The Gold-Children

Author: Brothers Grimm

Age7–11
Reading time15 min
LevelAdvanced

Introduction

This is really two old stories joined into one. The first half — a wish-granting golden fish, and a wife who can never rein in her curiosity but must know where the riches came from, only to ask the luck away — is a version of the 'greed and curiosity' motif from this site's 'The Fisherman and His Wife' (catalogued by folklorists as ATU 555). The second half switches to an entirely different type, ATU 303, 'The Twins': the fish is cut into six pieces, and up spring two golden lilies, two golden horses, and two golden children; the brothers ride out into the world and keep track of each other's fate through the lilies left at home — fresh means safe, withered means ill, fallen means dead. This 'life-token' (an object that reveals a distant person's fortunes) is one of the oldest motifs in world literature: it already appears in the ancient Egyptian 'Tale of Two Brothers' from roughly 3,200 years ago. As you read, notice with your child how one and the same 'grateful golden fish' opening grows, step by step, into a whole adventure about brotherly love.

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There was once a poor man and a poor woman who had nothing but a little cottage, and who earned their bread by fishing, and always lived from hand to mouth. But it came to pass one day when the man was sitting by the water-side, and casting his net, that he drew out a fish entirely of gold.

As he was looking at the fish, full of astonishment, it began to speak and said, "Hark you, fisherman, if you will throw me back again into the water, I will change your little hut into a splendid castle." Then the fisherman answered, "Of what use is a castle to me, if I have nothing to eat?" The gold fish continued, "That shall be taken care of, there will be a cupboard in the castle in which, when you open it, shall be dishes of the most delicate meats, and as many of them as you can desire."

"If that be true," said the man, "then I can well do you a favour." - "Yes," said the fish, "there is, however, the condition that you shall disclose to no one in the world, whosoever he may be, whence your good luck has come, if you speak but one single word, all will be over."

Then the man threw the wonderful fish back again into the water, and went home. But where his hovel had formerly stood, now stood a great castle. He opened wide his eyes, entered, and saw his wife dressed in beautiful clothes, sitting in a splendid room, and she was quite delighted, and said, "Husband, how has all this come to pass? It suits me very well."

"Yes," said the man, "it suits me too, but I am frightfully hungry, just give me something to eat." Said the wife, "But I have got nothing and don't know where to find anything in this new house." - "There is no need of your knowing," said the man, "for I see yonder a great cupboard, just unlock it." When she opened it, there stood cakes, meat, fruit, wine, quite a bright prospect.

Then the woman cried joyfully, "What more can you want, my dear?" and they sat down, and ate and drank together. When they had had enough, the woman said, "But husband, whence come all these riches?" - "Alas," answered he, "do not question me about it, for I dare not tell you anything; if I disclose it to any one, then all our good fortune will fly." - "Very good," said she, "if I am not to know anything, then I do not want to know anything."

However, she was not in earnest; she never rested day or night, and she goaded her husband until in his impatience he revealed that all was owing to a wonderful golden fish which he had caught, and to which in return he had given its liberty. And as soon as the secret was out, the splendid castle with the cupboard immediately disappeared, they were once more in the old fisherman's hut, and the man was obliged to follow his former trade and fish.

But fortune would so have it, that he once more drew out the golden fish. "Listen," said the fish, "if you will throw me back into the water again, I will once more give you the castle with the cupboard full of roast and boiled meats; only be firm, for your life's sake don't reveal from whom you have it, or you will lose it all again!" - "I will take good care," answered the fisherman, and threw the fish back into the water.

Now at home everything was once more in its former magnificence, and the wife was overjoyed at their good fortune, but curiosity left her no peace, so that after a couple of days she began to ask again how it had come to pass, and how he had managed to secure it. The man kept silence for a short time, but at last she made him so angry that he broke out, and betrayed the secret. In an instant the castle disappeared, and they were back again in their old hut.

"Now you have got what you want," said he; "and we can gnaw at a bare bone again." - "Ah," said the woman, "I had rather not have riches if I am not to know from whom they come, for then I have no peace."

The man went back to fish, and after a while he chanced to draw out the gold fish for a third time. "Listen," said the fish, "I see very well that I am fated to fall into your hands, take me home and cut me into six pieces; give your wife two of them to eat, two to your horse and bury two of them in the ground, then they will bring you a blessing."

The fisherman took the fish home with him, and did as it had bidden him. It came to pass, however, that from the two pieces that were buried in the ground two golden lilies sprang up, that the horse had two golden foals, and the fisherman's wife bore two children who were made entirely of gold.

