The Singing, Springing Lark

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Once upon a time there was a man who was about to set forth on a long journey. At his departure he asked his three daughters what he should bring for them when he returned.

The oldest one wanted pearls, the second one wanted diamonds, but the third one said, "Father dear, I would like a singing, springing lark."

The father said, "Yes, if I can get it, you shall have it." Then kissing all three, he set forth.

Now when the time had come for him to return home, he had bought pearls and diamonds for the two oldest ones, but he had searched everywhere in vain for a singing, springing lark for the youngest one. This made him very sad, for she was his favorite child.

His path led him through a forest, in the middle of which there was a splendid castle. Near the castle there stood a tree, and at the very top of the tree he saw a singing, springing lark.

"Aha, you are just what I have been looking for," he said happily, then told his servant to climb up and catch the little creature.

But as he approached the tree, a lion jumped up from beneath it, shook himself, and roared until the leaves on the trees trembled. "I will eat up anyone who tries to steal my singing, springing lark!" he cried.

The man said, "I did not know that the bird belongs to you. I will make amends for my wrong and ransom myself with a large sum of money. Just spare my life."

The lion said, "Nothing can save you unless you will promise to give me that which first meets you upon your arrival at home. If you will do that, I will grant you your life, and you shall have the bird for your daughter as well."

The man hesitated, saying, "That could be my youngest daughter. She loves me the most, and always runs to meet me when I return home."

The servant, however, was frightened and said, "Why must it be your daughter that meets you? It could also be a cat or a dog."

Then the man let himself be persuaded, took the singing, springing lark, and promised to give the lion whatever should first meet him at home.

When he reached home and entered his house, the first one who met him was none other than his youngest and dearest daughter. She came running up, kissed and hugged him, and when she saw that he had brought with him a singing, springing lark, she was beside herself with joy.

The father, however, could not be glad, but instead began to cry, saying, "My dearest child, I paid dearly for that little bird. To get it I had to promise you to a wild lion, and when he has you he will tear you to pieces and eat you up." Then he told her everything that had happened, and begged her not to go there, come what may.

But she consoled him, saying, "Dearest father, your promise must be kept. I will go there and appease the lion, so that I can return safely to you."

The next morning she had the way pointed out to her, took leave, and in good spirits walked into the woods.

Now the lion was an enchanted prince. By day he was a lion, and all his people became lions with him, but by night they had their natural human form.

On her arrival she was kindly received and led into the castle. When night came, the lion was a handsome man, and their wedding was celebrated with splendor. They lived happily together, remaining awake by night, and sleeping by day.

One day he came and said, "Tomorrow there will be a feast at your father's house, because your oldest sister is getting married. If you would like to go, my lions will take you."

She said yes, that she would like to see her father again, and she went there, accompanied by the lions.

There was great joy when she arrived, for they all believed that she had been torn to pieces by the lion, and was no longer alive. But she told them what a handsome husband she had, and how well off she was. She stayed until the wedding was over, and then went back into the woods.

When the second daughter got married, and she was again invited to the wedding, she said to the lion, "This time I do not want to be alone. You must come with me."

The lion, however, said that that would be too dangerous for him, for if a ray from a burning light were to fall on him there, he would be transformed into a dove, and would have to fly with doves for seven years.

"Oh," she said, "do come with me. I will protect you, and guard you from all light."

So they went together, taking their little child with them as well.

She had a room built there, so strong and thick that no ray of light could penetrate it. He was to sit inside it when the wedding lights were lit. However, the door was made of green wood which split, leaving a little crack that no one noticed.

The wedding was celebrated with splendor, but when the procession returning from the church with all its torches and lights passed by this room, a ray of light no wider than a hair touched the prince, and he was transformed in an instant. And when she came in looking for him, she did not see him, but a white dove was sitting there.

The dove said to her, "For seven years I must fly about into the world. Every seven steps I will let fall a drop of red blood and a white feather. These will show you the way, and if you follow this trail you can redeem me."

Then the dove flew out the door, and she followed him, and every seven steps a drop of red blood and a little white feather fell down showing her the way.

Thus she went further and further into the wide world. She neither looked aside nor rested. When the seven years were almost past, she rejoiced, thinking that they would soon be redeemed, but they were far from it.

