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格林童話故事第106篇：兩個(gè)旅行家The two travellers
引導(dǎo)語：大家喜歡旅行?下面是有關(guān)《兩個(gè)旅行家》的一則童話故事，收錄于《格林童話》中，下文是中英文版本，歡迎大家閱讀!
高山與峽谷從不相遇，可是人類的后代，無論是善與惡，則都會(huì)相識(shí)。就是這樣，一個(gè)鞋匠和一個(gè)裁縫在他們的旅途上相會(huì)了。裁縫是個(gè)個(gè)頭不高但相貌英俊的小伙子，他的性格開朗，整天樂呵呵。他看見鞋匠從對(duì)面走來，從他背著的家什裁縫猜出他是干什么營生的，就唱了一支小調(diào)與他開玩笑：
"給我縫縫開了線的鞋，
針腳得要細(xì)又密，
瀝青要抹在縫線上，
鞋底的釘子要敲牢。"
可是鞋匠卻受不了這個(gè)玩笑，他拉長(zhǎng)了臉，好像喝了一瓶醋，做了一個(gè)要掐裁縫脖子的動(dòng)作，但是小個(gè)子裁縫卻哈哈笑了起來，遞給他一瓶水說道："沒什么壞意思，喝口水吧，壓壓氣。"鞋匠使勁喝了一口，臉上的陰云才散開了。他把瓶子還給裁縫并說："我喝了一大口。大家說這叫能喝，而不是因?yàn)榭诳省Ｎ覀兡芤黄鹱邌?""好啊，"裁縫同意，"到大城市里去你覺得如何，那兒活兒會(huì)不少。""那就是我要去的地方。"鞋匠一口贊同："小鎮(zhèn)子里無錢可掙，農(nóng)村的人們都不穿鞋。"于是他們一塊趕路，下雪的時(shí)候，他們像黃鼠狼一樣踩著前面的腳窩走。
他們匆匆趕路，沒有時(shí)間吃東西和休息，到了一座城里后又到處找買賣人攬生意，由于裁縫的神情活潑又快樂，兩個(gè)臉蛋紅彤彤的，深得大家的歡心，所以活兒也多，運(yùn)氣好的時(shí)候東家的女兒在門廊下甚至?xí)H他一口。他又和鞋匠遇見了。裁縫的家伙幾乎都在包袱里。脾氣暴躁的鞋匠做了一個(gè)苦臉心里想："人越壞，運(yùn)氣就越好。"可是裁縫一邊笑一邊唱了起來，把他所有的東西拿出來和同伴分享。如果口袋里有兩個(gè)銅板的話，他會(huì)要杯啤酒，興高采烈地拍著桌子，酒杯也會(huì)陪他跳舞，他是一個(gè)掙得容易花得快的樂天派。
他們走了一段時(shí)間，來到一座大森林，森林那邊有通往首都的大道。有二條小路可穿過林子，一條需要走七天，另一條則只要二天，但是二人誰也不知道哪條是近路。他們坐在一棵橡樹下，商量以后如何辦、干糧還可以吃幾天。鞋匠發(fā)言："任何事都要先思而后行，我得帶一周的干糧。""什么!"裁縫吃了一驚，"像驢一樣馱七天的干糧，頭都不能抬起來走路。我相信上帝，任何事情均無煩惱!我口袋里的錢夏天冬天一樣好用，可是熱天里面包要變硬，而且還會(huì)發(fā)霉，我的外套也禁不住這么長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間。另外我們?yōu)槭裁床徽艺夷菞l近路呢?二天的干糧足夠用啦。"最后，二人分別帶上自己的干糧，進(jìn)入森林尋找各自的運(yùn)氣。
林子里靜悄悄地像座教堂。風(fēng)不刮、水不流、鳥不鳴，連陽光都穿不透樹上密密的葉子。鞋匠一聲不吭，背上的干糧越來越重，汗流滿面，臉色陰沉。裁縫卻是一臉歡快，跳來蹦去，不是用樹葉吹著小曲就是哼著小調(diào)，心里想："天堂里的上帝看見我如此快活，一定會(huì)高興的。"二天過去了，第三天，這林子還沒有到頭，裁縫把干糧都吃光了，他的心一下子沉重了許多。然而，他并沒有喪失勇氣，而是依靠上帝，相信自己的運(yùn)氣。
第三天夜里，他饑腸轆轆地躺在一棵樹下，到早晨起來時(shí)更加餓得發(fā)慌;第四天也過去了，鞋匠坐在一棵倒在地上的樹上面吃他的晚飯，裁縫則只能在一邊看著。如果他要一小片面包的話，鞋匠就會(huì)諷刺地笑道，"你不是總是那么高興嗎?現(xiàn)在你可知道什么叫做悲傷。早晨唱歌的鳥兒，晚上就會(huì)被鷹給叼走。"長(zhǎng)話短說，他是一個(gè)無情無意的人。第五個(gè)早晨，可憐的裁縫站不起來了，渾身虛弱得連吐一個(gè)字都很困難。他的臉色蒼白，眼睛發(fā)紅。這時(shí)鞋匠跟他說："今天我給你一塊面包，但是不能白給，你得用你的右眼換。"裁縫大不高興，可是他為了挽救自己的性命不得不同意了。他的雙眼又一次流出了眼淚，然后抬起頭來。狠心的鞋匠用一把飛快的刀將他的右眼挖了出來。裁縫這時(shí)想起小時(shí)候他躲在廚房里偷吃東西時(shí)母親說的話："該享受的時(shí)候就享受，該受苦的時(shí)候就受苦。"在他慢慢地享用完那塊代價(jià)昂貴的面包后，又站了起來，把痛苦拋在腦后，自我安慰地想到一只眼睛足夠用。