格林童話故事精選閱讀

《格林童話》產生於十九世紀初，是由德國著名語言學家，雅可布·格林和威廉·格林兄弟收集、整理、加工完成的德國民間文學。它是世界童話的經典之作，自問世以來，在世界各地影響十分廣泛。格林兄弟以其豐富的想象、優美的語言給孩子們講述了一個個神奇而又浪漫的童話故事。《格林童話》帶有濃厚的地域特色、民族特色，富於趣味性和娛樂性，對培養兒童養成真、善、美的良好品質有積極意義。下面本站小編爲大家帶來格林童話故事精選閱讀，希望大家喜歡!

There once lived an old queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter. When the princess grew up she was promised in marriage to a prince who lived far away. When the time came for her to be married, and she had to depart for the distant kingdom, the old queen packed up for her many costly vessels and utensils of silver and gold, and trinkets also of gold and silver, and cups and jewels, in short, everything that belonged to a royal dowry, for she loved her child with all her heart.

She likewise assigned to her a chambermaid, who was to ride with her, and deliver her into the hands of the bridegroom. Each received a horse for the journey. The princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak. When the hour of departure had come, the old mother went into her bedroom, took a small knife and cut her fingers with it until they bled. Then she held out a small white cloth and let three drops of blood fall into it. She gave them to her daughter, saying, "Take good care of these. They will be of service to you on your way."

Thus they sorrowfully took leave of one another. The princess put the cloth into her bosom, mounted her horse, and set forth for her bridegroom. After they had ridden for a while she felt a burning thirst, and said to her chambermaid, "Dismount, and take my cup which you have brought with you for me, and get me some water from the brook, for I would like a drink."

"If you are thirsty," said the chambermaid, "get off your horse yourself, and lie down near the water and drink. I won't be your servant."

So in her great thirst the princess dismounted, bent down over the water in the brook and drank; and she was not allowed to drink out of the golden cup. Then she said, "Oh, Lord," and the three drops of blood answered, "If your mother knew this, her heart would break in two."

But the king's daughter was humble. She said nothing and mounted her horse again. They rode some miles further. The day was warm, the sun beat down, and she again grew thirsty. When they came to a stream of water, she again called to her chambermaid, "Dismount, and give me some water in my golden cup," for she had long ago forgotten the girl's evil words.

But the chambermaid said still more haughtily, "If you want a drink, get it yourself. I won't be your servant."

Then in her great thirst the king's daughter dismounted, bent over the flowing water, wept, and said, "Oh, Lord," and the drops of blood again replied, "If your mother knew this, her heart would break in two."

As she was thus drinking, leaning over the stream, the cloth with the three drops of blood fell from her bosom and floated away with the water, without her taking notice of it, so great were her concerns. However, the chambermaid what happened, and she rejoiced to think that she now had power over the bride, for by losing the drops of blood, the princess had become weak and powerless.

When she wanted to mount her horse again, the one that was called Falada, the chambermaid said, "I belong on Falada. You belong on my nag," and the princess had to accept it.

Then with many harsh words the chambermaid ordered the princess to take off her own royal clothing and put on the chambermaid's shabby clothes. And in the end the princess had to swear under the open heaven that she would not say one word of this to anyone at the royal court. If she had not taken this oath, she would have been killed on the spot. Falada saw everything, and remembered it well.

The chambermaid now climbed onto Falada, and the true bride onto the bad horse, and thus they traveled onwards, until finally they arrived at the royal palace. There was great rejoicing over their arrival, and the prince ran ahead to meet them, then lifted the chambermaid from her horse, thinking she was his bride.

She was led upstairs, while the real princess was left standing below. Then the old king looked out of the window and saw her waiting in the courtyard, and noticed how fine and delicate and beautiful she was, so at once he went to the royal apartment, and asked the bride about the girl she had with her who was standing down below in the courtyard, and who she was.

"I picked her up on my way for a companion. Give the girl some work to do, so she won't stand idly by."

However, the old king had no work for her, and knew of nothing else to say but, "I have a little boy who tends the geese. She can help him." The boy was called Kürdchen (Little Conrad), and the true bride had to help him tend geese.

Soon afterwards the false bride said to the young king, "Dearest husband, I beg you to do me a favor."

He answered, "I will do so gladly."

"Then send for the knacker, and have the head of the horse which I rode here cut off, for it angered me on the way." In truth, she was afraid that the horse might tell how she had behaved toward the king's daughter.

Thus it happened that faithful Falada had to die. The real princess heard about this, and she secretly promised to pay the knacker a piece of gold if he would perform a small service for her. In the town there was a large dark gateway, through which she had to pass with the geese each morning and evening. Would he be so good as to nail Falada's head beneath the gateway, so that she might see him again and again?

