The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (1)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (1)

Once, long ago, there lived a poor woman, the wife of a woodcutter, who longed for a child.

When at last she gave birth to a son, he was born with a caul, a membrane, over his head.

The village midwife clapped her hands and called out, " See the caul ! That means he shall have a great fortune if he lives long enough. "

And the village wisewoman added loudly, " He shall marry the king's only daughter if he does not die first. "

Now it happened that the King was riding through the village in disguise at the very moment of boy(s birth.

Riding about in disguise was something he liked to do, to check up on his people, for he was a greedy and crafty man who distrusted them all.

He overheard what the midwife and the wisewoman said.

It did not please him, for no king wants his only daughter to marry a poor man.

But he hid his anger and went in to congratulate the new mother and father.

" If your son is to marry the king's daughter, " he said, " it is best he is raised well. Take these gold coins and give me your son. I will see he has the finest education. "

(1/18)  
今日から２本立てになります。宜しくお願いします。  

タグ：The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs やさしい洋書

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (2)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (2)

The mother would not have it, but her husband said, " If the boy is, indeed,  a child of great fortune ,  perhaps the fortune should start with us. "

He took te king's money and handed him the child.

The king put the baby in a wooden box and rode off.

When he came to a great wide river, he threw the box in.

" There, " he cried.
" Now you will not get the chance to marry my daughter. "

And away he went without a moment's trouble on his conscience.

But the box did not sink.
Instead, it floated along till it came to halt at a milldam.

As luck would have it, the miller's apprentice saw it there and, hoping it contained a treasure, pulled the box out with a hook.

What a surprise greeted him !
Instead of a treasure, there was a brand-new baby boy sleeping there, his thumb in his mouth like a cork in a bottle.

Since his master had no children of his own and had long wanted a son, the miller's apprentice took the baby to him.

The miller's wife grabbed up the infant and held him tight.
" God has given him to us, " she said.
" What a great fortune ! "

(2/18)   

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (3)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (3)

Years went by, and the boy grew up handsome and strong.
He was honest, generous, hardworking, and kind.

Now one day the King was riding out once again, though this time he was not in disguise.

It happened that he stopped at the mill for a drink of cold water and saw the handsome young man who was hard at work fixing the mill wheel.

" Is that your son ? " he asked the miller.

The miller told him how the boy had come to them, and if he thought the shock on the king's face was one of delight, he was wrong.

The king knew for certain it was the boy he had thrown away.
Being both crafty and wicked, he said at once, " My good miller, may I borrow your son to take a message to the queen ? "

" At once, Majesty, " replied the miller.

A king does not borrow, but commands, of course.

Then the king wrote a note and sealed it.

The note said, " As soon as the boy arrives with this letter, you are to have him killed and buried, and all must be done before I return. "

He gave it to the boy without a moment's trouble on his conscience.

(3/18)  

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (4)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (4)

The boy knew nothing of what the sealed letter said, of course.

He took it with a quick smile and off he went, though he did not know the way.

As he had never been to the city before, he became terribly lost, and night crept on.

Afraid to stop for long ー because he knew the letter was important ー the boy kept going and became even more lost.
Still, he put one foot in front of the other until at last he saw a cottage ahead with a light shining faintly in the window.

 "Perhaps someone within can tell me the way," he thought himself.

He knocked on the door and a voice called, " Come in. " 

When he entered, there by the fire sat an old, old lady.

" Good evening, madam, " he said.
" I was on my way to bring this letter to the queen, but I must confess I am quite lost. "

He sat down on a bench near her and was suddenly overcome with exhaustion.

" Lost entirely, " the old woman told him, " for this is a den of thieves. When they come home, if they find you, they will kill you. ”

" Then , perhaps, dear madam, " the boy said, " with your permission, I will rest for just a moment, for I am too tired to go a step more. "

He stretched out on the bench, meaning just to close his eyes, and fell instantly to sleep.

Not on hour later, the robbers came home and saw the boy lying there.

(4/18)  

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The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (5)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (5)

" Do not kill him, " said the old lady, who was the mother of that wicked crew.
" He called me madam and he has such a pretty face. "

The she told them about the letter for the queen.

They opened the letter at once, and saw what the king had written immediately they felt pity for the boy, for wasn't he as much an outlaw as they ?

" Tear up the letter, " said the chief of the robbers, " and I will write a new one. "

And he wrote, " As soon as the boy arrives with this letter, you are to marry him to our daughter, and all must be done before I return. "


The robbers laughed at this, for they thought it a great prank to play on the king, who had outlawed them all.

Then they ate quickly and were gone again.

When the boy awoke, he was grateful to be alive.
" What good fortune I have, " he said.

Then he kissed the old lady's hand, called her dear madam one more time, grabbed up his letter, and was away.

(5/18) 

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (6)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (6)

Now when the boy arrived at the palace, the queen read the letter not once but twice.
It surprised her, for it was unlike her husband, who was not a nice man.

Then she did as the letter directed, preparing a splendid wedding feast.

The princess liked the looks of the young man and was delighted that her father arranged for him to be her husband.

