English Original
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.
中文翻译
从前，一位国王的宫殿后面有一座美丽的乐园，园中有一棵结着金苹果的树。苹果快熟时被清点，但第二天早上总会少一个。国王得知后，下令每夜在树下看守。
国王有三个儿子。夜幕降临时，他派长子去花园，但午夜时分长子睡着了，第二天早上又少了一个苹果。第二晚，二儿子的遭遇一样；他也在午夜睡着，苹果不见了。
现在轮到小儿子看守了。国王对他没什么信心，但最终还是让他去了。年轻人躺在树下，保持清醒。午夜钟声响起时，他看到一只羽毛闪耀着金光的鸟沙沙地飞过空中。它落在树上，啄了一个苹果。年轻人射出一箭，击中了鸟的羽毛。一根金色的羽毛飘落下来。年轻人捡起它，第二天早上交给了国王。
国王召集了他的议会。所有人都宣称这根羽毛比整个王国还值钱。国王宣布：“如果这根羽毛如此珍贵，只有一根可不够；我必须得到整只鸟！”
长子出发了，倚仗着自己的聪明。路上，他遇到一只狐狸，狐狸给了他忠告：“今晚你会到一个村庄，那里有两家相对的客栈。不要进那家灯火通明、欢声笑语的；去另一家，即使它看起来很破旧。”王子想：“这样一只愚蠢的野兽怎么能给出明智的建议？”他试图射杀狐狸但没射中。他无视了建议，进了那家欢乐的客栈，在狂欢中忘记了自己的任务。
长子没有回来，二儿子出发了。狐狸遇见他，给了同样的建议，他也无视了。他加入了哥哥的行列，在欢乐的客栈里只顾享乐。
最后，小儿子想试试运气。父亲不情愿地同意了。狐狸再次遇见他，乞求饶命并提供了建议。年轻人心地善良，承诺不伤害它。“你不会后悔的，”狐狸说，“坐到我的尾巴后面来，可以快点赶路。”年轻人照做了，狐狸飞快地跑起来。在村庄里，年轻人听从建议，住进了安静的客栈。
第二天早上，狐狸给出了进一步的指示：“径直走到一座城堡。士兵们睡在城堡前。穿过他们进入城堡，找到那个房间，金鸟被关在一个木笼里。注意不要把它放进旁边那个漂亮的金笼子，否则你会倒霉。”狐狸用尾巴载着他到了城堡。
王子发现一切正如描述。然而，他觉得把美丽的鸟留在丑陋的笼子里很荒谬，于是把它转移到了金笼子里。鸟发出一声尖叫。士兵们醒了，抓住他，并判处他死刑。
国王提出一个条件饶他不死：给他带来跑得比风还快的金马，并且他还能得到金鸟作为奖励。
悲伤的王子出发了，很快又遇到了狐狸。“这是因为你不听我的话，”狐狸说，“但我会帮你。去一座城堡，金马站在马厩里。马夫们睡着了。把马牵出来，但要给它装上普通的木皮马鞍，而不是那个金马鞍。”狐狸载他到了那里。
在马厩里，王子觉得不给这样美丽的野兽用金马鞍是一种耻辱。他刚用金马鞍碰到马，马就大声嘶鸣起来。马夫们醒了，把他扔进了监狱。他又被判处死刑。
国王现在承诺，如果他能从金城堡带回美丽的公主，就饶他不死并把金马给他。
心情沉重地，年轻人出发了，找到了狐狸。“我可怜你，”狐狸说，“去金城堡。晚上，公主去洗澡时，跑过去吻她。她会跟你走，但不要让她先向父母告别。”狐狸载他到了城堡。
午夜时分，王子吻了公主。她愿意跟他走，但泪流满面地乞求向父母告别。他终于让步了。就在她走到父亲床边的那一刻，所有人都醒了，年轻人被关了起来。
第二天早上，国王说：“除非你在八天内移开挡住我视线的山丘，否则你将丧命。如果你成功了，就能得到我的女儿。”
王子挖了七天，但成果甚微。第七天晚上，狐狸出现了。“你不配得到我的帮助，但去睡觉吧，我来做这工作。”第二天早上，山丘消失了。国王不得不遵守诺言，把女儿给了他。
王子和公主出发了。狐狸很快追了上来。“你得到了公主，但金马也属于她。带她去派你来的国王那里。他们会很高兴，把马给你。立刻上马，向大家告别，最后向公主告别。然后把她甩上马，飞奔离开。”计划成功了。
狐狸然后帮他们得到了金鸟。靠近金鸟的城堡时，公主下了马，狐狸照顾她。王子骑着金马进入城堡庭院。在一片欢腾中，他们拿出了金鸟。他抓住鸟笼，飞奔回去，接走了公主。
所有宝物都到手后，狐狸要求报酬：“当你进入那边的树林时，射死我，砍下我的头和脚。”
“那将是‘好’的感激。我不能这么做，”王子说。
“那我必须离开你了，”狐狸说，“但记住这个建议：不要买绞架上的肉，不要坐在任何井边。”它跑进了树林。
王子和公主继续骑行。他们的路经过了哥哥们停留的村庄。一阵骚动；两个人要被绞死。正是他的哥哥们，他们挥霍光了财富。王子花钱赎了他们，然后一起上路。
在一片凉爽的树林里，他们在井边休息。交谈时，小王子忘了自己，坐在了井沿上。他的哥哥们把他向后推入井中，带走了公主、金马和金鸟，回家向父亲邀功。
但小王子没有死。井是干的，他摔在柔软的苔藓上。忠实的狐狸跳下来，责备他忘了忠告，但让他抓住自己的尾巴把他拉了出来。
“你的哥哥们设了看守要杀你，”狐狸说。王子和一个穷人换了衣服，就这样未被认出地回到了国王的宫殿。
没人认出他，但金鸟开始歌唱，金马开始吃草，公主停止了哭泣。她把一切都告诉了国王。国王命令城堡里所有人都到他面前来。公主立刻认出了她真正的新郎。
邪恶的哥哥们被抓住处死了。小王子娶了美丽的公主，并被宣布为国王的继承人。
很久以后，王子又在树林里遇到了狐狸。“你拥有了一切，但我的痛苦永无止境。只有你能解救我，”它说，再次请求被射杀和斩首。王子终于照做了。狐狸变成了一个人——正是美丽公主的哥哥，从一个魔法诅咒中解脱出来。从此，他们的幸福再无缺憾。