The knacker's helper promised to do that, and cut off the head, and nailed it securely beneath the dark gateway.

Early in the morning, when she and Conrad drove out their flock beneath this gateway, she said in passing, "Alas, Falada, hanging there!"

Then the head answered: Alas, young queen, passing by, If this your mother knew, Her heart would break in two.

Then they went still further out of the town, driving their geese into the country. And when they came to the meadow, she sat down and unbound her hair which was of pure gold. Conrad saw it, was delighted how it glistened, and wanted to pluck out a few hairs. Then she said: Blow, wind, blow, Take Conrad's hat, And make him chase it, Until I have braided my hair, And tied it up again.

Then such a strong wind came up that it blew Conrad's hat across the fields, and he had to run after it. When he came back, she was already finished combing and putting up her hair, so he could not get even one strand. So Conrad became angry, and would not speak to her, and thus they tended the geese until evening, and then they went home.

The next morning when they were driving the geese out through the dark gateway, the maiden said, "Alas, Falada, hanging there!"

Falada answered: Alas, young queen, passing by, If this your mother knew, Her heart would break in two.

She sat down again in the field and began combing out her hair. When Conrad ran up and tried to take hold of some, she quickly said: Blow, wind, blow, Take Conrad's hat, And make him chase it, Until I have braided my hair, And tied it up again.

Then the wind blew, taking the hat off his head and far away. Conrad had to run after it, and when he came back, she had already put up her hair, and he could not get a single strand. Then they tended the geese until evening.

That evening, after they had returned home, Conrad went to the old king and said, "I won't tend geese with that girl any longer."

"Why not?" asked the old king.

"Oh, because she angers me all day long."

Then the old king ordered him to tell what it was that she did to him. Conrad said, "In the morning when we pass beneath the dark gateway with the flock, there is a horse's head on the wall, and she says to it, 'Alas, Falada, hanging there!' And the head replies: Alas, young queen, passing by, If this your mother knew, Her heart would break in two."

Then Conrad went on to tell what happened at the goose pasture, and how he had to chase his hat.

The old king ordered him to drive his flock out again the next day. As soon as morning came, he himself sat down behind the dark gateway, and heard how the girl spoke with Falada's head. Then he followed her out into the country and hid himself in a thicket in the meadow. There he soon saw with his own eyes the goose-girl and the goose-boy bringing their flock, and how after a while she sat down and took down her hair, which glistened brightly. Soon she said: Blow, wind, blow, Take Conrad's hat, And make him chase it, Until I have braided my hair, And tied it up again.

Then came a blast of wind and carried off Conrad's hat, so that he had to run far away, while the maiden quietly went on combing and braiding her hair, all of which the king observed. Then, quite unseen, he went away, and when the goose-girl came home in the evening, he called her aside, and asked why she did all these things.

"I am not allowed to tell you, nor can I reveal my sorrows to any human being, for I have sworn under the open heaven not to do so, and if I had not so sworn, I would have been killed."

He urged her and left her no peace, but he could get nothing from her. Finally he said, "If you will not tell me anything, then tell your sorrows to the iron stove there," and he went away.

So she crept into the iron stove, and began to cry sorrowfully, pouring out her whole heart. She said, "Here I sit, abandoned by the whole world, although I am the daughter of a king. A false chambermaid forced me to take off my royal clothes, and she has taken my place with my bridegroom. Now I have to do common work as a goose-girl. If my mother this, her heart would break in two."

The old king was standing outside listening by the stovepipe, and he heard what she said. Then he came back inside, and asked her to come out of the stove. Then they dressed her in royal clothes, and it was marvelous how beautiful she was.

The old king summoned his son and revealed to him that he had a false bride who was only a chambermaid, but that the true one was standing there, the one who had been a goose-girl. The young king rejoiced with all his heart when he saw her beauty and virtue. A great feast was made ready to which all the people and all good friends were invited.

At the head of the table sat the bridegroom with the king's daughter on one side of him, and the chambermaid on the other. However, the chambermaid was deceived, for she did not recognize the princess in her dazzling attire. After they had eaten and drunk, and were in a good mood, the old king asked the chambermaid as a riddle, what punishment a person deserved who had deceived her master in such and such a manner, then told the whole story, asking finally, "What sentence does such a person deserve?"

The false bride said, "She deserves no better fate than to be stripped stark naked, and put in a barrel that is studded inside with sharp nails. Two white horses should be hitched to it, and they should drag her along through one street after another, until she is dead."

