格林童話：忠實(shí)的約翰

　　Faithful Johannes

　　Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Once upon a time there was an old king who was ill. He thought, "I am lying on what must be my deathbed," then said, "Have faithful Johannes come to me."

　　Faithful Johannes was his favorite servant, and was so called, because he had been so loyal to him for his whole life long. When he approached the bed the king said to him, "Most faithful Johannes, I feel that my end is near. My only concern is for my son. He is still young and may not always have the best judgment. I will not be able to close my eyes in peace if you do not promise to teach him everything that he ought to know, and to be his foster father."

　　Faithful Johannes answered, "I will not forsake him, and will serve him faithfully, even if it costs me my life."

　　At this, the old king said, "Then I will die in comfort and peace," adding, "After my death, show him the entire castle —— all the chambers, halls, and vaults, and all the treasures which lie therein. But do not show him the last chamber in the long gallery, which contains the portrait of the Princess of the Golden Roof. If he sees that picture, he will fall violently in love with her, will fall down unconscious, and will put himself at great risk for her sake. You must protect him from that."

　　After faithful Johannes had once more given his promise to the old king about this, the latter said no more, but laid his head on his pillow and died.

　　After the old king had been carried to his grave, faithful Johannes told the young king all that he had promised his father on his deathbed, and said, "I will surely keep my promise, and will be loyal to you as I have been loyal to him, even if it should cost me my life."

　　When the mourning was over, faithful Johannes said to the young king, "It is now time for you to see your inheritance. I will show you your father's castle." Then he took him everywhere, up and down, and let him see all the riches and the magnificent chambers. But there was one chamber which he did not open, the one that contained the dangerous portrait. Now the portrait was so placed that when the door was opened one looked straight at it. It was so masterfully painted that it seemed to live and breathe and to be the most charming beautiful thing in the whole world.

　　The young king noticed that faithful Johannes always walked past this one door, and said, "Why do you never open this one for me?"

　　He replied, "There is something in there that would frighten you."

　　The king answered "I have seen the entire castle, and I want to know what is in this room as well." And he was about to break open the door by force.

　　Faithful Johannes held him back, saying, "I promised your father before his death that you should not see inside this chamber. It could bring great misfortune on you and on me."

　　"Oh, no!" replied the young king. "If I do not go in, it will be my certain downfall. I shall have no rest day or night until I have seen inside with my own eyes. I shall not leave here until you have unlocked the door."

　　Faithful Johannes saw that there was no other way. With a heavy heart and many sighs, he took the key from the large ring. After opening the door, he went in first, thinking that he could block king's view of the portrait, that the king would not see it in front of him. But what good did it do? The king stood on tiptoes and saw the portrait over faithful Johannes's shoulder. After seeing the girl's portrait, which was so magnificent and glistened with gold and precious stones, he fell unconscious to the ground.

　　Faithful Johannes picked him up, carried him to his bed, and sorrowfully thought, "Misfortune has befallen us, dear Lord. How will it end?" Then he strengthened the king with wine, until he regained consciousness.

　　The king's first words were, "Oh, whose portrait is that beautiful picture?"

　　"That is the Princess of the Golden Roof," answered faithful Johannes.

　　The king continued, "My love for her is so great, that if all the leaves on all the trees were tongues, they would not be able to express it. I will risk my life to win her. You are my most faithful Johannes. You must help me."

　　The faithful servant thought to himself for a long time how to approach the matter, for it was difficult even to come into view of the king's daughter. Finally he thought of a way, and said to the king, "Everything which she has about her is of gold —— tables, chairs, dishes, cups, bowls, and household implements. Among your treasures are five tons of gold. Have the royal goldsmiths fashion one ton into all manner of vessels and utensils, into all kinds of birds, wild beasts, and strange animals. She will like these things, and we will go there with them and to try our luck."

　　The king summoned all the goldsmiths, and they had to work night and day until at last the most splendid things were prepared. When everything had been loaded on board a ship, faithful Johannes disguised himself as a merchant, and the king had to do the same thing in order to make himself quite unrecognizable. Then they sailed across the sea, and sailed on until they came to the city where the Princess of the Golden Roof lived.

