The Brave Little Tailor

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　One summer morning a little tailor was sitting on his table near the window. In good spirits, he was sewing with all his might. A peasant woman came down the street crying, "Good jam for sale! Good jam for sale!" That sounded good to the little tailor, so he stuck his dainty head out the window and shouted, "Come up here, my dear woman! You can sell your goods here!"

　　The woman carried her heavy basket up the three flights of stairs to the tailor, who had her unpack all of her jars. He examined them, picking each one up and holding it to his nose. Finally he said, "This jam looks good to me. Weigh out four ounces for me, even if it comes to a quarter pound."

　　The woman, who had hoped to make a good sale, gave him what he asked for, then went away angry and grumbling.

　　"May God bless this jam to give me health and strength," said the little tailor. Then taking a loaf of bread from his cupboard, he cut himself a large slice and spread it with the jam. "That is not going to taste bad," he said, "but I will finish the jacket before I bite into it."

　　He laid the bread aside and continued his sewing, happily making his stitches larger and larger. Meanwhile the smell of the sweet jam rose to the wall where a large number of flies were sitting. Attracted by the smell, a swarm of them settled onto the bread.

　　"Hey! Who invited you?" said the little tailor, driving away the unbidden guests. However, the flies, who did not understand German, would not be turned away, and they came back in ever-increasing numbers. Finally, losing his temper, he reached for a piece of cloth and shouted, "Wait, now I'm going to give it to you!" then hit at them without mercy. When he backed off and counted, there were no fewer than seven of them lying dead before him, with their legs stretched out.

　　"Aren't you someone?" he said to himself, surprised at his own bravery. The whole town shall hear about this." He hastily cut out a banner for himself, then embroidered on it with large letters, Seven with one blow. "The town?" he said further. "The whole world shall hear about this!" And his heart jumped for joy like a lamb's tail.

　　The tailor tied the banner around his body and set forth into the world, for he thought that his workshop was too small for such bravery. Before leaving he looked about his house for something that he could take with him. Finding nothing but a piece of old cheese, he put that into his pocket. Outside the town gate he found a bird that was caught in a bush. It went into his pocket with the cheese.

　　He bravely took to the road, and being light and agile he did not grow weary. The road led him up a mountain, and when he reached the top a huge giant was sitting there, looking around contentedly.

　　The little tailor went up to him cheerfully and said, "Good day, comrade. Are you just sitting here looking at the wide world? I am on my way out there to prove myself. Do you want to come with me?"

　　The giant looked at the tailor with contempt, saying, "You wretch! You miserable fellow!"

　　"You don't say!" answered the little tailor. Unbuttoning his coat, he showed the banner to the giant. "You can read what kind of man I am."

　　The giant read Seven with one blow, and thinking that the tailor had killed seven men, he gained some respect for the little fellow. But he did want to put him to the test, so he picked up a stone and squeezed it with his hand until water dripped from it.

　　"Do what I just did," said the giant, "if you have the strength."

　　"Is that all?" said the little tailor. "That is child's play for someone like me." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the soft cheese and squeezed it until liquid ran from it. "That was even better, wasn't it?" he said.

　　The giant did not know what to say, for he did not believe the little man. Then the giant picked up a stone and threw it so high that it could scarcely be seen. "Now, you little dwarf, do that."

　　"A good throw," said the tailor, "but the stone did fall back to earth. I'll throw one for you that will not come back." He reached into his pocket, pulled out the bird, and threw it into the air. Happy to be free, the bird flew up and away, and did not come back. "How did you like that, comrade?" asked the tailor.

　　"You can throw well enough," said the giant, but now let's see if you are able to carry anything proper." He led the little tailor to a mighty oak tree that had been cut down and was lying on the ground. He said, "If you are strong enough, then help me carry this tree out of the woods."

　　"Gladly," answered the little man. "You take the trunk on your shoulder, and I will carry the branches and twigs. After all, they are the heaviest."

　　The giant lifted the trunk onto his shoulder, but the tailor sat down on a branch, and the giant, who could not see behind himself, had to drag long the entire tree, with the little tailor sitting on top. Cheerful and in good spirits, he whistled the song "There Were Three Tailors Who Rode Out to the Gate," as though carrying a tree were child's play.

