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The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, The Two Brothers

The Two Brothers

Long ago there lived two brothers, both of them very handsome, and both so very poor that they seldom had anything to eat but the fish which they caught. One day they had been out in their boat since sunrise without a single bite, and were just thinking of putting up their lines and going home to bed when they felt a little feeble tug, and, drawing in hastily, they found a tiny fish at the end of the hook.

'What a wretched little creature!' cried one brother. 'However, it is better than nothing, and I will bake him with bread crumbs and have him for supper.' 'Oh, do not kill me yet!' begged the fish; 'I will bring you good luck—indeed I will!' 'You silly thing!' said the young man; 'I've caught you, and I shall eat you.' But his brother was sorry for the fish, and put in a word for him.

'Let the poor little fellow live. He would hardly make one bite, and, after all, how do we know we are not throwing away our luck! Put him back into the sea. It will be much better.' 'If you will let me live,' said the fish, 'you will find on the sands to-morrow morning two beautiful horses splendidly saddled and bridled, and on them you can go through the world as knights seeking adventures.' 'Oh dear, what nonsense!' exclaimed the elder; 'and, besides, what proof have we that you are speaking the truth?' But again the younger brother interposed: 'Oh, do let him live! You know if he is lying to us we can always catch him again. It is quite worth while trying.' At last the young man gave in, and threw the fish back into the sea; and both brothers went supperless to bed, and wondered what fortune the next day would bring.

At the first streaks of dawn they were both up, and in a very few minutes were running down to the shore. And there, just as the fish had said, stood two magnificent horses, saddled and bridled, and on their backs lay suits of armour and under-dresses, two swords, and two purses of gold.

'There!' said the younger brother. 'Are you not thankful you did not eat that fish? He has brought us good luck, and there is no knowing how great we may become! Now, we will each seek our own adventures. If you will take one road I will go the other.' 'Very well,' replied the elder; 'but how shall we let each other know if we are both living?' 'Do you see this fig-tree?' said the younger. 'Well, whenever we want news of each other we have only to come here and make a slit with our swords in the back. If milk flows, it is a sign that we are well and prosperous; but if, instead of milk, there is blood, then we are either dead or in great danger.' Then the two brothers put on their armour, buckled their swords, and pocketed their purees; and, after taking a tender farewell of each other, they mounted their horses and went their various ways.

The elder brother rode straight on till he reached the borders of a strange kingdom. He crossed the frontier, and soon found himself on the banks of a river; and before him, in the middle of the stream, a beautiful girl sat chained to a rock and weeping bitterly. For in this river dwelt a serpent with seven heads, who threatened to lay waste the whole land by breathing fire and flame from his nostrils unless the king sent him every morning a man for his breakfast. This had gone on so long that now there were no men left, and he had been obliged to send his own daughter instead, and the poor girl was waiting till the monster got hungry and felt inclined to eat her.

When the young man saw the maiden weeping bitterly he said to her, 'What is the matter, my poor girl?' 'Oh!' she answered, 'I am chained here till a horrible serpent with seven heads comes to eat me. Oh, sir, do not linger here, or he will eat you too.' 'I shall stay,' replied the young man, 'for I mean to set you free.' 'That is impossible. You do not know what a fearful monster the serpent is; you can do nothing against him.' 'That is my affair, beautiful captive,' answered he; 'only tell me, which way will the serpent come?' 'Well, if you are resolved to free me, listen to my advice. Stand a little on one side, and then, when the serpent rises to the surface, I will say to him, "O serpent, to-day you can eat two people. But you had better begin first with the young man, for I am chained and cannot run away." When he hears this most likely he will attack you.' So the young man stood carefully on one side, and by-and-bye he heard a great rushing in the water; and a horrible monster came up to the surface and looked out for the rock where the king's daughter was chained, for it was getting late and he was hungry. But she cried out, 'O serpent, to-day you can eat two people. And you had better begin with the young man, for I am chained and cannot run away.' Then the serpent made a rush at the youth with wide open jaws to swallow him at one gulp, but the young man leaped aside and drew his sword, and fought till he had cut off all the seven heads. And when the great serpent lay dead at his feet he loosed the bonds of the king's daughter, and she flung herself into his arms and said, 'You have saved me from that monster, and now you shall be my husband, for my father has made a proclamation that whoever could slay the serpent should have his daughter to wife.' But he answered, 'I cannot become your husband yet, for I have still far to travel. But wait for me seven years and seven months. Then, if I do not return, you are free to marry whom you will. And in case you should have forgotten, I will take these seven tongues with me so that when I bring them forth you may know that I am really he who slew the serpent.' So saying he cut out the seven tongues, and the princess gave him a thick cloth to wrap them in; and he mounted his horse and rode away.

Not long after he had gone there arrived at the river a slave who had been sent by the king to learn the fate of his beloved daughter. And when the slave saw the princess standing free and safe before him, with the body of the monster lying at her feet, a wicked plan came into his head, and he said, 'Unless you promise to tell your father it was I who slew the serpent, I will kill you and bury you in this place, and no one will ever know what befell.' What could the poor girl do? This time there was no knight to come to her aid. So she promised to do as the slave wished, and he took up the seven heads and brought the princess to her father.

Oh, how enchanted the king was to see her again, and the whole town shared his joy!

And the slave was called upon to tell how he had slain the monster, and when he had ended the king declared that he should have the princess to wife.

