The Town Musicians of Breman - Бременские музыканты

A certain man had a donkey, which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill loyally for many a long year; but his strength was going, and he was growing more and more unfit for work. Then his master began to wonder if it was worth his while keeping this old donkey much longer.

The donkey, seeing that no good wind was blowing, ran away and set out on the road to Bremen. "There,” he thought, "I can surely be town-musician.”

When he had walked some distance, he found a dog lying on the road, gasping like one who had run till he was tired. "What are you gasping so for, you big fellow?” asked the donkey.

"Ah,” replied the dog, "as I am old, and daily grow weaker, and no longer can hunt, my master wanted to kill me, so I ran away, but now how am I to earn my bread?”

"I tell you what,” said the donkey, "I am going to Bremen, and shall be a town-musician there; go with me and work also as a musician. I will play the lute, and you shall beat the kettledrum.”

The dog agreed, and on they went. Before long they came to a cat, sitting on the path, with a face like three rainy days! "Now then, old fluff and claws, what gone all wrong with you?” asked the donkey.

"Who can be merry when his neck is in danger?” answered the cat. "Because I am now getting old, and my teeth are worn to stumps, and I prefer to sit by the fire and spin, rather than hunt about after mice, my mistress wanted to drown me, so I ran away. But now good advice is scarce. Where am I to go?”

"Go with us to Bremen. You understand night-music, you can be a town-musician.”

The cat thought well of it, and went with them. After this the three runaways came to a farm-yard, where the cockerel was sitting upon the gate, cock-a-doodle-doing with all his might. "Your cock-a-doodle-do goes through and through my skull” said the donkey. "What is the matter?”

` Guests are coming for Sunday and the housewife has no pity,’ said the cockerel, ‘ And has told the cook that she intends to eat me in the soup to-morrow, and this evening I am to have my head cut off. Now I am cock-a-doodle-doing at full pitch while I can.”

"Ah you red-headed bird” said the donkey, "you had better come away with us. We are going to Bremen; you can find something better than death everywhere: you have a good voice, and if we make music together it must have some quality!”

The cockerel agreed to this plan, and all four went on together. They could not, however, reach the city of Bremen in one day, and in the evening they came to a forest where they meant to pass the night. The donkey and the dog laid themselves down under a large tree, the cat and the cockerel settled themselves in the branches; but the cockerel flew right to the top, where he was most safe. Before he went to sleep, he called out to his companions that there must be a house not far off, for he saw a light. The donkey said, "If so, we had better get up and go on, for the shelter here is bad.” The dog thought that a few bones with some meat on would do him good too!

So they moved further on, and soon saw the light shine brighter and grow larger, until they came to a well-lit robber’s house. The donkey, as the biggest, went to the window and looked in. "What do you see, my grey-horse?” asked the cockerel. "What do I see?” answered the donkey; "a table covered with good things to eat and drink, and robbers sitting at it enjoying themselves.” "That would be the sort of thing for us,” said the cockerel. "Yes, yes; ah, how I wish we were there!” said the donkey.

Then the animals put their heads together and schemed how to best win an invitation to come inside and join the robbers at the table.

"Come, come my friends,,” said the donkey, "We are musicians, so let us sing for our supper.”

And so they began to perform their music together: the donkey brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the cockerel cock-a-doodle-doed; then they burst through the window into the room, so that the glass clattered! At this horrible din, the robbers sprang up, thinking no otherwise than that a ghost had come in, and fled in a great fright out into the forest. The four companions now sat down at the table, well content with what was left, and ate as if they were going to fast for a month.

As soon as the four musicians had done, they put out the light, and each found a sleeping-place according to his nature and to what suited him. The donkey laid himself down upon some straw in the yard, the dog behind the door, the cat upon the hearth near the warm ashes, and the cockrel perched himself upon a beam of the roof; and being tired from their long walk, they soon went to sleep.

When it was past midnight, and the robbers saw from afar that the light was no longer burning in their house, and all appeared quiet, the captain said, "We ought not to have let ourselves be frightened out of our wits;” and ordered one of them to go and examine the house.

The messenger finding all still, went into the kitchen to light a candle, and, taking the glistening fiery eyes of the cat for burning coals, he held the candle to them to light it. But the cat did not understand what he meant to do, and flew in his face, spitting and scratching. He was dreadfully frightened, and ran to the back-door, but the dog, who lay there sprang up and bit his leg; and as he ran across the yard by the straw-heap, the donkey gave him a smart kick with its hind foot. The cockerel, too, who had been awakened by the noise, and had become lively, cried down from the beam, "cock-a-doodle-doo!”

Then the robber ran back as fast as he could to his captain, and said, "Ah, there is a horrible witch sitting in the house, who spat on me and scratched my face with her long claws; and by the door stands a man with a knife, who stabbed me in the leg; and in the yard there lies a black monster, who beat me with a wooden club; and above, upon the roof, sits the judge, who called out, `Bring the rogue here to me!’ so I got away as well as I could.”

After this the robbers did not trust themselves in the house again; but it suited the four musicians of Bremen so well that they did not care to leave it any more.

Old Sultan - Старый Султан

A farmer once had a faithful dog called Sultan, who had grown old, and lost all his teeth, so that he could no longer bite. One day the farmer was standing with his wife before the house-door, and said, "To-morrow I intend to shoot Old Sultan, he is no longer of any use.”