　　The giant, after dragging the heavy load a little way, could not go any further, and he called out, "Listen, I have to drop the tree."

　　The tailor jumped down agilely, took hold of the tree with both arms, as though he had been carrying it, and said to the giant, "You are such a big fellow, and you can't even carry a tree."

　　They walked on together until they came to a cherry tree. The giant took hold of the treetop where the ripest fruit was hanging, bent it down, and put it into the tailor's hand, inviting him to eat. However, the little tailor was much too weak to hold the tree, and when the giant let go, the tree sprang upward, throwing the tailor into the air. When he fell back to earth, without injury, the giant said, "What? You don't have enough strength to hold that little switch?"

　　"There is no lack of strength," answered the little tailor. "Do you think that that would be a problem for someone who killed seven with one blow? I jumped over the tree because hunters are shooting down there in the brush. Jump over it yourself, if you can."

　　The giant made the attempt, but could not clear the tree and got stuck in the branches. So the little tailor kept the upper hand here as well.

　　The giant said, "If you are such a brave fellow, then come with me to our cave and spend the night with us."

　　The little tailor agreed and followed him. When they reached the cave, other giants were sitting there by a fire. Each one had a roasted sheep in his hand and was eating from it. The little tailor looked around and thought, "It is a lot more roomy here than in my workshop.

　　The giant showed him a bed and told him to lie down and go to sleep. However, the little tailor found the bed too large, so instead of lying there he crept into a corner. At midnight the giant thought that the little tailor was fast asleep, so he got up, took a large iron bar, and with a single blow smashed the bed in two. He thought he had put an end to the grasshopper.

　　Early the next morning the giants went into the woods, having completely forgotten the little tailor, when he suddenly approached them cheerfully and boldly. Fearing that he would strike them all dead, the terrified giants ran away in haste.

　　The little tailor continued on his way, always following his pointed nose. After wandering a long time, he came to the courtyard of a royal palace, and being tired, he lay down in the grass and fell asleep. While he was lying there people came and looked at him from all sides, and they read his banner, Seven with one blow.

　　"Oh," they said, "what is this great war hero doing here in the midst of peace? He must be a powerful lord."

　　They went and reported him to the king, thinking that if war were to break out, he would be an important and useful man who at any price should not be allowed to go elsewhere. The king was pleased with this advice, and he sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to offer him a position in the army, as soon as he woke up.

　　The messenger stood by the sleeper and waited until he stretched his arms and legs and opened his eyes, and then he delivered his offer.

　　"That is precisely why I came here," answered the little tailor. "I am ready to enter the king's service." Thus he was received with honor and given a special place to live.

　　However, the soldiers were opposed to the little tailor, and wished that he were a thousand miles away. "What will happen," they said among themselves, "if we quarrel with him, and he strikes out against us? Seven of us will fall with each blow. People like us can't stand up to that."

　　So they came to a decision, and all together they went to the king and asked to be released. "We were not made," they said, "to stand up to a man who kills seven with one blow."

　　The king was sad that he was going to lose all his faithful servants because of one man, and he wished that he had never seen him. He would like to be rid of him, but he did not dare dismiss him, because he was afraid that he would kill him and all his people and then set himself on the royal throne.

　　He thought long and hard, and finally found an answer. He sent a message to the little tailor, informing him that because he was such a great war hero he would make him an offer. In a forest in his country there lived two giants who were causing great damage with robbery, murder, pillage, and arson. No one could approach them without placing himself in mortal danger. If he could conquer and kill these two giants, the king would give him his only daughter to wife and half his kingdom for a dowry. Furthermore, a hundred horsemen would go with him for support.

　　"That is something for a man like you," thought the little tailor. "It is not every day that someone is offered a beautiful princess and half a kingdom."

　　"Yes," he replied. "I shall conquer the giants, but I do not need the hundred horsemen. Anyone who can strike down seven with one blow has no cause to be afraid of two."

　　The little tailor set forth, and the hundred horsemen followed him. At the edge of the forest, he said to them, "You stay here. I shall take care of the giants myself."

　　Leaping into the woods, he looked to the left and to the right. He soon saw the two giants. They were lying asleep under a tree, snoring until the branches bent up and down. The little tailor, not lazy, filled both pockets with stones and climbed the tree. Once in the middle of the tree, he slid out on a branch until he was seated right above the sleepers. Then he dropped one stone after another onto one of the giant's chest. For a long time the giant did not feel anything, but finally he woke up, shoved his companion, and said, "Why are you hitting me?"