So they immediately began their honeymoon in joy and happiness.

The king was some time returning home, and when he arrived and found that the boy was married to his only daughter, he was furious.
" How can this be ? " he roared.

When the queen showed him the letter he turned red in the face.

" Stupid woman ! " he called the queen.
" Faithless daughter ! " he called the princess.

Then he summoned the young man to him.

Now the boy knew better than to call the king " Father, " and he bowed very low as his wife had taught him.

" Now, my boy, " said the king in a false voice, " do you not know that he who would marry my daughter must go north and fetch me three golden hairs from the Devil's head ? "

" I had not heard that, Majesty, " said the boy.
" But I will go at once. "

" but my dear, " said his new young bride, " are you not afraid ? "
She herself was very much afraid.
She knew her father to be a villain.

" I am not afraid, " he told her, " for it is clear to me that I am a child of great fortune. Who but someone of great fortune could be married to such a wonderful wife ? "

He took a fond farewell of her, then off he went, though he did not know the way. 

(6/18)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (7)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (7)

The boy walked and walked north for miles, and came at last to a city where a tall watchman at the gate asked him who he was and what his trade.

" I have no trade, " the boy admitted, for a prince has none.
" But I have good fortune in all I do. "

" Then child of fortune, " said the watchman, " perhaps you can help us with ours, for it is all bad. Our market fountain, which once flowed with both water and wine, has dried up.
Now not even  water comes out. "

" I will have an answer for you when I have been to get the there golden hairs from the Devil,  the boy said.


Off he went again to the north and came to another town, where a short gatekeeper asked him who he was and what his trade.

" I have no trade, " the boy admitted.
" But I have good fortune I  all I do. "

" Then child of fortune, " said the gatekeeper, " perhaps you can help us with ours, for it is all bad. Tell us ehy the tree in our town square, which once bore golden apples, now doesn't even have leaves. "

" I will have an answer for you when I have been to get the three golden hairs from the Devil, " the boy told him.

(7/18)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (8)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (8)

He walked even further north and came to a great river.

A ferryman with long gray hair  and an even longer gray beard asked him who he was and what his trade.

" I have no trade, " the boy admitted.
"But I have good fortune in all I do. "

" Then child of fortune, " said the ferryman, " perhaps you can help me with mine, for it is all bad. I must now back and forth, forth and back across the river and cannot seem to get free of my boat.  

" I will have an answer for you when I have been to get the three golden hairs from the Devil, " the boy said.

" Then I will know soon enough, "said the ferryman, " for on the other side of this river is the entrance to Hell.
Climb aboard and I will row you over. "

SO the boy climbed in, and in a twinkling, the ferryman had eowed him across.

The entrance to Hell was black and sooty, and the inside worse.

The boy walked right into the Devil's own chamber, but the Devil himself was not home.
Only his grandmother was there, an impish-looking old woman knitting a long, dark strand.

(8/18)  

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (9)

The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs (9)

" What do you want ? " she asked.

" Oh, dear madam, my father-in-law, the king, says I must get three golden hairs from the Devil's head, " said the boy, " else I cannot remain married to his daughter. "

" Hmmm, " said the old woman, and put down her knitting.

" You are  asking for a lot, and if the Devil comes home and finds you here, he will eat you.
But as you have called me madam, I will take pity on you. "

She  waved the strand of knitting at him and turned him into an ant.

If you are wondering how that helped him, you must listen further.

" Here, ant , " said the Devil's grandmother, " creep into the folds of my dress, and I will keep you safe. "

(9/18) 

The Devil with three Golden hairs (10)

The Devil with three Golden hairs (10)

" Thank you, dear madam, " said the boy, " And by the way could you also get the Devil to answer three questions ?"

" Hmmm, " said the old woman.
" Lucky you called me madam again. All right, I can but try."

So he told her the three questionーabout the fountain that sused toflow water and wine, the tree that used to bear golden apples, and the ferryman who had to row back and forth ceaselessly.

" Those are difficult questions, indeed, "  said the Devil's grandmother.
" But if anyone knows the answer, it is himself. So it will be your job to be quiet and listen and pay attention when I pull out those hairs.  ＾

Not an hour later the Devil came home, grousing and grumping over what a hard day he had had.

No sooner had he put a cloven hoof into the house than he stopped and sniffed.

"I smell man, " 
 
(10/18)        

The Devil with three Golden hairs (11)

The Devil with three Golden hairs (11)

" You always smell man, " his grandmother said.
" It comes from all your toil with wicked souls. The odor gets up your nose. Sit down and eat your dinner. "

So the Devil ate and dank, and ate some more.

Then , tired, he lay down with his head on his grandmother's lap so she could comb his hair free of sweat tangles.

Soon he was fast asleep and snoring.

Then the old woman took hold of one golden hair, and snip-snap, she pulled it out and set it on the bench beside her. 