His wife, who felt pity for the faithful beast, answered, "He has served us so long, and been so faithful, that we might well keep him.”

"Eh! what?” said the man. "You are not very sharp. He has not a tooth left in his mouth, and no thief is afraid of him; now he may be off. If he has served us, he has had good feeding for it.”

The poor dog, who was lying stretched out in the sun not far off, had heard everything, and was sorry that the morrow was to be his last day. He had a good friend, the wolf, and he crept out in the evening into the forest to him, and complained of the fate that awaited him. "Listen well,” said the wolf, ” and Don’t be sad. I will help you out of your trouble. I have thought of something. To-morrow, early in the morning, your master is going with his wife to make hay, and they will take their little child with them, for no one will be left behind in the house. As usual, during work-time, they will lay the child under the hedge in the shade; you lie there too, just as if you wished to guard it. Then I will come out of the wood, and carry off the child. You must rush swiftly after me. I will let it fall, and you will take it back to its parents, who will think that you have saved it, and will be far too grateful to do you any harm; quite the opposite; you will dear to their hearts, and they will never let you lack for anything again.”

The plan pleased the dog, and it was carried out just as it was arranged. The father screamed when he saw the Wolf running across the field with his child, but when Old Sultan brought it back, then he was full of joy, and stroked him and said, "Not a hair of yours shall be hurt, you shall eat my bread free as long as you live.” And to his wife he said, "Go home at once and make Old Sultan some soggy bread that he will not have to bite, and bring the pillow out of my bed, I will give it to him to lie upon.”

From that time on, Old Sultan was as well off as he could wish to be.

Soon afterwards the wolf visited him, and was pleased that everything had succeeded so well. "But, listen well,” said he, "you will just wink an eye when I carry off one of your master’s fat sheep.”
"Do not reckon upon that,” answered the dog; "I will remain true to my master; I cannot agree to that.” The wolf, who thought that this could not be spoken in earnest, came creeping about in the night and was going to take away the sheep. But faithful old Sultan barked, and the farmer chased after the wolf with a big stick. The wolf had to pack off, but he cried out to the dog, "Wait a bit, you scoundrel, you shall pay for this.”

The next morning the wolf sent the wild boar to challenge the dog to come out into the forest so that they might settle the affair. Old Sultan could find no one to stand by him but a cat with only three legs, and as they went out together the poor cat limped along, and at the same time stretched out her tail into the air with pain.

The wolf and his friend were already on the spot appointed, but when they saw their enemy coming they thought that he was bringing a sabre with him, for they mistook the outstretched tail of the cat for one. And when the poor beast hopped on its three legs, they could only think every time that it was picking up a stone to throw at them. So they were both afraid; the wild boar crept into the under-wood and the wolf jumped up a tree.

The dog and the cat, when they came up, wondered that there was no one to be seen. The wild boar, however, had not been able to hide himself altogether; and one of his ears was still to be seen. Whilst the cat was looking carefully about, the boar moved his ear; the cat, who thought it was a mouse moving there, jumped upon it and bit it hard. The boar made a fearful noise and ran away, crying out, "The guilty one is up in the tree!” The dog and cat looked up and saw the wolf, who was ashamed of having proved himself to be so afraid, and made friends with the dog

The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership - Дружба кота и мышки

A cat got to know a mouse, and spoke so much of the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at last the Mouse agreed to live in the same house with her, and to go shares in the housekeeping. ‘But we must store up food for the winter or else we shall be hungry,’ said the Cat. ‘And You, little Mouse, cannot venture everywhere in case you run into a trap.’ This good advice was followed, and a little pot of fat was bought. But they did not know where to put it. At length, after long discussion, the Cat said, ‘I know of no place where it could be better put than in the church. No one will trouble to take it away from there. We will hide it in a corner, and we won’t touch it till we really need it.’ So the little pot was placed in safety; but it was not long before the Cat had a great longing for it, and said to the Mouse, ‘I wanted to tell you, little Mouse, that my cousin has a little son, white with brown spots, and she wants me to be godmother to that little kitten. Let me go out to-day, and do you take care of the house alone.’

‘Yes, go certainly,’ replied the Mouse, ‘and when you eat anything good, think of me; I should very much like a drop of the red christening wine.’

But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, slunk to the little pot of fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. Then she took a walk on the roofs of the town, looked at the view, stretched herself out in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the little pot of fat. As soon as it was evening she went home again.

‘Ah, here you are again!’ said the Mouse; ‘you must certainly have had an enjoyable day.’

‘It went off very well,’ answered the Cat.

‘What was the child’s name?’ asked the Mouse.

‘Top Off,’ said the Cat drily.

‘Topoff!’ echoed the Mouse, ‘it is indeed a wonderful and curious name. Are there others called Topoff in your family?’

‘What is there odd about it?’ said the Cat. ‘It is not worse than Breadthief, as your godchild is called.’

Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat. She said to the Mouse, ‘You must again be kind enough to look after the house alone, for I have been asked a second time to stand godmother, and as this kitten has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse.’