　　Faithful Johannes had the king stay behind on the ship and wait for him. "Perhaps I shall bring the princess with me," he said. "Therefore see that everything is in order. Have the golden vessels set out and the whole ship decorated." Then he put all kinds of golden things into his apron, went on shore and walked straight to the royal castle. When he entered the courtyard of the castle, a beautiful girl was standing there by the well with two golden buckets in her hand, drawing water with them. She was just turning around to carry away the sparkling water when she saw the stranger and asked who he was.

　　He answered, "I am a merchant," opening his apron, and letting her look in.

　　"Oh, what beautiful golden things," she cried, putting her buckets down and looking at the golden wares one after the other. Then the girl said, "The princess must see these things. She takes such great pleasure in golden things, that she will buy all you have." Taking him by the hand, she led him upstairs, for she was the princess's chambermaid.

　　When the princess saw the wares, she was quite delighted and said, "They are so beautifully made that I will buy them all from you."

　　But faithful Johannes said, "I am only the servant of a rich merchant. The things I have here are not to be compared with those my master has in his ship. They are the most beautiful and valuable things that have ever been made in gold." When she wanted to have everything brought up to her, he said, "There is so much that it would take a great many days to do that, and so many rooms would be required to exhibit them, that your house is not big enough."

　　This made her all the more curious and desirous, so at last she said, "Take me to the ship. I will go there myself and see your master's treasures."

　　Faithful Johannes happily led her to the ship, and when the king beheld her, he saw that she was even more beautiful than the portrait, and he thought that his heart would surely break. Then she boarded the ship, and the king led her inside. But faithful Johannes remained with the helmsman and ordered the ship to be pushed off, saying, "Set all the sails and fly like a bird in the air."

　　Inside, the king showed her the golden vessels, every one of them, and also the wild beasts and strange animals. Many hours went by while she was looking at everything, and in her delight she did not notice that the ship was sailing away. After she had looked at the last item, she thanked the merchant and wanted to go home, but when she came to the side of the ship, she saw that it was on the high seas far from land, and speeding onward at full sail.

　　"Oh!" she cried in alarm "I've been betrayed. I've been kidnapped and have fallen into the power of a merchant. I would rather die!"

　　Taking her by the hand, the king said, "I am not a merchant. I am a king, and of no lower birth than you are. If I have tricked you into coming with me, it is only because of my great love for you. The first time I saw your portrait, I fell to the ground unconscious."

　　When the Princess of the Golden Roof was comforted when she heard this. Her heart yielded to him, and she willingly consented to marry him.

　　Now it so happened that while they were sailing onward on the high sea, faithful Johannes, who was sitting at the front of the ship making music, saw three ravens flying through the air towards them. He stopped playing and listened to what they were saying to each other, for he could understand them.

　　One cried "Oh, he is carrying home the Princess of the Golden Roof."

　　"Yes," replied the second, "but he doesn't have her yet."

　　The third one said, "Yes, he has her. She is sitting beside him in the ship."

　　Then the first one began again, crying, "What good will that do him? When they reach land a chestnut horse will leap forward to meet him, and the prince will want to mount it, but if he does that, it will leap up into the air with him, and he will never see his bride again."

　　The second one spoke, "Is there no escape?"

　　"Oh, yes, if someone else quickly mounts it, takes the gun from its saddlebag, and shoots the horse dead, then young king will be rescued. But who knows that? And if anyone does know it, and tells it to the king, he will be turned to stone from his toes to his knees."

　　Then the second raven said, "I know more than that. Even if the horse is killed, still the young king will not keep his bride. When they enter the castle together, a ready-made wedding shirt will be lying there on a platter. It will appear to be woven of gold and silver, but it is nothing but sulfur and pitch. If he puts it on, it will burn him to the very marrow and bone."

　　The third one spoke, "Is there no escape at all?"

　　"Oh, yes," replied the second raven. "If anyone with gloves on seizes the garment and throws it into the fire and burns it up, the young king will be saved. But what good will that do? If anyone knows it and tells it to the king, half his body will become stone, from his knees to his heart."

