Grimms' fairy tales
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There was once upon a time a King, but where he reigned and what he was called, I do not know. He had no son, but an only daughter who had always been ill, and no doctor had been able to cure her. Then it was foretold to the King that his daughter should eat herself well with an apple. So he ordered it to be proclaimed throughout the whole of his kingdom, that whosoever brought his daughter an apple with which she could eat herself well, should have her to wife, and be King. This became known to a peasant who had three sons, and he said to the eldest, "Go out into the garden and take a basketful of those beautiful apples with the red cheeks and carry them to the court; perhaps the King's daughter will be able to eat herself well with them, and then thou wilt marry her and be King." The lad did so, and set out.
When he had gone a short way he met a little iron man who asked him what he had there in the basket, to which replied Uele, for so was he named, "Frogs' legs." On this the little man said, "Well, so shall it be, and remain," and went away. At length Uele arrived at the palace, and made it known that he had brought apples which would cure the King's daughter if she ate them. This delighted the King hugely, and he caused Uele to be brought before him; but, alas! when he opened the basket, instead of having apples in it he had frogs' legs which were still kicking about. On this the King grew angry, and had him driven out of the house. When he got home he told his father how it had fared with him. Then the father sent the next son, who was called Seame, but all went with him just as it had gone with Uele. He also met the little iron man, who asked what he had there in the basket. Seame said, "Hogs' bristles," and the iron man said, "well, so shall it be, and remain." When Seame got to the King's palace and said he brought apples with which the King's daughter might eat herself well, they did not want to let him go in, and said that one fellow had already been there, and had treated them as if they were fools. Seame, however, maintained that he certainly had the apples, and that they ought to let him go in. At length they believed him, and led him to the King. But when he uncovered the basket, he had but hogs' bristles. This enraged the King most terribly, so he caused Seame to be whipped out of the house. When he got home he related all that had befallen him, then the youngest boy, whose name was Hans, but who was always called Stupid Hans, came and asked his father if he might go with some apples. "Oh!" said the father, "thou wouldst be just the right fellow for such a thing! If the clever ones can't manage it, what canst thou do?" The boy, however, did not believe him, and said, "Indeed, father, I wish to go." - "Just get away, thou stupid fellow, thou must wait till thou art wiser," said the father to that, and turned his back. Hans, however, pulled at the back of his smock- frock and said, "Indeed, father, I wish to go." - "Well, then, so far as I am concerned thou mayst go, but thou wilt soon come home again!" replied the old man in a spiteful voice. The boy, however, was tremendously delighted and jumped for joy. "Well, act like a fool! thou growest more stupid every day!" said the father again. Hans, however, did not care about that, and did not let it spoil his pleasure, but as it was then night, he thought he might as well wait until the morrow, for he could not get to court that day. All night long he could not sleep in his bed, and if he did doze for a moment, he dreamt of beautiful maidens, of palaces, of gold, and of silver, and all kinds of things of that sort. Early in the morning, he went forth on his way, and directly afterwards the little shabby-looking man in his iron clothes, came to him and asked what he was carrying in the basket. Hans gave him the answer that he was carrying apples with which the King's daughter was to eat herself well. "Then," said the little man, "so shall they be, and remain." But at the court they would none of them let Hans go in, for they said two had already been there who had told them that they were bringing apples, and one of them had frogs' legs, and the other hogs' bristles. Hans, however, resolutely maintained that he most certainly had no frogs' legs, but some of the most beautiful apples in the whole kingdom. As he spoke so pleasantly, the door-keeper thought he could not be telling a lie, and asked him to go in, and he was right, for when Hans uncovered his basket in the King's presence, golden-yellow apples came tumbling out. The King was delighted, and caused some of them to be taken to his daughter, and then waited in anxious expectation until news should be brought to him of the effect they had. But before much time had passed by, news was brought to him: but who do you think it was who came? it was his daughter herself! As soon as she had eaten of those apples, she was cured, and sprang out of her bed. The joy the King felt cannot be described! but now he did not want to give his daughter in marriage to Hans, and said he must first make him a boat which would go quicker on dry land than on water. Hans agreed to the conditions, and went home, and related how it had fared with him. Then the father sent Uele into the forest to make a boat of that kind. He worked diligently, and whistled all the time. At mid-day, when the sun was at the highest, came the little iron man and asked what he was making? Uele gave him for answer, "Wooden bowls for the kitchen." The iron man said, "So it shall be, and remain." By evening Uele thought he had now made the boat, but when he wanted to get into it, he had nothing but wooden bowls. The next day Seame went into the forest, but everything went with him just as it had done with Uele. On the third day Stupid Hans went. He worked away most industriously, so that the whole forest resounded with the heavy strokes, and all the while he sang and whistled right merrily. At mid-day, when it was the hottest, the little man came again, and asked what he was making? "A boat which will go quicker on dry land than on the water," replied Hans, " and when I have finished it, I am to have the King's daughter for my wife." - "Well," said the little man, "such an one shall it be, and remain." In the evening, when the sun had turned into gold, Hans finished his boat, and all that was wanted for it. He got into it and rowed to the palace. The boat went as swiftly as the wind. The King saw it from afar, but would not give his daughter to Hans yet, and said he must first take a hundred hares out to pasture from early morning until late evening, and if one of them got away, he should not have his daughter. Hans was contented with this, and the next day went with his flock to the pasture, and took great care that none of them ran away.