The kind Mouse agreed, but the Cat slunk under the town wall to the church, and ate up half of the pot of fat. ‘Nothing tastes better,’ said she, ‘than what one eats by oneself,’ and she was very much pleased with her day’s work. When she came home the Mouse asked, ‘What was this child called?’

‘Half Gone,’ answered the Cat.

‘Halfgone! what a name! I have never heard it in my life. I don’t believe it is in any book!’

Soon the Cat’s mouth began to water once more after her licking business. ‘All good things in threes,’ she said to the Mouse; ‘I have again to stand godmother. The child is quite black, and has very white paws, but not a single white hair on its body. This only happens once in two years, so you will let me go out?’

‘Topoff! Halfgone!’ repeated the Mouse, ‘they are such curious names; they make me very thoughtful.’

‘Oh, you sit at home in your dark grey coat and your long tail,’ said the Cat, ‘and you get fanciful. That comes of not going out in the day.’

The Mouse had a good cleaning out while the Cat was gone, and made the house tidy; but the greedy Cat ate the fat every bit up.

‘When it is all gone one can be at rest,’ she said to herself, and at night she came home sleek and satisfied. The Mouse asked at once after the third child’s name.

‘It won’t please you any better,’ said the Cat, ‘he was called Clean Gone.’

‘Cleangone!’ repeated the Mouse. ‘I do not believe that name has been printed any more than the others. Cleangone! What can it mean?’ She shook her head, curled herself up, and went to sleep.

From this time on no one asked the Cat to stand godmother; but when the winter came and there was nothing to be got outside, the Mouse remembered their provision and said, ‘Come, Cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored away; it will taste very good.’

‘Yes, indeed,’ answered the Cat; ‘ it will taste as good to you as if you stretched your thin tongue out of the window.’

They started off, and when they reached it they found the pot in its place, but quite empty!

‘Ah,’ said the Mouse,’ ‘now I know what has happened! It has all come out! You are a true friend to me! You have eaten it all when you stood godmother; first the top off, then half of it gone, then—-’

‘Will you be quiet!’ screamed the Cat. ‘Another word and I will eat you up.’

‘Cleangone’ was already on the poor Mouse’s tongue, and scarcely was it out than the Cat made a spring at her, seized and swallowed her.

You see that is the way of the world.

The gallant tailor (с переводом)

One summer morning a little tailor was sitting on his board near the window, and working cheerfully with all his might, when an old woman came down the street crying, "Good jelly to sell! good jelly to sell!” The cry sounded pleasant in the little tailor's ears, so he put his head out of the window, and called out, "Here, my good woman, come here, if you want a customer.”

So the poor woman climbed the steps with her heavy basket, and was obliged to unpack and display all her pots to the tailor. He looked at every one of them, and lifting all the lids, applied his nose to each, and said at last, "The jelly seems pretty good; you may weigh me out four half ounces, or I don't mind having a quarter of a pound.” The woman, who had expected to find a good customer, gave him what he asked for, but went off angry and grumbling. "This jelly is the very thing for me,” cried the little tailor; "it will give me strength and cunning; "and he took down the bread from the cupboard, cut a whole round of the loaf, and spread the jelly on it, laid it near him, and went on stitching more gallantly than ever.

All the while the scent of the sweet jelly was spreading throughout the room, where there were quantities of flies, who were attracted by it and flew to partake. "Now then, who asked you to come?” said the tailor, and drove the unbidden guests away. But the flies, not understanding his language, were not to be got rid of like that, and returned in larger numbers than before. Then the tailor, not being able to stand it any longer, took from his chimney-corner a ragged cloth, and saying, "Now, I'll let you have it!” beat it among them unmercifully. When he ceased, and counted the slain, he found seven lying dead before him. "This is indeed somewhat,” he said, wondering at his own gallantry; "the whole town shall know this.” So he hastened to cut out a belt, and he stitched it^ and put on it in large capitals "Seven at one blow!”

"The town, did I say!” said the little tailor; "the whole world shall know it!” And his heart quivered with joy, like a lamb's tail. The tailor fastened the belt round him, and began to think of going out into the world, for his workshop seemed too small for his worship. So he looked about in all the house for something that it would be useful to take with him, but he found nothing but an old cheese, which he put in his pocket. Outside the door he noticed that a bird had got caught in the bushes, so he took that and put it in his pocket with the cheese. Then he set out gallantly on his way, and as he was light and active he felt no fatigue.

The way led over a mountain, and when he reached the topmost peak he saw a terrible giant sitting there, and looking about him at his ease. The tailor went bravely up to him, called out to him, and said, "Comrade, good day! there you sit looking over the wide world! I am on the way thither to seek my fortune: have you a fancy to go with me?”

The giant looked at the tailor contemptuously, and said, "You little rascal! you miserable fellow!” "That may be!” answered the little tailor, and undoing his coat he showed the giant his belt; "you can read there whether I am a man or not!” The giant read: "Seven at one blow!” and thinking it meant men that the tailor had killed, felt at once more respect for the little fellow. But as he wanted to prove him, he took up a stone and squeezed it so hard that water came out of it. "Now you can do that,” said the giant, ”that is, if you have the strength for it.”

"That's not much,” said the little tailor, "I call that play,” and he put his hand in his pocket and took out the cheese and squeezed it, so that the whey ran out of it. "Well,” said he, "what do you think of that?”

