The Skilful Huntsman

There was once a young fellow who had learnt the trade of locksmith, and told his father he would now go out into the world and seek his fortune. “Very well,” said the father, “I am quite content with that,” and gave him some money for his journey. So he travelled about and looked for work. After a time he resolved not to follow the trade of locksmith any more, for he no longer liked it, but he took a fancy for hunting.

Era uma vez um jovem rapaz que tinha aprendido o ofício de serralheiro, e disse a seu pai que agora ia sair pelo mundo para tentar a sorte. — Muito bem — disse o pai —, estou bastante satisfeito com isso —, e lhe deu algum dinheiro para a viagem. Assim, ele viajou por aí e procurou trabalho. Depois de um tempo, resolveu não seguir mais o ofício de serralheiro, pois já não gostava dele, mas tomou gosto pela caça.

Then there met him in his rambles a huntsman dressed in green, who asked whence he came and whither he was going? The youth said he was a locksmith’s apprentice, but that the trade no longer pleased him, and he had a liking for huntsmanship, would he teach it to him? “Oh, yes,” said the huntsman, “if thou wilt go with me.” Then the young fellow went with him, bound himself to him for some years, and learnt the art of hunting.

Então, em suas andanças, encontrou um caçador vestido de verde, que lhe perguntou de onde vinha e para onde ia. O jovem disse que era aprendiz de serralheiro, mas que o ofício já não lhe agradava, e que tinha gosto pela arte da caça, será que ele lhe ensinaria? — Ah, sim — disse o caçador —, se vieres comigo. Então o rapaz foi com ele, comprometeu-se com ele por alguns anos, e aprendeu a arte da caça.

After this he wished to try his luck elsewhere, and the huntsman gave him nothing in the way of payment but an air-gun, which had, however, this property, that it hit its mark without fail whenever he shot with it.

Depois disso, quis tentar a sorte em outro lugar, e o caçador não lhe deu nada como pagamento, exceto uma espingarda de ar comprimido, que tinha, porém, a propriedade de acertar o alvo sem falhar, sempre que ele atirava com ela.

Then he set out and found himself in a very large forest, which he could not get to the end of in one day. When evening came he seated himself in a high tree in order to escape from the wild beasts. Towards midnight, it seemed to him as if a tiny little light glimmered in the distance. Then he looked down through the branches towards it, and kept well in his mind where it was. But in the first place he took off his hat and threw it down in the direction of the light, so that he might go to the hat as a mark when he had descended.

Então partiu e se viu numa floresta muito grande, da qual não conseguiria chegar ao fim em um único dia. Quando anoiteceu, sentou-se numa árvore alta para escapar das feras. Perto da meia-noite, pareceu-lhe que uma luzinha bruxuleava ao longe. Então olhou para baixo, por entre os galhos, na direção dela, e guardou bem na memória onde ficava. Mas primeiro tirou o chapéu e o jogou na direção da luz, para que pudesse usar o chapéu como marca quando descesse.

Then he got down and went to his hat, put it on again and went straight forwards. The farther he went, the larger the light grew, and when he got close to it he saw that it was an enormous fire, and that three giants were sitting by it, who had an ox on the spit, and were roasting it.

Então desceu e foi até o chapéu, colocou-o de volta na cabeça e seguiu em frente. Quanto mais andava, mais a luz crescia, e quando chegou perto dela, viu que era uma fogueira enorme, e que três gigantes estavam sentados junto a ela, com um boi no espeto, assando-o.

Presently one of them said, “I must just taste if the meat will soon be fit to eat,” and pulled a piece off, and was about to put it in his mouth when the huntsman shot it out of his hand. “Well, really,” said the giant, “if the wind has not blown the bit out of my hand!” and helped himself to another. But when he was just about to bite into it, the huntsman again shot it away from him.

Logo um deles disse: — Preciso provar se a carne já está boa para comer —, e arrancou um pedaço, e estava prestes a levá-lo à boca quando o caçador o derrubou de sua mão com um tiro. — Ora, francamente — disse o gigante —, se o vento não me tirou o pedaço da mão! —, e serviu-se de outro. Mas assim que estava prestes a mordê-lo, o caçador de novo o derrubou com um tiro.

On this the giant gave the one who was sitting next him a box on the ear, and cried angrily, “Why art thou snatching my piece away from me?” “I have not snatched it away,” said the other, “a sharpshooter must have shot it away from thee.” The giant took another piece, but could not, however, keep it in his hand, for the huntsman shot it out.

