Kako je Pepelček trolu ukradel srebrne race, posteljno pregrinjalo in zlato harfo

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There was once a poor man who had three sons. When he died, the two eldest were to go out into the world to seek their fortune, but they would not hear of taking the youngest with them.

“You!” they said. “You’re good for nothing but sitting and poking about in the ashes.” “Then I suppose I shall have to go alone,” said Askepot. The other two set off and came to the royal palace, where they found work, one with the master of the stables and the other with the gardener.

Askepot set off too, taking with him a great kneading trough, the only thing their parents had left behind, which neither of the other two had cared to have. It was heavy to carry, but he would not leave it behind. After he had walked for a while, he too came to the royal palace and asked for work. They told him they had no need of him, but he pleaded so earnestly and politely that at last they allowed him to stay in the kitchen and carry wood and water for the kitchen maid. He was hardworking and willing, and before long everyone had grown very fond of him. The other two, however, were lazy, and so they often received blows and little pay, and they grew jealous of Askepot when they saw how much better he was doing.

Opposite the palace, on the far side of a lake, lived a troll who had seven silver ducks. They swam about on the lake, where they could be seen from the palace.

The king had often wished he could have them, so the two brothers said to the master of the stables, “Our brother has boasted that he could get the king those seven silver ducks, if only he chose.” You may be sure it was not long before the master of the stables told the king. The king summoned Askepot and said:

“Your brothers tell me you can get me the silver ducks, and now you shall do it.” “I have never thought or said any such thing,” answered the lad. “You have said it,” the king insisted, “and you shall do it!” “Well, well!” said the lad. “If there is no help for it, give me a quarter-measure of rye and a quarter-measure of wheat, and I suppose I must try.” These were given to him, and he put them into the kneading trough he had brought from home and rowed across in it. When he reached the other side, he began walking along the shore, scattering grain as he went, until at last he coaxed the ducks into the trough. Then he rowed back as fast as he could.

When he was halfway across, the troll came out and caught sight of him. “Have you made off with my seven silver ducks?” he shouted. “Ye-es!” said the lad. “Will you be coming back again?” asked the troll. “I might,” said the lad. When he returned to the king with the seven silver ducks, he became still better liked at the palace, and the king himself said it was well done. But this only made his brothers angrier and more envious. So they took it into their heads to tell the master of the stables that Askepot had now boasted he could get the king the troll’s bedspread, with a silver square and a gold square, and a silver square and a gold square, if only he chose. This time, too, the master of the stables lost no time in telling the king. So the king told the lad that his brothers had said he claimed he could get the troll’s bedspread with the silver and gold squares, and now he must do it or lose his life. Askepot answered that he had never thought or said any such thing, but when that did no good, he asked for three days to think it over. When the three days were up, he rowed across again in the kneading trough and crept to and fro, keeping watch. At last he saw the folk inside the mountain hang out the bedspread to air, and once they were safely back inside, Askepot snatched it and rowed away as fast as he could. When he was halfway across, the troll came out and caught sight of him.

“Are you the one who took my seven silver ducks?” shouted the troll. “Ye-es!” said the lad. “And have you now taken my bedspread too, with a silver square and a gold square, and a silver square and a gold square?” “Ye-es!” said the lad. “Will you be coming back again?” “I might,” said the lad. When he returned with the gold and silver bedspread, everyone liked him even better than before, and he became the king’s own servant. This made the other two angrier still, and to revenge themselves they took it into their heads to tell the master of the stables, “Now our brother has boasted that he can get the king the troll’s golden harp, which makes everyone happy when they hear it played, however sorrowful they may be.” The master of the stables told the king at once, and the king said to the lad:

“If you have said it, you shall do it. If you succeed, you shall have the princess and half the kingdom, but if you fail, you shall lose your life.” “I have never thought or said any such thing,” answered the lad, “but I suppose there is no other way; I shall have to try.

But I must have six days to think it over.” Yes, he could have those, but when they were up, he had to set off. He put a nail, a birch twig, and a candle end into his pocket, rowed across, and crept to and fro outside the mountain.

When the troll came out, he caught sight of him. “Are you the one who took my seven silver ducks?” shouted the troll. “Ye-es!” answered the lad. “And you’re the one who took my bedspread with the silver and gold squares too, are you?” asked the troll.

“Ye-es!” said the lad. Then the troll seized him and carried him inside the mountain. “Now, daughter,” he said, “I have caught the fellow who took my silver ducks and my bedspread with the silver and gold squares. Put him in the fattening pen, and then we shall slaughter him and invite our friends to a feast.” She was quite willing and put him in the fattening pen, where he stayed for eight days, with as much as he wanted of all the best food and drink he could wish for.