"You are the one," said the old king, "and you have pronounced your own sentence. Thus shall it be done to you."

After the sentence had been carried out, the young king married his true bride, and both of them ruled over their kingdom in peace and happiness.

　　故事翻譯：

很久以前，有一個老王后，她的國王丈夫已經死了許多年，她有一個美麗漂亮的女兒。女兒長大以後，與很遠的國家的一個王子訂了婚。到了快結婚的日子，老王后把一切都打點好了，讓她啓程去王子所在的國家。她爲女兒收拾了很多值錢的東西，有寶石、金子、銀子、裝飾品和漂亮的衣物，總之，王宮裏的東西應有盡有。老王后非常愛她這個孩子，給她安排了一個侍女陪同她一道前往，千叮嚀，萬囑託，要侍女把她的女兒送到新郎手中。併爲她們配備了兩匹馬作爲旅行的腳力。公主騎的一匹馬叫法拉達，這匹馬能夠和人說話。

到了要出發的時候，老王后到自己的臥室裏拿出一把小刀，把自己的頭髮割了一小綹下來，拿給她的女兒說：「好好的保管着，我親愛的孩子，它可作爲你的護身符保佑你一路平安的。」她們傷心地互相道別後，公主把她母親的頭髮揣進了懷裏，騎上馬，踏上了前往新郎王國的旅程。

一天，她們騎着馬沿着一條小溪邊趕路，公主覺得渴了起來，對她的侍女說：「請下去到那條小溪邊，用我的金盃給我舀點水來，我想喝水了。」侍女說道：「我不想下去，要是你渴了，你自己下去趴在水邊喝就是了，我不再是你的侍女了。」公主渴得難受，只得下馬來到小溪邊跪着喝水，因爲她不敢拿出自己的金盃來用。她哭泣着說：「老天呀!我這是變成甚麼了?」她懷裏的頭髮回答她說：

「哎呀呀!哎呀呀!

要是你母親知道了，她的心會痛苦、會悲哀、會歎惜。」

公主一貫都非常謙卑，逆來順受，所以她沒有斥責侍女的粗暴行爲，而是不聲不響地又騎上馬趕路了。

她們向前走了不少路之後，天氣變得熱起來了，太陽火辣辣地熱得灼人，公主感到又渴得不行了。好不容易來到一條河邊，她忘了侍女對她的粗暴無禮，說道：「請下去用我的金盃爲我舀點水來喝。」但侍女對她說話的口氣比上次更加傲慢無禮：「你想喝就去喝吧，我可不是你的侍女。」乾渴使公主不得不自己下馬來到河邊，俯下身去。她面對河水哭叫着說：「我怎麼會是這個樣子呢?」懷裏的頭髮又回答她說：

「哎呀呀!哎呀呀!

要是你母親知道了，她的心會痛苦、會悲哀、會歎惜。」

當她探頭到河裏喝水時，那綹頭髮從她懷裏掉了出來，由於心情緊張害怕，她一點也沒有察覺，頭髮隨着河水漂走了。但她那位侍女卻看見了，她非常興奮，因爲她知道那是公主的護身符，丟失了護身符，這位可憐的新娘就可以在自己的掌握之中了。所以當新娘喝完水，準備再跨上法拉達時，侍女說：「我來騎法拉達，你可以換我的馬騎。」公主不得不和她換馬騎。過了不久，她又要公主脫下她的公主服裝，換上侍女的裝束。

經過長途跋涉，她們終於快到這次旅途的目的地了。那個背信棄義的陰險女僕威脅公主說，如果她向任何人提起發生的事，就要將她殺死。可是法拉達把一切都看在眼裏，記在了心頭。然後女僕騎上法拉達，真正的新娘卻騎着女僕的馬，沿着大路，一直走進了王宮大院。王子知道她們來了，極爲高興，飛跑出來迎接她們。他把侍女從馬上扶下來，以爲她就是自己的未婚妻，帶着她上樓到了王宮內室，卻讓真正的公主待在下面的院子裏。

但是，老國王從窗戶望出去，發現站在下面院子裏的她看上去是那麼漂亮，氣質是那麼超塵脫俗，不像是一個侍女。就跑進內室去問新娘：「與你一同來的，站在下面院子裏的姑娘是甚麼人?」侍女新娘說：「她是我帶在路上作伴的丫頭，請給她一些活幹，以免她閒着無聊。」老國王想了一會兒，覺得沒有甚麼適合她乾的活，最後說：「有一個少年替我放鵝，就請她去幫助他吧。」這樣，她這個真正的新娘就被派去幫助那個少年放鵝了，少年的名字叫柯德金。

