1/ The Frog-King, or Iron Henry

In old times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, which has seen so much, was astonished whenever it shone in her face. Close by the King's castle lay a great dark forest, and under an old lime-tree in the forest was a well, and when the day was very warm, the King's child went out into the forest and sat down by the side of the cool fountain, and when she was dull she took a golden ball, and threw it up on high and caught it, and this ball was her favorite plaything.
Now it so happened that on one occasion the princess's golden ball did not fall into the little hand which she was holding up for it, but on to the ground beyond, and rolled straight into the water. The King's daughter followed it with her eyes, but it vanished, and the well was deep, so deep that the bottom could not be seen. On this she began to cry, and cried louder and louder, and could not be comforted. And as she thus lamented some one said to her, "What ails thee, King's daughter? Thou weepest so that even a stone would show pity." She looked round to the side from whence the voice came, and saw a frog stretching forth its thick, ugly head from the water. "Ah! old water-splasher, is it thou?" said she; "I am weeping for my golden ball, which has fallen into the well."

"Be quiet, and do not weep," answered the frog, "I can help thee, but what wilt thou give me if I bring thy plaything up again?" "Whatever thou wilt have, dear frog," said she -- "My clothes, my pearls and jewels, and even the golden crown which I am wearing."

The frog answered, "I do not care for thy clothes, thy pearls and jewels, or thy golden crown, but if thou wilt love me and let me be thy companion and play-fellow, and sit by thee at thy little table, and eat off thy little golden plate, and drink out of thy little cup, and sleep in thy little bed -- if thou wilt promise me this I will go down below, and bring thee thy golden ball up again."

"Oh yes," said she, "I promise thee all thou wishest, if thou wilt but bring me my ball back again." She, however, thought, "How the silly frog does talk! He lives in the water with the other frogs, and croaks, and can be no companion to any human being!"

But the frog when he had received this promise, put his head into the water and sank down, and in a short while came swimmming up again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King's daughter was delighted to see her pretty plaything once more, and picked it up, and ran away with it. "Wait, wait," said the frog. "Take me with thee. I can't run as thou canst." But what did it avail him to scream his croak, croak, after her, as loudly as he could? She did not listen to it, but ran home and soon forgot the poor frog, who was forced to go back into his well again.

The next day when she had seated herself at table with the King and all the courtiers, and was eating from her little golden plate, something came creeping splish splash, splish splash, up the marble staircase, and when it had got to the top, it knocked at the door and cried, "Princess, youngest princess, open the door for me." She ran to see who was outside, but when she opened the door, there sat the frog in front of it. Then she slammed the door to, in great haste, sat down to dinner again, and was quite frightened. The King saw plainly that her heart was beating violently, and said, "My child, what art thou so afraid of? Is there perchance a giant outside who wants to carry thee away?" "Ah, no," replied she. "It is no giant but a disgusting frog."

"What does a frog want with thee?" "Ah, dear father, yesterday as I was in the forest sitting by the well, playing, my golden ball fell into the water. And because I cried so, the frog brought it out again for me, and because he so insisted, I promised him he should be my companion, but I never thought he would be able to come out of his water! And now he is outside there, and wants to come in to me."

In the meantime it knocked a second time, and cried,

"Princess! youngest princess!
Open the door for me!
Dost thou not know what thou saidst to me
Yesterday by the cool waters of the fountain?
Princess, youngest princess!
Open the door for me!"
Then said the King, "That which thou hast promised must thou perform. Go and let him in." She went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in and followed her, step by step, to her chair. There he sat and cried, "Lift me up beside thee." She delayed, until at last the King commanded her to do it. When the frog was once on the chair he wanted to be on the table, and when he was on the table he said, "Now, push thy little golden plate nearer to me that we may eat together." She did this, but it was easy to see that she did not do it willingly. The frog enjoyed what he ate, but almost every mouthful she took choked her. At length he said, "I have eaten and am satisfied; now I am tired, carry me into thy little room and make thy little silken bed ready, and we will both lie down and go to sleep."
The King's daughter began to cry, for she was afraid of the cold frog which she did not like to touch, and which was now to sleep in her pretty, clean little bed. But the King grew angry and said, "He who helped thee when thou wert in trouble ought not afterwards to be despised by thee." So she took hold of the frog with two fingers, carried him upstairs, and put him in a corner. But when she was in bed he crept to her and said, "I am tired, I want to sleep as well as thou, lift me up or I will tell thy father." Then she was terribly angry, and took him up and threw him with all her might against the wall. "Now, thou wilt be quiet, odious frog," said she. But when he fell down he was no frog but a King's son with beautiful kind eyes. He by her father's will was now her dear companion and husband. Then he told her how he had been bewitched by a wicked witch, and how no one could have delivered him from the well but herself, and that to-morrow they would go together into his kingdom. Then they went to sleep, and next morning when the sun awoke them, a carriage came driving up with eight white horses, which had white ostrich feathers on their heads, and were harnessed with golden chains, and behind stood the young King's servant Faithful Henry. Faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his master was changed into a frog, that he had caused three iron bands to be laid round his heart, lest it should burst with grief and sadness. The carriage was to conduct the young King into his Kingdom. Faithful Henry helped them both in, and placed himself behind again, and was full of joy because of this deliverance. And when they had driven a part of the way the King's son heard a cracking behind him as if something had broken. So he turned round and cried, "Henry, the carriage is breaking."

"No, master, it is not the carriage. It is a band from my heart, which was put there in my great pain when you were a frog and imprisoned in the well." Again and once again while they were on their way something cracked, and each time the King's son thought the carriage was breaking; but it was only the bands which were springing from the heart of faithful Henry because his master was set free and was happy.

