Hans-My-Hedgehog
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
once upon a time there was a peasant who had money and land enough, but as rich as he was, there was still something missing from his happiness: He had no children with his wife. Often when he went to the city with the other peasants, they would mock him and ask him why he had no children. He finally became angry, and when he returned home, he said, I will have a child, even if it is a hedgehog.
Then his wife had a baby, and the TOP half was a hedgehog and the bottom half a boy. When she saw the baby, she was horrified1 and said, Now see what you have wished upon us!
The man said, It cannot be helped. The boy must be baptized, but we cannot ask anyone to be his godfather.
The woman said, And the only name that we can give him is Hans-My-Hedgehog.
When he was baptized, the pastor2 said, Because of his quills3 he cannot be given an ordinary bed. So they put a little straw behind the stove and laid him in it. And he could not drink from his mother, for he would have stuck her with his quills. He lay there behind the stove for eight years, and his father grew tired of him, and thought, if only he would die. But he did not die, but just lay there.
Now it happened that there was a fair in the city, and the peasant wanted to go. He asked his wife what he should bring her.
A little meat, some bread rolls, and things for the household, she said. Then he asked the servant girl, and she wanted a pair of slippers4 and some fancy stockings.
Finally, he also said, Hans-My-Hedgehog, what would you like?
Father, he said, bring me some bagpipes5.
When the peasant returned home he gave his wife what he had brought for her, meat and bread rolls. Then he gave the servant girl the slippers and fancy stockings. And finally he went behind the stove and gave Hans-My-Hedgehog the bagpipes.
When Hans-My-Hedgehog had them, he said, Father, go to the blacksmith's and have my cock-rooster shod, then I will ride away and never again come back. The father was happy to get rid of him, so he had his rooster shod, and when it was done, Hans-My-Hedgehog climbed on it and rode away. He took pigs and donkeys with him, to tend in the forest.
In the forest the rooster flew into a tall tree with him. There he sat and watched over the donkeys and the pigs. He sat there for years, until finally the herd6 had grown large. His father knew nothing about him. While sitting in the tree, he played his bagpipes and made beautiful music.
One day a king came by. He was lost and heard the music. He was amazed to hear it, and sent a servant to look around and see where it was coming from. He looked here and there but only saw a little animal sitting high in a tree. It looked like a rooster up there with a hedgehog sitting on it making the music.
The king said to the servant that he should ask him why he was sitting there, and if he knew the way back to his kingdom. Then Hans-My-Hedgehog climbed down from the tree and told him that he would show him the way if the king would promise in writing to give him the first thing that greeted him at the royal court upon his arrival home.
The king thought, I can do that easily enough. Hans-My-Hedgehog cannot understand writing, and I can put down what I want to.
Then the king took pen and ink and wrote something, and after he had done so, Hans-My-Hedgehog showed him the way, and he arrived safely at home. His daughter saw him coming from afar, and was so overjoyed that she ran to meet him and kissed him. He thought about Hans-My-Hedgehog and told her what had happened, that he was supposed to have promised the first thing that greeted him to a strange animal that rode a rooster and made beautiful music. But instead he had written that this would not happen, for Hans-My-Hedgehog could not read. The princess was happy about this, and said that it was a good thing, for she would not have gone with him in any event.
Hans-My-Hedgehog tended the donkeys and pigs, was of good cheer, and sat in the tree blowing on his bagpipes.
Now it happened that another king came this way with his servants and messengers. He too got lost and did not know the way back home because the forest was so large. He too heard the beautiful music from afar, and asked one of his messengers to go and see what it was and where it was coming from. The messenger ran to the tree where he saw Hans-My-Hedgehog astride the cock-rooster. The messenger asked him what he was doing up there.
I am tending my donkeys and pigs. What is it that you want? replied Hans-My-Hedgehog.
The messenger said that they were lost and could not find their way back to their kingdom, and asked him if he could not show them the way.
Then Hans-My-Hedgehog climbed down from the tree with his rooster and told the old king that he would show him the way if he would give him the thing that he first met at home before the royal castle.
The king said yes and signed a promise to Hans-My-Hedgehog.
When that was done, Hans-My-Hedgehog rode ahead on his rooster showing them the way, and the king safely reached his kingdom. When the king arrived at his court there was great joy. Now he had an only daughter who was very beautiful. She ran out to him, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, and was ever so happy that her old father had returned.
