Pagina 9 van 626

Before the castle gate all was as the fox had said: so the son

went in and found the chamber where the golden bird hung in a

wooden cage, and below stood the golden cage, and the three

golden apples that had been lost were lying close by it. Then

thought he to himself, 'It will be a very droll thing to bring

away such a fine bird in this shabby cage'; so he opened the door

and took hold of it and put it into the golden cage. But the bird

set up such a loud scream that all the soldiers awoke, and they

took him prisoner and carried him before the king. The next

morning the court sat to judge him; and when all was heard, it

sentenced him to die, unless he should bring the king the golden

horse which could run as swiftly as the wind; and if he did this,

he was to have the golden bird given him for his own.