青蛙王子

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

在遥远的古代，人们心中的美好愿望往往能够变成现实。就在那个令人神往的时代，曾
经有过一位国王。国王有好几个女儿，个个都长得非常美丽；尤其是他的小女儿，更是美如
天仙，就连见多识广的太阳，每次照在她脸上时，都对她的美丽感到惊诧不已。
国王的宫殿附近，有一片幽暗的大森林。在这片森林中的一棵老椴树下，有一个水潭，
水潭很深。在天热的时候，小公主常常来到这片森林，坐在清凉的水潭边上。她坐在那里感
到无聊的时候，就取出一只金球，把金球抛向空中，然后再用手接住。这成了她最喜爱的游
戏。
不巧的是，有一次，小公主伸出两只小手去接金球，金球却没有落进她的手里，而是掉
到了地上，而且一下子就滚到了水潭里。小公主两眼紧紧地盯着金球，可是金球忽地一下子
在水潭里就没影儿了。因为水潭里的水很深，看不见底，小公主就哭了起来，她的哭声越来
越大，哭得伤心极了。哭着哭着，小公主突然听见有人大声说：“哎呀，公主，您这是怎么
啦？您这样嚎啕大哭，就连石头听了都会心疼的呀。”听了这话，小公主四处张望，想弄清
楚说话声是从哪儿传来的，不料却发现一只青蛙，从水里伸出他那丑陋不堪的肥嘟嘟的大脑
袋。
“啊！原来是你呀，游泳健将，”小公主对青蛙说道，“我在这儿哭，是因为我的金球
掉进水潭里去了。”
“好啦，不要难过，别哭了，”青蛙回答说，“我有办法帮助您。要是我帮您把您的金
球捞出来，您拿什么东西来回报我呢？”
“亲爱的青蛙，你要什么东西都成呵，”小公主回答说，“我的衣服、我的珍珠和宝
石、甚至我头上戴着的这顶金冠，都可以给你。”
听了这话，青蛙对小公主说：“您的衣服、您的珍珠、您的宝石，还有您的金冠，我哪
样都不想要。不过，要是您喜欢我，让我做您的好朋友，我们一起游戏，吃饭的时候让我和
您同坐一张餐桌，用您的小金碟子吃东西，用您的小高脚杯饮酒，晚上还让我睡在您的小床
上；要是您答应所有这一切的话，我就潜到水潭里去，把您的金球捞出来。”
“好的，太好了，”小公主说，“只要你愿意把我的金球捞出来，你的一切要求我都答
应。”小公主虽然嘴上这么说，心里却想：“这只青蛙可真够傻的，尽胡说八道！他只配蹲
在水潭里，和其他青蛙一起呱呱叫，怎么可能做人的好朋友呢？”
青蛙得到了小公主的许诺之后，把脑袋往水里一扎，就潜入了水潭。过了不大一会儿，
青蛙嘴里衔着金球，浮出了水面，然后把金球吐在草地上。小公主重又见到了自己心爱的玩
具，心里别提有多高兴了。她把金球拣了起来，撒腿就跑。
“别跑！别跑！”青蛙大声叫道，“带上我呀！我可跑不了您那么快。”
尽管青蛙扯着嗓子拼命叫喊，可是没有一点儿用。小公主对青蛙的喊叫根本不予理睬，
而是径直跑回了家，并且很快就把可怜的青蛙忘记得一干二净。青蛙只好蹦蹦跳跳地又回到
水潭里去。
第二天，小公主跟国王和大臣们刚刚坐上餐桌，才开始用她的小金碟进餐，突然听见啪
啦啪啦的声音。随着声响，有个什么东西顺着大理石台阶往上跳，到了门口时，便一边敲门
一边大声嚷嚷：“小公主，快开门！”听到喊声，小公主急忙跑到门口，想看看是谁在门外
喊叫。打开门一看，原来是那只青蛙，正蹲在门前。小公主见是青蛙，猛然把门关上，转身
赶紧回到座位，心里害怕极了。国王发现小公主一副心慌意乱的样子，就问她：
“孩子，你怎么会吓成这个样子？该不是门外有个巨人要把你抓走吧？”
“啊，不是的，”小公主回答说，“不是什么巨人，而是一只讨厌的青蛙。”“青蛙想
找你做什么呢？”
“唉！我的好爸爸，昨天，我到森林里去了。坐在水潭边上玩的时候，金球掉到水潭里
去了，于是我就哭了。我哭得很伤心，青蛙就替我把金球捞了上来。因为青蛙请求我做他的
朋友，我就答应了，可是我压根儿没有想到，他会从水潭里爬出来，爬这么远的路到这儿
来。现在他就在门外呢，想要上咱这儿来。”正说着话的当儿，又听见了敲门声，接着是大
声的喊叫：
“小公主啊我的爱，
快点儿把门打开！
爱你的人已到来，
快点儿把门打开！
你不会忘记昨天，
老椴树下水潭边，
潭水深深球不见，
是你亲口许诺言。”
国王听了之后对小公主说，“你决不能言而无信，快去开门让他进来。”小公主走过去
把门打开，青蛙蹦蹦跳跳地进了门，然后跟着小公主来到座位前，接着大声叫道，“把我抱
到你身旁呀！”
小公主听了吓得发抖，国王却吩咐她照青蛙说的去做。青蛙被放在了椅子上，可心里不
太高兴，想到桌子上去。上了桌子之后又说，“把您的小金碟子推过来一点儿好吗？这样我
们就可以一快儿吃啦。”很显然，小公主很不情愿这么做，可她还是把金碟子推了过去。青
蛙吃得津津有味，可小公主却一点儿胃口都没有。终于，青蛙开口说，“我已经吃饱了。现
在我有点累了，请把我抱到您的小卧室去，铺好您的缎子被盖，然后我们就寝吧。”
小公主害怕这只冷冰冰的青蛙，连碰都不敢碰一下。一听他要在自己整洁漂亮的小床上
睡觉，就哭了起来。
国王见小公主这个样子，就生气地对她说，“在我们困难的时候帮助过我们的人，不论
他是谁，过后都不应当受到鄙视。”
于是，小公主用两只纤秀的手指把青蛙挟起来，带着他上了楼，把他放在卧室的一个角
落里。可是她刚刚在床上躺下，青蛙就爬到床边对她说，“我累了，我也想在床上睡觉。
请把我抱上来，要不然我就告诉您父亲。”
一听这话，小公主勃然大怒，一把抓起青蛙，朝墙上死劲儿摔去。
“现在你想睡就去睡吧，你这个丑陋的讨厌鬼！”
谁知他一落地，已不再是什么青蛙，却一下子变成了一位王子：一位两眼炯炯有神、满
面笑容的王子。直到这时候，王子才告诉小公主，原来他被一个狠毒的巫婆施了魔法，除了
小公主以外，谁也不能把他从水潭里解救出来。于是，遵照国王的旨意，他成为小公主亲密
的朋友和伴侣，明天，他们将一道返回他的王国。第二天早上，太阳爬上山的时候，一辆八
匹马拉的大马车已停在了门前，马头上都插着洁白的羽毛，一晃一晃的，马身上套着金光闪
闪的马具。车后边站着王子的仆人――忠心耿耿的亨利。亨利的主人被变成一只青蛙之后，
他悲痛欲绝，于是他在自己的胸口套上了三个铁箍，免得他的心因为悲伤而破碎了。
马车来接年轻的王子回他的王国去。忠心耿耿的亨利扶着他的主人和王妃上了车厢，然
后自己又站到了车后边去。他们上路后刚走了不远，突然听见噼噼啦啦的响声，好像有什么
东西断裂了。路上，噼噼啦啦声响了一次又一次，每次王子和王妃听见响声，都以为是车上
的什么东西坏了。其实不然，忠心耿耿的亨利见主人是那么地幸福，因而感到欣喜若狂，于
是那几个铁箍就从他的胸口上一个接一个地崩掉了。