But she flung herself at her father's feet, and prayed him to delay. 'You have passed your royal word, and cannot go back from it Yet grant me this grace, and let seven years and seven months go by before you wed me. When they are over, then I will marry the slave.' And the king listened to her, and seven years and seven months she looked for her bridegroom, and wept for him night and day.

All this time the young man was riding through the world, and when the seven years and seven months were over he came back to the town where the princess lived—only a few days before the wedding. And he stood before the king, and said to him: 'Give me your daughter, O king, for I slew the seven-headed serpent. And as a sign that my words are true, look on these seven tongues, which I cut from his seven heads, and on this embroidered cloth, which was given me by your daughter.' Then the princess lifted up her voice and said, 'Yes, dear father, he has spoken the truth, and it is he who is my real bridegroom. Yet pardon the slave, for he was sorely tempted.' But the king answered, 'Such treachery can no man pardon. Quick, away with him, and off with his head!' So the false slave was put to death, that none might follow in his footsteps, and the wedding feast was held, and the hearts of all rejoiced that the true bridegroom had come at last.

These two lived happy and contentedly for a long while, when one evening, as the young man was looking from the window, he saw on a mountain that lay out beyond the town a great bright light.

'What can it be?' he said to his wife.

'Ah! do not look at it,' she answered, 'for it comes from the house of a wicked witch whom no man can manage to kill.' But the princess had better have kept silence, for her words made her husband's heart burn within him, and he longed to try his strength against the witch's cunning. And all day long the feeling grew stronger, till the next morning he mounted his horse, and in spite of his wife's tears, he rode off to the mountain. The distance was greater than he thought, and it was dark before he reached the foot of the mountain; indeed, he could not have found the road at all had it not been for the bright light, which shone like the moon on his path. At length he came to the door of a fine castle, which had a blaze streaming from every window. He mounted a flight of steps and entered a hall where a hideous old woman was sitting on a golden chair.

She scowled at the young man and said, 'With a single one of the hairs of my head I can turn you into stone.' 'Oh, what nonsense!' cried he. 'Be quiet, old woman. What could you do with one hair?' But the witch pulled out a hair and laid it on his shoulder, and his limbs grew cold and heavy, and he could not stir.

Now at this very moment the younger brother was thinking of him, and wondering how he had got on during all the years since they had parted. 'I will go to the fig-tree,' he said to himself, 'to see whether he is alive or dead.' So he rode through the forest till he came where the fig-tree stood, and cut a slit in the bark, and waited. In a moment a little gurgling noise was heard, and out came a stream of blood, running fast. 'Ah, woe is me!' he cried bitterly. 'My brother is dead or dying! Shall I ever reach him in time to save his life?' Then, leaping on his horse, he shouted, 'Now, my steed, fly like the wind!' and they rode right through the world, till one day they came to the town where the young man and his wife lived. Here the princess had been sitting every day since the morning that her husband had left her, weeping bitter tears, and listening for his footsteps. And when she saw his brother ride under the balcony she mistook him for her own husband, for they were so alike that no man might tell the difference, and her heart bounded, and, leaning down, she called to him, 'At last! at last! how long have I waited for thee!' When the younger brother heard these words he said to himself, 'So it was here that my brother lived, and this beautiful woman is my sister-in-law,' but he kept silence, and let her believe he was indeed her husband. Full of joy, the princess led him to the old king, who welcomed him as his own son, and ordered a feast to be made for him. And the princess was beside herself with gladness, but when she would have put her arms round him and kissed him he held up his hand to stop her, saying, 'Touch me not,' at which she marvelled greatly. In this manner several days went by. And one evening, as the young man leaned from the balcony, he saw a bright light shining on the mountain.

'What can that be?' he said to the princess.

'Oh, come away,' she cried; 'has not that light already proved your bane? Do you wish to fight a second time with that old witch?' He marked her words, though she knew it not, and they taught him where his brother was, and what had befallen him. So before sunrise he stole out early, saddled his horse, and rode off to the mountain. But the way was further than he thought, and on the road he met a little old man who asked him whither he was going.

Then the young man told him his story, and added. 'Somehow or other I must free my brother, who has fallen into the power of an old witch.' 'I will tell you what you must do,' said the old man. 'The witch's power lies in her hair; so when you see her spring on her and seize her by the hair, and then she cannot harm you. Be very careful never to let her hair go, bid her lead you to your brother, and force her to bring him back to life. For she has an ointment that will heal all wounds, and even wake the dead. And when your brother stands safe and well before you, then cut off her head, for she is a wicked woman.' The young man was grateful for these words, and promised to obey them. Then he rode on, and soon reached the castle. He walked boldly up the steps and entered the hall, where the hideous old witch came to meet him. She grinned horribly at him, and cried out, 'With one hair of my head I can change you into stone.' 'Can you, indeed?' said the young man, seizing her by the hair. 'You old wretch! tell me what you have done with my brother, or I will cut your head off this very instant.' Now the witch's strength was all gone from her, and she had to obey. 'I will take you to your brother,' she said, hoping to get the better of him by cunning, 'but leave me alone. You hold me so tight that I cannot walk.' 'You must manage somehow,' he answered, and held her tighter than ever. She led him into a large hall filled with stone statues, which once had been men, and, pointing out one, she said, 'There is your brother.' The young man looked at them all and shook his head. 'My brother is not here. Take me to him, or it will be the worse for you.' But she tried to put him off with other statues, though it was no good, and it was not until they had reached the last hall of all that he saw his brother lying on the ground.

