Encyclopedia of fairy-tale heroes: "Goldilocks". Goldilocks (Czech Fairy Tale): Fairy Tale Bedtime Stories for Children Goldilocks

Once upon a time there was a blacksmith so poor, poorer than ever. Once upon a time, things were going well with him, but suddenly the blacksmith's craft stopped feeding him, and his wife and children, little by little less, ask for food. And it got to the point that our poor fellow had only seven pennies left in the house. And then the kids are whining, they want bread. What will you do here? So the blacksmith thought: I'll hang myself! With the last money I bought a rope. He came to the forest, chose a taller tree and a stronger bough, began to adjust the rope. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a black woman! She is dressed in black and has a black face! And let's dissuade him. Sin, they say, it's an abomination! Our blacksmith was stunned, stood, stood and leaned away.

Are you leaving yourself? Again he threw the rope over the branch. And the black woman is right there. And again for mine. The blacksmith is not breathing. But as soon as Chernyavka disappeared, the blacksmith decided to hang himself again.

And suddenly Chernyavka, as if from under the ground, grew up and said:
- Don't you dare, blacksmith, hang yourself! I will help you in your trouble, I will give you gold, as much as your heart desires. But you promise to give me what you have at home, and you still don’t know about it!
- What is it that I don’t know about in my house, except for grief and misfortune? Some kind of nonsense, - the blacksmith decided and agreed.
“Then get what you promised,” Chernyavka said, and poured him a sack full of money. - And I'll come for the promised exactly in seven years! - and then disappeared, as if she had never been.

The blacksmith ran home. A cheerful one comes running, puts gold on the table. That made everyone happy. Wife admiring shiny coins.

They bought food. Children jump and laugh. Finally got enough to eat! One boasts before the other, who stuffed his stomach tighter.

The blacksmith began to tell where such wealth came from:
- So, - he says, - some kind of nonsense, it’s not worth talking about - I had to promise that I would give something that I myself don’t know about, but there is it in the house!

The wife was almost scared to death. She had been expecting a baby for a long time, but she did not dare to speak, and then the child stirred under her heart!

What have you done, hubby, - the poor thing cried, - you sold your own child, and besides, it has not yet been born!

The blacksmith gasped, but there is nothing to do! Give your word, hold on.

OK. Soon a blacksmith's daughter was born. Such a beauty. The hair is golden, the star burns in the forehead. So they called her - Goldilocks. Her parents loved her, cherished and groomed her as best they could. But they will remember that she seems to be their daughter, but it seems to be not theirs - they will immediately feel homesick.

And then the girl was seven years old. Hour after hour, minute after minute, a black carriage thundered under the windows, Chernyavka got out of the carriage and took Goldilocks to her.

With weeping and lamentations, the whole family escorted the carriage to the outskirts. They would have run further, but Chernyavka strictly ordered. The family returned home in tears and sadness, as if they were never destined to see the sweet girl again.

Blackie and Goldilocks raced in a black carriage through impenetrable forests, bare fields, until they reached a beautiful, huge castle. Chernyavka showed Goldilocks the whole castle, led her through ninety-nine rooms and said:
“Here you, my child, will live from now on. Clean up ninety-nine rooms. Go where you want, live where you want. Only you can’t even look into the hundredth room with one eye, otherwise you’ll have to do it badly! See you in seven years, but for now, live, do not be bored!

She said and then disappeared. And for seven whole years there was no news about her! Our Goldilocks lived in the castle quietly and peacefully. She walked through ninety-nine rooms, sweeping, tidying, washing and cleaning, everything she had shone like gold. But I didn’t even look at the hundredth with one eye. Although, oh how I wish! It even made it hard to sleep.

Seven years passed and Chernyavka appeared.

Well, how? Have you looked into the last room? she asked.
- Not! Goldilocks replied.

Chernyavka was satisfied. She knew that the girl was telling the truth. Again she punished the same as the first time, and disappeared for another seven years.

Our Goldilocks cleans up ninety-nine magnificent rooms, walks around, makes sure that everything shines like a mirror. Year after year flies like a dream. And then one day, when the seventh year was coming to an end, she walks through the castle and dreams: Chernyavka will praise her for her purity and brilliance. And he hears lovely music coming from the hundredth room. Like a chamois, Goldilocks rushed to the door. And the music is getting softer and sweeter. The girl pressed the handle and - bang! The doors opened and she entered the room. And there are twelve bewitched people sitting around the table. They froze in place, as they were overtaken by evil spells. Another one stands outside the door and says to Goldilocks:
- Goldilocks, don't betray us for anything in the world! No matter how much Chernyavka torments you, don't talk about what you saw in this room. If you say even a word, you will be damned for life, and we will remain forever cursed!

And again everything was silent, as if numb, and Goldilocks, beside herself with fear, jumped out of the hundredth room and rushed away. She did not notice how Chernyavka appeared in front of her. She already knew that the girl saw the last room. She shook her finger at her and said:
- Goldilocks, Goldilocks, what have you done! You've looked into the 100th room! Tell me, what did you see there?

But our Goldilocks is silent, as if she had swallowed her tongue. Chernyavka began to threaten her with terrible punishments, but Goldilocks was silent, not a sound. Here Chernyavka says:
“If you don’t answer right away what you saw in that room, I’ll throw you into a deep well and make you dumb forever!”

And it's true. The evil Chernyavka threw her into a deep well and put damage on her. Now, apart from Chernyavka, she could no longer talk to anyone.

Goldilocks woke up on a sandy embankment. And oh, marvelous, he sees - some kind of passage leads underground. She started running. Onward and onward, until she found herself in a beautiful clearing. Here she stayed. And she was alive with roots and berries. But Cherniavka came here too and kept demanding to know what she had seen in the hundredth room.

But Goldilocks didn't say anything.

Not far from the clearing in the woods, a young king once hunted. And came across a sleeping Goldilocks. He looks, he can’t see enough, where did such a beauty come from? And the longer he looked, the sweeter she became to him. I finally decided to wake him up, take him to his palace and marry him. Let people judge how they want.

