049-第1部分

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were　clever　and　wise；　but　the　third　did　not　speak　much；　and　was
simple；　and　was　called　the　simpleton。　　When　the　king　had　become　old
and　weak；　and　was　thinking　of　his　end；　he　did　not　know　which　of　his
sons　should　inherit　the　kingdom　after　him。　　Then　he　said　to　them；　go
forth；　and　he　who　brings　me　the　most　beautiful　carpet　shall　be　king
after　my　death。

And　that　there　should　be　no　dispute　amongst　them；　he　took　them
outside　his　castle；　blew　three　feathers　in　the　air；　and　said；　you
shall　go　as　they　fly。　　One　feather　flew　to　the　east；　the　other　to　the
west；　but　the　third　flew　straight　up　and　did　not　fly　far；　but　soon
fell　to　the　ground。

And　now　one　brother　went　to　the　right；　and　the　other　to　the　left；　and
they　mocked　simpleton；　who　was　forced　to　stay　where　the　third　feather
had　fallen。　　He　sat　down　and　was　sad。　　Then　all　at　once　he　saw　that
there　was　a　trap…door　close　by　the　feather。　　He　raised　it　up；　found
some　steps；　and　went　down　them。　　Then　he　came　to　another　door；
knocked　at　it；　and　heard　somebody　inside　calling　…
　　　　　　　　　　little　green　waiting…maid；
　　　　　　　　　　waiting…maid　with　the　limping　leg；
　　　　　　　　　　little　dog　of　the　limping　leg；
　　　　　　　　　　hop　hither　and　thither；
　　　　　　　　　　and　quickly　see　who　is　without。

The　door　opened；　and　he　saw　a　great；　fat　toad　sitting；　and　round
about　her　a　crowd　of　little　toads。　　The　fat　toad　asked　what　he
wanted。　　He　answered；　I　should　like　to　have　the　prettiest　and　finest
carpet　in　the　world。　　Then　she　called　a　young　one　and　said　…
　　　　　　　　　　little　green　waiting…maid；
　　　　　　　　　　waiting…maid　with　the　limping　leg；
　　　　　　　　　　little　dog　of　the　limping　leg；
　　　　　　　　　　hop　hither　and　thither；
　　　　　　　　　　and　bring　me　the　great　box。

The　young　toad　brought　the　box；　and　the　fat　toad　opened　it；　and　gave
simpleton　a　carpet　out　of　it；　so　beautiful　and　so　fine；　that　on　the
earth　above；　none　could　have　been　woven　like　it。　　Then　he　thanked
her；　and　climbed　out　again。

The　two　others；　however；　had　looked　on　their　youngest　brother　as　so
stupid　that　they　believed　he　would　find　and　bring　nothing　at　all。
Why　should　we　give　ourselves　a　great　deal　of　trouble　searching；　said
they；　and　got　some　coarse　handkerchiefs　from　the　first　shepherds'
wives　whom　they　met；　and　carried　them　home　to　the　king。

At　the　same　time　simpleton　also　came　back；　and　brought　his　beautiful
carpet；　and　when　the　king　saw　it　he　was　astonished；　and　said；　if
justice　be　done；　the　kingdom　belongs　to　the　youngest。　　But　the　two
others　let　their　father　have　no　peace；　and　said　that　it　was
impossible　that　simpleton；　who　in　everything　lacked　understanding；
should　be　king；　and　entreated　him　to　make　a　new　agreement　with　them。
Then　the　father　said；　he　who　brings　me　the　most　beautiful　ring　shall
inherit　the　kingdom；　and　led　the　three　brothers　out；　and　blew　into
the　air　three　feathers；　which　they　were　to　follow。　　Those　of　the　two
eldest　again　went　east　and　west；　and　simpleton's　feather　flew
straight　up；　and　fell　down　near　the　door　into　the　earth。

Then　he　went　down　again　to　the　fat　toad；　and　told　her　that　he　wanted
the　most　beautiful　ring。　　She　at　once　ordered　her　big　box　to　be
brought；　and　gave　him　a　ring　out　of　it；　which　sparkled　with　jewels；
and　was　so　beautiful　that　no　goldsmith　on　earth　would　have　been　able
to　make　it。

The　two　eldest　laughed　at　simpleton　for　going　to　seek　a　golden　ring。
They　gave　themselves　no　trouble；　but　knocked　the　nails　out　of　an　old
carriage…ring；　and　took　it　to　the　king；　but　when　simpleton　produced
his　golden　ring；　his　father　again　said；　the　kingdom　belongs　to　him。
The　two　eldest　did　not　cease　from　tormenting　the　king　until　he　made　a
third　condition；　and　declared　that　the　one　who　brought　the　most
beautiful　woman　home；　should　have　the　kingdom。　　He　again　blew　the
three　feathers　into　the　air；　and　they　flew　as　before。

Then　simpleton　without　more　ado　went　down　to　the　fat　toad；　and　said；
I　am　to　take　home　the　most　beautiful　woman。　　Oh；　answered　the　toad；
the　most　beautiful　woman。　　She　is　not　at　hand　at　the　moment；　but
still　you　shall　have　her。　　She　gave　him　a　yellow　turnip　which　had
been　hollowed　out；　to　which　six　mice　were　harnessed。　　Then　simpleton
said　quite　mournfully；　what　am　I　to　do　with　that。　　The　toad　answered；
just　put　one　of　my　little　toads　into　it。　　Then　he　seized　one　at
random　out　of　the　circle；　and　put　her　into　the　yellow　coach；　but
hardly　was　she　seated　inside　it　than　she　turned　into　a　wonderfully
beautiful　maiden；　and　the　turnip　into　a　coach；　and　the　six　mice　into
horses。　　So　he　kissed　her；　and　drove　off　quickly　with　the　horses；　and
took　her　to　the　king。

His　brothers；　who　came　afterwards；　had　given　themselves　no　trouble　at
all　looking　for　beautiful　girls；　but　had　brought　with　them　the　first
peasant　women　they　chanced　to　meet。　　When　the　king　saw　them　he　said；
after　my　death　the　kingdom　belongs　to　my　youngest　son。　　But　the　two
eldest　deafened　the　king's　ears　afresh　with　their　clamor；　we　cannot
consent　to　simpleton's　being　king；　and　demanded　that　the　one　whose
wife　could　leap　through　a　ring　which　hung　in　the　centre　of　the　hall
should　have　the　preference。　　They　thought；　the　peasant　women　can　do
that　easily；　they　are　strong　enough；　but　the　delicate　maiden　will
jump　herself　to　death。

The　aged　king　agreed　likewise　to　this。　　Then　the　two　peasant　women
jumped；　and　jumped　through　the　ring；　but　were　so　clumsy　that　they
fell；　and　their　coarse　arms　and　legs　broke　in　two。　　And　then　the
pretty　maiden　whom　simpleton　had　brought　with　him；　sprang；　and　sprang
through　as　lightly　as　a　deer；　and　all　opposition　had　to　cease。　So　he
received　the　crown；　and　has　ruled　wisely　for　a　length　of　time。