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The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, Peter Bull

Peter Bull

There once lived in Denmark a peasant and his wife who owned a very good farm, but had no children. They often lamented to each other that they had no one of their own to inherit all the wealth that they possessed. They continued to prosper, and became rich people, but there was no heir to it all.

One year it happened that they owned a pretty little bull-calf, which they called Peter. It was the prettiest little creature they had ever seen—so beautiful and so wise that it understood everything that was said to it, and so gentle and so full of play that both the man and his wife came to be as fond of it as if it had been their own child.

One day the man said to his wife, 'I wonder, now, whether our parish clerk could teach Peter to talk; in that case we could not do better than adopt him as our son, and let him inherit all that we possess.' 'Well, I don't know,' said his wife, 'our clerk is tremendously learned, and knows much more than his Paternoster, and I could almost believe that he might be able to teach Peter to talk, for Peter has a wonderfully good head too. You might at least ask him about it.' Off went the man to the clerk, and asked him whether he thought he could teach a bull-calf that they had to speak, for they wished so much to have it as their heir.

The clerk was no fool; he looked round about to see that no one could overhear them, and said, 'Oh, yes, I can easily do that, but you must not speak to anyone about it. It must be done in all secrecy, and the priest must not know of it, otherwise I shall get into trouble, as it is forbidden. It will also cost you something, as some very expensive books are required.' That did not matter at all, the man said; they would not care so very much what it cost. The clerk could have a hundred dollars to begin with to buy the books. He also promised to tell no one about it, and to bring the calf round in the evening.

He gave the clerk the hundred dollars on the spot, and in the evening took the calf round to him, and the clerk promised to do his best with it. In a week's time he came back to the clerk to hear about the calf and see how it was thriving. The clerk, however, said that he could not get a sight of it, for then Peter would long after him and forget all that he had already learned. He was getting on well with his learning, but another hundred dollars were needed, as they must have more books. The peasant had the money with him, so he gave it to the clerk, and went home again with high hopes.

In another week the man came again to learn what progress Peter had made now.

'He is getting on very well,' said the clerk. 'I suppose he can't say anything yet?' said the man.

'Oh, yes,' said the clerk, 'he can say "Moo" now.' 'Do you think he will get on with his learning?' asked the peasant.

'Oh, yes,' said the clerk, 'but I shall want another hundred dollars for books. Peter can't learn well out of the ones that he has got.' 'Well, well,' said the man, 'what must be spent shall be spent.' So he gave the clerk the third hundred dollars for books, and a cask of good old ale for Peter. The clerk drank the ale himself, and gave the calf milk, which he thought would be better for it.

Some weeks passed, during which the peasant did not come round to ask after the calf, being frightened lest it should cost him another hundred dollars, for he had begun to squirm a bit at having to part with so much money. Meanwhile the clerk decided that the calf was as fat as it could be, so he killed it. After he had got all the beef out of the way he went inside, put on his black clothes, and made his way to the peasant's house. As soon as he had said 'Good-day' he asked, 'Has Peter come home here?' 'No, indeed, he hasn't,' said the man; 'surely he hasn't run away?' 'I hope,' said the clerk, 'that he would not behave so contemptibly after all the trouble I have had to teach him, and all that I have spent upon him. I have had to spend at least a hundred dollars of my own money to buy books for him before I got him so far on. He could say anything he liked now, so he said to-day that he longed to see his parents again. I was willing to give him that pleasure, but I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to find the way here by himself, so I made myself ready to go with him. When we had got outside the house I remembered that I had left my stick inside, and went in again to get it. When I came out again Peter had gone off on his own account. I thought he would be here, and if he isn't I don't know where he is.' The peasant and his wife began to lament bitterly that Peter had run away in this fashion just when they were to have so much joy of him, and after they had spent so much on his education. The worst of it was that now they had no heir after all. The clerk comforted them as best he could; he also was greatly distressed that Peter should have behaved in such a way just when he should have gained honour from his pupil. Perhaps he had only gone astray, and he would advertise him at church next Sunday, and find out where anyone had seen him. Then he bade them 'Good-bye,' and went home nad dined on a good fat veal roast. Now it so happened that the clerk took in a newspaper, and one day he chanced to read in its columns of a new merchant who had settled in a town at some distance, and whose name was 'Peter Bull.' He put the newspaper in his pocket, and went round to the sorrowing couple who had lost their heir. He read the paragraph to them, and added, 'I wonder, now, whether that could be your bull-calf Peter?' 'Yes, of course it is,' said the man; 'who else would it be?' His wife then spoke up and said, 'You must set out, good man, and see about him, for it is him, I am perfectly certain. Take a good sum of money with you, too; for who knows but what he may want some cash now that he has turned a merchant!' Next day the man got a bag of money on his back and a sandwich in his pocket, and his pipe in his mouth, and set out for the town where the new merchant lived. It was no short way, and he travelled for many days before he finally arrived there. He reached it one morning, just at daybreak, found out the right place, and asked if the merchant was at home. Yes, he was, said the people, but he was not up yet.

