from the trouble.

After some time he took it into his head that he would travel to Rome. On the way he passed by a marsh, in which a number of frogs were sitting croaking. He listened to them, and when he became aware of what they were saying, he grew very thoughtful and sad. At last he arrived in Rome, where the Pope had just died, and there was great difficulty as to whom they should appoint as his successor. They at length agreed that the person should be chosen as pope who should be distinguished by some divine and miraculous token. And just as that was decided on, the young count entered into the church, and suddenly two snow-white doves flew on his shoulders and remained sitting there. The ecclesiastics recognized therein the token from above, and asked him on the spot if he would be pope. He was undecided, and knew not if he were worthy of this, but the doves counselled him to do it, and at length he said yes. Then was he anointed and consecrated, and thus was fulfilled what he had heard from the frogs on his way, which had so affected him, that he was to be his Holiness the Pope. Then he had to sing a mass, and did not know one word of it, but the two doves sat continually on his shoulders, and said it all in his ear.

三种语言

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从前，有位住在瑞士的老伯爵只有一个儿子，可这儿子傻傻的，什么也学不会。父亲于
是对儿子说：“听着，儿子。我已经尽一切努力教你，可你什么都没学会。我替你找了个有
名的导师，你上他那儿去，看他能不能教你点什么。”就这样，年轻人被送到另外一座城
市，在那里学了一年。年底他回到家，父亲问他：“儿子，你这一年学了点什么？”“父
亲，我学会了狗语。”“主啊，可怜可怜我们吧！”父亲叫起来，“这就是你所学的？我要
把你送到另一个城市去，另找一位导师。”于是，年轻人又被送去和另一位导师学了一年。
回来时父亲问：“我的孩子，今年你学了点什么？”他回答说：“父亲，我能听懂鸟语
了。”父亲大发雷霆：“你这蠢货，竟然一无所获地度过宝贵的时光！你回来就不感到难为
情吗？我再为你找个导师，如果你这次还是什么都学不会，我就再没你这儿子了！”
年轻人跟着第三位导师又学了一年。等回到家，父亲问他：“你学会了什么，儿子？”
他回答：“亲爱的父亲，今年我能听懂蛙鸣的含义了。”父亲气得火冒三丈地跳起来对仆人
说：“这家伙不再是我儿子，我已经把他赶出去了。我命令你们把他带到森林里去杀了。”
仆人把青年带到森林里，但是不忍心杀他，他把他放了，然后杀了一头鹿，取了眼睛和
舌头拿回去禀报伯爵。青年漫无目的地朝前走，走了很久，终于来到一座城堡。他请求那里
的人让他歇一夜。
“可以，”城堡的主人说，“只要你愿意，就去塔楼里住一夜吧。不过我要警告你：那
里很危险，有很多野狗在不停地乱吠乱叫，到某个时辰还得给它们一个人吃，倾刻就会把人
吃光。”原来当时整个地区都被这群野狗闹得不得安宁，可又没有办法。年轻人一点也不害
怕地说：“就让我去吧，不会有事的。给点吃的让我去喂它们。”既然他自己要去，人们便
给了他一些喂狗的东西让他去了。
年轻人走进塔楼，那些狗不叫也不闹，友好地摇着尾巴围着他转，吃着他摆在它们跟前
的食物，丝毫没有伤害他。第二天，他毛发无损地平安走出塔楼来对主人说：“那些狗用它
们的话告诉我为什么它们会住到这儿来，为什么会为害一方的。它们中了魔法，被迫到这儿
来守护塔楼底下的一笔财宝，只有等人们取走财宝时它们才能得到安宁。我还从它们的谈话
中了解到怎样才能取出这些财宝。”听到的人无不欣喜万分，主人说只要年轻人做好这件事
就认他作儿子。于是年轻人又来到塔楼，胸有成竹地取出一个装满了金子的箱子。从此，人
们再没听到野狗的嚎叫，也再没见到那些野狗了，这个地方又恢复了原有的宁静。
过了一段时间，年轻人想去罗马。他路过一片沼泽地，听到许多青蛙在“呱呱”地说
话。他听后沉思起来，感到有些悲伤。后来他终于到了罗马，原来教皇刚刚去世了，红衣主
教们正在为由谁继任教皇发愁。他们最后决定选一个有神力、能创造奇迹的人继任。年轻的
伯爵这时恰好走进教堂，两只白鸽飞到他肩头就不走了。教士们认为那是主的意志，当时就
问他是否愿意当教皇。年轻人犹豫着，不知道自己是否配做教皇。鸽子建议他答应下来，于
是他同意了。
接着就是涂油、献祭等一系列宗教仪式。他在来罗马的路上就听到青蛙们说自己会当上
神圣的教皇，他当时大为震惊，这时正好验证了。轮到他主持做弥撒的时候，他连一个字也
不会讲。两只鸽子就一直坐在他肩头，一句句教给他。
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34 / Clever Elsie