　　"You are dreaming," said the other one. "I am not hitting you."

　　They fell asleep again, and the tailor threw a stone at the second one.

　　"What is this?" said the other one. "Why are you throwing things at me?"

　　"I am not throwing anything at you," answered the first one, grumbling.

　　They quarreled for a while, but because they were tired, they made peace, and they both closed their eyes again. Then the little tailor began his game again. Choosing his largest stone, he threw it at the first giant with all his strength, hitting him in the chest.

　　"That is too mean!" shouted the giant, then jumped up like a madman and pushed his companion against the tree, until it shook. The other one paid him back in kind, and they became so angry that they pulled up trees and struck at each other until finally, at the same time, they both fell to the ground dead.

　　Then the little tailor jumped down. "It is fortunate," he said, "that they did not pull up the tree where I was sitting, or I would have had to jump into another one like a squirrel. But people like me are nimble."

　　Drawing his sword, he gave each one a few good blows to the chest, then went back to the horsemen and said, "The work is done. I finished off both of them, but it was hard. In their need they pulled up trees to defend themselves. But it didn't help them, not against someone like me who kills seven with one blow."

　　"Are you not wounded?" asked the horsemen.

　　"Everything is all right," answered the tailor. "They did not so much as bend one of my hairs."

　　Not wanting to believe him, the horesemen rode into the woods. There they found the giants swimming in their own blood, and all around lay the uprooted trees.

　　The little tailor asked the king for the promised reward, but the latter regretted the promise, and once again he began to think of a way to get the hero off his neck. "Before you receive my daughter and half the kingdom," he said, "you must fulfill another heroic deed. In the woods there is a unicorn that is causing much damage. First you must capture it.

　　"I am even less afraid of a unicorn than I was of two giants. Seven with one blow, that is my thing."

　　Taking a rope and an ax, he went into the woods. Once again he told those who went with him to wait behind. He did not have to look very long. The unicorn soon appeared, leaping toward the tailor as if it wanted to spear him at once.

　　"Gently, gently," said the tailor. "Not so fast." He stopped, waited until the animal was very near, then jumped agilely behind a tree. The unicorn ran with all its might into the tree, sticking its horn so tightly into the trunk that it did not have enough strength to pull it out again, and thus it was captured.

　　"Now I have the little bird," said the tailor, coming out from behind the tree. First he tied the rope around the unicorn's neck, then he cut the horn out of the tree with the ax. When everything was ready, he led the animal away and brought it to the king.

　　The king still did not want to give him the promised reward and presented a third requirement. Before the wedding, the tailor was to capture a wild boar that was causing great damage in the woods. Huntsmen were to assist him.

　　"Gladly," said the tailor. "That is child's play."

　　He did not take the huntsmen into woods with him, and they were glad about that, for they had encountered the wild boar before and had no desire to do so again.

　　When the boar saw the tailor he ran toward him with foaming mouth and grinding teeth, wanting to throw him to the ground. But the nimble hero ran into a nearby chapel, then with one leap jumped back out through a window. The boar ran in after him, but the tailor ran around outside and slammed the door. Thus the furious animal was captured, for it was too heavy and clumsy to jump out the window. The little tailor called to the huntsmen. They had to see the captured boar with their own eyes.

　　The hero reported to the king, who now —— whether he wanted to or not —— had to keep his promise and give him his daughter and half the kingdom. If he had known that it was not a war hero, but rather a little tailor standing before him, it would have been even more painful for him. The wedding was thus held with great ceremony but little joy, and a king was made from a tailor.

　　Some time later the young queen heard in the night how her husband said in a dream, "Boy, make the jacket for me, and patch the trousers, or I will hit you across your ears with a yardstick." Thus she determined where the young lord had come from. The next morning she brought her complaint to her father, asking him to help her get rid of the man, who was nothing more than a tailor.

　　The king comforted her, saying, "Tonight leave your bedroom door unlocked. My servants will stand outside, and after he falls asleep they will go inside, bind him, and carry him to a ship that will take him far away from here."