'That doesn't matter,' said the peasant, 'for I am his father. Just show me up to his bedroom.' He was shown up to the room, and as soon as he entered it, ad caught sight of the merchant, he recognised him at once. He had the same broad forehead, the same thick neck, and same red hair, but in other respects he was now like a human being. The peasant rushed straight up to him and took a firm hold of him. 'O Peter,' said he, 'what a sorrow you have caused us, both myself and your mother, by running off like this just as we had got you well educated! Get up, now, so that I can see you properly, and have a talk with you.' The merchant thought that it was a lunatic who had made his way in to him, and thought it best to take things quietly.

'All right,' said he, 'I shall do so at once.' He got out of bed and made haste to dress himself.

'Ay,' said the peasant, 'now I can see how clever our clerk is. He has done well by you, for now you look just like a human being. If one didn't know it, one would never think that it was you we got from the red cow; will you come home with me now?' 'No,' said the merchant, 'I can't find time just now. I have a big business to look after.' 'You could have the farm at once, you know,' said the peasant, 'and we old people would retire. But if you would rather stay in business, of course you may do so. Are you in want of anything?' 'Oh, yes,' said the merchant; 'I want nothing so much as money. A merchant has always a use for that.' 'I can well believe that,' said the peasant, 'for you had nothing at all to start with. I have brought some with me for that very end.' With that he emptied his bag of money out upon the table, so that it was all covered with bright dollars.

When the merchant saw what kind of man he had before him he began to speak him fair, and invited him to stay with him for some days, so that they might have some more talk together.

'Very well,' said the peasant, 'but you must call me "Father."' 'I have neither father nor mother alive,' said Peter Bull. 'I know that,' said the man; 'your real father was sold at Hamburg last Michaelmas, and your real mother died while calving in spring; but my wife and I have adopted you as our own, and you are our only heir, so you must call me "Father."' Peter Bull was quite willing to do so, and it was settled that he should keep the money, while the peasant made his will and left to him all that he had, before he went home to his wife, and told her the whole story.

She was delighted to hear that it was true enough about Peter Bull—that he was no other than their own bull-calf.

'You must go at once and tell the clerk,' said she, 'and pay him the hundred dollars of his own money that he spent upon our son. He has earned them well, and more besides, for all the joy he has given us in having such a son and heir.' The man agreed with this, and thanked the clerk for all he had done, and gave him two hundred dollars. Then he sold the farm, and removed with his wife to the town where their dear son and heir was living. To him they gave all their wealth, and lived with him till their dying day.

Peter Bull Peter Bull

There once lived in Denmark a peasant and his wife who owned a very good farm, but had no children. Kdysi žil v Dánsku sedlák a jeho žena, kteří vlastnili velmi dobré hospodářství, ale neměli děti. They often lamented to each other that they had no one of their own to inherit all the wealth that they possessed. Často si navzájem vyčítali, že nemají nikoho, kdo by zdědil všechno jejich bohatství. They continued to prosper, and became rich people, but there was no heir to it all. Nadále se jim dařilo a stali se z nich bohatí lidé, ale neměli dědice.

One year it happened that they owned a pretty little bull-calf, which they called Peter. Jednou se stalo, že vlastnili krásného malého býčka, kterému říkali Petr. It was the prettiest little creature they had ever seen—so beautiful and so wise that it understood everything that was said to it, and so gentle and so full of play that both the man and his wife came to be as fond of it as if it had been their own child. Bylo to nejkrásnější malé stvoření, jaké kdy viděli - tak krásné a moudré, že rozumělo všemu, co mu bylo řečeno, a tak laskavé a plné hry, že si ho muž i jeho žena oblíbili, jako by to bylo jejich vlastní dítě.