'That is my brother,' said he. 'Now give me the ointment that will restore him to life.' Very unwillingly the old witch opened a cupboard close by filled with bottles and jars, and took down one and held it out to the young man. But he was on the watch for trickery, and examined it carefully, and saw that it had no power to heal. This happened many times, till at length she found it was no use, and gave him the one he wanted. And when he had it safe he made her stoop down and smear it over his brother's face, taking care all the while never to loose her hair, and when the dead man opened his eyes the youth drew his sword and cut off her head with a single blow. Then the elder brother got up and stretched himself, and said, 'Oh, how long I have slept! And where am I?' 'The old witch had enchanted you, but now she is dead and you are free. We will wake up the other knights that she laid under her spells, and then we will go.' This they did, and, after sharing amongst them the jewels and gold they found in the castle, each man went his way. The two brothers remained together, the elder tightly grasping the ointment which had brought him back to life.

They had much to tell each other as they rode along, and at last the younger man exclaimed, 'O fool, to leave such a beautiful wife to go and fight a witch! She took me for her husband, and I did not say her nay.' When the elder brother heard this a great rage filled his heart, and, without saying one word, he drew his sword and slew his brother, and his body rolled in the dust. Then he rode on till he reached his home, where his wife was still sitting, weeping bitterly. When she saw him she sprang up with a cry, and threw herself into his arms. 'Oh, how long have I waited for thee! Never, never must you leave me any more!' When the old king heard the news he welcomed him as a son, and made ready a feast, and all the court sat down. And in the evening, when the young man was alone with his wife, she said to him, 'Why would you not let me touch you when you came back, but always thrust me away when I tried to put my arms round you or kiss you?' Then the young man understood how true his brother had been to him, and he sat down and wept and wrung his hands because of the wicked murder that he had done. Suddenly he sprang to his feet, for he remembered the ointment which lay hidden in his garments, and he rushed to the place where his brother still lay. He fell on his knees beside the body, and, taking out the salve, he rubbed it over the neck where the wound was gaping wide, and the skin healed and the sinews grew strong, and the dead man sat up and looked round him. And the two brothers embraced each other, and the elder asked forgiveness for his wicked blow; and they went back to the palace together, and were never parted any more.


The Two Brothers Los dos hermanos

Long ago there lived two brothers, both of them very handsome, and both so very poor that they seldom had anything to eat but the fish which they caught. Kdysi dávno žili dva bratři, oba velmi krásní a oba tak chudí, že jen zřídka měli k jídlu něco jiného než ryby, které ulovili. One day they had been out in their boat since sunrise without a single bite, and were just thinking of putting up their lines and going home to bed when they felt a little feeble tug, and, drawing in hastily, they found a tiny fish at the end of the hook. Jednoho dne byli na lodi od východu slunce bez jediného záběru a právě přemýšleli, že položí vlasec a půjdou domů spát, když ucítili slabé škubnutí, a když spěšně přitáhli, našli na konci háčku malou rybku.

'What a wretched little creature!' "To je ale ubohé stvoření! cried one brother. zvolal jeden z bratrů. 'However, it is better than nothing, and I will bake him with bread crumbs and have him for supper.' "Ale je to lepší než nic, a tak si ho upeču se strouhankou a dám si ho k večeři. 'Oh, do not kill me yet!' "Ještě mě nezabíjej! begged the fish; 'I will bring you good luck—indeed I will!' "Přinesu ti štěstí - opravdu přinesu!" prosila ryba. 'You silly thing!' "Ty hlupáčku! said the young man; 'I've caught you, and I shall eat you.' "Chytil jsem tě a sním tě," řekl mladík. But his brother was sorry for the fish, and put in a word for him. Jeho bratrovi však bylo ryby líto a přimluvil se za ni.

'Let the poor little fellow live. "Nechte toho chudáčka žít. He would hardly make one bite, and, after all, how do we know we are not throwing away our luck! Sotva by udělal jedno sousto, a koneckonců, jak máme vědět, že nezahazujeme štěstí! Put him back into the sea. Vraťte ho zpět do moře. It will be much better.' Bude to mnohem lepší. 'If you will let me live,' said the fish, 'you will find on the sands to-morrow morning two beautiful horses splendidly saddled and bridled, and on them you can go through the world as knights seeking adventures.' "Necháš-li mě žít," řekla ryba, "najdeš zítra ráno na písku dva krásné koně, nádherně osedlané a osedlané, a na nich se můžeš vydat na cestu světem jako rytíř hledající dobrodružství. 'Oh dear, what nonsense!' "Ach bože, to je nesmysl! exclaimed the elder; 'and, besides, what proof have we that you are speaking the truth?' zvolal starší, "a kromě toho, jaký máme důkaz, že mluvíš pravdu? But again the younger brother interposed: 'Oh, do let him live! Ale mladší bratr se opět vmísil: "Ach, nech ho žít! You know if he is lying to us we can always catch him again. Pokud nám lže, vždycky ho můžeme znovu chytit. It is quite worth while trying.' Stojí za to to zkusit. At last the young man gave in, and threw the fish back into the sea; and both brothers went supperless to bed, and wondered what fortune the next day would bring. Nakonec se mladík vzdal a hodil rybu zpět do moře.Oba bratři šli bez večeře spát a přemýšleli, co jim přinese příští den.