Diante disso, o gigante deu um tapa na orelha do que estava sentado ao seu lado, e gritou com raiva: — Por que você está me roubando meu pedaço? — Eu não roubei nada — disse o outro —, deve ter sido um atirador certeiro que o derrubou de sua mão. O gigante pegou outro pedaço, mas não conseguiu segurá-lo na mão, pois o caçador o derrubou com um tiro.

Then the giant said, “That must be a good shot to shoot the bit out of one’s very mouth, such an one would be useful to us.” And he cried aloud, “Come here, thou sharpshooter, seat thyself at the fire beside us and eat thy fill, we will not hurt thee; but if thou wilt not come, and we have to bring thee by force, thou art a lost man!” On this the youth went up to them and told them he was a skilled huntsman, and that whatever he aimed at with his gun, he was certain to hit.

Então o gigante disse: — Deve ser um bom atirador, esse que consegue tirar o pedaço bem da boca da gente; um homem assim nos seria útil. — E gritou bem alto: — Vem cá, atirador, senta-te junto ao fogo conosco e come à vontade, não te faremos mal nenhum; mas se não vieres, e tivermos que te trazer à força, serás um homem perdido! Diante disso, o jovem se aproximou deles e lhes disse que era um caçador habilidoso, e que tudo em que mirasse com sua arma, certamente acertaria.

Then they said if he would go with them he should be well treated, and they told him that outside the forest there was a great lake, behind which stood a tower, and in the tower was imprisoned a lovely princess, whom they wished very much to carry off. “Yes,” said he, “I will soon get her for you.”

Então disseram que, se ele fosse com eles, seria bem tratado, e lhe contaram que fora da floresta havia um grande lago, atrás do qual ficava uma torre, e na torre estava presa uma linda princesa, que eles queriam muito raptar. — Sim — disse ele —, logo eu a consigo para vocês.

Then they added, “But there is still something else, there is a tiny little dog, which begins to bark directly any one goes near, and as soon as it barks every one in the royal palace wakens up, and for this reason we cannot get there; canst thou undertake to shoot it dead?” “Yes,” said he, “that will be a little bit of fun for me.”

Então acrescentaram: — Mas ainda há outra coisa, há um cachorrinho, que começa a latir assim que alguém se aproxima, e assim que ele late, todo mundo no palácio real acorda, e por essa razão não conseguimos chegar lá; poderias te encarregar de matá-lo com um tiro? — Sim — disse ele —, isso será uma pequena diversão para mim.

After this he got into a boat and rowed over the lake, and as soon as he landed, the little dog came running out, and was about to bark, but the huntsman took his air-gun and shot it dead. When the giants saw that, they rejoiced, and thought they already had the King’s daughter safe, but the huntsman wished first to see how matters stood, and told them that they must stay outside until he called them.

Depois disso, ele entrou num barco e remou pelo lago, e assim que desembarcou, o cachorrinho veio correndo, e estava prestes a latir, mas o caçador pegou sua espingarda de ar comprimido e o matou com um tiro. Quando os gigantes viram isso, alegraram-se, e pensaram que já tinham a filha do rei em segurança, mas o caçador quis primeiro ver como estavam as coisas, e lhes disse que deveriam ficar do lado de fora até ele chamá-los.

Then he went into the castle, and all was perfectly quiet within, and every one was asleep. When he opened the door of the first room, a sword was hanging on the wall which was made of pure silver, and there was a golden star on it, and the name of the King, and on a table near it lay a sealed letter which he broke open, and inside it was written that whosoever had the sword could kill everything which opposed him.

Então entrou no castelo, e tudo estava perfeitamente quieto lá dentro, e todos dormiam. Quando abriu a porta do primeiro quarto, havia uma espada pendurada na parede, feita de prata pura, com uma estrela dourada nela, e o nome do rei, e numa mesa perto dali havia uma carta lacrada, que ele abriu, e dentro estava escrito que quem tivesse a espada poderia matar tudo o que se opusesse a ele.

So he took the sword from the wall, hung it at his side and went onwards: then he entered the room where the King’s daughter was lying sleeping, and she was so beautiful that he stood still and, holding his breath, looked at her.

Então tirou a espada da parede, pendurou-a ao lado e seguiu adiante: depois entrou no quarto onde a filha do rei estava deitada, dormindo, e ela era tão bela que ele ficou parado e, prendendo a respiração, olhou para ela.

