The White Snake(白蛇).doc

This little known, but charming story by the Brothers Grimm is about a servant who learns to understand the speech of animals. He travels the world and does favours to creatures along the way. And then, when he needs help to win the hand of a princess, they come to his aid. Read by Natasha. Duration 14 Minutes.A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom throughall the land. Nothing was hidden from him, and it seemed as if news ofthe most secret things was brought to him through the air. But he hada strange custom; every day after dinner, when the table was cleared,and no one else was present, a trusty servant had to bring him one moredish. It was covered, however, and even the servant did not know whatwas in it, neither did anyone know, for the King never took off thecover to eat of it until he was quite alone.This had gone on for a long time, when one day the servant, who tookaway the dish, was overcome with such curiosity that he could not helpcarrying the dish into his room. When he had carefully locked the door,he lifted up the cover, and saw a white snake lying on the dish. Butwhen he saw it he could not deny himself the pleasure of tasting it,so he cut off a little bit and put it into his mouth. No sooner had ittouched his tongue than he heard a strange whispering of little voicesoutside his window. He went and listened, and then noticed that it wasthe sparrows who were chattering together, and telling one another ofall kinds of things which they had seen in the fields and woods. Eatingthe snake had given him power of understanding the language of animals.Now it so happened that on this very day the Queen lost her most beautifulring, and suspicion of having stolen it fell upon this trusty servant,who was allowed to go everywhere. The King ordered the man to be broughtbefore him, and threatened with angry words that unless he could beforethe morrow point out the thief, he himself should be looked upon as guiltyand executed. In vain he declared his innocence.In his trouble and fear he went down into the courtyard and though long and hard.Now some ducks weresitting together quietly by a brook and taking their rest; and, whilstthey were making their feathers smooth with their bills, they werehaving a confidentia conversation together. The servant stood by andlistened. They were telling one another of all the places where they hadbeen waddling about all the morning, and what good food they had found,and one said in a pitiful tone, “Something lies heavy on my stomach;as I was eating in haste I swallowed a ring which lay under the Queen’swindow.” The servant at once seized her, carried her tothe kitchen, and said to the cook, “Here is a fine duck; roast her for dinner.”“Yes,” said the cook, and weighed her in his hand; “she has sparedno trouble to fatten herself, and has been waiting to be roasted longenough.” And as he prepared the duck for dinner, he found the ring inside.The servant could now easily prove his innocence; and the King, to makeamends for the wrong, allowed him to ask a favor, and promised him thebest place in the court that he could wish for. The servant refusedeverything, and only asked for a horse and some money for traveling,as he had a mind to see the world and go about a little.When his request was granted he set out on his way, and one day cameto a pond, where he saw three fishes caught in the reeds and gaspingfor water. Now, though it is said that fishes are dumb, he heard themcomplaining that they must perish so miserably, and, as he had a kindheart, he got off his horse and put the three prisoners back into thewater. They quivered with delight, put out their heads, and cried to him,“We will remember you and repay you for saving us!”He rode on, and after a while it seemed to him that he heard a voicein the sand at his feet. He listened, and heard an ant-king complain,“Why cannot folks, with their clumsy beasts, keep off our bodies? Thatstupid horse, with his heavy hoofs, has been treading down my peoplewithout mercy!” So he turned on to a side path and the ant-king criedout to him, “We will remember you—one good turn deserves another!”The path led him into a wood, and here he saw two old ravens standing bytheir nest, and throwing out their young ones. “Out with you, you idle,good-for-nothing creatures!” cried they; “we cannot find food for youany longer; you are big enough, and can provide for yourselves.” But thepoor young ravens lay upon the ground, flapping their wings, and crying,“Oh, what helpless chicks we are! We must shift for ourselves, and yetwe cannot fly! What can we do, but lie here and starve?” So the goodyoung fellow climbed down, and gave them his own food which he hadbeen carrying for his lunch.Then they came hopping up to it, satisfied their hunger,and cried, “We will remember you—one good turn deserves another!”And when he had gone on a long way further, hecame to a large city. There was a great noise and crowd in the streets,and a man rode。