047-第2章
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waste； and now all the maidens have already been given to him； and
there is no longer anyone left but the king's daughter； yet there is
no mercy for her。 She must be given up to him； and that is to be
done to…morrow。 Said the huntsman； why is the dragon not killed。
Ah； replied the host； so many knights have tried it； but it has cost
all of them their lives。 The king has promised that he who conquers
the dragon shall have his daughter to wife； and shall likewise govern
the kingdom after his own death。
The huntsman said nothing more to this； but next morning took his
animals； and with them ascended the dragon's hill。 A little church
stood at the top of it； and on the altar three full cups were
standing； with the inscription。 Whosoever empties the cups will
become the strongest man on earth； and will be able to wield the
sword which is buried before the threshold of the door。 The huntsman
did not drink； but went out and sought for the sword in the ground；
but was unable to move it from its place。 Then he went in and
emptied the cups； and now he was strong enough to take up the sword；
and his hand could quite easily wield it。 As the hour came when the
maiden was to be delivered over to the dragon； the king； the marshal；
and courtiers accompanied her。 From afar she saw the huntsman on the
dragon's hill； and thought it was the dragon standing there waiting
for her； and did not want to go up to him； but at last； because
otherwise the whole town would have been destroyed； she was forced to
take the fatal journey。 The king and courtiers returned home full of
grief。 The king's marshal； however； was to stand still； and see all
from a distance。
When the king's daughter got to the top of the hill； it was not the
dragon which stood there； but the young huntsman； who comforted her；
and said he would save her； led her into the church； and locked her
in。 It was not long before the seven…headed dragon came thither with
loud roaring。 When he perceived the huntsman； he was astonished and
said； what business have you here on the hill。 The huntsman
answered； I want to fight with you。 Said the dragon； many knights
have left their lives here； I shall soon have made an end of you too；
and he breathed fire out of seven jaws。
The fire was to have lighted the dry grass； and the huntsman was to
have been suffocated in the heat and smoke； but the animals came
running up and trampled out the fire。 Then the dragon rushed upon
the huntsman； but he swung his sword until it sang through the air；
and struck off three of his heads。 Then the dragon grew really
furious； and rose up in the air； and spat out flames of fire over the
huntsman； and was about to plunge down on him； but the huntsman once
more drew out his sword； and again cut off three of his heads。 The
monster became faint and sank down。
Nevertheless it was just able to rush upon the huntsman； when he with
his last strength smote its tail off； and as he could fight no
longer； called up his animals who tore it in pieces。 When the
struggle was ended； the huntsman unlocked the church； and found the
king's daughter lying on the floor； as she had lost her senses with
anguish and terror during the contest。 He carried her out； and when
she came to herself once more； and opened her eyes； he showed her the
dragon all cut to pieces； and told her that she was now set free。 She
rejoiced and said； now you will be my dearest husband； for my father
has promised me to him who kills the dragon。 Thereupon she took off
her necklace of coral； and divided it amongst the animals in order to
reward them； and the lion received the golden clasp。 Her
pocket…handkerchief； however； on which was her name； she gave to the
huntsman； who went and cut the tongues out of the dragons； seven
heads； wrapped them in the handkerchief； and preserved them
carefully。
That done； as he was so faint and weary with the fire and the battle；
he said to the maiden； we are both faint and weary； we will sleep
awhile。 Then she said； yes； and they lay down on the ground； and the
huntsman said to the lion； you shall keep watch； that no one
surprises us in our sleep； and both fell asleep。 The lion lay down
beside them to watch； but he also was so weary with the fight； that
he called to the bear and said； lie down near me； I must sleep a
little。 If anything comes； waken me。 Then the bear lay down beside
him； but he also was tired； and called the wolf and said； lie down by
me； I must sleep a little； but if anything comes； waken me。 Then the
wolf lay down by him； but he was tired likewise； and called the fox
and said； lie down by me； I must sleep a little； if anything comes
waken me。 Then the fox lay down beside him； but he too was weary；
and called the hare and said； lie down near me； I must sleep a
little； and if anything should come； waken me。 Then the hare sat
down by him； but the poor hare was tired too； and had no one whom he
could call there to keep watch； and fell asleep。 And now the king's
daughter； the huntsman； the lion； the bear； the wolf； the fox； and
the hare； were all sleeping a sound sleep。 The marshal； however； who
was to look on from a distance； took courage when he did not see the
dragon flying away with the maiden； and finding that all the hill had
become quiet； ascended it。
There lay the dragon hacked and hewn to pieces on the ground； and not
far from it were the king's daughter and a huntsman with his animals；
and all of them were sunk in a sound sleep。 And as he was wicked and
godless he took his sword； cut off the huntsman's head； and seized
the maiden in his arms； and carried her down the hill。 Then she
awoke and was terrified； but the marshal said； you are in my hands；
you shall say that it was I who killed the dragon。
I cannot do that； she replied； for it was a huntsman with his animals
who did it。 Then he drew his sword； and threatened to kill her if
she did not obey him； and so compelled her that she promised it。
Then he took her to the king； who did not know how to contain himself
for joy when he once more looked on his dear child in life； whom he
had believed to have been torn to pieces by the monster。 The marshal
said to him； I have killed the dragon； and delivered the maiden and
the whole kingdom as well； therefore I demand her as my wife； as was
promised。 The king said to the maiden； is what he says true。 Ah；
yes； she answered； it must indeed be true； but I will not consent to
have the wedding celebrated until after a year and a day； for she
thought in that time she should hear something of her dear huntsman。
The animals； however； were still lying sleeping beside their dead
master on the dragon's hill； and there came a great bumble…bee and
lighted on the hare's nose； but the hare wiped it off with his paw；
and went on sleeping。 The bumble…bee came a second time； but the
hare again rubbed it off and slept on。 Then it came for the third
time； and stung his nose so that he awoke。 As soon as the hare was
awake； he roused the fox； and the fox； the wolf； and the wolf the
bear； and the bear the lion。 And when the lion awoke and saw that
the maiden was gone； and his master was dead； he began to roar
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
th
