The Singing, Springing Lark

Author: A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories

  • Age6–10
  • Reading time12 min
  • LevelAdvanced

Introduction

This Grimm tale is, at heart, a story about a promise and a long, faithful heart. A father's careless word sends his youngest daughter into a lion's forest, and her answer to his tears is a simple, unshakeable promise: a promise is a promise. Then, when a hair-thin ray of candlelight turns her husband into a dove, it is she who walks the world for seven years, asking the sun, the moon, and the four winds, and finally winning back her love with patience and wit. The idea will feel familiar to Chinese readers: it is the old belief that a sincere heart can move even stone — 精诚所至，金石为开. Ancient Chinese fables rarely trusted magic; they trusted the human heart, holding that loyalty and endurance could move heaven itself. In this retelling, we have trimmed the long adventure into short, rhythmic paragraphs, the way a fable should be told: plain words, quick turns, and a clear lesson at the end. As you read together, let your child guess why the sun, the moon, and the winds all choose to help this stubborn wife. The answer is the point of the story: in the oldest tales, help comes to those who refuse to give up.

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The Singing, Springing Lark - To fulfil his youngest daughter's wish for a lark, a father is forced to promise the lion the first living thing that greets him at home — and it turns out to be his dearest child. - Scene Illustration 1
To fulfil his youngest daughter's wish for a lark, a father is forced to promise the lion the first living thing that greets him at home — and it turns out to be his dearest child.
Long ago, a man set out on a long journey. Before he left, he asked his three daughters what they wanted him to bring back for them. The eldest asked for pearls, and the second asked for diamonds. But the youngest said, "Dear father, I only want a singing, soaring lark." He kissed them all goodbye and promised to do his best.
On the way home, he bought pearls for the eldest and diamonds for the second. But no matter how hard he looked or whom he asked, he could not find a lark for his youngest daughter. His heart grew heavier with every empty day, for she was the child he loved most.
His road home ran through a deep forest, and in the middle of it stood a splendid castle. Beside the castle grew a tall tree, and on the very top of the tree sat a singing, soaring lark. "Aha, just in time!" cried the man, delighted. He told his servant to climb up and catch the little bird.
But as the servant crept near, a great lion leapt out from under the tree. It shook its mane and roared so loudly that every leaf trembled. "Whoever tries to steal my lark," it growled, "I shall tear to pieces!" The man was terrified. He begged for mercy and offered all his money. The lion only shook its head. "Nothing can save you," it said, "unless you promise me the first living thing that meets you when you reach home. Do that, and you may keep the bird for your daughter."
The man grew afraid, for he knew who would run out to greet him first. "That may be my youngest daughter," he said. "She loves me best and always runs to meet me." But his servant urged him on. "You have been away a long time. Why should it be your daughter? It might just as easily be a cat, or a dog!" At last the man let himself be persuaded. He took the lark, promised the lion what he had asked, and hurried home.
And who ran out to greet him the moment he stepped inside his house? None other than his youngest and dearest daughter. She hugged him and kissed him, and when she saw the lark, she was beside herself with joy. But her father could only weep. "Dear child," he said, "I paid a heavy price for that little bird. In exchange I promised you to a savage lion. When it has you, it will tear you to pieces." Yet the daughter comforted him. "Father, a promise is a promise. I shall go to that lion, soften its heart, and come back safely to you."
The Singing, Springing Lark - The lion turns out to be an enchanted prince, and the two marry happily; but when a ray of candlelight strikes him at a wedding, he becomes a white dove, and his wife must follow his trail of blood and feathers for seven years. - Scene Illustration 2
The lion turns out to be an enchanted prince, and the two marry happily; but when a ray of candlelight strikes him at a wedding, he becomes a white dove, and his wife must follow his trail of blood and feathers for seven years.
