University of Virginia Library

XL.—THE LAME FOX.

There was a man who had three sons—two intelligent, and
one a simpleton. This man's right eye was always laughing,
while his left eye was weeping and shedding tears. This
man's sons agreed to go to him one by one, and ask him
why his right eye laughed and his left eye shed tears.

Accordingly the eldest went to his father by himself, and
asked him: `Father, tell me truly what I am going to ask
you. Why does your right eye always laugh and your left
eye weep?' His father gave him no answer, but flew into a
rage, seized a knife, and at him, and he fled out of doors,
and the knife stuck in the door. The other two were
outside, anxiously expecting their brother, and when he
came out, asked him what his father had said to him. But
he answered them: `If you're not wiser than another, go,
and you will hear.'

Then the middle brother went to his father by himself,
and asked him: `Father, tell me truly what I am going to
ask you. Why does your right eye always laugh and your
left weep?' His father gave him no answer, but flew into a
rage, seized a knife, and at him, and he fled out of doors,
and the knife stuck in the door. When he came out to his
brothers, his brothers asked him: `Tell us, brother—so
may health and prosperity attend you!—what our father has
said to you.' He answered them: `If you're not wiser than
another, go, and you will hear.' But this he said to his
elder brother on account of the simpleton, that he, too, might
go to his father to hear and see.

Then the simpleton, too, went by himself to his father,
and asked him: `Father, my two brothers won't tell me
what you have said to them; tell me why your right eye
always laughs and your left eye weeps?' His father immediately
flew into a rage, seized a knife, and brandished the
knife to pierce him through; but as he was standing, so he
remained standing where he was, and wasn't frightened in
the least. When his father saw that, he came to him, and
said: `Well, you're my true son, I will tell you; but those
two are cowards. The reason why my right eye laughs is,
that I rejoice and am glad because you children obey and
serve me well. And why my left eye weeps, it weeps on
this account: I had in my garden a vine, which poured
forth a bucket of wine every hour, thus producing me
twenty-four buckets of wine every day and night. This vine
has been stolen from me, and I have not been able to find
it, nor do I know who has taken it or where it is. And for
this reason my left eye weeps, and will weep till I die, unless
I find it.' When the simpleton came out of doors, his
brothers asked him what his father had said, and he told
them all in order.

Then they prepared a drinking bout for their father and
the domestics, and set out on their journey. On the
journey they came to a cross-road, and three ways lay before
them. The two elder consulted together, and said to their
youngest brother, the simpleton: `Come, brother, let us
each choose a road, and let each go by himself and seek his
fortune.' `Yes, brothers,' answered the simpleton; `you
choose each a road; I will take that which remains to me.'
The two elder took two roads which ran into each other,
started on their way, and afterwards met, came out into the
road, and said: `Praise be to God that we're quit of that
fool! They then sat down to take their dinner. Scarcely
had they sat down to eat, when up came a lame she-fox on

three legs, which approached them, fawning and begging to
obtain something to eat. But as soon as they saw the fox:
`Here's a fox,' said they; `come, let us kill it.' Then, stick
in hand, and after it. The fox limped away in the best
fashion it could, and barely escaped from them. Meanwhile,
shepherd-dogs came to their wallet and ate up everything
that they had. When they returned to the wallet they
had a sight to see.

The simpleton took the third road right on, and went
forward till be began to feel hungry. Then he sat down on
the grass under a pear-tree, and took bread and bacon out
of his wallet to eat. Scarcely had he sat down to eat, when,
lo! that very same lame fox which his two brothers had
seen began to approach him, and to fawn and beg, limping on
three feet. He had compassion on it because it was so
lame, and said: `Come, fox, I know that you are hungry,
and that it is hard lines for you that you have not a fourth
foot.' He gave it bread and bacon to eat, a portion for
himself, and a portion for the fox. When they had refreshed
themselves a little, the fox said to him: `But,
brother, tell me the truth: whither are you going?' He
said: `Thus and thus: I have a father and us three
brothers; and one of my father's eyes always laughs, because
we serve him well, and the other eye weeps, because there
has been stolen from him a vine belonging to him, which
poured forth a bucket of wine every hour; and now I am
going to ask people all over the world whether someone
cannot inform me about this vine, that I may obtain it for
my father, that his eye may not weep any longer.'