The giant did not know what to say to it, for he could not have believed it of the little man. Then the giant took up a stone and threw it so high that it was nearly out of sight. "Now, little fellow, suppose you do that!”

"Well thrown,” said the tailor; "but the stone fell back to earth again, I will throw you one that will never come back.” So he felt in his pocket, took out the bird, and threw it into the air. And the bird, when it found itself at liberty, took wing, flew off, and returned no more. "What do you think of that, comrade?” asked the tailor. "There is no doubt that you can throw,” said the giant; "but we will see if you can carry.” He led the little tailor to a mighty oak-tree which had been felled, and was lying on the ground, and said, "Now, if you are strong enough, help me to carry this tree out of the wood.”

"Willingly,” answered the little man; "you take the trunk on your shoulders, I will take the branches with all their foliage, that is much the most difficult.” So the giant took the trunk on his shoulders, and the tailor seated himself on a branch, and the giant, who could not see what he was doing, had the whole tree to carry, and the little man on it as well. And the little man was very cheerful and merry, and whistled the tune: "There were three tailors riding by” as if carrying the tree was mere child's play. The giant, when he had struggled on under his heavy load a part of the way, was tired out, and cried, "Look here, I must let go the tree!”

The tailor jumped off quickly, and taking hold of the tree with both arms, as if he were carrying it, said to the giant, "You see you can't carry the tree though you are such a big fellow!”

They went on together a little farther, and presently they came to a cherry-tree, and the giant took hold of the topmost branches, where the ripest fruit hung, and pulling them downwards, gave them to the tailor to hold, bidding him eat. But the little tailor was much too weak to hold the tree, and as the giant let go, the tree sprang back, and the tailor was caught up into the air. And when he dropped down again without any damage, the giant said to him, "How is this? haven't you strength enough to hold such a weak sprig as that?”

"It is not strength that is lacking,” answered the little tailor; "how should it to one who has slain seven at one blow! I just jumped over the tree because the hunters are shooting down there in the bushes. You jump it too, if you can.” The giant made the attempt, and not being able to vault the tree, he remained hanging in the branches, so that once more the little tailor got the better of him.

Then said the giant, "As you are such a gallant fellow, suppose you come with me to our den, and stay the night.” The tailor was quite willing, and he followed him. When they reached the den there sat some other giants by the fire, and each had a roasted sheep in his hand, and was eating it. The little tailor looked round and thought, "There is more elbow-room here than in my workshop.” And the giant showed him a bed, and told him he had better lie down upon it and go to sleep. The bed was, however, too big for the tailor, so he did not stay in it, but crept into a corner to sleep.

As soon as it was midnight the giant got up, took a great staff of iron and beat the bed through with one stroke, and supposed he had made an end of that grasshopper of a tailor.

Very early in the morning the giants went into the wood and forgot all about the little tailor, and when they saw him coming after them alive and merry, they were terribly frightened, and, thinking he was going to kill them, they ran away in all haste.

So the little tailor marched on, always following his nose. And after he had gone a great way he entered the courtyard belonging to a King's palace, and there he felt so overpowered with fatigue that he lay down and fell asleep. In the meanwhile came various people, who looked at him very curiously, and read on his belt, "Seven at one blow!” "Oh!” said they, "why should this great lord come here in time of peace? what a mighty champion he must be.” Then they went and told the King about him, and they thought that if war should break out what a worthy and useful man he would be, and that he ought not to be allowed to depart at any price.

The King then summoned his council, and sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to beg him, so soon as he should wake up, to consent to serve in the King's army. So the messenger stood and waited at the sleeper's side until his limbs began to stretch, and his eyes to open, and then he carried his answer back. And the answer was, "That was the reason for which I came,” said the little tailor, "I am ready to enter the King's service.” So he was received into it very honourably, and a separate dwelling set apart for him. But the rest of the soldiers were very much set against the little tailor, and they wished him a thousand miles away. "What shall be done about it?” they said among themselves; "if we pick a quarrel and fight with him then seven of us will fall at each blow. That will be of no good to us.” So they came to a resolution, and went all together to the King to ask for their discharge. "We never intended,” said they, "to serve with a man who kills seven at a blow.” The King felt sorry to lose all his faithful servants because of one man, and he wished that he had never seen him, and would willingly get rid of him if he might. But he did not dare to dismiss the little tailor for fear he should kill all the King's people, and place himself upon the throne.

He thought a long while about it, and at last made up his mind what to do. He sent for the little tailor, and told him that as he was so great a warrior he had a proposal to make to him. He told him that in a wood in his dominions dwelt two giants, who did great damage by robbery, murder, and fire, and that no man durst go near them for fear of his life. But that if the tailor should overcome and slay both these giants the King would give him his only daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom as dowry, and that a hundred horsemen should go with him to give him assistance. "That would be something for a man like me 1”thought the little tailor, "a beautiful princess and half a kingdom are not to be had every day.”

And he said to the King, "Oh yes, I can soon overcome the giants, and yet have no need of the hundred horsemen; he who can kill seven at one blow has no need to be afraid of two.”

