Iron Hans

There was once upon a time a king who had a great forest near his palace, full of all kinds of wild animals. One day he sent out a huntsman to shoot him a roe, but he did not come back. ‘Perhaps some accident has befallen him,’ said the king, and the next day he sent out two more huntsmen who were to search for him, but they too stayed away. Then on the third day, he sent for all his huntsmen, and said: ‘Scour the whole forest through, and do not give up until you have found all three.’ But of these also, none came home again, none were seen again. From that time forth, no one would any longer venture into the forest, and it lay there in deep stillness and solitude, and nothing was seen of it, but sometimes an eagle or a hawk flying over it. This lasted for many years, when an unknown huntsman announced himself to the king as seeking a situation, and offered to go into the dangerous forest. The king, however, would not give his consent, and said: ‘It is not safe in there; I fear it would fare with you no better than with the others, and you would never come out again.’ The huntsman replied: ‘Lord, I will venture it at my own risk, of fear I know nothing.’

むかしあるところに、宮殿の近くに大きな森を持つ王がいた。森はあらゆる種類の野の獣でいっぱいだった。ある日、王は狩人を一人遣わして鹿を一頭射させようとしたが、狩人は帰って来なかった。「何か事故に遭ったのかもしれぬ」と王は言い、あくる日はさらに二人の狩人を捜索に遣わしたが、この二人も戻らなかった。そこで三日めに王は狩人をみな呼んで言った。「森じゅうをくまなく探し回れ。三人とも見つけるまで諦めるな。」けれどもこの者たちもまた誰一人帰らず、二度と姿を見られなかった。その時から誰一人としてあえて森へ入ろうとしなくなり、森は深い静寂と孤独のうちに横たわり、ときおり鷲か鷹がその上を飛ぶほかには何も見られなかった。これが長年続いたころ、見知らぬ狩人が王のもとに職を求めて名乗り出て、あの危険な森へ入ろうと申し出た。けれども王は承知せず、こう言った。「あそこは危ない。そちもほかの者と同じ目に遭って、二度と出て来られぬのではないかと案じる。」狩人は答えた。「王さま、自分の危険を承知で試みます。恐れというものをわたしは知りません。」

The huntsman therefore betook himself with his dog to the forest. It was not long before the dog fell in with some game on the way, and wanted to pursue it; but hardly had the dog run two steps when it stood before a deep pool, could go no farther, and a naked arm stretched itself out of the water, seized it, and drew it under. When the huntsman saw that, he went back and fetched three men to come with buckets and bale out the water. When they could see to the bottom there lay a wild man whose body was brown like rusty iron, and whose hair hung over his face down to his knees. They bound him with cords, and led him away to the castle. There was great astonishment over the wild man; the king, however, had him put in an iron cage in his courtyard, and forbade the door to be opened on pain of death, and the queen herself was to take the key into her keeping. And from this time forth everyone could again go into the forest with safety.

そこで狩人は犬を連れて森へ向かった。まもなく犬が道で何かの獲物に出くわして追おうとした。ところが犬が二歩も走らぬうちに深い淵の前に立って、それ以上進めなくなり、裸の腕が水から伸びて犬をつかみ、引き込んでしまった。狩人はそれを見ると引き返して、三人の男に桶を持って来させ、水を汲み出させた。底が見えるようになると、そこに野人が横たわっていた。体は錆びた鉄のように茶色く、髪は顔にかぶさって膝まで垂れていた。男たちは野人を縄で縛り、城へ連れて行った。野人をめぐって大変な驚きようだったが、王はその野人を中庭の鉄の檻に入れ、死罪をもって扉を開けることを禁じ、王妃自身が鍵を預かることにした。そしてこの時から、誰もがまた安心して森へ入れるようになった。

The king had a son of eight years, who was once playing in the courtyard, and while he was playing, his golden ball fell into the cage. The boy ran thither and said: ‘Give me my ball out.’ ‘Not till 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 ran away. The next day he again went and asked for his ball; the wild man said: ‘Open my door,’ but the boy would not. On the third day the king had ridden out hunting, and the boy went once more and said: ‘I cannot open the door even if I wished, for I have not the key.’ Then the wild man said: ‘It lies under your mother’s pillow, you can get it there.’ The boy, who wanted to have his ball back, cast all thought to the winds, and brought the key. The door opened with difficulty, and the boy pinched his fingers. When it was open the wild man stepped out, gave him the golden ball, and hurried away. The boy had become afraid; he called and cried after him: ‘Oh, wild man, do not go away, or I shall be beaten!’ The wild man turned back, took him up, set him on his shoulder, and went with hasty steps into the forest. When the king came home, he observed the empty cage, and asked the queen how that had happened. She knew nothing about it, and sought the key, but it was gone. She called the boy, but no one answered. The king sent out people to seek for him in the fields, but they did not find him. Then he could easily guess what had happened, and much grief reigned in the royal court.