不久，假新娘對王子說：「親愛的丈夫，請幫我做一件令我稱心的事吧。」王子說道：「我很願意效勞。」「告訴你的屠夫，去把我騎的那匹馬的頭砍下來。因爲它非常難以駕馭，在路上它把我折磨得夠苦的了。」但實際上她是因爲非常擔心法拉達會把她取代真公主的真像說出來，所以纔要滅口。於是忠誠的法拉達被殺死了。當真公主聽到這個消息後，她哭了，乞求那個屠夫把法拉達的頭釘在城門那堵又大又黑的城牆上，這樣，她每天早晨和晚上趕着鵝羣經過城門時仍然可以看到它。屠夫答應了她的請示，砍下馬頭，將它牢牢地釘在了黑暗的城門下面。

第二天凌晨，當公主和柯德金從城門出去時，她悲痛地說：

「法拉達，法拉達，你就掛在這裏啊!」

那顆頭回答說：

「新娘子，新娘子，你從這兒過去了，哎呀呀!哎呀呀!

要是你母親知道了，她的心會痛苦、會悲哀、會歎惜。」

他們趕着鵝羣走出城去。當他們來到牧草地時，她坐在那兒的地埂上，解開她波浪一般捲曲的頭髮，她的頭髮都是純銀的。柯德金看到她的頭髮在太陽下閃閃發光，便跑上前去想拔幾根下來，但是她喊道：

「吹吧，風兒，吹過來吧!

吹走柯德金的帽子!

吹吧，風兒，吹走吧!

讓他去追趕自己的帽子!

吹過小山，吹過山谷，吹過巖石，卷着帽子走吧!

直到我銀色的頭髮，都梳完盤卷整齊。」

她的話聲剛落，真的吹來了一陣風。這風真大，一下子把柯德金的帽子給吹落下來了，又卷着帽子吹過小山，柯德金跟着它追去。等他找着帽子回來時，公主已把頭髮梳完盤卷整齊，他再也拔不到她的頭髮了。他非常氣惱，繃着臉始終不和她說話。倆人就這樣看着鵝羣，一直到傍晚天黑才趕着它們回去。

第三天早晨，當他們趕着鵝羣走過黑暗的城門時，可憐的姑娘擡眼望着法拉達的頭又哭着叫道：

「法拉達，法拉達，你就掛在這裏啊!」

馬頭回答說：

「新娘子，新娘子，你從這兒過去了，哎呀呀!哎呀呀!

要是你母親知道了，她的心會痛苦、會悲哀、會歎惜。」

接着，她趕着鵝羣來到牧草地，又坐在草地上和前一天一樣開始梳她的頭髮，柯德金看見了跑上前來，又要拔她的頭髮，但她很快說道：

「吹吧，風兒，吹過來吧!

吹走柯德金的帽子!

吹吧，風兒，吹走吧!

讓他去追趕自己的帽子!

吹過小山，吹過山谷，吹過巖石，卷着帽子走吧!

直到我銀色的頭髮都梳完盤卷整齊。」

風馬上吹過來了，吹落了他的帽子，卷着它很快飛過小山，到了很遠的地方，柯德金只好跟着追去。當他回來時，她已經盤起了自己的頭髮，他又拔不到了。他們和前一天一樣，一起看守着鵝羣，一直到天黑。

晚上，他們回來之後，柯德金找着老國王說：「我再也不要這個奇怪的姑娘幫我放鵝了。」國王問：「爲甚麼?」「因爲她整天甚麼事都不做，只是戲弄我。」國王就要少年把一切經歷都告訴他。柯德金說道：「當我們早上趕着鵝羣經過黑暗的城門時，她會哭泣着與掛在城牆上的一個馬頭交談，說道：

'法拉達，法拉達，你掛在這裏啊!'然後馬頭會說：

'新娘子，新娘子，你從這兒過去了，哎呀呀!哎呀呀!

要是你母親知道了，她的心會痛苦、會悲哀、會歎惜。

柯德金把發生的所有事都告訴了國王，包括在放鵝的牧草地上，他的帽子如何被吹走，他被迫丟下鵝羣追帽子等等。

但國王要他第二天還是和往常一樣和她一起去放鵝。

當早晨來臨時，國王躲在黑暗的城門後面，聽到了她怎樣對法拉達說話，法拉達如何回答她。接着他又跟蹤到田野裏，藏在牧草地旁邊的樹叢中，親眼目睹他們如何放鵝。過了一會兒，她又是怎麼打開她那滿頭在陽光下閃閃發光的頭髮，然後又聽到她說：」吹吧，風兒，吹過來吧!

吹走柯德金的帽子!

吹吧，風兒，吹走吧!

