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格林童話故事第06篇：忠實(shí)的約翰Trusty John
引導(dǎo)語(yǔ)：《忠實(shí)的約翰》是收錄于《格林童話》中的一則童話故事，大家知道是講什么的?我們通過(guò)下文的中英文版本的了解與學(xué)習(xí)。
很久以前，有個(gè)老國(guó)王生了重病，當(dāng)他意識(shí)到自己剩下的時(shí)間已經(jīng)不多時(shí)，就對(duì)身邊的人說(shuō)："傳忠實(shí)的約翰進(jìn)來(lái)見我。"忠實(shí)的約翰是一個(gè)仆人，老國(guó)王之所以這樣稱呼他，是因?yàn)樗毯驀?guó)王很久了，而且非常忠誠(chéng)可靠，也最受老國(guó)王喜愛。當(dāng)約翰來(lái)到床邊時(shí)，國(guó)王說(shuō)道："我忠實(shí)的約翰，我知道自己不行了�，F(xiàn)在我放不下心的就是我的兒子，他還小，需要良師益友的輔助，除了你，我沒有什么好托付的朋友了。如果你不發(fā)誓把他應(yīng)該懂得的東西教給他，做他的干爹，我不能安然瞑目。"聽到這些話，約翰說(shuō)道："我決不會(huì)離他而去，我一定忠實(shí)地輔助他，即使獻(xiàn)出我的生命也在所不惜。"國(guó)王欣然說(shuō)道："現(xiàn)在我就放心了。我死后，你領(lǐng)著他把整座王宮的所有房間和庫(kù)房，包括房子里的所有財(cái)寶看一遍。但要注意，有一間房子不能讓他進(jìn)去，就是那間掛有金屋公主畫像的房間。如果他進(jìn)去看了，就會(huì)深深地愛上她，并會(huì)因此而陷入萬(wàn)劫不復(fù)的險(xiǎn)境。你千萬(wàn)要負(fù)起這個(gè)責(zé)任來(lái)。"當(dāng)忠實(shí)的約翰再一次問(wèn)老國(guó)王發(fā)誓以后，老國(guó)王安然地躺在枕頭上死去了。
老國(guó)王被安葬之后，忠實(shí)的約翰把老國(guó)王臨終前的一切囑托和自己的誓言都告訴了年青的國(guó)王，并說(shuō)道："我一定會(huì)忠實(shí)地執(zhí)行自己的諾言，對(duì)你就像對(duì)你的父親一樣忠誠(chéng)不二，即使獻(xiàn)出自己的生命也在所不辭。"年青的國(guó)王哭泣著說(shuō)：
"我永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)忘記你的忠心。"
喪事辦完以后，忠實(shí)的約翰對(duì)他的小主人說(shuō)："現(xiàn)在你應(yīng)該看看你所繼承的財(cái)產(chǎn)了，我?guī)闳ツ愀赣H的宮殿里看看吧。"接著他引導(dǎo)小主人在王宮上上下下的各個(gè)地方都巡視了一遍，讓他看過(guò)了所有的財(cái)富和豪華的房廳，唯獨(dú)掛著圖像的那間房子沒有打開。因?yàn)�，那里面掛著的畫像只要門一打開就看得見。那畫像畫得實(shí)在是太美了，讓人看了會(huì)有種呼之欲出的感覺，世界上再也沒有什么東西比畫上的女子更可愛、更美麗了。年青的國(guó)王發(fā)現(xiàn)忠實(shí)的約翰總是直接走過(guò)這間房子，卻并不打開房門，就問(wèn)道："你為什么不打開這間房子呢?"他回答說(shuō)："里面有會(huì)使你感到恐懼的東西。"但國(guó)王說(shuō)："我已把整個(gè)王宮看完了，也想知道這里面是什么。"說(shuō)完，他走上去用力要打開那扇房門，可忠實(shí)的約翰拉著他的后背說(shuō)："在你父親臨終前我發(fā)過(guò)誓，無(wú)論如何也不能讓你走進(jìn)這間房子，否則你和我都會(huì)大難臨頭的。"年青的國(guó)王固執(zhí)地說(shuō)道："對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，最大的不幸就是不能進(jìn)去看看，只要沒有進(jìn)去看，我就會(huì)日夜不得安寧，所以你不打開它，我就不走。"
忠實(shí)的約翰看到他再怎么勸說(shuō)，年青的國(guó)王就是不肯離去，心里有了不祥的預(yù)感，沉重地嘆了嘆氣，從一大串鑰匙中找出一片鑰匙，打開了這個(gè)房子的門。門一打開，約翰便先走了進(jìn)去，站在了國(guó)王和畫像之間，希望能擋著畫像不讓國(guó)王看見，但年青的國(guó)王卻踮著腳尖從他的肩頭看過(guò)去，一下子就看到了公主的肖像。目睹畫上穿金戴銀的少女如此美麗動(dòng)人、嬌艷嫵媚的容貌，他心情激動(dòng)極了，竟馬上倒在樓板上昏了過(guò)去。忠實(shí)的約翰趕緊將他扶起，把他抱到他自己的床上，心里一個(gè)勁地想："唉--!不幸已經(jīng)降臨在我們的頭上，上帝啊!這可怎么辦呢?"