可是到了第六天，饑餓再次襲來，他的腹空如雷鳴，震得心都要跳出來了。到了晚上他跌倒在一棵樹旁，第七天早晨人已昏迷，再站不起來，死神臨近了。此時(shí)鞋匠又說："我來可憐可憐你吧，再給你些面包，不過仍不是白給，我要你另外一只眼睛。"現(xiàn)在，裁縫才感到他的一生如此渺小，請(qǐng)求上帝的寬恕吧，他說："你想干什么就干什么吧，我將忍受我必須忍受的苦難�？墒悄阋涀。覀兊纳系劭刹豢偸强粗还艿�，你在我身上所施的這些暴行會(huì)得到報(bào)應(yīng)的，那一刻終將要來到的。我的日子好的時(shí)候，我與你共享我的一切。我的工作要求每一針都相同，不許有分毫之差。如果我失去雙眼，就不能做針線活了，那我只好去要飯啦。在我瞎了之后，無論如何別把我一個(gè)人丟在這里，要不我就會(huì)餓死的。"可是那鞋匠心中早就沒了上帝，掏出刀來又把他的左眼剖了出來，然后給了他一小塊面包和一只棍子讓他在后邊跟著。太陽下山他們出了森林，眼前是一片野地，上面立著絞架。鞋匠把瞎裁縫領(lǐng)到絞架底下就獨(dú)自離去了。在疲勞、痛苦和饑餓的折磨下，倒霉的人一頭倒下就睡著啦。他睡呀睡呀，整整睡了一晚上，天亮的時(shí)候他醒了，可不知道自己在哪兒。絞架上吊著二個(gè)罪犯，每個(gè)人的頭上都站著一只烏鴉。這時(shí)一個(gè)吊死鬼說起話來："兄弟你醒了嗎?""我醒啦。"第二個(gè)回答。"那么我告訴你，"第一個(gè)說，"昨晚上從絞架上掉下來的露水，誰要是用它洗臉的話，就會(huì)得到自己的眼睛。如果盲人們知道的話，有多少人會(huì)相信這能恢復(fù)人的視力?"
這話讓裁縫聽見啦，他從口袋里掏出手帕，按在地上的小草上，直到手帕讓露水給濕透了，然后用手帕擦洗眼窩。說時(shí)遲那時(shí)快，絞架上的吊死鬼的話立刻就靈驗(yàn)啦，眼窩里又變出一雙明亮的眼睛，不一會(huì)兒裁縫就看清了山那邊升起的太陽，他的眼前是一片平原，平原上聳立著一座大都市以及巨大的城門和許多高塔，塔尖上的金球和十字架閃閃發(fā)光。他能分辨出樹上的每片葉子，看見小鳥在樹叢間飛來飛去，小飛蟲在空氣中跳舞。他從口袋里掏出一根針，和以前一樣，很快就把線穿了過去，他的心里樂開了花。他跪了下來真心感謝上帝給予他的恩賜，虔誠地做了晨禱。當(dāng)然他也沒有忘記為那兩個(gè)可憐的吊死鬼祈禱，他們?cè)陲L(fēng)中晃來晃去不時(shí)地撞在一起，就好像是鐘擺一樣。他背起包袱，很快就忘卻了以前心里的創(chuàng)傷，唱著小曲吹著口哨，又繼續(xù)趕路了。
他遇到的第一樣?xùn)|西是一只在田野里奔跑著的棕色小馬駒。他一把抓住了馬的鬃毛想跳上去騎著它進(jìn)城。可是小馬駒央求放它走。"我還太小，"它央求著，"甚至像您這么輕的裁縫都能把我的脊背壓斷，放我走吧，我會(huì)長(zhǎng)大的，到時(shí)候也許我會(huì)報(bào)答您的。"
"去吧，"裁縫說："你還是個(gè)調(diào)皮的小家伙。"他用樹枝輕輕地抽了一下它的屁股，小馬駒高興地尥著蹶子，蹦過樹叢，跳過溝渠，一溜煙地跑進(jìn)了廣闊的田野。
可是從一天前起小裁縫就粒米未進(jìn)。"我的眼睛充滿了陽光，可我的肚子卻空空蕩蕩，首要的事是，一旦我碰見能填滿肚子的東西，只要能嚼得動(dòng)，我無論如何得把它吃下去。"這時(shí)，一只神態(tài)高貴的白鸛邁著幽雅的步子從草地上走了過來。"等等，等一下，"裁縫大聲喊著，一把抓住了白鸛的腿："不管你好吃還是不好吃，我可是饑不擇食啦。我得砍下你的頭，然后把你烤了吃。""別這樣，"白鸛勸道："我是只神鳥，對(duì)人類大有益處，是不可被傷害的。如果放了我，我會(huì)以其它的方法來報(bào)答你。""那么你走吧，長(zhǎng)腿兄弟。"裁縫說，白鸛騰身而起，一雙長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的腿懸在下面，姿態(tài)優(yōu)美地向遠(yuǎn)方飛去。
"這樣沒完沒了的，何時(shí)才有個(gè)完?"裁縫自言自語，"我是餓上加餓，已經(jīng)前胸貼后背啦，再碰上什么東西絕對(duì)不能客氣了。"就在此時(shí)，他看見一對(duì)小鴨子在一個(gè)水池里游水。"你們來得可正是時(shí)候。"他說著，伸手抓住一只就要擰脖子。猛然間一只老母鴨在藏身的蘆葦中高聲叫著，大張著嘴飛快地游了過來，懇切地央求他饒過它的孩子。"您想過沒有，"它說，"如果您被抓走殺死，您的母親該有多悲傷嘛?""別說啦，"好心腸的裁縫被感動(dòng)了，"帶走你的孩子吧。"說著把手中的獵物放回到水中。