He thought to himself, “How can I give an innocent maiden into the power of the wild giants, who have evil in their minds?” He looked about further, and under the bed stood a pair of slippers, on the right one was her father’s name with a star, and on the left her own name with a star. She wore also a great neck-kerchief of silk embroidered with gold, and on the right side was her father’s name, and on the left her own, all in golden letters.

Pensou consigo mesmo: — Como posso entregar uma donzela inocente ao poder de gigantes selvagens, que têm o mal na mente? — Olhou mais ao redor, e debaixo da cama havia um par de chinelos, no direito estava o nome do pai dela com uma estrela, e no esquerdo o nome dela própria com uma estrela. Ela também usava um grande lenço de pescoço de seda bordado a ouro, e do lado direito estava o nome do pai dela, e do esquerdo o dela própria, tudo em letras douradas.

Then the huntsman took a pair of scissors and cut the right corner off, and put it in his knapsack, and then he also took the right slipper with the King’s name, and thrust that in. Now the maiden still lay sleeping, and she was quite sewn into her night-dress, and he cut a morsel from this also, and thrust it in with the rest, but he did all without touching her.

Então o caçador pegou uma tesoura e cortou o canto direito, e o guardou em sua mochila, e depois também pegou o chinelo direito com o nome do rei, e o enfiou ali dentro. A donzela ainda estava dormindo, e estava toda costurada dentro de sua camisola, e ele cortou um pedacinho dela também, e o enfiou junto com o resto, mas fez tudo sem tocar nela.

Then he went forth and left her lying asleep undisturbed, and when he came to the gate again, the giants were still standing outside waiting for him, and expecting that he was bringing the princess. But he cried to them that they were to come in, for the maiden was already in their power, that he could not open the gate to them, but there was a hole through which they must creep.

Então saiu e a deixou dormindo, sem perturbá-la, e quando chegou de novo ao portão, os gigantes ainda estavam do lado de fora esperando por ele, e esperando que ele trouxesse a princesa. Mas ele gritou para eles que entrassem, pois a donzela já estava em poder deles, que ele não podia abrir o portão para eles, mas havia um buraco pelo qual deveriam se arrastar.

Then the first approached, and the huntsman wound the giant’s hair round his hand, pulled the head in, and cut it off at one stroke with his sword, and then drew the rest of him in. He called to the second and cut his head off likewise, and then he killed the third also, and he was well pleased that he had freed the beautiful maiden from her enemies, and he cut out their tongues and put them in his knapsack.

Então o primeiro se aproximou, e o caçador enrolou o cabelo do gigante na mão, puxou a cabeça para dentro, e a cortou com um só golpe de sua espada, e depois puxou o resto dele para dentro. Chamou o segundo e cortou sua cabeça da mesma forma, e depois matou o terceiro também, e ficou muito satisfeito por ter livrado a bela donzela de seus inimigos, e arrancou as línguas deles e as guardou em sua mochila.

Then thought he, “I will go home to my father and let him see what I have already done, and afterwards I will travel about the world; the luck which God is pleased to grant me will easily find me.”

Então pensou: — Vou voltar para casa, para meu pai, e deixá-lo ver o que já fiz, e depois viajarei pelo mundo; a sorte que Deus houver por bem me conceder facilmente me encontrará.

But when the King in the castle awoke, he saw the three giants lying there dead. So he went into the sleeping-room of his daughter, awoke her, and asked who could have killed the giants? Then said she, “Dear father, I know not, I have been asleep.” But when she arose and would have put on her slippers, the right one was gone, and when she looked at her neck-kerchief it was cut, and the right corner was missing, and when she looked at her night-dress a piece was cut out of it.

Mas quando o rei no castelo acordou, viu os três gigantes ali caídos, mortos. Então foi ao quarto de dormir de sua filha, acordou-a, e perguntou quem poderia ter matado os gigantes. Então ela disse: — Querido pai, não sei, eu estava dormindo. Mas quando se levantou e foi calçar seus chinelos, o direito tinha sumido, e quando olhou para seu lenço de pescoço, ele estava cortado, e faltava o canto direito, e quando olhou para sua camisola, um pedaço tinha sido cortado dela.

The King summoned his whole court together, soldiers and every one else who was there, and asked who had set his daughter at liberty, and killed the giants? Now it happened that he had a captain, who was one-eyed and a hideous man, and he said that he had done it. Then the old King said that as he had accomplished this, he should marry his daughter. But the maiden said, “Rather than marry him, dear father, I will go away into the world as far as my legs can carry me.”

