- 相關推薦
格林童話故事第04篇：傻小子學害怕中英文版本
引導語：關于格林的童話故事，大家知道哪些?下面小編收集的《傻小子學害怕》，故事講述了一開始傻小子因為膽子很大，把教他學害怕的老師推下了樓房，害得老師摔斷了腿，所以父親把他趕了出去。歡迎大家閱讀下文的中英文版本的。
有位父親，膝下有兩個兒子。大兒子聰明伶俐，遇事都能應付自如;小兒子呢，卻呆頭呆腦，啥也不懂，還啥也不學，人們看見他時都異口同聲地說："他父親為他得操多少心哪!"
遇到有什么事兒要辦的時候，總得大兒子出面去辦;不過，要是天晚了，或者深更半夜的時候，父親還要他去取什么東西的話，而且要路過墓地，或者其它令人毛骨悚然的地方，他就會回答說："啊，爸爸，我可不去，我害怕!"他是真的害怕。
晚上，一家人圍坐在火爐旁講故事，講到令人毛發悚立的時候，聽故事的人里就會有人說："真可怕呀!"小兒子在這種時候，總是一個人坐在屋角里聽他們說話，卻怎么也不明白他們說的是什么意思，于是他常常大聲地說："他們都說，'我害怕!我害怕!'可我從來不害怕。我想這一定是一種本領，是一種我完全弄不懂的本領。"
有一天，父親對他說："你就呆在角落里，給我聽好了。你已經是一個強壯的小伙子了，也該學點養活自己的本事了。你看你哥哥，多么勤奮好學;你再看看你自己，好話都當成了耳邊風。"
"爸爸，你說的沒錯，"小兒子回答說，"我非常愿意學點本事。要是辦得到的話，我很想學會害怕，我還一點兒也不會害怕呢。"
哥哥聽了這話，哈哈大笑起來，心想，"我的天哪，我弟弟可真是個傻瓜蛋;他一輩子都沒什么指望了。三歲看小，七歲看老嘛。"父親嘆了一口氣，對小兒子回答說："我保證，你早晚能學會害怕;不過，靠害怕是養活不了自己的。"
過了不多日子，教堂的執事到他們家來作客，于是父親向他訴說了自己的心事，抱怨他的小兒子簡直傻透了，啥也不會，還啥也不學。他對執事說："您想一想，我問他將來打算靠什么來養活自己，他卻說要學會害怕。"
執事聽了回答說："如果他想的只是這個的話，那他很快能學會的。讓他跟我走好啦，我替你整治他。"
父親滿口答應，心想，"不論怎么說，這小子這回該長進一點啦。"于是，執事就把小兒子帶回了家，叫他在教堂敲鐘。
幾天后的一個深夜，執事把小兒子叫醒，要他起床后到教堂鐘樓上去敲鐘。"這回我要教教你什么是害怕。"執事心里想著，隨后悄悄地先上了鐘樓。小兒子來到鐘樓，轉身去抓敲鐘的繩子的時候，卻發現一個白色的人影兒，正對著窗口站在樓梯上。
"那是誰呀?"他大聲地問，可是那個影子卻不回答，一動不動地站在那兒。
"回話呀!"小伙子扯著嗓子吼道，"要不就給我滾開!深更半夜的你來干啥!"
可是執事呢，仍然一動不動地站在那兒，想叫小伙子以為他是個鬼怪。
小伙子又一次大聲吼道："你想在這兒干啥?說呀，你實話實說，不說我就把你扔到樓下去。"
執事心想："他不會那么做"，因此他依然一聲不響，一動不動地站在那兒，就像泥塑木雕的一般。
接著小伙子第三次沖他吼叫，可還是沒有一點兒用，于是小伙子猛撲過去，一把將鬼怪推下了樓梯。鬼怪在樓梯上翻滾了十多級，才躺在墻角不動了。接著小伙子去敲鐘，敲完鐘回到了他自己的房間后，一言未發，倒頭便睡。
執事的太太左等右等卻不見丈夫回來，后來她感到很擔憂，就叫醒了小伙子，問他："你知不知道我丈夫在哪兒?他在你之前上的鐘樓。"
"不知道，"小伙子回答說，"不過，有個人當時對著窗口站在樓梯上。我朝他大吼大叫，他不答話，也不走開，我想那一定是個壞蛋，就一下子把他從樓梯上推了下去。您去看看，就知道是不是您丈夫了。要是的話，我非常抱歉。"
執事的太太急匆匆跑了出去，發現她丈夫正躺在墻角，一邊呻吟一邊嘆息，因為他的一條腿給摔斷了。
執事的太太把他背回了家，隨后跑去見小伙子的父親，對著他大喊大叫："你的那個小子闖下了大禍。他把我丈夫從鐘樓的樓梯上一把給推了下來，腿都摔斷了。把這個廢物從我們家領走吧。"
一聽這些，父親驚慌失措，風風火火地跑到執事家，對著兒子破口大罵："你一定是著了魔，竟干出這等混賬事來!"