他轉(zhuǎn)過身子，發(fā)現(xiàn)自己站在一棵年代很老的老樹前，它的半截身軀已經(jīng)空了，野蜂在樹洞前飛出飛進(jìn)忙個(gè)不停。"那不就是對(duì)我行善的報(bào)答嗎?"裁縫說，"蜂蜜可以恢復(fù)我的體力。"可是蜂后飛了出來，警告他說，"如果你碰一下我的子民，毀壞我的蜂窩，我們的蜂針會(huì)變成無數(shù)根燒紅了的鋼針刺進(jìn)你的皮膚。不過你要是不打攪我們的生活，走你自己的路，我們會(huì)找時(shí)間為你效勞的。"
小裁縫對(duì)此也是無可奈何。這頓晚飯簡(jiǎn)直是畫餅充饑!三個(gè)盤子空第四個(gè)是空盤子，他拖著饑餓不堪的身子進(jìn)了城。這時(shí)時(shí)鐘正好敲響了十二點(diǎn)，酒店里的飯菜已經(jīng)為他做好了，他迫不及待地坐下，狼吞虎咽地吃起來。酒足飯飽后他說："現(xiàn)在我要工作啦。"他走遍全城，找到了一個(gè)東家和一份好工作。由于他的縫紉手藝高超，時(shí)間不長(zhǎng)他就出名了，每個(gè)人都想有一件小裁縫做的新外套。他的名聲越來越大。"我的手藝到此為止了，"他說，"可是東西每天都在改變。"終于，國王任命他為皇宮作裁縫。
世界上的事情就是這么巧!就在這同一天，他從前的伙伴鞋匠也成了皇宮鞋匠。當(dāng)鞋匠看見裁縫以及他那雙明亮的眼睛時(shí)幾乎暈了過去。"必須在他報(bào)復(fù)我之前，"他暗暗想道，"讓他掉進(jìn)陷阱。"然而，害人總是先害己，晚上收工后，趁著夜色黃昏他悄悄溜到國王面前說："國王陛下，裁縫是個(gè)自以為了不起的家伙，他曾夸下�？谡f他能找到古時(shí)候丟失了的金皇冠。""那很好呀。"國王說。第二天早朝時(shí)，他便傳裁縫到殿前，命令他將皇冠找回來，否則永遠(yuǎn)不許回城。"噢噢!"裁縫想："無賴的瞎話無邊無沿�？墒菄醯钠獯直o常，他要是讓我去辦別人都辦不到的事，那我就不必再等到明天早晨啦，干脆今天立刻就出城。"于是他打起了包袱�？僧�(dāng)出了城門時(shí)，他不禁有些遺憾，因?yàn)樗艞壛四敲春玫墓ぷ�，離開了給予了他許多好時(shí)光的城市。他到了遇見鴨子的水池邊，那只他曾將它的孩子放生了的老母鴨正坐在岸邊用嘴巴梳理自己的羽毛。它立刻認(rèn)出了他，問他為何耷拉著腦袋。"聽我講完我遇到的事兒，你會(huì)覺得沒什么新鮮的。"裁縫回答并把故事告訴了它。"不就是這么些事嗎?"鴨子說，"我們能幫你，皇冠掉到了水里沉到水池底下了，我們一會(huì)兒就幫你取上來。這時(shí)候你把你的手帕鋪在岸上就行啦。"它帶領(lǐng)十二只小鴨子潛入水里，沒用五分鐘它就鉆出水面，那皇冠就放在它的翅膀上，十二只小鴨子在四周游來游去，不時(shí)地把長(zhǎng)嘴巴伸到皇冠底下幫助運(yùn)送皇冠。他們游到岸邊把皇冠放在了手帕上面，人們無法想象皇冠有多么漂亮和輝煌，在陽光的照射下，就像無數(shù)顆紅寶石一樣閃閃發(fā)光。裁縫用手帕的四角把皇冠包好給國王帶去，國王別提有多高興啦，他將一根金項(xiàng)鏈掛在了裁縫的脖子上。
鞋匠發(fā)覺一招不靈，他又想出第二招，于是上奏國王說："國王陛下，裁縫狂妄自大的本性未改，他吹牛說他能用蠟做一個(gè)王宮，和這個(gè)王宮一模一樣，甚至連內(nèi)外的任何物件、無論是活動(dòng)的還是固定的都不會(huì)缺少。"聽罷，國王將裁縫招來，命令他用蠟照這個(gè)皇宮再做一個(gè)，包括里外的任何物件，無論是活動(dòng)的還是固定的都不得有絲毫失誤，如果做不出來，或少了根釘子，他就會(huì)被關(guān)進(jìn)地牢，了卻余生。
裁縫心想："事情越來越糟，豈可忍受!"就把包袱往肩膀上一搭，又踏上了路程。他到了那棵老樹前坐下來，無精打采地耷拉著腦袋。蜜蜂飛了出來，蜂后看見他垂著頭，便關(guān)心地問他的脖子是否得了風(fēng)濕病。"哎呀，不是的，"裁縫回答："是些其它的愁事。"然后，告訴它國王命令他辦的事。蜜蜂們嗡嗡地交頭接耳起來，它們商量完后，蜂后說："回家吧，明天這時(shí)候你帶一塊大布單子再來，到時(shí)一切都會(huì)辦妥的。"所以他又原路返回了，同時(shí)蜜蜂們也飛向了王宮，并且徑直地從開著的窗戶飛了進(jìn)去，爬遍了各個(gè)犄角旮旯，非常仔細(xì)地查看了每個(gè)物件。然后急急忙忙地飛回去，照著王宮的樣子用蜂蠟建造了一個(gè)皇宮模型，建造的速度如此之快，竟讓人以為是從地底下冒出來的一般，天黑之前，已經(jīng)是大功告成了。第二天早晨裁縫來的時(shí)候，他面前是一座光彩奪目的宮殿，而且墻上不少一根釘，頂上不缺一片瓦，整個(gè)建筑精美絕倫、小巧玲瓏、潔白似雪，散發(fā)著陣陣蜂蜜的芳香。裁縫小心翼翼地用布把它包了起來，呈獻(xiàn)給了國王，國王對(duì)此愛不釋手，把它陳列在最大的廳堂中，并賜給裁縫一座大石頭房子作為獎(jiǎng)賞。