One day when she was thus walking onward, no little feather and no drop of red blood fell, and when she raised her eyes the dove had disappeared.

Then she thought, "Humans cannot help you now," so she climbed up to the sun, and said, "You shine into every crack, and over every peak. Have you not seen a little white dove flying?"

"No," said the sun, "I have not seen it, but I will give you a little chest. Open it if you are in great need."

Then she thanked the sun and went on until evening came and the moon was shining. She then asked the moon, "You shine all night, across all the fields and woods. Have you not seen a little white dove flying?"

"No," said the moon, I have not seen it, but I will give you an egg. Break it open if you are in great need."

Then she thanked the moon and went on until the night wind came up and blew against her. She said to it, "You blow over all the trees and under all the leaves. Have you not seen a little white dove flying."

"No," said the night wind, "I have not seen it, but I will ask the three other winds. Perhaps they have seen it."

The east wind and the west wind came, and had seen nothing, but the south wind said, "I have seen the white dove. It has flown to the Red Sea. There it has become a lion again, for the seven years are over, and the lion is fighting there with a serpent. However, the serpent is an enchanted princess."

Then the night wind said to her, "I will give you some advice. Go to the Red Sea. On the right bank are some tall reeds. Count them, cut off the eleventh one, and strike the serpent with it. Then the lion will be able to subdue it, and both will then will regain their human bodies. After that look around and you will see the griffin which lives near the Red Sea. Climb onto its back with your beloved, and the bird will carry you home across the sea. Here is a nut for you. When you are above the middle of the sea, drop the nut. It will immediately sprout upward, and a tall nut tree will grow out of the water, upon which the griffin can rest. If it were not able to rest, it would not be strong enough to carry you across. If you forget to drop the nut, it will let the two of you fall into the sea."

Then she went there, and found everything just as the night wind had said. She counted the reeds by the sea, cut off the eleventh one, struck the serpent with it, and the lion subdued it. Immediately they both regained their human bodies. However, when the princess who had been a serpent was free from the enchantment, she took the youth by the arm, mounted the griffin, and carried him away with her.

There stood the poor girl who had wandered so far and was forsaken again. She sat down and cried. At last, however, she took courage and said, "I will continue on as far as the wind blows and as long as the cock crows, until I find him." And she went on a long, long way, until at last she came to the castle where both of them were living together. There she heard that a feast was to be held soon, at which they were to be married.

She said, "God will still help me," and opened the little chest that the sun had given her. Inside was a dress that glistened like the sun itself. She took it out and put it on, then went up into the castle, where everyone, even the bride herself, looked at her with astonishment.

The bride liked the dress so well that she thought it could be her wedding dress, and she asked if it was for sale.

"Not for money or property," answered the girl, "but for flesh and blood."

The bride asked what she meant by that. She said, "Let me sleep one night in the room where the bridegroom sleeps."

The bride did not want to allow this, but she wanted very much to have the dress, so at last she consented. However, she ordered a servant to give the prince a sleeping-potion.

That night after the youth was already asleep she was led into his room. She sat down on the bed and said, "I have followed you for seven years. I have been to the sun and the moon and the four winds and have asked about you, and I have helped you against the serpent. Will you, then, forget me entirely?"

However, the prince was so sound asleep that it only seemed to him like the wind was rustling outside in the fir trees.

When morning broke she was led out again, and she had to give up the golden dress.

She grew sad because even that had not helped, and she went out into a meadow, and sat down and cried. While she was sitting there she thought of the egg which the moon had given her. She broke it open, and out came out a mother hen with twelve little chicks, all of gold. They ran about peeping, then crept back under the old hen's wings. It was the most beautiful thing to be seen in all the world. Then she got up, and drove them across the meadow before her, until the bride looked out of the window. She liked the little chicks so much that she immediately came down and asked if they were for sale.

"Not for money or property, but for flesh and blood. Let me sleep one more night in the room where the bridegroom sleeps."

The bride said yes, intending to cheat her as she had done the previous evening

However, when the prince went to bed he asked his servant what the murmuring and rustling in the night had been. Then the servant told him everything —— that he had been forced to give him a sleeping-potion because a poor girl secretly had slept in his room, and that he was supposed to give him another sleeping-potion tonight.

The prince said, "Pour the drink out next to the bed."