When he had gone a short way he met a little iron man who asked him what he had there in the basket, to which replied Uele, for so was he named, "Frogs' legs." On this the little man said, "Well, so shall it be, and remain," and went away. At length Uele arrived at the palace, and made it known that he had brought apples which would cure the King's daughter if she ate them. This delighted the King hugely, and he caused Uele to be brought before him; but, alas! when he opened the basket, instead of having apples in it he had frogs' legs which were still kicking about. On this the King grew angry, and had him driven out of the house. When he got home he told his father how it had fared with him. Then the father sent the next son, who was called Seame, but all went with him just as it had gone with Uele. He also met the little iron man, who asked what he had there in the basket. Seame said, "Hogs' bristles," and the iron man said, "well, so shall it be, and remain." When Seame got to the King's palace and said he brought apples with which the King's daughter might eat herself well, they did not want to let him go in, and said that one fellow had already been there, and had treated them as if they were fools. Seame, however, maintained that he certainly had the apples, and that they ought to let him go in. At length they believed him, and led him to the King. But when he uncovered the basket, he had but hogs' bristles. This enraged the King most terribly, so he caused Seame to be whipped out of the house. When he got home he related all that had befallen him, then the youngest boy, whose name was Hans, but who was always called Stupid Hans, came and asked his father if he might go with some apples. "Oh!" said the father, "thou wouldst be just the right fellow for such a thing! If the clever ones can't manage it, what canst thou do?" The boy, however, did not believe him, and said, "Indeed, father, I wish to go." - "Just get away, thou stupid fellow, thou must wait till thou art wiser," said the father to that, and turned his back. Hans, however, pulled at the back of his smock- frock and said, "Indeed, father, I wish to go." - "Well, then, so far as I am concerned thou mayst go, but thou wilt soon come home again!" replied the old man in a spiteful voice. The boy, however, was tremendously delighted and jumped for joy. "Well, act like a fool! thou growest more stupid every day!" said the father again. Hans, however, did not care about that, and did not let it spoil his pleasure, but as it was then night, he thought he might as well wait until the morrow, for he could not get to court that day. All night long he could not sleep in his bed, and if he did doze for a moment, he dreamt of beautiful maidens, of palaces, of gold, and of silver, and all kinds of things of that sort. Early in the morning, he went forth on his way, and directly afterwards the little shabby-looking man in his iron clothes, came to him and asked what he was carrying in the basket. Hans gave him the answer that he was carrying apples with which the King's daughter was to eat herself well. "Then," said the little man, "so shall they be, and remain." But at the court they would none of them let Hans go in, for they said two had already been there who had told them that they were bringing apples, and one of them had frogs' legs, and the other hogs' bristles. Hans, however, resolutely maintained that he most certainly had no frogs' legs, but some of the most beautiful apples in the whole kingdom. As he spoke so pleasantly, the door-keeper thought he could not be telling a lie, and asked him to go in, and he was right, for when Hans uncovered his basket in the King's presence, golden-yellow apples came tumbling out. The King was delighted, and caused some of them to be taken to his daughter, and then waited in anxious expectation until news should be brought to him of the effect they had. But before much time had passed by, news was brought to him: but who do you think it was who came? it was his daughter herself! As soon as she had eaten of those apples, she was cured, and sprang out of her bed. The joy the King felt cannot be described! but now he did not want to give his daughter in marriage to Hans, and said he must first make him a boat which would go quicker on dry land than on water. Hans agreed to the conditions, and went home, and related how it had fared with him. Then the father sent Uele into the forest to make a boat of that kind. He worked diligently, and whistled all the time. At mid-day, when the sun was at the highest, came the little iron man and asked what he was making? Uele gave him for answer, "Wooden bowls for the kitchen." The iron man said, "So it shall be, and remain." By evening Uele thought he had now made the boat, but when he wanted to get into it, he had nothing but wooden bowls. The next day Seame went into the forest, but everything went with him just as it had done with Uele. On the third day Stupid Hans went. He worked away most industriously, so that the whole forest resounded with the heavy strokes, and