At the first streaks of dawn they were both up, and in a very few minutes were running down to the shore. S prvními záblesky svítání byli oba vzhůru a za několik minut už běželi ke břehu. And there, just as the fish had said, stood two magnificent horses, saddled and bridled, and on their backs lay suits of armour and under-dresses, two swords, and two purses of gold. A tam, přesně jak ryba řekla, stáli dva nádherní koně, osedlaní a osedlaní, a na jejich hřbetech ležela brnění a spodky, dva meče a dva měšce ze zlata.

'There!' said the younger brother. řekl mladší bratr. 'Are you not thankful you did not eat that fish? "Nejsi vděčný, že jsi tu rybu nesnědl? He has brought us good luck, and there is no knowing how great we may become! Přinesl nám štěstí a nikdo neví, jak velkými se můžeme stát! Now, we will each seek our own adventures. Nyní budeme každý hledat svá vlastní dobrodružství. If you will take one road I will go the other.' Pokud se vydáte jednou cestou, já půjdu druhou. 'Very well,' replied the elder; 'but how shall we let each other know if we are both living?' "Dobrá," odpověděl starší, "ale jak si máme dát vědět, že oba žijeme? 'Do you see this fig-tree?' "Vidíš ten fíkovník? said the younger. řekl mladší. 'Well, whenever we want news of each other we have only to come here and make a slit with our swords in the back. "Kdykoli o sobě budeme chtít vědět, stačí přijít sem a udělat si mečem zářez do zad. If milk flows, it is a sign that we are well and prosperous; but if, instead of milk, there is blood, then we are either dead or in great danger.' Pokud teče mléko, je to znamení, že se nám daří dobře a že jsme v blahobytu; pokud však místo mléka teče krev, jsme buď mrtví, nebo ve velkém nebezpečí. Then the two brothers put on their armour, buckled their swords, and pocketed their purees; and, after taking a tender farewell of each other, they mounted their horses and went their various ways. Pak si oba bratři oblékli brnění, zapnuli meče, uložili si do kapes pyré a po vzájemném něžném rozloučení nasedli na koně a vydali se každý svou cestou.

The elder brother rode straight on till he reached the borders of a strange kingdom. Starší bratr jel rovně, až dorazil k hranicím cizího království. He crossed the frontier, and soon found himself on the banks of a river; and before him, in the middle of the stream, a beautiful girl sat chained to a rock and weeping bitterly. Překročil hranici a brzy se ocitl na břehu řeky.Před ním uprostřed proudu seděla ke skále připoutaná krásná dívka a hořce plakala. For in this river dwelt a serpent with seven heads, who threatened to lay waste the whole land by breathing fire and flame from his nostrils unless the king sent him every morning a man for his breakfast. V této řece totiž žil sedmihlavý had, který hrozil, že zpustoší celou zemi a bude ze svých nozder chrlit oheň a plameny, pokud mu král každé ráno nepošle člověka k snídani. This had gone on so long that now there were no men left, and he had been obliged to send his own daughter instead, and the poor girl was waiting till the monster got hungry and felt inclined to eat her. Trvalo to tak dlouho, že už mu nezbyli žádní muži, a tak musel místo sebe poslat vlastní dceru, která čekala, až netvor dostane hlad a bude mít chuť ji sníst.

When the young man saw the maiden weeping bitterly he said to her, 'What is the matter, my poor girl?' Když mladík spatřil dívku, jak hořce pláče, řekl jí: "Co se děje, ubohé děvče? 'Oh!' she answered, 'I am chained here till a horrible serpent with seven heads comes to eat me. Odpověděla: "Jsem tu připoutána, dokud mě nepřijde sežrat strašlivý sedmihlavý had. Oh, sir, do not linger here, or he will eat you too.' Ach, pane, nezdržujte se tu, nebo vás také sní. 'I shall stay,' replied the young man, 'for I mean to set you free.' "Zůstanu," odpověděl mladík, "protože tě chci osvobodit. 'That is impossible. "To není možné. You do not know what a fearful monster the serpent is; you can do nothing against him.' Nevíte, jak strašná obluda je ten had, nic proti němu nezmůžete. 'That is my affair, beautiful captive,' answered he; 'only tell me, which way will the serpent come?' "To je moje věc, krásná zajatkyně," odpověděl, "jen mi řekni, kudy přijde had? 'Well, if you are resolved to free me, listen to my advice. "No, jestli jsi rozhodnutý mě osvobodit, poslechni mou radu. Stand a little on one side, and then, when the serpent rises to the surface, I will say to him, "O serpent, to-day you can eat two people. Postav se kousek stranou, a až had vyplave na hladinu, řeknu mu: "Hade, dnes můžeš sníst dva lidi. But you had better begin first with the young man, for I am chained and cannot run away." Ale raději začni nejdřív s tím mladíkem, protože já jsem spoutaná a nemohu utéct." When he hears this most likely he will attack you.' Až to uslyší, nejspíš na vás zaútočí. So the young man stood carefully on one side, and by-and-bye he heard a great rushing in the water; and a horrible monster came up to the surface and looked out for the rock where the king's daughter was chained, for it was getting late and he was hungry. Mladík se tedy opatrně postavil na jednu stranu a vzápětí uslyšel ve vodě velký šum; na hladinu se vynořil strašlivý netvor a vyhlížel skálu, kde byla připoutána králova dcera, protože se připozdívalo a on měl hlad. But she cried out, 'O serpent, to-day you can eat two people. Ale ona vykřikla: "Hade, dnes můžeš sníst dva lidi. And you had better begin with the young man, for I am chained and cannot run away.' A raději začni s tím mladíkem, protože já jsem spoutaná a nemohu utéct. Then the serpent made a rush at the youth with wide open jaws to swallow him at one gulp, but the young man leaped aside and drew his sword, and fought till he had cut off all the seven heads. Had se na mladíka vrhl s široce rozevřenými čelistmi, aby ho spolkl na jeden zátah, ale mladík uskočil stranou, vytasil meč a bojoval, dokud nesetnul všech sedm hlav. And when the great serpent lay dead at his feet he loosed the bonds of the king's daughter, and she flung herself into his arms and said, 'You have saved me from that monster, and now you shall be my husband, for my father has made a proclamation that whoever could slay the serpent should have his daughter to wife.' Když mu velký had ležel mrtvý u nohou, rozvázal pouta královské dcery, která se mu vrhla do náruče a řekla: "Zachránil jsi mě před tím netvorem a teď budeš mým manželem, protože můj otec vyhlásil, že kdo zabije hada, dostane jeho dceru za ženu. But he answered, 'I cannot become your husband yet, for I have still far to travel. On však odpověděl: "Ještě se nemohu stát tvým manželem, protože mám před sebou ještě dlouhou cestu. But wait for me seven years and seven months. Ale počkejte na mě sedm let a sedm měsíců. Then, if I do not return, you are free to marry whom you will. Pokud se nevrátím, můžeš si vzít, koho chceš. And in case you should have forgotten, I will take these seven tongues with me so that when I bring them forth you may know that I am really he who slew the serpent.' A kdybyste náhodou zapomněli, vezmu si s sebou těchto sedm jazyků, abyste, až je vynesu, poznali, že jsem opravdu ten, kdo zabil hada. So saying he cut out the seven tongues, and the princess gave him a thick cloth to wrap them in; and he mounted his horse and rode away. Řekl to, vyřízl sedm jazyků, princezna mu dala tlustou látku, aby je zabalil, a on nasedl na koně a odjel.

