Iron Hans

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Once upon a time there was a king who had a great forest near his castle, full of all kinds of wild animals. One day he

sent out a huntsman to shoot a deer, but the huntsman did not come back again.

　　"Perhaps he has had an accident," said the king, and the following day he sent out two other huntsmen who were to search

for him, but they did not return either. Then on the third day, he summoned all his huntsmen, and said, "Search through the

whole forest, and do not give up until you have found all three."

　　But none of these came home again either, nor were any of the hounds from the pack that they had taken with them ever

seen again.

　　From that time on, no one dared to go into these woods, and they lay there in deep quiet and solitude¹, and all that one

saw from there was an occasional eagle or hawk² flying overhead.

　　This lasted for many years, when an unknown huntsman presented himself to the king seeking a position, and he volunteered

to go into the dangerous woods.

　　The king, however, did not want to give his permission, and said, "It is haunted in there. I am afraid that you will do

no better than did the others, and that you will never come out again."

　　The huntsman answered, "Sir, I will proceed at my own risk. I know nothing of fear."

　　The huntsman therefore set forth³ with his dog into the woods. It was not long before the dog picked up a scent⁴ and wanted

to follow it, but the dog had run only a few steps when it came to a deep pool, and could go no further. Then a naked arm

reached out of the water, seized the dog, and pulled it under.

　　When the huntsman saw that, he went back and got three men. They returned with buckets and baled out the water. When they

could see to the bottom, there was a wild man lying there. His body was brown like rusty⁵ iron, and his hair hung over his

face down to his knees. They bound him with cords and led him away to the castle.

　　Everyone was greatly astonished at the wild man. The king had him put into an iron cage in his courtyard, forbidding, on

pain of death, that the cage door be opened. The queen herself was to safeguard the key.

　　From this time forth everyone could once again go safely into the woods.

　　The king had a son of eight years. One day he was playing in the courtyard, and during his game his golden ball fell into

the cage.

　　The boy ran to the cage and said, "Give me my ball."

　　"Not until you have opened the door for me," answered the man.

　　"No," said the boy, "I will not do that. The king has forbidden it," and he ran away.

　　The next day he came again and demanded his ball.

　　The wild man said, "Open my door," but the boy would not do so.

　　On the third day the king had ridden out hunting, and the boy went once more and said, "Even if I wanted to, I could not

open the door. I do not have the key."

　　Then the wild man said, "It is under your mother's pillow. You can get it there."

　　The boy, who wanted to have his ball back, threw all caution to the wind, and got the key. The door opened with

difficulty, and the boy pinched his finger. When it was open, the wild man stepped out, gave him the golden ball, and hurried

away.

　　The boy became afraid. He cried out and called after him, "Oh, wild man, do not go away, or I shall get a beating."
    　The wild man turned around, picked him up, set him on his shoulders, and ran into the woods.

　　When the king came home he noticed the empty cage and asked the queen how it had happened. She knew nothing about it, and

looked for the key, but it was gone. She called the boy, but no one answered.

　　The king sent out people to look for him in the field, but they did not find him. Then he could easily guess what had

happened, and great sorrow ruled at the royal court.

　　After the wild man had once more reached the dark woods, he set the boy down from his shoulders, and said to him, "You

will never again see your father and mother, but I will keep you with me, for you have set me free, and I have compassion⁶ for

you. If you do what I tell you, it will go well with you. I have enough treasures and gold, more than anyone in the world."

　　He made a bed of moss⁷ for the boy, upon which he fell asleep. The next morning the man took him to a spring and said,

"Look, this golden spring is as bright and clear as crystal. You shall sit beside it, and take care that nothing falls into

it, otherwise it will be polluted. I shall come every evening to see if you have obeyed my order."

　　The boy sat down at the edge of the spring, and saw how sometimes a golden fish and sometimes a golden snake appeared

from within, and took care that nothing fell into it. As he was thus sitting there, his finger hurt him so fiercely that he

involuntarily put it into the water. He quickly pulled it out again, but saw that it was completely covered with gold.

However hard he tried to wipe the gold off again, it was to no avail.#p#

　　That evening Iron Hans came back, looked at the boy, and said, "What has happened to the spring?"

　　"Nothing, nothing," he answered, holding his finger behind his back, so the man would not be able to see it.