誰知鞋匠仍不死心，第三次向國王上奏道："國王陛下，裁縫聽說宮院中沒有噴泉，他夸下�？谝寣m院中間噴出一人高的水來，晶瑩如水晶。"于是，國王讓人叫來裁縫，對(duì)他說："如果到明天我院子不噴出一股清泉，像你許諾的那樣，劊子手就會(huì)當(dāng)場(chǎng)把你腦袋砍下來。"可憐的裁縫沒多思考，就趕緊逃出城門，因?yàn)檫@次已嚴(yán)重到要他的命，他傷心得淚流滿面。當(dāng)他憂心忡忡地往前走時(shí)，他曾經(jīng)放掉的那匹小馬駒迎面跑來，現(xiàn)在它已經(jīng)長(zhǎng)成一匹漂亮的棕色駿馬了。"時(shí)候到了，"小馬對(duì)他說："我該對(duì)你報(bào)恩了。我知道你有什么難處，但你很快就會(huì)得到幫助了。騎上來吧，我已經(jīng)能夠架住兩個(gè)你啦。"裁縫受到極大的鼓舞，他一下子跳到馬背上，駿馬便撒開四蹄飛快地進(jìn)了城，一口氣跑到了王宮的院子里。他圍著院子快如閃電般地狂奔了三圈，猛然栽到在地。就在這一剎那，凌空一聲霹雷響，一大塊泥土好像炮彈一樣從院子中央直射天空，落到了王宮外面，隨后便是一股水柱直噴出來，像水晶一樣清澈透明，如同人騎在馬背上那么高，陽光在水柱頂上跳舞。國王見后興奮地站了起來，當(dāng)著大家的面擁抱了裁縫。
可是好運(yùn)不長(zhǎng)，國王有許多女兒，一個(gè)賽一地個(gè)漂亮，可惜沒有兒子。卑鄙的鞋匠借此機(jī)會(huì)第四次在國王面前使壞，說："國王陛下，裁縫實(shí)在是本性難移呀。這次他自不量力地吹牛說如果他樂意，他能夠憑空給國王陛下帶來一個(gè)王子。"國王喚裁縫上殿，下旨說："如果你能在九天內(nèi)給我?guī)硪粋�(gè)王子，你可作為我大公主的夫婿。""重賞之下必有勇夫。"小裁縫斟酌，"可是櫻桃樹太高了，要想吃櫻桃，就有從樹上摔下來的危險(xiǎn)。"
他回到家中，盤起雙腿坐在工作臺(tái)上左思右想此事如何辦理。"豈有此理，"他不禁叫出聲來，"我要離開，此處讓我一刻也不得安寧。"他收拾起包袱匆忙出了城門，來到草地并遇見了老友白鸛。白鸛正像一個(gè)哲學(xué)家似地來回邁著方步，有時(shí)會(huì)紋絲不動(dòng)，叼起一只青蛙后便陷入深深的思考，好一會(huì)兒方才咽入腹中。白鸛到他面前打招呼："我看你背著包袱。"他開始詢問，"你為何離城出走?"裁縫一五一十地向它講述了國王是如何降旨于他，而他則無法遵旨，并且向它傾訴了一肚子的苦水。"不要愁白了你的頭，"白鸛勸導(dǎo)著，"我?guī)湍憬饷摾Ь�。我給城里送嬰兒已有好長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間啦，也許碰巧我能從井里叼出一個(gè)小王子吶�；丶胰�，別著急。從現(xiàn)在起的第九天，你去王宮，屆時(shí)我也會(huì)在那里。"小裁縫回了家，到了約定的時(shí)候，他來到王宮，不一會(huì)兒白鸛冉冉飛至，輕敲他的窗戶。小裁縫打開窗戶，見長(zhǎng)腿兄弟小心翼翼地邁腿進(jìn)來了，然后步態(tài)優(yōu)美地走過了大理石路面。它的長(zhǎng)嘴巴里叼著一個(gè)美如天使的嬰兒，嬰兒向王后伸出小手。白鸛將嬰兒放在王后的懷中，王后非常高興地抱起嬰兒，不住地親吻。白鸛在飛走之前將背上的旅行袋取下交給了王后，袋子里有一些小紙包，里面包著的是分給小公主們五彩糖果。然而，大公主卻沒分到，她得到的是快樂的裁縫成了她的夫婿。"對(duì)于我來說，"她說道，"這就是最高的獎(jiǎng)賞。我母親遠(yuǎn)見卓識(shí)，她常說相信上帝的人，好運(yùn)長(zhǎng)在，萬事如意。"
鞋匠不得不為小裁縫制作在婚禮上跳舞的舞鞋，婚禮后他被永遠(yuǎn)趕出京城。沿著通向森林的路，他到了絞架旁，死不甘心的鞋匠在炎熱天氣的煎熬下疲憊不堪地倒在了地上。他正想閉上眼睛睡一會(huì)兒，兩只烏鴉從吊死鬼的頭上飛了下來，啄出了他的雙眼。他發(fā)了瘋似地奔進(jìn)了森林，后來他一定在里面餓死了，因?yàn)闆]有人再看見過他或聽說過他的消息。
兩個(gè)旅行家英文版：
The two travellers