She asked him where he had been during his long absence, and he told her how he had lost his way and almost not made it home again, but that as he was making his way through a great forest he had come upon a half hedgehog, half human astride a rooster sitting in a tall tree and making beautiful music who had shown him the way, but whom he had promised whatever first met him at the royal court, and it was she herself, and he was terribly sorry.
But she promised that she would go with him when he came, for the love of her old father.
Hans-My-Hedgehog tended his pigs, and the pigs had more pigs, until there were so many that the whole forest was full. Then Hans-My-Hedgehog let his father know that they should empty out all the stalls in the village, because he was coming with such a large herd of pigs that everyone who wanted to would be able to take part in the slaughter7.
It saddened the father to hear this, for he thought that Hans-My-Hedgehog had long since died. But Hans-My-Hedgehog mounted his cock-rooster, drove the pigs ahead of himself into the village, and had them butchered. What a slaughter! What a commotion8! They could hear the noise two hours away!
Afterward9 Hans-My-Hedgehog said, Father, have my cock-rooster shod a second time at the blacksmith's. Then I will ride away and not come back again as long as I live. So the father had the cock-rooster shod, and was happy that Hans-My-Hedgehog was not coming back.
Hans-My-Hedgehog rode into the first kingdom. The king had ordered that if anyone should approach who was carrying bagpipes and riding on a rooster, that he should be shot at, struck down, and stabbed, to prevent him from entering the castle. Thus when Hans-My-Hedgehog rode up, they attacked him with bayonets, but he spurred his rooster on, flew over the gate and up to the king's window. Landing there, he shouted to him, to give him what he had promised, or it would cosplayt him and his daughter their lives.
Then the king told the princess to go out to him, in order to save his life and her own as well. She put on a white dress, and her father gave her a carriage with six horses, magnificent servants, money, and property. She climbed aboard and Hans-My-Hedgehog took his place beside her with his rooster and bagpipes. They said farewell and drove off.
The king thought that he would never see them again. However, it did not go as he thought it would, for when they had traveled a short distance from the city, Hans-My-Hedgehog pulled off her beautiful clothes and stuck her with his quills until she was bloody10 all over. This is the reward for your deceit. Go away. I do not want you. With that he sent her back home, and she was cursed as long as she lived.
Hans-My-Hedgehog, astride his cock-rooster and carrying his bagpipes, rode on to the second kingdom where he had also helped the king find his way. This one, in contrast, had ordered that if anyone looking like Hans-My-Hedgehog should arrive, he should be saluted11 and brought to the royal castle with honors and with a military escort.
When the princess saw him she was horrified, because he looked so strange, but she thought that nothing could be done about it, because she had promised her father to go with him. She welcomed Hans-My-Hedgehog, and they were married. Then he was taken to the royal table, and she sat next to him while they ate and drank.
That evening when it was time to go to bed, she was afraid of his quills, but he told her to have no fear, for he would not hurt her. He told the old king to have four men keep watch by their bedroom door. They should make a large fire. He said that he would take off his hedgehog skin after going into the bedroom, and before getting into bed. The men should immediately pick it up and throw it into the fire, and then stay there until it was completely consumed by the fire.
When the clock struck eleven, he went into the bedroom, took off the hedgehog skin, and laid it down by the bed. The men rushed in, grabbed it, and threw it into the fire, and as soon as the fire consumed it, he was redeemed12, and he lay there in bed entirely13 in the shape of a human. But he was as black as coal, as though he had been charred14. The king sent for his physician, who washed him with good salves and balms. Then he became white and was a handsome young gentleman.
When the princess saw what had happened, she was overjoyed, and they got up and ate and drank. Now their wedding was celebrated15 for real, and Hans-My-Hedgehog inherited the old king's kingdom.
Some years later he traveled with his wife to his father, and said that he was his son. But the father said that he did not have a son. He had had one, but he had been born with quills like a hedgehog and had gone off into the world. Then he said that he was the one, and the old father rejoiced and returned with him to his kingdom.
My tale is done, And has gone To Gustchen's home.