The children grew up, became tall and handsome, and the lilies and horses grew likewise. Then they said, "Father, we want to mount our golden steeds and travel out in the world." But he answered sorrowfully, "How shall I bear it if you go away, and I know not how it fares with you?"

Then they said, "The two golden lilies remain here. By them you can see how it is with us; if they are fresh, then we are in health; if they are withered, we are ill; if they perish, then we are dead."

So they rode forth and came to an inn, in which were many people, and when they perceived the gold-children they began to laugh, and jeer. When one of them heard the mocking he felt ashamed and would not go out into the world, but turned back and went home again to his father. But the other rode forward and reached a great forest. As he was about to enter it, the people said, It is not safe for you to ride through, the wood is full of robbers who would treat you badly. You will fare ill, and when they see that you are all of gold, and your horse likewise, they will assuredly kill you.'

But he would not allow himself to be frightened, and said, "I must and will ride through it." Then he took bear-skins and covered himself and his horse with them, so that the gold was no more to be seen, and rode fearlessly into the forest. When he had ridden onward a little he heard a rustling in the bushes, and heard voices speaking together. From one side came cries of, "There is one," but from the other, "Let him go, 'tis an idle fellow, as poor and bare as a church-mouse, what should we gain from him?"

So the gold-child rode joyfully through the forest, and no evil befell him. One day he entered a village wherein he saw a maiden, who was so beautiful that he did not believe that any more beautiful than she existed in the world. And as such a mighty love took possession of him, he went up to her and said, "I love thee with my whole heart, wilt thou be my wife?"

He, too, pleased the maiden so much that she agreed and said, "Yes, I will be thy wife, and be true to thee my whole life long." Then they were married, and just as they were in the greatest happiness, home came the father of the bride, and when he saw that his daughter's wedding was being celebrated, he was astonished, and said, "Where is the bridegroom?" They showed him the gold-child, who, however, still wore his bear-skins. Then the father said wrathfully, "A vagabond shall never have my daughter!" and was about to kill him. Then the bride begged as hard as she could, and said, "He is my husband, and I love him with all my heart!" until at last he allowed himself to be appeased.

Nevertheless the idea never left his thoughts, so that next morning he rose early, wishing to see whether his daughter's husband was a common ragged beggar. But when he peeped in, he saw a magnificent golden man in the bed, and the cast-off bear-skins lying on the ground. Then he went back and thought, "What a good thing it was that I restrained my anger! I should have committed a great crime."

But the gold-child dreamed that he rode out to hunt a splendid stag, and when he awoke in the morning, he said to his wife, "I must go out hunting." She was uneasy, and begged him to stay there, and said, "You might easily meet with a great misfortune," but he answered, "I must and will go."

Thereupon he got up, and rode forth into the forest, and it was not long before a fine stag crossed his path exactly according to his dream. He aimed and was about to shoot it, when the stag ran away. He gave chase over hedges and ditches for the whole day without feeling tired, but in the evening the stag vanished from his sight, and when the gold-child looked round him, he was standing before a little house, wherein was a witch.

He knocked, and a little old woman came out and asked, "What are you doing so late in the midst of the great forest?" - "Have you not seen a stag?" - "Yes," answered she, "I know the stag well," and thereupon a little dog which had come out of the house with her, barked at the man violently. "Wilt thou be silent, thou odious toad," said he, "or I will shoot thee dead."

Then the witch cried out in a passion, "What! will you slay my little dog?" and immediately transformed him, so that he lay like a stone, and his bride awaited him in vain and thought, "That which I so greatly dreaded, which lay so heavily on my heart, has come upon him!"

But at home the other brother was standing by the gold-lilies, when one of them suddenly drooped. "Good heavens!" said he, "my brother has met with some great misfortune! I must away to see if I can possibly rescue him." Then the father said, "Stay here, if I lose you also, what shall I do?" But he answered, "I must and will go forth!"

Then he mounted his golden horse, and rode forth and entered the great forest, where his brother lay turned to stone. The old witch came out of her house and called him, wishing to entrap him also, but he did not go near her, and said, "I will shoot you, if you will not bring my brother to life again."

She touched the stone, though very unwillingly, with her forefinger, and he was immediately restored to his human shape. But the two gold-children rejoiced when they saw each other again, kissed and caressed each other, and rode away together out of the forest, the one home to his bride, and the other to his father.

The father then said, "I knew well that you had rescued your brother, for the golden lily suddenly rose up and blossomed out again." Then they lived happily, and all prospered with them until their death.

Vocabulary from "The Gold-Children"

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

astonishmentB2

/əˈstɒnɪʃmənt/n.

A feeling of great surprise or wonder.