經(jīng)過(guò)努力，國(guó)王才好不容易被救醒，但他說(shuō)的第一句話就是："那美麗畫像上的少女是誰(shuí)呀?"忠實(shí)的約翰回答說(shuō)："那是金屋國(guó)王女兒的畫像。"國(guó)王又繼續(xù)問(wèn)道："我太愛她了，就是樹上的葉子全部變成我的舌頭也難以訴說(shuō)我對(duì)她的愛戀。我要去找她!哪怕是冒著生命危險(xiǎn)也要去找她!你是我忠實(shí)的朋友，你必須幫助我。"
對(duì)于如何來(lái)幫助年青的國(guó)王，滿足他的愿望，約翰思考了很久，最后他對(duì)國(guó)王說(shuō)："據(jù)傳說(shuō)，她周圍的一切用具都是金子做的：桌子、凳子、杯子、碟子和屋子里的所有東西都是金質(zhì)的，并且她還在不停地尋求新的財(cái)寶。你現(xiàn)在貯藏了許多金子，找一些工匠把這些金子做成各種容器和珍禽異獸，然后我們帶著這些財(cái)寶去碰碰運(yùn)氣吧。"于是，國(guó)王下令找來(lái)了所有技藝高超的金匠，他們夜以繼日地用金子趕制各種工藝品，終于把金子都做成了最漂亮的珍玩。忠實(shí)的約翰把它們都裝上一條大船，他和國(guó)王都換上商人的服飾，這樣別人也就不可能認(rèn)出他們了。
一切準(zhǔn)備停當(dāng)后，他們揚(yáng)帆出海了。經(jīng)過(guò)晝夜不停的航行，他們終于找到了金屋國(guó)王管轄的領(lǐng)地。船靠岸后，忠實(shí)的約翰要國(guó)王待在船上等著他回來(lái)，他說(shuō)："或許我有可能把金屋公主帶來(lái)，因此，你們要把船內(nèi)收拾整齊，將金器珍玩擺設(shè)出來(lái)，整條船都要用它們裝飾起來(lái)。"接著他把每樣金制品都拿了一個(gè)放進(jìn)籃子里，上岸向王宮走去。
當(dāng)他來(lái)到城堡的大院時(shí)，看見一口井邊站著一個(gè)漂亮的少女，她正提著兩只金桶在井里打水。就在少女擔(dān)著金光閃閃的水桶轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身時(shí)，她也看到了這個(gè)陌生人，她問(wèn)他是誰(shuí)。他走上前去說(shuō)道："我是一個(gè)商人。"說(shuō)罷打開籃子，讓她來(lái)看籃子里的東西。少女一看，驚奇地叫道："嗬!多么漂亮的東西呀!"她放下水桶，把一件又一件金器看過(guò)之后說(shuō)道："國(guó)王的女兒最喜歡這些東西了，應(yīng)該讓她看看，她會(huì)把這些全都買下的。"說(shuō)完，她牽著他的手，把他帶進(jìn)了王宮，因?yàn)樗菄?guó)王女兒的一名侍女，她向衛(wèi)兵說(shuō)明情況之后，他們就放行了。
公主看過(guò)他帶的這些貨樣后，非常興奮地說(shuō)道："太漂亮了，我要把它們?nèi)I下。"忠實(shí)的約翰說(shuō)道："我只是一位富商的仆人，我?guī)У倪@些和他放在船上的比根本算不了什么，他那兒還有你從來(lái)沒有見過(guò)的最精致最昂貴的金制工藝品哩!"公主聽了之后，要他把所有的東西都拿上岸來(lái)，但他說(shuō)道："要拿的話得要不少天才能卸完，因?yàn)樘嗔耍褪前阉鼈兎旁谶@兒最大的房間里也放不下呀。"他這一說(shuō)，公主的好奇心和欲望越發(fā)大了，忍不住說(shuō)道："帶我到你們的船上去吧，我要親自看看你主人的貨物。"
忠實(shí)的約翰非常高興，引著她來(lái)到岸邊。當(dāng)國(guó)王看見她時(shí)，他覺得自己的心都要跳出嗓子眼了，情不自禁地馬上迎了上去。公主一上船他就引她進(jìn)船艙去了。忠實(shí)的約翰來(lái)到船尾找著舵手，令他馬上起航，"張滿風(fēng)帆!"他喊道，"讓船在波濤中像鳥兒在空中飛行一樣地前進(jìn)。"
