第 3 节
作者:蝎子王      更新:2021-02-19 00:39      字数:9322
  frightfully and cried; who has done that。  Bear; why did you not
  waken me。  The bear asked the wolf; why did you not waken me。  And
  the wolf the fox; why did you not waken me。  And the fox the hare;
  why did you not waken me。  The poor hare alone did not know what
  answer to make; and the blame rested with him。  Then they were just
  going to fall upon him; but he entreated them and said; kill me not;
  I will bring our master to life again。  I know a mountain on which a
  root grows which; when placed in the mouth of anyone; cures him of
  all illness and every wound。  But the mountain lies two hundred
  hours; journey from here。
  The lion said; in four…and…twenty hours must you have run thither and
  have come back; and have brought the root with you。 Then the hare
  sprang away; and in four…and…twenty hours he was back; and brought
  the root with him。  The lion put the huntsman's head on again; and
  the hare placed the root in his mouth; and immediately everything
  united together again; and his heart beat; and life came back。  Then
  the huntsman awoke; and was alarmed when he did not see the maiden;
  and thought; she must have gone away whilst I was sleeping; in order
  to get rid of me。  The lion in his great haste had put his master's
  head on the wrong way round; but the huntsman did not observe it
  because of his melancholy thoughts about the king's daughter。  But at
  noon; when he was going to eat something; he saw that his head was
  turned backwards and could not understand it; and asked the animals
  what had happened to him in his sleep。  Then the lion told him that
  they; too; had all fallen asleep from weariness; and on awaking; had
  found him dead with his head cut off; that the hare had brought the
  life…giving root; and that he; in his haste; had laid hold of the
  head the wrong way; but that he would repair his mistake。  Then he
  tore the huntsman's head off again; turned it round; and the hare
  healed it with the root。
  The huntsman; however; was sad at heart; and traveled about the
  world; and made his animals dance before people。  It came to pass
  that precisely at the end of one year he came back to the same town
  where he had rescued the king's daughter from the dragon; and this
  time the town was gaily hung with red cloth。  Then he said to the
  host; what does this mean。  Last year the town was all hung with
  black crape; what means the red cloth to…day。  The host answered;
  last year our king's daughter was to have been delivered over to the
  dragon; but the marshal fought with it and killed it; and so
  to…morrow their wedding is to be solemnized; and that is why the town
  was then hung with black crape for mourning; and is to…day covered
  with red cloth for joy。
  Next day when the wedding was to take place; the huntsman said at
  mid…day to the inn…keeper; do you believe; sir host; that I while
  with you here to…day shall eat bread from the king's own table。
  Nay; said the host; I would bet a hundred pieces of gold that that
  will not come true。  The huntsman accepted the wager; and set against
  it a purse with just the same number of gold pieces。 Then he called
  the hare and said; go; my dear runner; and fetch me some of the bread
  which the king is eating。  Now the little hare was the lowest of the
  animals; and could not transfer this order to any the others; but had
  to get on his legs himself。  Alas。 Thought he; if I bound through the
  streets thus alone; the butchers; dogs will all be after me。  It
  happened as he expected; and the dogs came after him and wanted to
  make holes in his good skin。  But he sprang away; you have never seen
  the like; and sheltered himself in a sentry…box without the soldier
  being aware of it。  Then the dogs came and wanted to have him out;
  but the soldier did not understand a jest; and struck them with the
  butt…end of his gun; till they ran away yelling and howling。  As soon
  as the hare saw that the way was clear; he ran into the palace and
  straight to the king's daughter; sat down under her chair; and
  scratched at her foot。  Then she said; will you get away; and thought
  it was her dog。  The hare scratched her foot for the second time; and
  she again said; will you get away; and thought it was her dog。  But
  the hare did not let itself be turned from its purpose; and scratched
  her for the third time。  Then she peeped down; and knew the hare by
  its collar。
  She took him on her lap; carried him into her chamber; and said; dear
  hare; what do you want。  He answered; my master; who killed the
  dragon; is here; and has sent me to ask for a loaf of bread like that
  which the king eats。  Then she was full of joy and had the baker