That night she was again led in, and when she began to relate how sadly she had fared, he immediately recognized his dear wife by her voice, jumped up and cried, "Now I am redeemed for sure. It is as if I had been in a dream, for the strange princess has bewitched me, causing me to forget you. But God has removed the spell from me just in time."

Then they both left the castle secretly in the night, for they feared the princess's father, who was a sorcerer. They mounted the griffin, which carried them across the Red Sea, and when they were half way, she dropped the nut. Immediately a tall nut tree grew up, and the bird rested on it, and then carried them home, where they found their child, who had grown tall and handsome, and from that time they lived happily until they died.

从前，有一个商人准备出门作一次短途旅行。他有三个女儿，出门前，他问他的女儿们想要自己给她们带甚么礼物回来。大女儿说她想要珍珠，二女儿说想要宝石，但小女儿却说道：「亲爱的爸爸，给我带一枝玫瑰花来吧。」当时正是冬天寒冷时节，要买到玫瑰花可以说是一件不可能的事。爸爸知道这个最漂亮的女儿对花儿情有独钟，所以，他还是答应她尽一切努力为她带一枝玫瑰花回来。亲吻了三个女儿之后，父亲告别她们出发了。

当商人返程回家时，他为二个大女儿买到了他们所要的珍珠和宝石，可不管他到哪个地方，要想为小女儿找到玫瑰花却是白费气力。当他到各地的花园寻求玫瑰花时，人们都嘲笑他，问他是不是认为玫瑰花是在冬天里生长开花的。受到嘲弄，他感到很伤心，但为了他那最可爱的小女儿，他并不在乎，心里仍然想着回去该给她带点甚么东西。最后他来到了一座美丽的城堡，城堡四周都被花园环绕着。非常奇特的是花园一半似乎是春暖花开的季节，另一半却是严冬的景象；一边是满园最美丽的鲜花竞相开放，一边是花草荒芜，白雪覆盖。商人不由得对他的仆人说：「啊！真是太幸运了！」说完，就让仆人到玫瑰花圃那儿去为他採一枝玫瑰花。拿到了玫瑰花，他们格外高兴，正准备离开时，一头凶猛的狮子跳了出来，咆哮着说道：「无论是谁敢偷摘我的玫瑰花，我就要吃掉谁。」商人吓坏了，他战战兢兢地说道：「我不知道这花园是属於你的，有甚么办法能救我一命吗？」狮子说道：「不能！没有甚么办法能救你，除非你答应把你回家时最先看到的东西送给我。如果你同意这个条件，我就不吃你，连玫瑰花也送给你的女儿。」但商人不愿意答应这条件，他说道：「我的小女儿最爱我，每次回家她总是最先跑出来迎接我，我回家最先遇到的可能正是我的小女儿。」此时，他的仆人吓得不得了，说道：「也许最先遇见的是一只猫，或者是一只狗。」最后，商人怀着一种侥倖的心理和沉重的心情，被迫同意了。他拿着玫瑰花，答应狮子把他回去时最先遇到的东西送来。

就在商人回到家门前时，他那最小最可爱的女儿首先看到了他，马下飞跑出屋，迎上前来用亲吻欢迎他的归来。她看到他带回给她的玫瑰花时，更加兴高采烈起来。但她的爸爸心情却开始忧愁起来，悲歎着说道：「天哪！我最亲爱的孩子！这朵花是我用高价买来的，为了它，我已经答应把你送给一头凶猛的狮子了。它得到你时，一定会把你撕成碎片，然后将你吃掉。」说完，把事情的经过都告诉了她，说准备让她不去，最终的结果会怎样就听天由命吧。

但她女儿听了之后，安慰他说：「亲爱的爸爸，你必须履行自己的诺言。我要到狮子那儿去，并设法驯化它，它也许会让我安然无恙地回家来的。」

第二天早晨，她问清楚去路，告别了父亲，大胆地踏进了森林。其实，那头狮子是一个被施了魔法的王子，在大白天，他和他的大臣们都被变成狮子的形象，到了晚上又一起变回正常人的样子。当这位少女来到城堡时，狮子非常有礼貌地迎接她的到来，并向少女求婚，少女同意了他的请求。盛大的结婚宴会举行之后，他们在一起幸福地生活了很长一段日子。每当夜晚降临，王子就来了，他召集大臣进见、和她相会，但天一亮就离开新娘，独自而去，她不知道他去了哪儿，但每到夜晚他又会回来，天天都是这样。