　　The wife was satisfied with this. However, the king's squire, who had a liking for the young lord, heard everything and revealed the whole plot to him.

　　"I'll put a stop to that," said the little tailor. That evening he went to bed with his wife at the usual time. When she thought he was asleep she got up, opened the door, and then went back to bed. The little tailor, who was only pretending to be asleep, began crying out with a clear voice, "Boy, make the jacket for me, and patch the trousers, or I will hit you across your ears with a yardstick! I have struck down seven with one blow, killed two giants, led away a unicorn, and captured a wild boar, and I am supposed to be afraid of those who are standing just outside the bedroom!"

　　When those standing outside heard the tailor say this, they were so overcome with fear that they ran away, as though the wild horde was behind them. None of them dared to approach him ever again.

　　Thus the little tailor was a king, and he remained a king as long as he lived.#p#

            夏季一个阳光明媚的早晨，一个小裁缝坐在靠窗的台子旁，竭尽全力地做着手中活儿。这时，街上走来一个农家妇女，边走边吆喝：「买果酱啦！物美价廉呀！」小裁缝觉得这声音挺悦耳，於是就将一头卷发的脑袋伸出了窗外，喊叫道：

　　「上这儿来吧，亲爱的太太，您的货这儿有人要！」

　　农妇手提沉甸甸的篮子，跨上台阶，来到小裁缝跟前，按照他的吩咐打开一只又一只的罐子。小裁缝挨个仔细察看，还把罐子举到鼻子跟前闻了又闻，最后才说道：「给我来四盎司，亲爱的太太，半镑也行。」

　　农妇原来以为找到了好买主呢，她把小裁缝要的那一点点果酱如数秤给他之后，就气呼呼地嘟哝着走了。

　　「愿上帝保佑，」小裁缝嚷嚷道，「这些果酱能给我带来好胃口。」

　　他从柜子里拿出麵包，切了一片下来，把果酱涂在上面。「我心里有数，不会不可口的，」他说，「不过我得先做完这件背心再吃。」

　　於是，他把涂了果酱的麵包放在身旁，继续缝了起来，心里感到美滋滋的，针脚就一针比一针大了。这时，果酱香甜的气味招引来了一群聚在墙上的苍蝇，它们纷纷落在麵包上，要品嚐一下这美味佳餚。

　　「哪有你们的份啊？」小裁缝说着把苍蝇赶跑了。苍蝇才不理睬他说了甚么，怎么也不肯走，於是落在麵包上的苍蝇越来越多了。这下子，小裁缝火冒三丈，随手抓起一条毛巾，朝着苍蝇狠命地打了下去，打死了整整七只苍蝇，有的连腿都给打飞了。

　　「你可真了不起！」他说道，不禁对自己的勇敢大加讚赏，「全城的人都应该知道你的壮举。」说罢，小裁缝风风火火地为自己裁剪了一条腰带，缝好后，在上面绣了几个醒目的大字：「一下子打死七个！」「不仅仅是全城，」他突然喊了起来，「还得让全世界的人都知道！」说到这儿，他的心激动得欢蹦乱跳，活像一只小羊羔的尾巴。

　　小裁缝把腰带系在腰间，打算出去闯世界，因为在他看来，凭着他的英勇无畏精神，再留在小小的作坊里，就大材小用啦。动身前，他四下里搜寻了一番，看看有没有值得带上的东西，却只发现了一快陈干酪，就随手装进口袋里。在门前，他发现灌木丛中绊住了一只小鸟，便捉来放进装干酪的口袋里。

　　随后，他得意洋洋地上了路。由於个子矮小，他身轻如燕，走起来一点儿也不感到累。走着走着，来到一座大山上。他到了山顶一看，发现一个力大无比的巨人正坐在那儿，悠然自得地环顾左右。小裁缝壮着胆子走到巨人跟前，跟他打招呼：

　　「你好，伙计。你坐在这儿眺望大世界，是吧？我正要去闯闯世界咧，怎么样，有没有心思跟我一快儿去？」

　　巨人轻蔑地瞟了他一眼，扯着嗓子对他说：「你这个小可怜虫！弱不禁风的小瘪三！」

　　「啊哈，你这么小看我，是吗？你再往这儿瞧瞧！」小裁缝回答道。说着解开上衣，露出腰带来给巨人看。「你念一念就知道我是何等人啦。」

　　巨人念了起来：「一下子打死七个」。以为这位裁缝一下子打死的是七个人，心里不禁对小裁缝产生几分敬意。不过，他决心要和小裁缝先试试身手，於是，就拣起一快石头来，用手使劲一捏，捏得石头滴出了水。