　　Then the third raven said, "I know still more. Even if the wedding shirt is burned up, still the young king will not have his bride. After the wedding, when the dancing begins and the young queen is dancing, she will suddenly turn pale and fall down as if dead. If someone does not lift her up and draw three drops of blood from her right breast and spit them out again, she will die. But if anyone who knows that reveals it, his entire body will turn to stone, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet."

　　After the ravens had thus spoken they flew away. Faithful Johannes had understood everything well. From that time forth he became quiet and sad, for if he concealed what he had heard from his master, it would bring misfortune to the king, but if he revealed it to him, then he himself would have to sacrifice his life.

　　Finally he said to himself, "I will save my master, even if it brings destruction on myself."

　　When they landed, what the raven foretold did indeed happen, and a magnificent chestnut horse sprang forward.

　　"Excellent!" said the king. "He shall carry me to my castle."

　　He was about to mount it when faithful Johannes pushed in front of him, quickly jumped onto the horse, drew the gun from its saddlebag, and shot the horse.

　　The king's other servants, who were not very fond of faithful Johannes, shouted, "How shameful to kill the beautiful animal that was to have carried the king to his castle."

　　But the king said, "Hold your peace and leave him alone. He is my most faithful Johannes. Who knows what good may come of this?"

　　They entered the castle, and in the hall there stood a platter on which lay the wedding shirt that appeared to be made of gold and silver. The young king went towards it and was about to take hold of it, but faithful Johannes pushed him away, seized it with gloves, carried it quickly to the fire, and burned it up.

　　The other servants began to murmur again, saying, "Look, now he is even burning up the king's wedding shirt."

　　But the young king said, "Who knows what good he may have done? Leave him alone. He is my most faithful Johannes."

　　And now the wedding took place. The dance began, with the bride also taking part. Faithful Johannes was watchful and looked into her face. Suddenly she turned pale and fell to the ground as if she were dead. He ran quickly to her, picked her up and carried her into a chamber. He laid her down, then knelt and sucked three drops of blood from her right breast, and spat them out. Immediately she breathed again and regained consciousness. The young king saw what had happened, and not knowing why faithful Johannes had done it, grew angry and shouted, "Throw him into prison."

　　The next morning faithful Johannes was condemned and led to the gallows. Standing high on the platform and about to be executed, he said, "Everyone who is condemned to die is permitted before his end to say one last thing. May I too have this right?"

　　"Yes," answered the king. "You are granted this right."

　　Faithful Johannes said, "I have been unjustly condemned, and have always been loyal to you, and he related how he had heard the conversation of the ravens at sea, and how he had had to do all these things in order to save his master.

　　Then the king cried, "Oh, my most faithful Johannes, pardon! Pardon! Bring him down."

　　But as faithful Johannes spoke the last word, he fell down lifeless and turned to stone.

　　This caused the king and the queen great grief, and the king said, "Oh, I have rewarded him very badly for his great loyalty." He then ordered the stone figure to be taken up and placed in his bedroom next to his bed. Every time that he looked at it he wept, saying, "Oh, if only I could bring you back to life again, my most faithful Johannes."

　　Some time passed and the queen bore twins, two sons who grew fast and were her delight. Once when the queen was at church and the two children were sitting beside their father and playing, he again looked sadly at the stone statue and said, "Oh, if only I could bring you back to life again, my most faithful Johannes."

　　Then the stone began to speak and said, "You can bring me back to life again if you will in return give up what is dearest to you."

　　The king cried, "For you I will give up everything I have in the world."

　　The stone continued, "If you will cut off the heads of your two children with your own hand, then sprinkle their blood on me, I shall be restored to life."

　　The king was horrified when he heard that he would have to kill his own dearest children, but he thought of faithful Johannes's great loyalty, and how he had died for him, then drew his sword, and with his own hand cut off the children's heads. And when he had smeared the stone with their blood, it returned to life, and faithful Johannes stood before him, again healthy and well.

　　He said to the king, "Your loyalty shall not go unrewarded," then taking the children's heads, he put them on again, then rubbed the wounds with their blood, at which they became immediately whole again, and jumped about and went on playing as if nothing had happened.

