按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
followed behind。 It was not long before a wolf strode out of the
thicket。 The huntsmen made ready to shoot him； but the wolf cried；
dear huntsman； do but let me live；
two little ones to thee I'll give。
The huntsman put the two wolves beside the other animals； and they
followed behind them。 Then a bear came who wanted to trot about a
little longer； and cried；
dear huntsman； do but let me live；
two little ones to thee I'll give。
The two young bears were added to the others； and there were already
eight of them。 Then who should come。 A lion came； and tossed his
mane。 But the huntsmen did not let themselves be frightened and
aimed at him likewise； but the lion also said；
dear huntsman； do but let me live；
two little ones to thee I'll give。
And he brought his little ones to them； and now the huntsmen had two
lions； two bears； two wolves； two foxes； and two hares； who followed
them and served them。 In the meantime their hunger was not appeased
by this； and they said to the foxes； listen you sneakers； provide us
with something to eat。 You are crafty and cunning。 They replied；
not far from here lies a village； from which we have already brought
many a fowl。 We will show you the way there。 So they went into the
village； bought themselves something to eat； had some food given to
their beasts； and then traveled onwards。 The foxes knew their way
very well about the district and where the poultry…yards were； and
were were able to guide the huntsmen。
Now they traveled about for a while； but could find no situation
where they could remain together； so they said； there is nothing else
for it； we must part。 They divided the animals； so that each of them
had a lion； a bear； a wolf； a fox； and a hare； then they took leave
of each other； promised to love each other like brothers till their
death； and stuck the knife which their foster…father had given them；
into a tree； after which one went east and the other went west。
The younger； however； arrived with his beasts in a town which was all
hung with black crape。 He went into an inn； and asked the host if he
could accommodate his animals。 The innkeeper gave him a stable；
where there was a hole in the wall； and the hare crept out and
fetched himself the head of a cabbage； and the fox fetched himself a
hen； and when he had devoured it got the cock as well； but the wolf；
the bear； and the lion could not get out because they were too big。
Then the innkeeper let them be taken to a place where a cow happened
to be lying on the grass； that they might eat till they were
satisfied。 And when the huntsman had taken care of his animals； he
asked the innkeeper why the town was thus hung with black crape。
Said the host； because our king's only daughter is to die to…morrow。
The huntsman inquired； is she sick unto death。 No； answered the
host； she is vigorous and healthy； nevertheless she must die。 How is
that； asked the huntsman。
There is a high hill without the town； whereon dwells a dragon who
every year must have a pure virgin； or he lays the whole country
waste； and now all the maidens have already been given to him； and
there is no longer anyone left but the king's daughter； yet there is
no mercy for her。 She must be given up to him； and that is to be
done to…morrow。 Said the huntsman； why is the dragon not killed。
Ah； replied the host； so many knights have tried it； but it has cost
all of them their lives。 The king has promised that he who conquers
the dragon shall have his daughter to wife； and shall likewise govern
the kingdom after his own death。
The huntsman said nothing more to this； but next morning took his
animals； and with them ascended the dragon's hill。 A little church
stood at the top of it； and on the altar three full cups were
standing； with the inscription。 Whosoever empties the cups will
become the strongest man on earth； and will be able to wield the
sword which is buried before the threshold of the door。 The huntsman
did not drink； but went out and sought for the sword in the ground；
but was unable to move it from its place。 Then he went in and
emptied the cups； and now he was strong enough to take up the sword；
and his hand could quite easily wield it。 As the hour came when the
maiden was to be delivered over to the dragon； the king； the marshal；
and courtiers accompanied her。 From afar she saw the huntsman on the
dragon's hill； and thought it was the dragon standing there waiting
for her； and did not want to go up to him； but at last； because
otherwise the whole town would have been destroyed； she was forced to
take the fatal journey。 The king and courtiers returned home full of
grief。 The king's marshal； however； was to stand still； and see all
from a distance。
When the king's daughter got to the top of the hill； it was not the
dragon which stood there； but the young huntsman； who comforted her；
and said he would save her； led her into the church； and locked her
in。 It was not long before the seven…headed dragon came thither with
loud roaring。 When he perceived the huntsman； he was astonished and
said； what business have you here on the hill。 The huntsman
answered； I want to fight with you。 Said the dragon； many knights
have left their lives here； I shall soon have made an end of you too；
and he breathed fire out of seven jaws。
The fire was to have lighted the dry grass； and the huntsman was to
have been suffocated in the heat and smoke； but the animals came
running up and trampled out the fire。 Then the dragon rushed upon
the huntsman； but he swung his sword until it sang through the air；
and struck off three of his heads。 Then the dragon grew really
furious； and rose up in the air； and spat out flames of fire over the
huntsman； and was about to plunge down on him； but the huntsman once
more drew out his sword； and again cut off three of his heads。 The
monster became faint and sank down。
Nevertheless it was just able to rush upon the huntsman； when he with
his last strength smote its tail off； and as he could fight no
longer； called up his animals who tore it in pieces。 When the
struggle was ended； the huntsman unlocked the church； and found the
king's daughter lying on the floor； as she had lost her senses with
anguish and terror during the contest。 He carried her out； and when
she came to herself once more； and opened her eyes； he showed her the
dragon all cut to pieces； and told her that she was now set free。 She
rejoiced and said； now you will be my dearest husband； for my father
has promised me to him who kills the dragon。 Thereupon she took off
her necklace of coral； and divided it amongst the animals in order to
reward them； and the lion received the golden clasp。 Her
pocket…handkerchief； however； on which was her name； she gave to the
huntsman； who went and cut the tongues out of the dragons； seven
heads； wrapped them in the handkerchief； and preserved them
carefully。
That done； as he was so faint and weary with the fire and the battle；
he said to the maiden； we are both faint and weary； we will sleep
awhile。 Then she said； yes； and they lay down on the ground； and the
huntsman said to the lion； you shall keep watch； that no one
surprises us in our sleep； and both fell asleep。 The lion lay down
beside them to watch； but he also was so weary with the fight； that
he called to the bear and said； lie down near me； I must sleep a
little。 If anything comes； waken me。 Then the bear lay down beside
him； but he also was tired； and called the wolf and said； lie down by
me； I must sleep a little； but if anything comes； waken me。 Then the
wolf lay down by him； but he was tired likewise； and called the fox
and said； lie down by me； I must sleep a little； if anything comes
waken me。 Then the fox lay down beside him； but he too was weary；
and called the hare and said； lie down near me； I must sleep a
little； and if anything should come； waken me。 Then the hare sat
down by him； but the poor hare was tired too； and had no one whom he
could call there to keep watch； and fell asleep。 And now the king's
daughter； the huntsman； the lion； the bear； the wolf； the fox； and
the hare； were all sleeping a sound sleep。 The marshal； however； who
was to look on from a distance； took courage when he did not see the
dragon flyi