Pagina 175 di 626

At night he went to bed with his wife at the usual time, and when

she thought that he had fallen asleep, she got up, opened the

door, and then lay down again. The little tailor, who was only

pretending to be asleep, began to cry out in a clear voice: 'Boy,

make me the doublet and patch me the pantaloons, or I will rap

the yard-measure over your ears. I smote seven at one blow. I

killed two giants, I brought away one unicorn, and caught a wild

boar, and am I to fear those who are standing outside the room.'

When these men heard the tailor speaking thus, they were overcome

by a great dread, and ran as if the wild huntsman were behind

them, and none of them would venture anything further against

him. So the little tailor was and remained a king to the end of

his life.

HANSEL AND GRETEL