When the eight days were over, the troll told his daughter to go down and cut the lad’s little finger, so they could see whether he was fat. The troll’s daughter went down at once. “Put out your little finger!” she said. But Askepot held out the nail, and that was what she cut into. “Oh, no! He’s still as hard as iron,” said the troll’s daughter when she came back to her father. “We can’t slaughter him yet!” Eight days later the same thing happened, except that this time Askepot held out the birch twig. “He’s a little better,” she said when she came back to the troll, “but he would still be as tough to chew as wood.” After another eight days, the troll again told his daughter to go down and see whether the lad was fat by now. “Put out your little finger!” said the troll’s daughter when she reached the fattening pen. This time Askepot held out the candle end. “He’ll do now!” she said. “Very well!” said the troll. “Then I shall go and invite the guests to the feast;

meanwhile, you must slaughter him, roast half, and boil the other half!” As soon as the troll had gone, his daughter began whetting a great long knife. “Is that what you mean to slaughter me with?” asked the lad. “Yes, indeed!” said the troll’s daughter. “But it isn’t sharp,” said the lad. “I had better whet it for you, so you can put me to death more easily.” She let him have the knife, and he began grinding and whetting it.

“Now let me try it on your braid,” said the lad. “I think it should be sharp enough.” She gave him leave, but the moment he seized her braid, he pulled her head back and cut it off. Then he boiled half of her and roasted the other half and set it all on the table. After that he put on her clothes and sat down in the corner. When the troll came home with the guests, he asked his daughter—for he thought it was she—to come and eat with them. “No,” answered the lad, “I don’t want any food. I feel so sad and downhearted.” “Oh, you know what to do about that,” said the troll. “Take the golden harp and play!” “Yes, but where is it?” asked the lad. “Surely you know—you were the last to use it. It’s hanging there over the door!” The lad did not need to be told twice. He took it and went in and out, playing; then, all at once, he pushed the kneading trough into the water and rowed away so fast that the water foamed about it. After a while the troll thought his daughter had been outside too long and went to see what was the matter with her. Then he saw the lad in the trough, far, far out on the lake. “Are you the one who took my seven silver ducks?” shouted the troll. “Yes,” said the lad. “And you’re the one who took my bedspread with a silver square and a gold square too?” “Yes,” said the lad. “And now have you taken my golden harp as well?” shrieked the troll. “Yes, indeed I have,” said the lad. “But haven’t I eaten you up?” “No, it was your daughter you ate!” answered the lad.

When the troll heard this, he flew into such a rage that he burst. Then Askepot rowed back and took away a great heap of gold and silver, as much as the trough could carry. When he returned to the palace with the golden harp, he was given the king’s daughter and half the kingdom, just as the king had promised. And he treated his brothers kindly, for he believed they had only meant to do him good by what they had said.

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Der var engang en fattig Mand, som havde tre Sønner. Da han døde, skulde de to ældste Sønner drage ud i Verden for at prøve sin Lykke; men den yngste vilde de slet ikke have med sig. „Du da!“ — sagde de — „du duer ikke til Andet end at sidde og grave i Asken, du.“ „Saa faaer jeg vel gaae alene, jeg,“ sagde Askepot. De To gik og kom til Kongsgaarden; der fik de Tjeneste, den Ene hos Staldmesteren og den Anden hos Gartneren.

Askepot gik ogsaa afsted, og tog med sig et stort Knadetrug, som var det Eneste, der var efter Forældrene, men som de andre To ikke brød sig noget om; det var tungt at bære, men han vilde dog ikke lade det staae igjen; — og da han havde gaaet en Stund, kom ogsaa han til Kongsgaarden og bad om Tjeneste. De svarede at de ikke behøvede ham, men da han bad saa inderlig vakkert, skulde han tilsidst faae Lov at være i Kjøkkenet og bære Ved og Vand til Kokkegjenten. Han var flittig og flink, og det varede ikke længe, førend Alle holdt meget af ham, — men de to Andre vare dovne, og derfor fik de ofte Hug og liden Løn, og saa bleve de avindsyge paa Askepot, da de saae at det gik ham bedre.