The fox said: `Well, I know where the vine is; follow
me.' He followed the fox, and they came to a large garden.
Then the fox said: `There is the vine of which you are in
search; but it is difficult to get to it. Do you now mark
well what I am going to say to you. In the garden, before

the vine is reached, it is necessary to pass twelve watches,
and in each watch twelve warders. When the warders are
looking, you can pass them freely, because they sleep with
their eyes open. If they have their eyes closed, go not, for
they are awake, not sleeping, with their eyes closed. When
you come into the garden, there under the vine stand two
shovels—one of wood, and the other of gold. But mind you
don't take the golden shovel to dig up the vine, for the
shovel will ring, and will wake up the watch; the watch will
seize you, and you may fare badly. But take the wooden
shovel, and with it dig up the vine, and, when the watch is
looking, come quietly to me outside, and you will have
obtained the vine.'

He went into the garden, arrived at the first watch; the
warders directed their eyes towards him; one would have
thought they would have looked him to powder. But he
went past them as past a stone, came to the second, third,
and all the watches in succession, and arrived in the garden
at the vine itself. The vine poured forth a bucket of wine
every hour. He was too lazy to dig with the wooden shovel,
but took the golden one, and as soon as he struck it into
the ground, the shovel rang and woke the watch; the watch
assembled, seized him, and delivered him to their lord.

The lord asked the simpleton: `How did you dare to
pass so many watches, and come into the garden to take my
vine away?' The simpleton said: `It is not your vine, but
my father's; and my father's left eye weeps, and will weep
till I obtain him the vine, and I must do it; and if you
don't give me my father's vine, I shall come again, and the
second time I shall take it away.' The lord said: `I cannot
give you the vine. But if you procure me the golden apple-tree
which blooms, ripens, and bears golden fruit every
twenty-four hours, I will give it you.'

He went out to the fox, and the fox asked him: `Well,

how is it?' He answered: `No how. I went past the watch,
and began to dig up the vine with the wooden shovel; but
it was too long a job, and I took the golden shovel; the
shovel rang and woke the watch; the watch seized me, and
delivered me to their lord, and the lord promised to give me
the vine, if I procured him the golden apple-tree which,
every twenty-four hours, blooms, ripens, and bears golden
fruit.' The fox said: `But why did you not obey me?
You see how nice it would have been to go to your father
with the vine.' He shook his head: `I see that I have
done wrong; but I will do so no more.' The fox said:
`Come! now let us go to the golden apple-tree.' The fox
led him to a far handsomer garden than the first one, and
told him that he must pass similarly through twelve similar
watches. `And when you come in the garden,' said she, `to
where the golden apple-tree is, two very long poles stand
there—one of gold, and the other of wood. Don't take the
golden one to beat the golden apple-tree, for the golden branch
will emit a whistling sound, and will wake the watch, and
you will fare ill; but take the wooden pole to beat the golden
apple-tree, and then mind you come out immediately to me.
If you do not obey me, I will not help you further.' He
said: `I will, fox, only that it may be mine to acquire the
golden apple-tree to purchase the vine; I am impatient to
go to my father.' He went into the garden, and the fox
stayed waiting for him outside. He passed the twelve
watches, and also arrived at the apple-tree. But when he saw
the apple-tree, and the golden apples on the apple-tree, he
forgot for joy where he was, and hastily took the golden pole
to beat the golden apple-tree. As soon as he had stripped a
golden branch with the pole, the golden branch emitted a
whistling sound, and woke the watch; the watch hastened
up, seized and delivered him to the lord of the golden
apple-tree.