Not long after he had gone there arrived at the river a slave who had been sent by the king to learn the fate of his beloved daughter. Nedlouho po jeho odchodu dorazil k řece otrok, kterého poslal král, aby se dozvěděl o osudu jeho milované dcery. And when the slave saw the princess standing free and safe before him, with the body of the monster lying at her feet, a wicked plan came into his head, and he said, 'Unless you promise to tell your father it was I who slew the serpent, I will kill you and bury you in this place, and no one will ever know what befell.' Když otrok spatřil princeznu, jak před ním stojí volná a v bezpečí a u jejích nohou leží tělo netvora, napadl ho zlý plán a řekl: "Pokud neslíbíš, že otci řekneš, že jsem to byl já, kdo zabil hada, zabiju tě a pohřbím na tomto místě a nikdo se nikdy nedozví, co se stalo. What could the poor girl do? Co mohla ta ubohá dívka dělat? This time there was no knight to come to her aid. Tentokrát jí nepřišel na pomoc žádný rytíř. So she promised to do as the slave wished, and he took up the seven heads and brought the princess to her father. Slíbila tedy, že udělá, co si otrok přeje, a on vzal sedm hlav a přivedl princeznu k jejímu otci.

Oh, how enchanted the king was to see her again, and the whole town shared his joy! Ach, jak byl král okouzlen, když ji opět spatřil, a celé město sdílelo jeho radost!

And the slave was called upon to tell how he had slain the monster, and when he had ended the king declared that he should have the princess to wife. Otrok byl vyzván, aby vyprávěl, jak netvora zabil, a když skončil, král prohlásil, že dostane princeznu za ženu.

But she flung herself at her father's feet, and prayed him to delay. Vrhla se však otci k nohám a prosila ho, aby to odložil. 'You have passed your royal word, and cannot go back from it Yet grant me this grace, and let seven years and seven months go by before you wed me. "Své královské slovo jsi vyřkl a nemůžeš od něj ustoupit Přesto mi dopřej tuto milost a nechej uplynout sedm let a sedm měsíců, než se se mnou oženíš. When they are over, then I will marry the slave.' Až skončí, ožením se s otrokyní. And the king listened to her, and seven years and seven months she looked for her bridegroom, and wept for him night and day. Král ji vyslechl a ona sedm let a sedm měsíců hledala svého ženicha a plakala pro něj dnem i nocí.

All this time the young man was riding through the world, and when the seven years and seven months were over he came back to the town where the princess lived—only a few days before the wedding. Celou tu dobu jezdil mladík po světě, a když uplynulo sedm let a sedm měsíců, vrátil se do města, kde žila princezna, jen několik dní před svatbou. And he stood before the king, and said to him: 'Give me your daughter, O king, for I slew the seven-headed serpent. Postavil se před krále a řekl mu: "Dej mi svou dceru, králi, neboť jsem zabil sedmihlavého hada. And as a sign that my words are true, look on these seven tongues, which I cut from his seven heads, and on this embroidered cloth, which was given me by your daughter.' A jako na znamení, že má slova jsou pravdivá, pohleď na těchto sedm jazyků, které jsem mu uřízl ze sedmi hlav, a na tuto vyšívanou látku, kterou mi dala tvá dcera. Then the princess lifted up her voice and said, 'Yes, dear father, he has spoken the truth, and it is he who is my real bridegroom. Tehdy princezna pozvedla hlas a řekla: "Ano, drahý otče, mluvil pravdu a je to on, kdo je mým skutečným ženichem. Yet pardon the slave, for he was sorely tempted.' Přesto otrokovi odpusťte, neboť byl v těžkém pokušení. But the king answered, 'Such treachery can no man pardon. Král však odpověděl: "Takovou zradu nemůže nikdo odpustit. Quick, away with him, and off with his head!' Rychle pryč s ním a pryč s jeho hlavou! So the false slave was put to death, that none might follow in his footsteps, and the wedding feast was held, and the hearts of all rejoiced that the true bridegroom had come at last. A tak byl falešný otrok usmrcen, aby nikdo nemohl jít v jeho stopách, a konala se svatební hostina a srdce všech se radovala, že konečně přišel pravý ženich.