讓他去追趕自己的帽子!

吹過小山，吹過山谷，吹過巖石，卷着帽子走吧!

直到我銀色的頭髮都梳完盤卷整齊。「話音剛停，很快吹來了一陣風，捲走了柯德金的帽子，姑娘及時梳理完頭髮並盤卷整齊。一切的一切，老國王都看在了眼裏。看完之後，他悄悄地回王宮去了，他們倆都沒有看到他。

到了晚上，牧鵝的小姑娘回來了，他把她叫到一邊，問她爲甚麼這麼做。但是，她滿眼是淚地說：」我不會告訴包括你在內的任何人，否則我就會被殺死的。「但是老國王不停地追問她，逼得她不得安寧，她只得一字一句地把一切都告訴了他。她這一說，才使她自己從苦難中得以解脫出來。老國王命令給她換上王室禮服，梳妝打扮之後，老國王驚奇地盯着她看了好一會兒，此時的她真是太美了。他連忙叫來自己的兒子，告訴他現在的妻子是一個假冒的新娘，她實際上只是一個侍女，而真正的新娘就站在他的旁邊。年青的國王看到真公主如此漂亮，聽到她如此謙卑容忍，歡喜異常。甚麼話也沒有說，只是傳令舉行一個盛大的宴會，邀請所有王公大臣。新郎坐在上首，一邊是假公主，一邊是真公主。沒有人認識真公主，因爲在他們的眼中，她是如此秀美華貴，令人不可逼視，她已完全不像牧鵝的小姑娘了，現在，她的穿着也是光豔照人。

當他們吃着喝着時，客人們都非常高興，老國王把他所聽到的一切作爲一個故事講給大夥聽了。又問真正的侍女，她認爲應該怎樣處罰故事中的那位侍女。假新娘說道：」最好的處理辦法就是把她裝進一隻裏面釘滿了尖釘子的木桶裏，用兩匹白馬拉着桶，在大街上拖來拖去，一直到她在痛苦中死去。「老國王說：」正是要這樣處理你!因爲你已經很公正地宣判了對自己罪惡的處理方法，你應該受到這樣的懲罰。「年青的國王和他真正的未婚妻結婚了，他們一起過上了幸福美滿的生活，交共同治理着國家，使人民安居樂業。

Once upon a time there was a poor woodcutter who worked from morning until late at night. When he had finally saved up some money he said to his boy, "You are my only child. I want to spend the money that I have earned by the sweat of my brow on your education. Learn an honest trade so you can support me in my old age when my limbs have grown stiff and I have to sit at home."

Then the boy went to a university and studied diligently. His teachers praised him, and he remained there for some time. After he had worked through a few classes, but was still not perfect in everything, the little pittance that the father had saved was all spent, and the boy had to return home to him.

"Oh," said the father sadly, "I cannot give you anything more, and in these hard times I cannot earn a heller more than what we need for our daily bread."

"Father, dear," answered the son, "don't worry about it. If it is God's will everything will turn out well for me. I will do all right."

When the father said he was going into the woods and earn some money by cutting cordwood, the son said, "I will go with you and help you."

"No, my son," said the father, "you will find it too difficult. You are not used to hard work, and will not be able to do it. Furthermore, I have only one ax and no money left to buy another one with."

"Just go to the neighbor," answered the son. "He will lend you his ax until I have earned enough to buy one for myself."

So the father borrowed an ax from the neighbor, and the next morning at daybreak they went out into the woods together. The son helped his father and was quite cheerful and full of energy. When the sun was directly above them, the father said, "Let us rest now and eat our noon meal. Then all will go twice as well."

The son picked up his bread and said, "Just you rest, father. I am not tired. I will walk about a little in the woods and look for birds' nests."

"Oh, you fool," said the father, "why do you want to run about? Afterwards you will be tired and no longer able to lift an arm. Stay here, and sit down beside me."

But the son went into the woods, ate his bread, was very cheerful, and looked into the green branches to see if he could find a bird's nest. He walked to and fro until at last he came to an enormous oak that was certainly many hundred years old, and that five men would not have been able to span. He stood there looking at it, and thought, "Many a bird must have built its nest in that tree."

Then suddenly he thought that he heard a voice. Listening, he became aware of someone calling out with a muffled voice, "Let me out. Let me out."

He looked around but could not see anything. Then he thought that the voice was coming out of the ground, so he shouted, "Where are you?"

The voice answered, "I am stuck down here among the oak roots. Let me out. Let me out."

The student began to scrape about beneath the tree, searching among the roots, until at last he found a glass bottle in a little opening. Lifting it up, he held it against the light, and then saw something shaped like a frog jumping up and down inside.