Quietly woke up, began to ask who and where. And she is poor thing - mute - everything is silent and silent. The king decided that it was from fear or shame. He asks if he will go with him to the palace, and she only nods her head. The young king brought her to him, ordered her to be dressed in a luxurious dress and, without hesitation for a long time, married.

Goldilocks never spoke. But her husband loved her very much and they lived in perfect harmony. A year has passed. The queen is expecting a baby. And she is getting sadder and sadder. As if he is afraid of some trouble. The day came and the young queen brought a boy into the world. The hair is golden, the star burns in the forehead. There is no happier king in the whole world! Orders to convene all neighbors to a feast, so that his joy is shared.

But soon his joy turned into great sadness. Why so? But listen:
- At night Chernyavka appeared to Goldilocks and began to threaten, if she did not say what she had seen in the last room, then she would strangle her son with golden hair. Goldilocks trembled with horror, like a blade of grass in a thunderstorm, but said nothing.
- And you yourself famously have to! - Chernyavka threatens everything. But Goldilocks is silent, not a sound!

The evil Chernyavka strangled the dear boy, and Goldilocks smeared her lips with blood and immediately disappeared.

Neither in a fairy tale to say, nor to describe with a pen how frightened everyone was when they saw this picture in the morning. The king turned pale as death, but said nothing. The whole castle was searched, everyone was strictly questioned, but they did not find out who could have done this. They began to talk about whether it was Goldilocks herself, because she had blood on her lips. And she, innocent, cannot utter a word in her defense. Others called for her to be condemned to death. But the king did not want to see or hear anything, because he loved her. And they healed well, as before. A year passed and Goldilocks gave birth to a girl with golden hair and a golden star on her forehead. How happy was the king! So that no more trouble would happen, he ordered to put faithful guards in the room where Goldilocks slept with the child for the night.

Only in vain. Chernyavka bewitched the guards and they fell into a deep sleep. She stood before Goldilocks and threatened:
- I'll find out what you saw in that room! And you will be lost! I'll kill the baby, but the king orders you to be burned alive!

But Goldilocks is silent as a stone. Chernyavka strangled the girl, Goldilocks smeared her lips with blood. And it was like that.

In the morning the child was found dead. But the guards did not see anyone and did not hear any rustle or sound in the room.

The king was angry that such things were happening in his palace. Even more strictly ordered to look for the evil enemy. They searched and searched, but found no one.

At this point, everyone around openly started talking that, apart from the queen, there was no one to strangle the child. After all, only the guards in her room stood. And she has blood on her lips! And everything is silent, he won't say a word! These speeches reached the king, he hesitated, and he himself ordered that Goldilocks be condemned to death. To her fire! In front of all subjects!

They took Goldilocks out of town. Tied to a pole. They set fire under their feet. Suddenly, a carriage crashed right into the crowd and stopped in front of Goldilocks. Chernyavka gets out of the carriage and says:
- You see, my words have come true: now the end will come to you. Tell me, at least now, what did you see in the last room of my castle?

But Goldilocks remained silent. No matter how hard Chernyavka tried, she could not achieve anything.

Smoke and flames have already crept up to Goldilocks and suddenly, lo and behold! Chernyavka's face turned white and her whole body changed. She ordered the fire to be poured immediately, because Goldilocks is innocent! And said:
- Your happiness and mine that you did not answer me. With this you freed me and those twelve from evil spells. Otherwise, we would all be lost forever and ever, and you are with us!

And he gives her - where did they just come from - her two kids, lively ones! And in the blink of an eye she disappears with the carriage!

And at the same moment, Goldilocks spoke and told the king everything that had happened. The king does not believe his eyes or ears. Yes, if it is so, then it means not otherwise! To celebrate, the king does not know what to do: take the golden children in his arms or hug Goldilocks and beg for forgiveness. Then he brought his wife and children to the castle, they now healed quietly. And the blacksmith father was found and, together with the whole family, was transported to his castle.

Once upon a time there lived a king. Once an unfamiliar old woman came to him, brought a fish and said: “Order to cook this fish and eat it today at dinner. Then you will understand everything that any animal says.”
The king generously paid the old woman, called his servant Irzhik and ordered him to cook fish for dinner.
“Just look,” said the king, “do not try it yourself. Don't blow your head off." Irzhik took the fish and carried it to the kitchen. “No, come what may, and I will try what kind of fish it is,” he decided. When the fish was ready, Irzhik pinched off a small piece and swallowed it. At that very moment he heard what the hens were talking about in the yard. As if nothing had happened, the young man took the dish to the royal chambers and put it on the table.
After dinner, the king ordered Irzhik to serve a goblet of wine.
Irzhik took the pitcher and began pouring wine. At that moment, a bird flew in through the open window. She held three golden hairs in her paws, and another was chasing her and twittering: “Give it back, give it back! They are mine, not yours!” “But I was the first to notice how they fell to the floor when Princess Goldilocks combed her curls.” Then the second bird ran into the first and began to snatch its prey from it. Irzhik listened to the birds and spilled the wine. In the end, the birds got a single hair, and the third hair fell and, hitting the floor, rang like pure gold. The king guessed that Irzhik also understood the language of birds, and shouted: “You spilled the wine because you were listening to what the birds were arguing about! Tomorrow you will be hanged." “Ah, merciful king! - exclaimed Irzhik. “Spare me!”
"Didn't I forbid you to taste the magic fish," said the king. “Come on, find Princess Goldilocks and bring her to my palace.” Then I'll have mercy on you."
Irzhik saddled a horse, took a bag of food and a purse with money for the journey, and rode aimlessly. He looks - at the edge of the forest, a bush is burning, and under it is an anthill. "Irzhik, help us!" the ants scream. Irzhik jumped off his horse and stamped out the fire. “Thank you, Irzhik,” the ants say. “If you need help, just remember us.” Irzhik laughed and drove on. He drives up to a tall spruce. He looks: there is a nest at the top, and below two crows squeak: “Help, Irzhik! Feed us!" Irzhik untied the bag of food from his saddle and threw it to the crows. “Thank you, Irzhik,” the crows croaked. “If it’s hard for you, remember us.”
Irzhik went to the seashore.
And on the shore, two fishermen are arguing: they will not share the caught fish in any way. “I will reconcile you, brothers,” says Irzhik. “Sell me your fish and share the money equally.” He gave the fishermen all his money and released the fish into the sea. She merrily splashed her tail and said: “Thank you, Irzhik! If you ever need help, remember me."
And the fishermen learned from Irzhik where he was heading, and took him to the island, where Goldilocks lived with her father in a crystal palace.
Here Irzhik comes to the crystal palace, bows and asks the king to give Goldilocks in marriage to his master.
“I don’t know if your master is worth a bride like my daughter,” the king answers. “But if you solve three problems, I will give my daughter for your king, and if you don’t solve it, I will order you to be executed.”
The next day, in the morning, the king says to Irzhik: “My daughter had a pearl necklace, but the thread broke, and the pearls scattered across the green lawn. Go and collect them."
Irzhik came to the lawn, and the lawn is wide - try to find pearl seeds! “Here,” the young man thinks, “you have to be an ant.” Before Irzhik had time to look back, the ants dragged pearls to his feet, all to one. Irzhik thanked the ants and carried the pearls to the king.
The king was surprised that Irzhik had found all the pearls so quickly. “Here’s another task for you,” he says. - My daughter was swimming in the sea and dropped her precious ring. Find it and bring it."
Irzhik came to the sea and thinks: "You have to be a fish, not a man, in order to solve such a problem." Look - and the fish is right there, and takes out a ring for him. Irzhik thanked the fish and carried the ring to the king.
The king praised him, and the next day he sets a new task for the young man. “Get me now,” he says, “living and dead water for me.”
Irzhik is coming, he doesn't know where. Only the prophetic raven knows where these keys from under the ground beat. As soon as he thought this, crows flew to him with two vials: in one living water, in the other - dead. Irzhik thanked them and carried both vials to the palace.
- You coped with all the tasks, - said the king-father, - I will give my daughter in marriage to your master.
Irzhik brought Goldilocks to the palace of his king. The king rejoiced, he would not see enough of the beautiful bride with golden hair. Immediately he ordered to prepare for the wedding, and thanked Irzhik, forgave him and made him his chief adviser.