The next morning, the daughter said goodbye to her father and walked bravely into the forest. Now the lion was an enchanted prince. By day he wore a lion's form, and all his people wore it too. But when night fell, they all took back their own human shapes, and the forest castle became a bright and happy place.
A kind welcome met her at the castle, and when night came, the lion changed into a handsome young man. A grand wedding was held, and the two lived together very happily, waking through the night and sleeping by day, just like the people of that strange castle.
One day the prince spoke to her kindly. "Your father is holding a grand feast," he said. "Your eldest sister is getting married. Would you like to attend? My lions will guard you all the way." She was glad to go, for she had missed her family. Her father and sisters were amazed to see her alive, for everyone had believed the lion had eaten her long ago.
When the second sister was to be married, the invitation came again. This time the wife said, "You must come with me." The prince looked troubled. "It is too dangerous for me," he said. "If even one ray of candlelight falls on me, I shall turn into a dove and fly with the doves for seven whole years."
"Leave that to me," she said. She had a strong room built beside the feast hall, with walls so thick that no light could pass through, and there the prince was to hide once the candles were lit. But the door was made of green wood. It warped in time and left a tiny crack, and no one noticed it.
At the height of the wedding, the bridal procession came back from the church with candles and torches blazing. It passed by the room, and one ray, thinner than a hair, slipped through the crack and touched the prince. In an instant he vanished, and only a white dove stood in the room. The dove spoke to her. "I must fly about the world for seven years," it said. "But at every seventh step you take, a drop of red blood and a white feather will fall to mark the way. Follow the trail, and you can set me free." Then it flew out the door, and she followed with tears in her eyes.
The Singing, Springing Lark - As the seven years draw to a close, the trail suddenly breaks. The wife asks the Sun, the Moon, and the Winds for help, receives magic gifts, and learns that her husband is fighting a dragon at the Red Sea. - Scene Illustration 3
As the seven years draw to a close, the trail suddenly breaks. The wife asks the Sun, the Moon, and the Winds for help, receives magic gifts, and learns that her husband is fighting a dragon at the Red Sea.
So she walked on and on into the wide world, never looking about her and never resting, until the seven years were almost over. She rejoiced to think that they would soon be free. But one day, as she walked, no red drop fell and no white feather came down. When she lifted her eyes, the dove was gone.
"No one on earth can help me now," she thought to herself. But she would not give up. She climbed up to the sun and asked, "You shine over every mountain and into every crack. Have you seen a white dove flying anywhere?" "I have not," said the sun. "But take this little casket, and open it in your greatest need." Then she asked the moon. "I have not seen it either," said the moon, "but here is an egg. Break it when you are in great trouble."
Then the night wind blew against her, and she asked him for news. "I have not seen it," said the night wind, "but I shall ask my three brothers. Perhaps one of them has." The east wind and the west wind came, and neither had seen anything. Only the south wind said, "I have seen that dove. It flew to the Red Sea, and when the seven years were up, it became a lion again. Now it is fighting a fierce dragon there, and that dragon is an enchanted princess."
Then the night wind gave her his advice. "Go to the Red Sea," he said. "Tall reeds grow on the right bank there. Count along them, cut the eleventh, and strike the dragon with it. Then the lion will master it, and both will take back their human shapes. After that, look about you, and you will see a griffin by the sea. Ride on its back with your husband, and it will carry you home across the water."
"Here is a nut for you," said the night wind. "Hold it safe. When the griffin flies over the deepest part of the sea, toss the nut down. A huge nut tree will spring up from the waves at once, and the bird can rest in its branches. If it cannot rest, it will grow too weak to carry you. And if you forget to throw the nut, you will both sink into the sea." She remembered every word, thanked him, and went on her way.