國(guó)王把船上的金制品一件一件地拿給公主過(guò)目，其中有各種各樣的碟子、杯子、盆子和珍禽異獸等等。公主滿心歡喜地欣賞著每一件藝術(shù)珍品，一點(diǎn)也沒有察覺船離岸起航。幾個(gè)小時(shí)過(guò)去了，在看完所有的東西后，她很有禮貌地對(duì)這個(gè)商人表示了謝意，說(shuō)她應(yīng)該回家了。可當(dāng)她走出船艙、來(lái)到船頭時(shí)，才發(fā)現(xiàn)船早已離岸，此刻船正張滿風(fēng)帆在茫茫大海上飛速航行。公主嚇得尖聲叫道："上帝啊!我被誘騙了，被拐走了，落進(jìn)了一個(gè)流動(dòng)商販的掌握之中，我寧可死去。"但國(guó)王卻拉著她的手說(shuō)道："我不是一個(gè)商人，我是一個(gè)國(guó)王，和你一樣出身于王室。用這種蒙騙你的方法把你帶出來(lái)，是因?yàn)槲曳浅７浅５貝勰恪．?dāng)?shù)谝淮慰吹侥愕漠嬒駮r(shí)我就情不自禁地昏倒在地上。"金屋公主聽完后，這才放下心來(lái)。經(jīng)過(guò)交談了解，她很快也傾心于他，愿意嫁給他做妻子了。
但就在他們?cè)诿Ｃ４蠛Ｉ虾叫兄畷r(shí)，卻發(fā)生了這樣一件事情。這天，忠實(shí)的約翰正坐在船頭吹奏他的長(zhǎng)笛，突然看見三只渡鴉在天空中向他飛過(guò)來(lái)，嘴里不停地嘰嘰喳喳。約翰懂得鳥語(yǔ)，所以，他馬上停止吹奏，留心聽著渡鴉之間的對(duì)話。第一只渡鴉說(shuō)："他去了!他贏得了金屋公主的愛，讓他去吧!"第二只渡鴉說(shuō)："不!他這一去，仍然得不到公主。"第三只渡鴉說(shuō)："他這一去，一定能娶她，你們看他倆在船上并肩在一起的親熱樣子吧!"接著第一只渡鴉又開口說(shuō)道："那對(duì)他有什么用?不信你就看吧，當(dāng)他們登上岸后，會(huì)有一匹紅棕色的馬向他跑來(lái)�？吹侥瞧ヱR，他肯定會(huì)騎上去。只要他騎上那匹馬，那馬就會(huì)載著他跳到空中去，他就再也別想看到他的愛人了。"第二只渡鴉接著說(shuō)道："正是這樣!正是這樣!但有什么辦法嗎?"第一只渡鴉說(shuō)："有，有!如果有人坐上那匹馬，抽出插在馬鞍里的匕首把馬刺死，年青的國(guó)王才能得救，可有誰(shuí)知道呢?就是有人知道，誰(shuí)又會(huì)告訴他呢?因?yàn)橹灰麑⒋耸赂嬖V國(guó)王，并因此而救了國(guó)王的命，那么，他的腿從腳趾到膝部整個(gè)都會(huì)變成石頭。"第二只渡鴉說(shuō)："正是這樣，正是這樣!但我還知道別的哩!盡管那馬死了，國(guó)王還是娶不到新娘。因?yàn)楫?dāng)他們一起走進(jìn)王宮時(shí)，就會(huì)看到睡椅上有一套新婚禮服，那套禮服看起來(lái)就像用金子和銀子編織而成的，其實(shí)那都是一些硫磺和瀝膏。只要他穿上那套禮服，禮服就會(huì)把他燒死，一直燒到骨髓里面去。"第三只渡鴉說(shuō)道："哎呀呀!難道就沒救了嗎?"第二只渡鴉說(shuō)："哦!有，有!如果有人搶上前去，抓起禮服把它們?nèi)舆M(jìn)火盆里去，年青的國(guó)王就得救了。但那有什么用呢?要是有誰(shuí)知道，并告訴了這個(gè)人，他按這種辦法救了國(guó)王，那他的身體從膝蓋到胸部都會(huì)變成石頭，誰(shuí)又會(huì)這樣干呢?"第三只渡鴉又說(shuō)道："還有，還有!我知道的還要多一些哩!即使禮服被燒掉了，但國(guó)王仍然娶不成新娘。因?yàn)�，在結(jié)婚典禮之后，當(dāng)舞會(huì)開始時(shí)，只要年青的王后上去跳舞，她馬上會(huì)倒在地上，臉色蒼白得像死人一樣。不過(guò)，這時(shí)要是有人上前扶起她，從她的右乳房中吸出三滴血，她才不會(huì)死去。但要是有誰(shuí)知道這些，又將這個(gè)方法告訴某個(gè)人，這個(gè)人按這個(gè)方法救了新娘，那他的身體從腳尖到頭頂都會(huì)變成石頭。"接著，渡鴉拍著翅膀飛走了。忠實(shí)的約翰已聽懂了一切，他開始犯愁了，可他并沒有把他聽到的事情告訴他的主人。因?yàn)樗廊绻嬖V了他，他一定會(huì)舍生救自己，最后他自言自語(yǔ)地說(shuō)："我一定要忠實(shí)地執(zhí)行我的諾言，那怕付出自己的生命也要救我的主人。"
在他們上岸后，渡鴉的預(yù)言應(yīng)驗(yàn)了，岸邊突然跳出一匹神俊的紅棕色馬來(lái)，國(guó)王喊道："快看，他一定會(huì)把我們送到王宮去的。"說(shuō)完就要去上馬。說(shuō)時(shí)遲，那時(shí)快，忠實(shí)的約翰搶在他之前騎上馬，抽出匕首把馬殺死了。國(guó)王的其他仆人原來(lái)就對(duì)他很嫉妒，這一來(lái)，他們都叫道："他殺死送國(guó)王回宮的駿馬，太不像話了!"但國(guó)王卻說(shuō)道："讓他去做吧，他是我忠實(shí)的約翰，誰(shuí)知道他這樣做不是為了有好的結(jié)果呢?"
