The Golden Goose (3)

The Golden Goose (3)


They were still tripping and stumbling along after Simpleton when they met a priest.

He told them it was naughty to run after Simpleton like that  and tried to stop them.
But he too become firmly fixed and had to go with them.

As they went through the village, the sexton was amazed to see the priest following Smpleton and the three girls.

He called ot to the priest, " Don't forget you have a christening this afternoon, " and caught at the sleeve of the priest's coat.

Then he too stuck fast and had to follow the others, willy nilly.

They all went on together, following impleton and the golden goose, until they saw two peasants digging in a field.

" Help us, " shouted the priest and the sexton together.

The two men dropped their shovels and rushed up to help.
They tried to pull the other away, but they too stuck fast.

There were now seven people in the little procession, all firmly stuck fast to the golden goose.

Simpleton went happily on his way carrying the goose.
He didn't seem to notice anything unusual.

Simpleton wasn't sure where he was going.
He just kept on walking, his lucky goose tucked safely under his arm.

Over hill and dale, across fields and moors, he went with his goose.

Through towns and villages they went, where people stared in wonder at them and their little band of followers.

At last,near the end of the day, they saw a great city on top of a hill.

Simpleton decided to go to the city, and the little procession, of course, had to go with him.

Now in this city reigned a king with one daughter.

This princess was so serious that she never laughed and, because of this, the whole city was sad and gloomy.

The king was very worried about his daughter.
He declared that whoever made her laugh could marry her and become a prince. 

As Simpleton came near to the city, he heard of the king's promise.
So he led his little procession straight to the Palace.

The Princess, who looked very sad, sat gazing down from a window.

(つづく　3/5)