2 / Cat and Mouse in Partnership


A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together. "But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger," said the cat, "and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day." The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said, "I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it." So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse, "I want to tell you something, little mouse; my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and has asked me to be godmother; he is white with brown spots, and I am to hold him over the font at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you look after the house by yourself." "Yes, yes," answered the mouse, "by all means go, and if you get anything very good, think of me, I should like a drop of sweet red christening wine too." All this, however, was untrue; the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and licked the top of the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it was evening did she return home. "Well, here you are again," said the mouse, "no doubt you have had a merry day." "All went off well," answered the cat. "What name did they give the child?" "Top off!" said the cat quite coolly. "Top off!" cried the mouse, "that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in your family?" "What does it signify," said the cat, "it is no worse than Crumb-stealer, as your god-children are called."
Before long the cat was seized by another fit of longing. She said to the mouse, "You must do me a favour, and once more manage the house for a day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse." The good mouse consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured half the pot of fat. "Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself," said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work. When she went home the mouse inquired, "And what was this child christened?" "Half-done," answered the cat. "Half-done! What are you saying? I never heard the name in my life, I'll wager anything it is not in the calendar!"

The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking. "All good things go in threes," said she, "I am asked to stand godmother again. The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body; this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, won't you?" "Top-off! Half-done!" answered the mouse, "they are such odd names, they make me very thoughtful." "You sit at home," said the cat, "in your dark-grey fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that's because you do not go out in the daytime." During the cat's absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat. "When everything is eaten up one has some peace," said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return home till night. The mouse at once asked what name had been given to the third child. "It will not please you more than the others," said the cat. "He is called All-gone." "All-gone," cried the mouse, "that is the most suspicious name of all! I have never seen it in print. All-gone; what can that mean?" and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep.

From this time forth no one invited the cat to be god-mother, but when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse thought of their provision, and said, "Come cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves -- we shall enjoy that." "Yes," answered the cat, "you will enjoy it as much as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window." They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty. "Alas!" said the mouse, "now I see what has happened, now it comes to light! You are a true friend! You have devoured all when you were standing godmother. First top off, then half done, then --." "Will you hold your tongue," cried the cat, "one word more and I will eat you too." "All gone" was already on the poor mouse's lips; scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way of the world.