當(dāng)他們來(lái)到王宮，看見有間房子的靠椅上放著一套漂亮的禮服，禮服閃爍著金色和銀色的光芒。年青的國(guó)王走上前去準(zhǔn)備把它們拿起來(lái)，但忠實(shí)的約翰卻把它們一把抓過(guò)，扔進(jìn)火里燒掉了。其他的仆人又咕噥著說(shuō)："看吧，現(xiàn)在他又把結(jié)婚禮服給燒掉了。"但國(guó)王還是說(shuō)道："誰(shuí)知道他這么做是為了什么呢?讓他做吧!他是我忠實(shí)的仆人約翰。"
結(jié)婚盛典舉行后，舞會(huì)開始了，新娘一走進(jìn)舞場(chǎng)，約翰就全神貫注地盯著她的臉，突然間，新娘臉色蒼白，就像死了一樣倒在地上。約翰迅速地彈身向她躍去，將她挾起，抱著她來(lái)到內(nèi)室一張靠椅上，從她的右乳房中吸出了三滴血。新娘又開始呼吸，并活了過(guò)來(lái)。但年青的國(guó)王看到了全部過(guò)程，他不知道忠實(shí)的約翰為什么要這樣做，只是對(duì)他的膽大妄為非常氣憤，便下令說(shuō)道："把他關(guān)到牢房里去。"
第二天上午，忠實(shí)的約翰被押出牢房，推到了絞刑架前，面對(duì)絞刑架，他說(shuō)道："在我死之前，我可以說(shuō)件事嗎?"國(guó)王回答說(shuō)："準(zhǔn)許你的請(qǐng)求。"于是，約翰將在海上聽到渡鴉的對(duì)話以及他如何決心救自己主子的全部經(jīng)過(guò)都說(shuō)了出來(lái)，最后他說(shuō)道："我現(xiàn)在受到了錯(cuò)誤的判決，但我自始至終都是忠實(shí)而真誠(chéng)的。"
當(dāng)聽完約翰的敘述，國(guó)王大聲呼喊道："哎呀!我最忠實(shí)的約翰!請(qǐng)?jiān)徫?請(qǐng)?jiān)徫?快把他放下來(lái)!"但就在忠實(shí)的約翰說(shuō)完最后一句話之后，他倒下去變成了一塊沒有生命的石頭。國(guó)王和王后趴在石像上悲痛不已，國(guó)王說(shuō)道："天哪!我竟然以這種忘恩負(fù)義的方法來(lái)對(duì)待你的忠誠(chéng)呀!"他令人將石像扶起，抬到了他的臥室，安放在自己的床邊，使自己能經(jīng)常看到它、哀悼它。他對(duì)石像說(shuō)："唉--!我忠實(shí)的約翰，但愿我能讓你復(fù)活!"
過(guò)了一年，王后生下了兩個(gè)雙胞胎兒子，看著他們慢慢長(zhǎng)大，她心里高興極了。有一天，她去了教堂，兩個(gè)兒子和國(guó)王待在王宮里。小家伙到處玩耍，國(guó)王對(duì)著石像唉聲嘆氣，哭泣著說(shuō)道："唉，我忠實(shí)的約翰，但愿我能夠讓你復(fù)活!"這一次，石像竟開始說(shuō)話了，它說(shuō)道："國(guó)王啊!要是你為我能舍棄你最親愛的人兒，就能讓我復(fù)活。"國(guó)王一聽，堅(jiān)定地說(shuō)道："為了你，我愿付出世界上的任何東西。""既然這樣，"石像說(shuō)道，"只要你砍下你兩個(gè)孩子的頭，將他們的血灑在我身上，我就會(huì)復(fù)活了。"聽到這里，國(guó)王馬上震驚起來(lái)，但他想到忠實(shí)的約翰是為他而死去的，想到他對(duì)自己忠心耿耿、誓死如歸的高尚品行，便站直身來(lái)，拔出佩劍，準(zhǔn)備去砍下他兩個(gè)孩子的頭，將他們的血灑在石像上。但就在他拔出佩劍的一剎那，忠實(shí)的約翰復(fù)活了，他站在國(guó)王的面前，擋住了他的去路，說(shuō)道："你的真心誠(chéng)意應(yīng)該得到報(bào)答。"兩個(gè)孩子仍歡蹦活跳、喧鬧嘻戲著，就像什么事也沒有發(fā)生過(guò)一樣。