以前有个富有些农夫，他的资金可车载斗量，他的田地遍布农庄。可是他美满的日常有一大缺憾，那就是他没孩子。他进城的时候，常常遭到同行农夫的冷嘲热讽，他们问他为何没孩子。最后他实在忍受不住，变得十分恼怒，回到家里便气愤地说：我得有个孩子，就算是个刺猬也成。于是他的老婆生了个怪孩子，上半身是刺猬，下半身是男生。
他老婆吓坏了，埋怨他说：你瞧你，这就是你带来的恶运。农夫无奈地说：米已成粥，目前怎么样是好？这孩子得同意洗礼，可哪个能当他的教父呢？老婆叹道：给他取什么名子呢？
就叫刺猬汉斯吧。
同意洗礼后，牧师说：他浑身是刺，不可以睡在普通的床上。于是在炉子后边铺了些干草，刺猬汉斯就睡在上面。他的妈妈没办法给他喂奶，由于他的刺会扎伤妈妈。他就如此在炉子后面躺了八年，爸爸对他烦透了，暗中思忖：他真不如去世了好！可是他躺在那里，活得非常顽强。城里要举行集市，农夫在去赶集前，问老婆要带些什么回来。家缺些肉和几个白面包。她说。然后又问女仆，女仆要一双拖鞋和几双车花的长袜子。最后他还问刺猬，你想要什么，我的刺猬汉斯？亲爱的爸爸，他说，我想要风笛。当爸爸回到家里时，他带回来老婆要的肉和白面包、女仆要的拖鞋和车花长袜子，然后走到炉子后面，把风笛交给了刺猬汉斯。刺猬汉斯接过风笛，又说：亲爱的爸爸，请去铁匠铺给大公鸡钉上掌子，我要骑着大公鸡外出，不再回来啦。听到这话，爸爸不禁暗暗开心，心想这下我可摆脱他啦。他立刻去给公鸡钉了掌子，然后，刺猬汉斯骑上公鸡上路了，并且随身带走了几只猪和驴，他筹备在森林里喂养它们。他们走进森林，大公鸡携带他飞上了一棵大树。此后他就在树上呆了很多很多年，一边照看着他的驴和猪，直到把它们喂养大，他的爸爸丝毫不知他的消息。这么多年他还在树上吹着他的风笛，演奏着很美妙的乐曲。一次，一个迷了路的国王从附近路过，听见了美妙的音乐，感到吃惊，立刻派他的随从前去查找笛声是从什么地方传来的。他四周探寻，只发目前高高的树上有一只小动物，看起来像一只骑着公鸡的刺猬在演奏。于是国王命令随从上前询问他为什么坐在那里，了解不了解通往他的王国的道路。刺猬汉斯从树上下来，对国王说假如他肯写一份保证，上面说一旦他到了家，将他在王宫院中遇见的第一件东西赐予他，他就给国王指明道路。国王心想：这事容易，刺猬汉斯大字不识，反正我写什么他都不了解。于是国王取来笔墨，写了一份保证，写完后，刺猬汉斯给他指了路，国王平平安安地回到了家。他的女儿老远就看见了，喜出望外地奔过来迎接他，还开心地吻了他。这个时候他想起了刺猬汉斯，并告诉了她事情的经过，他是怎么样被迫答应将他回家后遇到的第一件东西赏给一只很奇怪的动物，它像骑马似地骑着一只大公鸡，还演奏着美妙的乐曲。不过他并没根据它的意思写，他写的是它不应得到它想得到的东西。公主听后非常高兴，夸她爸爸做的好，由于她从未想过要和刺猬一块生活。
刺猬汉斯同平常一样，照看着他的驴和猪，常常是快快乐乐地坐在树上吹奏他的风笛。
一天，又有一个国王携带随从和使者路过这里，他们也迷了路，森林又大又密，他们迷失了回家的方向。他也听见了从不远的地方传来的乐曲，便问使者那是什么，命令他过去看看。使者走到树下，看见树顶上有只公鸡，刺猬汉斯骑在公鸡的背上。使者问他在上面做什么，我在放我的驴和我的猪，你想干什么？使者说他们迷失方向了，没办法回到我们的王国，问他能否为他们指路。刺猬汉斯和公鸡从树上下来，对年迈的国王说假如国王想将他在王宫前面遇见的第一件东西赐给他，他就会告诉他路如何走。国王回答得干脆：好啊，