- THE END -

Czech folk tale in retelling

Once upon a time there lived a king. Once an unfamiliar old woman came to him, brought a fish and said: “Order to cook this fish and eat it today at dinner. Then you will understand everything that any animal says.”
The king generously paid the old woman, called his servant Irzhik and ordered him to cook fish for dinner.
“Just look,” said the king, “do not try it yourself. Don't blow your head off." Irzhik took the fish and carried it to the kitchen. “No, come what may, and I will try what kind of fish it is,” he decided. When the fish was ready, Irzhik pinched off a small piece and swallowed it. At that very moment he heard what the hens were talking about in the yard. As if nothing had happened, the young man took the dish to the royal chambers and put it on the table.
After dinner, the king ordered Irzhik to serve a goblet of wine.
Irzhik took the pitcher and began pouring wine. At that moment, a bird flew in through the open window. She held three golden hairs in her paws, and another was chasing her and twittering: “Give it back, give it back! They are mine, not yours!” “But I was the first to notice how they fell to the floor when Princess Goldilocks combed her curls.” Then the second bird ran into the first and began to snatch its prey from it. Irzhik listened to the birds and spilled the wine. In the end, the birds got a single hair, and the third hair fell and, hitting the floor, rang like pure gold. The king guessed that Irzhik also understood the language of birds, and shouted: “You spilled the wine because you were listening to what the birds were arguing about! Tomorrow you will be hanged." “Ah, merciful king! Irik exclaimed. “Spare me!”
"Didn't I forbid you to taste the magic fish," said the king. “Come on, find Princess Goldilocks and bring her to my palace.” Then I'll have mercy on you."
Irzhik saddled a horse, took a bag of food and a purse with money for the journey, and rode aimlessly. He looks - at the edge of the forest, a bush is burning, and under it is an anthill. "Irzhik, help us!" the ants scream. Irzhik jumped off his horse and stamped out the fire. “Thank you, Irzhik,” the ants say. “If you need help, just remember us.” Irzhik laughed and drove on. He drives up to a tall spruce. He looks: there is a nest at the top, and below two crows squeak: “Help, Irzhik! Feed us!" Irzhik untied the bag of food from his saddle and threw it to the crows. “Thank you, Irzhik,” the crows croaked. “If it’s hard for you, remember us.”
Irzhik went to the seashore.
And on the shore, two fishermen are arguing: they will not share the caught fish in any way. “I will reconcile you, brothers,” says Irzhik. “Sell me your fish and share the money equally.” He gave the fishermen all his money and released the fish into the sea. She merrily splashed her tail and said: “Thank you, Irzhik! If you ever need help, remember me."
And the fishermen learned from Irzhik where he was heading, and took him to the island, where Goldilocks lived with her father in a crystal palace.
Here Irzhik comes to the crystal palace, bows and asks the king to give Goldilocks in marriage to his master.
“I don’t know if your master is worth a bride like my daughter,” the king answers. “But if you solve three problems, I will give my daughter for your king, and if you don’t solve it, I will order you to be executed.”
The next day, in the morning, the king says to Irzhik: “My daughter had a pearl necklace, but the thread broke, and the pearls scattered across the green lawn. Go and collect them."
Irzhik came to the lawn, and the lawn is wide - try to find pearl seeds! “Here,” the young man thinks, “you have to be an ant.” Before Irzhik had time to look back, the ants dragged pearls to his feet, all to one. Irzhik thanked the ants and carried the pearls to the king.
The king was surprised that Irzhik had found all the pearls so quickly. “Here’s another task for you,” he says. My daughter was swimming in the sea and dropped her precious ring. Find it and bring it."
Irzhik came to the sea and thinks: "You have to be a fish, not a man, in order to solve such a problem." Look - and the fish is right there, and brings him a ring. Irzhik thanked the fish and carried the ring to the king.
The king praised him, and the next day he sets a new task for the young man. “Get me now,” he says, “living and dead water for me.”
Irzhik is coming, he doesn't know where. Only the prophetic raven knows where these keys from under the ground beat. As soon as he thought this, crows flew to him with two vials: in one living water, in the other - dead. Irzhik thanked them and carried both vials to the palace.
- You coped with all the tasks, - said the king-father, - I will give my daughter in marriage to your master.
Irzhik brought Goldilocks to the palace of his king. The king rejoiced, he would not see enough of the beautiful bride with golden hair. Immediately he ordered to prepare for the wedding, and thanked Irzhik, forgave him and made him his chief adviser.