國(guó)王滿心歡喜。當(dāng)他看到王后回來(lái)了，就想試一試她。他把忠實(shí)的約翰和兩個(gè)兒子藏進(jìn)了一個(gè)大衣櫥里面。當(dāng)走她進(jìn)房子后，他對(duì)她說(shuō)："你去教堂祈禱了嗎?"王后回答："是的，我總是思念著忠實(shí)的約翰，想著他對(duì)我們的忠誠(chéng)。"國(guó)王說(shuō)道："親愛的夫人，我們能夠使約翰復(fù)活，但必須以我們小兒子的死作代價(jià)，要救他就得舍去他們。"王后聽了大吃一驚，臉唰地變得毫無(wú)血色，但她仍堅(jiān)定地說(shuō)道："只好這樣了，沒有他無(wú)私的忠心與真誠(chéng)，就沒有我們的今天，沒有我們的小孩。"國(guó)王欣喜若狂地歡呼起來(lái)，因?yàn)槠拮雍妥约旱南敕ㄍ耆粯印ＫR上跑去打開衣櫥，把兩個(gè)孩子和忠實(shí)的約翰放了出來(lái)，說(shuō)道："上帝也會(huì)為此而感到驕傲!他又和我們?cè)谝黄鹆�，我們的兒子也安然無(wú)恙。"接著他把全部經(jīng)過(guò)告訴了她，大家高高興興歡地歡聚一堂，生活又充滿了幸福和快樂。
忠實(shí)的約翰英文版：
Trusty John
There was once on a time an old king who was ill, and thought to himself, "I am lying on what must be my death-bed." Then said he, " Tell Faithful John to come to me." Faithful John was his favourite servant, and was so called, because he had for his whole life long been so true to him. When therefore he came beside the bed, the King said to him, "Most faithful John, I feel my end approaching, and have no anxiety except about my son. He is still of tender age, and cannot always know how to guide himself. If thou dost not promise me to teach him everything that he ought to know, and to be his foster-father, I cannot close my eyes in peace." Then answered Faithful John, "I will not forsake him, and will serve him with fidelity, even if it should cost me my life." On this, the old King said, "Now I die in comfort and peace." Then he added, "After my death, thou shalt show him the whole castle: all the chambers, halls, and vaults, and all the treasures which lie therein, but the last chamber in the long gallery, in which is the picture of the princess of the Golden Dwelling, shalt thou not show. If he sees that picture, he will fall violently in love with her, and will drop down in a swoon, and go through great danger for her sake, therefore thou must preserve him from that." And when Faithful John had once more given his promise to the old King about this, the King said no more, but laid his head on his pillow, and died.
