The Goose-Girl

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

There once lived an old queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter. When the princess grew up she was promised in marriage to a prince who lived far away. When the time came for her to be married, and she had to depart for the distant kingdom, the old queen packed up for her many costly vessels and utensils of silver and gold, and trinkets also of gold and silver, and cups and jewels, in short, everything that belonged to a royal dowry, for she loved her child with all her heart.

She likewise assigned to her a chambermaid, who was to ride with her, and deliver her into the hands of the bridegroom. Each received a horse for the journey. The princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak. When the hour of departure had come, the old mother went into her bedroom, took a small knife and cut her fingers with it until they bled. Then she held out a small white cloth and let three drops of blood fall into it. She gave them to her daughter, saying, "Take good care of these. They will be of service to you on your way."

Thus they sorrowfully took leave of one another. The princess put the cloth into her bosom, mounted her horse, and set forth for her bridegroom. After they had ridden for a while she felt a burning thirst, and said to her chambermaid, "Dismount, and take my cup which you have brought with you for me, and get me some water from the brook, for I would like a drink."

"If you are thirsty," said the chambermaid, "get off your horse yourself, and lie down near the water and drink. I won't be your servant."

So in her great thirst the princess dismounted, bent down over the water in the brook and drank; and she was not allowed to drink out of the golden cup. Then she said, "Oh, Lord," and the three drops of blood answered, "If your mother knew this, her heart would break in two."

But the king's daughter was humble. She said nothing and mounted her horse again. They rode some miles further. The day was warm, the sun beat down, and she again grew thirsty. When they came to a stream of water, she again called to her chambermaid, "Dismount, and give me some water in my golden cup," for she had long ago forgotten the girl's evil words.

But the chambermaid said still more haughtily, "If you want a drink, get it yourself. I won't be your servant."

Then in her great thirst the king's daughter dismounted, bent over the flowing water, wept, and said, "Oh, Lord," and the drops of blood again replied, "If your mother knew this, her heart would break in two."

As she was thus drinking, leaning over the stream, the cloth with the three drops of blood fell from her bosom and floated away with the water, without her taking notice of it, so great were her concerns. However, the chambermaid what happened, and she rejoiced to think that she now had power over the bride, for by losing the drops of blood, the princess had become weak and powerless.

When she wanted to mount her horse again, the one that was called Falada, the chambermaid said, "I belong on Falada. You belong on my nag," and the princess had to accept it.

Then with many harsh words the chambermaid ordered the princess to take off her own royal clothing and put on the chambermaid's shabby clothes. And in the end the princess had to swear under the open heaven that she would not say one word of this to anyone at the royal court. If she had not taken this oath, she would have been killed on the spot. Falada saw everything, and remembered it well.

The chambermaid now climbed onto Falada, and the true bride onto the bad horse, and thus they traveled onwards, until finally they arrived at the royal palace. There was great rejoicing over their arrival, and the prince ran ahead to meet them, then lifted the chambermaid from her horse, thinking she was his bride.

She was led upstairs, while the real princess was left standing below. Then the old king looked out of the window and saw her waiting in the courtyard, and noticed how fine and delicate and beautiful she was, so at once he went to the royal apartment, and asked the bride about the girl she had with her who was standing down below in the courtyard, and who she was.

"I picked her up on my way for a companion. Give the girl some work to do, so she won't stand idly by."

However, the old king had no work for her, and knew of nothing else to say but, "I have a little boy who tends the geese. She can help him." The boy was called Kürdchen (Little Conrad), and the true bride had to help him tend geese.

Soon afterwards the false bride said to the young king, "Dearest husband, I beg you to do me a favor."

He answered, "I will do so gladly."

"Then send for the knacker, and have the head of the horse which I rode here cut off, for it angered me on the way." In truth, she was afraid that the horse might tell how she had behaved toward the king's daughter.