all the while he sang and whistled right merrily. At mid-day, when it was the hottest, the little man came again, and asked what he was making? "A boat which will go quicker on dry land than on the water," replied Hans, " and when I have finished it, I am to have the King's daughter for my wife." - "Well," said the little man, "such an one shall it be, and remain." In the evening, when the sun had turned into gold, Hans finished his boat, and all that was wanted for it. He got into it and rowed to the palace. The boat went as swiftly as the wind. The King saw it from afar, but would not give his daughter to Hans yet, and said he must first take a hundred hares out to pasture from early morning until late evening, and if one of them got away, he should not have his daughter. Hans was contented with this, and the next day went with his flock to the pasture, and took great care that none of them ran away.
Before many hours had passed came a servant from the palace, and told Hans that he must give her a hare instantly, for some visitors had come unexpectedly. Hans, however, was very well aware what that meant, and said he would not give her one; the King might set some hare soup before his guest next day. The maid, however, would not believe in his refusal, and at last she began to get angry with him. Then Hans said that if the King's daughter came herself, he would give her a hare. The maid told this in the palace, and the daughter did go herself. In the meantime, however, the little man came again to Hans, and asked him what he was doing there? He said he had to watch over a hundred hares and see that none of them ran away, and then he might marry the King's daughter and be King. "Good," said the little man, "there is a whistle for thee, and if one of them runs away, just whistle with it, and then it will come back again." When the King's daughter came, Hans gave her a hare into her apron; but when she had gone about a hundred steps with it, he whistled, and the hare jumped out of the apron, and before she could turn round was back to the flock again. When the evening came the hare-herd whistled once more, and looked to see if all were there, and then drove them to the palace. The King wondered how Hans had been able to take a hundred hares to graze without losing any of them; he would, however, not give him his daughter yet, and said he must now bring him a feather from the Griffin's tail. Hans set out at once, and walked straight forwards. In the evening he came to a castle, and there he asked for a night's lodging, for at that time there were no inns. The lord of the castle promised him that with much pleasure, and asked where he was going? Hans answered, "To the Griffin." - "Oh! to the Griffin! They tell me he knows everything, and I have lost the key of an iron money-chest; so you might be so good as to ask him where it is." - "Yes, indeed," said Hans, "I will do that." Early the next morning he went onwards, and on his way arrived at another castle in which he again stayed the night. When the people who lived there learnt that he was going to the Griffin, they said they had in the house a daughter who was ill, and that they had already tried every means to cure her, but none of them had done her any good, and he might be so kind as to ask the Griffin what would make their daughter healthy again? Hans said he would willingly do that, and went onwards. Then he came to a lake, and instead of a ferry-boat, a tall, tall man was there who had to carry everybody across. The man asked Hans whither he was journeying? "To the Griffin," said Hans. "Then when you get to him," said the man, "just ask him why I am forced to carry everybody over the lake." - "Yes, indeed, most certainly I'll do that," said Hans. Then the man took him up on his shoulders, and carried him across. At length Hans arrived at the Griffin's house, but the wife only was at home, and not the Griffin himself. Then the woman asked him what he wanted? Thereupon he told her everything;--that he had to get a feather out of the Griffin's tail, and that there was a castle where they had lost the key of their money-chest, and he was to ask the Griffin where it was?--that in another castle the daughter was ill, and he was to learn what would cure her?--and then not far from thence there was a lake and a man beside it, who was forced to carry people across it, and he was very anxious to learn why the man was obliged to do it. Then said the woman, "But look here, my good friend, no Christian can speak to the Griffin; he devours them all; but if you like, you can lie down under his bed, and in the night, when he is quite fast asleep, you can reach out and pull a feather out of his tail, and as for those things which you are to learn, I will ask about them myself." Hans was quite satisfied with this, and got under the bed. In the evening, the Griffin came home, and as soon as he entered the room, said, "Wife, I smell a Christian." - "Yes," said the woman, "one was here to-day, but he went away again;" and on that the Griffin said no more.