王には八つになる息子があり、あるとき中庭で遊んでいたが、遊んでいるうちに黄金の毬が檻の中へ入ってしまった。少年は駆け寄って言った。「わたしの毬を出しておくれ。」「おまえが扉を開けてくれるまではやらぬ」と野人は答えた。「いやだ」と少年は言った。「そんなことはしない。王さまが禁じている。」そして駆け去った。あくる日も少年は行って毬をくれと頼み、野人は「わたしの扉を開けろ」と言ったが、少年はしなかった。三日めに王が狩りに出かけていて、少年はもう一度行ってこう言った。「開けたくても開けられない。鍵を持っていないから。」すると野人は言った。「それはおまえの母上の枕の下にある。そこから取れるぞ。」毬を返してほしくてたまらない少年は、あれこれの思いを風に投げ捨てて、鍵を持って来た。扉は開けにくく、少年は指をはさんだ。開くと野人は外へ出て、黄金の毬を渡し、急いで去って行った。少年は怖くなって、後ろから呼んで泣き叫んだ。「ああ、野人よ、行かないで、ぶたれてしまう!」野人は引き返し、少年を抱き上げて肩に載せ、足早に森へ入って行った。王が家に帰って空の檻に気づき、どうしたことかと王妃に尋ねた。王妃は何も知らず、鍵を探したがなくなっていた。王妃は少年を呼んだが、誰も答えなかった。王は人を出して野で探させたが、見つからなかった。そこで何が起こったかはたやすく察せられ、王宮には大きな嘆きが満ちた。

When the wild man had once more reached the dark forest, he took the boy down from his shoulder, and said to him: ‘You will never see your father and mother again, but I will keep you with me, for you have set me free, and I have compassion on you. If you do all I bid you, you shall fare well. Of treasure and gold have I enough, and more than anyone in the world.’ He made a bed of moss for the boy on which he slept, and the next morning the man took him to a well, and said: ‘Behold, the gold well is as bright and clear as crystal, you shall sit beside it, and take care that nothing falls into it, or it will be polluted. I will come every evening to see if you have obeyed my order.’ The boy placed himself by the brink of the well, and often saw a golden fish or a golden snake show itself therein, and took care that nothing fell in. As he was thus sitting, his finger hurt him so violently that he involuntarily put it in the water. He drew it quickly out again, but saw that it was quite gilded, and whatsoever pains he took to wash the gold off again, all was to no purpose. In the evening Iron Hans came back, looked at the boy, and said: ‘What has happened to the well?’ ‘Nothing nothing,’ he answered, and held his finger behind his back, that the man might not see it. But he said: ‘You have dipped your finger into the water, this time it may pass, but take care you do not again let anything go in.’ By daybreak the boy was already sitting by the well and watching it. His finger hurt him again and he passed it over his head, and then unhappily a hair fell down into the well. He took it quickly out, but it was already quite gilded. Iron Hans came, and already knew what had happened. ‘You have let a hair fall into the well,’ said he. ‘I will allow you to watch by it once more, but if this happens for the third time then the well is polluted and you can no longer remain with me.’

野人がまた暗い森に着くと、少年を肩から下ろしてこう言った。「おまえは二度と父上にも母上にも会えぬ。だがわたしのもとに置いてやろう。おまえがわたしを自由にしてくれたのだし、おまえを憐れにも思うからだ。わたしの言いつけを何でも守れば、暮らしに困りはせぬ。宝も黄金も、わたしは世の誰よりも多く持っているのだ。」野人は少年のために苔の寝床をこしらえ、少年はそこで眠った。そしてあくる朝、野人は少年を泉へ連れて行って言った。「見よ、この黄金の泉は水晶のように明るく澄んでいる。おまえはそのそばに座って、何ひとつ中へ落ちないよう気をつけるのだ。落ちれば泉は汚れてしまう。わたしは毎晩来て、言いつけを守ったか見るからな。」少年は泉の縁に身を置き、しばしば黄金の魚や黄金の蛇が中に姿を見せるのを眺め、何も落ちないよう気をつけた。そうして座っていると、指があまりに激しく痛んだので、思わずそれを水に入れてしまった。すぐに引き抜いたが、指はすっかり金色になっていて、どんなに苦労して金を洗い落とそうとしても、何の役にも立たなかった。夕方、鉄のハンスが戻って来て、少年を見てこう言った。「泉に何があった?」「何も、何もありません」と少年は答え、見られないように指を後ろに隠した。けれども野人は言った。「おまえは指を水に浸した。今度は見逃してやるが、二度と何も入れぬよう気をつけろ。」夜明けには少年はもう泉のそばに座って見張っていた。ところがまた指が痛んで、それを頭の上になでつけたとき、運悪く髪が一本泉に落ちた。すぐに取り出したが、それはもうすっかり金色になっていた。鉄のハンスが来て、何が起きたかもう知っていた。「おまえは髪を一本泉に落としたな」と野人は言った。「もう一度だけ見張らせてやろう。だが三度めが起これば泉は汚れて、おまえはもうわたしのもとにいられぬ。」