猫和老鼠合伙

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

有一只猫认识了一只老鼠，便对它大谈特谈自己是多么喜欢老鼠，原意和它交朋友，弄
得老鼠终于同意和猫住在一起，共同生活。“我们得准备过冬的东西了，不然我们到冬天会
挨饿的，”猫说，“至于你嘛，我的小老鼠，哪里也不要去，我真怕你会被什么老鼠夹子夹
住。”老鼠接受了猫的好建议，于是它们买来了一罐猪油，然而两个人都不知道该把猪油放
在什么地方。它们左思考右思考，最后猫说：“我觉得这猪油放在教堂里是再合适不过的
了，因为谁也不敢偷教堂里的东西。我们把猪油藏在祭坛下，不到万不得已的时候决不动
它。”猪油罐就这样被放到了安全的地方。可是没过多久，猫开始想吃猪油了，便对老鼠
说：“小老鼠，我想跟你说点事。我的表姐刚刚生了一个小宝宝，还请我当小宝贝的教母。
那小宝贝全身雪白，带着一些褐色的斑点。我要抱着它去接受洗礼，所以今天要出去一下，
你一个人在家看家，好吗？”“好的，好的，”老鼠说，“你尽管去吧。要是有什么好吃的
东西，千万要记着我。我很想尝一点洗礼时用的红葡萄酒。”这一切当然都不是真的，因为
猫并没有表姐，也没有被请去当教母。它直接去了教堂，偷偷爬到猪油罐那里，开始舔呀
舔，把顶上一层猪油舔得精光。然后，它在城里的屋顶上散了散步，想碰碰别的运气；接着
便躺下来晒太阳。每当想起那罐猪油，它都情不自禁地舔舔自己的嘴唇。它一直等到天黑才
回家。“啊，你终于回来了，”老鼠说，“这一天肯定过得很开心吧？”“一切顺利。”猫
答道。“你们给那孩子起了什么名字？”“没了顶层！”猫冷淡地说。“没了顶层！”老鼠
叫了起来，“这个古怪的名字可不多见。你们家常取这样的名字吗？”“那有什么？”猫
说，“不比你的那些教子叫什么‘偷面包屑的’更糟吧？”
没过多久，猫又想吃猪油了。它对老鼠说：“你得帮我一个忙，再一个人看一次家。又
有人请我当教母了，而且这个孩子的脖子上有一道白圈，我实在无法推辞。”好心的老鼠同
意了。猫从城墙后面溜进教堂，一口气吃掉了半罐猪油。“什么东西也没有比吃到自己的嘴
里更好，”它说，心里对这一天的收获感到很满意。等它到家时，老鼠问道：“这个孩子起
的什么名字呀？”“吃了一半，”猫回答。“吃了一半！你在说什么呀？我长这么大了还从
来没有听说过这样的名字。我敢打赌，就是年历上也不会有这样的名字！”
不久，猫的嘴巴又开始流口水了，想再去舔一舔猪油。
“好事成三嘛，”它说，“又有人请我去当教母了。这个孩子除了爪子是白色的，浑身
黑黝黝的，连一根白毛都没有。这是好几年才会碰上的事情，你当然会同意我去的，是
吗？”“没了顶层！吃了一半！”老鼠回答，“这些名字真怪！我实在弄不明白。”“你白
天又不出门，”猫说，“整天穿着深灰色的皮袄，拖着长长的尾巴，坐在家里胡思乱想，当
然弄不明白啦！”趁着猫不在家，老鼠把屋子打扫了一下，把东西放得整整齐齐。可是那只
馋猫把剩下的猪油吃得干干净净。“人只有把东西吃得干干净净才能放心，”它自言自语地
说。它吃得饱饱的，直到天黑了才挺着圆圆的肚子回家。老鼠看到它回来，立刻问它这第三
个孩子起的什么名字。“你也不会喜欢这个名字，”猫说，“它叫‘吃得精光’。”“吃得
精光！”老鼠叫了起来，“这个名字太令人费解了！我从来没有在书上见过。吃得精光！这
是什么意思呢？”它摇摇头，蜷缩起身子，躺下睡着了。
从此，猫再也没有被邀请去当教母。可是冬天来到了，外面再也找不到任何吃的东西。
老鼠想到了它们准备的过冬的东西，便说：“走吧，猫！我们去取储存的猪油吧。我们可以
美美吃上一顿。”“是的，”猫回答，“那准会把你美得就像把你那尖尖的舌头伸到窗外去
喝西北风一样。”它们动身去教堂，可它们到达那里后，看到猪油罐倒是还在那里，里面却
是空的。“天哪！”老鼠说，“我现在终于明白是怎么回事了！你可真是个好朋友！你在去
当什么教母的时候，把这猪油全吃光了！先是吃了顶上一层，然后吃了一半，最后……”
“你给我住嘴！”猫嚷道，“你要是再罗嗦，我连你也吃了！”“……吃得精光，”可怜的
老鼠脱口而出。它刚把话说完，猫就扑到了它的身上，抓住它，把它吞进了肚子。这世界就
是这样！

3 / Our Lady's Child


Hard by a great forest dwelt a wood-cutter with his wife, who had an only child, a little girl three years old. They were so poor, however, that they no longer had daily bread, and did not know how to get food for her. One morning the wood-cutter went out sorrowfully to his work in the forest, and while he was cutting wood, suddenly there stood before him a tall and beautiful woman with a crown of shining stars on her head, who said to him, "I am the Virgin Mary, mother of the child Jesus. Thou art poor and needy, bring thy child to me, I will take her with me and be her mother, and care for her." The wood-cutter obeyed, brought his child, and gave her to the Virgin Mary, who took her up to heaven with her. There the child fared well, ate sugar-cakes, and drank sweet milk, and her clothes were of gold, and the little angels played with her. And when she was fourteen years of age, the Virgin Mary called her one day and said, "Dear child, I am about to make a long journey, so take into thy keeping the keys of the thirteen doors of heaven. Twelve of these thou mayest open, and behold the glory which is within them, but the thirteenth, to which this little key belongs, is forbidden thee. Beware of opening it, or thou wilt bring misery on thyself." The girl promised to be obedient, and when the Virgin Mary was gone, she began to examine the dwellings of the kingdom of heaven. Each day she opened one of them, until she had made the round of the twelve. In each of them sat one of the Apostles in the midst of a great light, and she rejoiced in all the magnificence and splendour, and the little angels who always accompanied her rejoiced with her. Then the forbidden door alone remained, and she felt a great desire to know what could be hidden behind it, and said to the angels, "I will not quite open it, and I will not go inside it, but I will unlock it so that we can just see a little through the opening." "Oh no," said the little angels, "that would be a sin. The Virgin Mary has forbidden it, and it might easily cause thy unhappiness." Then she was silent, but the desire in her heart was not stilled, but gnawed there and tormented her, and let her have no rest. And once when the angels had all gone out, she thought, "Now I am quite alone, and I could peep in. If I do it, no one will ever know." She sought out the key, and when she had got it in her hand, she put it in the lock, and when she had put it in, she turned it round as well. Then the door sprang open, and she saw there the Trinity sitting in fire and splendour. She stayed there awhile, and looked at everything in amazement; then she touched the light a little with her finger, and her finger became quite golden. Immediately a great fear fell on her. She shut the door violently, and ran away. Her terror too would not quit her, let her do what she might, and her heart beat continually and would not be still; the gold too stayed on her finger, and would not go away, let her rub it and wash it never so much.
It was not long before the Virgin Mary came back from her journey. She called the girl before her, and asked to have the keys of heaven back. When the maiden gave her the bunch, the Virgin looked into her eyes and said, "Hast thou not opened the thirteenth door also?" "No," she replied. Then she laid her hand on the girl's heart, and felt how it beat and beat, and saw right well that she had disobeyed her order and had opened the door. Then she said once again, "Art thou certain that thou hast not done it?" "Yes," said the girl, for the second time. Then she perceived the finger which had become golden from touching the fire of heaven, and saw well that the child had sinned, and said for the third time "Hast thou not done it?" "No," said the girl for the third time. Then said the Virgin Mary, "Thou hast not obeyed me, and besides that thou hast lied, thou art no longer worthy to be in heaven."