One day the man said to his wife, 'I wonder, now, whether our parish clerk could teach Peter to talk; in that case we could not do better than adopt him as our son, and let him inherit all that we possess.' Jednoho dne řekl muž své ženě: "Zajímalo by mě, jestli by náš farář mohl naučit Petra mluvit.V tom případě bychom nemohli udělat nic lepšího, než ho adoptovat za svého syna a nechat ho zdědit všechno, co máme. 'Well, I don't know,' said his wife, 'our clerk is tremendously learned, and knows much more than his Paternoster, and I could almost believe that he might be able to teach Peter to talk, for Peter has a wonderfully good head too. "No, já nevím," řekla jeho žena, "náš úředník je nesmírně vzdělaný a ví toho mnohem víc než jeho otec a skoro bych věřila, že by mohl Petra naučit mluvit, protože Petr má také úžasně dobrou hlavu. You might at least ask him about it.' Mohl by ses ho na to alespoň zeptat. Off went the man to the clerk, and asked him whether he thought he could teach a bull-calf that they had to speak, for they wished so much to have it as their heir. Muž odešel k úředníkovi a zeptal se ho, zda si myslí, že by dokázal naučit býčka, kterého mají, mluvit, protože by si moc přáli, aby se stal jejich dědicem.

The clerk was no fool; he looked round about to see that no one could overhear them, and said, 'Oh, yes, I can easily do that, but you must not speak to anyone about it. Úředník nebyl žádný hlupák, rozhlédl se, aby se ujistil, že je nikdo neslyší, a řekl: "Ano, to mohu snadno udělat, ale nesmíte o tom s nikým mluvit. It must be done in all secrecy, and the priest must not know of it, otherwise I shall get into trouble, as it is forbidden. Musí to být ve vší tajnosti a kněz se o tom nesmí dozvědět, jinak bych se dostal do potíží, protože je to zakázáno. It will also cost you something, as some very expensive books are required.' Bude vás to také něco stát, protože jsou k tomu zapotřebí velmi drahé knihy. That did not matter at all, the man said; they would not care so very much what it cost. Na tom vůbec nezáleží, řekl ten muž, jim by bylo úplně jedno, kolik to bude stát. The clerk could have a hundred dollars to begin with to buy the books. Úředník mohl mít na začátku sto dolarů na nákup knih. He also promised to tell no one about it, and to bring the calf round in the evening. Slíbil také, že o tom nikomu neřekne a večer tele přinese.

He gave the clerk the hundred dollars on the spot, and in the evening took the calf round to him, and the clerk promised to do his best with it. Na místě dal prodavači sto dolarů a večer mu tele odnesl a prodavač slíbil, že s ním udělá, co bude v jeho silách. In a week's time he came back to the clerk to hear about the calf and see how it was thriving. Za týden se vrátil k úředníkovi, aby se dozvěděl, jak se teleti daří. The clerk, however, said that he could not get a sight of it, for then Peter would long after him and forget all that he had already learned. Úředník však řekl, že si ho nemůže prohlédnout, protože pak by po něm Petr toužil a zapomněl by všechno, co se už naučil. He was getting on well with his learning, but another hundred dollars were needed, as they must have more books. Učení mu šlo dobře, ale potřeboval dalších sto dolarů, protože musí mít více knih. The peasant had the money with him, so he gave it to the clerk, and went home again with high hopes. Sedlák měl peníze u sebe, a tak je dal úředníkovi a s velkou nadějí se vrátil domů.

In another week the man came again to learn what progress Peter had made now. Za další týden přišel muž znovu, aby se dozvěděl, jakého pokroku nyní Petr dosáhl.

'He is getting on very well,' said the clerk. "Daří se mu velmi dobře," řekl úředník. 'I suppose he can't say anything yet?' "Předpokládám, že ještě nemůže nic říct. said the man. řekl muž.