Ligeover for Kongsgaarden, paa den anden Side af et Vand, boede et Trold, som havde syv Sølvænder, der svømmede ude paa Vandet, saaat de kunde see dem fra Kongsgaarden. Dem havde Kongen ofte ønsket sig, og derfor sagde de to Brødrene til Staldmesteren: „Dersom vor Broder vilde, har han sagt sig god for at skaffe Kongen de syv Sølvænderne.“ Man kan nok vide, det ikke var længe, før Staldmesteren sagde det til Kongen. Denne raabte da Askepot ind til sig og sagde: „Brødrene dine fortælle, at du kan skaffe mig Sølvænderne, og nu skal du gjøre det.“ „Det har jeg hverken tænkt eller sagt“ svarede Gutten. „Du har sagt det,“ vedblev Kongen, „og du skal!“ „Ja–ja!“ sagde Gutten, „naar det ikke kan være Andet,

saa lad mig faae et Kvarter Rug og et Kvarter Hvede, saa faaer jeg vel prøve.“ Det fik han og lagde i Knadetruget, han havde taget med hjemmefra, og roede over med det. Da han var kommen paa den anden Side, begyndte han at gaae paa Strandkanten og strøe og strøe, og endelig fik han lokket Ænderne ud i Truget, og roede saa tilbage, det forteste han kunde. Da han var kommen midt udpaa, kom Troldet ud og fik see ham. „Har du reist af med de syv Sølvænderne mine, du?“ raabte det. „Ja–a!“ sagde Gutten. „Kommer du igjen oftere, du?“ spurgte Troldet. „Kan nok hænde,“ sagde Gutten. — Da han kom tilbage til Kongen med de syv Sølvænderne, blev han endnu meer afholdt i Kongsgaarden, og selve Kongen sagde, at det var godt gjort, — men derved bleve hans Brødre

endnu mere vrede og misundelige paa ham; og saa fandt de paa at sige til Staldmesteren, at nu havde han sagt sig god for at skaffe Kongen Troldets Sengetæppe, med en Sølvrude og en Guldrude, og en Sølvrude og en Guldrude i, dersom han bare vilde, og Staldmesteren var heller ikke den Gang seen med at fortælle Kongen det. Kongen sagde derfor til Gutten at hans Brødre havde fortalt, at han sagde sig god for at skaffe Troldets Sengetæppe med Sølv- og Guldruderne i, og nu skulde han gjøre det, eller ogsaa skulde han miste Livet. Askepot svarede, at det havde han hverken tænkt eller sagt, men da det ikke hjalp, bad han om tre Dage at betænke sig i. Da de vare omme, roede han over igjen i Knadetruget og gik frem og tilbage og

lurede. Endelig saa han, at de i Bjerget hængte Sengetæppet ud forat lufte det, og da de vare komne vel ind i Fjeldet igjen, kneb Askepot det og roede tilbage, det forteste han kunde. Da han var kommen midt udpaa, kom Troldet ud og fik see ham. „Er det dig som har taget de syv Sølvænderne mine?“ raabte Troldet „Ja–a!“ sagde Gutten. „Har du nu taget Sengetæppet mit, med en Sølvrude og en Guldrude og en Sølvrude og en Guldrude, ogsaa?“ „Ja–a!“ sagde Gutten. „Kommer du igjen oftere, du?“ „Kan nok hænde det,“ sagde Gutten. Da han nu kom tilbage med Guld- og Sølvtæppet, holdt Alle endnu meer af ham end før, og han blev Tjener hos Kongen selv. Derover bleve de andre To endnu mere harme, og for at hævne sig, fandt de paa at sige til Staldmesteren: „Nu har vor Broder sagt

sig god for at skaffe Kongen den Guldharpe, som Troldet har, og som er saadan, at Alle blive glade, naar de høre der spilles paa den, om de ere noksaa sørgmodige.“ Ja, Staldmesteren han fortalte det strax igjen til Kongen, og han sagde til Gutten: „Har du sagt det, saa skal du gjøre det. Kan du det, skal du faae Prindsessen og halve Riget, men kan du det ikke, skal du miste Livet.“ „Jeg har hverken tænkt eller sagt det,“ svarede Gutten, „men der er vel intet andet Raad, jeg faaer vel prøve.

Men sex Dage vil jeg have at betænke mig i.“ Ja, dem skulde han faae; men da de vare omme, maatte han i Veien. Han tog da en Spiger, en Birkepind og en Lysstump i Lommen og roede over, og gik derudenfor frem og tilbage og smat. Da Troldet kom ud, fik det see ham. „Er det dig, som har taget de syv Sølvænderne mine?“ raabte Troldet. „Ja–a!“ svarede Gutten. „Det er dig, som har taget Sengeteppet mit, med Sølv- og Guldruderne, ogsaa da?“ spurgte Troldet.