"爸爸，"小伙子申辯說，"一點兒都不怪我呀。您聽我說：他深更半夜的站在那里，好像是來干壞事的。我哪里知道那是誰呀!我一連三次大聲地告訴他，要么答腔兒，要么走開。"
"唉!"父親說道，"你只會給我召災惹禍。你給我走得遠遠的，別讓我再見到你。"
"好吧，爸爸，"小伙子回答說，"可得等到天亮才成。天一亮，我就去學害怕。起碼我要學會養活自己的本事。"
"你想學啥就去學吧，"父親說道，"反正對我都是一回事。給你五十個銀幣，拿著闖蕩世界去吧。記著，跟誰也別說你是從哪兒出去的，你父親是誰。有你這樣一個兒子我臉都丟光了。"
"那好吧，爸爸，我就照您說的去做好啦。"小伙子回答說，"如果您不再提別的要求的話，這事太容易辦到啦。"
天亮了，小伙子把那五十個銀幣裝進衣袋里，從家中走出來，上了大路。他一邊走，一邊不停地自言自語："我要是會害怕該多好啊!我要是會害怕該多好啊!"
過了不久，有一個人從后面趕了上來，聽見了小伙子自言自語時所說的話。他們一塊兒走了一段路程，來到了一個看得見絞架的地方，這個人對小伙子說："你瞧!那邊有棵樹，樹上一共吊著七個強盜。你坐在樹下，等到天黑了，你準能學會害怕。"
"如果只要我做這個的話，那太容易啦。"小伙子回答說，"要是我真的這么快就學會了害怕，我這五十個銀幣就歸你啦。明天早晨你再來一趟。"
小伙子說完就朝絞架走去，然后坐在絞架的下面，等著夜幕的降臨。他坐在那里感到很冷，于是就生起了一堆火。可是夜半風起，寒冷難耐，他雖然烤著火，還是感到很冷。寒風吹得吊著的死尸蕩來蕩去，相互碰撞。他心想，"我坐在火堆旁還感到挺冷的，那幾個可憐的家伙吊在那里，該多冷呀。"小伙子的心腸可真好：他搭起梯子，然后爬上去，解開了這些被絞死的強盜身上的繩索，再一個接一個地把他們放下來。接著他把火撥旺，吹了又吹，使火堆熊熊燃燒起來。然后他把他們抱過來，圍著火堆坐了一圈，讓他們暖暖身子。可是這些家伙坐在那里紋絲不動，甚至火燒著了他們的衣服，他們還是一動也不動。于是小伙子對他們說："你們在干什么?小心點啊!要不我就把你們再吊上去。"可是這些被絞死的強盜根本聽不見他的話，他們仍然一聲不吭，讓自己的破衣爛衫被火燒著。
小伙子這下子可真生氣了，于是就說："你們一點兒都不小心，我可幫不了你們啦，我才不愿意和你們一起讓火燒死呢。"說完，他又把他們一個接一個地全都吊了上去。然后，他在火堆旁坐了下來，不一會兒就睡著了。
第二天清早，那個人來到小伙子面前，想得到他的五十個銀幣。他對小伙子說："喂，我想你現在知道什么是害怕了吧?"