　　But the man said, "You have dipped your finger into the water. This time I will let it go, but be careful that you do not

again let anything else fall in."

　　Very early the next morning the boy was already sitting by the spring and keeping watch. His finger hurt him again, and

he rubbed it across his head. Then unfortunately a hair fell down into the spring. He quickly pulled it out, but it was

already completely covered with gold.

　　Iron Hans came, and already knew what had happened. "You have let a hair fall into the spring," he said. "I will overlook

this once more, but if it happens a third time then the spring will be polluted, and you will no longer be able to stay with

me."

　　On the third day the boy sat by the spring and did not move his finger, however much it hurt him. But time passed slowly

for him, and he looked at the reflection of his face in the water. While doing this he bent⁸ down lower and lower, wanting to

look straight into his eyes, when his long hair fell from his shoulders down into the water. He quickly straightened himself

up, but all the hair on his head was already covered with gold, and glistened⁹ like the sun. You can imagine how frightened

the poor boy was. He took his handkerchief and tied it around his head, so that the man would not be able to see his hair.

　　When the man came, he already knew everything, and said, "Untie¹⁰ the handkerchief."

　　The golden hair streamed forth, and no excuse that the boy could offer was of any use.

　　"You have failed the test, and you can stay here no longer. Go out into the world. There you will learn what poverty is.

But because you are not bad at heart, and because I mean well by you, I will grant you one thing: If you are ever in need, go

into the woods and cry out, 'Iron Hans,' and then I will come and help you. My power is great, greater than you think, and I

have more than enough gold and silver."

　　Then the prince left the woods, and walked by beaten and unbeaten paths on and on until at last he reached a great city.

There he looked for work, but he was not able to find any, because he had not learned a trade by which he could make a

living. Finally he went to the castle and asked if they would take him in.

　　The people at court did not at all know how they would be able to use him, but they took a liking¹¹ to him, and told him to

stay. Finally the cook took him into service, saying that he could carry wood and water, and rake up the ashes.

　　Once when no one else was at hand, the cook ordered him to carry the food to the royal table. Because he did not want

them to see his golden hair, he kept his cap on. Nothing like this had ever before happened to the king, and he said, "When

you approach the royal table you must take your hat off."

　　"Oh, sir," he answered, "I cannot. I have an ugly scab on my head."

　　Then the king summoned the cook and scolded him, asking him how he could take such a boy into his service. The cook was

to send him away at once. However, the cook had pity on him, and let him trade places with gardener's boy.

　　Now the boy had to plant and water the garden, hoe and dig, and put up with the wind and bad weather.

　　Once in summer when he was working alone in the garden, the day was so hot that he took his hat off so that the air would

cool him. As the sun shone on his hair it glistened and sparkled. The rays fell into the princess's bedroom, and she jumped

up to see what it was.

　　She saw the boy and called out to him, "Boy, bring me a bouquet¹² of flowers."

　　He quickly put on his cap, picked some wildflowers, and tied them together.
    　　As he was climbing the steps with them, the gardener met him and said, "How can you take the princess a bouquet of

such common flowers? Quick! Go and get some other ones, and choose only the most beautiful and the rarest ones."

　　"Oh, no," replied the boy, the wild ones have a stronger scent, and she will like them better."

　　When he got into the room, the princess said, "Take your cap off. It is not polite to keep it on in my presence."

　　He again responded, "I cannot do that. I have a scabby head."

　　She, however, took hold of his cap and pulled it off. His golden hair rolled down onto his shoulders, and it was a

magnificent sight. He wanted to run away, but she held him by his arm, and gave him a handful of ducats. He went away with

them, but he did not care about the gold.

　　He took the gold pieces to the gardener, saying, "I am giving these things to your children for them to play with."

　　The next day the princess called to him again, asking him to bring her a bouquet of wildflowers. When he went in with it,

she immediately grabbed at his cap, and wanted to take it away from him, but he held it firmly with both hands. She again

gave him a handful of ducats. He did not want to keep them, giving them instead to the gardener for his children to play

with. On the third day it was no different. She was not able to take his cap away from him, and he did not want her gold.

　　Not long afterwards, the country was overrun by war. The king gathered together his people, not knowing whether or not

fight back against the enemy, who was more powerful and had a large army.