These two lived happy and contentedly for a long while, when one evening, as the young man was looking from the window, he saw on a mountain that lay out beyond the town a great bright light. Ti dva žili dlouho šťastně a spokojeně, když jednoho večera, když se mladík díval z okna, uviděl na hoře za městem velké jasné světlo.

'What can it be?' "Co to může být? he said to his wife. řekl své ženě.

'Ah! do not look at it,' she answered, 'for it comes from the house of a wicked witch whom no man can manage to kill.' nedívej se na něj," odpověděla, "protože pochází z domu zlé čarodějnice, kterou se nikomu nepodaří zabít. But the princess had better have kept silence, for her words made her husband's heart burn within him, and he longed to try his strength against the witch's cunning. Ale princezna měla raději mlčet, protože její slova způsobila, že manželovo srdce v něm hořelo a on toužil vyzkoušet své síly proti čarodějčině lsti. And all day long the feeling grew stronger, till the next morning he mounted his horse, and in spite of his wife's tears, he rode off to the mountain. A celý den ten pocit sílil, až příštího rána nasedl na koně a navzdory slzám své ženy odjel do hor. The distance was greater than he thought, and it was dark before he reached the foot of the mountain; indeed, he could not have found the road at all had it not been for the bright light, which shone like the moon on his path. Vzdálenost byla větší, než si myslel, a než dorazil k úpatí hory, byla už tma; nebýt jasného světla, které mu svítilo na cestu jako měsíc, nemohl by cestu vůbec najít. At length he came to the door of a fine castle, which had a blaze streaming from every window. Nakonec došel ke dveřím krásného zámku, z jehož každého okna šlehaly plameny. He mounted a flight of steps and entered a hall where a hideous old woman was sitting on a golden chair. Vystoupal po schodech a vstoupil do sálu, kde na zlatém křesle seděla ohyzdná stařena.

She scowled at the young man and said, 'With a single one of the hairs of my head I can turn you into stone.' Zamračila se na mladíka a řekla: "Jediným vlasem na hlavě tě mohu proměnit v kámen. 'Oh, what nonsense!' "To je ale nesmysl! cried he. zvolal. 'Be quiet, old woman. "Buď zticha, stařeno. What could you do with one hair?' Co bys mohl udělat s jedním vlasem? But the witch pulled out a hair and laid it on his shoulder, and his limbs grew cold and heavy, and he could not stir. Čarodějnice mu však vytrhla vlas a položila mu ho na rameno, takže mu ztuhly údy a nemohl se pohnout.

Now at this very moment the younger brother was thinking of him, and wondering how he had got on during all the years since they had parted. Právě teď na něj mladší bratr myslel a přemýšlel, jak se mu dařilo po celá ta léta, co se rozešli. 'I will go to the fig-tree,' he said to himself, 'to see whether he is alive or dead.' "Půjdu se podívat na fíkovník," řekl si, "jestli je živý, nebo mrtvý. So he rode through the forest till he came where the fig-tree stood, and cut a slit in the bark, and waited. Jel tedy lesem, až došel k místu, kde stál fíkovník, vyřízl do kůry štěrbinu a čekal. In a moment a little gurgling noise was heard, and out came a stream of blood, running fast. Za okamžik se ozval slabý žbluňkavý zvuk a vytryskl proud rychle tekoucí krve. 'Ah, woe is me!' "Ach, běda mi! he cried bitterly. hořce zvolal. 'My brother is dead or dying! "Můj bratr je mrtvý nebo umírá! Shall I ever reach him in time to save his life?' Dostanu se k němu včas, abych mu zachránil život? Then, leaping on his horse, he shouted, 'Now, my steed, fly like the wind!' Pak vyskočil na koně a zvolal: "Teď, můj oři, leť jako vítr! and they rode right through the world, till one day they came to the town where the young man and his wife lived. A tak jeli světem, až jednoho dne přijeli do města, kde žil mladý muž se svou ženou. Here the princess had been sitting every day since the morning that her husband had left her, weeping bitter tears, and listening for his footsteps. Zde princezna sedávala každý den od rána, kdy ji opustil manžel, plakala a naslouchala jeho krokům. And when she saw his brother ride under the balcony she mistook him for her own husband, for they were so alike that no man might tell the difference, and her heart bounded, and, leaning down, she called to him, 'At last! Když viděla jeho bratra, jak jede pod balkonem, spletla si ho s vlastním mužem, protože si byli tak podobní, že je nikdo nemohl rozeznat, a srdce se jí rozbušilo, a když se k němu sklonila, zavolala na něj: "Konečně! at last! how long have I waited for thee!' Jak dlouho jsem na tebe čekal! When the younger brother heard these words he said to himself, 'So it was here that my brother lived, and this beautiful woman is my sister-in-law,' but he kept silence, and let her believe he was indeed her husband. Když mladší bratr uslyšel tato slova, řekl si: "Tak tady žil můj bratr a tato krásná žena je moje švagrová," ale mlčel a nechal ji věřit, že je skutečně její manžel. Full of joy, the princess led him to the old king, who welcomed him as his own son, and ordered a feast to be made for him. Princezna ho plná radosti dovedla ke starému králi, který ho přivítal jako vlastního syna a nařídil mu uspořádat hostinu. And the princess was beside herself with gladness, but when she would have put her arms round him and kissed him he held up his hand to stop her, saying, 'Touch me not,' at which she marvelled greatly. Princezna byla radostí bez sebe, ale když ho chtěla obejmout a políbit, zvedl ruku, aby jí v tom zabránil, a řekl: "Nedotýkej se mě," čemuž se velmi podivila. In this manner several days went by. Takto uběhlo několik dní. And one evening, as the young man leaned from the balcony, he saw a bright light shining on the mountain. Jednoho večera, když se mladík skláněl z balkonu, spatřil na hoře jasné světlo.