- THE END -

Czech folk tale in retelling

Czech fairy tale

In one country - I forgot its name - there was a king, an evil and grumpy old man. Once a merchant came to his palace, brought fresh fish in a basket and said:
- Buy this fish from me, king. You won't regret. The king glanced at the fish.
- I have never seen such a fish in my kingdom. Poisonous, right?
- What you! - the merchant was frightened. - Order this fish to be fried, eat it - and you will immediately begin to understand the conversation of all animals, fish and birds. Even the smallest bug will squeak something, and you will already know what he wants. You will become the smartest king on earth.
The king liked it. He bought fish from a merchant and, although he was stingy and greedy, he did not even bargain and paid what she asked for. “Now,” the king thought and rubbed his bony hands, “I will be the smartest in the world and conquer the whole world. It's like drinking! Now my enemies will cry."
The king called his servant, young Irzhik, and ordered him to fry the fish for dinner.
- But only without cheating! - said the king to Irzhik. - If you eat at least one piece of this fish, I will cut off your head.
Irzhik brought the fish into the kitchen, looked at it and was even more surprised: he had never seen such a fish. Each fish scale glowed with multi-colored fire, like a rainbow. It was a pity to clean and fry such a fish. But you will not go against the royal order.
Irzhik is frying fish and cannot understand in any way whether it is ready or not. The fish does not blush, does not become covered with a crust, but becomes transparent.
“Who knows whether it is fried or not,” Irzhik thought. “We must try.”
He took a piece, chewed and swallowed - as if ready. Chews and hears thin squeaky voices:
- And we have a piece! And we have a piece! W-w-fried fish! Irzhik looked around. Nobody here. Only flies fly over
dish with fish.
- Aha! - said Irzhik. - Now I'm starting to understand something about this fish.
He took a dish with fish and put it on the window, in a through wind, so that the fish would cool down. And outside the window, geese go through the yard and quietly cackle. Irzhik listened and heard one goose ask:
- Where shall we go? Where shall we go? And the other answers:
- To the miller in the barley field! To the miller in the barley field!
- Yeah! - Irzhik said again and grinned: - Now I understand what kind of fish it is. Perhaps one piece is not enough for me.
Irzhik ate the second piece of fish, then beautifully arranged the fish on a silver platter, sprinkled with parsley and dill, and carried the dish to the king.
Since then, Irzhik began to understand everything that the animals were talking about with each other. He learned that the life of animals is not as easy as people think - animals have both grief and worries. Since that time, Irzhik began to feel sorry for the animals and tried to help every smallest animal if it got into trouble.
After dinner, the king ordered two saddle horses to be brought in and went for a walk with Irzhik.
The king rode ahead, and Irzhik followed him. The hot horse Irzhik kept rushing forward. Irzhik restrained him with difficulty. The horse neighed, and Irzhik immediately understood his words.
- Igo-go! - the horse neighed. - Come on, brother, let's jump and be transported in one fell swoop over this mountain.
- It would be nice, - the king's horse answered him, - but this old fool sits on me. He'll fall off and break his neck. It will not turn out well - after all, but still the king.
- Well, let him break his neck, - said Irzhik's horse. - Then you will carry the young king, and not this ruin.
Irzhik laughed softly. But the king also understood the conversation of the horses, looked back at Irzhik, poked his horse in the side with his boot and asked Irzhik:
- What are you laughing at, brat?
- I remembered, your royal grace, how today in the kitchen two cooks dragged each other by whirlwinds.
- You look at me! the king said threateningly.
Of course, he did not believe Irzhik, angrily turned his horse and galloped to his palace. In the palace, he ordered Irzhik to pour himself a glass of wine.
“But look, if you don’t fill it up or overfill it, I’ll order you to cut off your head!”
Irzhik took the jug of wine and began to carefully pour the wine into a heavy glass. At that moment, two sparrows flew in through the open window. They fly around the room and fight on the fly. One sparrow holds three golden hairs in its beak, and the other tries to take them away.
- Give it back! Give it back! They are mine! Thief!
- I'm not giving it! I picked them up when the beauty was combing her golden braids. No one else in the world has hair like this. I'm not giving it! Whom she marries will be the happiest.
- Give it back! Beat the thief!
The sparrows ruffled and, grabbing, flew out the window. But one golden hair fell out of its beak, fell on the stone floor and rang like a bell. Irzhik looked around and... spilled the wine.
- Yeah! - shouted the king. - Now say goodbye to life, Irzhik!
The king was glad that Irzhik had spilled the wine and that it would be possible to get rid of him. The king alone wanted to be the smartest in the world. Who knows, maybe this young and cheerful servant managed to taste fried fish. Then he will be a dangerous opponent for the king. But then the king came up with a good idea. He picked up a golden hair from the floor, handed it to Irzhik and said:
- So be it. Perhaps I will have mercy on you if you find the girl who lost this golden hair and bring her to me as a wife. Take this hair and go. Search!
What was Irzhik to do? He took the hair, equipped himself for the journey, and rode out of the city. And where to go, he does not know. He let go of the reins, and the horse trudged along the most deserted road. It's all overgrown with grass. It looks like it hasn't been driven in a long time. The road reached a high dark forest. Irzhik sees: a fire is burning at the edge, a dry bush is burning. The shepherds threw the fire, did not fill it, did not trample, and the bush caught fire from the fire. And under the bush - an anthill. Ants run, fuss, drag their good from the anthill - ant eggs, dry bugs, caterpillars and various tasty grains. Irzhik hears how the ants shout to him:
- Help, Irzhik! Save! We are burning!
Irzhik jumped off his horse, cut down a bush and put out the flames. The ants surrounded him in a ring, moving their antennae, bowing and thanking:
Thank you, Irik. We will never forget your kindness! And if you need help, rely on us - We will repay the good.
Irzhik drove into the dark forest. He hears: someone squeaks plaintively. He looked around and sees: under a tall spruce, two crows lie - they fell out of the nest - and squeak:
- Help, Irzhik! Feed us! We are dying of hunger! Mother and father flew away, but we still don’t know how to fly.
The king deliberately gave Irzhik an old, sick horse - a real horse. The horse is standing, the horse's legs are shaking, and it is clear that this trip for him is one torment.
Irzhik jumped off the horse, thought, stabbed him to death and left the horse carcass for the crows - let them feed.
- Kar-r, Ir-rzhik! Ka-r-r! - the crows shouted cheerfully. - We will help you for this!
Then Irzhik went on foot. For a long time I walked through a dense forest, then the forest began to make more and more noise, more and more loudly, the wind already bent the tops of the trees. And then the splash of waves was added to the noise of the peaks, and Irzhik went out to the sea. Two fishermen were arguing on the sandy shore. One caught a golden fish in the net, and the other demanded this fish for himself.
“My net,” one fisherman shouted, “my and the fish!”
- Whose boat is it? - answered another fisherman. - Without my boat you would not have thrown the net!
The fishermen shouted louder and louder, then rolled up their sleeves, and the matter would have ended in a fight if Irzhik had not intervened.
- Stop making noise! - he said to the fishermen. - Sell me this fish, and divide the money among yourselves. And deal with the end.
Irzhik gave the fishermen all the money that he received from the king for the journey, took the gold fish and threw it into the sea. The fish wagged its tail, stuck its head out of the water and said:
- One good turn deserves another. When you need my help, call me. I will sail.
Irzhik sat down on the shore to rest. The fishermen ask him:
Where are you going, good man?
- Yes, I'm looking for a bride for my old king. He ordered to get him a beautiful woman with golden hair as his wife. Where can you find her?