Then the girl fell into a deep sleep, and when she awoke she lay on the earth below, and in the midst of a wilderness. She wanted to cry out, but she could bring forth no sound. She sprang up and wanted to run away, but whithersoever she turned herself, she was continually held back by thick hedges of thorns through which she could not break. In the desert, in which she was imprisoned, there stood an old hollow tree, and this had to be her dwelling-place. Into this she crept when night came, and here she slept. Here, too, she found a shelter from storm and rain, but it was a miserable life, and bitterly did she weep when she remembered how happy she had been in heaven, and how the angels had played with her. Roots and wild berries were her only food, and for these she sought as far as she could go. In the autumn she picked up the fallen nuts and leaves, and carried them into the hole. The nuts were her food in winter, and when snow and ice came, she crept amongst the leaves like a poor little animal that she might not freeze. Before long her clothes were all torn, and one bit of them after another fell off her. As soon, however, as the sun shone warm again, she went out and sat in front of the tree, and her long hair covered her on all sides like a mantle. Thus she sat year after year, and felt the pain and the misery of the world. One day, when the trees were once more clothed in fresh green, the King of the country was hunting in the forest, and followed a roe, and as it had fled into the thicket which shut in this part of the forest, he got off his horse, tore the bushes asunder, and cut himself a path with his sword. When he had at last forced his way through, he saw a wonderfully beautiful maiden sitting under the tree; and she sat there and was entirely covered with her golden hair down to her very feet. He stood still and looked at her full of surprise, then he spoke to her and said, "Who art thou? Why art thou sitting here in the wilderness?" But she gave no answer, for she could not open her mouth. The King continued, "Wilt thou go with me to my castle?" Then she just nodded her head a little. The King took her in his arms, carried her to his horse, and rode home with her, and when he reached the royal castle he caused her to be dressed in beautiful garments, and gave her all things in abundance. Although she could not speak, she was still so beautiful and charming that he began to love her with all his heart, and it was not long before he married her.

After a year or so had passed, the Queen brought a son into the world. Thereupon the Virgin Mary appeared to her in the night when she lay in her bed alone, and said, "If thou wilt tell the truth and confess that thou didst unlock the forbidden door, I will open thy mouth and give thee back thy speech, but if thou perseverest in thy sin, and deniest obstinately, I will take thy new-born child away with me." Then the queen was permitted to answer, but she remained hard, and said, "No, I did not open the forbidden door;" and the Virgin Mary took the new-born child from her arms, and vanished with it. Next morning when the child was not to be found, it was whispered among the people that the Queen was a man-eater, and had killed her own child. She heard all this and could say nothing to the contrary, but the King would not believe it, for he loved her so much.

When a year had gone by the Queen again bore a son, and in the night the Virgin Mary again came to her, and said, "If thou wilt confess that thou openedst the forbidden door, I will give thee thy child back and untie thy tongue; but if you continuest in sin and deniest it, I will take away with me this new child also." Then the Queen again said, "No, I did not open the forbidden door;" and the Virgin took the child out of her arms, and away with her to heaven. Next morning, when this child also had disappeared, the people declared quite loudly that the Queen had devoured it, and the King's councillors demanded that she should be brought to justice. The King, however, loved her so dearly that he would not believe it, and commanded the councillors under pain of death not to say any more about it.

The following year the Queen gave birth to a beautiful little daughter, and for the third time the Virgin Mary appeared to her in the night and said, "Follow me." She took the Queen by the hand and led her to heaven, and showed her there her two eldest children, who smiled at her, and were playing with the ball of the world. When the Queen rejoiced thereat, the Virgin Mary said, "Is thy heart not yet softened? If thou wilt own that thou openedst the forbidden door, I will give thee back thy two little sons." But for the third time the Queen answered, "No, I did not open the forbidden door." Then the Virgin let her sink down to earth once more, and took from her likewise her third child.

Next morning, when the loss was reported abroad, all the people cried loudly, "The Queen is a man-eater. She must be judged," and the King was no longer able to restrain his councillors. Thereupon a trial was held, and as she could not answer, and defend herself, she was condemned to be burnt alive. The wood was got together, and when she was fast bound to the stake, and the fire began to burn round about her, the hard ice of pride melted, her heart was moved by repentance, and she thought, "If I could but confess before my death that I opened the door." Then her voice came back to her, and she cried out loudly, "Yes, Mary, I did it;" and straight-way rain fell from the sky and extinguished the flames of fire, and a light broke forth above her, and the Virgin Mary descended with the two little sons by her side, and the new-born daughter in her arms. She spoke kindly to her, and said, "He who repents his sin and acknowledges it, is forgiven." Then she gave her the three children, untied her tongue, and granted her happiness for her whole life.

