按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE GRATEFUL BEASTS＇11＇
＇11＇ From the Hungarian。 Kletke。
There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three
fine…looking sons； but they were so poor that they had hardly
enough food for themselves； let alone their children。 So the
sons determined to set out into the world and to try their luck。
Before starting their mother gave them each a loaf of bread and
her blessing； and having taken a tender farewell of her and their
father the three set forth on their travels。
The youngest of the three brothers； whose name was Ferko； was a
beautiful youth； with a splendid figure； blue eyes； fair hair；
and a complexion like milk and roses。 His two brothers were as
jealous of him as they could be； for they thought that with his
good looks he would be sure to be more fortunate than they would
ever be。
One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree； for the
sun was hot and they were tired of walking。 Ferko fell fast
asleep； but the other two remained awake； and the eldest said to
the second brother； 'What do you say to doing our brother Ferko
some harm？ He is so beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to
him； which is more than they do to us。 If we could only get him
out of the way we might succeed better。'
'I quite agree with you；' answered the second brother； 'and my
advice is to eat up his loaf of bread； and then to refuse to give
him a bit of ours until he has promised to let us put out his
eyes or break his legs。'
His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal； and the two
wicked wretches seized Ferko's loaf and ate it all up； while the
poor boy was still asleep。
When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his
bread； but his brothers cried out； 'You ate your loaf in your
sleep； you glutton； and you may starve as long as you like； but
you won't get a scrap of ours。'
Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his
sleep； but he said nothing； and fasted all that day and the next
night。 But on the following morning he was so hungry that he
burst into tears； and implored his brothers to give him a little
bit of their bread。 Then the cruel creatures laughed； and
repeated what they had said the day before； but when Ferko
continued to beg and beseech them； the eldest said at last； 'If
you will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your
legs； then we will give you a bit of our bread。'
At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before； and
bore the torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens；
then he could stand it no longer； and he consented to allow his
left eye to be put out and his left leg to be broken。 When this
was done he stretched out his hand eagerly for the piece of
bread； but his brothers gave him such a tiny scrap that the
starving youth finished it in a moment and besought them for a
second bit。
But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying
of hunger； the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed。
So he endured the pangs of starvation all that day； but when
night came his endurance gave way； and he let his right eye be
put out and his right leg broken for a second piece of bread。
After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured
him for life； they left him groaning on the ground and continued
their journey without him。
Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept
bitterly； but no one heard him or came to his help。 Night came
on； and the poor blind youth had no eyes to close； and could only
crawl along the ground； not knowing in the least where he was
going。 But when the sun was once more high in the heavens； Ferko
felt the blazing heat scorch him； and sought for some cool shady
place to rest his aching limbs。 He climbed to the top of a hill
and lay down in the grass； and as he thought under the shadow of
a big tree。 But it was no tree he leant against； but a gallows
on which two ravens were seated。 The one was saying to the other
as the weary youth lay down； 'Is there anything the least
wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood？'
'I should just think there was；' replied the other； 'many things
that don't exist anywhere else in the world。 There is a lake
down there below us； and anyone who bathes in it； though he were
at death's door； becomes sound and well on the spot； and those
who wash their eyes with the dew on this hill become as
sharp…sighted as the eagle； even if they have been blind from
their youth。'
'Well；' answered the first raven； 'my eyes are in no want of this
healing bath； for； Heaven be praised； they are as good as ever
they were； but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since
it was shot by an arrow many years ago； so let us fly at once to
the lake that I may be restored to health and strength again。'
And so they flew away。
Their words rejoiced Ferko's heart； and he waited impatiently
till evening should come and he could rub the precious dew on his
sightless eyes。
At last it began to grow dusk； and the sun sank behind the
mountains； gradually it became cooler on the hill； and the grass
grew wet with dew。 Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till
his eyes were damp with dewdrops； and in a moment he saw clearer
than he had ever done in his life before。 The moon was shining
brightly； and lighted him to the lake where he could bathe his
poor broken legs。
Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs
in the water。 No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as
sound and strong as they had been before； and Ferko thanked the
kind fate that had led him to the hill where he had overheard the
ravens' conversation。 He filled a bottle with the healing water；
and then continued his journey in the best of spirits。
He had not gone far before he met a wolf； who was limping
disconsolately along on three legs； and who on perceiving Ferko
began to howl dismally。
'My good friend；' said the youth； 'be of good cheer； for I can
soon heal your leg；' and with these words he poured some of the
precious water over the wolf's paw； and in a minute the animal
was springing about sound and well on all fours。 The grateful
creature thanked his benefactor warmly； and promised Ferko to do
him a good turn if he should ever need it。
Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field。 Here
he noticed a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind
paws； for its front paws had both been broken in a trap。
Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in
the most friendly manner； and washed its small paws with the
healing water。 In a moment the mouse was sound and whole； and
after thanking the kind physician it scampered away over the
ploughed furrows。
Ferko again proceeded on his journey； but he hadn't gone far
before a queen bee flew against him； trailing one wing behind
her； which had been cruelly torn in two by a big bird。 Ferko
was no less willing to help her than he had been to help the wolf
and the mouse； so he poured some healing drops over the wounded
wing。 On the spot the queen bee was cured； and turning to Ferko
she said； 'I am most grateful for your kindness； and shall reward
you some day。' And with these words she flew away humming；
gaily。
Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day； and at length reached
a strange kingdom。 Here； he thought to himself； he might as well
go straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of
the country； for he had heard that the King's daughter was as
beautiful as the day。
So he went to the royal palace； and as he entered the door the
first people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully
ill…treated him。 They had managed to obtain places in the King's
service； and when they recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs
sound and well they were frightened to death； for they feared he
would tell the King of their conduct； and that they would be
hung。
No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned
on the handsome youth； and the King's daughter herself was lost
in admiration； for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her
life before。 His brothers noticed this； and envy and jealousy
were added to their fear； so much so that they determined once
more to destroy him。 They went to the King and told him that
Ferko was a wicked magician； who had come to the palace with the
intention of carrying off the Princess。
Then the King had Ferko brought before him； and said； 'You are
accused of being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter；
and I condemn you to death； but if you can fulfil three tasks
which I shall set you to do your life shall be spared； on
condition you leave the country； but if you cannot perform what I
demand you shall be hung on the nearest tree。'
And turning to the two wicked brothers he said； 'Suggest