Thus it happened that faithful Falada had to die. The real princess heard about this, and she secretly promised to pay the knacker a piece of gold if he would perform a small service for her. In the town there was a large dark gateway, through which she had to pass with the geese each morning and evening. Would he be so good as to nail Falada's head beneath the gateway, so that she might see him again and again?

The knacker's helper promised to do that, and cut off the head, and nailed it securely beneath the dark gateway.

Early in the morning, when she and Conrad drove out their flock beneath this gateway, she said in passing, "Alas, Falada, hanging there!"

Then the head answered: Alas, young queen, passing by, If this your mother knew, Her heart would break in two.

Then they went still further out of the town, driving their geese into the country. And when they came to the meadow, she sat down and unbound her hair which was of pure gold. Conrad saw it, was delighted how it glistened, and wanted to pluck out a few hairs. Then she said: Blow, wind, blow, Take Conrad's hat, And make him chase it, Until I have braided my hair, And tied it up again.

Then such a strong wind came up that it blew Conrad's hat across the fields, and he had to run after it. When he came back, she was already finished combing and putting up her hair, so he could not get even one strand. So Conrad became angry, and would not speak to her, and thus they tended the geese until evening, and then they went home.

The next morning when they were driving the geese out through the dark gateway, the maiden said, "Alas, Falada, hanging there!"

Falada answered: Alas, young queen, passing by, If this your mother knew, Her heart would break in two.

She sat down again in the field and began combing out her hair. When Conrad ran up and tried to take hold of some, she quickly said: Blow, wind, blow, Take Conrad's hat, And make him chase it, Until I have braided my hair, And tied it up again.

Then the wind blew, taking the hat off his head and far away. Conrad had to run after it, and when he came back, she had already put up her hair, and he could not get a single strand. Then they tended the geese until evening.

That evening, after they had returned home, Conrad went to the old king and said, "I won't tend geese with that girl any longer."

"Why not?" asked the old king.

"Oh, because she angers me all day long."

Then the old king ordered him to tell what it was that she did to him. Conrad said, "In the morning when we pass beneath the dark gateway with the flock, there is a horse's head on the wall, and she says to it, 'Alas, Falada, hanging there!' And the head replies: Alas, young queen, passing by, If this your mother knew, Her heart would break in two."

Then Conrad went on to tell what happened at the goose pasture, and how he had to chase his hat.

The old king ordered him to drive his flock out again the next day. As soon as morning came, he himself sat down behind the dark gateway, and heard how the girl spoke with Falada's head. Then he followed her out into the country and hid himself in a thicket in the meadow. There he soon saw with his own eyes the goose-girl and the goose-boy bringing their flock, and how after a while she sat down and took down her hair, which glistened brightly. Soon she said: Blow, wind, blow, Take Conrad's hat, And make him chase it, Until I have braided my hair, And tied it up again.

Then came a blast of wind and carried off Conrad's hat, so that he had to run far away, while the maiden quietly went on combing and braiding her hair, all of which the king observed. Then, quite unseen, he went away, and when the goose-girl came home in the evening, he called her aside, and asked why she did all these things.

"I am not allowed to tell you, nor can I reveal my sorrows to any human being, for I have sworn under the open heaven not to do so, and if I had not so sworn, I would have been killed."

He urged her and left her no peace, but he could get nothing from her. Finally he said, "If you will not tell me anything, then tell your sorrows to the iron stove there," and he went away.

So she crept into the iron stove, and began to cry sorrowfully, pouring out her whole heart. She said, "Here I sit, abandoned by the whole world, although I am the daughter of a king. A false chambermaid forced me to take off my royal clothes, and she has taken my place with my bridegroom. Now I have to do common work as a goose-girl. If my mother this, her heart would break in two."

The old king was standing outside listening by the stovepipe, and he heard what she said. Then he came back inside, and asked her to come out of the stove. Then they dressed her in royal clothes, and it was marvelous how beautiful she was.