圣母的孩子

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

大森林边住着一位樵夫和他的妻子。他们只有一个孩子，是个三岁的女孩。可是他们非
常穷，连每天要吃的面包都没有，更不知道该拿什么东西喂孩子。一天早晨，樵夫愁眉苦脸
地到森林里去砍柴，他的面前突然出现了一位高大、美丽的女人，她的头上还戴着一顶饰满
了闪烁的星星的宝冠。她对樵夫说：“我是耶稣的母亲，圣母玛利亚。你很穷，需要帮助。
把你的孩子给我吧。我愿意把她带走，做她的母亲，好好照料她。”樵夫听从她的话，把孩
子带来，交给了圣母玛利亚。圣母玛利亚把孩子带到了天堂。孩子在天堂里过得很舒服，吃
的是糖饼，喝的是甜牛奶，穿的是金衣服，陪她玩的是小天使。她长到十四岁时，圣母玛利
亚有一天把她叫到面前，对她说：“亲爱的孩子，我要出一趟远门。这是天国十三座门的钥
匙，由你保管。你可以打开其中十二扇门，看看里面的美景。这把小钥匙是开第十三扇门
的，但是你千万不要把那扇门打开，不然你会遭到不幸的。”小女孩答应一定听圣母玛利亚
的话。等圣母玛利亚走了之后，她开始参观天国的住房。她每天打开一扇门，直到十二扇门
被她一一打开。她看到每一扇门里都坐着一位耶稣的门徒，周围一片光辉灿烂。这辉煌的景
象让她万分欢喜，也让昼夜陪伴她的小天使们非常高兴。现在只剩下那扇禁止被打开的门
了。她非常想知道这扇门的后面藏的是什么，便对天使们说：“我不把门全打开，也不进
去。我只想打开一条缝，好让我们大家看看里面有什么。”“啊，不行，”小天使们说，
“那样做是罪过。圣母玛利亚禁止你打开它，你要是不听话，可能很容易遭到不幸。”她听
到这话便不吭声了，可她心中的愿望并没有就此消失，而是在不停地折磨着她，让她得不到
片刻的安宁。一次，天使们全都出去了，她便想：“现在只有我一个人，可以进去看一眼。
我想谁也不会知道的。”她找出钥匙，一拿在手里就把它插进了锁孔，一插进锁孔就转动了
一下，门一下子就开了。她看到里面在火与光之中坐着“三位一体”（基督教认为圣父、圣
子、圣灵原为一体，故称“三位一体”――译者注）。她站在那里，惊讶地望着一切，然后
用手指碰了碰火光，她的手指立刻变成了金的。她顿时害怕极了，猛地关上门，逃走了。可
是无论她想什么办法，她都无法消除她的恐惧。她的心总是怦怦直跳，怎么也静不下来，而
且手指上的金子怎么也去不掉，无论是擦呀还是洗呀，那金子还在那里。
圣母玛利亚不久就旅行回来了。她把小女孩叫到跟前，向她要回天国的钥匙。当她把钥
匙递过去时，圣母玛利亚盯着她的眼睛问：“你没有打开第十三扇门吧？”“没有。”小女
孩回答。圣母把手放在小女孩的心口，感觉到她的心跳得很厉害，立刻明白她没有听话，知
道她打开过那扇门。于是圣母又问：“你真的没有打开过那扇门吗？”“没有。”小女孩第
二次回答。这时，圣母看到了小女孩因为碰了天火而变成了金子的手指，知道她犯了罪，便
第三次问她：“你真的没有？”“没有。”小女孩第三次说。圣母玛利亚说：“你没有听我
的话，而且你还撒谎。你不配再在天堂住下去了。”
小姑娘昏昏沉沉地睡着了。当她醒来时，她发现自己躺在人间的一片荒野中。她想喊
叫，可是她发不出任何声音。她站起来想逃走，却发现自己无论走哪个方向，总有密密的荆
棘丛挡住她的去路，怎么也越不过去。在包围她的荒地上立着一棵空心的老树，这便成了她
的家。夜晚来临时，她就爬进树洞，睡在里面。刮风下雨的时候，她也躲在里面。这种生活
非常凄惨。每当她想起天堂里的幸福生活，想起和小天使们玩耍的情景，她都会伤心痛哭。
草根和野果是她唯一的食物，而这些她还得努力寻找。秋天到来的时候，她捡起掉在地上的
核桃和树叶，把它们搬进洞。这些核桃是她冬天的食粮，而在雪花纷飞、天寒地冻的日子
里，她只能像可怜的小动物一样爬进那些树叶里，免得被冻死。不久，她的衣服就破了，一
片一片地掉了下来。当太阳重新暖洋洋地照耀大地时，她便爬出来坐在树前。她的长头发像
一件斗篷，把她全身遮得严严实实。她就这样一年一年地坐在那里，感受着世间的凄苦与不
幸。
冬去春来，树木重新换上了新绿。一天，国王在森林里打猎，追赶一头狍子，可狍子钻
进了包围着这片树林的灌木丛。国王下了马，拨开灌木，用剑为自己砍出了一条路。等他终
于穿过灌木丛时，他看到树下坐着一位非常美丽的姑娘。只见她坐在那里，金色的长发一直
垂到脚跟，把她全身上下遮得严严实实。国王呆呆地站在那里，无比惊讶地看着她，然后才
问她：“你是谁？怎么坐在这荒野里？”可是她无法说话，因为她张不了嘴。国王又问：
“你愿意跟我回王宫吗？”她只是稍稍点了点头。国王抱起她，把她放到马背上，带着她骑
马回宫。到了王宫后，他让人给她穿上最美的衣服，还给了她各种各样的东西。她虽然不会
说话，却非常美丽温柔，国王真心实意地爱上了她，没过多久就娶她做了妻子。
大约过了一年，这位王后生下了一个儿子。当天夜里，当她一个人躺在床上时，圣母玛
利亚出现在她的面前，并且对她说：“要是你说实话，承认自己打开过那扇禁止打开的门，
我就打开你的嘴，让你能开口说话；可要是你顽固不化，继续否认自己的罪孽，我就把你的
初生婴儿带走。”圣母这时允许王后说话，可王后固执地说：“不，我没有打开那扇禁止打
开的门。”圣母玛利亚便从她怀里夺过初生的婴儿，带着他消失了。第二天早晨，看到孩子
不见了，人们便在私下里议论，说王后是吃人的恶魔，竟然杀死了自己的孩子。这些话她全
听到了，却没法说什么。好在国王非常爱她，所以也不相信大家所说的话。
一年过后，王后又生了一个儿子。夜里圣母玛利亚又来到了她的面前，对她说：“要是
你承认打开过那扇禁止打开的门，我就把你的孩子还给你，并且让你开口说话；可要是你继
续否认，我就把你这个初生的孩子也带走。”王后仍然回答：“没有，我没有打开那扇
门。”圣母只好又从她怀里夺过孩子，带着他回天国去了。第二天早晨，人们看到这个孩子
又不见了，便公开地说孩子肯定是被王后吞吃掉了。国王的大臣们要求审判她，但国王因为
深爱着王后，不但不肯相信别人的话，而且还禁止大臣们谈及这件事，违者一律处死。
又过了一年，王后生了一个非常美丽的女儿。圣母玛利亚第三次在夜里出现在她的面
前，对她说：“跟我来。”她牵着王后的手，带着她来到天国，让她看她的两个儿子。那兄
弟俩一面朝她微笑，一面玩着地球仪。这情景让王后很高兴，圣母玛利亚便说：“你的心还
没有软下来吗？要是你承认你打开过那扇禁止打开的门，我就把你的两个儿子还给你。”可
是王后第三次回答道：“没有，我没有打开那扇门。”于是圣母让她重新回到地面，并且带
走了她的第三个孩子。
第二天早晨，当孩子失踪的消息传出去之后，所有的人都吼了起来：“王后是个吃人的
恶魔！我们必须审判她！”这一次连国王也无法再阻拦大臣们了。大家对她进行了审判。由
于她不能说话，无法为自己辩解，她被判处火刑。木柴堆好了，她被紧紧地绑在木桩上，烈
火开始在她的四周燃烧。这时，骄傲的坚冰开始融化，她的心中充满了悔恨。她想：“我要
是能在临死前承认我打开过那扇门就好了！”突然，她的嗓音恢复了，她大声喊道：“是
的，圣母，我开过那扇门！”话音刚落，大雨从天而降，浇灭了火焰。她的头顶出现了一道
亮光，圣母玛利亚怀抱刚刚出生的小公主，带着两个王子落在她的身边。她慈祥地对王后
说：“一个人只要承认自己的罪过，并且为此而忏悔，他就会得到宽恕。”她把三个孩子交
给王后，让她能重新说话，并且让她终身幸福。
------------------