Hill and vale do not come together, but the children of men do, good and bad. In this way a shoemaker and a tailor once met with each other in their travels. The tailor was a handsome little fellow who was always merry and full of enjoyment. He saw the shoemaker coming towards him from the other side, and as he observed by his bag what kind of a trade he plied, he sang a little mocking song to him,
"Sew me the seam,
Draw me the thread,
Spread it over with pitch,
Knock the nail on the head."
The shoemaker, however, could not endure a joke; he pulled a face as if he had drunk vinegar, and made a gesture as if he were about to seize the tailor by the throat. But the little fellow began to laugh, reached him his bottle, and said, "No harm was meant, take a drink, and swallow your anger down." The shoemaker took a very hearty drink, and the storm on his face began to clear away. He gave the bottle back to the tailor, and said, "I spoke civilly to you; one speaks well after much drinking, but not after much thirst. Shall we travel together?" - "All right," answered the tailor, "if only it suits you to go into a big town where there is no lack of work." - "That is just where I want to go," answered the shoemaker. "In a small nest there is nothing to earn, and in the country, people like to go barefoot." They travelled therefore onwards together, and always set one foot before the other like a weasel in the snow.
Both of them had time enough, but little to bite and to break. When they reached a town they went about and paid their respects to the tradesmen, and because the tailor looked so lively and merry, and had such pretty red cheeks, every one gave him work willingly, and when luck was good the master's daughters gave him a kiss beneath the porch, as well. When he again fell in with the shoemaker, the tailor had always the most in his bundle. The ill-tempered shoemaker made a wry face, and thought, "The greater the rascal the more the luck," but the tailor began to laugh and to sing, and shared all he got with his comrade. If a couple of pence jingled in his pockets, he ordered good cheer, and thumped the table in his joy till the glasses danced, and it was lightly come, lightly go, with him.