　　Then the gardener's boy said, "I am grown up, and I want to go to war as well. Just give me a horse."

　　The others laughed and said, "After we have left, then look for one by yourself. We will leave one behind for you in the

stable."

　　After they had left, he went into the stable, and led the horse out. It had a lame¹³ foot, and it limped higgledy-hop,

higgledy-hop.

　　Nevertheless he mounted it, and rode away into the dark woods. When he came to the edge of the woods, he called "Iron

Hans" three times so loudly that it sounded through the trees.

　　The wild man appeared immediately, and said, "What do you need?"

　　"I need a strong steed, for I am going to war."#p#

　　"That you shall have, and even more than you are asking for."

　　Then the wild man went back into the woods, and before long a stable-boy came out of the woods leading a horse. It was

snorting with its nostrils¹⁴, and could hardly be restrained. Behind them followed a large army of warriors¹⁵, outfitted¹⁶ with

iron armor, and with their swords flashing in the sun.

　　The youth left his three-legged horse with the stable-boy, mounted the other horse, and rode at the head of the army.

When he approached the battlefield, a large number of the king's men had already fallen, and before long the others would

have to retreat. Then the youth galloped¹⁷ up with his iron army and attacked the enemies like a storm, beating down all who

opposed him. They tried to flee, but the youth was right behind them, and did not stop, until not a single man was left.

　　However, instead of returning to the king, he led his army on a roundabout way back into the woods, and then called for

Iron Hans.

　　"What do you need?" asked the wild man.

　　"Take back your steed and your army, and give me my three-legged horse again."

　　It all happened just as he had requested, and he rode home on his three-legged horse.

　　When the king returned to his castle, his daughter went to meet him, and congratulated him for his victory.

　　"I am not the one who earned the victory," he said, "but a strange knight¹⁸ who came to my aid with his army."

　　The daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was, but the king did not know, and said, "He pursued the enemy, and I

did not see him again."

　　She asked the gardener where his boy was, but he laughed and said, "He has just come home on his three-legged horse. The

others have been making fun of him and shouting, 'Here comes our higgledy-hop back again.' They also asked him, 'Under what

hedge have you been lying asleep all this time?' But he said, 'I did better than anyone else. Without me it would have gone

badly.' And then they laughed at him all the more."

    　　The king said to his daughter, "I will proclaim a great festival. It shall last for three days, and you shall throw a

golden apple. Perhaps the unknown knight will come."

　　When the festival was announced, the youth went out into the woods and called Iron Hans.

　　"What do you need?" he asked.

　　"To catch the princess's golden apple."

　　"It is as good as done," said Iron Hans. "And further, you shall have a suit of red armor and ride on a spirited chestnut¹⁹

horse."

　　When the day came, the youth galloped up, took his place among the knights²⁰, and was recognized by no one. The princess

came forward and threw a golden apple to the knights. He was the only one who caught it, and as soon as he had it, he

galloped away.

　　On the second day Iron Hans had outfitted him as a white knight, and had given him a white horse. Again he was the only

one who caught the apple. Without lingering an instant, he galloped away with it.

　　The king grew angry and said, "That is not allowed. He must appear before me and tell me his name."

　　He gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple, were to go away again, they should pursue him, and if he would

not come back willingly, they were to strike and stab at him.

　　On the third day, he received from Iron Hans a suit of black armor and a black horse, and he caught the apple again. But

when he was galloping²¹ away with it, the king's men pursued him, and one of them got so close to him that he wounded the

youth's leg with the point of his sword. In spite of this he escaped from them, but his horse jumped so violently that his

helmet fell from his head, and they could see that he had golden hair. They rode back and reported everything to the king.

　　The next day the princess asked the gardener about his boy.

　　"He is at work in the garden. The strange fellow has been at the festival too. He came home only yesterday evening. And

furthermore, he showed my children three golden apples that he had won."

　　The king had him summoned, and he appeared, again with his cap on his head. But the princess went up to him and took it

off. His golden hair fell down over his shoulders, and he was so handsome that everyone was amazed.

　　"Are you the knight who came to the festival every day, each time in a different color, and who caught the three golden

apples?" asked the king.