So the little tailor set out, and the hundred horsemen followed him. When he came to the border of the wood he said to his escort, "Stay here while I go to attack the giants.” Then he sprang into the wood, and looked about him right and left. After a while he caught sight of the two giants; they were lying down under a tree asleep, and snoring so that all the branches shook. The little tailor, all alive, filled both his pockets with stones and climbed up into the tree, and made his way to an overhanging bough, so that he could seat himself just above the sleepers; and from there he let one stone after another fall on the chest of one of the giants. For a long time the giant was quite unaware of this, but at last he waked up and pushed his comrade, and said, "What are you hitting me for?”

"You are dreaming,” said the other, "I am not touching you.” And they composed themselves again to sleep, and the tailor let fall a stone on the other giant. "What can that be?” cried he, "what are you casting at me?”

"I am casting nothing at you,” answered the first, grumbling. They disputed about it for a while, but as they were tired, they gave it up at last, and their eyes closed once more. Then the little tailor began his game anew, picked out a heavier stone and threw it down with force upon the first giant's chest. "This is too much!” cried he, and sprang up like a madman and struck his companion such a blow that the tree shook above them. The other paid him back with ready coin, and they fought with such fury that they tore up trees by their roots to use for weapons against each other, so that at last they both of them lay dead upon the ground. And now the little tailor got down. "Another piece of luck!” said he, ”that the tree I was sitting in did not get torn up too, or else I should have had to jump like a squirrel from one tree to another.” Then he drew his sword and gave each of the giants a few hacks in the breast, and went back to the horsemen and said, "The deed is done, I have made an end of both of them: but it went hard with me, in the struggle they rooted up trees to defend themselves, but it was of no use, they had to do with a man who can kill seven at one blow.”

"Then are you not wounded?” asked the horsemen. "Nothing of the sort!” answered the tailor, "I have not turned a hair.” The horsemen still would not believe it, and rode into the wood to see, and there they found the giants wallowing in their blood, and all about them lying the uprooted trees. The little tailor then claimed the promised boon, but the King repented him of his offer, and he sought again how to rid himself of the hero. "Before you can possess my daughter and the half of my kingdom,” said he to the tailor, "you must perform another heroic act. In the wood lives a unicorn who does great damage; you must secure him.”

"A unicorn does not strike more terror into me than two giants. Seven at one blow! - that is my way,” was the tailor's answer. So, taking a rope and an axe with him, he went out into the wood, and told those who were ordered to attend him to wait outside.

He had not far to seek, the unicorn soon came out and sprang at him, as if he would make an end of him without delay. "Softly, softly,” said he, "most haste, worst speed,” and remained standing until the animal came quite near, then he slipped quietly behind a tree. The unicorn ran with all his might against the tree and stuck his horn so deep into the trunk that he could not get it out again, and so was taken. "Now I have you,” said the tailor, coming out from behind the tree, and, putting the rope round the unicorn's neck, he took the axe, set free the horn, and when all his party were assembled he led forth the animal and brought it to the King.

The King did not yet wish to give him the promised reward, and set him a third task to do. Before the wedding could take place the tailor was to secure a wild boar which had done a great deal of damage in the wood. The huntsmen were to accompany him. "All right,” said the tailor, "this is child's play.” But he did not take the huntsmen into the wood, and they were all the better pleased, for the wild boar had many a time before received them in such a way that they had no fancy to disturb him.

When the boar caught sight of the tailor he ran at him with foaming mouth and gleaming tusks to bear him to the ground, but the nimble hero rushed into a chapel which chanced to be near, and jumped quickly out of a window on the other side. The boar ran after him, and when he got inside the door shut after him, and there he was imprisoned, for the creature was too big and unwieldy to jump out of the window too. Then the little tailor called the huntsmen that they might see the prisoner with their own eyes; and then he betook himself to the king, who now, whether he liked it or not, was obliged to fulfil his promise, and give him his daughter and the half of his kingdom. But if he had known that the great warrior was only a little tailor he would have taken it still more to heart. So the wedding was celebrated with great splendour and little joy, and the tailor was made into a king.

One night the young queen heard her husband talking in his sleep and saying, "Now boy, make me that waistcoat and patch me those breeches, or I will lay my yard measure about your shoulders!” And so, as she perceived of what low birth her husband was, she went to her father the next morning and told him all, and begged him to set her free from a man who was nothing better than a tailor. The king bade her be comforted, saying, "To-night leave your bedroom door open, my guard shall stand outside, and when he is asleep they shall come in and bind him and carry him off to a ship, and he shall be sent to the other side of the world.” So the wife felt consoled, but the king's water-bearer, who had been listening all the while, went to the little tailor and disclosed to him the whole plan. "I shall put a stop to all this,” said he.

At night he lay down as usual in bed, and when his wife thought that he was asleep, she got up, opened the door and lay down again. The little tailor, who only made believe to be asleep, began to murmur plainly, "Now, boy, make me that waistcoat and patch me those breeches, or I will lay my yard measure about your shoulders! I have slain seven at one blow, killed two giants, caught a unicorn, and taken a wild boar, and shall I be afraid of those who are standing outside my room door?” And when they heard the tailor say this, a great fear seized them; they fled away as if they had been wild hares, and none of them would venture to attack him. And so the little tailor all his lifetime remained a king.

