Grimm's Fairy Tales (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

by Brothers Grimm

  Now he rode again upon his horse Schummel; and one day it told him to ride thrice up the hill; and, as soon as he had done so, the horse returned to its original form, and became a handsome Prince.

  The Shoes Which Were Danced to Pieces

  There was once upon a time a King, who had twelve daughters, every one of whom was prettier than her sisters. They slept together in one room, where their beds all stood in a row, and in the evening, as soon as they were gone to sleep, the King shut the door and bolted it. One morning, when he opened the door as usual, he perceived that their shoes were danced to pieces, and nobody could tell how it happened. The King, therefore, caused it to be proclaimed that whoever could discover where they had danced in the night should receive one of them to wife, and become King at his death; but whoever should attempt to do it, and after three nights and days fail, must lose his life. In a short time a Prince came and offered himself to undertake the task. He was well received, and at night led to a room which adjoined the bed-chamber of the Princesses. There he was to watch whither they went to dance; and, in order that they might not slip out secretly to another place, their room-door was left open for him to see. But the Prince soon felt a mist steal over his eyes, and he went to sleep; and when he awoke in the morning he found the Princesses had all been dancing as usual, for their shoes stood there with holes in the soles. The second and third night it happened just the same; and on the morrow the Prince lost his head without mercy. Afterwards came many more and attempted the task, but they all lost their lives.

  One day it chanced that a poor Soldier, who had a wound which prevented him from serving, came upon the road which led to the city where the King dwelt. There he met an old woman, who asked him whither he was going. “I do not know myself altogether,” he replied, “but I had an idea of going to the place where the Princesses dance their shoes to pieces, to find out the mystery and so become King.” “That is not difficult,” said the old woman, “if you do not drink the wine which will be brought to you in the evening, but feign to be asleep.” With these words she gave him a cloak, and told him that if he put it on his shoulders he would become invisible and be able to follow the Princesses. As soon as the soldier had received this good advice he plucked up courage and presented himself before the King as a suitor. He was as well received as the others had been, and was dressed in princely clothes. When evening came he was led to his sleeping-room, and, as he was about to go to bed, the eldest Princess came and brought him a cup of wine, but he had fastened a bag under his throat into which he poured the wine, and drank none.