4 －1/ The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
A certain father had two sons, the elder of whom was smart and sensible, and could do everything, but the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor understand anything, and when people saw him they said, "There's a fellow who will give his father some trouble!" When anything had to be done, it was always the elder who was forced to do it; but if his father bade him fetch anything when it was late, or in the night-time, and the way led through the churchyard, or any other dismal place, he answered "Oh, no, father, I'll not go there, it makes me shudder!" for he was afraid. Or when stories were told by the fire at night which made the flesh creep, the listeners sometimes said "Oh, it makes us shudder!" The younger sat in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could not imagine what they could mean. "They are always saying 'it makes me shudder, it makes me shudder!' It does not make me shudder," thought he. "That, too, must be an art of which I understand nothing."
Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day "Hearken to me, thou fellow in the corner there, thou art growing tall and strong, and thou too must learn something by which thou canst earn thy living. Look how thy brother works, but thou dost not even earn thy salt." "Well, father," he replied, "I am quite willing to learn something -- indeed, if it could but be managed, I should like to learn how to shudder. I don't understand that at all yet." The elder brother smiled when he heard that, and thought to himself, "Good God, what a blockhead that brother of mine is! He will never be good for anything as long as he lives. He who wants to be a sickle must bend himself betimes."

The father sighed, and answered him "thou shalt soon learn what it is to shudder, but thou wilt not earn thy bread by that."

Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit, and the father bewailed his trouble, and told him how his younger son was so backward in every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing. "Just think," said he, "when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread, he actually wanted to learn to shudder." "If that be all," replied the sexton, "he can learn that with me. Send him to me, and I will soon polish him." The father was glad to do it, for he thought, "It will train the boy a little." The sexton therefore took him into his house, and he had to ring the bell. After a day or two, the sexton awoke him at midnight, and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and ring the bell. "Thou shalt soon learn what shuddering is," thought he, and secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top of the tower and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole. "Who is there?" cried he, but the figure made no reply, and did not move or stir. "Give an answer," cried the boy, "or take thy self off, thou hast no business here at night."

The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that the boy might think he was a ghost. The boy cried a second time, "What do you want here? -- speak if thou art an honest fellow, or I will throw thee down the steps!" The sexton thought, "he can't intend to be as bad as his words," uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone. Then the boy called to him for the third time, and as that was also to no purpose, he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it fell down ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon he rang the bell, went home, and without saying a word went to bed, and fell asleep. The sexton's wife waited a long time for her husband, but he did not come back. At length she became uneasy, and wakened the boy, and asked, "Dost thou not know where my husband is? He climbed up the tower before thou didst." "No, I don't know," replied the boy, "but some one was standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps, and as he would neither give an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel, and threw him downstairs, just go there and you will see if it was he. I should be sorry if it were." The woman ran away and found her husband, who was lying moaning in the corner, and had broken his leg.