The old king summoned his son and revealed to him that he had a false bride who was only a chambermaid, but that the true one was standing there, the one who had been a goose-girl. The young king rejoiced with all his heart when he saw her beauty and virtue. A great feast was made ready to which all the people and all good friends were invited.

At the head of the table sat the bridegroom with the king's daughter on one side of him, and the chambermaid on the other. However, the chambermaid was deceived, for she did not recognize the princess in her dazzling attire. After they had eaten and drunk, and were in a good mood, the old king asked the chambermaid as a riddle, what punishment a person deserved who had deceived her master in such and such a manner, then told the whole story, asking finally, "What sentence does such a person deserve?"

The false bride said, "She deserves no better fate than to be stripped stark naked, and put in a barrel that is studded inside with sharp nails. Two white horses should be hitched to it, and they should drag her along through one street after another, until she is dead."

"You are the one," said the old king, "and you have pronounced your own sentence. Thus shall it be done to you."

After the sentence had been carried out, the young king married his true bride, and both of them ruled over their kingdom in peace and happiness.

       　很久以前，有一个老王后，她的国王丈夫已经死了许多年，她有一个美丽漂亮的女儿。女儿长大以后，与很远的国家的一个王子订了婚。到了快结婚的日子，老王后把一切都打点好了，让她启程去王子所在的国家。她为女儿收拾了很多值钱的东西，有宝石、金子、银子、装饰品和漂亮的衣物，总之，王宫里的东西应有尽有。老王后非常爱她这个孩子，给她安排了一个侍女陪同她一道前往，千叮咛，万嘱托，要侍女把她的女儿送到新郎手中。并为她们配备了两匹马作为旅行的脚力。公主骑的一匹马叫法拉达，这匹马能够和人说话。

到了要出发的时候，老王后到自己的卧室里拿出一把小刀，把自己的头发割了一小绺下来，拿给她的女儿说：「好好的保管着，我亲爱的孩子，它可作为你的护身符保佑你一路平安的。」她们伤心地互相道别后，公主把她母亲的头发揣进了怀里，骑上马，踏上了前往新郎王国的旅程。

一天，她们骑着马沿着一条小溪边赶路，公主觉得渴了起来，对她的侍女说：「请下去到那条小溪边，用我的金盃给我舀点水来，我想喝水了。」侍女说道：「我不想下去，要是你渴了，你自己下去趴在水边喝就是了，我不再是你的侍女了。」公主渴得难受，只得下马来到小溪边跪着喝水，因为她不敢拿出自己的金盃来用。她哭泣着说：「老天呀！我这是变成甚么了？」她怀里的头发回答她说：

「哎呀呀！哎呀呀！

要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。」

公主一贯都非常谦卑，逆来顺受，所以她没有斥责侍女的粗暴行为，而是不声不响地又骑上马赶路了。

她们向前走了不少路之后，天气变得热起来了，太阳火辣辣地热得灼人，公主感到又渴得不行了。好不容易来到一条河边，她忘了侍女对她的粗暴无礼，说道：「请下去用我的金盃为我舀点水来喝。」但侍女对她说话的口气比上次更加傲慢无礼：「你想喝就去喝吧，我可不是你的侍女。」乾渴使公主不得不自己下马来到河边，俯下身去。她面对河水哭叫着说：「我怎么会是这个样子呢？」怀里的头发又回答她说：

「哎呀呀！哎呀呀！

要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。」

当她探头到河里喝水时，那绺头发从她怀里掉了出来，由於心情紧张害怕，她一点也没有察觉，头发随着河水漂走了。但她那位侍女却看见了，她非常兴奋，因为她知道那是公主的护身符，丢失了护身符，这位可怜的新娘就可以在自己的掌握之中了。所以当新娘喝完水，准备再跨上法拉达时，侍女说：「我来骑法拉达，你可以换我的马骑。」公主不得不和她换马骑。过了不久，她又要公主脱下她的公主服装，换上侍女的装束。