　　「要是你真有力气，」巨人说，「也来这么一手吧。」

　　「就这个呀？」小裁缝说，「对本人来说，跟玩儿似的。」说着把手伸进口袋里，掏出那快软绵绵的干酪来，轻轻一捏，乳汁就冒了出来。

　　巨人看了不知说甚么才好，却怀疑这么个小人儿是不是真有那么大的力气。随后，他又拣起一快石头来，朝空中猛地一抛，石头飞得那么高，用肉眼几乎看不见了。

　　「喏，」巨人说，「可怜的小矮子，你也来一下。」

　　「的确，扔得挺高，」小裁缝回敬道，「可是你扔的那快石头还是掉回到了地上。本人给你露一手，扔出去就不会再掉回来。」

　　说罢，他从口袋里把那只小鸟抓出来，往空中一扔。重获自由的小鸟欢欢喜喜地飞走了，头也不回地一下便无影无踪。「喂，伙计，这一手还行吧？」小裁缝问道。

　　「我不否认，扔东西你还行。」巨人回答说，「现在我再瞧瞧你能不能扛动沉重的东西。」

　　他把小裁缝领到一棵已砍倒在地的大橡树跟前。「你要是真有力气，就帮我把这棵树从林子里抬走。」

　　「好的，」小裁缝说，「你扛树干，我扛树枝，这树枝可是最难弄的呀。」

　　巨人扛起树干，小裁缝却坐在了一根树枝上面。巨人没法回头看，不得不整个扛着大树，还扛着坐在树枝上的小裁缝。

　　小裁缝坐在后面，心旷神怡，快乐地吹着口哨，还唱了几句「三个裁缝骑马出了城」这首歌，抬树对他来说彷彿就是一场游戏而已。

　　巨人扛着沉重的大树走了一段路程，累得上气不接下气，嚷嚷着说他再也走不动了，必须把树放下来。

　　小裁缝一下子跳了下来，用两只胳膊抱住树身，做出一副一路上抬着大树的样子，接着对巨人说，「亏你这么个大块头，连棵树也扛不了！」

　　他们一快儿往前走着，来到一棵樱桃树前，树冠上挂满了熟透的樱桃。巨人一把抓住树冠，拉低后递给小裁缝，让他吃个够。可小裁缝哪有这么大的力气抓住樱桃树呢，巨人一松手，树就忽地一下直起了身，小裁缝也随着被弹到了空中。

　　小裁缝安然落地，巨人嚷嚷道：「咳！你连抓住这么一根小树枝的力气也没有啊？」

　　「这和力气有何相干！」小裁缝回答说，「本人一下子能打死七个，你以为我连根小树枝都抓不住吗？林子里有个猎人要朝我开枪，我才急急忙忙跑过树顶。你要是有能耐，跳给我瞧瞧。」

　　巨人试了一下，却没能跳过去，而被挂在了枝丫间。这样一来，小裁缝又佔了上风。

　　於是，巨人说：「你是一个了不起的小勇士，就请你到我的山洞里去过夜吧。」

　　小裁缝很愿意，就跟着他去了。他们来到洞中，只见还有一些巨人围坐在火堆旁，个个手里拿着一只烤羊，像吃麵包似的在吃着。小裁缝心想：「这儿可比我的作坊好多啦。」巨人指给他一张床，叫他躺下休息。可这张床对小裁缝来说，实在是太大了，他没有躺在床中间，而是爬到了一个角落里。半夜时分，那个巨人以为小裁缝睡熟了，抓起一根大铁钉，照准床上猛地紮了下去，以为把这个小蚱蜢给解决了。

　　第二天拂晓，巨人们动身到林子里去，把小裁缝忘得一乾二净。小裁缝仍然像往常一样活蹦乱跳，无忧无虑，朝他们走去。巨人们一见，以为小裁缝要打死他们，个个吓得屁滚尿流，拔腿就跑。小裁缝呢，继续赶他的路，一直往前走去。