The fishermen looked at each other, sat down on the sand next to Irzhik.
- Well, - they say - you reconciled us, and we remember well. Let's help you. There is only one beauty with golden hair in the whole world. This is our king's daughter. You see an island in the sea, and on the island - a crystal palace? That's where she lives, in this palace. Every day at dawn she combs her hair. Then such a golden dawn breaks over the sea that we wake up from it in our hut and know that it's time for us to go fishing. We will take you to the island. Only to recognize the beauty is almost impossible.
- Why so? - asks Irzhik.
- But because the king has twelve daughters, and the golden-haired one. And all twelve princesses are dressed the same. And they all have the same veils on their heads. Hair under them is not visible. So your business, Irzhik, is difficult.
The fishermen of Irzhik were transported to the island. Irzhik went straight to the crystal palace to the king, bowed to him and told him why he had come to the island.
- Okay! - said the king. - I am not a stubborn person. I will give my daughter in marriage to your king. But in return, you must complete my tasks for three days. Is it coming?
- It's coming! Irik agreed.
- Get some sleep out of the way. Have a rest. My tasks are intricate. You can't solve them right off the bat.
Irzhik slept well! The sea wind blew through the windows all night, the surf roared, and occasionally small splashes even flew onto the bed.
Irzhik got up in the morning and came to the king. The king thought and said:
- Here's your first task. My golden-haired daughter wore a pearl necklace around her neck. The thread broke, and all the pearls scattered in the thick grass. Collect them all to one.
Irzhik went to the lawn, where the princess scattered pearls. The grass is waist-deep, and so thick that you can't see the ground beneath it.
- Eh, - Irzhik sighed, - if there were friends-ants here, they would help me!
Suddenly he hears a squeak in the grass, as if hundreds of some tiny people are fussing around his feet:
- We are here! We are here! How can I help you, Irzhik? Collect pearls? Wait, we're in a moment!
Ants ran in, waved their antennae and began to drag pearl after pearl to Irzhik's feet. Irzhik barely had time to string them on a harsh thread.
He collected all the necklace and carried it to the king. The king counted the pearls for a long time, lost his way, counted again.
- That's right! Okay, I'll give you a harder task tomorrow. Irzhik comes to the king the next day. king slyly
looked at him and said:
- That's the trouble! My golden-haired daughter was bathing and dropped a golden ring into the sea. I'm giving you a day to get it.
Irzhik went to the sea, sat on the shore and almost cried. The sea in front of him lies warm, clear and so deep that it’s even scary to think.
- Eh, - says Irzhik, - if there was a golden fish here, it would help me out!
Suddenly, in the sea, something flashed on the dark water, and a golden fish emerged from the depths.
- Do not be sad! - she said to Irzhik. - I just saw a pike with a golden ring on its fin. - Be calm, I will get it.
Irzhik waited for a long time, until finally a golden fish with a golden ring on its fin emerged.
Irzhik carefully removed the ring from the fin so that the fish would not be hurt, thanked her and went to the palace.
- Well, - said the king, - you are a clever person, apparently. Come tomorrow for the last task.
And the last task was the most difficult: to bring the king living and dead water. Where can I get it? Irzhik went aimlessly, reached the great forest, stopped and thought:
"If my crows were here, they would..."
Before he had time to think, he hears: over his head the whistle of wings, croaking and sees: familiar crows are flying towards him.
Irzhik told them his grief.
The crows flew away, they were gone for a long time, and then they rustled their wings again and dragged two eggplants with living and dead water to Irzhik in their beaks.
- Carr, carr, berry and be happy! Carr!
Irzhik took the eggplants and went to the crystal palace. He went out to the edge and stopped: a black spider wove a web between two trees, caught a fly in it, killed it and sits sucking the fly's blood. Irzhik splashed dead water on the spider. The spider immediately died - folded its legs and fell to the ground. Then Irzhik sprinkled the fly with living water. She came to life, beat her wings, buzzed, broke the web and flew away. And flying away, she said to Irzhik:
Luckily for you, you revived me. I'll help you get to know Goldilocks.
Irzhik came to the king with living and dead water. The king even gasped, did not believe for a long time, but he tried the dead water on an old mouse that ran through the palace room, and the living water on a dried flower in the garden and was delighted. I believed. He took Irzhik by the hand and led him into a white hall with a golden ceiling. In the middle of the hall stood a round crystal table, and behind it on crystal chairs sat twelve beauties, so similar to each other that Irzhik only waved his hand and lowered his eyes - how can you tell which one of them is Goldilocks! They all have the same long dresses, and the same white veils on their heads. Not a hair is visible from under them.
- Well, choose, - says the king. - Guess - your happiness! But no - you will leave here alone, as you came.
Irzhik raised his eyes and suddenly heard something buzzing near his ear.
- J-i-i-i, go around the table. I'll give you a hint. Irzhik looked: a small fly was flying over him. Irzhik
slowly walked around the table, and the princesses sit, looking down. And everyone's cheeks flushed the same way. And the fly buzzes and buzzes:
- Not that one! Not the one! Not the one! And here she is, golden-haired! Irzhik stopped, pretended to be still in doubt, then said:
"Here's the golden-haired princess!"
- Your happiness! shouted the king.
The princess quickly left the table, threw off her white veil, and her golden hair spilled over her shoulders. And immediately the whole hall sparkled with such brilliance from this hair that it seemed that the sun gave all its light to the hair of the princess.
The princess looked straight at Irzhik and averted her eyes: she had never seen such a handsome and stately young man. The princess's heart was beating heavily, but her father's word is law. She will have to marry the old, evil king!
Irzhik took the bride to his master. He protected her all the way, making sure that her horse did not stumble, that a cold drop of rain did not fall on her shoulders. It was a sad return. Because Irzhik also fell in love with the golden-haired princess, but he could not tell her about it.
The old, grumpy king giggled with joy when he saw the beauty, and ordered to quickly prepare the wedding. And Irzhik said:
- I wanted to hang you on a dry bough for disobedience, so that crows would peck at your corpse. But for the fact that you found me a bride, I declare you a royal favor. I will not hang you, but I will order you to cut off your head and bury with honor.
The next morning they cut off Irzhik's head on the chopping block. The golden-haired beauty sobbed and asked the king to give her the headless body and head of Irzhik. The king frowned, but did not dare to refuse the bride.
Goldilocks put her head to the body, sprinkled living water - the head grew, not even a trace was left. She sprinkled Irzhik a second time - and he jumped up alive, young and even more beautiful than he was before the execution. And asked Goldilocks:
- Why did I fall asleep so soundly?
- You would have fallen asleep forever, - Goldilocks answered him, - if I had not saved you, dear.
The king saw Irzhik and was dumbfounded: how did he come to life, and even become so handsome! The king was a cunning old man and immediately decided to take advantage of this case. He called the executioner and ordered:
- Cut off my head! And then let Goldilocks sprinkle some wonderful water on me. And I will come alive young and beautiful.
The executioner willingly cut off the head of the old king. But it was not possible to resurrect him. In vain they just poured all the living water on him. There must have been so much anger in the king that no living water could help. They buried the king without tears, to the beat of drums. And since the country needed a smart and kind ruler, he chose the people as the ruler of Irzhik - it was not without reason that he was the wisest man in the world. And Goldilocks became the wife of Irzhik, and they lived a long and happy life.
And so ended this tale of how the animals repaid kindness for kindness and how the king lost his head. That's