The lord asked the simpleton: `How did you dare, and
how were you able, to go into my garden in face of so many
watches of mine, to beat the golden apple-trees?' The
simpleton said: `Thus and thus: my father's left eye weeps
because a vine has been stolen from him, which poured forth
a bucket of wine every hour. That vine is kept in such and
such a garden, and the lord of the garden and the vine said
to me: "If you procure me the golden apple-tree which,
every twenty-four hours, blooms, ripens, and produces
golden fruit, I will give you the vine." And, therefore, I
have come to beat the golden apple-tree, to give the apple-tree
for the vine, and to carry the vine to my father, that his
left eye may not weep. And if you do not give me the
golden apple-tree now, I shall come again to steal it.'

The lord said: `It is good, if it is so. Go you and procure
me the golden horse which, in twenty-four hours, goes
over the world, and I will give you the golden apple-tree;
give the apple-tree for the vine, and take the vine to your
father, that he may weep no more.'

Then he went outside, and the fox, awaiting him, said:
`Now, then; how is it?' `Not very well. The golden
apple-trees are so beautiful that you can't look at them for
beauty. I forgot myself, and couldn't take the wooden
pole, as you told me, but took the golden pole to beat the
golden apple-tree; the branch emitted a whistling sound,
and woke the watch; the watch seized me, and delivered
me to their lord, and the lord told me, if I procured him the
golden horse which goes over the world in twenty-four
hours, he would give me the golden apple-tree, that I may
give the apple-tree for the vine to take to my father, that he
may weep no more.'

Again the fox began to scold and reproach him: `Why
did you not obey me? You see that you would have been
by now at your father's. And thus you torment both yourself

and me.' He said to the fox: `Only procure me the horse,
fox, and I will always henceforth obey you.'

The fox led him to a large and horrible forest, and in the
forest they found a farmyard. In this farmyard twelve
watches, as in the case of the vine and the apple-tree,
guarded the golden horse. The fox said: `Now you will
pass the watches as before; go if they are looking; do not
go if they have their eyes shut. When you enter the stable,
there stands the golden horse, equipped with golden trappings.
By the horse are two bridles—one of gold, and the
other plaited of tow. Mind you don't take the golden bridle,
but the one of tow; if you bridle him with the golden bridle,
the horse will neigh and will wake the watch; the watch will
seize you, and who will be worse off than you? Don't
come into my sight without the horse!' `I won't, fox,'
said he, and went. He passed all the watches, and entered
the stable where the horse was. When he was there, golden
horse! golden wings! so beautiful, good heavens! that you
couldn't look at them for beauty! He saw the golden
bridle; it was beautiful and ornamented; he saw also that
of tow; it was dirty, and couldn't be worse. Now he
thought long what to do and how to do. `I can't put that
nasty thing' (the tow bridle)—`it's so nasty!—on that
beauty; I had rather not have him at all than put such a
horse to shame.' He took the golden bridle, bridled the
golden horse, and mounted him. But the horse neighed,
and woke the watch; the watch seized him and delivered
him to their lord.

Then the lord said: `How did you have resolution to
pass my numerous warders into my stable to take away my
golden horse?' The simpleton replied: `Need drove me;
I have a father at home, and his left eye continually weeps,
and will weep till I obtain for him a vine which in a day
and night poured forth twenty-four buckets of wine; this

vine has been stolen from him. Well, I have found it, and
it has been told me that I shall obtain the vine if I procure
the golden apple-tree for the lord of the vine. And the
lord of the golden apple-tree said if I procured him the
golden horse, he would give me the golden apple-tree. And
I came from him to take away the golden horse, that I
might give the golden horse for the golden apple-tree, and
the golden apple-tree for the vine, to take it home and give
it my father, that he may weep no more.' The lord said:
`Good; if it is so, I will give you my golden horse, if you
procure me the golden damsel in her cradle, who has never
yet seen either the sun or the moon, so that her face is not
tanned.' And the simpleton said: `I will procure you the
golden damsel, but you must give me your golden horse, on
which to seek the golden damsel and bring her to you. And
a golden horse properly appertains to a golden damsel.'
The lord: `And how will you guarantee that you will
return to me again?' The simpleton: `Behold, I swear
to you by my father's eyesight, that I will return to you
again, and either bring the horse, if I do not find the damsel,
or give you the damsel, if I find her, for the horse.' To
this the lord agreed, and gave him the golden horse; he
bridled it with the golden bridle, and came outside to the
fox. The fox was impatiently expecting him, to know what
had happened.