In the middle of the night when the Griffin was snoring loudly, Hans reached out and plucked a feather from his tail. The Griffin woke up instantly, and said, "Wife, I smell a Christian, and it seems to me that somebody was pulling at my tail." His wife said, "Thou hast certainly been dreaming, and I told thee before that a Christian was here to-day, but that he went away again. He told me all kinds of things that in one castle they had lost the key of their money-chest, and could find it nowhere." - "Oh! the fools!" said the Griffin; "the key lies in the wood- house under a log of wood behind the door." - "And then he said that in another castle the daughter was ill, and they knew no remedy that would cure her." - "Oh! the fools!" said the Griffin; "under the cellar-steps a toad has made its nest of her hair, and if she got her hair back she would be well." - "And then he also said that there was a place where there was a lake and a man beside it who was forced to carry everybody across." - "Oh, the fool!" said the Griffin; "if he only put one man down in the middle, he would never have to carry another across." Early the next morning the Griffin got up and went out. Then Hans came forth from under the bed, and he had a beautiful feather, and had heard what the Griffin had said about the key, and the daughter, and the ferry-man. The Griffin's wife repeated it all once more to him that he might not forget it, and then he went home again. First he came to the man by the lake, who asked him what the Griffin had said, but Hans replied that he must first carry him across, and then he would tell him. So the man carried him across, and when he was over Hans told him that all he had to do was to set one person down in the middle of the lake, and then he would never have to carry over any more. The man was hugely delighted, and told Hans that out of gratitude he would take him once more across, and back again. But Hans said no, he would save him the trouble, he was quite satisfied already, and pursued his way. Then he came to the castle where the daughter was ill; he took her on his shoulders, for she could not walk, and carried her down the cellar-steps and pulled out the toad's nest from beneath the lowest step and gave it into her hand, and she sprang off his shoulder and up the steps before him, and was quite cured. Then were the father and mother beyond measure rejoiced, and they gave Hans gifts of gold and of silver, and whatsoever else he wished for, that they gave him. And when he got to the other castle he went at once into the wood- house, and found the key under the log of wood behind the door, and took it to the lord of the castle. He also was not a little pleased, and gave Hans as a reward much of the gold that was in the chest, and all kinds of things besides, such as cows, and sheep, and goats. When Hans arrived before the King, with all these things--with the money, and the gold, and the silver and the cows, sheep and goats, the King asked him how he had come by them. Then Hans told him that the Griffin gave every one whatsoever he wanted. So the King thought he himself could make such things useful, and set out on his way to the Griffin; but when he got to the lake, it happened that he was the very first who arrived there after Hans, and the man put him down in the middle of it and went away, and the King was drowned. Hans, however, married the daughter, and became King.
