第 六十五 章 · The Three Sons of Fortune

. The Three Sons of Fortune

A father once called his three sons before him, and he gave to the

first a cock, to the second a scythe, and to the third a cat. “I am

already aged,” said he, “my death is nigh, and I have wished to take

thought for you before my end; money I have not, and what I now give

you seems of little worth, but all depends on your making a sensible

use of it. Only seek out a country where such things are still unknown,

and your fortune is made.”

After the father’s death the eldest went away with his cock, but

wherever he came the cock was already known; in the towns he saw him

from a long distance, sitting upon the steeples and turning round with

the wind, and in the villages he heard more than one crowing; no one

would show any wonder at the creature, so that it did not look as if he

would make his fortune by it.

At last, however, it happened that he came to an island where the

people knew nothing about cocks, and did not even understand how to

divide their time. They certainly knew when it was morning or evening,

but at night, if they did not sleep through it, not one of them knew

how to find out the time.

“Look!” said he, “what a proud creature! it has a ruby-red crown upon

its head, and wears spurs like a knight; it calls you three times

during the night, at fixed hours, and when it calls for the last time,

the sun soon rises. But if it crows by broad daylight, then take

notice, for there will certainly be a change of weather.”

The people were well pleased; for a whole night they did not sleep, and

listened with great delight as the cock at two, four, and six o’clock,

loudly and clearly proclaimed the time. They asked if the creature were

for sale, and how much he wanted for it? “About as much gold as an ass

can carry,” answered he. “A ridiculously small price for such a

precious creature!” they cried unanimously, and willingly gave him what

he had asked.

When he came home with his wealth his brothers were astonished, and the

second said, “Well, I will go forth and see whether I cannot get rid of

my scythe as profitably.” But it did not look as if he would, for

labourers met him everywhere, and they had scythes upon their shoulders

as well as he.

At last, however, he chanced upon an island where the people knew

nothing of scythes. When the corn was ripe there, they took cannon out

to the fields and shot it down. Now this was rather an uncertain

affair; many shot right over it, others hit the ears instead of the

stems, and shot them away, whereby much was lost, and besides all this,

it made a terrible noise. So the man set to work and mowed it down so

quietly and quickly that the people opened their mouths with

astonishment. They agreed to give him what he wanted for the scythe,

and he received a horse laden with as much gold as it could carry.

And now the third brother wanted to take his cat to the right man. He

fared just like the others; so long as he stayed on the mainland there

was nothing to be done. Every place had cats, and there were so many of

them that new-born kittens were generally drowned in the ponds.

At last he sailed over to an island, and it luckily happened that no

cats had ever yet been seen there, and that the mice had got the upper

hand so much that they danced upon the tables and benches whether the

master were at home or not. The people complained bitterly of the

plague; the King himself in his palace did not know how to secure

himself against them; mice squeaked in every corner, and gnawed

whatever they could lay hold of with their teeth. But now the cat began

her chase, and soon cleared a couple of rooms, and the people begged

the King to buy the wonderful beast for the country. The King willingly

gave what was asked, which was a mule laden with gold, and the third

brother came home with the greatest treasure of all.

The cat made herself merry with the mice in the royal palace, and

killed so many that they could not be counted. At last she grew warm

with the work and thirsty, so she stood still, lifted up her head and

cried, “Mew. Mew!” When they heard this strange cry, the King and all

his people were frightened, and in their terror ran all at once out of

the palace. Then the King took counsel what was best to be done; at

last it was determined to send a herald to the cat, and demand that she

should leave the palace, or if not, she was to expect that force would

be used against her. The councillors said, “Rather will we let

ourselves be plagued with the mice, for to that misfortune we are

accustomed, than give up our lives to such a monster as this.” A noble

youth, therefore, was sent to ask the cat “whether she would peaceably

quit the castle?” But the cat, whose thirst had become still greater,

merely answered, “Mew! Mew!” The youth understood her to say, “Most

certainly not! most certainly not!” and took this answer to the King.

“Then,” said the councillors, “she shall yield to force.” Cannon were

brought out, and the palace was soon in flames. When the fire reached

the room where the cat was sitting, she sprang safely out of the

window; but the besiegers did not leave off until the whole palace was

shot down to the ground.