经过长途跋涉，她们终於快到这次旅途的目的地了。那个背信弃义的阴险女仆威胁公主说，如果她向任何人提起发生的事，就要将她杀死。可是法拉达把一切都看在眼里，记在了心头。然后女仆骑上法拉达，真正的新娘却骑着女仆的马，沿着大路，一直走进了王宫大院。王子知道她们来了，极为高兴，飞跑出来迎接她们。他把侍女从马上扶下来，以为她就是自己的未婚妻，带着她上楼到了王宫内室，却让真正的公主待在下面的院子里。

但是，老国王从窗户望出去，发现站在下面院子里的她看上去是那么漂亮，气质是那么超尘脱俗，不像是一个侍女。就跑进内室去问新娘：「与你一同来的，站在下面院子里的姑娘是甚么人？」侍女新娘说：「她是我带在路上作伴的丫头，请给她一些活干，以免她闲着无聊。」老国王想了一会儿，觉得没有甚么适合她干的活，最后说：「有一个少年替我放鹅，就请她去帮助他吧。」这样，她这个真正的新娘就被派去帮助那个少年放鹅了，少年的名字叫柯德金。

不久，假新娘对王子说：「亲爱的丈夫，请帮我做一件令我称心的事吧。」王子说道：「我很愿意效劳。」「告诉你的屠夫，去把我骑的那匹马的头砍下来。因为它非常难以驾驭，在路上它把我折磨得够苦的了。」但实际上她是因为非常担心法拉达会把她取代真公主的真像说出来，所以才要灭口。於是忠诚的法拉达被杀死了。当真公主听到这个消息后，她哭了，乞求那个屠夫把法拉达的头钉在城门那堵又大又黑的城墙上，这样，她每天早晨和晚上赶着鹅群经过城门时仍然可以看到它。屠夫答应了她的请示，砍下马头，将它牢牢地钉在了黑暗的城门下面。

第二天凌晨，当公主和柯德金从城门出去时，她悲痛地说：

「法拉达，法拉达，你就挂在这里啊！」

那颗头回答说：

「新娘子，新娘子，你从这儿过去了，哎呀呀！哎呀呀！

要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。」

他们赶着鹅群走出城去。当他们来到牧草地时，她坐在那儿的地埂上，解开她波浪一般卷曲的头发，她的头发都是纯银的。柯德金看到她的头发在太阳下闪闪发光，便跑上前去想拔几根下来，但是她喊道：

「吹吧，风儿，吹过来吧！

吹走柯德金的帽子！

吹吧，风儿，吹走吧！

让他去追赶自己的帽子！

吹过小山，吹过山谷，吹过巖石，卷着帽子走吧！

直到我银色的头发，都梳完盘卷整齐。」

她的话声刚落，真的吹来了一阵风。这风真大，一下子把柯德金的帽子给吹落下来了，又卷着帽子吹过小山，柯德金跟着它追去。等他找着帽子回来时，公主已把头发梳完盘卷整齐，他再也拔不到她的头发了。他非常气恼，绷着脸始终不和她说话。俩人就这样看着鹅群，一直到傍晚天黑才赶着它们回去。

第三天早晨，当他们赶着鹅群走过黑暗的城门时，可怜的姑娘抬眼望着法拉达的头又哭着叫道：

「法拉达，法拉达，你就挂在这里啊！」

马头回答说：

「新娘子，新娘子，你从这儿过去了，哎呀呀！哎呀呀！

要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。」

接着，她赶着鹅群来到牧草地，又坐在草地上和前一天一样开始梳她的头发，柯德金看见了跑上前来，又要拔她的头发，但她很快说道：

「吹吧，风儿，吹过来吧！

吹走柯德金的帽子！

吹吧，风儿，吹走吧！

让他去追赶自己的帽子！

吹过小山，吹过山谷，吹过巖石，卷着帽子走吧！

直到我银色的头发都梳完盘卷整齐。」

风马上吹过来了，吹落了他的帽子，卷着它很快飞过小山，到了很远的地方，柯德金只好跟着追去。当他回来时，她已经盘起了自己的头发，他又拔不到了。他们和前一天一样，一起看守着鹅群，一直到天黑。