　　The king was overjoyed. When he saw the queen coming he hid faithful Johannes and the two children in a large chest. When she entered, he said to her, "Have you been praying in the church?"

　　"Yes, she answered, "but I have constantly been thinking about faithful Johannes and what misfortune has befallen him because of us."

　　Then he said, "Dear wife, we can give him his life again, but it will cost us our two little sons. We will have to sacrifice them."

　　The queen turned pale, and her heart filled with terror, but she said, "We owe it to him for his great loyalty."

　　The king rejoiced to hear that she agreed with him, then he opened up the chest and brought forth faithful Johannes and the children, saying, "God be praised! Faithful Johannes has been saved, and we have our little sons again as well." He told her how everything had happened. Then they lived happily together until they died.

　　格林童話：忠實(shí)的約翰(1)

　　很久以前，有個(gè)老國王生了重病，當(dāng)他意識(shí)到自己剩下的時(shí)間已經(jīng)不多時(shí)，就對(duì)身邊的人說：「?jìng)髦覍?shí)的約翰進(jìn)來見我?！怪覍?shí)的約翰是一個(gè)仆人，老國王之所以這樣稱呼他，是因?yàn)樗毯驀鹾芫昧耍曳浅Ｖ艺\可靠，也最受老國王喜愛。當(dāng)約翰來到床邊時(shí)，國王說道：「我忠實(shí)的約翰，我知道自己不行了?，F(xiàn)在我放不下心的就是我的兒子，他還小，需要良師益友的輔助，除了你，我沒有甚么好托付的朋友了。如果你不發(fā)誓把他應(yīng)該懂得的東西教給他，做他的乾爹，我不能安然瞑目。」聽到這些話，約翰說道：「我決不會(huì)離他而去，我一定忠實(shí)地輔助他，即使獻(xiàn)出我的生命也在所不惜?！箛跣廊徽f道：「現(xiàn)在我就放心了。我死后，你領(lǐng)著他把整座王宮的所有房間和庫房，包括房子里的所有財(cái)寶看一遍。但要注意，有一間房子不能讓他進(jìn)去，就是那間掛有金屋公主畫像的房間。如果他進(jìn)去看了，就會(huì)深深地愛上她，并會(huì)因此而陷入萬劫不復(fù)的險(xiǎn)境。你千萬要負(fù)起這個(gè)責(zé)任來。」當(dāng)忠實(shí)的約翰再一次問老國王發(fā)誓以后，老國王安然地躺在枕頭上死去了。

　　老國王被安葬之后，忠實(shí)的約翰把老國王臨終前的一切囑托和自己的誓言都告訴了年青的國王，并說道：「我一定會(huì)忠實(shí)地執(zhí)行自己的諾言，對(duì)你就像對(duì)你的父親一樣忠誠不二，即使獻(xiàn)出自己的生命也在所不辭?！鼓昵嗟膰蹩奁f：「我永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)忘記你的忠心?！?/p>

　　喪事辦完以后，忠實(shí)的約翰對(duì)他的小主人說：「現(xiàn)在你應(yīng)該看看你所繼承的財(cái)產(chǎn)了，我?guī)闳ツ愀赣H的宮殿里看看吧?！菇又龑?dǎo)小主人在王宮上上下下的各個(gè)地方都巡視了一遍，讓他看過了所有的財(cái)富和豪華的房廳，唯獨(dú)掛著圖像的那間房子沒有打開。因?yàn)椋抢锩鎾熘漠嬒裰灰T一打開就看得見。那畫像畫得實(shí)在是太美了，讓人看了會(huì)有種呼之欲出的感覺，世界上再也沒有甚么東西比畫上的女子更可愛、更美麗了。年青的國王發(fā)現(xiàn)忠實(shí)的約翰總是直接走過這間房子，卻并不打開房門，就問道：「你為甚么不打開這間房子呢?」他回答說：「里面有會(huì)使你感到恐懼的東西?！沟珖跽f：「我已把整個(gè)王宮看完了，也想知道這里面是甚么?！拐f完，他走上去用力要打開那扇房門，可忠實(shí)的約翰拉著他的后背說：「在你父親臨終前我發(fā)過誓，無論如何也不能讓你走進(jìn)這間房子，否則你和我都會(huì)大難臨頭的?！鼓昵嗟膰豕虉?zhí)地說道：「對(duì)我來說，最大的不幸就是不能進(jìn)去看看，只要沒有進(jìn)去看，我就會(huì)日夜不得安寧，所以你不打開它，我就不走?！?/p>