"不知道哇，"小伙子回答說，"我怎樣才能知道呢?上邊吊著的那些可憐的家伙，怎么都不開口，個個是傻瓜，身上就穿那么點兒破破爛爛的衣服，燒著了還不在乎。"
聽了這話，那個人心里就明白了，他是怎么也贏不到小伙子的五十個銀幣了，于是，他就走了，走的時候說道："我活這么大歲數還從來沒有見到過這樣的人呢。"
小伙子又上了路，路上又開始嘀嘀咕咕地自言自語："我要是會害怕該多好啊!我要是會害怕該多好啊!"
一個從后面趕上來的車夫聽見了小伙子的話，就問道：
"你是誰呀?"
"我不知道。"小伙子答道。
車夫接著問道："你打哪兒來呀?"
"我不知道。"
"你父親是誰?"
"這我可不能告訴你。"
"你一個勁兒地在嘀咕些啥呢?"
"咳，"小伙子回答說，"我想學會害怕，可沒誰能教會我。"
"別說蠢話啦，"車夫說道，"跟我走吧。我先給你找個住的地方。"
小伙子跟著車夫上了路，傍晚時分他們來到了一家小旅店，打定主意要在這兒過夜。他們進屋時，小伙子又高聲大嗓門地說了起來："我要是會害怕該多好啊!我要是會害怕該多好啊!"
店主無意中聽到了這話，就大聲地笑了起來，然后說：
"你要是想這個的話，這里倒是有一個好機會呀。"
"別再說了，"店主的太太說道，"有多少冒失鬼都在那里送了命啊。要是這個小伙子的那雙漂亮的眼睛，再也見不到陽光了，那多可惜呀。"
聽了店主太太的這番話，小伙子卻說："我一定要學會，不管多么艱難，我都不在乎。正是為了這個我才從家里出來闖蕩的。"小伙子死纏著店主不放，店主只好告訴他：離小旅店不遠，有一座魔宮，誰要想知道害怕是怎么一回事，只要在那里呆三個夜晚就行了。國王已經許下諾言，誰愿意到魔宮里一試身手，就把公主許配給誰。那位公主啊，是天底下最最美麗的少女呢。在魔宮里，藏著大量的金銀財寶，由一群惡魔把守著。誰要是能得到這些金銀財寶，就是一個窮光蛋也會成為大富翁的。不少人冒險進到魔宮里去，可是都是有去無還。
第二天早晨，小伙子去見國王，他對國王說："如果能得到您的允許，我很高興到魔宮里去守夜三天。"
國王對小伙子上下打量了一番，覺得他挺不錯的，就回答說："你可以去，你還可以要三樣東西帶到魔宮里去，但必須是無生命的東西。"
"那么，"小伙子回答說，"我就要一把火、一個木匠工作臺，還要一臺帶刀的車床。"
國王吩咐把小伙子所要的東西在白天搬深到魔宮里去。黃昏時分，小伙子走進魔宮，在一個房間里生起了一堆熊熊燃燒的大火，把木匠工作臺和車刀放在火堆旁邊，自己則靠著車床坐下。"我要是會害怕該多好啊!"他說道，"沒準在這兒我還是學不會害怕。"
快到半夜的時候，小伙子打算往火堆里添柴，好讓火燒得旺些。正當他使勁兒吹火的時候，突然聽到從房間的一個角落里傳來的叫聲："喵兒，喵兒，我們好冷啊!"
"你們這幫笨蛋，"小伙子說道，"喵喵地叫喊個啥?要是真冷，就坐過來烤烤火。"
他話音剛落，就一下子跳過來兩只大黑貓，在他身旁坐下，一邊坐一只，瞪大眼睛惡狠狠地盯著他。過了一會兒，兩只黑貓烤暖和了，就對小伙子說："伙計，咱們一起打牌怎么樣?"