When they had travelled for some time, they came to a great forest through which passed the road to the capital. Two foot-paths, however, led through it, one of which was a seven days' journey, and the other only two, but neither of the travellers knew which way was the short one. They seated themselves beneath an oak-tree, and took counsel together how they should forecast, and for how many days they should provide themselves with bread. The shoemaker said, "One must look before one leaps, I will take with me bread for a week." - "What!" said the tailor, "drag bread for seven days on one's back like a beast of burden, and not be able to look about. I shall trust in God, and not trouble myself about anything! The money I have in my pocket is as good in summer as in winter, but in hot weather bread gets dry, and mouldy into the bargain; even my coat does not go as far as it might. Besides, why should we not find the right way? Bread for two days, and that's enough." Each, therefore, bought his own bread, and then they tried their luck in the forest.
It was as quiet there as in a church. No wind stirred, no brook murmured, no bird sang, and through the thickly-leaved branches no sunbeam forced its way. The shoemaker spoke never a word, the heavy bread weighed down his back until the perspiration streamed down his cross and gloomy face. The tailor, however, was quite merry, he jumped about, whistled on a leaf, or sang a song, and thought to himself, "God in heaven must be pleased to see me so happy."
This lasted two days, but on the third the forest would not come to an end, and the tailor had eaten up all his bread, so after all his heart sank down a yard deeper. In the meantime he did not lose courage, but relied on God and on his luck. On the third day he lay down in the evening hungry under a tree, and rose again next morning hungry still; so also passed the fourth day, and when the shoemaker seated himself on a fallen tree and devoured his dinner, the tailor was only a looker-on. If he begged for a little piece of bread the other laughed mockingly, and said, "Thou hast always been so merry, now thou canst try for once what it is to be sad: the birds which sing too early in the morning are struck by the hawk in the evening," In short he was pitiless. But on the fifth morning the poor tailor could no longer stand up, and was hardly able to utter one word for weakness; his cheeks were white, and his eyes red. Then the shoemaker said to him, "I will give thee a bit of bread to-day, but in return for it, I will put out thy right eye." The unhappy tailor who still wished to save his life, could not do it in any other way; he wept once more with both eyes, and then held them out, and the shoemaker, who had a heart of stone, put out his right eye with a sharp knife. The tailor called to remembrance what his mother had formerly said to him when he had been eating secretly in the pantry. "Eat what one can, and suffer what one must." When he had consumed his dearly-bought bread, he got on his legs again, forgot his misery and comforted himself with the thought that he could always see enough with one eye. But on the sixth day, hunger made itself felt again, and gnawed him almost to the heart. In the evening he fell down by a tree, and on the seventh morning he could not raise himself up for faintness, and death was close at hand. Then said the shoemaker, "I will show mercy and give thee bread once more, but thou shalt not have it for nothing, I shall put out thy other eye for it." And now the tailor felt how thoughtless his life had been, prayed to God for forgiveness, and said, "Do what thou wilt, I will bear what I must, but remember that our Lord God does not always look on passively, and that an hour will come when the evil deed which thou hast done to me, and which I have not deserved of thee, will be requited. When times were good with me, I shared what I had with thee. My trade is of that kind that each stitch must always be exactly like the other. If I no longer have my eyes and can sew no more I must go a-begging. At any rate do not leave me here alone when I am blind, or I shall die of hunger." The shoemaker, however, who had driven God out of his heart, took the knife and put out his left eye. Then he gave him a bit of bread to eat, held out a stick to him, and drew him on behind him.
When the sun went down, they got out of the forest, and before them in the open country stood the gallows. Thither the shoemaker guided the blind tailor, and then left him alone and went his way. Weariness, pain, and hunger made the wretched man fall asleep, and he slept the whole night. When day dawned he awoke, but knew not where he lay. Two poor sinners were hanging on the gallows, and a crow sat on the head of each of them. Then one of the men who had been hanged began to speak, and said, "Brother, art thou awake?" - "Yes, I am awake," answered the second. "Then I will tell thee something," said the first; "the dew which this night has fallen down over us from the gallows, gives every one who washes himself with it his eyes again. If blind people did but know this, how many would regain their sight who do not believe that to be possible."
When the tailor heard that, he took his pocket-handkerchief, pressed it on the grass, and when it was moist with dew, washed the sockets of his eyes with it. Immediately was fulfilled what the man on the gallows had said, and a couple of healthy new eyes filled the sockets. It was not long before the tailor saw the sun rise behind the mountains; in the plain before him lay the great royal city with its magnificent gates and hundred towers, and the golden balls and crosses which were on the spires began to shine. He could distinguish every leaf on the trees, saw the birds which flew past, and the midges which danced in the air. He took a needle out of his pocket, and as he could thread it as well as ever he had done, his heart danced with delight. He threw himself on his knees, thanked God for the mercy he had shown him, and said his morning prayer. He did not forget also to pray for the poor sinners who were hanging there swinging against each other in the wind like the pendulums of clocks. Then he took his bundle on his back and soon forgot the pain of heart he had endured, and went on his way singing and whistling.
The first thing he met was a brown foal running about the fields at large. He caught it by the mane, and wanted to spring on it and ride into the town. The foal, however, begged to be set free. "I am still too young," it said, "even a light tailor such as thou art would break my back in two let me go till I have grown strong. A time may perhaps come when I may reward thee for it." - "Run off," said the tailor, "I see thou art still a giddy thing." He gave it a touch with a switch over its back, whereupon it kicked up its hind legs for joy, leapt over hedges and ditches, and galloped away into the open country.