Es war einmal ein König, wo der regiert und wie er geheißen hat, weiß ich nicht mehr. Er hat keinen Sohn gehabt, nur eine einzige Tochter, die war immer krank, und kein Doktor konnte sie heilen. Da wurde dem König geweissagt, seine Tochter werde sich an Äpfeln gesundessen. Da ließ er durch sein ganzes Land bekanntmachen: Wer seiner Tochter Äpfel bringe, daß sie sich daran gesundessen könne, der könne sie zur Frau haben und obendrein König werden. Das hörte dann auch ein Bauer, der hatte drei Söhne. Er sagte zum ältesten: "Geh auf den Speicher, nimm einen Handkorb voll der schönsten Äpfeln mit roten Backen und trag sie zum Königshof; vielleicht kann sich die Königstochter dran gesundessen, und darfst sie heiraten und wirst König." Der Sohn machte es so und nahm den Weg unter seine Füße. Wie er eine Zeitlang gegangen war, begegnete er einem kleinen eisgrauen Männlein, das ihn fragte, was er in seinem Korb hätte. Ulrich - das war sein Name - sagte darauf: "Froschschenkel." Das Männlein sagte darauf: "Nun, so sollen's welche sein und bleiben," und ist weitergegangen. Endlich kam Ulrich vor das Schloß und ließ sich anmelden und sagte, er habe Äpfel, die die Tochter gesundmachen würden, wenn sie davon äße. Das freute den König sehr, und er ließ den Ulrich zu sich kommen. Aber - o weh! - als er aufdeckte, so waren anstatt Äpfel Froschschenkel im Korb, die noch zappelten. Darüber wurde der König sehr böse und ließ ihn aus dem Schloß jagen. Wie er zu Hause angekommen war, erzählte er seinem Vater, wie es ihm ergangen war. Daraufhin schickte der Vater den nächst ältesten Sohn, der Samuel hieß; aber dem erging es genauso wie dem Ulrich. Ihm begegnete auch das kleine Männlein, das ihn fragte, was er im Korbe trage. Und Samuel sagte: "Schweinsborsten," und das eisgraue Männlein sagte: "Nun, so sollen's welche sein und bleiben." Wie er nun vor das Königsschloß kam und sagte, er habe Äpfel, an denen sich die Königstochter gesundessen könne, so wollten die Wachen ihn nicht einlassen und sagten, es sei schon mal einer dagewesen, der sie zum Narren gehalten hätte. Samuel aber beharrte ernsthaft darauf, er habe gewiß Äpfel, sie sollten ihn nur einlassen. Endlich glaubten sie ihm und führten ihn vor den König. Aber als er seinen Korb aufdeckte, so hatte er halt nur Schweinsborsten dabei. Darüber erzürnte sich der König so schrecklich, daß er Samuel aus dem Schloß peitschen ließ. Zu Hause angekommen, erzählte er, wie es ihm ergangen war.
Da kam der jüngste Bub, der nur der dumme Hans genannt wurde, und fragte den Vater, ob er auch mit Äpfeln gehen dürfe. "Ja," sagte der Vater, "du wärst der rechte Kerl dazu. Wenn die gescheiten nichts ausrichten, was willst du dann ausrichten?" Der Bub aber ließ nicht locker: "Jawohl, Vater, ich will auch gehen." - "Geh mir doch weg, du dummer Kerl, du mußt warten, bis du gescheiter wirst," sagte darauf der Vater und kehrte ihm den Rücken. Der Hans aber zupft ihn hinten am Kittel: "Vater, ich will auch gehen!" - "Nun, meinetwegen, so geh! Du wirst wohl wieder zurückkommen," gab der Vater grantig zur Antwort. Der Bub aber freute sich sehr und machte einen Luftsprung. "Ja, tu jetzt nicht wie ein Narr: du wirst von einem Tag zum andern immer dümmer," sagte der Vater wieder. Das aber machte dem Hans nichts aus, und er ließ sich in seiner Freude auch nicht stören. Weil es aber schon auf die Nacht zuging, so dachte er, er wolle warten bis zum Morgen, er komme heute doch nicht mehr zum Hofe. Nachts im Bett konnte er nicht schlafen, und wann er einmal eingeschlummert war, dann träumte er von schönen Jungfrauen, von Schlössern, Gold und Silber und allerhand solcher Sachen mehr. Am Morgen in der Frühe machte er sich auf den Weg, und gleich darauf begegnete ihm ein kleines mürrisches Männchen in einem eisgrauen Gewand und fragte ihn, was er da in seinem Korbe habe. Der Hans gab ihm zur Antwort, er habe Äpfel, an denen sich die Königstochter gesundessen sollte. "Nun," sagte das Männlein, "so sollen's solche sein und bleiben."