When the old King had been carried to his grave, Faithful John told the young King all that he had promised his father on his deathbed, and said, "This will I assuredly perform, and will be faithful to thee as I have been faithful to him, even if it should cost me my life." When the mourning was over, Faithful John said to him, "It is now time that thou shouldst see thine inheritance. I will show thee thy father's palace." Then he took him about everywhere, up and down, and let him see all the riches, and the magnificent apartments, only there was one room which he did not open, that in which hung the dangerous picture. The picture was, however, so placed that when the door was opened you looked straight on it, and it was so admirably painted that it seemed to breathe and live, and there was nothing more charming or more beautiful in the whole world. The young King, however, plainly remarked that Faithful John always walked past this one door, and said, "Why dost thou never open this one for me?" - "There is something within it," he replied, "which would terrify thee." But the King answered, "I have seen all the palace, and I will know what is in this room also," and he went and tried to break open the door by force. Then Faithful John held him back and said, "I promised thy father before his death that thou shouldst not see that which is in this chamber, it might bring the greatest misfortune on thee and on me." - "Ah, no," replied the young King, "if I do not go in, it will be my certain destruction. I should have no rest day or night until I had seen it with my own eyes. I shall not leave the place now until thou hast unlocked the door."
Then Faithful John saw that there was no help for it now, and with a heavy heart and many sighs, sought out the key from the great bunch. When he had opened the door, he went in first, and thought by standing before him he could hide the portrait so that the King should not see it in front of him, but what availed that? The King stood on tip-toe and saw it over his shoulder. And when he saw the portrait of the maiden, which was so magnificent and shone with gold and precious stones, he fell fainting to the ground. Faithful John took him up, carried him to his bed, and sorrowfully thought, "The misfortune has befallen us, Lord God, what will be the end of it?" Then he strengthened him with wine, until he came to himself again. The first words the King said were, "Ah, the beautiful portrait! whose it it?" - "That is the princess of the Golden Dwelling," answered Faithful John. Then the King continued, "My love for her is so great, that if all the leaves on all the trees were tongues, they could not declare it. I will give my life to win her. Thou art my most Faithful John, thou must help me."
The faithful servant considered within himself for a long time how to set about the matter, for it was difficult even to obtain a sight of the King's daughter. At length he thought of a way, and said to the King, "Everything which she has about her is of gold - tables, chairs, dishes, glasses, bowls, and household furniture. Among thy treasures are five tons of gold; let one of the goldsmiths of the Kingdom work these up into all manner of vessels and utensils, into all kinds of birds, wild beasts and strange animals, such as may please her, and we will go there with them and try our luck." The King ordered all the goldsmiths to be brought to him, and they had to work night and day until at last the most splendid things were prepared. When everything was stowed on board a ship, Faithful John put on the dress of a merchant, and the King was forced to do the same in order to make himself quite unrecognizable. Then they sailed across the sea, and sailed on until they came to the town wherein dwelt the princess of the Golden Dwelling.
