30-trusty john-第2节

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on　the　ship。〃　Then　number　one　began　again　and　cried：

〃That'll　not　help　him！　When　they　reach　the　land　a

chestnut　horse　will　dash　forward　to　greet　them：　the　King

will　wish　to　mount　it；　and　if　he　does　it　will　gallop　away

with　him；　and　disappear　into　the　air；　and　he　will　never

see　his　bride　again。〃　〃Is　there　no　escape　for　him？〃　asked

number　two。　〃Oh！　yes；　if　someone　else　mounts　quickly

and　shoots　the　horse　dead　with　the　pistol　that　is　sticking

in　the　holster；　then　the　young　King　is　saved。　But　who's

to　do　that？　And　anyone　who　knows　it　and　tells　him　will

be　turned　into　stone　from　his　feet　to　his　knees。〃　Then

spake　number　two：　〃I　know　more　than　that：　even　if　the

horse　is　slain；　the　young　King　will　still　not　keep　his

bride：　when　they　enter　the　palace　together　they　will

find　a　ready…made　wedding　shirt　in　a　cupboard；　which

looks　as　though　it　were　woven　of　gold　and　silver；　but　is

really　made　of　nothing　but　sulphur　and　tar：　when　the

King　puts　it　on　it　will　burn　him　to　his　marrow　and　bones。〃

Number　three　asked：　〃Is　there　no　way　of　escape；　then？〃

〃Oh！　yes；〃　answered　number　two：　〃If　someone　seizes

the　shirt　with　gloved　hands　and　throws　it　into　the　fire；

and　lets　it　burn；　then　the　young　King　is　saved。　But

what's　the　good？　Anyone　knowing　this　and　telling　it　will

have　half　his　body　turned　into　stone；　from　his　knees

to　his　heart。〃　Then　number　three　spake：　〃I　know　yet

more：　though　the　bridal　shirt　too　be　burnt；　the　King

hasn't　even　then　secured　his　bride：　when　the　dance　is

held　after　the　wedding；　and　the　young　Queen　is　dancing；

she　will　suddenly　grow　deadly　white；　and　drop　down　like

one　dead；　and　unless　some　one　lifts　her　up　and　draws　three

drops　of　blood　from　her　right　side；　and　spits　them　out

again；　she　will　die。　But　if　anyone　who　knows　this

betrays　it；　he　will　be　turned　into　stone　from　the　crown　of

his　head　to　the　soles　of　his　feet。〃　When　the　ravens　had

thus　conversed　they　fled　onward；　but　Trusty　John　had

taken　it　all　in；　and　was　sad　and　depressed　from　that　time

forward；　for　if　he　were　silent　to　his　master　concerning

what　he　had　heard；　he　would　involve　him　in　misfortune；

but　if　he　took　him　into　his　confidence；　then　he　himself

would　forfeit　his　life。　At　last　he　said：　〃I　will　stand　by

my　master；　though　it　should　be　my　ruin。〃



Now　when　they　drew　near　the　land　it　came　to　pass

just　as　the　ravens　had　predicted；　and　a　splendid　chestnut

horse　bounded　forward。　〃Capital！〃　said　the　King；　〃this

animal　shall　carry　me　to　my　palace；〃　and　was　about　to

mount；　but　Trusty　John　was　too　sharp　for　him；　and；

springing　up　quickly；　seized　the　pistol　out　of　the　holster

and　shot　the　horse　dead。　Then　the　other　servants　of

the　King；　who　at　no　time　looked　favorably　on　Trusty

John；　cried　out：　〃What　a　sin　to　kill　the　beautiful　beast

that　was　to　bear　the　King　to　his　palace！〃　But　the　King

spake：　〃Silence！　let　him　alone；　he　is　ever　my　most　trusty

John。　Who　knows　for　what　good　end　he　may　have　done

this　thing？〃　So　they　went　on　their　way　and　entered　the

palace；　and　there　in　the　hall　stood　a　cupboard　in　which

lay　the　ready…made　bridal　shirt；　looking　for　all　the　world

as　though　it　were　made　of　gold　and　silver。　The　young

King　went　toward　it　and　was　about　to　take　hold　of　it；

but　Trusty　John；　pushing　him　aside；　seized　it　with　his

gloved　hands；　threw　it　hastily　into　the　fire；　and　let　it

burn　The　other　servants　commenced　grumbling　again；

and　said：　〃See；　he's　actually　burning　the　King's　bridal

shirt。〃　But　the　young　King　spoke：　〃Who　knows　for

what　good　purpose　he　does　it？　Let　him　alone；　he　is　my

most　trusty　John。〃　Then　the　wedding　was　celebrated；

the　dance　began；　and　the　bride　joined　in；　but　Trusty　John

watched　her　countenance　carefully。　Of　a　sudden　she