'Oh, yes,' said the clerk, 'he can say "Moo" now.' "Ach ano," řekl úředník, "teď už může říkat "bů". 'Do you think he will get on with his learning?' "Myslíte, že se mu bude dařit v učení? asked the peasant. zeptal se rolník.

'Oh, yes,' said the clerk, 'but I shall want another hundred dollars for books. "Ach ano," řekl úředník, "ale budu chtít dalších sto dolarů na knihy. Peter can't learn well out of the ones that he has got.' Petr se nemůže dobře učit z těch, které má. 'Well, well,' said the man, 'what must be spent shall be spent.' "Dobře, dobře," řekl muž, "co se má utratit, to se utratí. So he gave the clerk the third hundred dollars for books, and a cask of good old ale for Peter. Dal tedy úředníkovi třetí stovku na knihy a sud starého dobrého piva pro Petra. The clerk drank the ale himself, and gave the calf milk, which he thought would be better for it. Úředník se sám napil piva a dal teleti mléko, o kterém si myslel, že mu prospěje.

Some weeks passed, during which the peasant did not come round to ask after the calf, being frightened lest it should cost him another hundred dollars, for he had begun to squirm a bit at having to part with so much money. Uplynulo několik týdnů, během nichž se sedlák nepřišel na tele zeptat, protože se bál, aby ho to nestálo dalších sto dolarů, protože se začal trochu kroutit, že se musí rozloučit s tolika penězi. Meanwhile the clerk decided that the calf was as fat as it could be, so he killed it. Úředník mezitím usoudil, že tele je tak tlusté, jak jen může být, a tak ho zabil. After he had got all the beef out of the way he went inside, put on his black clothes, and made his way to the peasant's house. Když se zbavil všeho hovězího, vešel dovnitř, oblékl si černé šaty a zamířil k sedlákovi. As soon as he had said 'Good-day' he asked, 'Has Peter come home here?' Jakmile řekl "Dobrý den", zeptal se: "Přišel Petr domů? 'No, indeed, he hasn't,' said the man; 'surely he hasn't run away?' "To tedy ne," řekl muž, "určitě neutekl? 'I hope,' said the clerk, 'that he would not behave so contemptibly after all the trouble I have had to teach him, and all that I have spent upon him. "Doufám," řekl úředník, "že se nebude chovat tak opovržlivě po vší té námaze, kterou jsem mu dal, abych ho naučil, a po všem, co jsem na něj vynaložil. I have had to spend at least a hundred dollars of my own money to buy books for him before I got him so far on. Než jsem ho dostal tak daleko, musel jsem utratit nejméně sto dolarů ze svého, abych mu koupil knihy. He could say anything he liked now, so he said to-day that he longed to see his parents again. Teď už mohl říkat, co chtěl, a tak dnes řekl, že touží znovu vidět své rodiče. I was willing to give him that pleasure, but I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to find the way here by himself, so I made myself ready to go with him. Chtěl jsem mu to potěšení dopřát, ale bál jsem se, že sám cestu sem nenajde, a tak jsem se připravil, že půjdu s ním. When we had got outside the house I remembered that I had left my stick inside, and went in again to get it. Když jsme vyšli před dům, vzpomněl jsem si, že jsem uvnitř zapomněl hůl, a šel jsem si pro ni znovu. When I came out again Peter had gone off on his own account. Když jsem vyšel ven, Peter odešel na vlastní pěst. I thought he would be here, and if he isn't I don't know where he is.' Myslel jsem, že tu bude, a jestli ne, tak nevím, kde je. The peasant and his wife began to lament bitterly that Peter had run away in this fashion just when they were to have so much joy of him, and after they had spent so much on his education. Sedlák a jeho žena začali hořce naříkat, že Petr takhle utekl právě ve chvíli, kdy z něj měli mít tolik radosti a kdy na jeho vzdělání vynaložili tolik peněz. The worst of it was that now they had no heir after all. Nejhorší na tom bylo, že teď přece jen neměli žádného dědice. The clerk comforted them as best he could; he also was greatly distressed that Peter should have behaved in such a way just when he should have gained honour from his pupil. Kancléř je utěšoval, jak nejlépe uměl; i jeho velmi trápilo, že se Petr zachoval takovým způsobem právě ve chvíli, kdy měl od svého žáka získat poctu. Perhaps he had only gone astray, and he would advertise him at church next Sunday, and find out where anyone had seen him. Možná jen zabloudil, a tak ho příští neděli v kostele reklamoval a zjistil, kde ho kdo viděl. Then he bade them 'Good-bye,' and went home nad dined on a good fat veal roast. Pak se s nimi rozloučil a odešel domů, kde si dal pořádnou telecí pečeni. Now it so happened that the clerk took in a newspaper, and one day he chanced to read in its columns of a new merchant who had settled in a town at some distance, and whose name was 'Peter Bull.' Stalo se, že si úředník vzal noviny a jednoho dne se v nich dočetl o novém obchodníkovi, který se usadil v jednom vzdáleném městě a jmenoval se "Peter Bull". He put the newspaper in his pocket, and went round to the sorrowing couple who had lost their heir. Strčil si noviny do kapsy a obešel zarmoucený pár, který přišel o dědice. He read the paragraph to them, and added, 'I wonder, now, whether that could be your bull-calf Peter?' Přečetl jim ten odstavec a dodal: "Zajímalo by mě, jestli by to mohl být váš býk Peter? 'Yes, of course it is,' said the man; 'who else would it be?' "Ano, samozřejmě," řekl muž, "kdo jiný by to byl? His wife then spoke up and said, 'You must set out, good man, and see about him, for it is him, I am perfectly certain. Pak se ozvala jeho žena a řekla: "Musíš se tam vydat, dobrý muži, a podívat se na něj, protože jsem si naprosto jistá, že je to on. Take a good sum of money with you, too; for who knows but what he may want some cash now that he has turned a merchant!' Vezměte si s sebou také pořádný balík peněz, protože kdo ví, jestli nebude chtít nějakou hotovost, když se stal obchodníkem! Next day the man got a bag of money on his back and a sandwich in his pocket, and his pipe in his mouth, and set out for the town where the new merchant lived. Druhý den si muž vzal na záda pytel peněz, do kapsy sendvič, do úst dýmku a vydal se do města, kde nový obchodník bydlel. It was no short way, and he travelled for many days before he finally arrived there. Nebyla to krátká cesta a cestoval mnoho dní, než tam konečně dorazil. He reached it one morning, just at daybreak, found out the right place, and asked if the merchant was at home. Jednoho rána, právě za rozbřesku, tam dorazil, zjistil správné místo a zeptal se, zda je kupec doma. Yes, he was, said the people, but he was not up yet. Ano, byl, říkali lidé, ale ještě nebyl vzhůru.