  Then he laid himself down and in a short time began to snore as if he were in a deep sleep, while the twelve sisters laughed to one another, saying, “He might have spared himself the trouble!” In a few minutes they arose, opened cupboards, closets, and drawers, and pulled out a variety of beautiful clothes. As soon as they were dressed they looked at themselves in the glass, and presently began to dance; but the youngest sister said, “I know not how you are enjoying yourselves, but my heart sickens as if some misfortune were about to fall upon us!” “What a goose you are!” cried the eldest sister, “you are always fearing something; have you forgotten how many kings’ sons have already lost their lives? why, if I had not given this soldier his sleeping draught, the simpleton could not even then have kept his eyes open!” As they were now quite ready, they first looked at the soldier and satisfied themselves all was right, for he kept his eyes shut and did not move a bit; and then the eldest sister knocked on her bed it sank down in the ground, and the twelve Princesses followed it through the opening, the eldest one going first. The Soldier, having observed everything all the while, put on his invisible cloak, and descended with the youngest sister. About the middle of the steps down he trod on her cloak, and she exclaimed, much frightened, “Who is that who holds my cloak?” “Don’t be so silly,” said the eldest sister, “you caught it on some nail or other, that is all.” So they went completely down, and at the bottom was a wonderful avenue of trees, whose leaves were all silver, and shone and glittered. The Soldier thought to himself he would take one branch for a token, and broke it off, when a tremendous crack sounded as from the tree. “It is not all right!” cried the youngest; “did you not hear the crack?” “That is a shot of welcome!” said the eldest, “because we have been so lucky.” Then they passed into another avenue where the leaves were of gold, and then into a further one where they shone like diamonds. From both he broke off a twig, and each time the youngest Princess shrieked with terror, while the eldest ones declared they were merely guns of welcome. So they went further and came to a lake, on which were twelve little boats, and in each boat a handsome Prince, who each took one sister, and the old Soldier sat down in the boat where the youngest one was. “I know not how it is,” said the Prince, “but the boat seems much heavier than usual, and I am obliged to use all my strength to row it along.” “Perhaps that proceeds from the warmth of the weather,” said the Princess, “I am, myself, much more heated than usual.” On the other side of this water stood a noble castle, which was well lighted, and one could hear the music of horns and fiddles within. Towards this they rowed, went in, and each Prince danced with his own partner, while the Soldier danced among them all invisible; and whenever a glass of wine was handed to one or the other he drank it out, so that it was empty when held to the lips; and the youngest sister again felt very uneasy, but her sister bade her hold her tongue. Here they danced till three in the morning, at which hour, because their shoes were in holes, they were compelled to desist. The Princes rowed them back again over the water, but this time the Soldier sat down with the eldest Princess. On the shore they took leave of the Princes and promised to return the following morning. When they came back to the steps, the Soldier ran up first, and lay down again in his bed; and when the twelve sisters came up, weary and sleepy, he snored so loudly that they all listened, and cried, “How much safer could we be?” Then they took off their fine clothes, and locked them up, and, putting their dancing shoes under the bed, they lay down to sleep. The next morning the Soldier said nothing, wishing to see more of this wonderful affair, and so the second and third nights passed like the first; the Princesses danced each time till their shoes were in holes, and the Soldier, for an additional token of his story, brought away a cup with him from the ball-room. When the time arrived for him to answer, he first concealed the twigs and cup about him, and then went before the King, while the twelve Princesses stood behind the door, and listened to all that was said. “Where have my daughters danced during the night?” asked the King. “With twelve Princes, in a subterranean castle,” he replied; and, relating everything as it had occurred, he produced his witnesses in the three twigs and the cup. The King then summoned his daughters, and asked them if the Soldier had spoken the truth. They were obliged to confess he had; and the King asked him which he would have for a wife. “I am no longer young,” he replied, “and so it had better be the eldest.” Thereupon the wedding was celebrated the self same day, and the kingdom appointed to him at the old King’s death. But the Princes were again bewitched in as many days as they had danced nights with the twelve Princesses.

  The Three Brothers

  There was once a Man whose family consisted of three sons, and his property only of the house in which he dwelt. Now, each of them wished to have the house at the death of the old Man; but they were all so dear to him that he knew not what to do for fear of offending the one or the other. He would have sold the house and shared the money, but it had been so long in his family he did not like to do that. All at once he thought of a plan, and said to his sons, “Go into the world, and each of you learn a trade, and he who makes the best masterpiece shall have my house.”

  With this plan the sons were contented, and the eldest became a blacksmith; the second a Barber; and the third a Fencing-master. They appointed a time when they should all return, and went away; and it so chanced that each happened with a clever master, with whom he could learn his
trade in the best manner. The Smith had to shoe the King’s horses, and thought he must undoubtedly receive the house. The Barber shaved many distinguished lords, and made sure of getting the house on that account. The Fencing-master got many a blow, but he bit his lip and showed no concern; for he feared if he flinched at any stroke the house would never become his. By-and-by the time came round when they returned home to their father; but they none of them knew how they should find occasion to show their proficiency, and so they all consulted together. While they sat in consultation a hare came running across the field where they were. “Ah! he comes as if he were called!” cried the Barber; and, taking his soap and basin, he made a lather; and as soon as the hare came up he seized him, and shaved off his moustachios as he ran along, without cutting him in the least, or taking off any unnecessary hairs. “That pleases me very well!” said the Father; “and if the others do not do better the house is yours.” In a very short time a carriage, with a traveller in it, came rolling by at full speed. “Now you shall see, father, what I can do!” cried the Smith; and, seizing the horse’s feet as he galloped along, he pulled off the shoes, and shod him again without stopping him. “You are a clever fellow!” cried the Father; “you have done your work quite as well as your brother, and I shall not know to whom to give the house.” “Let me show you something!” said the third brother; and, as it just then luckily began to rain, he drew his sword and waved it so quickly above his head that not a drop fell upon him; and when the rain came faster, and at length so fast that it was as if one were emptying pails out of heaven, he swung the sword quicker and quicker in circles above his head so that he kept himself as dry as if he had been under a roof. As soon as the Father saw this he was astonished, and said to his son, “You have performed the best masterpiece, the house is yours.”