"那敢情好，"小伙子回答說，"不過呀，得先讓我看看你們的爪子。"兩只黑貓果真把爪子伸了過來。
"哎呀呀，你們的指甲好長啊!"小伙子大聲說道，"等一下，我來給你們剪一剪吧。"
小伙子說著就掐住它們的脖子，把它們放在木匠工作臺上，牢牢地夾住它們的爪子。然后他說："我已經看過你們的爪子了，我不喜歡和你們打牌。"說完，他把兩只黑貓給打死了，扔到了外面的水池里。
可是，他剛剛收拾了這兩只黑貓，準備回到火邊坐下的時候，從房間的各個角落、各個洞穴又鉆出成群的黑貓和黑狗，還拖著燒得火紅的鏈子，而且越來越多，多得連小伙子藏身的地方都沒有了。這些黑貓黑狗尖叫著，聲音非常嚇人，接著它們在火堆上踩來踩去，把火堆上燃燒的柴火拖得到處都是，想將火弄滅。起先，小伙子一聲不吭地忍受著它們的惡作劇，可等到它們鬧得太不像話了，他一把抓起車刀來，大聲喝道："都給我滾開，你們這幫流氓!"說著他就開始左劈右砍。有的貓狗逃之夭夭，沒逃掉的就被他砍死了，扔進了外面的水池里。
他回屋后，把余燼吹了又吹，使火重新熊熊燃燒起來，然后坐在火邊暖和暖和身子。他這樣做著坐著，眼睛漸漸地就睜不開了，他很想睡上一覺。他環顧四周，發現角落里有一張大床。"這正是我需要的東西。"他說道，然后就躺了上去。誰知他剛要合眼，大床卻開始移動，接著在魔宮中到處滾動。
"接著滾，挺好的，"小伙子喊叫著說，"想滾多快都行啊。"話音剛落，大床就像有六匹馬拉著似的，上下翻騰，飛也似的向前滾動，越過一道道門檻，翻越一段段樓梯。忽然間，轟隆一聲巨響，大床翻了個個兒，來了一個底朝天，像一座大山一樣壓在了小伙子的身上。可小伙子把床墊枕頭什么的猛地一掀，就鉆了出來，然后說道："現在誰想乘坐，就請便吧。"
說完他便躺在火堆旁，一覺睡到大天亮。
第二天早上，國王駕到。國王看見小伙子躺在地上，以為他喪生于鬼怪，確實死了，國王于是長吁短嘆，說道："多可惜啊!多帥的小伙子啊!"
小伙子聽到這話，一躍而起，說道："還沒到這份兒上!"
國王見此情景又驚又喜，問他情況如何。
"很好，"小伙子回答說，"已經過去了一夜，另外兩夜也會過去的。"
小伙子回到旅店，店主驚得目瞪口呆。他對小伙子說：
"我以為再也見不到你了。你學會害怕了嗎?"
"還沒有呢，"小伙子回答說，"完全是白費力氣。要是有誰能教我學會害怕就好啦!"
第二天晚上，小伙子又走進古老的魔宮。他在火堆旁坐下來之后，又開始老調重彈："我要是會害怕該多好啊!"
時近午夜，小伙子聽見一片嘈雜聲，由遠及近，越來越響，隨后又安靜了一小會兒，接著順著煙囪跌跌撞撞下來一個半截人，一步跨到小伙子的面前。"喂，"小伙子說，"還得有半截才行，這成什么樣子!"
說完，嘈雜聲又響了起來。隨著一陣喧囂，另半截身子也搖搖晃晃地落了下來。"等一等，"小伙子說，"我把火吹旺一點。"
當小伙子把火吹旺了，轉過頭來時，那兩個半截身子已經合在了一起，變成了一個面目猙獰可怕的家伙，正端坐在小伙子的座位上。
"我可沒這個意思，"小伙子大聲地嚷嚷說，"那座位是我的。"
那個家伙想把小伙子推開，可小伙子怎么會答應呢，一用勁兒把那家伙推開，重又坐在自己的座位上。隨后，越來越多這樣的家伙從煙囪落到地面，他們隨身帶著九根大骨頭和兩個骷髏，把骨頭立在地上就玩起了撞柱游戲。小伙子一見心里癢癢的，也想玩這種游戲，于是就問他們："喂，算我一個好嗎?"
"好哇，"他們回答說，"有錢就來玩。"
"錢我有的是，"小伙子回答說，"不過你們的球不太圓。"
說完他就抓起骷髏，放在車床上把骷髏車圓了。
"圓啦，"小伙子喊叫著說，"這回就滾得更順溜啦。我們會玩得很痛快!"
小伙子和他們一塊兒玩了起來，結果輸了一些錢。說也奇怪，午夜十二點的鐘聲響起時，眼前的一切消失得無影無蹤。于是小伙子默默地躺下睡覺。
第三天晚上，小伙子又坐在工作臺上，心情煩躁地叨咕：
"我要是會害怕該多好啊!"