'That doesn't matter,' said the peasant, 'for I am his father. "Na tom nezáleží," řekl sedlák, "protože já jsem jeho otec. Just show me up to his bedroom.' Ukaž mi jeho ložnici. He was shown up to the room, and as soon as he entered it, ad caught sight of the merchant, he recognised him at once. Ukázali mu pokoj, a jakmile do něj vstoupil a spatřil kupce, okamžitě ho poznal. He had the same broad forehead, the same thick neck, and same red hair, but in other respects he was now like a human being. Měl stejně široké čelo, stejně silný krk a stejně zrzavé vlasy, ale v ostatních ohledech se nyní podobal člověku. The peasant rushed straight up to him and took a firm hold of him. Sedlák se k němu vrhl a pevně ho uchopil. 'O Peter,' said he, 'what a sorrow you have caused us, both myself and your mother, by running off like this just as we had got you well educated! "Ó, Petře," řekl, "jakou bolest jsi nám způsobil, mně i tvé matce, když jsi takhle utekl, právě když jsme tě dobře vychovali! Get up, now, so that I can see you properly, and have a talk with you.' Vstaňte, ať se na vás mohu pořádně podívat a promluvit si s vámi. The merchant thought that it was a lunatic who had made his way in to him, and thought it best to take things quietly. Kupec si myslel, že se k němu dostal nějaký blázen, a usoudil, že bude nejlepší, když se k věci postaví tiše.

'All right,' said he, 'I shall do so at once.' "Dobrá," řekl, "udělám to hned. He got out of bed and made haste to dress himself. Vstal z postele a spěšně se oblékl.