有天，王子对她说：「明天你的大姐姐结婚，你爸爸要在家里举行一个盛大的喜庆宴会，如果你想去看看他们，我就让我的狮子带你去那里。」这对时时刻刻都想去看看父亲的她来说，真是太高兴了。第二天她和狮子们一道出发了，每个看到她的人都格外的高兴。因为他们认为她被狮子咬死已经很久了，现在又看到她回来觉得真不容易。她告诉他们自己现在生活得很幸福。她在家一直待到婚宴结束才返回森林里去。

不久，二姐又要结婚了，她也被邀请去参加结婚典礼。她对王子说：「这次你必须和我一同前往，我一个人是不会去的。」但他不同意，说这是一件非常危险的事情，因为只要有一丝灯火的光照着他，他身上的魔法就会更加邪恶，他会被变成一只鸽子，要被迫在世间到处飞行七年。可她却不答应，还说她会细心照料，不会让一丝灯火的光线照到他身上的。最后他俩一起出发了，还带上了他们的孩子。到家后，她选择了一间墙壁很厚的大厅，让他待在里面。但不幸的是厅门之上有一条裂缝，谁也没有发现。

盛大的婚礼举行了，就在结婚队伍从教堂返回经过这座大厅时，队伍里举着的火炬有一丝光线从厅门的裂缝射进了大厅，正好照在王子的身上。刹那间，王子消失了，等他妻子进来找他时，只发现一只白色的鸽子。他对她说：「我必须在世界各地到处飞行七年，而且时常会掉落一根白色的羽毛，那是我给你指出我去的方向，你跟着它，最终就会追上我，从而解救我，让我获得自由之身。」

说完，他飞出了大门，她紧跟着鸽子毫不犹豫地追去。他飞啊！不停地飞！她追啊！不停地追！在天地之间的广阔世界里，她循着他不时掉落的白色羽毛指引之路，勇往直前；她心身合一，对世间万事不闻不问，决不旁顾；她也不休息，不睡觉。整整七年终於就要过去了，她心情开始兴奋起来，以为一切艰难困苦和烦恼忧愁都会随着七年的到来而结束。然而，现实却将她们美好的希望击得粉碎：一天，她正在路上追寻着，却怎么找也找不着白色羽毛了。她抬眼在天空搜寻，别说是白鸽，就连鸟的影子都没看到。「老天爷——，」她长歎一声，「没有人能帮助我了！」

她迎着太阳走去，对着太阳说道：「太阳啊！你的光辉普照在大地之上，你俯视着群山、峡谷，你可曾看见过一只白鸽吗？」「没有！」太阳真的说话了，「我没有看见白鸽，但我送给你一个小匣子，在你最需要帮助时就打开它。」她很感激地向太阳道谢之后，继续寻找着白鸽的踪迹。

随着夜幕的降临，月亮慢慢地升起来了，看到月光映着大地，她对着月亮大声喊道：「月亮啊！你的清辉整夜照映在山川田野之上，你可曾看见过一只白鸽吗？」「没有！」月亮真的说话了，「我帮不了你的忙，但我送给你一只鸡蛋，在你最需要之时就打碎它。」她真诚地向月亮道谢之后，又继续寻找着白鸽的踪迹。

晚风吹拂过来，吹到她身边时，她大声说道：「晚风啊！你穿过树林，拂过林梢，摇动着树叶，你可曾看见过一只白鸽吗？」「没有！」晚风真的说话了，「但我可以问问其它的风儿，它们也许看见过。」东风和西风来了，它们都说没有看见白鸽，但南风却说道：「我看见过这只白鸽，他飞到红海去了。因为七年已经过去，他变成了一只狮子。此刻他正在和一条飞龙搏斗，那条龙是一个被施了魔法的公主，她想把你和他分开呢。」听到这消息后，晚风说道：「我告诉你一个诀窍，你到红海去，靠右边的岸上有一排柳树枝，你按顺序数过去，数到第十一枝时，将它折断，然后用柳树枝去抽打那条龙，狮子就会赢得胜利。他们两个也会变回人的样子出现在你面前，千万记住，你要立即上前挽着你心爱的王子动身回家。」