O rei reuniu toda a sua corte, soldados e todos os que estavam ali, e perguntou quem havia libertado sua filha, e matado os gigantes. Ora, acontece que havia um capitão, que era caolho e um homem hediondo, e ele disse que tinha sido ele quem fizera aquilo. Então o velho rei disse que, já que havia realizado tal feito, deveria casar-se com sua filha. Mas a donzela disse: — Antes que casar com ele, querido pai, prefiro ir pelo mundo até onde minhas pernas puderem me levar.

But the King said that if she would not marry him she should take off her royal garments and wear peasant’s clothing, and go forth, and that she should go to a potter, and begin a trade in earthen vessels. So she put off her royal apparel, and went to a potter and borrowed crockery enough for a stall, and she promised him also that if she had sold it by the evening, she would pay for it.

Mas o rei disse que, se ela não quisesse casar com ele, deveria tirar suas vestes reais e vestir roupas de camponesa, e sair, e que deveria ir a um oleiro, e começar um comércio de vasilhas de barro. Assim, ela tirou seu traje real, e foi a um oleiro e pediu emprestada louça suficiente para uma banca, e prometeu-lhe também que, se a vendesse até a noite, pagaria por ela.

Then the King said she was to seat herself in a corner with it and sell it, and he arranged with some peasants to drive over it with their carts, so that everything should be broken into a thousand pieces. When therefore the King’s daughter had placed her stall in the street, by came the carts, and broke all she had into tiny fragments. She began to weep and said, “Alas, how shall I ever pay for the pots now?”

Então o rei disse que ela deveria sentar-se num canto com a louça e vendê-la, e combinou com alguns camponeses para passarem por cima dela com seus carroções, de modo que tudo se partisse em mil pedaços. Quando, então, a filha do rei colocou sua banca na rua, vieram os carroções, e quebraram tudo o que ela tinha em fragmentos minúsculos. Ela começou a chorar e disse: — Ai de mim, como vou pagar agora pelas panelas?

The King had, however, wished by this to force her to marry the captain; but instead of that, she again went to the potter, and asked him if he would lend to her once more. He said, “No,” she must first pay for the things she had already had. Then she went to her father and cried and lamented, and said she would go forth into the world.

O rei, porém, tinha querido com isso forçá-la a casar com o capitão; mas em vez disso, ela foi de novo ao oleiro, e perguntou se ele lhe emprestaria mais uma vez. Ele disse que não, que primeiro ela tinha de pagar pelas coisas que já tinha levado. Então ela foi ao pai e chorou e lamentou, e disse que iria embora pelo mundo.

Then said he, “I will have a little hut built for thee in the forest outside, and in it thou shalt stay all thy life long and cook for every one, but thou shalt take no money for it.” When the hut was ready, a sign was hung on the door whereon was written, “To-day given, to-morrow sold.” There she remained a long time, and it was rumored about the world that a maiden was there who cooked without asking for payment, and that this was set forth on a sign outside her door.

Então ele disse: — Vou mandar construir para ti uma pequena cabana na floresta ali fora, e nela ficarás por toda a tua vida, cozinhando para todos, mas não cobrarás dinheiro nenhum por isso. Quando a cabana ficou pronta, foi pendurada na porta uma placa em que estava escrito: “Hoje dado, amanhã vendido.” Ali ela ficou por muito tempo, e espalhou-se pelo mundo o boato de que havia ali uma donzela que cozinhava sem pedir pagamento algum, e que isso estava escrito numa placa do lado de fora de sua porta.

The huntsman heard it likewise, and thought to himself, “That would suit thee. Thou art poor, and hast no money.” So he took his air-gun and his knapsack, wherein all the things which he had formerly carried away with him from the castle as tokens of his truthfulness were still lying, and went into the forest, and found the hut with the sign, “To-day given, to-morrow sold.” He had put on the sword with which he had cut off the heads of the three giants, and thus entered the hut, and ordered something to eat to be given to him.

O caçador também ouviu falar disso, e pensou consigo: — Isso te conviria. Estás pobre, e não tens dinheiro. Então pegou sua espingarda de ar comprimido e sua mochila, na qual ainda estavam guardadas todas as coisas que ele havia levado consigo do castelo como provas de sua sinceridade, e foi para a floresta, e encontrou a cabana com a placa: “Hoje dado, amanhã vendido.” Ele havia colocado a espada com a qual cortara as cabeças dos três gigantes, e assim entrou na cabana, e pediu que lhe dessem algo para comer.

