English Original
THERE was once a young soldier who fought bravely but was dismissed when peace came. With no home or family to turn to, he wandered into a vast heath. As he despaired over his fate, a strange man in a green coat with a cloven foot appeared—the Devil. He offered the soldier endless wealth in exchange for a seven-year pact: the soldier must not wash, comb his hair, cut his nails, or pray. He would wear a magical green coat (with pockets always full of money) and a bearskin as his cloak and bed. If he died within seven years, his soul would belong to the Devil; if he survived, he would be free and rich forever.
The soldier agreed. As the years passed, his appearance became monstrous—filthy, hairy, and clawed. People fled from him, but he used his wealth to help the poor, who prayed for his survival, and thus he always found shelter.
In the fourth year, he helped a destitute old man by paying his debts. Grateful, the old man offered him one of his three beautiful daughters in marriage. The two eldest sisters were horrified by Bearskin's appearance and rejected him. The youngest, however, honored her father's promise, saying, "A man who helped you must be good." Overjoyed, Bearskin gave her half of a broken ring as a token and left to complete his seven years, asking her to pray for him.
The faithful bride waited, dressed in black and enduring her sisters' mockery. Meanwhile, Bearskin traveled the world, doing good deeds.
When the seven years ended, Bearskin returned to the heath. The Devil, forced to clean and groom him, restored his handsome appearance. Bearskin then went to claim his bride, arriving as a splendid stranger in a velvet coat and carriage. Unrecognized, he was welcomed by the father and the two eager elder sisters. Alone with the youngest, he dropped his half of the ring into her wine glass. She matched it with her half, and he revealed his true identity. They embraced joyfully.
Enraged with jealousy, the two elder sisters killed themselves. That evening, the Devil returned, claiming, "See, I have now got two souls in the place of thy one!"
中文翻译
从前有个年轻的士兵，英勇作战，但和平到来后便被遣散了。他无家可归，流浪到一片广阔的荒原。正当他为命运绝望时，一个穿着绿外套、长着分趾蹄的怪人出现了——正是魔鬼。他许诺给士兵无尽的财富，条件是达成一个七年之约：士兵不得洗漱、梳头、剪指甲或祈祷。他必须穿一件魔法绿外套（口袋永远装满钱），并以一张熊皮作斗篷和床。若七年内死去，灵魂归魔鬼所有；若存活，则将永远自由且富有。
士兵同意了。岁月流逝，他的外表变得如同怪物——肮脏、毛发丛生、指甲如爪。人们见到他就逃跑，但他用财富帮助穷人，穷人为他祈祷，因此他总能找到栖身之所。
第四年，他帮助一位破产的老人还清了债务。老人感激不尽，提出将自己的三个漂亮女儿中的一个嫁给他。两个姐姐被熊皮人可怕的外貌吓退，拒绝了他。然而，最小的女儿尊重父亲的诺言，说道：“帮助您的人一定是好人。”熊皮人欣喜若狂，将半枚断戒指作为信物交给她，然后离开去完成剩下的七年之约，并请她为他祈祷。
忠贞的新娘身着黑衣等待，忍受着姐姐们的嘲弄。与此同时，熊皮人周游世界，广行善事。
七年期满，熊皮人回到荒原。魔鬼被迫为他清洗梳妆，恢复了他英俊的容貌。随后，熊皮人穿上天鹅绒外套，乘坐马车，以富家公子的模样去迎娶新娘。未被认出的他受到老人和两位殷勤的姐姐的热情接待。在与小女儿独处时，他将自己的半枚戒指丢入她的酒杯。她拿出自己佩戴的另一半，两半严丝合缝。他于是揭示了真实身份。两人欢喜相拥。
嫉妒成狂的两位姐姐自尽身亡。当晚，魔鬼再次现身，说道：“看，我现在用两个灵魂换了你一个！”