話音剛落，突然走進來一個高大的男人，個頭比小伙子見過的任何人都高，樣子特別可怕。他已上了年紀，留著長長的白胡子。
"嘿，淘氣鬼!"他吼叫道，"你馬上就學會害怕啦!你死到臨頭啦!""沒那么容易吧，"小伙子回答說，"要我死，先得我答應。"
"我這就宰了你。"這個惡魔咆哮道。
"忙什么，忙什么，"小伙子對他說，"別盡吹牛皮。我覺得我和你的勁一樣大，或許比你的勁還要大。"
"那咱們較量較量。"老頭兒大叫道，"要是你比我勁大，我就放你走。過來，咱們比試比試吧。"
他領著小伙子穿過黑乎乎的通道，來到一座鐵匠爐前。老頭兒舉起一把斧頭，猛地一下，就把一個鐵砧砸進了地里。
"我會干得比這更漂亮。"小伙子一邊說著一邊朝另一個鐵砧走過去。老頭兒站在一旁觀看，白花花的胡子垂在胸前。小伙子一把抓起斧頭，一斧就把鐵砧劈成兩半，還把老頭兒的胡子緊緊地楔了進去。
"這下我可逮住你啦，"小伙子大叫道，"是你死到臨頭啦!"
說著小伙子順手抓起一根鐵棍，對著老家伙就亂打起來，打得他鬼哭狼嚎，央求小伙子住手，并告訴小伙子說，如果他住手，他會得到一大筆財富。于是小伙子將斧頭拔了出來，放開了老家伙的長胡子。
老頭兒領著小伙子回到魔宮，給他看了三只大箱子，箱子里裝滿了黃金。"一箱給窮人，"他說道，"一箱給國王，另一箱就是你的了。"
正說著話的當兒，午夜十二點的鐘聲敲響了，這個老妖怪一下子就無影無蹤了，只剩下小伙子一個人站在黑夜之中。
"我自己能離開這個地方。"小伙子說道，說完就開始在四周摸索，終于找到了回房間的路。回到房間后，他就在火堆旁睡著了。
次日早上，國王再次駕到，問小伙子："我想這回你終于學會害怕了吧?"
"沒有，真的沒有，"小伙子回答說，"害怕到底是怎么回事呢?來了一個白胡子老頭兒，讓我看了好多金子，可他并沒告訴我害怕是怎么回事啊!"
"好吧，"國王對小伙子說，"既然你解除了宮殿的魔法，你就娶我的女兒為妻吧。"
"那可真是太好啦。"小伙子回答說，"可我現在還是不明白害怕到底是怎么回事啊!"
黃金被取出來后，就舉行了婚禮。小伙子非常愛他的妻子，感到生活無比幸福，可是他仍然不停地嘮叨："我要是會害怕該多好啊!我要是會害怕該多好啊!"對此他年輕的妻子終于惱火了，于是她的貼身丫環對她說，"我來想個辦法，準叫他學會害怕。"
說罷她來到流經花園的小溪邊，讓人把滿滿一桶蝦虎魚放到屋里，然后告訴她的女主人，等到她丈夫夜里熟睡時，把被子掀開，再把桶里的魚和水一古腦倒在他身上，這樣一來，蝦虎魚就會在他全身亂蹦亂跳。
果然小伙子一下子就驚醒了，大喊大叫："我害怕!哎呀，哎呀!到底是什么使我害怕的呀?親愛的，這下我可知道害怕是怎么回事啦!"
傻小子學害怕英文版：
The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
A certain father had two sons, the elder of whom was smart and sensible, and could do everything, but the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor understand anything, and when people saw him they said, "There's a fellow who will give his father some trouble!" When anything had to be done, it was always the elder who was forced to do it; but if his father bade him fetch anything when it was late, or in the night-time, and the way led through the churchyard, or any other dismal place, he answered "Oh, no, father, I'll not go there, it makes me shudder!" for he was afraid. Or when stories were told by the fire at night which made the flesh creep, the listeners sometimes said "Oh, it makes us shudder!" The younger sat in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could not imagine what they could mean. "They are always saying 'it makes me shudder, it makes me shudder!' It does not make me shudder," thought he. "That, too, must be an art of which I understand nothing."
Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day "Hearken to me, thou fellow in the corner there, thou art growing tall and strong, and thou too must learn something by which thou canst earn thy living. Look how thy brother works, but thou dost not even earn thy salt." - "Well, father," he replied, "I am quite willing to learn something - indeed, if it could but be managed, I should like to learn how to shudder. I don't understand that at all yet." The elder brother smiled when he heard that, and thought to himself, "Good God, what a blockhead that brother of mine is! He will never be good for anything as long as he lives. He who wants to be a sickle must bend himself betimes." The father sighed, and answered him "thou shalt soon learn what it is to shudder, but thou wilt not earn thy bread by that."
Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit, and the father bewailed his trouble, and told him how his younger son was so backward in every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing. "Just think," said he, "when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread, he actually wanted to learn to shudder." - "If that be all," replied the sexton, "he can learn that with me. Send him to me, and I will soon polish him." The father was glad to do it, for he thought, "It will train the boy a little." The sexton therefore took him into his house, and he had to ring the bell. After a day or two, the sexton awoke him at midnight, and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and ring the bell. "Thou shalt soon learn what shuddering is," thought he, and secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top of the tower and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole. "Who is there?" cried he, but the figure made no reply, and did not move or stir. "Give an answer," cried the boy, "or take thy self off, thou hast no business here at night." The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that the boy might think he was a ghost. The boy cried a second time, "What do you want here? - speak if thou art an honest fellow, or I will throw thee down the steps!" The sexton thought, "he can't intend to be as bad as his words," uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone. Then the boy called to him for the third time, and as that was also to no purpose, he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it fell down ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon he rang the bell, went home, and without saying a word went to bed, and fell asleep. The sexton's wife waited a long time for her husband, but he did not come back. At length she became uneasy, and wakened the boy, and asked, "Dost thou not know where my husband is? He climbed up the tower before thou didst." - "No, I don't know," replied the boy, "but some one was standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps, and as he would neither give an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel, and threw him downstairs, just go there and you will see if it was he. I should be sorry if it were." The woman ran away and found her husband, who was lying moaning in the corner, and had broken his leg.
She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened to the boy's father. "Your boy," cried she, "has been the cause of a great misfortune! He has thrown my husband down the steps and made him break his leg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow away from our house." The father was terrified, and ran thither and scolded the boy. "What wicked tricks are these?" said he, "the devil must have put this into thy head." - "Father," he replied, "do listen to me. I am quite innocent. He was standing there by night like one who is intending to do some evil. I did not know who it was, and I entreated him three times either to speak or to go away." - "Ah," said the father, "I have nothing but unhappiness with you. Go out of my sight. I will see thee no more." - "Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will I go forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate, understand one art which will support me." - "Learn what thou wilt," spake the father, "it is all the same to me. Here are fifty thalers for thee. Take these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence thou comest, and who is thy father, for I have reason to be ashamed of thee." - "Yes, father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more than that, I can easily keep it in mind."
When day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty thalers into his pocket, and went forth on the great highway, and continually said to himself, "If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!" Then a man approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding with himself, and when they had walked a little farther to where they could see the gallows, the man said to him, "Look, there is the tree where seven men have married the ropemaker's daughter, and are now learning how to fly. Sit down below it, and wait till night comes, and you will soon learn how to shudder." - "If that is all that is wanted," answered the youth, "it is easily done; but if I learn how to shudder as fast as that, thou shalt have my fifty thalers. Just come back to me early in the morning." Then the youth went to the gallows, sat down below it, and waited till evening came. And as he was cold, he lighted himself a fire, but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire, he could not get warm. And as the wind knocked the hanged men against each other, and they moved backwards and forwards, he thought to himself "Thou shiverest below by the fire, but how those up above must freeze and suffer!" And as he felt pity for them, he raised the ladder, and climbed up, unbound one of them after the other, and brought down all seven. Then he stirred the fire, blew it, and set them all round it to warm themselves. But they sat there and did not stir, and the fire caught their clothes. So he said, "Take care, or I will hang you up again." The dead men, however, did not hear, but were quite silent, and let their rags go on burning. On this he grew angry, and said, "If you will not take care, I cannot help you, I will not be burnt with you," and he hung them up again each in his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fell asleep, and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have the fifty thalers, and said, "Well, dost thou know how to shudder?" - "No," answered he, "how was I to get to know? Those fellows up there did not open their mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which they had on their bodies get burnt." Then the man saw that he would not get the fifty thalers that day, and went away saying, "One of this kind has never come my way before."