　　走了很久，小裁缝来到一座王宫的院子里。这时，他已累得精疲力尽，便倒在地上睡着了。他正躺在那儿睡的时候，不少人过来，看见了他腰带上绣的字：「一下子打死七个！」「哎呀！」他们心想，「这一定是位了不起的英雄。和平时期他到这里来干甚么呢？」他们立即去向国王禀报，说一旦战争爆发，此人大有用场，千万不能放他走呵。

　　国王很讚赏这个主意，便差了一位大臣去找小裁缝，等他一醒来，就请他在军队里效力。这位使者站在一旁，眼睁睁地看着熟睡中的小裁缝，直等到小裁缝伸了伸懒腰，慢慢睁开了双眼，才向他提出请求。

　　「我正是为此而来的，」小裁缝回答说，「本人很愿意为国王效劳。」

　　他於是受到了隆重的接待，得到了一处别緻的住所。可是其他军官却很妒嫉，巴不得他早点儿远远地离开这里。「要是我们和他打起来，」他们交谈着，「他一下子就能打死我们七个，这可怎么是好呢？我们一败涂地呀。」后来，他们决定，一快儿去见国王，提出集体辞职。「我们这号人呐，」他们跟国王解释说，「无法和一位一下子就打死七个人的大英雄共事。」

　　因为一个人而要失去所有忠心耿耿的军官，国王感到十分难过，希望压根儿就没见过这个小裁缝，巴不得能早早把他打发走。可是，国王却没有这个胆量把他赶走，担心小裁缝把他和他的臣民都打死，自己登上王位。他绞尽脑汁，冥思苦想，终於想出一个主意。他派人去告诉小裁缝，说小裁缝是一位出类拔萃、英勇无畏的英雄，因此希望向他做如下提议：

　　在他的领地上，有一座大森林，林中住着两个巨人，他们俩烧杀抢劫无恶不作，为害极大，可是至今却没有谁敢冒生命危险去和他们较量。要是小裁缝能制服和杀死这两个巨人，国王就答应把自己的独生女儿许配给他，并赐给他半个王国，而且还准备给他派去一百名骑士，为他助阵。

　　「对你这样一个人来说，这是多么大的鼓舞呀，」小裁缝心里想道，「一位漂亮的公主，还有半个王国，真是千载难逢的好机会啊。」

　　於是，他回答说：「当然可以啦，我去制服那两个巨人。那一百名骑士嘛，我并不需要他们。我这样一个英雄，一下子能打死七个，那两个怎么会是我的对手呢。」

　　小裁缝出发了，后面跟着一百名骑士。他们来到森林前，他对这些骑士说：「你们就呆在这儿，我一个人去收拾那两个傢伙。」说罢，他独自跑进了林中，一边走着，一边环顾左右。没多大一会儿，就发现了那两个巨人。他们俩躺在一棵大树下正睡觉呢，鼾声如雷，树枝都快被震掉了。小裁缝忙着把两个口袋装满石头，然后爬到树上。爬到一半时，他悄悄地攀上一根树枝，树枝下边就是那两个熟睡中的巨人的脑袋。接着，他把石头接二连三地朝一个巨人的胸口使劲砸下去。这位大傢伙有好一会动也不动一下，后来终於醒了，用力推了推身边的同伴，问道：「你干嘛打我？」

　　「你在做梦吧，」另一个回答说，「谁打你来着？」

　　说完，他们俩又躺下睡了。这回，小裁缝把一块石头朝第二个巨人砸了下去。

　　「干甚么？」第二个嚷嚷起来，「干嘛拿石头打我呀？」

　　「我没有哇。」第一个咆哮着回答说。

　　他们争吵了几句，却因为感到困乏，又闭上眼睛睡了。小裁缝呢，故伎重演，选了一块最大的石头，朝第一个巨人狠命砸了下去。

　　「这太不像话啦！」第一个巨人吼了起来。他疯了一样地从地上一跃而起，把他的同伴朝树上猛地一搡，撞得大树都摇晃起来了。第二个分毫不让，以牙还牙，两个傢伙怒不可遏，把一棵棵大树连根拔起，朝着对方猛扔过去，最后他们两败俱伤，都倒在地上死了。