Faithful John bade the King stay behind on the ship, and wait for him. "Perhaps I shall bring the princess with me," said he, "therefore see that everything is in order; have the golden vessels set out and the whole ship decorated." Then he gathered together in his apron all kinds of gold things, went on shore and walked straight to the royal palace. When he entered the courtyard of the palace, a beautiful girl was standing there by the well with two golden buckets in her hand, drawing water with them. And when she was just turning round to carry away the sparkling water she saw the stranger, and asked who he was. So he answered, "I am a merchant," and opened his apron, and let her look in. Then she cried, "Oh, what beautiful gold things!" and put her pails down and looked at the golden wares one after the other. Then said the girl, "The princess must see these, she has such great pleasure in golden things, that she will buy all you have." She took him by the hand and led him upstairs, for she was the waiting-maid. When the King's daughter saw the wares, she was quite delighted and said, "They are so beautifully worked, that I will buy them all of thee." But Faithful John said, "I am only the servant of a rich merchant. The things I have here are not to be compared with those my master has in his ship. They are the most beautiful and valuable things that have ever been made in gold." She wanted to have everything brought to her there, but he said, "There are so many of them that it would take a great many days to do that, and so many rooms would be required to exhibit them, that your house is not big enough." Then her curiosity and longing were still more excited, until at last she said, "Conduct me to the ship, I will go there myself, and behold the treasures of thine master."
On this Faithful John was quite delighted, and led her to the ship, and when the King saw her, he perceived that her beauty was even greater than the picture had represented it to be, and thought no other than that his heart would burst in twain. Then she got into the ship, and the King led her within. Faithful John, however, remained behind with the pilot, and ordered the ship to be pushed off, saying, "Set all sail, till it fly like a bird in air." Within, however, the King showed her the golden vessels, every one of them, also the wild beasts and strange animals. Many hours went by whilst she was seeing everything, and in her delight she did not observe that the ship was sailing away. After she had looked at the last, she thanked the merchant and wanted to go home, but when she came to the side of the ship, she saw that it was on the deep sea far from land, and hurrying onwards with all sail set. "Ah," cried she in her alarm, "I am betrayed! I am carried away and have fallen into the power of a merchant - I would die rather!" The King, however, seized her hand, and said, "I am not a merchant. I am a king, and of no meaner origin than thou art, and if I have carried thee away with subtlety, that has come to pass because of my exceeding great love for thee. The first time that I looked on thy portrait, I fell fainting to the ground." When the princess of the Golden Dwelling heard that, she was comforted, and her heart was inclined unto him, so that she willingly consented to be his wife.
It so happened, however, while they were sailing onwards over the deep sea, that Faithful John, who was sitting on the fore part of the vessel, making music, saw three ravens in the air, which came flying towards them. On this he stopped playing and listened to what they were saying to each other, for that he well understood. One cried, "Oh, there he is carrying home the princess of the Golden Dwelling." - "Yes," replied the second, "but he has not got her yet." Said the third, "But he has got her, she is sitting beside him in the ship." Then the first began again, and cried, "What good will that do him? When they reach land a chestnut horse will leap forward to meet him, and the prince will want to mount it, but if he does that, it will run away with him, and rise up into the air with him, and he will never see his maiden more." Spake the second, "But is there no escape?" - "Oh, yes, if any one else gets on it swiftly, and takes out the pistol which must be in its holster, and shoots the horse dead with it, the young King is saved. But who knows that? And whosoever does know it, and tells it to him, will be turned to stone from the toe to the knee." Then said the second, "I know more than that; even if the horse be killed, the young King will still not keep his bride. When they go into the castle together, a wrought bridal garment will be lying there in a dish, and looking as if it were woven of gold and silver; it is, however, nothing but sulphur and pitch, and if he put it on, it will burn him to the very bone and marrow." Said the third, "Is there no escape at all?" - "Oh, yes," replied the second, "if any one with gloves on seizes the garment and throws it into the fire and burns it, the young King will be saved. "But what avails that?" Whosoever knows it and tells it to him, half his body will become stone from the knee to the heart." Then said the third, "I know still more; even if the bridal garment be burnt, the young King will still not have his bride. After the wedding, when the dancing begins and the young queen is dancing, she will suddenly turn pale and fall down as if dead, and if some one does not lift her up and draw three drops of blood from her right breast and spit them out again, she will die. But if any one who knows that were to declare it, he would become stone from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot." When the ravens had spoken of this together, they flew onwards, and Faithful John had well understood everything, but from that time forth he became quiet and sad, for if he concealed what he had heard from his master, the latter would be unfortunate, and if he discovered it to him, he himself must sacrifice his life. At length, however, he said to himself, "I will save my master, even if it bring destruction on myself."