Aber am Hofe wollten sie den Hans durchaus nicht einlassen, denn es seien schon zwei dagewesen und hätten gesagt, sie brächten Äpfel: da habe der eine Froschschenkel, der andere Schweinsborsten dabeigehabt. Der Hans aber ließ nicht locker und sagte, er habe gewiß keine Froschschenkel, sondern die schönsten Äpfel, die im ganzen Königreich wüchsen. Wie er nun so offen daherredete, dachte der Torhüter, der könne nicht lügen und ließ ihn ein und hatte danach recht getan, denn als der Hans seinen Korb vor dem König abdeckte, so lagen goldgelbe Äpfel darin. Der König freute sich sehr und ließ gleich seiner Tochter davon bringen und wartete nun in banger Erwartung, bis man ihm Bericht brächte, welche Wirkung sie gehabt hätten. Aber nicht lange Zeit verging, so brachte ihm jemand den Bericht; aber wer ist's gewesen? Seine Tochter selbst war es! Sobald sie von den Äpfeln gegessen hatte, war sie gesund aus dem Bett gesprungen. Was der König für eine Freude gehabt hatte, kann man nicht beschreiben. Aber jetzt wollte er seine Tochter dem Hans nicht zur Frau geben und sagte, er müsse erst einen Nachen machen, der auf dem trockenen Land noch besser ginge als im Wasser drin. Der Hans nahm die Bedingung an und ging heim und erzählte, wie es ihm ergangen sei. Da schickte der Vater den Ulrich ins Holz, um einen solchen Nachen zu machen. Er arbeitete fleißig und pfiff dazu. Am Mittag, als die Sonne am höchsten stand, kam ein kleines eisgraues Männlein und fragte, was er da mache. Der Ulrich gab ihm zur Antwort: "Einen Waschtrog." Das eisgraue Männlein sagte: "Nun, so sollen's welche sein und bleiben." Am Abend meinte der Ulrich, er habe jetzt einen Nachen gemacht, aber als er sich hineinsetzen wollte, da waren's lauter Waschtröge. Am andern Tag ging der Samuel in den Wald, aber es erging ihm genauso wie dem Ulrich. Am dritten Tag ging der dumme Hans. Er schaffte recht fleißig, daß der ganze Wald von seinen Schlägen widerhallte und pfiff und sang recht lustig dazu. Da kam wieder das eisgraue Männlein zu Mittag, wo es am heißesten war, und fragte, was er da mache. "Einen Nachen, der auf dem trockenen Land besser geht als auf dem Wasser," und wenn er damit fertig sei, so bekomme er die Königstochter zur Frau. "Nun," sagte das Männlein, "dann soll's einer werden und bleiben." Am Abend, als die Sonne ganz golden untergegangen war, hatte der Hans seinen Nachen fertig mit allem, was dazu gehörte. Er setzte sich hinein und ruderte der Residenz des Königs zu. Der Nachen aber ging so geschwind wie der Wind. Der König sah es von weitem, wollte aber dem Hans seine Tochter noch nicht geben und sagte, er müsse erst noch hundert Hasen hüten - vom frühen Morgen bis zum späten Abend -und wenn ihm auch nur einer fortliefe, bekomme er die Tochter nicht. Der Hans war's zufrieden, und gleich am andern Tag ging er mit seiner Herde auf die Weide und paßte sehr gut auf, daß ihm keiner davonliefe. Kurze Zeit danach kam eine Magd vom Schloß und sagte zum Hans, er solle ihr geschwind einen Hasen geben, sie hätten nämlich plötzlich Besuch bekommen. Der Hans aber merkte wohl, wo das hinaus wollte, und sagte, er gäbe keinen her, der König könne dann morgen seinem Besuch mit Hasenpfeffer aufwarten. Die Magd aber gab sich damit nicht zufrieden und fing am Ende auch noch zu schimpfen an. Da sagte der Hans, wenn die Königstochter selber komme, so wolle er ihr einen Hasen geben. Das sagte die Magd im Schloß, und die Königstochter ging daraufhin