In one country - I forgot its name - there was a king, an angry and grumpy old man. Once a merchant came to his palace, brought fresh fish in a basket and said:

“Buy this fish from me, king, you won’t regret it.”

The king glanced at the fish.

“I have never seen such a fish in my kingdom. Poisonous, right?

- What you! - the merchant was frightened. - Order this fish to fry, eat it, and you will immediately begin to understand the conversation of all animals, fish and birds. Even the smallest bug will squeak something, and you will already know what he wants. You will become the smartest king on earth.

The king liked it. He bought fish from a merchant and, although he was stingy and greedy, he did not even bargain and paid what she asked for. Now, - thought the king and rubbed his bony hands, - I will be the smartest in the world and conquer the whole world. It's like drinking! Now my enemies will cry.

The king called his servant, young Irzhik, and ordered him to fry the fish for dinner.

- But only without cheating! - said the king to Irzhik. “If you eat even one piece of this fish, I will cut off your head.”

Irzhik brought the fish into the kitchen, looked at it and was even more surprised: he had never seen such a fish. Each fish scale glowed with multi-colored fire, like a rainbow. It was a pity to clean and fry such a fish. But you will not go against the royal order.

Irzhik is frying fish and cannot understand in any way whether it is ready or not. The fish does not blush, does not become covered with a crust, but becomes transparent.

Who knows if she's fried or not, Irzhik thought. - Need to try.

He took a piece, chewed it and swallowed it, as if ready. Chews and hears thin squeaky voices:

- And we have a piece! And we have a piece! W-w-fried fish!

Irzhik looked around. Nobody here. Only flies fly over a dish of fish.

– Aha! Irik said. Now I'm beginning to understand something about this fish.

He took a dish with fish and put it on the window, in a through wind, so that the fish would cool down. And outside the window, geese go through the yard and quietly cackle. Irzhik listened and heard one goose ask:

– Where shall we go? Where shall we go? And the other answers:

- To the miller in the barley field! To the miller in the barley field!

– Aha! - Irzhik said again and grinned. Now I understand what kind of fish it is. Perhaps one piece is not enough for me.

Irzhik ate the second piece of fish, then beautifully arranged the fish on a silver platter, sprinkled with parsley and dill, and carried the dish to the king.

Since then, Irzhik began to understand everything that the animals were talking about with each other. He learned that the life of animals is not as easy as people think - animals have both grief and worries. Since that time, Irzhik began to feel sorry for the animals and tried to help every smallest animal if it got into trouble.

After dinner, the king ordered two saddle horses to be brought in and went for a walk with Irzhik.

The king rode ahead, and Irzhik followed him. The hot horse Irzhik kept rushing forward. Irzhik restrained him with difficulty. The horse neighed, and Irzhik immediately understood his words.