There was once a man who had a daughter who was called Clever Elsie. And when she had grown up her father said, "We will get her married." "Yes," said the mother; "if only any one would come who would have her." At length a man came from a distance and wooed her, who was called Hans; but he stipulated that Clever Elsie should be really wise. "Oh," said the father, "she's sharp enough;" and the mother said, "Oh, she can see the wind coming up the street, and hear the flies coughing." "Well," said Hans, "if she is not really wise, I won't have her." When they were sitting at dinner and had eaten, the mother said, "Elsie, go into the cellar and fetch some beer." Then Clever Elsie took the pitcher from the wall, went into the cellar, and tapped the lid briskly as she went, so that the time might not appear long. When she was below she fetched herself a chair, and set it before the barrel so that she had no need to stoop, and did not hurt her back or do herself any unexpected injury. Then she placed the can before her, and turned the tap, and while the beer was running she would not let her eyes be idle, but looked up at the wall, and after much peering here and there, saw a pick-axe exactly above her, which the masons had accidentally left there.
Then Clever Elsie began to weep, and said, "If I get Hans, and we have a child, and he grows big, and we send him into the cellar here to draw beer, then the pick-axe will fall on his head and kill him." Then she sat and wept and screamed with all the strength of her body, over the misfortune which lay before her. Those upstairs waited for the drink, but Clever Elsie still did not come. Then the woman said to the servant, "Just go down into the cellar and see where Elsie is." The maid went and found her sitting in front of the barrel, screaming loudly. "Elsie, why weepest thou?" asked the maid. "Ah," she answered, "have I not reason to weep? If I get Hans, and we have a child, and he grows big, and has to draw beer here, the pick-axe will perhaps fall on his head, and kill him." Then said the maid, "What a clever Elsie we have!" and sat down beside her and began loudly to weep over the misfortune. After a while, as the maid did not come back, those upstairs were thirsty for the beer, the man said to the boy, "Just go down into the cellar and see where Elsie and the girl are." The boy went down, and there sat Clever Elsie and the girl both weeping together. Then he asked, "Why are ye weeping?" "Ah," said Elsie, "have I not reason to weep? If I get Hans, and we have a child, and he grows big, and has to draw beer here, the pick-axe will fall on his head and kill him." Then said the boy, "What a clever Elsie we have!" and sat down by her, and likewise began to howl loudly. Upstairs they waited for the boy, but as he still did not return, the man said to the woman, "Just go down into the cellar and see where Elsie is!" The woman went down, and found all three in the midst of their lamentations, and inquired what was the cause; then Elsie told her also that her future child was to be killed by the pick-axe, when it grew big and had to draw beer, and the pick-axe fell down. Then said the mother likewise, "What a clever Elsie we have!" and sat down and wept with them. The man upstairs waited a short time, but as his wife did not come back and his thirst grew ever greater, he said, "I must go into the cellar myself and see where Elsie is." But when he got into the cellar, and they were all sitting together crying, and he heard the reason, and that Elsie's child was the cause, and that Elsie might perhaps bring one into the world some day, and that it might be killed by the pick-axe, if it should happen to be sitting beneath it, drawing beer just at the very time when it fell down, he cried, "Oh, what a clever Elsie!" and sat down, and likewise wept with them. The bridegroom stayed upstairs alone for a long time; then as no one would come back he thought, "They must be waiting for me below; I too must go there and see what they are about." When he got down, five of them were sitting screaming and lamenting quite piteously, each out-doing the other. "What misfortune has happened then?" he asked. "Ah, dear Hans," said Elsie, "if we marry each other and have a child, and he is big, and we perhaps send him here to draw something to drink, then the pick-axe which has been left up there might dash his brains out if it were to fall down, so have we not reason to weep?" "Come," said Hans, "more understanding than that is not needed for my household, as thou art such a clever Elsie, I will have thee," and he seized her hand, took her upstairs with him, and married her.

