Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/265

 Rh over the world in twenty-four hours, he would give me the golden apple-tree, that I might give the apple-tree for the vine, to take to my father, that he might weep no more."

Again the fox began to scold and reproach him: "Why did you not obey me? You see that you would have been by now at your father's. And thus you torment both yourself and me." He said to the fox: "Only procure me the horse, fox, and I will always henceforth obey you."

The fox led him to a large and horrible forest, and in the forest they found a courtyard. In this courtyard twelve watches, as in the case of the vine and the apple-tree, guarded the golden horse. The fox said: "Now you will pass the watches as before; go, if they are looking; do not go, if they have their eyes shut. When you enter the stable, there stands the golden horse equipped with golden trappings. By the horse are two bridles, one of gold and the other plaited of tow. Mind you don't take the golden bridle, but the one of tow; if you bridle him with the golden bridle, the horse will neigh, and will wake the watch, the watch will seize you, and who will be worse off than you? Don't come into my sight without the horse!" "I won't, fox," said he, and went. He passed all the watches and entered the stable where the horse was. When he was there, golden horse! golden wings! so beautiful; good heavens! that you couldn't look at them for beauty! He saw the golden bridle, it was beautiful and ornamented; he also saw that of tow; it was dirty and couldn't be worse. Here he thought long what to do and how to do. "I can't put that nasty thing (the tow bridle), it's so nasty, on that beauty; I had rather not have him at all than put such a horse to shame." He took the golden bridle, bridled the golden horse and mounted him. But the horse neighed, and woke the watch; the watch seized him and delivered him to their lord.

Then the lord said: "How did you have resolution to pass my numerous warders into my stable to take away my golden horse?" The simpleton replied: "Need drove me; I have a father at home, and his left eye continually weeps, and will weep till I obtain for him a vine which in a day and night poured forth twenty-four buckets of wine. This vine has been stolen from him. Well, I have found it;