惊讶；诧异。

As he was looking at the fish, full of astonishment, it began to speak.
正当他惊讶地看着这条鱼时，鱼开口说话了。

cottageB1

/ˈkɒtɪdʒ/n.

A small, simple house, especially in the countryside.

小屋；村舍。

There was once a poor man and a poor woman who had nothing but a little cottage.
从前有一对穷苦的夫妇，除了一间小茅屋，什么都没有。

handsomeB1

/ˈhænsəm/adj.

Good-looking, especially of a man or boy.

英俊的；漂亮的。

The children grew up, became tall and handsome, and the lilies and horses grew likewise.
孩子们长大了，变得高大英俊，百合花和马也同样长大了。

libertyB2

/ˈlɪbərti/n.

Freedom to act or move as one wishes.

自由。

It was all owing to a wonderful golden fish which he had caught, and to which in return he had given its liberty.
一切都归功于他捕到的一条神奇金鱼，作为回报他给了它自由。

foals(foal)B2

/fəʊlz/n.

Young horses.

小马；马驹。

The horse had two golden foals, and the fisherman's wife bore two children who were made entirely of gold.
马生了两匹金马驹，渔夫的妻子生了两个完全由金子做成的孩子。

withered(wither)B2

/ˈwɪðəd/adj.

Dried up and shrivelled, as a plant that is dying.

枯萎的；凋谢的。

If they are fresh, then we are in health; if they are withered, we are ill.
如果它们鲜艳，我们就健康；如果它们枯萎，我们就病了。

restrained(restrain)B2

/rɪˈstreɪnd/v.

Held back; kept under control.

克制；抑制；控制住。

What a good thing it was that I restrained my anger! I should have committed a great crime.
幸好我克制住了怒火！否则我就犯下大罪了。

hovelC1

/ˈhɒvl/n.

A small, poor, and dirty dwelling.

简陋的小屋；破屋。

But where his hovel had formerly stood, now stood a great castle.
而在他原本破屋矗立的地方，现在耸立着一座巨大的城堡。

goaded(goad)C1

/ˈɡəʊdɪd/v.

Kept provoking or urging someone until they did something.

不断刺激、催逼（某人做某事）。

She never rested day or night, and she goaded her husband until in his impatience he revealed the secret.
她日夜不休，不停地催逼丈夫，直到他不耐烦地透露了秘密。

jeerC1

/dʒɪər/v.

To laugh at or mock someone rudely.

嘲笑；讥讽；奚落。

When they perceived the gold-children they began to laugh, and jeer.
当人们看到这两个金娃娃时，便开始嘲笑和戏弄。

drooped(droop)C1

/druːpt/v.

Bent or hung downwards, as a wilting flower.

低垂；耷拉（如枯萎的花）。

When one of them suddenly drooped, he said, "My brother has met with some great misfortune!"
突然其中一朵花垂了下来，他说：'我的兄弟遭遇了巨大的不幸！'

discloseC1

/dɪsˈkləʊz/v.

To make secret information known; to reveal.

透露；揭露；公开（秘密）。

You shall disclose to no one in the world whence your good luck has come.
你不能向世界上的任何人透露你的好运是从哪儿来的。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Some promises bring good fortune only if they are kept — again and again the fisherman blurts out his secret to satisfy his wife's restless curiosity, and again and again loses the luck already in his hands. The second half reminds us, too, that true brotherhood means sensing a brother's danger even a thousand miles away, and rushing to the rescue without a second thought.

Educational Value

The first half is good for discussing keeping a promise and reining in curiosity; the second shows deep loyalty between brothers. The device of the golden lily that wilts to send word is a fine way to help children understand what it means to care about someone far away.

Tips for Parents

Talk with your child: why can the fisherman's wife never resist asking the secret? Is 'knowing' really more important than the good luck itself? In the second half the two brothers keep track of each other's life through the golden lilies — if you had such a flower, whom would you want to watch over? (Note: the witch being turned to stone and forced to undo it can be passed over lightly.)

Talk About It

The fisherman promised the fish to keep the secret, yet his wife's questions pull it out of him every time. Do you think he lacks willpower, or is she too persistent in prying?
The wife says, 'I would rather not have riches if I am not to know from whom they come.' Can you understand how she feels? Is 'knowing the truth' important to you?
The two brothers sense each other's safety through the golden lilies. Do you have someone you keep thinking about even when they are far away?
The moment the brother at home sees a lily wilt, he sets off to rescue the other despite the danger. What would you have done in his place?
The first half of this story is about a golden fish and greed; the second about golden children and brotherhood. How do you think the two halves connect?