The fox: `Well, have you obtained the horse?' The
simpleton: `I have, but on condition that I procure for
him the golden damsel in her cradle, who has never yet
seen the sun or the moon, so that her face is not tanned.
But if you know what need is, good friend, in the
world, say whether she is anywhere, and whether you
know of such a damsel.' The fox said: `I know where
the damsel is; only follow me.' He followed, and they
came to a large cavern. Now the fox said: `There the

damsel is. You will go into that cavern, deep into the
earth. You will pass the watches as before. In the last
chamber lies the golden damsel in a golden cradle. By the
damsel stands a huge spectre, which says: "No! No! No!"
Now, don't be at all afraid; it cannot do anything to you in
any wise; but her wicked mother has placed it beside her
daughter, that no one may venture to approach her to take
her away. And the damsel is impatiently waiting to be
released and freed from her mother's cruelty. When you
come back with the damsel in the cradle, push all the doors
to behind you, that they may be shut, that the watch may
not be able to come out after you in pursuit.' He did so.
He passed all the watches, entered the last chamber, and in
the chamber was the damsel, rocking herself in a golden
cradle, and on the way to the cradle stood a huge spectre,
which said: `No! No! No!' But he paid no attention to
it. He took the cradle in his hands, seated himself with
the cradle on the horse, and proceeded, pushed the doors
to, and the doors closed from the first to the last, and out
he flew with the damsel in the cradle before the fox. The
fox was anxiously expecting him.

Now the fox said to him: `Are you not sorry to give so
beautiful a damsel for the golden horse? But you will not
otherwise be able to acquire the golden horse, because you
have sworn by your father's eyesight. But come! let me
try whether I can't be the golden damsel.' She bounded
hither and thither, and transformed herself into a golden
damsel; everything about her was damsel-like, only her
eyes were shaped like a fox's eyes. He put her into the
golden cradle, and left the real damsel under a tree to take
charge of the golden horse. He went, he took away the
golden cradle, and in the cradle the fox-damsel, delivered
her to the lord of the golden horse, and absolved himself
from the oath by his father's eyesight. He returned to the

horse and the damsel. Now that same lord of the golden
horse, full of joy at acquiring the golden damsel, assembled
all his lordship, prepared a grand banquet for their entertainment,
and showed them what he had acquired in
exchange for his golden horse. While the guests were
gazing at the damsel, one of them scrutinized her attentively,
and said: `All is damsel-like, and she is very beautiful, but
her eyes are shaped like a fox's eyes.' No sooner had he
said this, when up sprang the fox and ran away. The lord
and the guests were enraged that he had said `fox's eyes,'
and put him to death.

The fox ran to the simpleton, and on they went to give
the golden horse for the golden apple-tree. They arrived at
the place. Here again the fox said: `Now, you see, you
have got possession of the golden damsel, but the golden
horse properly appertains to the golden damsel. Are you
sorry to give the golden horse?' `Yes, fox; but though I
am sorry, yet I wish my father not to weep.' The fox:
`But stay; let me try whether I can be the golden horse.'
She bounded hither and thither, and transformed herself
into a golden horse, only she had a fox's tail. Then she
said: `Now lead me; let them give you the golden apple-tree,
and I know when I shall come to you.'