- Igo-go! - the horse neighed. “Come on, brother, let’s ride and fly over this mountain in one fell swoop.”

- It would be nice, - the king's horse answered him, - but this old fool is sitting on me. He'll fall off and break his neck. It will not turn out well - after all, but still the king.

“Well, let him break his neck,” said Irzhik’s horse. - Then you will carry the young king, and not this ruin.

Irzhik laughed softly. But the king also understood the conversation of the horses, looked back at Irzhik, poked his horse in the side with his boot and asked Irzhik:

"What are you laughing at, you brat?"

- I remembered, your royal grace, how today in the kitchen two cooks dragged each other by the whirlwinds.

- You look at me! the king said threateningly.

Of course, he did not believe Irzhik, angrily turned his horse and galloped to his palace. In the palace, he ordered Irzhik to pour himself a glass of wine.

“But look, if you don’t fill it up or overfill it, I’ll order you to cut off your head!”

Irzhik took the jug of wine and began to carefully pour the wine into a heavy glass. At that moment, two sparrows flew in through the open window. One sparrow holds three golden hairs in its beak, and the other tries to take them away.

- Give it back! Give it back! They are mine! Thief!

- I'm not giving it! I picked them up when the beauty was combing her golden braids. No one else in the world has hair like this. I'm not giving it! Whom she marries will be the happiest.

- Give it back! Beat the thief!

The sparrows ruffled and, grabbing, flew out the window. But one golden hair fell out of its beak, fell on the stone floor and rang like a bell. Irzhik looked around and… spilled the wine.

– Aha! the king shouted. - Now say goodbye to life, Irzhik!

The king was glad that Irzhik had spilled the wine and that it would be possible to get rid of him. The king alone wanted to be the smartest in the world. Who knows, maybe this young and cheerful servant managed to taste fried fish. Then he will be a dangerous opponent for the king. But then the king came up with a good idea. He picked up a golden hair from the floor, handed it to Irzhik and said:

- So be it. I'll have mercy on you, if you find the girl who lost this golden hair, and bring her to me as a wife, Take this hair and go. Search!

What was Irzhik to do? He took the hair, equipped himself for the journey, and rode out of the city. And where to go, he does not know. He let go of the reins, and the horse trudged along the most deserted road. It's all overgrown with grass. It looks like it hasn't been driven in a long time. The road reached a high dark forest. Irzhik sees: a fire is burning at the edge, a dry bush is burning. The shepherds threw the fire, did not fill it, did not trample, and the bush caught fire from the fire. And under the bush - an anthill. Ants run, fuss, drag their good ant eggs, dry bugs, caterpillars and various tasty grains from the anthill. Irzhik hears how the ants shout to him:

- Help, Irzhik! Save! We are burning! Irzhik jumped off his horse, cut down a bush and put out the flames. The ants surrounded him in a ring, moving their antennae, bowing and thanking; - Thank you, Irzhik. We will never forget your kindness! And if you need help, rely on us. We will repay the good.

Irzhik drove into the dark forest. He hears: someone squeaks plaintively. He looked around and sees: under a tall spruce, two crows lie - they fell out of the nest - and squeak:

- Help, Irzhik! Feed us! We are dying of hunger! Mother and father flew away, but we still don’t know how to fly.

The king deliberately gave Irzhik an old, sick horse - a real horse. The horse is standing, the horse's legs are shaking, and it is clear that this trip for him is one torment. Irzhik jumped off the horse, thought, stabbed him to death and left the horse carcass for the crows - let them feed.

- Ksp-p, Ir-rzhik! Ka-r-r! - the crows shouted merrily. We will help you for this!

Then Irzhik went on foot. For a long time I walked through a dense forest, then the forest began to make more and more noise, more and more loudly, the wind already bent the tops of the trees. And then the splash of waves was added to the noise of the peaks, and Irzhik went out to the sea. Two fishermen were arguing on the sandy shore. One caught a golden fish in the net, and the other demanded this fish for himself.

“My net,” one fisherman shouted, “my and the fish!”

- Whose boat is it? replied another fisherman. “Without my boat, you wouldn’t have cast your net!”

The fishermen shouted louder and louder, then rolled up their sleeves, and the matter would have ended in a fight if Irzhik had not intervened.

- Stop making noise! he told the fishermen. “Sell me this fish, and divide the money among yourselves. And deal with the end.

Irzhik gave the fishermen all the money that he received from the king for the journey, took the gold fish and threw it into the sea. The fish wagged its tail, stuck its head out of the water and said:

- One good turn deserves another. When you need my help, call me. I will sail.

Irzhik sat down on the shore to rest. The fishermen ask him:

Where are you going, good man?

“Yes, I am looking for a bride for my old king. He ordered to get him a beautiful woman with golden hair as his wife. Where can you find her?

The fishermen looked at each other, sat down on the sand next to Irzhik.

- Well, - they say, - you reconciled us, but we remember well. Let's help you. There is only one beauty with golden hair in the whole world. This is our king's daughter. You see an island in the sea, and on the island - a crystal palace? That's where she lives, in this palace. Every day at dawn she combs her hair. Then such a golden dawn breaks over the sea that we wake up from it in our hut and know that it's time for us to go fishing. We will take you to the island. Only to recognize the beauty is almost impossible.

- Why so? – asks Irzhik.

“Because the king has twelve daughters, and the golden-haired one.” And all twelve princesses are dressed the same. And they all have the same veils on their heads. Hair under them is not visible. So your business, Irzhik, is difficult.

The fishermen of Irzhik were transported to the island. Irzhik went straight to the crystal palace to the king, bowed to him and told him why he got to the island, - Okay! the king said. “I am not a stubborn person. I will give my daughter in marriage to your king. But in return, you must complete my tasks for three days. Is it coming?

- It's coming! Irik agreed.

- Get some sleep out of the way. Have a rest. My tasks are intricate. You can't solve them right off the bat.

Irzhik slept well! The sea wind blew through the windows all night, the surf roared, and occasionally small splashes even flew onto the bed.