'What can that be?' "Co to může být? he said to the princess. řekl princezně.

'Oh, come away,' she cried; 'has not that light already proved your bane? "Ach, pojď pryč," zvolala, "neukázalo se to světlo už jako tvoje zhouba? Do you wish to fight a second time with that old witch?' Chceš podruhé bojovat s tou starou čarodějnicí? He marked her words, though she knew it not, and they taught him where his brother was, and what had befallen him. Všiml si jejích slov, i když o tom nevěděla, a dozvěděl se, kde je jeho bratr a co se mu stalo. So before sunrise he stole out early, saddled his horse, and rode off to the mountain. Před východem slunce se tedy časně ráno vytratil, osedlal koně a vyrazil do hor. But the way was further than he thought, and on the road he met a little old man who asked him whither he was going. Cesta však byla delší, než si myslel, a na cestě potkal malého staříka, který se ho zeptal, kam jde.

Then the young man told him his story, and added. Mladík mu pak vyprávěl svůj příběh a dodal. 'Somehow or other I must free my brother, who has fallen into the power of an old witch.' "Musím nějak osvobodit svého bratra, který se dostal do moci staré čarodějnice. 'I will tell you what you must do,' said the old man. "Řeknu ti, co musíš udělat," řekl stařec. 'The witch's power lies in her hair; so when you see her spring on her and seize her by the hair, and then she cannot harm you. "Moc čarodějnice spočívá v jejích vlasech, takže až ji uvidíš, vrhni se na ni a chyť ji za vlasy, pak ti nemůže ublížit. Be very careful never to let her hair go, bid her lead you to your brother, and force her to bring him back to life. Dávejte si velký pozor, abyste ji nikdy nepustili z vlasů, nabídněte jí, aby vás dovedla k vašemu bratrovi, a donuťte ji, aby ho přivedla zpět k životu. For she has an ointment that will heal all wounds, and even wake the dead. Má totiž mast, která zahojí všechny rány, a dokonce probudí i mrtvé. And when your brother stands safe and well before you, then cut off her head, for she is a wicked woman.' A až bude tvůj bratr stát před tebou v bezpečí a v pořádku, usekni jí hlavu, protože je to zlá žena. The young man was grateful for these words, and promised to obey them. Mladík byl za tato slova vděčný a slíbil, že je bude poslouchat. Then he rode on, and soon reached the castle. Pak vyrazil na koni a brzy dorazil k hradu. He walked boldly up the steps and entered the hall, where the hideous old witch came to meet him. Odvážně vystoupal po schodech a vstoupil do sálu, kde mu vyšla vstříc stará, ošklivá čarodějnice. She grinned horribly at him, and cried out, 'With one hair of my head I can change you into stone.' Strašlivě se na něj zašklebila a vykřikla: "Jediným vlasem na hlavě tě mohu proměnit v kámen. 'Can you, indeed?' "Opravdu? said the young man, seizing her by the hair. řekl mladík a chytil ji za vlasy. 'You old wretch! "Ty starý bídáku! tell me what you have done with my brother, or I will cut your head off this very instant.' řekni mi, co jsi udělal s mým bratrem, nebo ti hned useknu hlavu. Now the witch's strength was all gone from her, and she had to obey. Teď už čarodějce došly všechny síly a musela poslechnout. 'I will take you to your brother,' she said, hoping to get the better of him by cunning, 'but leave me alone. "Zavedu tě k tvému bratrovi," řekla v naději, že ho lstí přiměje, "ale mě nech na pokoji. You hold me so tight that I cannot walk.' Držíš mě tak pevně, že nemohu chodit. 'You must manage somehow,' he answered, and held her tighter than ever. "Musíš to nějak zvládnout," odpověděl a objal ji pevněji než kdy jindy. She led him into a large hall filled with stone statues, which once had been men, and, pointing out one, she said, 'There is your brother.' Zavedla ho do velkého sálu plného kamenných soch, které kdysi bývaly muži, a ukázala na jednu z nich a řekla: "Tady je tvůj bratr. The young man looked at them all and shook his head. Mladík se na všechny podíval a zavrtěl hlavou. 'My brother is not here. "Můj bratr tu není. Take me to him, or it will be the worse for you.' Vezmi mě k němu, jinak to pro tebe bude ještě horší. But she tried to put him off with other statues, though it was no good, and it was not until they had reached the last hall of all that he saw his brother lying on the ground. Snažila se ho však odradit dalšími sochami, i když to nebylo nic platné, a teprve když došli do poslední síně, uviděl svého bratra ležet na zemi.