　　忠實(shí)的約翰看到他再怎么勸說，年青的國王就是不肯離去，心里有了不祥的預(yù)感，沉重地歎了歎氣，從一大串鑰匙中找出一片鑰匙，打開了這個(gè)房子的門。門一打開，約翰便先走了進(jìn)去，站在了國王和畫像之間，希望能擋著畫像不讓國王看見，但年青的國王卻踮著腳尖從他的肩頭看過去，一下子就看到了公主的肖像。目睹畫上穿金戴銀的少女如此美麗動(dòng)人、嬌艷嫵媚的容貌，他心情激動(dòng)極了，竟馬上倒在樓板上昏了過去。忠實(shí)的約翰趕緊將他扶起，把他抱到他自己的床上，心里一個(gè)勁地想：「唉——!不幸已經(jīng)降臨在我們的頭上，上帝啊!這可怎么辦呢?」

　　經(jīng)過努力，國王才好不容易被救醒，但他說的第一句話就是：「那美麗畫像上的少女是誰呀?」忠實(shí)的約翰回答說：「那是金屋國王女兒的畫像?！箛跤掷^續(xù)問道：「我太愛她了，就是樹上的葉子全部變成我的舌頭也難以訴說我對(duì)她的愛戀。我要去找她!哪怕是冒著生命危險(xiǎn)也要去找她!你是我忠實(shí)的朋友，你必須幫助我。」

　　對(duì)於如何來幫助年青的國王，滿足他的愿望，約翰思考了很久，最后他對(duì)國王說：「據(jù)傳說，她周圍的一切用具都是金子做的：桌子、凳子、杯子、碟子和屋子里的所有東西都是金質(zhì)的，并且她還在不停地尋求新的財(cái)寶。你現(xiàn)在貯藏了許多金子，找一些工匠把這些金子做成各種容器和珍禽異獸，然后我們帶著這些財(cái)寶去碰碰運(yùn)氣吧?！轨妒?，國王下令找來了所有技藝高超的金匠，他們夜以繼日地用金子趕制各種工藝品，終於把金子都做成了最漂亮的珍玩。忠實(shí)的約翰把它們都裝上一條大船，他和國王都換上商人的服飾，這樣別人也就不可能認(rèn)出他們了。

　　一切準(zhǔn)備停當(dāng)后，他們揚(yáng)帆出海了。經(jīng)過晝夜不停的航行，他們終於找到了金屋國王管轄的領(lǐng)地。船靠岸后，忠實(shí)的約翰要國王待在船上等著他回來，他說：「或許我有可能把金屋公主帶來，因此，你們要把船內(nèi)收拾整齊，將金器珍玩擺設(shè)出來，整條船都要用它們裝飾起來?！菇又衙繕咏鹬破范寄昧艘粋€(gè)放進(jìn)籃子里，上岸向王宮走去。

　　當(dāng)他來到城堡的大院時(shí)，看見一口井邊站著一個(gè)漂亮的少女，她正提著兩只金桶在井里打水。就在少女擔(dān)著金光閃閃的水桶轉(zhuǎn)過身時(shí)，她也看到了這個(gè)陌生人，她問他是誰。他走上前去說道：「我是一個(gè)商人?！拐f罷打開籃子，讓她來看籃子里的東西。少女一看，驚奇地叫道：「荷!多么漂亮的東西呀!」她放下水桶，把一件又一件金器看過之后說道：「國王的女兒最喜歡這些東西了，應(yīng)該讓她看看，她會(huì)把這些全都買下的?！拐f完，她牽著他的手，把他帶進(jìn)了王宮，因?yàn)樗菄跖畠旱囊幻膛?，她向衛(wèi)兵說明情況之后，他們就放行了。