  summoned; and ordered him to bring a loaf such as was eaten by the
  king。  The little hare said; but the baker must likewise carry it
  thither for me; that the butchers; dogs may do no harm to me。  The
  baker carried if for him as far as the door of the inn; and then the
  hare got on his hind legs; took the loaf in his front paws; and
  carried it to his master。  Then said the huntsman; behold; sir host;
  the hundred pieces of gold are mine。  The host was astonished; but
  the huntsman went on to say; yes; sir host; I have the bread; but now
  I will likewise have some of the king's roast meat。
  The host said; I should indeed like to see that; but he would make no
  more wagers。  The huntsman called the fox and said; my little fox; go
  and fetch me some roast meat; such as the king eats。
  The red fox knew the byways better; and went by holes and corners
  without any dog seeing him; seated himself under the chair of the
  king's daughter; and scratched her foot。  Then she looked down and
  recognized the fox by its collar; took him into her chamber with her
  and said; dear fox; what do you want。  He answered; my master; who
  killed the dragon; is here; and has sent me。  I am to ask for some
  roast meat such as the king is eating。  Then she made the cook come;
  who was obliged to prepare a roast joint; the same as was eaten by
  the king; and to carry it for the fox as far as the door。  Then the
  fox took the dish; waved away with his tail the flies which had
  settled on the meat; and then carried it to his master。  Behold; sir
  host; said the huntsman; bread and meat are here but now I will also
  have proper vegetables with it; such as are eaten by the king。  Then
  he called the wolf; and said; dear wolf; go thither and fetch me
  vegetables such as the king eats。
  Then the wolf went straight to the palace; as he feared no one; and
  when he got to the king's daughter's parlor; he tugged at the back of
  her dress; so that she was forced to look round。  She recognized him
  by his collar; and took him into her chamber with her; and said; dear
  wolf; what do you want。  He answered; my master; who killed the
  dragon; is here; I am to ask for some vegetables; such as the king
  eats。  Then she made the cook come; and he had to make ready a dish
  of vegetables; such as the king ate; and had to carry it for the wolf
  as far as the door; and then the wolf took the dish from him; and
  carried it to his master。  Behold; sir host; said the huntsman; now I
  have bread and meat and vegetables; but I will also have some pastry
  to eat like that which the king eats。  He called the bear; and said;
  dear bear; you are fond of licking anything sweet; go and bring me
  some confectionery; such as the king eats。
  The the bear trotted to the palace; and everyone got out of his way;
  but when he went to the guard; they presented their muskets; and
  would not let him go into the royal palace。  But he got up on his
  hind legs; and gave them a few boxes on the ears; right and left;
  with his paws; so that the whole watch broke up; and then he went
  straight to the king's daughter; placed himself behind her; and
  growled a little。  Then she looked behind her; knew the bear; and
  bade him go into her room with her; and said; dear bear; what do you
  want。  He answered; my master; who killed the dragon; is here; and I
  am to ask for some confectionery such as the king eats。  Then she
  summoned her confectioner; who had to bake confectionery such as the
  king ate; and carry it to the door for the bear。  Then the bear first
  licked up the comfits which had rolled down; and then he stood
  upright; took the dish; and carried it to his master。  Behold; sir
  host; said the huntsman; now I have bread; meat; vegetables and
  confectionery; but I will drink wine also; and such as the king
  drinks。  He called his lion to him and said; dear lion; you yourself
  like to drink till you are tipsy; go and fetch me some wine; such as
  is drunk by the king。
  Then the lion strode through the streets; and the people fled from
  him; and when he came to the watch; they wanted to bar the way
  against him; but he did but roar once; and they all ran away。  Then
  the lion went to the royal apartment; and knocked at the door with
  his tail。  The the king's daughter came forth; and was almost afraid
  of the lion; but she knew him by the golden clasp of her necklace;
  and bade him go with her into her chamber; and said; dear lion; what
  will you have。  He answered; my master; who killed the dragon; is
  here; and I am to ask for some wine such as is drunk by the king。
  Then she bade the cup…bearer be called; who was to give the lion some
  wine like that which was drunk by the king。  The lion said; I will go
  with him; and see that I get the right wine。  Then