Храбрый портной (перевод)

В одно прекрасное летнее утро на столе у своего окна сидел портняжка. Он был весел, доволен и работал изо всех сил.
А в это время на улице появилась торговка.
- Варенье! Варенье! Хорошее варенье! - кричала она.
Портняжка обрадовался. Он высунул в окошко голову и крикнул:
- Сюда, сюда, милая тётушка! Здесь вы живо продадите свой товар!
Женщина поднялась с тяжёлой корзиной к портняжке на верхний этаж. Он заставил её открыть все горшки, долго осматривал их, взвешивал на руках, нюхал и наконец сказал: - Варенье, кажется, хорошее. Отвесьте-ка мне, милая тётушка, восьмушку - или, пожалуй, даже целую четверть фунта.
Торговка, которая надеялась продать много варенья, отвесила ему четверть фунта и ушла, сердито ворча. А портняжка отрезал огромный ломоть хлеба и намазал его вареньем. - Это, должно быть, очень вкусно, - сказал он, - но, прежде чем закусить, я должен дошить куртку.
Он положил хлеб возле себя и опять принялся за шитьё. А стежки от радости выходили у него всё крупнее и крупнее.
Между тем мухи, сидевшие на стенах, почуяли запах варенья и слетелись на хлеб.
- Кто вас сюда звал? - закричал портняжка и стал гнать непрошеных гостей.
Но мухи не понимали человеческого языка и налетали целыми стаями. Тут у портняжки, как говорится, лопнуло терпение.
- Погодите, вот я вас! - закричал он, схватил тряпку и нанёс мухам жестокий удар.
Когда он поднял тряпку, на столе лежало, вытянув лапки, целых семь убитых мух.
- Вот какой я молодец! - воскликнул портняжка, сам дивясь своей отваге. - Об этом должен узнать весь город.
И портняжка быстро скроил себе пояс, сшил его и вышил на нём большими буквами:
Одним ударом семерых!
Сердце портняжки запрыгало от радости.
- Что город! - сказал он. - Пусть весь мир узнает, какой я храбрый!
Он надел пояс и решил отправиться в дальние страны. Мастерская теперь казалась ему слишком тесной для его доблести.
Прежде чем пуститься в путь, он обшарил весь дом, разыскивая себе что-нибудь съестное на дорогу. Но не нашёл ничего, кроме куска сыру, который и положил в карман.
У ворот в кустах портняжка заметил запутавшуюся в силках птичку, схватил её и тоже сунул в карман. Потом портняжка весело пустился в путь. Он был лёгок и проворен и поэтому не чувствовал ни малейшей усталости. Дорога привела портняжку к горе. Он взобрался на самую вершину и увидел там огромного великана, который спокойно сидел и поглядывал вокруг.
Портняжка храбро подошёл к нему и преважно сказал:
- Здорово, приятель! Послушай-ка: чего ты сидишь здесь? Я вот задумал постранствовать по свету, попытать счастья. Хочешь, пойдём вместе?
Великан презрительно посмотрел на портняжку и сказал:
- Эх ты, малыш! Жалкий человечишка!
- Как бы не так! - ответил портняжка. Он расстегнул кафтан и показал великану свой пояс:
- Вот, прочти-ка, что я за человек.
Великан прочёл:
Одним ударом семерых!
Он подумал, что речь идёт о врагах, которых убил портной, и почувствовал некоторое почтение к маленькому человечку.
Но великан захотел всё-таки испытать портняжку. Он поднял камень и так сдавил его в руке, что из камня закапала вода.
- Ну-ка, сделай так, если ты такой сильный! - сказал он.
- Только-то? - воскликнул портняжка. - Да это для нас забава!
Он вытащил из кармана мягкий сыр и сжал его в руке: сок так и полился.
- Ну что, - сказал он, - это, пожалуй, почище твоего будет?
Великан не знал, что и сказать. Он никак не ожидал этого от маленького человечка и не верил собственным глазам.
Тогда великан взял камень и подбросил так высоко, что его едва было видно.
- Ну-ка, малыш, сделай ты так!
- Славно брошено, - сказал портняжка. - Но твой камень всё-таки упал обратно на землю, а я так брошу, что мой совсем и не вернётся. Он вытащил из кармана птичку и подбросил её вверх. Обрадованная птичка быстро взвилась в высоту и, конечно, не вернулась.
- Ну, как тебе нравится такой фокус, приятель? - спросил портняжка.
- Бросать ты умеешь, - сказал великан. - А вот посмотрим, можешь ли ты нести что-нибудь тяжёлое.
Он подвёл портняжку к огромному срубленному дубу, который лежал на земле, и сказал:
- Если ты так силён, помоги мне вынести это дерево из лесу.
- С удовольствием! - ответил портняжка. - Ты возьми на плечи только ствол, а я подниму и понесу сучья и ветви - это ведь будет потяжелее.
Великан взвалил себе на плечи ствол, а портной уселся на сучке. И великану, который не мог обернуться, пришлось тащить всё дерево да ещё портняжку в придачу. Портняжке было очень приятно там, наверху, и он насвистывал весёлую песенку, как будто таскать деревья было для него детской забавой.
А великан протащил немного огромную тяжесть, не выдержал и закричал:
- Слушай, я сейчас брошу!
Портной проворно соскочил с дерева, подхватил ветви обеими руками, как будто всё время нёс их, и сказал великану:
- Ты такой большой, а не можешь одно дерево нести!