She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened to the boy's father. "Your boy," cried she, "has been the cause of a great misfortune! He has thrown my husband down the steps and made him break his leg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow away from our house." The father was terrified, and ran thither and scolded the boy. "What wicked tricks are these?" said he, "the devil must have put this into thy head." "Father," he replied, "do listen to me. I am quite innocent. He was standing there by night like one who is intending to do some evil. I did not know who it was, and I entreated him three times either to speak or to go away." "Ah," said the father, "I have nothing but unhappiness with you. Go out of my sight. I will see thee no more."

"Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will I go forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate, understand one art which will support me." "Learn what thou wilt," spake the father, "it is all the same to me. Here are fifty thalers for thee. Take these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence thou comest, and who is thy father, for I have reason to be ashamed of thee." "Yes, father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more than that, I can easily keep it in mind."

When day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty thalers into his pocket, and went forth on the great highway, and continually said to himself, "If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!" Then a man approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding with himself, and when they had walked a little farther to where they could see the gallows, the man said to him, "Look, there is the tree where seven men have married the ropemaker's daughter, and are now learning how to fly. Sit down below it, and wait till night comes, and you will soon learn how to shudder." "If that is all that is wanted," answered the youth, "it is easily done; but if I learn how to shudder as fast as that, thou shalt have my fifty thalers. Just come back to me early in the morning." Then the youth went to the gallows, sat down below it, and waited till evening came. And as he was cold, he lighted himself a fire, but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire, he could not get warm. And as the wind knocked the hanged men against each other, and they moved backwards and forwards, he thought to himself "Thou shiverest below by the fire, but how those up above must freeze and suffer!" And as he felt pity for them, he raised the ladder, and climbed up, unbound one of them after the other, and brought down all seven. Then he stirred the fire, blew it, and set them all round it to warm themselves. But they sat there and did not stir, and the fire caught their clothes. So he said, "Take care, or I will hang you up again." The dead men, however, did not hear, but were quite silent, and let their rags go on burning. On this he grew angry, and said, "If you will not take care, I cannot help you, I will not be burnt with you," and he hung them up again each in his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fell asleep, and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have the fifty thalers, and said, "Well, dost thou know how to shudder?" "No," answered he, "how was I to get to know? Those fellows up there did not open their mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which they had on their bodies get burnt." Then the man saw that he would not get the fifty thalers that day, and went away saying, "One of this kind has never come my way before."

The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to mutter to himself, "Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah, if I could but shudder!" A waggoner who was striding behind him heard that and asked, "Who are you?" "I don't know," answered the youth. Then the waggoner asked, "From whence comest thou?" "I know not." "Who is thy father?" "That I may not tell thee." "What is it that thou art always muttering between thy teeth." "Ah," replied the youth, "I do so wish I could shudder, but no one can teach me how to do it." "Give up thy foolish chatter," said the waggoner. "Come, go with me, I will see about a place for thee." The youth went with the waggoner, and in the evening they arrived at an inn where they wished to pass the night. Then at the entrance of the room the youth again said quite loudly, "If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!" The host who heard this, laughed and said, "If that is your desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for you here." "Ah, be silent," said the hostess, "so many inquisitive persons have already lost their lives, it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as these should never see the daylight again."

But the youth said, "However difficult it may be, I will learn it and for this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth." He let the host have no rest, until the latter told him, that not far from thence stood a haunted castle where any one could very easily learn what shuddering was, if he would but watch in it for three nights. The King had promised that he who would venture should have his daughter to wife, and she was the most beautiful maiden the sun shone on. Great treasures likewise lay in the castle, which were guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough. Already many men had gone into the castle, but as yet none had come out again. Then the youth went next morning to the King and said if he were allowed he would watch three nights in the haunted castle. The King looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said, "Thou mayest ask for three things to take into the castle with thee, but they must be things without life." Then he answered, "Then I ask for a fire, a turning lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife." The King had these things carried into the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing near, the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knife beside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. "Ah, if I could but shudder!" said he, "but I shall not learn it here either." Towards midnight he was about to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it, something cried suddenly from one corner, "Au, miau! how cold we are!" "You simpletons!" cried he, "what are you crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves." And when he had said that, two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down on each side of him, and looked savagely at him with their fiery eyes. After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, they said, "Comrade, shall we have a game at cards?" "Why not?" he replied, "but just show me your paws." Then they stretched out their claws. "Oh," said he, "what long nails you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you." Thereupon he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-board and screwed their feet fast. "I have looked at your fingers," said he, "and my fancy for card-playing has gone," and he struck them dead and threw them out into the water. But when he had made away with these two, and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every hole and corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains, and more and more of them came until he could no longer stir, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at last when they were going too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried, "Away with ye, vermin," and began to cut them down. Part of them ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into the fish-pond. When he came back he fanned the embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, his eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then he looked round and saw a great bed in the corner. "That is the very thing for me," said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut his eyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the whole of the castle. "That"s right," said he, "but go faster." Then the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down, over thresholds and steps, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upside down, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts and pillows up in the air, got out and said, "Now any one who likes, may drive," and lay down by his fire, and slept till it was day. In the morning the King came, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evil spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he, "After all it is a pity, -- he is a handsome man." The youth heard it, got up, and said, "It has not come to that yet." Then the King was astonished, but very glad, and asked how he had fared. "Very well indeed," answered he; "one night is past, the two others will get over likewise." Then he went to the innkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said, "I never expected to see thee alive again! Hast thou learnt how to shudder yet?" "No," said he, "it is all in vain. If some one would but tell me."