　　"Yes," he answered, "and here are the apples," taking them out of his pocket, and returning them to the king. "If you

need more proof, you can see the wound that your men gave me when they were chasing me. But I am also the knight who helped

you to your victory over your enemies."

　　"If you can perform deeds like these then you are not a gardener's boy. Tell me, who is your father?"

　　"My father is a powerful king, and I have as much gold as I might need."

　　"I can see," said the king, "that I owe you thanks. Can I do anything for you?"

　　"Yes," he answered. "You can indeed. Give me your daughter for my wife."

　　The maiden²² laughed and said, "He does not care much for ceremony, but I already had seen from his golden hair that he was

not a gardener's boy," and then she went and kissed him.

　　His father and mother came to the wedding, and were filled with joy, for they had given up all hope of ever seeing their

dear son again.

　　While they sitting at the wedding feast, the music suddenly stopped, the doors opened, and a proud king came in with a

great retinue²³. He walked up to the youth, embraced him, and said, "I am Iron Hans. I had been transformed into a wild man by

a magic spell, but you have broken the spell. All the treasures that I possess shall belong to you." #p#

    从前有一个国王，他的宫殿附近有一座大森林，森林里有野兽出没。有一次，他派了一个猎人出去，叫他去打一只鹿，结果一去就不复返

了。国王想：“一定是出了甚么事。”第二天他又派了两个猎人出去，让他们去找他，但他们也是一去不回。第三天，国王下令集合全体猎手

，对他们说：“你们去搜遍森林，一定要找到他们。”然而，这些人也没有一个回来，就连他们带去的一群猎狗也杳无踪影了。打那以后，再

也没有人敢冒然进入森林了，那片林地也从此死寂，只是偶儿还可看到一只老鹰在上面飞过。这样过了很多年，有个异乡的猎人，到国王那里

说他，想找到一个位置，并且自告奋勇地要到那座危险的森林里去。但是国王不允许，说：“那里面不安全，我怕你和别人一样，再不得出来

。”猎人答道：“国王，我要去冒险；我不知道害怕。”
　　於是猎人带着他的狗到森林里去了。没过多久，狗寻着一个野兽的足印，要去追它，但刚跑了几步，就在一处深深的泥潭边站住，不能前