selbst. Unterdessen aber kam zum Hans wieder das eisgraue Männlein und fragte ihn, was er da tue. "Ha," sagte Hans, "ich muß hundert Hasen hüten, daß mir auch keiner davonläuft, dann darf ich die Königstochter heiraten und werde König." - "Gut," sagte das Männlein, "da hast du ein Pfeifchen, und wenn dir einer davonläuft, so pfeife nur, dann kommt er wieder zurück." Wie nun die Königstochter kam, gab Hans ihr einen Hasen in die Schürze. Aber wie sie hundert Schritte weg war, nahm er die Pfeife und pfiff, und der Hase sprang ihr aus der Schürze und - hast du's nicht gesehen? - kehrte wieder zur Herde zurück. Als es nun Abend war, pfiff der Hasenhirte noch einmal und sah zu, daß alle da waren; dann trieb er sie zum Schloß. Der König war sehr verwundert, daß Hans imstande war, hundert Hasen zu hüten, ohne daß ihm einer davonlief. Er wollte ihm die Tochter aber immer noch nicht geben und sagte, er müsse ihm erst eine Feder aus dem Schwanz des Vogel Greif bringen. Da machte sich Hans auf den Weg und marschierte rüstig voran. Am Abend kam er zu einem Schloß, da bat er um ein Nachtlager, denn damals gab es noch keine Wirtshäuser; da sagte der Herr vom Schloß mit großer Freude zu und fragte ihn, wohin er wollte. Der Hans gab darauf zur Antwort: "Zum Vogel Greif." - "So, zum Vogel Greif? Hm, man sagt immer, der wisse alles, und ich habe den Schlüssel zur eisernen Geldkiste verloren: Ihr könnt doch so gut sein und ihn fragen, wo er sei." - "Ja freilich," sagte der Hans, "das will ich schon tun." Am Morgen in der Frühe ist er weitergegangen und kam unterwegs zu einem andern Schloß, in dem er wieder über Nacht blieb. Wie dort die Leute vernahmen, daß er zum Vogel Greif wolle, sagten sie, im Hause sei eine Tochter krank, und sie hätten schon alle Mittel versucht, aber keines habe bisher geholfen. Er solle doch so gut sein und den Vogel Greif fragen, was die Tochter wieder gesundmachen könne. Der Hans sagte, das wolle er gern tun, und ging weiter. Da kam er zu einem Wasser, und anstatt einer Fähre war da ein großer, großer Mann, der alle Leute hinübertragen mußte. Der Mann fragte den Hans, wo seine Reise hinginge. "Zum Vogel Greif," sagte der Hans. "Nun, wenn Ihr zu ihm kommt," sagte da der Mann, "so fragt ihn auch, warum ich alle Leute über das Wasser tragen muß." Da sagte der Hans: "Ja, mein Gott, ja, das will ich schon tun." Dann nahm ihn der Mann auf die Schulter und trug ihn hinüber. Endlich kam der Hans zum Haus vom Vogel Greif, aber es war nur seine Frau zu Hause und der Vogel Greif selber nicht. Da fragte ihn die Frau, was er wolle. Da erzählte ihr der Hans alles, daß er eine Feder aus dem Schwanz des Vogel Greif holen sollte, und dann hätten sie in einem Schloß den Schlüssel zur Geldkiste verloren, und er sollte den Vogel Greif fragen, wo der Schlüssel sei. Dann sei in einem andern Schloß eine Tochter krank, und er sollte wissen, was das Mädchen wieder gesund machte. Dann sei nicht weit von hier ein Wasser und ein Mann dabei, der die Leute hinübertragen müsse, und er möchte auch gern wissen, warum dieser Mann alle Leute hinübertragen müsse. Da sagte die Frau: "Ja schaut, mein guter Freund, es kann kein Christ mit dem Vogel Greif reden, er frißt sie alle; wenn Ihr aber wollt, so könnt Ihr Euch unter sein Bett legen, und zur Nacht, wenn er recht fest schläft, könnt Ihr herauflangen und eine Feder aus seinem Schwanz reißen; und wegen der Sachen, die Ihr wissen wollt, will ich ihn selber fragen."