„Ja–a!“ sagde Gutten. Saa greb Troldet ham og tog ham med sig ind i Bjerget. „Nu, Datter min,“ sagde han, „nu har jeg faaet fat paa ham, som har taget Sølvænderne mine og Sengeteppet mit med Sølv- og Guldruderne i; sæt ham nu paa Gjødstien, saa skal vi slagte ham og bede til os vore Venner.“ Dertil var hun strax villig og satte ham paa Gjødstien, og der stod han i otte Dage og fik alt det Bedste, han kunde ønske sig baade af Mad og Drikke, saameget han vilde have.

Da de otte Dage vare forbi, sagde Troldet til Datteren, at hun skulde gaae ned og skjære ham i Lillefingeren, saa de kunde faae see, om han er fed. Strax gik da Trolddatteren ned. „Kom med Lillefingeren din!“ sagde hun; men Askepot han stak ud Spigeren og den skar hun i. „Aa nei! han er haard som Jern endnu,“ sagde Trolddatteren, da hun kom ind igjen til sin Fader; „endnu kan vi ikke tage ham!“ Om otte Dage gik det ligeeens igjen, paa det nær at nu satte Askepot Birkepinden frem. „Lidt bedre er han,“ sagde hun, da hun kom ind igjen til Troldet, „men endnu blev han haard at tygge som Træ.“ Men om otte Dage sagde Troldet igjen, at Datteren skulde gaae ned og see om han ikke nu var fed. „Kom med Lillefingeren din!“ sagde Trolddatteren,

da hun var kommen ned til Gjødstien; dengang satte Askepot Lysstumpen frem. „Nu gaaer han an!“ sagde hun. „Ja saa!“ sagde Troldet; „saa reiser jeg bort, jeg da, at bede til Gjestebuds; imidlertid skal du slagte ham, og stege det Halve og koge det Halve!“ Da Troldet vel var reist, gav Datteren sig til at bryne paa en stor lang Kniv. „Skal du have den at slagte mig med?“ spurgte Gutten. „Ja du!“ sagde Trolddatteren. „Men den er ikke skarp,“ sagde Gutten. „Jeg kommer nok til at bryne den, saa du mere letvindt kan faa Livet af mig.“ Hun lod ham da faae Kniven, og han til at slibe og bryne.

„Lad mig nu prøve den paa Haarfletten din,“ sagde Gutten; „jeg troer, den skal være brav nu.“ Det fik han Lov til; men i det samme han greb i Haarfletten, bøiede han Hovedet bagover og skar det af Trolddatteren, — og kogte saa det Halve og stegte det Halve og satte det paa Bordet. Derpaa tog han hendes Klæder paa, og satte sig borte i Krogen. Da Troldet kom hjem med Gjæstebudsfolkene, bad han Datteren — for han troede, det var hende, han — at hun ogsaa skulde komme og spise med. „Nei,“ svarede Gutten, „jeg vil ikke have Mad, jeg er saa stuur og bedrøvet.“ „Aa, du veed vel Raad for det,“ sagde Troldet, „tag Guldharpen og spil paa!“ „Ja, hvor er nu den henne da?“ sagde Gutten igjen. „Du veed vel det, du, — du har jo selv sidst brugt den; den hænger jo der over Døren!“

Gutten lod sig ikke det sige to Gange, han tog den og gik ud og ind og spillede; men ret som det var, saa skjød han Knadetruget ud, og roede afsted, saa det fossede om Truget. Om en Stund syntes Troldet at Datteren blev forlænge ude, og gik efter forat see, hvad der manglede hende; saa saa han Gutten i Truget langt, langt ude paa Vandet. „Er det dig, som har taget de syv Sølvænderne mine?“ raabte Troldet. „Ja,“ sagde Gutten. „Det er dig, som har taget Tæppet mit, med en Sølvrude og en Guldrude i, ogsaa da?“ „Ja,“ sagde Gutten. „Har du nu taget Guldharpen min med?“ skreg Troldet. „Ja, jeg har nok det,“ sagde Gutten. „Har jeg ikke ædt op dig ligevel da?“ „Nei, det var Datteren din, du aad!“ svarede Gutten.

Da Troldet hørte det, blev han saa harm, at han sprak; og saa roede Askepot tilbage og tog en heel Hob Guld og Sølv med sig, saameget Truget kunde bære. Da han nu kom til Kongsgaarden med Guldharpen, fik han Kongedatteren og halve Riget, saaledes som Kongen havde lovet ham; — Brødrene sine gjorde han vel imod, for han troede, de kuns havde villet hans Bedste med det de havde sagt.

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