　　小裁缝立即从树上跳了下来。「真是万幸，」他说道，「他们没有拔掉我刚才上的那棵树。」

　　说罢，他拔出剑来，在每个巨人的胸口上猛刺一剑，然后他走到那些骑士面前说：「完事了，那两个巨人都被我给解决了，可真是一场惊心动魄的遭遇呀。他们见势不妙就把大树连根拔起进行顽抗，当然啦，面对本人这样一下子能打死七个的英雄，那是徒劳的。」

　　骑士们策马跑进森林一看，两个巨人躺在血泊之中，四周还有连根拔出的大树，这才相信了小裁缝的话。

　　返回后，小裁缝要求国王把答应给他的奖赏赐给他，国王却后悔了，又左思右想，考虑怎样才能把小裁缝打发走。

　　「你在得到我的女儿和半个王国之前，」他说，「必须再完成一个壮举。在那座森林里，有一头危害很大的独角兽，你必须把它捕捉住。」

　　「两个巨人我都没怕，一头独角兽又有甚么可怕的呀。」小裁缝吹嘘道。

　　小裁缝带着一根绳索和一把斧头便动身去了森林，告诉他的随从们在森林外等着。他没找多大功夫，便发现那头独角兽就在眼前，并且正向他直冲过来。

　　他纹丝不动地站在那里，等独角兽逼近了，敏捷地一下子跳到树后。独角兽发疯似的朝大树撞过来，把角牢牢地戳进了树干里，怎么拔也拔不出来，就被捉住了。

　　「伙计，这回我可逮住你啦，」小裁缝从树后转出来后说道。他用那根绳索把独角兽的脖子捆了起来，然后用斧头劈开树干，松开兽角，牵着独角兽回去见国王。

　　谁知国王还是不肯把答应给小裁缝的奖赏赐给他，又提出了第三个条件。他必须再到森林里去把一头危害很大的野猪逮住，然后才举行婚礼。

　　「我很乐意去，」小裁缝回答说，「逮住一头野猪那还不是跟玩儿似的。」

　　野猪一见小裁缝，就口里冒着白沫，咬着牙，朝他猛冲过来，想一头把他撞倒在地。谁知勇敢的小裁缝敏捷地跳进了旁边的一座小教堂，眨眼之间，又从窗口跳了出去。野猪追进了教堂，小裁缝从教堂后面几步跑了过来，把门关住，气势汹汹的野猪又重又笨，没法从窗口跳出去，就这样被擒住了。

　　然后，勇敢的小裁缝去见国王，告诉他说，愿意也罢，不愿意也罢，他这次必须信守诺言，把他的女儿和半个王国赏赐给他。

　　他们的婚礼隆重举行，欢笑却很少。不过，小裁缝还是当上了国王啦。

　　不久，年轻的王后在一天夜里听见丈夫说梦话。小裁缝在梦中大声地嚷嚷着：「徒弟，快点儿把这件背心缝好，再把这条裤子补一补，不然我就让你的脑袋尝尝尺子的厉害。」这样一来，她便弄清了她的君主和丈夫是甚么出身。第二天一早就对父亲大发牢骚，抱怨国王给她选择的丈夫只不过是一个下贱的裁缝。

　　国王安慰她说：「今天晚上，你打开化妆室的门，我派侍从守在外边，等他睡着了，我的侍从就悄悄地进去把他捆起来，然后放到一艘船上，把他送到天涯海角。」

　　当了国王的小裁缝有个男仆，听见了老国王说的话，就把这个阴谋禀报了主子。

　　到了晚上，小裁缝像往常一样按时上床就寝，躺在妻子身边。她以为他已经入睡，就从床上爬起来，打开了化妆室的门，然后又躺在床上。小裁缝只是在装睡，这时便开始尖着嗓子喊叫起来：「徒弟，把这件背心缝好，再把这条裤子补一补，不然我就让你的脑袋尝尝尺子的厉害。我一下子打死了七个，杀死了两个巨人，捉住了一头独角兽，还逮住了一头大野猪，难道我还怕化妆室里的哪一个不成？」听到了小裁缝的这一番话，打算把他捆绑起来的那几个人，个个吓得要死，拔腿就逃走啦。从此，再没有谁敢碰他一根毫毛。就这样，勇敢的小裁缝继续当他的国王，一直当到离开人世。

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