Der Hans war damit zufrieden und legte sich unter das Bett. Am Abend kam der Vogel Greif heim. Und wie er in die Stube kam, so sagte er: "Frau, ich rieche einen Christen! Hier schmeckt's nach Mensch!" - "Ja," sagte da die Frau, "es war heut einer da, aber er ist wieder fortgegangen"; und da sagte der Vogel Greif nichts mehr. Mitten in der Nacht, als der Vogel Greif recht schnarchte, langte Hans hinauf und riß ihm eine Feder aus dem Schwanz. Da schreckte der Vogel Greif plötzlich hoch und sagte: "Frau, ich rieche einen Menschen, und es ist mir, als habe mich jemand am Schwanz gezerrt!" Da sagte die Frau: "Du hast gewiß geträumt, und ich hab dir ja heut schon gesagt, es war ein Mensch da, aber er ist wieder fort. Doch hat er mir allerhand Sachen erzählt. Sie hätten in einem Schloß den Schlüssel zur Geldkiste verloren und könnten ihn nicht mehr wiederfinden." - "Oh, die Narren," sagte der Vogel Greif, "der Schlüssel liegt im Holzhaus hinter der Tür unter einem Holzstoß." - "Und dann hat er auch gesagt, in einem Schloß sei eine Tochter krank, und sie wüßten kein Mittel, um sie gesundzumachen." - "Oh, die Narren," sagte der Vogel Greif, "unter der Kellerstiege hat eine Kröte ein Nest von ihren Haaren gemacht, und wenn sie die Haare wieder zurückbekommt, so wird sie gesund." - "Und dann hat er auch noch gesagt, es sei an einem Ort ein Wasser und ein Mann dabei, der müsse alle Leute darübertragen." - "Oh, der Narr," sagte der Vogel Greif, "täte er nur einmal einen mitten reinstellen, er müßte keinen mehr hinübertragen."
Am andern Morgen in der Frühe stand der Vogel Greif auf und ging fort. Da kam Hans unter dem Bett hervor und hatte eine schöne Feder; auch hatte er gehört, was der Vogel Greif gesagt hatte wegen des Schlüssels und der Tochter und dem Manne. Die Frau vom Vogel Greif erzählte ihm dann alles noch einmal, daß er nichts vergesse, und dann ging er wieder nach Hause. Zuerst kam er zu dem Mann am Wasser, der ihn gleich fragte, was der Vogel Greif gesagt habe. Da sagte der Hans, er solle ihn erst hinübertragen, er wolle es ihm dann drüben, am andern Ufer, sagen. Da trug ihn der Mann hinüber. Als er drüben war, sagte ihm der Hans, er sollte nur einmal einen mitten hinein in den Fluß stellen, so müßte er keinen mehr hinübertragen. Da freute sich der Mann vom Wasser sehr und sagte zum Hans, er wolle ihn zum Dank noch einmal hin- und zurücktragen. Da sagte der Hans, er wolle ihm die Mühe ersparen, er sei schon mit ihm zufrieden und ging weiter. Da kam er zu dem Schloß, wo die Tochter krank war, nahm sie auf die Schultern, denn sie konnte nicht laufen, trug sie die Kellerstiege hinab und nahm das Krötennest unter der untersten Stufe vor und gab es der Tochter in die Hände. Die sprang plötzlich von der Schulter herunter, die Stiege hinauf und war wieder ganz gesund. Jetzt hatten der Vater und die Mutter eine große Freude und schenkten dem Hans Gold und Silber, und was er immer nur haben wollte, das gaben sie ihm. Als Hans nun zu dem andern Schloß kam, ging er gleich ins Holzhaus, und richtig, hinter der Tür unter einem Holzstoß fand er den Schlüssel, den er sogleich dem Herrn brachte. Er freute sich nicht wenig und gab dem Hans zur Belohnung viel von dem Gold, das in der Kiste war, und sonst noch allerhand Sachen, wie Kühe und Schafe und Geißen.
Wie der Hans zum König kam mit all seinen Sachen, mit dem Geld und Gold und Silber und den Kühen, Schafen und Geißen, fragte ihn der König, woher er das alles nur habe. Da sagte der Hans, der Vogel Greif gebe einem, so viel man wollte. Da dachte der König, er könne das auch brauchen, und machte sich auf den Weg zum Vogel Greif. Und als er zum Wasser kam, da war er der erste, der nach dem Hans kam, und der Mann stellte ihn mitten im Wasser ab und ging fort. Und der König ertrank. Der Hans aber heiratete die Tochter und wurde König.