进了。突然，从泥水中伸出来一条光光的手臂，一把抓住狗，把它拖进了水里。猎人见此情景，回去带来三个汉子，让他们舀水。水干见底后

，他发现那儿躺着个野人，浑身像铁锈一般呈褐色，头发长得盖过了脸，一直拖到了膝头。他们用绳子绑住了他，把他拖回宫里。全国上下对

这个野人大感惊讶，国王下令把他关进了院子里的一只铁笼子里，禁止开笼门，违者处以死刑，并且把钥匙交给了王后亲自保管。从此以后，

谁都可以放心大胆地去森林里了。

　　国王有个八岁的孩子，有一次在院子里游戏时，把他的金球落到了笼子里。男孩跑去，说：“把我的球递给我。”那人说：“你不先给我

把门打开，我不给。”男孩说：“不，我不干，那是国王的禁令。”於是跑开了。第二天他又来要他的球，那野人说：“打开我的门。”但那

男孩还是不肯。第三天，国王骑马去打猎，男孩又来了，说：“就是我愿意，我也不能开门，我可没有钥匙。”於是野人说：“他就在你母亲

的枕头下，你可以去拿来。”男孩太想要他的球啦，於是就不顾一切地拿出了那把钥匙。门很沉重，开门时那男孩的指头给压住了。当门开了

时，野人跑了出来，把金球给了他，便赶紧逃跑了。男孩害怕起来，他在他的后面喊道：“啊呀，野人，你别跑，不然我会挨打的。”野人一

听转过了身，把他举起来放在肩上飞快地跑进了森林。国王回家，看到了那个空笼子，便问王后是怎么回事？她说不知道，她去找那钥匙，却

发现它不在那儿了。她於是喊那男孩，也没有人应。国王马上派人出去，叫他们在野外四处寻找，但是他们没能找到。於是他们很快就猜出发

生了甚么事，宫中出现了一片悲哀声。

　　那野人回到了幽暗的森林里，把孩子从肩上放了下来，对他说：“你再见不着你的爹妈了，可我愿意收养你，因为你放了我，我也可怜你

。只要我说甚么你做甚么，你会过得挺好的。我叫铁汉斯，我可有好多好多的金银财宝，世界上没有谁能和我相比。”野人用苔藓为男孩铺了

张床，小傢伙在上面睡着了。第二天早上醒来，野人带他到一口井边，对他说：“你瞧，这金井明亮得像水晶一样，我派你坐在这儿守着，别

让任何东西掉下去。每天晚上我会来看你是否在执行我的命令。”男孩坐在井边上，看见井里一会儿游出一条金鱼，一会儿游出一条金蛇，注

意着没让任何东西掉进去。他就这么坐着，突然手指头痛得厉害，便情不自禁地把手伸进了水中。当他抽回指头时，发现它已完全变成金的了

，任他怎么使劲地洗都洗不掉。傍晚，铁汉斯来了，望着男孩问：“这井出了甚么事了吗？”“没有，没有。”他回答，同时把指头藏在背后

不叫野人看见。谁知野人说：“你把指头浸在水里了，不过这次就算了，可你得小心，别再让任何东西掉进去。”第二天一大早，男孩又坐在

井边看守它。他那手指又痛起来了，忍不住，他放在头上擦了一下，不幸一根头发掉进了井里。他赶紧捞出头发，可是已完全变成了金的了。

野人铁汉斯回来了，已知道发生了甚么事。“你掉了根头发在井里，”他说，“我愿意再原谅你一次，可要是再发生这样的事情，井就被玷污

了，我就不能把你留在这里了。”
　　第三天，男孩坐在井边，不管指头有多痛也不敢动一动。可是他觉得坐得无聊，不禁看了看映在水中的面孔。为了看得更清楚些，他身子

越伏越低，长发於是从肩上滑下来，掉进了井水中。他赶紧坐直身子，但满头的头发已变成了金子，像太阳般闪闪发光。现在可以想像出这可

怜的小傢伙有多害怕。他赶紧掏出手帕来包在头上，想不让铁汉斯瞧见。铁汉斯回来已知道了一切，对他说：“解下手帕！”於是满头的金发

都露了出来了。铁汉斯说：“你没有经受住考验，不能再留在这里。到世界上去吧，去体会贫穷是甚么滋味儿。不过你心地倒还不坏，我也希

望你好，所以也答应你一件事，你要是有甚么难处，可以到森林里来喊：'铁汉斯！'我就会来帮你。我的势力很大，大得超出你的想像，金子

我有的是！”