After Hans had had her some time, he said, "Wife, I am going out to work and earn some money for us; go into the field and cut the corn that we may have some bread." "Yes, dear Hans, I will do that." After Hans had gone away, she cooked herself some good broth and took it into the field with her. When she came to the field she said to herself, "What shall I do; shall I shear first, or shall I eat first? Oh, I will eat first." Then she emptied her basin of broth, and when she was fully satisfied, she once more said, "What shall I do? Shall I shear first, or shall I sleep first? I will sleep first." Then she lay down among the corn and fell asleep. Hans had been at home for a long time, but Elsie did not come; then said he, "What a clever Elsie I have; she is so industrious that she does not even come home to eat." As, however, she still stayed away, and it was evening, Hans went out to see what she had cut, but nothing was cut, and she was lying among the corn asleep. Then Hans hastened home and brought a fowler's net with little bells and hung it round about her, and she still went on sleeping. Then he ran home, shut the house-door, and sat down in his chair and worked. At length, when it was quite dark, Clever Elsie awoke and when she got up there was a jingling all round about her, and the bells rang at each step which she took. Then she was alarmed, and became uncertain whether she really was Clever Elsie or not, and said, "Is it I, or is it not I?" But she knew not what answer to make to this, and stood for a time in doubt; at length she thought, "I will go home and ask if it be I, or if it be not I, they will be sure to know." She ran to the door of her own house, but it was shut; then she knocked at the window and cried, "Hans, is Elsie within?" "Yes," answered Hans, "she is within." Hereupon she was terrified, and said, "Ah, heavens! Then it is not I," and went to another door; but when the people heard the jingling of the bells they would not open it, and she could get in nowhere. Then she ran out of the village, and no one has seen her since.

