In the olden time there was a king, who had behind his palace a beautiful pleasure-garden in which there was a tree that bore golden apples. When the apples were getting ripe they were counted, but on the very next morning one was missing. This was told to the King, and he ordered that a watch should be kept every night beneath the tree.
The King had three sons. The eldest was sent into the garden as soon as night came on, but when midnight came he fell asleep, and next morning an apple was gone. The following night, the second son fared no better; he too fell asleep at midnight, and an apple was gone.
Now it came to the turn of the third son to watch. The King had little trust in him, but at last let him go. The youth lay down beneath the tree and kept awake. When midnight struck, he saw a bird with shining golden feathers rustle through the air. It alighted on the tree and plucked an apple. The youth shot an arrow, striking the bird's plumage. A single golden feather fell down. The youth picked it up and took it to the King the next morning.
The King called his council together. Everyone declared the feather was worth more than the whole kingdom. "If the feather is so precious," declared the King, "one alone will not do for me; I must and will have the whole bird!"
The eldest son set out, trusting to his cleverness. On his way, he met a Fox who offered good counsel: "This evening you will come to a village with two inns opposite each other. Do not go into the bright, merry one; go into the other, even though it seems bad." The prince thought, "How can such a silly beast give wise advice?" He tried to shoot the Fox but missed. He ignored the advice, went into the cheerful inn, and forgot his quest in revelry.
When the eldest did not return, the second son set out. The Fox met him and gave the same advice, which he also ignored. He joined his brother at the merry inn and lived only for pleasure.
Finally, the youngest son wanted to try his luck. His father reluctantly agreed. The Fox met him again, begged for his life, and offered advice. The youth was good-natured and promised not to harm him. "You shall not repent it," said the Fox. "Get up behind on my tail to travel quickly." The youth did so, and the Fox ran swiftly. In the village, the youth followed the advice and stayed at the quiet inn.
The next morning, the Fox gave further instructions: "Go straight to a castle. Soldiers lie asleep in front. Go through them into the castle, find the chamber where the Golden Bird hangs in a wooden cage. Beware of putting it into the fine golden cage nearby, or it will go badly with you." The Fox carried him on his tail to the castle.
The prince found everything as described. However, thinking it absurd to leave the beautiful bird in an ugly cage, he transferred it to the golden cage. The bird uttered a shrill cry. The soldiers awoke, seized him, and sentenced him to death.
The King offered him life on one condition: bring him the Golden Horse which ran faster than the wind, and he would also receive the Golden Bird as a reward.
The sorrowful prince set off and soon met the Fox again. "This happened because you did not heed me," said the Fox. "But I will help you. Go to a castle where the Golden Horse stands in a stable. The grooms are asleep. Lead out the horse, but put on him the common saddle of wood and leather, not the golden one." The Fox carried him there.
At the stable, the prince thought it a shame not to use the golden saddle for such a beautiful beast. As soon as he touched the horse with the golden saddle, it neighed loudly. The grooms awoke and threw him into prison. He was again sentenced to death.
The King now promised him life and the Golden Horse if he could bring back the beautiful princess from the Golden Castle.
With a heavy heart, the youth set out and found the Fox. "I pity you," said the Fox. "Go to the Golden Castle. At night, when the princess goes to bathe, run up and give her a kiss. She will follow you, but do not allow her to take leave of her parents first." The Fox carried him to the castle.
At midnight, the prince kissed the princess. She wished to go with him but tearfully begged to say goodbye to her parents. He finally gave in. The moment she reached her father's bedside, everyone awoke, and the youth was imprisoned.
The next morning, the King said, "Your life is forfeited unless you remove the hill blocking my view within eight days. If you succeed, you shall have my daughter."
The prince dug and shovelled for seven days but accomplished little. On the seventh evening, the Fox appeared. "You do not deserve my help, but go to sleep, and I will do the work." The next morning, the hill was gone. The King had to keep his word and give him his daughter.
The prince and princess set forth. The Fox soon caught up. "You have the princess, but the Golden Horse also belongs to her. Take her to the King who sent you. They will rejoice and give you the horse. Mount it immediately, bid farewell to all, last to the princess. Then swing her onto the horse and gallop away." The plan succeeded.
The Fox then helped them get the Golden Bird. Near its castle, the princess got down, and the Fox cared for her. The prince rode the Golden Horse into the castle-yard. Amidst great rejoicing, they brought out the Golden Bird. He seized the cage, galloped back, and took the princess.
With all treasures won, the Fox asked for his reward: "When you get into the wood yonder, shoot me dead and chop off my head and feet."
"That would be fine gratitude. I cannot do that," said the prince.
"Then I must leave you," said the Fox. "But take this advice: Buy no gallows'-flesh, and do not sit at the edge of any well." He ran into the wood.
The prince rode on with the princess. Their road took them through the village where his brothers had stayed. A great stir was about; two men were to be hanged. They were his brothers, who had squandered their wealth. The prince paid to free them, and they all journeyed together.
In a cool wood, they rested by a well. While talking, the youngest prince forgot himself and sat on the well's edge. His brothers threw him backwards into the well, took the maiden, the Horse, and the Bird, and went home to their father, claiming the credit.
But the youngest prince was not dead. The well was dry, and he fell on soft moss. The faithful Fox leapt down, upbraided him for forgetting the advice, but helped him out by having him grasp its tail.
"Your brothers have set watchers to kill you," said the Fox. The prince changed clothes with a poor man and thus reached the King's palace undisguised.
No one recognized him, but the Bird began to sing, the Horse began to eat, and the princess stopped weeping. She told the King everything. The King commanded all in the castle to be brought before him. The princess recognized her true bridegroom at once.
The wicked brothers were seized and put to death. The youngest prince married the beautiful princess and was declared heir to the King.
Long afterwards, the prince met the Fox in the wood again. "You have everything, but my misery never ends. Only you can free me," it said, again asking to be shot and beheaded. The prince finally did it. The Fox was transformed into a man—the brother of the beautiful princess, freed from a magic charm. Now nothing more was wanting to their happiness.