'That is my brother,' said he. 'Now give me the ointment that will restore him to life.' "Teď mi dejte mast, která mu vrátí život. Very unwillingly the old witch opened a cupboard close by filled with bottles and jars, and took down one and held it out to the young man. Stará čarodějnice velmi neochotně otevřela nedalekou skříň plnou lahví a sklenic, jednu z nich sundala a podala ji mladíkovi. But he was on the watch for trickery, and examined it carefully, and saw that it had no power to heal. On si však dával pozor, zda se nejedná o podvod, a tak ji pečlivě prozkoumal a zjistil, že nemá žádnou léčivou moc. This happened many times, till at length she found it was no use, and gave him the one he wanted. To se opakovalo mnohokrát, až nakonec zjistila, že to nemá smysl, a dala mu tu, kterou chtěl. And when he had it safe he made her stoop down and smear it over his brother's face, taking care all the while never to loose her hair, and when the dead man opened his eyes the youth drew his sword and cut off her head with a single blow. Když ji měl v bezpečí, přinutil ji, aby se sklonila a rozetřela ji po bratrově tváři, přičemž si dával pozor, aby jí neunikly vlasy, a když mrtvý otevřel oči, mladík vytáhl meč a jedinou ranou jí usekl hlavu. Then the elder brother got up and stretched himself, and said, 'Oh, how long I have slept! Starší bratr vstal, protáhl se a řekl: "Ach, jak dlouho jsem spal! And where am I?' A kde jsem já? 'The old witch had enchanted you, but now she is dead and you are free. "Stará čarodějnice tě očarovala, ale teď je mrtvá a ty jsi volný. We will wake up the other knights that she laid under her spells, and then we will go.' Probudíme ostatní rytíře, které očarovala, a pak vyrazíme. This they did, and, after sharing amongst them the jewels and gold they found in the castle, each man went his way. To také udělali a poté, co si rozdělili šperky a zlato, které na hradě našli, se každý vydal svou cestou. The two brothers remained together, the elder tightly grasping the ointment which had brought him back to life. Oba bratři zůstali pohromadě, starší z nich pevně svíral mast, která ho přivedla zpět k životu.

They had much to tell each other as they rode along, and at last the younger man exclaimed, 'O fool, to leave such a beautiful wife to go and fight a witch! Během cesty si měli co říci a nakonec mladší muž zvolal: "Ó blázne, opustit tak krásnou ženu a jít bojovat s čarodějnicí! She took me for her husband, and I did not say her nay.' Považovala mě za svého manžela a já jsem jí neodmítl. When the elder brother heard this a great rage filled his heart, and, without saying one word, he drew his sword and slew his brother, and his body rolled in the dust. Když to starší bratr uslyšel, naplnil jeho srdce velký vztek, a aniž by řekl jediné slovo, vytasil meč, zabil svého bratra a jeho tělo se válelo v prachu. Then he rode on till he reached his home, where his wife was still sitting, weeping bitterly. Pak jel dál, až dojel ke svému domu, kde stále seděla jeho žena a hořce plakala. When she saw him she sprang up with a cry, and threw herself into his arms. Když ho uviděla, s výkřikem vyskočila a vrhla se mu do náruče. 'Oh, how long have I waited for thee! "Jak dlouho jsem na tebe čekal! Never, never must you leave me any more!' Už nikdy, nikdy mě nesmíš opustit! When the old king heard the news he welcomed him as a son, and made ready a feast, and all the court sat down. Když to starý král uslyšel, přivítal ho jako syna, připravil hostinu a celý dvůr zasedl ke stolu. And in the evening, when the young man was alone with his wife, she said to him, 'Why would you not let me touch you when you came back, but always thrust me away when I tried to put my arms round you or kiss you?' Večer, když mladík zůstal se svou ženou sám, řekla mu: "Proč jsi mi nedovolil, abych se tě dotkla, když ses vrátil, a vždycky jsi mě odstrčil, když jsem tě chtěla obejmout nebo políbit? Then the young man understood how true his brother had been to him, and he sat down and wept and wrung his hands because of the wicked murder that he had done. Tehdy mladík pochopil, jak pravdivě se k němu jeho bratr zachoval, a sedl si, plakal a lomil rukama nad hříšnou vraždou, kterou spáchal. Suddenly he sprang to his feet, for he remembered the ointment which lay hidden in his garments, and he rushed to the place where his brother still lay. Najednou vyskočil na nohy, protože si vzpomněl na mast, kterou měl schovanou v oděvu, a spěchal k místu, kde stále ležel jeho bratr. He fell on his knees beside the body, and, taking out the salve, he rubbed it over the neck where the wound was gaping wide, and the skin healed and the sinews grew strong, and the dead man sat up and looked round him. Padl vedle těla na kolena, vytáhl mast, potřel jí krk, kde se rána doširoka rozevírala, a kůže se zahojila, šlachy zesílily a mrtvý se posadil a rozhlédl se kolem sebe. And the two brothers embraced each other, and the elder asked forgiveness for his wicked blow; and they went back to the palace together, and were never parted any more. Oba bratři se objali a starší z nich požádal o odpuštění za svou zlou ránu, vrátili se spolu do paláce a už se nikdy nerozloučili.