The Singing, Springing Lark - The wife helps the lion beat the dragon with the reed, but the freed dragon-princess seizes the prince and flees on the griffin. The wife follows them to a castle and puts on the brilliant dress from the Sun's casket. - Scene Illustration 4
The wife helps the lion beat the dragon with the reed, but the freed dragon-princess seizes the prince and flees on the griffin. The wife follows them to a castle and puts on the brilliant dress from the Sun's casket.
So she went to the Red Sea and did as the night wind had said. She counted the reeds along the shore, cut the eleventh, and struck the dragon a blow with it. At once the lion mastered the dragon, and in a blink both took back their human shapes.
But the moment the dragon princess was free of her spell, she seized the prince by the arm, jumped on the griffin, and flew away with him. There stood the poor girl who had travelled so far, left alone all over again. She sat down and wept. Then she dried her tears and said, "As long as the wind blows and the cock crows, I shall go on searching until I find him."
On and on she walked, along long, long roads, until she came to a castle hung with lamps and flags. There she heard that a wedding was soon to be held, and that the bridegroom was none other than the prince. She opened the casket the sun had given her, and inside lay a dress as brilliant as the sun itself. She put it on and walked into the hall, and every guest stared at her, even the bride herself.
The bride loved the dress so much that she thought it would make a perfect wedding gown, and she asked whether it was for sale. "Not for money or land," answered the wife, "only for flesh and blood." "What do you mean by that?" asked the bride. "Let me sleep one night in the room where the bridegroom sleeps," said the wife, "and the dress is yours."
The Singing, Springing Lark - She trades the Sun-dress and the Moon-hen for two nights in the prince's room: the first night he sleeps through, but on the second he knows her voice. They escape on the griffin, rest on the nut-tree, and come home to live happily ever after. - Scene Illustration 5
She trades the Sun-dress and the Moon-hen for two nights in the prince's room: the first night he sleeps through, but on the second he knows her voice. They escape on the griffin, rest on the nut-tree, and come home to live happily ever after.
The bride agreed, but in secret she told the page to give the prince a sleeping draught. That night the wife was led into the prince's room. She sat down by the bed and whispered, "I have searched for you for seven years. I asked the sun, the moon, and the four winds, and I fought the dragon for you. How can you forget me?" But the prince slept so deeply that her words sounded to him only like the wind whistling in the fir trees.
At daybreak she was led out again, and the golden dress was lost to the bride. She went out into a meadow, sat down, and wept. Then she remembered the egg the moon had given her. She broke it open, and out came a clucking hen with twelve little chickens, all of pure gold, running and cheeping across the grass and creeping back under their mother's wings. Nothing so lovely had ever been seen in this world.
The bride saw them from her window and was charmed at once. She came down and asked whether they were to be sold. "Neither money nor land will buy them," said the wife, "only flesh and blood. Let me sleep one more night in the room where the bridegroom sleeps." The bride said yes, but in her heart she planned to cheat her again.
That night, before he went to bed, the prince asked his page, "What was that murmuring and rustling in my room last night?" The page dared not hide it and told him everything: how a poor girl had been led into his room, and how he had been forced to give the prince a sleeping draught, and was to give him another that night. "Pour the draught out beside the bed," said the prince.
That night the wife was led in once more. The moment she began to tell of her years of sorrow, the prince knew her by her voice. He leapt up from the bed and cried, "Now I am truly free! These days have been like a dream. That strange princess cast a spell on me and made me forget you, but heaven broke the spell in time."
That night the couple stole out of the castle, for they feared the princess's father, a man of dark magic. They climbed onto the griffin's back, and the great bird flew with them over the Red Sea. At the middle of the water, the wife threw the nut down, and a tall nut tree rose from the waves so the bird could rest. Then the griffin carried them home, where their child had grown into a fine tall boy. From that day on, the family lived together, happy to the end of their days.