於是，这可怜的人儿又踏上了追寻之路，来到了红海。一切正如晚风所说的一样，她拔下第十一棵柳树枝，用力抽打那条飞龙。刹那间，狮子变成了王子，飞龙也变成了一位公主。惊喜之下，她竟把晚风给她的告诫忘了，结果让那个公主看准机会，用手臂挽着王子，带着他离去了。

这位远道而来的不幸女人又被抛弃了，孤独淒凉又伴随着她。但是，她没有气馁，仍然鼓足勇气说道：「我要继续追寻他，只要是风能吹到的地方，有公鸡啼叫的地方，哪怕是天涯海角，我也去寻找，一定要再次找到他为止。」她又开始了艰难的跋涉。

功夫不负有心人，她终於来到了一座城堡，王子正是被公主带到了这里。看来这儿正筹备着一个宴会，她向路人一打听，原来是要举行一个结婚宴会。「啊！上帝保佑我！」她说道。然后拿出太阳送给她的小匣子，打开一看，里面放着的是一套闪烁着阳光般光彩的令人眩目的礼服。她穿上礼服，走进了王宫，所有的人都把目光移到了她身上。新娘看见她穿的礼服，非常羨慕，问她是否愿意出卖，她回答说：「金子和银子是买不到的，除非用血和肉才能换取。」公主不懂她的话，问她是甚么意思，她说：「今天晚上，让我在新郎的房内和他谈一次话，我就把这礼服送给你。」公主最后同意了。但她吩咐她的仆人给王子喝一杯安眠药水，让他既不可能听到这个女人说话，也不可能看到她。

到了晚上，王子睡着了，她被带到他的房间里。她在他靠近脚的一头坐下说道：「我追寻你有七年了，太阳、月亮、晚风都帮我寻找你，最后我帮你战胜了飞龙，难道你就把我完全给忘了吗？」可惜王子此时睡得正香，她的话传到他耳朵里，迷迷糊糊就好像是风拂过杉树的沙沙声响。

第二天早晨，她被带了出去，无可奈何之下，只得交出了那件金光闪闪的礼服。看到自己的努力竟毫无结果，她走出王宫，伤心得跑到外面的草地上便瘫了下来，失声痛哭。坐了一会儿，她想起了月亮送给自己的那个鸡蛋，马上将蛋拿出来打碎，从蛋里面立即跑出一只纯金的母鸡和十二只纯金的小鸡。它们一出壳就在四周唧唧地闹着玩耍起来，又依偎在母鸡的翅膀下面，构成了一幅世间最美的画卷。看着这群美丽可爱的金鸡，她站起来极不情愿地赶着它们向王宫走去。听到小鸡诱人的叫声，新娘从窗户里探出头来看到了可爱的鸡群，便兴奋地跑出来，问她是不是愿意出卖这群金鸡。「金子和银子是买不到的，除非用血和肉才能换取。」公主又想和昨天一样来欺骗她，就答应了她的要求。

但公主没有料到，晚上王子来到房间里时，他问仆人为甚么昨晚风吹得沙沙地响。仆人心虚，只好把一切都告诉了王子：他如何给王子服安眠药水，而一个可怜的少妇来到王子的房间里对他诉说不止，他却在呼呼大睡，今晚她还要来这儿等等。王子听过之后，小心翼翼地倒掉了安眠药水，睡在了床上。待那少妇到来又开始向他诉说自己的悲哀与不幸、诉说自己对他的爱是多么的忠贞不移时，他听出了这是他心爱的妻子的声音。他一下子跳了起来，说道：「啊！你把我从梦魇中唤醒了，因为我被这个陌生的公主用咒语迷住，完全把你忘记了，在这幸福的时刻，我要感谢上帝又把你送回到我的身边。」

他们害怕被公主发现，於是，趁着黑夜悄悄地逃出王宫，夜以兼程地向自己的家园赶去。他们终於又见到了自己的孩子了，孩子已经长大，看起来真是神采飘逸，俊美非常，人见人爱。一家人终於又团聚在一起了，他们消除了魔障，过上了正常人的幸福生活，一辈子再也没有分离过。