聪明的爱尔莎

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从前有一个人，他有个女儿，叫“聪明的爱尔莎”。她长大了，父亲说：“我们该让她
嫁人了。”母亲说：“是啊，但愿有人来求婚。”后来有个叫汉斯的人从远方来向她求婚，
但有个条件，那就是“聪明的爱尔莎”必须是真正的聪明才行。父亲说：“啊，她充满了智
慧。”母亲说：“她不仅能看到风从街上过，还能听到苍蝇的咳嗽。”汉斯于是说：“好
啊，如果她不是真正聪明，我是不愿意娶她的。”他们坐在桌边吃饭的时候，母亲说：“爱
尔莎，到地窖里拿些啤酒来。”“聪明的爱尔莎”从墙上取下酒壶往地窖走，一边走一边把
酒壶盖敲得“丁丁当当”的，免得无聊。来到地窖，她拖过一把椅子坐在酒桶跟前，免得弯
腰，弄得腰酸背疼的或出意外。然后她将酒壶放在面前，打开酒桶上的龙头。啤酒往酒壶里
流的时候，她眼睛也不闲着，四下张望。她看到头顶上挂着一把丁字锄，是泥瓦匠忘在那儿
的。“聪明的爱尔莎”哭了起来，说：“假如我和汉斯结婚，生了孩子，孩子大了，我们让
他来地窖取啤酒，这锄头会掉下来把他砸死的！。她坐在那儿，想到将来的不幸，放声痛
哭。上面的人还等着喝啤酒呢，可老不见“聪明的爱尔莎”回来。母亲对女仆说：“你到地
窖去看看爱尔莎在不在。”女仆下去，看到她在酒桶前大哭，就问：“你为什么哭啊？”她
回答说：“难道我不该哭吗？假如我和汉斯结婚，生了孩子，孩子大了，我们让他来地窖取
啤酒，这锄头会掉在他头上把他砸死的！”女仆于是说，“我们的爱尔莎真是聪明！”说着
就坐到她身边，也为这件不幸的事哭起来。过了一会儿，上面的人不见女仆回来，又急着喝
啤酒，父亲就对男仆说：“你到地窖去看看爱尔莎和女仆在哪儿。”男仆来到地窖，看到爱
尔莎正和女仆哭成一团，就问：“你们为什么哭啊？”“难道我不该哭吗？假如我和汉斯结
婚，生了孩子，孩子大了，我们让他来地窖取啤酒，这锄头会掉在他头上把他砸死的！”男
仆于是说：“我们的爱尔莎真聪明！”说着也坐到她身边大哭起来。上面的人等男仆老等不
来，父亲就对做母亲的说：“你到地窖里看看爱尔莎在什么地方。”母亲走下来，看到三个
人都在哭，问其原因，爱尔莎对她说：“如果她和汉斯的孩子将来长大了来地窖取啤酒，也
许这锄头会掉下来把他砸死的！”母亲也说：“我们的爱尔莎真聪明！”说完也坐下来跟他
们一块儿哭起来。丈夫在上面又等了一阵，还不见妻子回来，他口渴得厉害，就说：“只好
我自己下去看看爱尔莎在哪儿了。”他来到地窖，看到大家都在哭。问是什么原因，回答是
因为爱尔莎将来的孩子上地窖来取啤酒，这把丁字锄头很可能掉下来把他砸死。于是他大声
说：“爱尔莎可真聪明！”他也坐下来跟大家一起哭。只有未婚夫独自在上面等啊等，不见
一个人回来，他想：“他们准是在下面等我，我也应该下去看看他们在干什么。”他来到地
窖，看到五个人都在伤心地痛哭，而且一个比一个哭得伤心，于是问：“究竟发生什么不幸
的事情了？”“啊，亲爱的汉斯，假如我们结了婚，生了孩子，孩子大了，也许我们会叫他
来地窖取啤酒。上面这把锄头可能会掉下来，砸破他的脑袋，那他就会死在这儿。难道我们
不应该哭吗？”汉斯说：“好吧，替我管家务不需要太多智慧。既然你这样聪明，我同意和
你结婚。”他拉着爱尔莎的手把她带上来，和她结了婚。
爱尔莎跟汉斯结婚不久，汉斯说：“太太，我得出门挣点钱，你到地里去割些麦子，我
们好做点面包带上。”“好的，亲爱的汉斯，我这就去办。”汉斯走后，爱尔莎自己煮了一
碗稠稠的粥带到麦地里。她自言自语地说：“我是先吃饭还是先割麦呢？对，还是先吃饭
吧。”她喝饱了粥又说：“我现在是先睡觉还是先割麦呢？对，还是先睡上一觉吧。”她在
麦地里睡着了。汉斯回到家里，等了半天也不见她回来，就说：“我聪明的爱尔莎干起活来
可真卖劲儿，连回家吃饭都给忘了。”到了晚上，爱尔莎还是没回来，于是汉斯来到地里看
她到底割了多少麦子。他看到麦子一点没割，爱尔莎却躺在地里睡大觉。汉斯跑回家，拿了
一个系着小铃铛的捕雀网罩到她身上，她还是没醒。汉斯又跑回家，关上门，坐下来干活。
天完全黑了，聪明的爱尔莎终于醒了。她站起来，听到周围有丁丁当当的响声，而且每走一
步都听到铃铛的响声，她给吓糊涂了，不知道自己还是不是聪明的爱尔莎。她问自己：“我
是爱尔莎吗？也许不是吧？”她不知道答案该是什么。她停了一下，想：“我还是先回家
吧，问一问他们我到底是不是爱尔莎，他们一定会知道的。”她来到家门口发现门关上了，
便敲了敲窗户，叫道：“汉斯，爱尔莎在家吗？”汉斯回答说：“在家。”她大吃一惊，
说：“上帝啊，看来我不是爱尔莎了。”于是她走去敲别人家的门，可是人们听到铃铛的响
声都不肯开门，因此她无法找到住处。最后她只好走出了村子，人们从此再没有见到过她。
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35 / The Tailor in Heaven