" Ouch ! "said the Devil, sitting up.
" What are you doing ? "

" I had a bad dream, " said his grandmother.
" I dreamed I was in a town that had a fountain that used to flow both water and wine and now no longer flows at all. "

" Ho ! " said the Devil.
" You have dreamed a true dream. There is such a place. If the townsfolk but knew it, they would find a toad under a stone in the well. If they kill the toad, both water and wine will flow again. "

Then he lay back down and was soon snoring again. 

(11/18)        

The Devil with three Golden hairs (12)

The Devil with three Golden hairs (12)

Then the old woman took hold of another golden hair, and snip-snap, she pulled it out and set it on the bench beside her. 

" Ouch ! "said the Devil, sitting up again.
" What are you doing ? "

" I had another bad dream, " said his grandmother.
" This time I dreamed I was in a town where there stood a tree that once bore golden apple nut now no longer even bears leaves. "

" Ho !" said the Devil.
" You have dreamed another true dream. There is such a place. If the townsfolk but knew it, they would find a mouse in a burrow under the tree. He is gnawing on the roots. All they need to do is kill the mouse and the tree will flower again.
But take care that you donot wake me another time, orI shall have to box your ears."

He lay back down and once again began to snore.

(12/18)    

The Devil with three Golden hairs (13)

The Devil with three Golden hairs (13)

His grandmother waited until he was fast asleep.

Then she took hold of a third golden hair, and snip-snap, she pulled it out and set it on the bench beside her.

" Ouch ! " said the Devil, sitting up again.
" Didn't I warn you ?  I shall have to box your ears. "

" Now, grandson, it was only another bad dream, " she said, and kissed him on the forehead.

The Devil smiled.
He loved his grandmother and had only been kidding about boxing her ears.

(13/18)
大変遅くなりまして、伏してお詫び申し上げます。

The Devil with three Golden hairs (14)

The Devil with three Golden hairs (14)

" I had a third bad dream, " said his grandmother.
" This time I dreamed I was at the river across from the entrance to our home.
The ferryman was going ceaselessly back and forth. And oh, he was tired and wanted to stop. "

" Ho ! " said the Devil.
" You have dreamed yet another true dream. " 

(14/18)

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The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (15)

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (15)

" But the ferryman is such a fool.
All he has to do is wait until the next person comes to the shore, wanting to go across.
Then he must put the oar in his passenger's hand and leap from the boat.
Then he will be free and his passenger will have to take his place.
Now let me sleep, old woman. No more dreams. "

" No more dreams, " she agreed.
" I think three is the charm. "

And the Devil fell to snoring.

As soon as he was fast asleep, the old woman took the ant from the folds of her dress and turned him back into a human again.

" You have your three golden hairs and your three answers, " she said.
" Now be quick, child of fortune, and be off."

The boy thanked the Devil's grandmother profusely, and with the three golden hairs clutched in his hand, away he went.

(15/18)  

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (16)..

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (16)

When he came to the ferryman, he said, " I have your answer. But first row me over and you shall have it. "

When they were safely on the other side and the boy on the shore, he told the ferryman what to do.

Then he walked south till he came to the town in which the short gate keeper stood guard.

" Kill the mouse that gnaws the roots of the tree, " he said.

And when that was done, and the tree bloomed with golden  apples, the town gave him two donkeys laden with gold.

Then he walked again till he came to the town in which the tall watchman stood guard.

" Kill the toad that lives in the well.

When that was done, both water and wine flowed swiftly from the fountain once again, and the town gave him two more donkeys laden with gold.

(16/18)
10月4日の分が、途中まで3日に出てしまいましたが、（16/18）は4日の分ということで、何卒お願いします。 

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (17)

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (17)

At least, he walked south until he came back to the King's palace.

His wife, the princess, kissed him.
The Queen gave him a great big hug.

However, the king was astonished to see him alive, with the three golden hairs from the Devil's head.
He was even more astonished to see the four donkeys laden with gold.

" Where did you get such wealth ? " the king asked.

The child of fortune looked at the king.
He knew the king's greedy heart, and in that moment he understood what a villain stood before him.

For a long moment he did not answer.
Then he said carefully, " Far to the north there is a great river. I was rowed across by a ferryman.
On the other side is a dark shore covered with gold instead of sand. "

" Can I fetch some, too ? " asked the king.

" As much as you like, " said the boy.
He hoped he guessed correctly how things would end.

(17/18)   

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (18 完)

The Devil with the three Golden Hairs (18 完)

Without waiting for his guards ー perhaps he feared they make off with the treasure themselves ー the greedy king set off on his own.

He went north as fast as his horse could carry him.

When he came to the river, he called for the ferryman row him across.

The ferryman came to the near shore, helped the king in, set the oar in the king's hand, and leaped from the boat.

He got on the king's horse and off he rode.

From that day on, the king had to ferry back and forth, forth and back ー a just punishment for his wrongdoings.

As for the boy, he took the four donkeys loaded with gold to the miller and his wife so that they ー his adopted parents ー might share in his new-found wealth, for he was as generous as he was lucky.

Then he ruled the kingdom with his lovely queen by his side, and brought all of his people ー high born and low ー good fortune indeed.

(18/18 完)