Vocabulary from "The Singing, Springing Lark"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

soaring(soar)B2
/ˈsɔːrɪŋ/adj.

Flying high up in the air.

高飞的；翱翔的。

But the youngest said, "Dear father, I only want a singing, soaring lark."

小女儿却说：“父亲，我只想要一只会唱会飞的百灵鸟。”

begged(beg)B1
/beɡd/v.

Asked for something in an earnest, humble way.

恳求；乞求。

He begged for mercy and offered all his money.

那人吓得魂飞魄散，愿献出全部钱财赎罪。

urged(urge)B1
/ɜːdʒd/v.

Strongly encouraged someone to do something.

力劝；催促。

But his servant urged him on.

仆人却在一旁劝道：“您出门这么久，兴许迎上来的是只猫，或是条狗呢！”

savageB2
/ˈsævɪdʒ/adj.

Wild, fierce, and cruel.

凶猛的；野蛮的。

In exchange I promised you to a savage lion.

我答应把你送给一头凶猛的狮子，它一得到你，就会把你撕碎吃掉。

enchanted(enchant)B2
/ɪnˈtʃɑːntɪd/adj.

Under a magic spell.

中了魔法的。

Now the lion was an enchanted prince.

原来那狮子是位中了魔法的王子。

amazed(amaze)B1
/əˈmeɪzd/adj.

Very surprised.

大为惊讶的。

Her father and sisters were amazed to see her alive, for everyone had believed the lion had eaten her long ago.

家人见她平安归来，又惊又喜——人人都以为她早被狮子吃掉了。

warped(warp)C1
/wɔːpt/v.

Bent or twisted out of its proper shape.

翘曲；变形。

But the door was made of green wood. It warped in time and left a tiny crack, and no one noticed it.

偏巧那门是用没干透的木头做的，日子一久，木头翘起，裂出一道细缝，谁也没有留意。

vanished(vanish)B2
/ˈvænɪʃt/v.

Disappeared suddenly and completely.

消失；不见了。

In an instant he vanished, and only a white dove stood in the room.

眨眼之间，王子不见了，屋里只剩一只白鸽。

crept(creep)B2
/krept/v.

Moved slowly and quietly so as not to be noticed.

蹑手蹑脚地移动；悄悄靠近。

But as the servant crept near, a great lion leapt out from under the tree.

谁知仆人刚走近，一头雄狮从树下蹿了出来，抖着鬃毛一声怒吼，震得满树叶子簌簌发抖。

griffinC1
/ˈɡrɪfɪn/n.

A creature of legend with a lion's body and an eagle's head and wings.

狮鹫（狮身鹰首的传说巨鸟）。

After that, look about you, and you will see a griffin by the sea.

事成之后，你在海边四下看看，会见到一只狮鹫。

draughtC1
/drɑːft/n.

A single drink of liquid, especially medicine that makes someone sleep.

一剂药水；安眠药水。

The bride agreed, but in secret she told the page to give the prince a sleeping draught.

新娘应下了，暗地里却吩咐侍童给王子灌下安眠药。

whispered(whisper)B2
/ˈwɪspəd/v.

Spoke very softly and quietly.

低语；轻声说。

She sat down by the bed and whispered, "I have searched for you for seven years. I asked the sun, the moon, and the four winds, and I fought the dragon for you. How can you forget me?"

她坐在床边，轻声说道：“我寻了你七年，问过太阳、月亮与四方来风，还替你打了那条恶龙。你怎么就忘了我呢？”

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

A promise, once made, must be kept; and a faithful heart that never gives up is strong enough to break the deepest spell.

Educational Value

Shows children what a promise really costs and why perseverance matters — when you give your word you stand by it, and when you set your heart on something you keep going; it also shows that patience and a loving heart can overcome magic and might.

Tips for Parents

Before reading, ask your child: Was the father right to promise before he knew the price? And once a promise is made, may he break it? After reading, ask what kept the wife going for seven years — then link it to daily life: what should you do when you promised a friend something but no longer feel like doing it?

Talk About It

  1. The father promised to give the lion "the first living thing that meets him at home" before he knew what it would be. Should such a promise be kept? What would you have done?
  2. The youngest daughter knew the lion might hurt her, yet she chose to keep her word. Do you think she was afraid? Why did she still go?
  3. The wife searched for seven whole years and was left behind and forgotten more than once. What do you think kept her from turning back?
  4. The sun, the moon, and the winds all helped her and gave her gifts. Why do old stories like to imagine nature as a talking, friendly helper?
  5. In the end it is the wife who rescues the husband. What other stories do you know where someone small and gentle achieves something great?

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