  The two other brothers were contented with this decision; and, because they all loved one another, they all three remained in the house driving their several trades; and as they were so clever, and were so advanced in their arts, they earned much money. Thus they lived happily together till their old age, and when one fell sick and died his brothers grieved so for his loss that they fell sick also and died.

  Then, because they all three had been so clever in their several trades, and had loved one another so much, they were laid together in the same grave.

  The Evil Spirit and His Grandmother

  There was once upon a time a mighty war, and the King of a certain country had many Soldiers engaged in it; but he gave them such very small pay that they had scarce enough to live upon. At length three of the Soldiers agreed to run away, and one of them asked the others what they should do; for, supposing they were caught again, they would be hung upon the gallows. “Do you see yon great corn-field?” said the other, “there we will conceal ourselves, and nobody will find us; for the army will not dare to come there, and to-morrow they will march on.” So they crept into the corn; but the army did not move, but remained encamped in the same place. The three Soldiers were obliged, therefore, to pass two days and two nights in the corn, and they became so hungry they thought they must die; but it was certain death if they returned to the army. They said to one another, “What avails our deserting? we shall now certainly perish miserably from hunger.” While they were talking a great fiery Dragon came flying over their heads, and, alighting near the spot where they were, asked why they had concealed themselves. “We are three Soldiers,” they replied, “and have deserted because our pay was so small: and now we shall die from hunger if we stay here, or be hung on the gallows if we return.”

  “If you will serve me seven years,” said the Dragon, “I will carry you through the midst of the army, so that no one shall observe you.”

  “We have no choice and so must consent to your proposal,” replied the Soldiers. The Dragon thereupon caught them up by his claws, and carried them through the air, over the heads of their comrades; and presently set them down. Now, this Dragon was the Evil Spirit; and he gave the Soldiers a whip each, and then said, “If you crack this well, as much money as you require will instantly appear before you; and you can then live like lords; keep your own horses and carriages; but at the end of seven years you will be mine.” With these words he handed them a book in which they had to write their names, while the Evil Spirit told them he would give them one chance when the time was up of escaping his power by answering a riddle which he would propose. Then the Dragon flew away from them; and the three Soldiers each cracked their whips, and cracked their whips for as much money as they required, with which they bought fine clothes and travelled about like gentlemen. Wherever they went they lived in the greatest splendour, driving and riding about, and eating and drinking to their hearts’ content; but no bad action could be laid to their charge. The time passed quickly by; and as the end of the seven years approached two of the three Soldiers became very unhappy and dispirited; but the third treated the matter very lightly, saying, “Fear nothing, my brothers! I have got a plan in my head, and I will solve the riddle.” Soon afterwards they went into the fields, where they sat down, and two of them made very wry faces. Presently an old Woman came by, and asked them why they were so sorrowful. “Alas!” said they, “alas! what does it signify? you cannot help us.” “Who knows that?” she replied; “confide your griefs to me.” So they told her they had become the servants of the Evil One, nearly seven years back, and thereby they came into possession of money as fast as they liked; but they had signed the deed, and if they could not guess a riddle which he would propose to them they were lost. “If you wish to be helped,” replied the old Woman, “one of you must go into the forest, and there he will find a rock overthrown, and made into the form of a hut; into this he must enter, and there he will meet with help.” The two low-spirited Soldiers thought this would not help them; but the merry one got up, and, going into the forest, came soon to the rocky cave. In this place sat a very old Woman, who was Grandmother to the Evil Spirit; and she asked the Soldier when he entered whence he came, and what his business was. He told her everything that had happened; and because his manners pleased her she took compassion on him, and said she could assist him. Thereupon she raised a large stone, under which was the cellar, wherein she bade the Soldier conceal himself, and he would hear all that transpired. “Only sit still and keep very quiet,” said she, “and then when the Dragon returns I will ask him about the puzzle, and you must mind what answers he makes.” About twelve o’clock at night the Dragon flew in, and desired his dinner. His Grandmother, therefore, covered the table with food and drink; and they ate and drank together till they were satisfied. Then she asked him what success he had met with that day, and how many souls he had secured? “Things did not go well to-day,” replied the Dragon; “but yet I have caught three Soldiers safe enough.” “Ah! three Soldiers!” said the old Woman, “and I suppose you have set them something to do, that they may not escape you.” “They are mine, they are mine!” cried the Evil One gleefully, “for I have set them a riddle which they will never guess.”