The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to mutter to himself, "Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah, if I could but shudder!" A waggoner who was striding behind him heard that and asked, "Who are you?" - "I don't know," answered the youth. Then the waggoner asked, "From whence comest thou?" - "I know not." - "Who is thy father?" - "That I may not tell thee." - "What is it that thou art always muttering between thy teeth." - "Ah," replied the youth, "I do so wish I could shudder, but no one can teach me how to do it." - "Give up thy foolish chatter," said the waggoner. "Come, go with me, I will see about a place for thee." The youth went with the waggoner, and in the evening they arrived at an inn where they wished to pass the night. Then at the entrance of the room the youth again said quite loudly, "If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!" The host who heard this, laughed and said, "If that is your desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for you here." - "Ah, be silent," said the hostess, "so many inquisitive persons have already lost their lives, it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as these should never see the daylight again." But the youth said, "However difficult it may be, I will learn it and for this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth." He let the host have no rest, until the latter told him, that not far from thence stood a haunted castle where any one could very easily learn what shuddering was, if he would but watch in it for three nights. The King had promised that he who would venture should have his daughter to wife, and she was the most beautiful maiden the sun shone on. Great treasures likewise lay in the castle, which were guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough. Already many men had gone into the castle, but as yet none had come out again. Then the youth went next morning to the King and said if he were allowed he would watch three nights in the haunted castle. The King looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said, "Thou mayest ask for three things to take into the castle with thee, but they must be things without life." Then he answered, "Then I ask for a fire, a turning lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife."
The King had these things carried into the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing near, the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knife beside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. "Ah, if I could but shudder!" said he, "but I shall not learn it here either." Towards midnight he was about to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it, something cried suddenly from one corner, "Au, miau! how cold we are!" - "You simpletons!" cried he, "what are you crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves." And when he had said that, two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down on each side of him, and looked savagely at him with their fiery eyes. After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, they said, "Comrade, shall we have a game at cards?" - "Why not?" he replied, "but just show me your paws." Then they stretched out their claws. "Oh," said he, "what long nails you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you." Thereupon he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-board and screwed their feet fast. "I have looked at your fingers," said he, "and my fancy for card-playing has gone," and he struck them dead and threw them out into the water. But when he had made away with these two, and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every hole and corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains, and more and more of them came until he could no longer stir, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at last when they were going too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried, "Away with ye, vermin," and began to cut them down. Part of them ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into the fish-pond. When he came back he fanned the embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, his eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then he looked round and saw a great bed in the corner. "That is the very thing for me," said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut his eyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the whole of the castle. "That's right," said he, "but go faster." Then the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down, over thresholds and steps, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upside down, and lay on him like a mountain.
But he threw quilts and pillows up in the air, got out and said, "Now any one who likes, may drive," and lay down by his fire, and slept till it was day. In the morning the King came, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evil spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he, "After all it is a pity, he is a handsome man." The youth heard it, got up, and said, "It has not come to that yet." Then the King was astonished, but very glad, and asked how he had fared. "Very well indeed," answered he; "one night is past, the two others will get over likewise." Then he went to the innkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said, "I never expected to see thee alive again! Hast thou learnt how to shudder yet?" - "No," said he, "it is all in vain. If some one would but tell me."