"Let me out. Let me out," it cried again, and the student, thinking no evil, pulled the cork from the bottle. Immediately a spirit ascended from it and began to grow. It grew so fast that within a few moments a horrible fellow, half as big as the tree, was standing there before the student.

"Do you know," he cried in an terrifying voice, "what your reward is for having let me out?"

"No," replied the student fearlessly. "How should I know that?"

"Then I will tell you," shouted the spirit. "I must break your neck for it."

"You should have said so sooner," answered the student, "for then I would have left you shut up inside. However, my head is going to stay where it is until more people have been consulted."

"More people here, more people there," shouted the spirit. "You shall have the reward you have earned. Do you think that I was shut up there for such a long time as a favor? No, it was a punishment. I am the mighty Mercurius. I must break the neck of whomsoever releases me."

"Calm down," answered the student. "Not so fast. First I must know that you really were shut up in that little bottle, and that you are the right spirit. If you can indeed get inside again, then I will believe it, and you may do with me whatsoever you want."

The spirit said arrogantly, "that is an easy trick," pulling himself in and making himself as thin and short as he had been before. He then crept back into the opening and through the neck of the bottle. He was scarcely inside when the student pushed the cork back into the bottle, and threw it back where it had been among the oak roots. And thus the spirit was deceived.

The student was about to return to his father, but the spirit cried out pitifully, "Oh, do let me out. Oh, do let me out."

"No," answered the student, "not a second time. I will not release a person who once tried to kill me, now that I have captured him again."

"If you will set me free," cried the spirit, "I will give you so much that you will have enough for all the days of your life."

"No," answered the student, "you would cheat me like you tried to the first time."

"You are giving away your own good fortune," said the spirit. "I will not harm you, but instead will reward you richly."

The student thought, "I will venture it. Perhaps he will keep his word, and in any event he will not get the better of me."

So he pulled out the cork, and the spirit rose up from the bottle as before, and extended himself, becoming as large as a giant.

"Now you shall have your reward," he said, handing the student a little rag that looked just like a small bandage. He said, "If you rub a wound with the one end, it will heal, and if you rub steel or iron with the other end, it will turn into silver."

"I have to try that," said the student. He went to a tree, scratched the bark with his ax, then rubbed it with the one end of the bandage. It immediately closed together and was healed.

"Now it is all right," he said to the spirit, "and we can part."

The spirit thanked him for having freed him, and the student thanked the spirit for the present, and returned to his father.

"Where have you been running about?" said the father. "Why have you forgotten your work? I said that you wouldn't get anything done."

"Don't be concerned, father. I will make it up."

"Make it up indeed," said the father angrily. "Don't bother."

"Just watch, father. I will soon cut down that tree there and make it crash."

Then he took his bandage, rubbed the ax with it, and struck a mighty blow, but because the iron had turned into silver, the cutting edge bent back on itself.

"Hey, father, just look what a bad ax you've given me. It is all bent out of shape."

The father was shocked and said, "Oh, what have you done! Now I'll have to pay for the ax, and I don't know what with. That is all the good I have from your work."

"Don't get angry," said the son, "I will pay for the ax."

"Oh, you blockhead," cried the father, "How will you pay for it? You have nothing but what I give you. You have students' tricks stuck in your head, but you don't know anything about chopping wood."

After a little while the student said, "Father, I can't work any longer after all. Let's quit for the day."

"Now then," he answered, "do you think I can stand around with my hands in my pockets like you? I have to go on working, but you may head for home."

"Father, I am here in these woods for the first time. I don't know my way alone. Please go with me."

His anger had now subsided, so the father at last let himself be talked into going home with him.

There he said to the son, "Go and sell the damaged ax and see what you can get for it. I will have to earn the difference, in order to pay the neighbor."

The son picked up the ax and took it into town to a goldsmith, who tested it, weighed it, and then said, "It is worth four hundred talers. I do not have that much cash with me."

The student said, "Give me what you have. I will lend you the rest."

The goldsmith gave him three hundred talers and owed him one hundred. Then the student went home and said, "Father, I have some money. Go and ask the neighbor what he wants for the ax."

"I already know," answered the old man. "One taler, six groschens."

"Then give him two talers, twelve groschens. That is double its worth and is plenty. See, I have more than enough money." Then he gave the father a hundred talers, saying, "You shall never need anything. Live just like you want to."

"My goodness," said the old man. "Where did you get all that money?"

Then the son told him everything that had happened, and how by trusting in his luck he had made such a catch. With the money that was left he went back to the university and continued his studies, and because he could heal all wounds with his bandage he became the most famous doctor in the whole world.

