桌子金驢和棍子
Table-Be-Set, Gold-Donkey, and Cudgel-out-of-the-Sack
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
There was once upon a time a tailor who had three sons, and only one goat. But as the goat supported all of them with her milk, she was obliged to have good food, and to be taken every day to pasture. The sons did this, in turn.
Once the eldest took her to the churchyard, where the finest herbs were to be found, and let her eat and run about there. At night when it was time to go home he asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"
The goat answered, I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!
"Come home, then," said the youth, and took hold of the cord around her neck, led her into the stable, and tied her up securely.
"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had as much food as she ought?"
"Oh," answered the son, "she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."
But the father wished to satisfy himself, and went down to the stable, stroked the dear animal, and asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?"
The goat answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!
"What do I hear?" cried the tailor, and ran upstairs and said to the youth, "Hey, you liar, you said the goat had had enough, and have let her hunger." And in his anger he took the yardstick from the wall, and drove him out with blows.
Next day it was the turn of the second son, who sought a place next to the garden hedge where nothing but good herbs grew, and the goat gobbled them all up. At night when he wanted to go home, he asked, "Goat, are you satisfied?" I have eaten so much, Not a leaf more I'll touch; Meh, meh!
"Come home then," said the youth, and led her home, and tied her up in the stable.
"Well," said the old tailor, "has the goat had as much food as she ought?"
"Oh," answered the son, "she has eaten so much, not a leaf more she'll touch."
The tailor would not rely on this, but went down to the stable and said, "Goat, have you had enough?"
The goat answered, How should I be satisfied? Among the ditches I leapt about, Found no leaf, so went without; Meh, meh!
"The godless wretch!" cried the tailor, to let such a good animal hunger, and he ran up and drove the youth out of doors with the yardstick.
Now came the turn of the third son, who wanted to do his duty well, and sought out some bushes with the finest leaves, and let the goat devour them. In the evening when he wanted to go home, he asked, "Goat, have you had enough?"