　　公主看過他帶的這些貨樣后，非常興奮地說道：「太漂亮了，我要把它們?nèi)I下?！怪覍?shí)的約翰說道：「我只是一位富商的仆人，我?guī)У倪@些和他放在船上的比根本算不了甚么，他那兒還有你從來沒有見過的最精緻最昂貴的金制工藝品哩!」公主聽了之后，要他把所有的東西都拿上岸來，但他說道：「要拿的話得要不少天才能卸完，因?yàn)樘嗔?，就是把它們放在這兒最大的房間里也放不下呀?！顾@一說，公主的好奇心和欲望越發(fā)大了，忍不住說道：「帶我到你們的船上去吧，我要親自看看你主人的貨物?！?/p>

　　忠實(shí)的約翰非常高興，引著她來到岸邊。當(dāng)國王看見她時(shí)，他覺得自己的心都要跳出嗓子眼了，情不自禁地馬上迎了上去。公主一上船他就引她進(jìn)船艙去了。忠實(shí)的約翰來到船尾找著舵手，令他馬上起航，「張滿風(fēng)帆!」他喊道，「讓船在波濤中像鳥兒在空中飛行一樣地前進(jìn)?！?/p>

　　國王把船上的金制品一件一件地拿給公主過目，其中有各種各樣的碟子、杯子、盆子和珍禽異獸等等。公主滿心歡喜地欣賞著每一件藝術(shù)珍品，一點(diǎn)也沒有察覺船離岸起航。幾個(gè)小時(shí)過去了，在看完所有的東西后，她很有禮貌地對(duì)這個(gè)商人表示了謝意，說她應(yīng)該回家了?？僧?dāng)她走出船艙、來到船頭時(shí)，才發(fā)現(xiàn)船早已離岸，此刻船正張滿風(fēng)帆在茫茫大海上飛速航行。公主嚇得尖聲叫道：「上帝啊!我被誘騙了，被拐走了，落進(jìn)了一個(gè)流動(dòng)商販的掌握之中，我寧可死去。」但國王卻拉著她的手說道：「我不是一個(gè)商人，我是一個(gè)國王，和你一樣出身於王室。用這種矇騙你的方法把你帶出來，是因?yàn)槲曳浅７浅５貝勰?。?dāng)?shù)谝淮慰吹侥愕漠嬒駮r(shí)我就情不自禁地昏倒在地上。」金屋公主聽完后，這才放下心來。經(jīng)過交談瞭解，她很快也傾心於他，愿意嫁給他做妻子了。