故事翻譯：

從前，有個窮樵夫，天天起早貪黑地勞作，並節衣縮食，終於積攢了一點兒錢，便對他兒子說道：「我就你這麼一個孩子，我要用我拿血汗辛辛苦苦掙來的錢，供你念書去。你要好好學點兒本領，等我老了、手腳不那麼靈便了、只得坐在家裏烤火的時候，你纔有能力養活我。」

於是，兒子便上學了，而且學習非常勤奮，受到老師們異口同聲的稱讚。中學畢業後，他上了大學，可是在學業完成前，父親給他的那點兒錢就用光了，他只得輟學。回到家裏後，父親不無憂傷地對他說：「我再也無法供你繼續學業了，眼下我只能掙口飯吃。」

「親愛的爸爸，」兒子回答說，「別犯愁啦。既然這是上帝的安排，一定會苦去甘來的。」第二天，父親要出去砍柴，兒子也想一塊兒去。

「那好吧，孩子，」父親說，「就一塊兒去吧。不過，你會吃不消的，你還不習慣於重體力活兒。還有呢，我只有一把斧子，沒錢再買一把呀。」

「別擔心，」兒子回答說，「咱們找鄰居借一把好啦。他們肯定願意借我用一段時間，我掙到錢買一把新的還給他們嘛。」

於是，父親找鄰居借了一把斧子。第二天破曉，父子倆就一塊兒進了森林。兒子興高采烈地幫父親砍柴。

中午時分，父親說：「咱們歇息一下，吃午飯吧。現在剛好是時候。」

兒子拿起自己的那份麵包，然後說：「爸爸，你歇着吧，我一點兒也不累。我到林子裏去轉一轉，找幾個鳥窩。」「你個小傻瓜，」父親大聲說，「你現在要是到處跑來跑去，待會兒就會累得連胳膊都擡不起來了。還是坐在我身邊，好好歇息吧。」

兒子沒有聽父親的勸告，一邊吃着麵包一邊在林子裏轉悠。這天他心情格外愉快，興緻勃勃地仰望着青翠的枝條，尋找着鳥窩。他在林中走來走去，看見了一棵枝繁葉茂的老橡樹，那樹樹幹粗大，足有幾百年的樹齡，他站在老橡樹下，心想：「肯定有許多鳥在上邊築巢。」

忽然，他覺得聽見了一點兒動靜。小夥子屏息靜聽，果然聽見一個低沉的聲音在說：「放我出去!放我出去!」他四處搜尋，卻甚麼也沒有發現，似乎那聲音是從地底下鑽出來的。他於是大聲喊叫道：「你在哪兒啊?」

那聲音回答說：「我在這兒，埋在老橡樹的樹根下面。放我出去!放我出去!」

小夥子開始在樹根周圍挖了起來，終於在一處小土坑裏找到了一隻玻璃瓶。他搶起玻璃瓶，對着陽光看了看，只見有一個青蛙模樣的小東西，在瓶中瘋狂地上竄下跳。「放我出去!放我出去!」那個小東西又喊了起來，而小夥子呢，想也沒想就拔掉了瓶塞。說時遲，那時快，那個精靈一下子就從玻璃瓶裏竄了出來，立刻開始不停地變大，轉瞬之間，變成了一個十分可怕的巨人，個頭兒有小夥子跟前的那棵老橡樹的一半那麼高。

「你知道嗎，」這個大妖怪聲音粗啞，語氣嚇人，問小夥子，「你把我放出來，會得到甚麼回報呀?」

「不知道，」小夥子毫無懼色地回答說，「我怎麼會知道呢?」

「我爲此一定得擰斷你的脖子。」妖怪回答說。

「你要是早點兒告訴我就好啦，我就不會放你出來了。我的腦袋嘛，你可碰不得，你必須先去和其他的人商量商量纔是。」

「甚麼這個那個的，反正你一定得接受你應該得到的回報。難道你以爲，我是被無緣無故地關押在那兒的嗎?不是的，這是對我的懲罰。我是威力無比的墨丘利尤斯呀，不管誰放我出來，我一定得擰斷他的脖子。」

「好吧，」小夥子冷靜地回答說，「不過，這可急不得。首先呢，你得向我證明一下，剛纔坐在那個小瓶子裏的人確確實實就是你這麼個龐然大物。你要是能再鑽進去，我就服氣了，然後，我就任你處置好啦。」

妖怪趾高氣揚地回答道：「小菜一碟。」說着就開始把身子縮小，越縮越小，最後小到能夠從瓶口鑽進去了。妖怪剛鑽進瓶子裏，小夥子立刻麻利地把瓶塞用力塞緊，隨手把瓶子扔回到樹根旁的老地方。妖怪就這樣被挫敗了。