grew　deadly　white；　and　fell　to　the　ground　as　if　she　were

dead。　He　at　once　sprang　hastily　toward　her；　lifted　her

up；　and　bore　her　to　a　room；　where　he　laid　her　down；　and

kneeling　beside　her　he　drew　three　drops　of　blood　from　her

right　side；　and　spat　them　out。　She　soon　breathed　again

and　came　to　herself；　but　the　young　King　had　watched

the　proceeding；　and　not　knowing　why　Trusty　John　had

acted　as　he　did；　he　flew　into　a　passion；　and　cried：　〃Throw

him　into　prison。〃　On　the　following　morning　sentence

was　passed　on　Trusty　John；　and　he　was　condemned　to

be　hanged。　As　he　stood　on　the　gallows　he　said：　〃Every

one　doomed　to　death　has　the　right　to　speak　once　before　he

dies；　and　I　too　have　that　privilege？〃　〃Yes；〃　said　the

King；　〃it　shall　be　granted　to　you。〃　So　Trusty　John

spoke：　〃I　am　unjustly　condemned；　for　I　have　always

been　faithful　to　you〃；　and　he　proceeded　to　relate　how　he

had　heard　the　ravens'　conversation　on　the　sea；　and　how　he

had　to　do　all　he　did　in　order　to　save　his　master。　Then

the　King　cried：　〃Oh！　my　most　trusty　John；　pardon！

pardon！　Take　him　down。〃　But　as　he　uttered　the　last

word　Trusty　John　had　fallen　lifeless　to　the　ground；　and

was　a　stone。



The　King　and　Queen　were　in　despair；　and　the　King

spake：　〃Ah！　how　ill　have　I　rewarded　such　great　fidelity！〃

and　made　them　lift　up　the　stone　image　and　place　it　in

his　bedroom　near　his　bed。　As　often　as　he　looked　at　it

he　wept　and　said：　〃Oh！　if　I　could　only　restore　you　to

life；　my　most　trusty　John！〃　After　a　time　the　Queen

gave　birth　to　twins；　two　small　sons；　who　throve　and　grew；

and　were　a　constant　joy　to　her。　One　day　when　the

Queen　was　at　church；　and　the　two　children　sat　and　played

with　their　father；　he　gazed　again　full　of　grief　on　the　stone

statue；　and　sighing；　wailed：　〃Oh；　if　I　could　only　restore

you　to　life；　my　most　trusty　John！〃　Suddenly　the　stone

began　to　speak；　and　said：　〃Yes；　you　can　restore　me　to

life　again　if　you　are　prepared　to　sacrifice　what　you　hold

most　dear。〃　And　the　King　cried　out：　〃All　I　have　in　the

world　will　I　give　up　for　your　sake。〃　The　stone

continued：　〃If　you　cut　off　with　your　own　hand　the　heads　of

your　two　children；　and　smear　me　with　their　blood；　I　shall

come　back　to　life。〃　The　King　was　aghast　when　he

heard　that　he　had　himself　to　put　his　children　to　death；

but　when　he　thought　of　Trusty　John's　fidelity；　and　how

he　had　even　died　for　him；　he　drew　his　sword；　and　with

his　own　hand　cut　the　heads　off　his　children。　And　when

he　had　smeared　the　stone　with　their　blood；　life　came　back；

and　Trusty　John　stood　once　more　safe　and　sound　before

him。　He　spake　to　the　King：　〃Your　loyalty　shall　be

rewarded；〃　and　taking　up　the　heads　of　the　children；　he

placed　them　on　their　bodies；　smeared　the　wounds　with

their　blood；　and　in　a　minute　they　were　all　right　again

and　jumping　about　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　Then

the　King　was　full　of　joy；　and　when　he　saw　the　Queen

coming；　he　hid　Trusty　John　and　the　two　children　in　a

big　cupboard。　As　she　entered　he　said　to　her：　〃Did　you

pray　in　church？〃　〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　〃but　my

thoughts　dwelt　constantly　on　Trusty　John；　and　of　what

he　has　suffered　for　us。〃　Then　he　spake：　〃Dear　wife；　we

can　restore　him　to　life；　but　the　price　asked　is　our　two

little　sons；　we　must　sacrifice　them。〃　The　Queen　grew

white　and　her　heart　sank；　but　she　replied：　〃We　owe　it

to　him　on　account　of　his　great　fidelity。〃　Then　he

rejoiced　that　she　was　of　the　same　mind　as　he　had　been；　and

going　forward　he　opened　the　cupboard；　and　fetched　the

two　children　and　Trusty　John　out；　saying：　〃God　be

praised！　Trusty　John　is　free　once　more；　and　we　have　our

two　small　sons　again。〃　Then　he　related　to　her　all　that

had　passed；　and　they　lived　together　happily　ever

afterward。＇1＇





＇1＇　Grimm。