Пошли они дальше. Великан увидел вишнёвое дерево, ухватил его за верхушку, пригнул и дал подержать портняжке. Тот хотел было полакомиться спелыми вишнями, да не мог удержать дерево. Как только великан отпустил ветку, вишня выпрямилась и подбросила портного вверх.
Когда он благополучно спустился на землю, великан сказал:
- Что это, неужели у тебя не хватает сил удержать такой прутик?
- Сил-то хватает! - ответил портняжка. - Что это значит для человека, который убивает одним ударом семерых! Я перепрыгнул через дерево просто потому, что внизу охотники стреляют по кустам. А ну, прыгни-ка ты так! Великан попробовал, но не мог перепрыгнуть через дерево и повис на ветвях. Портняжка и тут одержал верх.
- Ну, раз ты такой молодец, пойдём ночевать к нам в пещеру, - сказал великан.
Портняжка с радостью согласился и пошёл с великаном.
В пещере сидели у огня великаны и ели; у каждого в руках был жареный баран.
Портняжка огляделся вокруг и подумал: "Здесь гораздо просторнее, чем в моей мастерской".
Великан предложил портняжке лечь на кровать и выспаться как следует.
Но кровать была слишком велика для портняжки. Он не лёг на неё, а забрался в какой-то уголок и заснул.
Когда настала полночь, великан встал, схватил железный лом и одним ударом расколол надвое кровать.
Он был уверен, что на ней спит портной и что теперь он наконец уничтожил этого прыгуна.
Рано утром великаны ушли в лес и совсем позабыли о портняжке. Вдруг смотрят - а он идёт им навстречу весёлый и здоровый. Великаны испугались, что он изобьёт их всех до смерти, и в ужасе разбежались. Портняжка пошёл дальше. Он шёл всё прямо и на конец пришёл к королевскому дворцу. Портняжка очень устал, недолго думая растянулся прямо на траве и заснул.
Пока он спал, вокруг него собрался народ. Люди стали разглядывать портняжку и прочли на его поясе надпись:
Одним ударом семерых!
- Ах, - сказали они, - что же нужно этому великому воину здесь, в нашем мирном королевстве?
Они отправились к королю, сообщили ему обо всём и сказали, что этого человека нельзя упустить: он будет полезен в случае войны.
Королю понравился совет. Он приказал одному из своих придворных пойти к портняжке и, как только он проснётся, предложить ему поступить к королю на военную службу. Посланный стоял возле портняжки и долго ждал, пока тот спал да пока просыпался, а потом ещё потягивался и протирал глаза.
Портняжка выслушал королевское предложение и сказал:
- Да я именно для этого и прибыл и готов немедленно поступить на королевскую службу.
Его приняли с большим почётом, но королевские воины очень невзлюбили портняжку и мечтали, чтобы его услали куда-нибудь за тридевять земель.
- Что будет, - говорили они между собой, - если мы когда-нибудь поссоримся с ним и он бросится на нас? Ведь тогда погибнет сразу семеро. Уж тут ни кто из нас не уцелеет. Они решили все вместе идти к королю и просить отставки.
- Мы не можем равняться с человеком, который убивает одним ударом семерых, - говорили они.
Король не хотел ради одного лишиться всех своих верных слуг и решил избавиться от портняжки, но не знал, как это сделать. Он боялся, что портняжка рассердится, уничтожит его вместе со всем войском и захватит трон. Король долго размышлял об этом и наконец придумал. Он велел передать портняжке, что ему, как великому воину, король даёт важное поручение.
В одном из лесов королевства поселились два великана; они причиняют огромные бедствия своими грабежами и разбоями, поджогами и убийствами. Никто не может приблизиться к ним, не рискуя жизнью. Портняжка должен убить этих двух великанов, и тогда король выдаст за него замуж свою единственную дочь и даст ей в приданое половину королевства. В помощь себе портняжка может взять сто рыцарей.
"Недурно для такого человека, как я! - подумал портняжка. - Прекрасная принцесса и половина королевства - это нам не каждый день предлагают!"
И он сказал в ответ:
- О да, великанов я усмирю, а сотни рыцарей мне не нужно. Кто одним ударом побивает семерых, тому нечего бояться двоих.
Портняжка отправился в поход, а сто рыцарей всё же последовали за ним.
Когда они приехали на опушку леса, портняжка сказал своим спутникам:
- Оставайтесь здесь, я сам управлюсь с великанами.
Он юркнул в лес и стал осматриваться по сторонам.
Вскоре он увидел обоих великанов. Они спали и так храпели, что деревья гнулись.
Портняжка поскорее набрал полные карманы камней и взобрался на то дерево, под которым спали великаны. Он уселся на самой верхушке, как раз над головами великанов, и стал бросать камни на грудь одному из них. Великан долго не чувствовал этого; наконец он проснулся, толкнул своего товарища в бок и сказал:
- Чего ты дерёшься?
- Это тебе приснилось, - сказал другой, - я и не думал тебя бить.
Они опять уснули. Тогда портняжка стал бросать камни на другого великана.
- Что это значит! - закричал другой. - Чем это ты в меня кидаешь?
- Ничем я в тебя не кидаю! - сердито проворчал первый.
Они немного поспорили между собой, но скоро успокоились и опять уснули.