　　但就在他們?cè)诿Ｃ４蠛Ｉ虾叫兄畷r(shí)，卻發(fā)生了這樣一件事情。這天，忠實(shí)的約翰正坐在船頭吹奏他的長(zhǎng)笛，突然看見三只渡鴉在天空中向他飛過來，嘴里不停地嘰嘰喳喳。約翰懂得鳥語，所以，他馬上停止吹奏，留心聽著渡鴉之間的對(duì)話。第一只渡鴉說：「他去了!他贏得了金屋公主的愛，讓他去吧!」第二只渡鴉說：「不!他這一去，仍然得不到公主?！沟谌欢渗f說：「他這一去，一定能娶她，你們看他倆在船上并肩在一起的親熱樣子吧!」接著第一只渡鴉又開口說道：「那對(duì)他有甚么用?不信你就看吧，當(dāng)他們登上岸后，會(huì)有一匹紅棕色的馬向他跑來?？吹侥瞧ヱR，他肯定會(huì)騎上去。只要他騎上那匹馬，那馬就會(huì)載著他跳到空中去，他就再也別想看到他的愛人了?！沟诙欢渗f接著說道：「正是這樣!正是這樣!但有甚么辦法嗎?」第一只渡鴉說：「有，有!如果有人坐上那匹馬，抽出插在馬鞍里的匕首把馬刺死，年青的國王才能得救，可有誰知道呢?就是有人知道，誰又會(huì)告訴他呢?因?yàn)橹灰麑⒋耸赂嬖V國王，并因此而救了國王的命，那么，他的腿從腳趾到膝部整個(gè)都會(huì)變成石頭。」第二只渡鴉說：「正是這樣，正是這樣!但我還知道別的哩!盡管那馬死了，國王還是娶不到新娘。因?yàn)楫?dāng)他們一起走進(jìn)王宮時(shí)，就會(huì)看到睡椅上有一套新婚禮服，那套禮服看起來就像用金子和銀子編織而成的，其實(shí)那都是一些硫磺和瀝膏。只要他穿上那套禮服，禮服就會(huì)把他燒死，一直燒到骨髓里面去?！沟谌欢渗f說道：「哎呀呀!難道就沒救了嗎?」第二只渡鴉說：「哦!有，有!如果有人搶上前去，抓起禮服把它們?nèi)舆M(jìn)火盆里去，年青的國王就得救了。但那有甚么用呢?要是有誰知道，并告訴了這個(gè)人，他按這種辦法救了國王，那他的身體從膝蓋到胸部都會(huì)變成石頭，誰又會(huì)這樣干呢?」第三只渡鴉又說道：「還有，還有!我知道的還要多一些哩!即使禮服被燒掉了，但國王仍然娶不成新娘。因?yàn)?，在結(jié)婚典禮之后，當(dāng)舞會(huì)開始時(shí)，只要年青的王后上去跳舞，她馬上會(huì)倒在地上，臉色蒼白得像死人一樣。不過，這時(shí)要是有人上前扶起她，從她的右乳房中吸出三滴血，她才不會(huì)死去。但要是有誰知道這些，又將這個(gè)方法告訴某個(gè)人，這個(gè)人按這個(gè)方法救了新娘，那他的身體從腳尖到頭頂都會(huì)變成石頭?！菇又渗f拍著翅膀飛走了。忠實(shí)的約翰已聽懂了一切，他開始犯愁了，可他并沒有把他聽到的事情告訴他的主人。因?yàn)樗廊绻嬖V了他，他一定會(huì)舍生救自己，最后他自言自語地說：「我一定要忠實(shí)地執(zhí)行我的諾言，那怕付出自己的生命也要救我的主人?！?/p>

　　在他們上岸后，渡鴉的預(yù)言應(yīng)驗(yàn)了，岸邊突然跳出一匹神俊的紅棕色馬來，國王喊道：「快看，他一定會(huì)把我們送到王宮去的?！拐f完就要去上馬。說時(shí)遲，那時(shí)快，忠實(shí)的約翰搶在他之前騎上馬，抽出匕首把馬殺死了。國王的其他仆人原來就對(duì)他很嫉妒，這一來，他們都叫道：「他殺死送國王回宮的駿馬，太不像話了!」但國王卻說道：「讓他去做吧，他是我忠實(shí)的約翰，誰知道他這樣做不是為了有好的結(jié)果呢?」

　　當(dāng)他們來到王宮，看見有間房子的靠椅上放著一套漂亮的禮服，禮服閃爍著金色和銀色的光芒。年青的國王走上前去準(zhǔn)備把它們拿起來，但忠實(shí)的約翰卻把它們一把抓過，扔進(jìn)火里燒掉了。其他的仆人又咕噥著說：「看吧，現(xiàn)在他又把結(jié)婚禮服給燒掉了。」但國王還是說道：「誰知道他這么做是為了甚么呢?讓他做吧!他是我忠實(shí)的仆人約翰。」

　　結(jié)婚盛典舉行后，舞會(huì)開始了，新娘一走進(jìn)舞場(chǎng)，約翰就全神貫注地盯著她的臉，突然間，新娘臉色蒼白，就像死了一樣倒在地上。約翰迅速地彈身向她躍去，將她挾起，抱著她來到內(nèi)室一張靠椅上，從她的右乳房中吸出了三滴血。新娘又開始呼吸，并活了過來。但年青的國王看到了全部過程，他不知道忠實(shí)的約翰為甚么要這樣做，只是對(duì)他的膽大妄為非常氣憤，便下令說道：「把他關(guān)到牢房里去。」