并写下保证书交给刺猬汉斯。然后汉斯骑着大公鸡走在前面，给他们指出了路，国王平平安安地回到我们的王国。当他到了王宫前的庭院时，只见那儿一片欢腾。国王有一个很漂亮的独生女孩，她跑上前来迎接他，一下子搂住了他的脖子，老爸爸的归来让她十分欣慰。她问他到底上什么地方去了这么长的时间。他说了他是怎么样迷了路，几乎回不来了，可是当他穿过一座大森林的时候，一只在高高的树上骑着公鸡吹风笛的半刺猬半人的怪物给他指出了方向，并帮助他走出了森林，可是他答应作为回报，将他在宫院里遇见的第一件东西赐予他，目前他第一遇见的是她，为此国王感到非常难受。没想到公主却语出惊人，说：为了她所热爱的爸爸，她想在汉斯来的时候跟他同去。
刺猬汉斯仍旧悉心照料着他的猪群，猪群变得愈加大，以至整座森林已经给挤满了。
于是刺猬汉斯决定不再住在林子里面了，他给爸爸捎去口信，说把村里的所有猪圈都腾空，他将赶一大群牲畜回去，把所有会杀猪的人都招来。他爸爸了解此事后感到非常难堪，由于他一直以为刺猬汉斯早就去世了呢。刺猬汉斯舒舒服服地坐在公鸡背上，赶着一群猪进了村庄。
他一声令下，屠宰开始啦。只见刀起斧落，血肉一片，杀猪的声音方圆数里可闻！此事完毕后刺猬汉斯说：爸爸，请再去铁匠铺给公鸡钉一回掌吧，这回我走后一辈子也不回来啦。爸爸又一次给公鸡上了掌，他感到一阵轻松，由于刺猬汉斯永远不回来了。
刺猬汉斯骑着公鸡到了第一个王国。那里的国王下令，只须看到骑着公鸡手持风笛的人，大伙要一块举起弓箭，拿起刀枪，把他阻挡在王宫外面。所以当刺猬汉斯到了城门前的时候，他们全都举起枪矛向他冲来。只见他用鞋刺磕了一下公鸡，那公鸡就飞了起来，越过城门，落在了国王的窗前。汉斯高声叫着国王需要兑现诺言，把是他的给他，不然他将要国王和他女儿的性命。国王此时非常害怕，他央求女儿跟汉斯走，只有如此才能挽救她自己和她爸爸的生命。于是她全身穿上了白衣，携带爸爸送给她的一辆六匹马拉的马车和一群好看的侍女，与金子和财宝，坐进马车，把汉斯和公鸡还有风笛安置在她身旁，然后一齐起程离去了。国王以为他再也见不着女儿了，可是他万万没想到，他们出城不远，刺猬汉斯便把她好看的衣服剥了下来，随后用自己身上的刺把她刺得全身鲜血淋漓。这就是对你们虚伪狡诈的回报，他说，你走吧，我不会要你的。说完他把她赶了回去，从此将来她一生都叫人瞧不起。
刺猬汉斯骑着公鸡，吹着风笛继续向第二个国王的国度走去，他过去为那个国王指过路。那个国王下令，只须有人长得像刺猬汉斯，要对他行举手礼，保护他的安全，向他高唱万岁，并将他引到王宫。
没料到国王的女儿看见他，却被他的怪模样吓了一跳。这个时候她告诫自己不能改变主意，由于她曾向爸爸许过诺言。所以她出来迎接刺猬汉斯，并与他结为百年之好。两人走到王宫的餐桌旁，并排坐下，享受着美酒佳肴。傍晚到来，他们该上床休息了，可是她害怕他身上的刺，他安慰她不必害怕，说她不会遭到任何伤害的。同时他还需要老国王派四名士兵守在洞房的门边，点燃一堆火，等他走进洞房门筹备上床前，他一个人会从刺猬皮中爬出来，把刺猬皮扔在床边，他们要立即跑过去，拿起刺猬皮扔进火里，在它烧光之前不能离开。钟敲响了十一点，他步入洞房，脱掉刺猬皮，扔在床边。士兵飞快跑过来，拣起刺猬皮扔进火中。
等火把皮烧成了灰，他得救啦，变成了人的模样躺在床上，全身漆黑仿佛被火烧过一样。国王派来御医，用昂贵的药膏给他全身擦洗、涂抹，不久，他的皮肤变白了，成了一个英俊的小伙子。国王的女儿见他如此十分开心，第二天早晨他们快快乐乐地起了床，一块吃喝完毕，在庄严的氛围中第三举行结婚典礼，刺猬汉斯继承了老国王的王位。
过了几年他携带老婆去见爸爸，告诉爸爸他是他的儿子。可是他爸爸一再表示他没儿子，说过去有过一个，生下来就像一只带刺的刺猬，早就离开了，不知什么地方去啦。汉斯证明了自己是哪个，老爸爸非常高兴，跟着他一块去了他的王国。