One very fine day it came to pass that the good God wished to enjoy himself in the heavenly garden, and took all the apostles and saints with him, so that no one stayed in heaven but Saint Peter. The Lord had commanded him to let no one in during his absence, so Peter stood by the door and kept watch. Before long some one knocked. Peter asked who was there, and what he wanted? "I am a poor, honest tailor who prays for admission," replied a smooth voice. "Honest indeed," said Peter, "like the thief on the gallows! Thou hast been light-fingered and hast snipped folks' clothes away. Thou wilt not get into heaven. The Lord hath forbidden me to let any one in while he is out." "Come, do be merciful," cried the tailor. "Little scraps which fall off the table of their own accord are not stolen, and are not worth speaking about. Look, I am lame, and have blisters on my feet with walking here, I cannot possibly turn back again. Only let me in, and I will do all the rough work. I will carry the children, and wash their clothes, and wash and clean the benches on which they have been playing, and patch all their torn clothes." Saint Peter let himself be moved by pity, and opened the door of heaven just wide enough for the lame tailor to slip his lean body in. He was forced to sit down in a corner behind the door, and was to stay quietly and peaceably there, in order that the Lord, when he returned, might not observe him and be angry. The tailor obeyed, but once when Saint Peter went outside the door, he got up, and full of curiosity, went round about into every corner of heaven, and inspected the arrangement of every place. At length he came to a spot where many beautiful and delightful chairs were standing, and in the midst was a seat all of gold which was set with shining jewels, likewise it was much higher than the other chairs, and a footstool of gold was before it. It was, however, the seat on which the Lord sat when he was at home, and from which he could see everything which happened on earth. The tailor stood still, and looked at the seat for a long time, for it pleased him better than all else. At last he could master his curiosity no longer, and climbed up and seated himself in the chair. Then he saw everything which was happening on earth, and observed an ugly old woman who was standing washing by the side of a stream, secretly laying two veils on one side for herself. The sight of this made the tailor so angry that he laid hold of the golden footstool, and threw it down to earth through heaven, at the old thief. As, however, he could not bring the stool back again, he slipped quietly out of the chair, seated himself in his place behind the door, and behaved as if he had never stirred from the spot.
When the Lord and master came back again with his heavenly companions, he did not see the tailor behind the door, but when he seated himself on his chair the footstool was missing. He asked Saint Peter what had become of the stool, but he did not know. Then he asked if he had let anyone come in. "I know of no one who has been here," answered Peter, "but a lame tailor, who is still sitting behind the door." Then the Lord had the tailor brought before him, and asked him if he had taken away the stool, and where he had put it? "Oh, Lord," answered the tailor joyously, "I threw it in my anger down to earth at an old woman whom I saw stealing two veils at the washing." "Oh, thou knave," said the Lord, "were I to judge as thou judgest, how dost thou think thou couldst have escaped so long? I should long ago have had no chairs, benches, seats, nay, not even an oven-fork, but should have thrown everything down at the sinners. Henceforth thou canst stay no longer in heaven, but must go outside the door again. Then go where thou wilt. No one shall give punishment here, but I alone, the Lord."

Peter was obliged to take the tailor out of heaven again, and as he had torn shoes, and feet covered with blisters, he took a stick in his hand, and went to "Wait-a-bit," where the good soldiers sit and make merry.