　　第二天上午，忠實(shí)的約翰被押出牢房，推到了絞刑架前，面對(duì)絞刑架，他說道：「在我死之前，我可以說件事嗎?」國王回答說：「準(zhǔn)許你的請(qǐng)求?！轨妒牵s翰將在海上聽到渡鴉的對(duì)話以及他如何決心救自己主子的全部經(jīng)過都說了出來，最后他說道：「我現(xiàn)在受到了錯(cuò)誤的判決，但我自始至終都是忠實(shí)而真誠的?！?/p>

　　當(dāng)聽完約翰的敘述，國王大聲呼喊道：「哎呀!我最忠實(shí)的約翰!請(qǐng)?jiān)徫?請(qǐng)?jiān)徫?快把他放下來!」但就在忠實(shí)的約翰說完最后一句話之后，他倒下去變成了一塊沒有生命的石頭。國王和王后趴在石像上悲痛不已，國王說道：「天哪!我竟然以這種忘恩負(fù)義的方法來對(duì)待你的忠誠呀!」他令人將石像扶起，抬到了他的臥室，安放在自己的床邊，使自己能經(jīng)?？吹剿?、哀悼它。他對(duì)石像說：「唉——!我忠實(shí)的約翰，但愿我能讓你復(fù)活!」

　　過了一年，王后生下了兩個(gè)雙胞胎兒子，看著他們慢慢長(zhǎng)大，她心里高興極了。有一天，她去了教堂，兩個(gè)兒子和國王待在王宮里。小傢伙到處玩耍，國王對(duì)著石像唉聲歎氣，哭泣著說道：「唉，我忠實(shí)的約翰，但愿我能夠讓你復(fù)活!」這一次，石像竟開始說話了，它說道：「國王啊!要是你為我能舍棄你最親愛的人兒，就能讓我復(fù)活?！箛跻宦牐瑘?jiān)定地說道：「為了你，我愿付出世界上的任何東西?！埂讣热贿@樣，」石像說道，「只要你砍下你兩個(gè)孩子的頭，將他們的血灑在我身上，我就會(huì)復(fù)活了?！孤牭竭@里，國王馬上震驚起來，但他想到忠實(shí)的約翰是為他而死去的，想到他對(duì)自己忠心耿耿、誓死如歸的高尚品行，便站直身來，拔出佩劍，準(zhǔn)備去砍下他兩個(gè)孩子的頭，將他們的血灑在石像上。但就在他拔出佩劍的一剎那，忠實(shí)的約翰復(fù)活了，他站在國王的面前，擋住了他的去路，說道：「你的真心誠意應(yīng)該得到報(bào)答?！箖蓚€(gè)孩子仍歡蹦活跳、喧鬧嘻戲著，就像甚么事也沒有發(fā)生過一樣。

　　國王滿心歡喜。當(dāng)他看到王后回來了，就想試一試她。他把忠實(shí)的約翰和兩個(gè)兒子藏進(jìn)了一個(gè)大衣櫥里面。當(dāng)走她進(jìn)房子后，他對(duì)她說：「你去教堂祈禱了嗎?」王后回答：「是的，我總是思念著忠實(shí)的約翰，想著他對(duì)我們的忠誠?！箛跽f道：「親愛的夫人，我們能夠使約翰復(fù)活，但必須以我們小兒子的死作代價(jià)，要救他就得舍去他們?！雇鹾舐犃舜蟪砸惑@，臉唰地變得毫無血色，但她仍堅(jiān)定地說道：「只好這樣了，沒有他無私的忠心與真誠，就沒有我們的今天，沒有我們的小孩。」國王欣喜若狂地歡呼起來，因?yàn)槠拮雍妥约旱南敕ㄍ耆粯印ＫR上跑去打開衣櫥，把兩個(gè)孩子和忠實(shí)的約翰放了出來，說道：「上帝也會(huì)為此而感到驕傲!他又和我們?cè)谝黄鹆?，我們的兒子也安然無恙?！菇又讶拷?jīng)過告訴了她，大家高高興興歡地歡聚一堂，生活又充滿了幸福和快樂。