But the little tailor had eaten nothing since the day before. "The sun to be sure fills my eyes," said he, "but the bread does not fill my mouth. The first thing that comes across me and is even half edible will have to suffer for it." In the meantime a stork stepped solemnly over the meadow towards him. "Halt, halt!" cried the tailor, and seized him by the leg. "I don't know if thou art good to eat or not, but my hunger leaves me no great choice. I must cut thy head off, and roast thee." - "Don't do that," replied the stork; "I am a sacred bird which brings mankind great profit, and no one does me an injury. Leave me my life, and I may do thee good in some other way." - "Well, be off, Cousin Longlegs," said the tailor. The stork rose up, let its long legs hang down, and flew gently away.
"What's to be the end of this?" said the tailor to himself at last, "my hunger grows greater and greater, and my stomach more and more empty. Whatsoever comes in my way now is lost." At this moment he saw a couple of young ducks which were on a pond come swimming towards him. "You come just at the right moment," said he, and laid hold of one of them and was about to wring its neck. On this an old duck which was hidden among the reeds, began to scream loudly, and swam to him with open beak, and begged him urgently to spare her dear children. "Canst thou not imagine," said she, "how thy mother would mourn if any one wanted to carry thee off, and give thee thy finishing stroke?" - "Only be quiet," said the good-tempered tailor, "thou shalt keep thy children," and put the prisoner back into the water.
When he turned round, he was standing in front of an old tree which was partly hollow, and saw some wild bees flying in and out of it. "There I shall at once find the reward of my good deed," said the tailor, "the honey will refresh me." But the Queen-bee came out, threatened him and said, "If thou touchest my people, and destroyest my nest, our stings shall pierce thy skin like ten thousand red-hot needles. But if thou wilt leave us in peace and go thy way, we will do thee a service for it another time."
The little tailor saw that here also nothing was to be done. "Three dishes empty and nothing on the fourth is a bad dinner!" He dragged himself therefore with his starved-out stomach into the town, and as it was just striking twelve, all was ready-cooked for him in the inn, and he was able to sit down at once to dinner. When he was satisfied he said, "Now I will get to work." He went round the town, sought a master, and soon found a good situation. As, however, he had thoroughly learnt his trade, it was not long before he became famous, and every one wanted to have his new coat made by the little tailor, whose importance increased daily. "I can go no further in skill," said he, "and yet things improve every day." At last the King appointed him court-tailor.
But how things do happen in the world! On the very same day his former comrade the shoemaker also became court-shoemaker. When the latter caught sight of the tailor, and saw that he had once more two healthy eyes, his conscience troubled him. "Before he takes revenge on me," thought he to himself, "I must dig a pit for him." He, however, who digs a pit for another, falls into it himself. In the evening when work was over and it had grown dusk, he stole to the King and said, "Lord King, the tailor is an arrogant fellow and has boasted that he will get the gold crown back again which was lost in ancient times." - "That would please me very much," said the King, and he caused the tailor to be brought before him next morning, and ordered him to get the crown back again, or to leave the town for ever. "Oho!" thought the tailor, "a rogue gives more than he has got. If the surly King wants me to do what can be done by no one, I will not wait till morning, but will go out of the town at once, to-day." He packed up his bundle, therefore, but when he was without the gate he could not help being sorry to give up his good fortune, and turn his back on the town in which all had gone so well with him. He came to the pond where he had made the acquaintance of the ducks; at that very moment the old one whose young ones he had spared, was sitting there by the shore, pluming herself with her beak. She knew him again instantly, and asked why he was hanging his head so? "Thou wilt not be surprised when thou hearest what has befallen me," replied the tailor, and told her his fate. "If that be all," said the duck, "we can help thee. The crown fell into the water, and lies down below at the bottom; we will soon bring it up again for thee. In the meantime just spread out thy handkerchief on the bank." She dived down with her twelve young ones, and in five minutes she was up again and sat with the crown resting on her wings, and the twelve young ones were swimming round about and had put their beaks under it, and were helping to carry it. They swam to the shore and put the crown on the handkerchief. No one can imagine how magnificent the crown was; when the sun shone on it, it gleamed like a hundred thousand carbuncles. The tailor tied his handkerchief together by the four corners, and carried it to the King, who was full of joy, and put a gold chain round the tailor's neck.
When the shoemaker saw that one stroke had failed, he contrived a second, and went to the King and said, "Lord King, the tailor has become insolent again; he boasts that he will copy in wax the whole of the royal palace, with everything that pertains to it, loose or fast, inside and out." The King sent for the tailor and ordered him to copy in wax the whole of the royal palace, with everything that pertained to it, movable or immovable, within and without, and if he did not succeed in doing this, or if so much as one nail on the wall were wanting, he should be imprisoned for his whole life under ground.