晚上，他们回来之后，柯德金找着老国王说：「我再也不要这个奇怪的姑娘帮我放鹅了。」国王问：「为甚么？」「因为她整天甚么事都不做，只是戏弄我。」国王就要少年把一切经历都告诉他。柯德金说道：「当我们早上赶着鹅群经过黑暗的城门时，她会哭泣着与挂在城墙上的一个马头交谈，说道：

'法拉达，法拉达，你挂在这里啊！'然后马头会说：

'新娘子，新娘子，你从这儿过去了，哎呀呀！哎呀呀！

要是你母亲知道了，她的心会痛苦、会悲哀、会歎惜。

柯德金把发生的所有事都告诉了国王，包括在放鹅的牧草地上，他的帽子如何被吹走，他被迫丢下鹅群追帽子等等。

但国王要他第二天还是和往常一样和她一起去放鹅。

当早晨来临时，国王躲在黑暗的城门后面，听到了她怎样对法拉达说话，法拉达如何回答她。接着他又跟踪到田野里，藏在牧草地旁边的树丛中，亲眼目睹他们如何放鹅。过了一会儿，她又是怎么打开她那满头在阳光下闪闪发光的头发，然后又听到她说：」吹吧，风儿，吹过来吧！

吹走柯德金的帽子！

吹吧，风儿，吹走吧！

让他去追赶自己的帽子！

吹过小山，吹过山谷，吹过巖石，卷着帽子走吧！

直到我银色的头发都梳完盘卷整齐。「话音刚停，很快吹来了一阵风，卷走了柯德金的帽子，姑娘及时梳理完头发并盘卷整齐。一切的一切，老国王都看在了眼里。看完之后，他悄悄地回王宫去了，他们俩都没有看到他。

到了晚上，牧鹅的小姑娘回来了，他把她叫到一边，问她为甚么这么做。但是，她满眼是泪地说：」我不会告诉包括你在内的任何人，否则我就会被杀死的。「但是老国王不停地追问她，逼得她不得安宁，她只得一字一句地把一切都告诉了他。她这一说，才使她自己从苦难中得以解脱出来。老国王命令给她换上王室礼服，梳妆打扮之后，老国王惊奇地盯着她看了好一会儿，此时的她真是太美了。他连忙叫来自己的儿子，告诉他现在的妻子是一个假冒的新娘，她实际上只是一个侍女，而真正的新娘就站在他的旁边。年青的国王看到真公主如此漂亮，听到她如此谦卑容忍，欢喜异常。甚么话也没有说，只是传令举行一个盛大的宴会，邀请所有王公大臣。新郎坐在上首，一边是假公主，一边是真公主。没有人认识真公主，因为在他们的眼中，她是如此秀美华贵，令人不可逼视，她已完全不像牧鹅的小姑娘了，现在，她的穿着也是光艳照人。

当他们吃着喝着时，客人们都非常高兴，老国王把他所听到的一切作为一个故事讲给大伙听了。又问真正的侍女，她认为应该怎样处罚故事中的那位侍女。假新娘说道：」最好的处理办法就是把她装进一只里面钉满了尖钉子的木桶里，用两匹白马拉着桶，在大街上拖来拖去，一直到她在痛苦中死去。「老国王说：」正是要这样处理你！因为你已经很公正地宣判了对自己罪恶的处理方法，你应该受到这样的惩罚。「年青的国王和他真正的未婚妻结婚了，他们一起过上了幸福美满的生活，交共同治理着国家，使人民安居乐业。