When therefore they came to shore, all happened as had been foretold by the ravens, and a magnificent chestnut horse sprang forward. "Good," said the King, "he shall carry me to my palace," and was about to mount it when Faithful John got before him, jumped quickly on it, drew the pistol out of the holster, and shot the horse. Then the other attendants of the King, who after all were not very fond of Faithful John, cried, "How shameful to kill the beautiful animal, that was to have carried the King to his palace." But the King said, "Hold your peace and leave him alone, he is my most faithful John, who knows what may be the good of that!" They went into the palace, and in the hall there stood a dish, and therein lay the bridal garment looking no otherwise than as if it were made of gold and silver. The young King went towards it and was about to take hold of it, but Faithful John pushed him away, seized it with gloves on, carried it quickly to the fire and burnt it. The other attendants again began to murmur, and said, "Behold, now he is even burning the King's bridal garment!" But the young King said, "Who knows what good he may have done, leave him alone, he is my most faithful John." And now the wedding was solemnized: the dance began, and the bride also took part in it; then Faithful John was watchful and looked into her face, and suddenly she turned pale and fell to the ground, as if she were dead. On this he ran hastily to her, lifted her up and bore her into a chamber - then he laid her down, and knelt and sucked the three drops of blood from her right breast, and spat them out. Immediately she breathed again and recovered herself, but the young King had seen this, and being ignorant why Faithful John had done it, was angry and cried, "Throw him into a dungeon." Next morning Faithful John was condemned, and led to the gallows, and when he stood on high, and was about to be executed, he said, "Every one who has to die is permitted before his end to make one last speech; may I too claim the right?" - "Yes," answered the King, "it shall be granted unto thee." Then said Faithful John, "I am unjustly condemned, and have always been true to thee," and he related how he had hearkened to the conversation of the ravens when on the sea, and how he had been obliged to do all these things in order to save his master. Then cried the King, "Oh, my most Faithful John. Pardon, pardon - bring him down." But as Faithful John spoke the last word he had fallen down lifeless and become a stone.
Thereupon the King and the Queen suffered great anguish, and the King said, "Ah, how ill I have requited great fidelity!" and ordered the stone figure to be taken up and placed in his bedroom beside his bed. And as often as he looked on it he wept and said, "Ah, if I could bring thee to life again, my most faithful John." Some time passed and the Queen bore twins, two sons who grew fast and were her delight. Once when the Queen was at church and the two children were sitting playing beside their father, the latter full of grief again looked at the stone figure, sighed and said, "Ah, if I could but bring thee to life again, my most faithful John." Then the stone began to speak and said, "Thou canst bring me to life again if thou wilt use for that purpose what is dearest to thee." Then cried the King, "I will give everything I have in the world for thee." The stone continued, "If thou wilt will cut off the heads of thy two children with thine own hand, and sprinkle me with their blood, I shall be restored to life." The King was terrified when he heard that he himself must kill his dearest children, but he thought of faithful John's great fidelity, and how he had died for him, drew his sword, and with his own hand cut off the children's heads. And when he had smeared the stone with their blood, life returned to it, and Faithful John stood once more safe and healthy before him. He said to the King, "Thy truth shall not go unrewarded," and took the heads of the children, put them on again, and rubbed the wounds with their blood, on which they became whole again immediately, and jumped about, and went on playing as if nothing had happened. Then the King was full of joy, and when he saw the Queen coming he hid Faithful John and the two children in a great cupboard. When she entered, he said to her, "Hast thou been praying in the church?" - "Yes," answered she, "but I have constantly been thinking of Faithful John and what misfortune has befallen him through us." Then said he, "Dear wife, we can give him his life again, but it will cost us our two little sons, whom we must sacrifice." The Queen turned pale, and her heart was full of terror, but she said, "We owe it to him, for his great fidelity." Then the King was rejoiced that she thought as he had thought, and went and opened the cupboard, and brought forth Faithful John and the children, and said, "God be praised, he is delivered, and we have our little sons again also," and told her how everything had occurred. Then they dwelt together in much happiness until their death.
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