А портняжка снова принялся за своё. Он выбрал самый крупный камень и изо всех сил бросил его на грудь первому великану.
- Ну, это уж слишком! - закричал тот, вскочил, как безумный, и так ударил своего приятеля, что он закачался; другой отплатил той же монетой. Тут великаны совсем рассвирепели. Они стали вырывать с корнями деревья и колотили ими друг друга до тех пор, пока оба не свалились замертво. Тогда портняжка спрыгнул на землю.
- Счастье ещё, - сказал он, - что они не вырвали того дерева, на котором я сидел! А то мне пришлось бы, как белке, перескакивать на другое. Ну, да ничего, мы люди проворные. Он вынул свой меч и нанёс великанам несколько ударов в грудь.
Потом он вышел к рыцарям и сказал:
- Дело сделано: я прикончил обоих. Нелегко это мне далось, но когда за дело возьмётся человек, который одним ударом убивает семерых, тут уж не отвертишься.
- А вы не ранены? - спросили рыцари.
- Нет, всё обошлось благополучно, - отвечал портняжка: - они у меня и волоса на голове не тронули.
Рыцари не хотели верить ему и поехали в лес. Там они нашли мёртвых великанов, а вокруг валялись вырванные с корнем деревья.
Портняжка потребовал от короля обещанной награды. Но тот уже раскаивался в данном обещании и опять думал о том, как избавиться от этого опасного героя.
- Прежде чем получить мою дочь и половину королевства, - сказал король, - ты должен совершить ещё один подвиг. В лесу живёт единорог, который причиняет нам большой вред. Ты должен поймать его. - Единорога я боюсь ещё меньше, чем великанов, - ответил портняжка. - Семерых одним ударом - вот моё дело.
Он взял с собой верёвку да топор и пошёл в лес, а рыцарям, которые были даны ему в помощь, опять велел подождать на опушке.
Ему не пришлось долго искать единорога. Единорог сейчас же выскочил из чащи, бросился прямо на портняжку и хотел пронзить его своим рогом.
- Потише, потише! - сказал портняжка. - Так быстро это не делается.
Он остановился и подождал, а когда зверь был уже совсем близко, проворно отскочил за дерево. Единорог изо всей силы бросился на дерево и так крепко вонзил свой рог в ствол, что уже никак не мог вытащить его. - Ну, попалась птичка! - сказал портняжка, вышел из-за дерева, накинул единорогу верёвку на шею, потом отрубил ему топором рог, который торчал в дереве, и повёл зверя к королю.
Но король не хотел и теперь давать ему обещанную награду и поставил ещё одно условие: прежде чем жениться на королевне, портняжка должен был с помощью охотников поймать дикого кабана, который жил в лесу и причинял много вреда. - С удовольствием! - ответил портной. - Это для нас детская забава.
Охотников он не взял с собой в лес, и они были очень довольны этим. Кабан уже несколько раз оказывал им такой приём, что им совсем не хотелось вновь встречаться с ним.
Когда кабан увидел портняжку, он бросился на него, грозно оскалив клыки, и хотел сбить его с ног. Но проворный герой шмыгнул в часовню, которая находилась поблизости, и сейчас же выскочил оттуда через маленькое окошко с другой стороны. Кабан бросился за ним, а портняжка обежал вокруг часовни и захлопнул дверь.
Разъярённый зверь был пойман. Ведь он был слишком тяжёл и неуклюж и не мог выскочить в окно.
Портняжка позвал охотников, чтобы они собственными глазами увидели пойманного зверя. А сам отправился к королю. Король теперь волей-неволей вынужден был выполнить обещание и отдать ему свою дочь и половину королевства. Если бы король знал, что перед ним не великий воин, а простой портняжка, он бы ещё больше огорчился.
Свадьба была отпразднована с большой пышностью, да с малой радостью, и портной стал королём.
Немного спустя как-то ночью молодая королева услышала, как её муж сказал во сне:
- Эй, малый, сшей-ка куртку да заштопай штаны, а не то я отколочу тебя аршином!
Тогда она поняла, что молодой король был простым портным, и на другое утро пожаловалась отцу и просила избавить её от такого мужа.
Король успокоил её и сказал:
- В следующую ночь оставь дверь в свою спальню незапертой. Мои слуги будут стоять у дверей, и как только твой муж уснёт, они свяжут его и отнесут на корабль, который увезёт его в дальние страны. Королева очень обрадовалась.
Но королевский оруженосец всё слышал и рассказал портняжке.
Вечером портняжка улёгся в обычное время в постель. Когда королеве показалось, что он уже уснул, она встала, открыла дверь и опять легла.
А портняжка, который только притворялся, что спит, стал кричать громким голосом:
- Эй, малый, сшей-ка куртку и заштопай штаны, а не то я отколочу тебя аршином! Я прикончил семерых одним ударом, убил двух великанов, привёл из лесу единорога, поймал дикого кабана. Мне ли бояться тех, что стоят там, за дверью! Слуги услышали, что говорит портняжка, страшно испугались и бросились бежать, как будто за ними гналось целое войско.
С тех пор никто больше не решался тронуть портняжку, и он остался королём до конца своей жизни.

Андерсон

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31