  “What is this riddle?” asked his Grandmother.

  “I will tell you!” replied her Grandson.

  “In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, that shall be their roast meat; the rib of a whale shall be their silver spoon; and an old hollow horse’s hoof shall be their wineglass.” As soon as the Dragon had said this he went to bed, and the old Woman raised the stone and let out the Soldier. “Have you attended perfectly to all that was said?” inquired the old Woman. “Yes,” he replied, “I know well enough how to help myself now.”

  Then he had to slip secretly out of the window, and by another road regain his companions with all the haste he could. He told them how craftily the old Grandmother had overreached the Dragon, and had laid bare to him the solution of the riddle. When he had finished his story the two other Soldiers recovered their spirits; and, all taking their whips, flogging for themselves so much money that it lay in heaps all around them.

  Not long after this th
e seven years came to an end, and the Evil Spirit made his appearance with the book, and, pointing to their signatures, said to the Soldiers, “Now I will take you into my dominions, and there you shall have a meal; but, if you can tell me what meat you shall have, you shall be at liberty to go where you like and keep your whips.”

  “In the great North Sea lies a dead sea-cat, and that shall be the roast meat,” replied the first Soldier.

  The Evil Spirit was very much put out with this ready answer; hemmed and hawed, and asked the second man what should be the spoon? “The rib of a whale shall be the silver spoon!” replied the second Soldier.

  The Evil Spirit now drew a longer face than before, began to grumble and swear, and asked the third Soldier, “Do you know what your wine-glass will be?”

  “An old horse’s hoof!” he replied.

  At this reply the Evil Spirit flew away with a loud outcry, for he had no longer any power over the three Soldiers, who, taking up their whips, procured all the money they wanted, and thereon lived happily and contentedly to a good old age.

  The Idle Spinner11

  In a certain village lived a Man and his Wife, who was such a very idle woman that she would do no work at all scarcely; for what her husband gave her to spin she did very slowly, and then would not take the trouble to wind it, so that it lay on the ground ravelled and shackled. Whenever her husband scolded her she was always beforehand with an excuse, and used to say, “Why, how can I wind without a reel? you must go and fetch me one from the wood first.” “Well, if that is all,” said her husband one day, “if that is all, I will go and find you one.” As soon as he said this, the Woman began to be afraid that if he found a piece of wood he would make a reel from it, and she would have to wind up what was ravelled and begin afresh. She therefore considered a while what she should do, and then the lucky thought came to run into the forest secretly after her husband. She found him in the act of cutting a branch off, for the purpose of trimming it; and so, slipping in among the brush wood where he could not see her, she began to sing—