The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down by the fire, and once more began his old song, "If I could but shudder." When midnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; at first it was low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet for awhile, and at length with a loud scream, half a man came down the chimney and fell before him. "Hollo!" cried he, "another half belongs to this. This is too little!" Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring and howling, and the other half fell down likewise. "Wait," said he, "I will just blow up the fire a little for thee." When he had done that and looked round again, the two pieces were joined together, and a frightful man was sitting in his place. "That is no part of our bargain," said the youth, "the bench is mine." The man wanted to push him away; the youth, however, would not allow that, but thrust him off with all his strength, and seated himself again in his own place. Then still more men fell down, one after the other; they brought nine dead men's legs and two skulls, and set them up and played at nine-pins with them. The youth also wanted to play and said "Hark you, can I join you?" - "Yes, if thou hast any money." - "Money enough," replied he, "but your balls are not quite round." Then he took the skulls and put them in the lathe and turned them till they were round. "There, now, they will roll better!" said he. "Hurrah! Now it goes merrily!" He played with them and lost some of his money, but when it struck twelve, everything vanished from his sight. He lay down and quietly fell asleep. Next morning the King came to inquire after him. "How has it fared with you this time?" asked he. "I have been playing at nine-pins," he answered, "and have lost a couple of farthings." - "Hast thou not shuddered then?" - "Eh, what?" said he, "I have made merry. If I did but know what it was to shudder!"
The third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly, "If I could but shudder." When it grew late, six tall men came in and brought a coffin. Then said he, "Ha, ha, that is certainly my little cousin, who died only a few days ago," and he beckoned with his finger, and cried "Come, little cousin, come." They placed the coffin on the ground, but he went to it and took the lid off, and a dead man lay therein. He felt his face, but it was cold as ice. "Stop," said he, "I will warm thee a little," and went to the fire and warmed his hand and laid it on the dead man's face, but he remained cold. Then he took him out, and sat down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his arms that the blood might circulate again. As this also did no good, he thought to himself "When two people lie in bed together, they warm each other," and carried him to the bed, covered him over and lay down by him. After a short time the dead man became warm too, and began to move. Then said the youth, "See, little cousin, have I not warmed thee?" The dead man, however, got up and cried, "Now will I strangle thee." - "What!" said he, "is that the way thou thankest me? Thou shalt at once go into thy coffin again," and he took him up, threw him into it, and shut the lid. Then came the six men and carried him away again. "I cannot manage to shudder," said he. "I shall never learn it here as long as I live."
Then a man entered who was taller than all others, and looked terrible. He was old, however, and had a long white beard. "Thou wretch," cried he, "thou shalt soon learn what it is to shudder, for thou shalt die." - "Not so fast," replied the youth. "If I am to die, I shall have to have a say in it." - "I will soon seize thee," said the fiend. "Softly, softly, do not talk so big. I am as strong as thou art, and perhaps even stronger." - "We shall see," said the old man. "If thou art stronger, I will let thee go - come, we will try." Then he led him by dark passages to a smith's forge, took an axe, and with one blow struck an anvil into the ground. "I can do better than that," said the youth, and went to the other anvil. The old man placed himself near and wanted to look on, and his white beard hung down. Then the youth seized the axe, split the anvil with one blow, and struck the old man's beard in with it. "Now I have thee," said the youth. "Now it is thou who will have to die." Then he seized an iron bar and beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop, and he would give him great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let him go. The old man led him back into the castle, and in a cellar showed him three chests full of gold. "Of these," said he, "one part is for the poor, the other for the king, the third is thine." In the meantime it struck twelve, and the spirit disappeared; the youth, therefore, was left in darkness. "I shall still be able to find my way out," said he, and felt about, found the way into the room, and slept there by his fire. Next morning the King came and said "Now thou must have learnt what shuddering is?" - "No," he answered; "what can it be? My dead cousin was here, and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money down below, but no one told me what it was to shudder." - "Then," said the King, "thou hast delivered the castle, and shalt marry my daughter." - "That is all very well," said he, "but still I do not know what it is to shudder."
Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated; but howsoever much the young king loved his wife, and however happy he was, he still said always "If I could but shudder - if I could but shudder." And at last she was angry at this. Her waiting-maid said, "I will find a cure for him; he shall soon learn what it is to shudder." She went out to the stream which flowed through the garden, and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons brought to her. At night when the young king was sleeping, his wife was to draw the clothes off him and empty the bucketful of cold water with the gudgeons in it over him, so that the little fishes would sprawl about him. When this was done, he woke up and cried "Oh, what makes me shudder so? What makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know what it is to shudder!"
【格林童話故事第：傻小子學害怕中英文版本】相關文章：
格林童話《傻小子學害怕》01-10
傻小子學害怕童話故事04-17
傻小子學害怕01-25
格林童話故事：穿靴子的貓中英文版本04-24