He led off the fox-horse, delivered it to the lord of the
golden apple-tree, and obtained the golden apple-tree. Now,
the lord of the golden apple-tree was delighted at having
acquired so beautiful a horse, and invited his whole lordship
to a feast, to boast to them what a horse he had acquired.
The guests began to gaze at the horse, and to wonder how
beautiful he was. All at once one scrutinized his tail attentively,
and said: `All is beautiful and all pleases me, only
I should say that it is a fox's tail!' The moment he said
that, the fox jumped up and ran away. But the guests were
enraged at him for using the expression `fox's tail,' and put

him to death. The fox came to the simpleton, and proceeded
with the golden damsel, the horse, and the golden
apple-tree to the vine.

Now again the fox said: `You see, now you have acquired
the golden apple-tree. But the golden damsel is not appropriate
without the golden horse, or the golden horse without
the golden apple-tree. Are you sorry to give the golden
apple-tree?' The simpleton: `Yes, fox; but I must, to
obtain the vine, that my father may not weep. I had rather
that my father did not weep than all that I have.' The fox
said: `Stay! I will try whether I can be the golden apple-tree.'
She bounded hither and thither, and transformed
herself into a golden apple-tree, and told him to take it
away and give it for the vine. He took off the golden foxapple-tree,
and gave it to the lord of the vine, obtained the
vine, and went away.

The lord for joy assembled his whole lordship, and prepared
a grand feast, to display what a golden apple-tree he
had acquired. The guests assembled and began to gaze at
the apple-tree. But one scrutinized it attentively, and said:
`All is beautiful, and cannot be more beautiful, only the
fruit is in shape a fox's head, and not like other apples.'
No sooner had he said this when up jumped the fox and
ran away. But they were enraged at him and slew him,
because he had said `fox's head.'

Now the simpleton took leave of the fox and went home,
having with him the golden damsel, the golden horse, the
golden apple-tree, and the vine. When he arrived at the crossroad,
where he had parted from his brothers when he went
from home to seek the vine, he saw a multitude of people
assembled, and he, too, went thither to see what was the
matter. When he got there, his two brothers were standing
condemned, and the people were going to hang them. He
told the damsel that they were his brothers, and that he

would like to ransom them. The damsel took a large quantity
of treasure out of her bosom, and he ransomed his
brothers, the malefactors, who had thought to acquire the
vine by slaying, burning, and plundering. They envied
him, but could not help themselves. They proceeded
home. The simpleton planted the vine in the garden where
it had been; the vine began to pour forth wine, and his
father's left eye ceased to weep and began to laugh. The
apple-tree began to blossom, the golden horse to neigh, the
damsel to sing, and there was love and beauty at the farmhouse.
Everything was merry, everything was rejoicing and
making progress.

All at once the father sent his sons to bring him from
the country three ears of rye, that he might see what manner
of season it would be. When they came to a well in the
country, they told their simpleton brother to get them some
water to drink. He stooped over the well to reach the
water for them; they pushed him into the water and he
was drowned. Immediately the vine ceased to pour forth
wine, the father's eye began to weep, the apple-tree drooped,
the horse ceased to neigh, the damsel began to weep, and
everything lost its cheerful appearance. Thereupon that
selfsame lame fox came up, got down into the well, gently
drew her adopted brother out, poured the water out of him,
placed him on the fresh grass, and he revived. As soon
as he revived the fox was transformed into a very beautiful
damsel. Then she related to him how her mother had
cursed her because she had rescued her greatest enemy
from death. She was cursed, and was transformed into a
cunning fox, and limped on three feet until she should
rescue her benefactor from a watery death. `And, lo! I
have rescued you, my adopted brother. Now, adieu!' She
went her way, and the simpleton his way to his father, and
when he arrived at the farmhouse the vine began again to pour

forth wine, his father's eye to laugh [the golden apple-tree
to bloom], the golden horse to neigh, and the golden damsel
to sing. He told his father what his brothers had done to
him on the way, and how a damsel had rescued him and
freed herself from a curse. When his father heard this he
drove the two villains into the world. But he married the
simpleton to the golden damsel, with whom he lived long in
happiness and content.