此時，小夥子打算回到父親身邊去。誰知那個妖怪卻尖着嗓子淒淒慘慘地嚎叫起來：「喂，放我出去吧!放我出去吧!」小夥子斬釘截鐵地回答說「不!」，他絕不再做那種蠢事了。可妖怪硬叫他聽聽條件……——保證不擰斷他的脖子，還給他一大筆財富，他一輩子也花不完，用不盡。

「大概，」小夥子回答道，「你想用剛纔的辦法再騙我一次。」

「你要是不答應，就錯過了自己榮華富貴的機會啦，」妖怪莊嚴地說，「我發誓，絕不碰你一根毫毛。」

小夥子就想：「不妨再冒它一次險，興許他言而有信呢。」於是，小夥子又拔掉了瓶塞，妖怪鑽出來後越變越大，又變成了一個巨人。

「現在你該得到你的回報了。」巨人說着遞給小夥子一塊橡皮膏模樣的東西，告訴他說，「用它的一頭在傷口上輕輕碰一下，傷口就會癒合;用另一頭在鋼鐵上敲打一下，鋼鐵就會變成銀子。」

「我得先試一試，」小夥子說罷走到一棵大樹跟前，用斧子把樹皮砍掉一小塊兒，然後用那玩意兒在樹皮的傷損處輕輕地碰了一下，樹皮果真長攏了。「確實不錯，」他對巨人說，「現在我們該分手了。」

妖怪感謝小夥子搭救了他，小夥子也感謝妖怪送給他這件禮物，然後他們動身各走各的了。

小夥子回到了父親身旁，父親嘟嘟囔囔地對他發起牢騷來，問他這麼半天不幹活兒，到底是來幹甚麼的。「我早就說過，這活兒你幹不了。」他對兒子說。

「爸爸，您千萬別生氣，我會趕上來的。」

「趕上來!」父親一聽火冒三丈，「我倒要看看你怎麼個趕法?」

「爸爸，您看好啦，我一斧下去就能砍倒那棵樹。」

說完，取出那玩意兒來，在斧子上擦拭了一番，然後猛地一斧砍了下去。斧頭上的鐵已經變成了銀子，所以斧刃捲了口。「我說，爸爸，你瞧瞧，你借來的是甚麼破爛斧子呀，完全變形啦。」

父親一看，目瞪口呆，說道：「都是你乾的好事!這下你得賠人家斧子了，看你拿甚麼來賠!你的確幫了大忙啦。」

「別生氣嘛，」兒子說，「我賠斧子就是嘍。」「唉，你這個傻瓜，」父親吼叫道：「你拿甚麼賠?你身無分文。你的腦袋也許不錯，可對砍柴你一竅不通。」過了一會兒，小夥子對父親說：「爸爸，我再也砍不動了，咱們歇半天吧。」

「啊!甚麼?」父親回答道，「你看我閒得起嗎?我不得不幹吶。你在這兒反正幫不上甚麼忙，你最好回家去吧。」「爸爸，我可是頭一回到森林裏來，我一個人找不到路呀。咱們一快兒回家吧。」他對父親說着，父親的怒氣已平息了幾分，就答應一塊兒回家去。

到家後，父親對兒子說：「去把這壞斧子賣了吧，看能賣多少錢，不夠的只好由我來掙，好賠鄰居一把新斧子。」

兒子拿着斧子來到城裏的一家金店，金匠驗了斧頭的成色，放在秤上稱了稱，說道：「這把斧頭值四百個銀幣，可我手裏沒有這麼多的現金。」

小夥子卻說：「那好，您手頭上有多少就給多少吧，餘下的就算是我借給您的。」

於是，金匠給了他三百個銀幣，還欠他一百。

隨後，小夥子回到家裏，對父親說：「爸爸，我有錢啦。

去問一問鄰居，他那把斧子值多少錢。」

「我不用問也知道，」父親回答說，「一個銀幣六格羅申。」

「那好，咱們給他兩個銀幣十二格羅申，加倍償還。」兒子說道，「您瞧，我有的是錢。」說罷，小夥子給了父親一百個銀幣，告訴父親從此以後再也不會缺錢花了，好好享清福吧。

「我的天老爺呀!」父親驚呼道，「這麼多的錢是從哪兒弄來的呀?」

於是，兒子講述了事情的經過。小夥子用餘下的錢，返回大學繼續他的學業。後來，由於妖怪給他的那玩意兒可以治療各種各樣的傷口，他成了聞名於世的醫生。