　　於是小王子离开森林，一直在有路没路的地方走着，最后来到了一座大城市，想在那里找活干，但总是找不着，而且他原来就没有学甚么

可以自谋生计的本事。最后他到了宫里，问他们是否能留他。宫里的人们不知用他做甚么，但是他们喜欢他，便叫他留下了。最后厨子收了他

做事，说可以让他挑柴担水，把灰扫成一堆。有一次，恰巧有别人在跟前，厨子叫他端饭食到国王的餐桌上，因为他不想让人看见他的金发，

所以戴着他的小帽子。国王还没有遇见过这样的事，他说：“如果你到国王餐桌跟前来，就应该脱下你的帽子。”他回答说：“啊呀，国王，

我不能够，我头上有毒瘤。”於是国王叫人喊来厨子，骂他，问他怎么可以用这样的少年给他做事，叫他马上把他打发走，但厨子对他很同情

，又叫他去当花匠。

　　现在那少年只得在园子里插苗浇水，锄草挖沟，忍受风吹雨打。夏天里有一回他独个在园子里干活，因为天气酷热难当，他忍不住揭下帽

子想凉快凉快。这时太阳照着他的金发，反射出明亮耀眼的光芒，光芒射到了公主卧室里面，她跳起来看这是怎么回事，一眼就看见了男孩，

就唤他：“小伙子，给我送一束花来。”他赶忙戴上小帽，採摘了些野花把它们紮成一束。他拿着花正要上楼去时，老花匠碰见了他，喝道：

“你怎么能送这么差的花给公主？快，去换些最漂亮最珍稀的来！”“唉，不用换，”他回答说，“野花更香，公主会更喜欢。”他走进公主

的卧室，她说：“摘下你的帽子，戴着帽子来见我可不合礼仪。”小伙子答道：“我不能，我是个癞头。”可公主却伸手一下摘下了他的帽子

，看见他满头金发立刻垂到肩上，看上去漂亮极了。他正要溜走，公主却抓住了他的胳膊，给了他一把金币。他并不在意这些金币，而是拿去

给了花匠，说：“我送给你的孩子，他们可以拿去玩。”第二天，公主又叫住他，让他再给她送一束野花去。他拿着花刚跨进了门，公主马上

来抓他的帽子，想摘掉它；他却用两只手死死按住不放。公主又给了他一把金币，他仍旧不想留着，又送给花匠孩子们玩。第三天情况还是一

样，公主没能摘掉他的小帽，他也不想要她的金币。

　　不久，这个国家有外族入侵。国王召集他的臣民，问是否能够抵抗敌人，因为敌人的势力太强大了。那少年说：“我长大了，我要一同打

仗去，请给我一匹马。”别人都笑他：“如果我们走了，你可以找一匹马玩，我们给你留一匹在栏里。”当他们出发后，他到栏里牵了那匹马

出来，发现那马有一只脚是瘸的，走起来颠颠簸簸。但是他仍然骑它到黑森林去了。他来到林边，喊了三声“铁汉斯”，声音很大，穿过了树

林。那野人马上来说：“你要甚么？”

　　“我要一匹壮马，因为我要去打仗。”

　　“那你可以得到，而且比你要的还要好些。”於是野人回到树林里，没多久便从树林里走出来一位马伕，牵着一匹骏马，它的鼻孔正在喘

气，人几乎制伏不住；后面还跟着一大群战士，全穿着盔甲，他们的剑在太阳中发光。少年把他那匹三只腿的马交给马伕，骑上那匹骏马，走

在了队伍的前面。当他走进战场的时候，国王的大部分士兵都战死了，剩下的差不多都在退却了。少年带着他的马群赶来，像狂风暴雨般攻打

敌人，把敢抵抗的全给杀了。他们要逃，但少年紧紧咬住不放，最后杀得一个不留。但是他没有回到国王那里，却引着他的队伍绕到森林前，

又去喊铁汉斯的名字。野人出来了，问他，“你要甚么？”“把你的马和你的兵收回去，把我的三条腿的马还给我。”他所要求的一切，都照

办了，於是他骑着三只腿的马回家了。当国王回到他的宫里时，他的女儿迎着他走上前去祝福他打了胜仗。他说：“那打胜仗的不是我，却是

一个不相识的骑士，他带着他的队伍来帮我。”女孩要知道那不相识的骑士是谁，但是国王说不知道：“他去追敌人，我就没再见他。”国王

向他的女儿说：“我要下令向全国宣告，一连举行三天盛大庆祝会，安排会上抛金苹果。那陌生骑士没准儿会来的。”举行庆祝会的公告发出

后，小伙子又去叫铁汉斯。“你想要甚么？”野人问。他说：“我希望接住那个金苹果。”

　　“没问题，你肯定会接着。”铁汉斯说：“我还要给你一套红色的铠甲，让你骑在一匹威武的枣红马上。”到了那天，一个身披红铠甲的

小伙子纵马奔进了骑士中间，没被任何人认出来。公主走到高台边上，向骑士们抛下了一个金苹果，可接着它的不是别人，正是这小伙子，然

而他一得到苹果就立刻跑开了。第二天，铁汉斯给他换了身白铠甲，让他骑上一匹白色的骏马，又是他接着了金苹果，而且他又拿着金苹果不

停片刻就跑。国王因此很生气，说：“真是岂有此理！他无论如何该来见见我，说出他的名字。”他下了命令：如果那骑士又来接了苹果就跑

，士兵们要紧紧追赶他；如果他不好好回来，就格杀勿论。第三天，小伙子从铁汉斯处得到了一套黑铠甲和一匹黑马，又接到了金苹果。可是

，正当他拿着要跑时，国王的卫兵已赶来，其中的一个冲到了他身边，用剑刺伤了他的腿。尽管如此，他仍摆脱了追赶，只是马跑得太快，抖

落了他的头盔，卫兵看清了他满脑袋的金发，回去向国王一一做了禀报。

 

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