'Ay,' said the peasant, 'now I can see how clever our clerk is. "Ano," řekl sedlák, "teď vidím, jak je náš úředník chytrý. He has done well by you, for now you look just like a human being. Udělal pro tebe dobře, protože teď vypadáš jako člověk. If one didn't know it, one would never think that it was you we got from the red cow; will you come home with me now?' Kdyby to člověk nevěděl, nikdy by ho nenapadlo, že jsi to ty, koho jsme dostali od červené krávy; půjdeš teď se mnou domů? 'No,' said the merchant, 'I can't find time just now. "Ne," řekl obchodník, "teď nemám čas. I have a big business to look after.' Musím se postarat o velký obchod. 'You could have the farm at once, you know,' said the peasant, 'and we old people would retire. "Víš, že bys mohl mít statek hned," řekl sedlák, "a my staří bychom šli do důchodu. But if you would rather stay in business, of course you may do so. Pokud však chcete raději zůstat v podnikání, můžete tak samozřejmě učinit. Are you in want of anything?' Potřebujete něco? 'Oh, yes,' said the merchant; 'I want nothing so much as money. "Ach ano," řekl obchodník, "nechci nic tolik jako peníze. A merchant has always a use for that.' Obchodník to vždycky využije. 'I can well believe that,' said the peasant, 'for you had nothing at all to start with. "Tomu mohu věřit," řekl sedlák, "protože jsi neměl vůbec nic, s čím bys mohl začít. I have brought some with me for that very end.' Právě proto jsem si jich pár přinesl s sebou. With that he emptied his bag of money out upon the table, so that it was all covered with bright dollars. Vyprázdnil přitom na stůl svůj vak s penězi, takže byl celý pokrytý světlými dolary.

When the merchant saw what kind of man he had before him he began to speak him fair, and invited him to stay with him for some days, so that they might have some more talk together. Když kupec viděl, jakého člověka má před sebou, začal s ním mluvit na rovinu a pozval ho, aby u něj zůstal několik dní a mohli si spolu ještě popovídat.

'Very well,' said the peasant, 'but you must call me "Father."' "Dobrá," řekl sedlák, "ale musíš mi říkat otče. 'I have neither father nor mother alive,' said Peter Bull. "Nemám naživu ani otce, ani matku," řekl Peter Bull. 'I know that,' said the man; 'your real father was sold at Hamburg last Michaelmas, and your real mother died while calving in spring; but my wife and I have adopted you as our own, and you are our only heir, so you must call me "Father."' "To vím," řekl muž, "tvůj pravý otec byl prodán v Hamburku o loňských svátcích a tvá pravá matka zemřela na jaře při telení, ale já a moje žena jsme tě přijali za vlastního a jsi náš jediný dědic, takže mi musíš říkat "otče". Peter Bull was quite willing to do so, and it was settled that he should keep the money, while the peasant made his will and left to him all that he had, before he went home to his wife, and told her the whole story. Petr Bull byl docela ochotný to udělat, a tak se dohodli, že si peníze nechá, zatímco sedlák sepíše závěť a odkáže mu vše, co má, než se vrátí domů ke své ženě a celý příběh jí vylíčí.

She was delighted to hear that it was true enough about Peter Bull—that he was no other than their own bull-calf. S potěšením se dozvěděla, že to o Petru Bullovi byla pravda - že to nebyl nikdo jiný než jejich vlastní býčí tele.

'You must go at once and tell the clerk,' said she, 'and pay him the hundred dollars of his own money that he spent upon our son. "Musíš to okamžitě jít říct úředníkovi," řekla, "a zaplatit mu těch sto dolarů, které utratil za našeho syna. He has earned them well, and more besides, for all the joy he has given us in having such a son and heir.' Zasloužil si je dobře, a ještě víc, za všechnu tu radost, kterou nám udělal, že máme takového syna a dědice. The man agreed with this, and thanked the clerk for all he had done, and gave him two hundred dollars. Muž s tím souhlasil, poděkoval úředníkovi za vše, co pro něj udělal, a dal mu dvě stě dolarů. Then he sold the farm, and removed with his wife to the town where their dear son and heir was living. Pak farmu prodal a přestěhoval se s manželkou do města, kde žil jejich drahý syn a dědic. To him they gave all their wealth, and lived with him till their dying day. Jemu odevzdali veškerý svůj majetek a žili s ním až do smrti.