Irzhik got up in the morning and came to the king. The king thought and said:

Here's your first task. My golden-haired daughter wore a pearl necklace around her neck. The thread broke, and all the pearls scattered in the thick grass. Collect them all to one.

Irzhik went to the lawn, where the princess scattered pearls. The grass is waist-deep, and so thick that you can't see the ground beneath it.

- Eh, - Irzhik sighed, - if there were ants friends here, they would help me!

Suddenly he hears a squeak in the grass, as if hundreds of some tiny people are fussing around his feet.

- We are here! We are here! How can I help you, Irzhik? Collect pearls? Wait, we're in a moment!

Ants ran in, waved their antennae and began to drag pearl after pearl to Irzhik's feet. Irzhik barely had time to string them on a harsh thread. He collected all the necklace and carried it to the king. The king counted the pearls for a long time, lost his way, counted again.

- That's right! Okay, I'll give you a harder task tomorrow.

Irzhik comes to the king the next day. The king looked at him slyly and said:

- That's the trouble! My golden-haired daughter was bathing and dropped a golden ring into the sea. I'm giving you a day to get it.

Irzhik went to the sea, sat on the shore and almost cried. The sea in front of him lies warm, clear and so deep that it’s even scary to think.

- Eh, - says Irzhik, - if there was a golden fish here, it would help me out!

Suddenly, in the sea, something flashed on the dark water and a golden fish emerged from the depths.

- Do not be sad! she said to Irzhik. “I just saw a pike with a gold ring on its fin. "Don't worry, I'll get it."

Irzhik waited for a long time, until finally a golden fish with a golden ring on its fin emerged.

Irzhik carefully removed the ring from the fin so that the fish would not be hurt, thanked her and went to the palace.

- Well, - said the king, - you are a clever person, apparently. Come tomorrow for the last task.

And the last task was the most difficult: to bring the king living and dead water. Where can I get it? Irzhik went aimlessly, reached the great forest, stopped and thought: If my crows were here, they would ...

Before he had time to think it through, he hears: above his head the whistle of wings, croaking, and sees: familiar crows are flying towards him. Irzhik told them his grief.

The crows flew away, they were gone for a long time, and then they rustled their wings again and dragged two eggplants with living and dead water to Irzhik in their beaks.

“Carr, carr, berry and be happy!” Carr! Irzhik took the eggplants and went to the crystal palace. He went out to the edge and stopped: a black spider wove a web between two trees, caught a fly in it, killed it and sits sucking the fly's blood. Irzhik splashed dead water on the spider. The spider immediately died - folded its legs and fell to the ground. Then Irzhik sprinkled the fly with living water.

She came to life, beat her wings, buzzed, broke the web and flew away. And flying away, she said to Irzhik:

Luckily for you, you revived me. I'll help you get to know Goldilocks.

Irzhik came to the king with living and dead water. The king even gasped, did not believe for a long time, but he tried the dead water on an old mouse that ran through the palace room, and the living one on a withered flower in the garden and was delighted. I believed. He took Irzhik by the hand and led him into a white hall with a golden ceiling. In the middle of the hall stood a round crystal table, and behind it on crystal chairs sat twelve beauties, so similar to each other that Irzhik only waved his hand and lowered his eyes - how can you tell which one of them is Goldilocks! They all have the same long dresses, and the same white veils on their heads. Not a hair is visible from under them.

“Well, choose,” says the king. - Guess - your happiness! But no - you will leave here alone, as you came.

Irzhik raised his eyes and suddenly heard someone buzzing near his ear:

“J-i-i-i, go around the table. I'll give you a hint.

Irzhik looked: a small fly was flying over him. Irzhik walked slowly around the table, while the princesses sat downcast. And everyone's cheeks flushed the same way. And the fly buzzes and buzzes:

- Not that one! Not the one! But this one - she, golden-haired!

Irzhik stopped, pretended to be still in doubt, then said:

“Here is the golden-haired princess!”

- Your happiness! the king shouted. The princess quickly left the table, threw off her white veil, and her golden hair spilled over her shoulders. And immediately the whole hall sparkled with such a brilliance from this hair that it seemed that the sun gave all its light to the hair of the princess.

The princess looked straight at Irzhik and averted her eyes - she had never seen such a handsome and stately young man. The princess's heart was beating heavily, but her father's word is law. She will have to marry the old, evil king!

Irzhik took the bride to his master. He protected her all the way, making sure that her horse did not stumble, that a cold drop of rain did not fall on her shoulders. It was a sad return. Because Irzhik also fell in love with the golden-haired princess, but he could not tell her about it.

The old, grumpy king giggled with joy when he saw the beauty, and ordered to quickly prepare the wedding. And Irzhik said:

- I wanted to hang you on a dry bough for disobedience, so that crows would peck at your corpse! But for the fact that you found me a bride, I declare you a royal favor. I will not hang you, but I will order you to cut off your head and bury with honor.

The next morning they cut off Irzhik's head on the chopping block. The golden-haired beauty sobbed and asked the king to give her the headless body and head of Irzhik. The king frowned, but did not dare to refuse the bride.

Goldilocks put her head to the body, sprinkled living water - the head grew, not even a trace was left. She sprinkled Irzhik a second time - and he jumped up alive, young and even more handsome than he was before the execution, and asked Goldilocks:

- Why did I fall asleep so soundly?

“You would have fallen asleep forever,” Goldilocks answered him, “if I had not saved those darlings.

The king saw Irzhik and was dumbfounded: it was he who came to life, and even became so handsome, the King was a cunning old man and immediately decided to take advantage of this case. He called the executioner and ordered:

- Cut off my head! And then let Goldilocks sprinkle some wonderful water on me. And I will come alive young and beautiful.

The executioner willingly cut off the head of the old king. But it was not possible to resurrect him, in vain they only poured all the living water on him. There must have been so much anger in the king that no living water could help. They buried the king without tears, to the beat of drums. And since the country needed a smart and kind ruler, he chose the people as the ruler of Irzhik - it was not for nothing that he was the wisest man in the world. And Goldilocks became the wife of Irzhik, and they lived a long and happy life.

And so ended this tale of how the animals repaid kindness for kindness and how the king lost his head.