The tailor thought, "It gets worse and worse! No one can endure that?" and threw his bundle on his back, and went forth. When he came to the hollow tree, he sat down and hung his head. The bees came flying out, and the Queen-bee asked him if he had a stiff neck, since he held his head so awry? "Alas, no," answered the tailor, "something quite different weighs me down," and he told her what the King had demanded of him. The bees began to buzz and hum amongst themselves, and the Queen-bee said, "Just go home again, but come back to-morrow at this time, and bring a large sheet with you, and then all will be well." So he turned back again, but the bees flew to the royal palace and straight into it through the open windows, crept round about into every corner, and inspected everything most carefully. Then they hurried back and modelled the palace in wax with such rapidity that any one looking on would have thought it was growing before his eyes. By the evening all was ready, and when the tailor came next morning, the whole of the splendid building was there, and not one nail in the wall or tile of the roof was wanting, and it was delicate withal, and white as snow, and smelt sweet as honey. The tailor wrapped it carefully in his cloth and took it to the King, who could not admire it enough, placed it in his largest hall, and in return for it presented the tailor with a large stone house.
The shoemaker, however, did not give up, but went for the third time to the King and said, "Lord King, it has come to the tailor's ears that no water will spring up in the court-yard of the castle, and he has boasted that it shall rise up in the midst of the court-yard to a man's height and be clear as crystal." Then the King ordered the tailor to be brought before him and said, "If a stream of water does not rise in my court-yard by to-morrow as thou hast promised, the executioner shall in that very place make thee shorter by the head." The poor tailor did not take long to think about it, but hurried out to the gate, and because this time it was a matter of life and death to him, tears rolled down his face. Whilst he was thus going forth full of sorrow, the foal to which he had formerly given its liberty, and which had now become a beautiful chestnut horse, came leaping towards him. "The time has come," it said to the tailor, "when I can repay thee for thy good deed. I know already what is needful to thee, but thou shalt soon have help; get on me, my back can carry two such as thou." The tailor's courage came back to him; he jumped up in one bound, and the horse went full speed into the town, and right up to the court-yard of the castle. It galloped as quick as lightning thrice round it, and at the third time it fell violently down. At the same instant, however, there was a terrific clap of thunder, a fragment of earth in the middle of the court-yard sprang like a cannon-ball into the air, and over the castle, and directly after it a jet of water rose as high as a man on horseback, and the water was as pure as crystal, and the sunbeams began to dance on it. When the King saw that he arose in amazement, and went and embraced the tailor in the sight of all men.
But good fortune did not last long. The King had daughters in plenty, one still prettier than the other, but he had no son. So the malicious shoemaker betook himself for the fourth time to the King, and said, "Lord King, the tailor has not given up his arrogance. He has now boasted that if he liked, he could cause a son to be brought to the Lord king through the air." The King commanded the tailor to be summoned, and said, "If thou causest a son to be brought to me within nine days, thou shalt have my eldest daughter to wife." - "The reward is indeed great," thought the little tailor; "one would willingly do something for it, but the cherries grow too high for me, if I climb for them, the bough will break beneath me, and I shall fall."
He went home, seated himself cross-legged on his work-table, and thought over what was to be done. "It can't be managed," cried he at last, "I will go away; after all I can't live in peace here." He tied up his bundle and hurried away to the gate. When he got to the meadow, he perceived his old friend the stork, who was walking backwards and forwards like a philosopher. Sometimes he stood still, took a frog into close consideration, and at length swallowed it down. The stork came to him and greeted him. "I see," he began, "that thou hast thy pack on thy back. Why art thou leaving the town?" The tailor told him what the King had required of him, and how he could not perform it, and lamented his misfortune. "Don't let thy hair grow grey about that," said the stork, "I will help thee out of thy difficulty. For a long time now, I have carried the children in swaddling-clothes into the town, so for once in a way I can fetch a little prince out of the well. Go home and be easy. In nine days from this time repair to the royal palace, and there will I come." The little tailor went home, and at the appointed time was at the castle. It was not long before the stork came flying thither and tapped at the window. The tailor opened it, and cousin Longlegs came carefully in, and walked with solemn steps over the smooth marble pavement. He had, moreover, a baby in his beak that was as lovely as an angel, and stretched out its little hands to the Queen. The stork laid it in her lap, and she caressed it and kissed it, and was beside herself with delight. Before the stork flew away, he took his travelling bag off his back and handed it over to the Queen. In it there were little paper parcels with colored sweetmeats, and they were divided amongst the little princesses. The eldest, however, had none of them, but got the merry tailor for a husband. "It seems to me," said he, "just as if I had won the highest prize. My mother was if right after all, she always said that whoever trusts in God and only has good luck, can never fail."
The shoemaker had to make the shoes in which the little tailor danced at the wedding festival, after which he was commanded to quit the town for ever. The road to the forest led him to the gallows. Worn out with anger, rage, and the heat of the day, he threw himself down. When he had closed his eyes and was about to sleep, the two crows flew down from the heads of the men who were hanging there, and pecked his eyes out. In his madness he ran into the forest and must have died there of hunger, for no one has ever either seen him again or heard of him.
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