He was charmed with the beautiful maiden, who was indeed as lovely as any picture. She asked him whence he came and whither he was going, and he said, “I am roaming about the world.” Then she asked him where he had got the sword, for that truly her father’s name was on it. He asked her if she were the King’s daughter. “Yes,” answered she. “With this sword,” said he, “did I cut off the heads of three giants.” And he took their tongues out of his knapsack in proof.

Ficou encantado com a bela donzela, que de fato era tão linda quanto qualquer retrato. Ela lhe perguntou de onde vinha e para onde ia, e ele disse: — Estou vagando pelo mundo. Então ela lhe perguntou onde tinha conseguido a espada, pois de fato o nome de seu pai estava nela. Ele lhe perguntou se ela era a filha do rei. — Sim — respondeu ela. — Com esta espada — disse ele —, cortei as cabeças de três gigantes. — E tirou as línguas deles de sua mochila como prova.

Then he also showed her the slipper, and the corner of the neck-kerchief, and the bit of the night-dress. Hereupon she was overjoyed, and said that he was the one who had delivered her. On this they went together to the old King, and fetched him to the hut, and she led him into her room, and told him that the huntsman was the man who had really set her free from the giants. And when the aged King saw all the proofs of this, he could no longer doubt, and said that he was very glad he knew how everything had happened, and that the huntsman should have her to wife, on which the maiden was glad at heart.

Então também lhe mostrou o chinelo, o canto do lenço de pescoço, e o pedaço da camisola. Diante disso, ela ficou radiante de alegria, e disse que ele era quem a havia libertado. Diante disso, foram juntos ao velho rei, e o trouxeram até a cabana, e ela o conduziu ao seu quarto, e lhe contou que o caçador era o homem que de fato a havia libertado dos gigantes. E quando o velho rei viu todas as provas disso, não pôde mais duvidar, e disse que estava muito contente por saber como tudo tinha acontecido, e que o caçador deveria tê-la por esposa, com o que a donzela ficou feliz no coração.

Then she dressed the huntsman as if he were a foreign lord, and the King ordered a feast to be prepared. When they went to table, the captain sat on the left side of the King’s daughter, but the huntsman was on the right, and the captain thought he was a foreign lord who had come on a visit.

Então ela vestiu o caçador como se fosse um senhor estrangeiro, e o rei mandou preparar uma festa. Quando foram à mesa, o capitão sentou-se do lado esquerdo da filha do rei, mas o caçador ficou à direita, e o capitão pensou que ele fosse um senhor estrangeiro que tinha vindo em visita.

When they had eaten and drunk, the old King said to the captain that he would set before him something which he must guess. “Supposing any one said that he had killed the three giants and he were asked where the giants’ tongues were, and he were forced to go and look, and there were none in their heads, how could that happen?” The captain said, “Then they cannot have had any.” “Not so,” said the King. “Every animal has a tongue,” and then he likewise asked what any one would deserve who made such an answer?

Depois de terem comido e bebido, o velho rei disse ao capitão que lhe proporia algo que ele deveria adivinhar. — Suponhamos que alguém dissesse que matou os três gigantes, e lhe perguntassem onde estavam as línguas dos gigantes, e ele fosse forçado a ir olhar, e não houvesse nenhuma nas cabeças deles, como isso poderia acontecer? O capitão disse: — Então é porque eles não deviam ter nenhuma. — Não é assim — disse o rei. — Todo animal tem língua —, e então perguntou também o que mereceria alguém que desse uma resposta dessas.

The captain replied, “He ought to be torn in pieces.” Then the King said he had pronounced his own sentence, and the captain was put in prison and then torn in four pieces; but the King’s daughter was married to the huntsman. After this he brought his father and mother, and they lived with their son in happiness, and after the death of the old King he received the kingdom.

O capitão respondeu: — Ele deveria ser despedaçado. Então o rei disse que ele mesmo tinha pronunciado sua própria sentença, e o capitão foi preso e depois despedaçado em quatro partes; mas a filha do rei foi casada com o caçador. Depois disso, ele trouxe seu pai e sua mãe, e eles viveram com o filho em felicidade, e após a morte do velho rei, ele recebeu o reino.