On the third day, the boy sat by the well, and did not stir his finger, however much it hurt him. But the time was long to him, and he looked at the reflection of his face on the surface of the water. And as he still bent down more and more while he was doing so, and trying to look straight into the eyes, his long hair fell down from his shoulders into the water. He raised himself up quickly, but the whole of the hair of his head was already golden and shone like the sun. You can imagine how terrified the poor boy was! He took his pocket-handkerchief and tied it round his head, in order that the man might not see it. When he came he already knew everything, and said: ‘Take the handkerchief off.’ Then the golden hair streamed forth, and let the boy excuse himself as he might, it was of no use. ‘You have not stood the trial and can stay here no longer. Go forth into the world, there you will learn what poverty is. But as you have not a bad heart, and as I mean well by you, there is one thing I will grant you; if you fall into any difficulty, come to the forest and cry: “Iron Hans,” and then I will come and help you. My power is great, greater than you think, and I have gold and silver in abundance.’

三日め、少年は泉のそばに座り、どれほど痛んでも指を動かさなかった。けれども時が長く感じられ、水面に映る自分の顔を眺めた。そしてそうしながらますます身をかがめ、まっすぐ目の中を覗き込もうとするうちに、長い髪が肩から水へ落ちた。少年は急いで身を起こしたが、頭の髪はもうすっかり黄金になって、太陽のように輝いていた。哀れな少年がどんなに怯えたか、想像がつくだろう! 少年は手拭いを取って頭に巻き、野人に見られないようにした。野人は来ると、もう何もかも知っていて、こう言った。「手拭いを取れ。」すると黄金の髪が流れ落ち、少年がいくら言い訳をしても無駄だった。「おまえは試しに耐えられなかった。もうここにはいられぬ。世界へ出て行き、そこで貧しさというものを知るがよい。だがおまえは悪い心を持っていないし、わたしもおまえによかれと思っているから、一つだけ授けてやろう。困ったことがあれば森へ来て『鉄のハンス』と叫べ。そうすればわたしが行って助けてやる。わたしの力は大きい、おまえが思うよりも大きいのだ。そして黄金も銀もありあまるほど持っている。」

Then the king’s son left the forest, and walked by beaten and unbeaten paths ever onwards until at length he reached a great city. There he looked for work, but could find none, and he learnt nothing by which he could help himself. At length he went to the palace, and asked if they would take him in. The people about court did not at all know what use they could make of him, but they liked him, and told him to stay. At length the cook took him into his service, and said he might carry wood and water, and rake the cinders together. Once when it so happened that no one else was at hand, the cook ordered him to carry the food to the royal table, but as he did not like to let his golden hair be seen, he kept his little cap on. Such a thing as that had never yet come under the king’s notice, and he said: ‘When you come to the royal table you must take your hat off.’ He answered: ‘Ah, Lord, I cannot; I have a bad sore place on my head.’ Then the king had the cook called before him and scolded him, and asked how he could take such a boy as that into his service; and that he was to send him away at once. The cook, however, had pity on him, and exchanged him for the gardener’s boy.

そこで王子は森を去り、踏み固められた道も踏み固められていない道も歩き続けて、とうとう大きな町に着いた。そこで仕事を探したが見つからず、身を助けられるような技も何ひとつ身につけていなかった。とうとう宮殿へ行って、置いてもらえないかと尋ねた。宮廷の人々には少年をどう使えばよいかまるで分からなかったが、少年を気に入って、いるようにと言った。とうとう料理人が召し使うことにして、薪と水を運び、灰をかき集めればよいと言った。あるとき、ほかに誰も手が空いていなかったので、料理人は少年に王の食卓へ料理を運ぶよう命じた。けれども少年は黄金の髪を見られたくなかったので、小さな帽子をかぶったままにした。そんなことはそれまで王の目に触れたことがなく、王は言った。「王の食卓に来るときは帽子を取らねばならぬ。」少年は答えた。「ああ、王さま、それはできません。頭にひどい腫れ物があるのです。」そこで王は料理人を呼びつけて叱り、どうしてあんな少年を召し使えるのか、すぐに追い出せと言った。けれども料理人は少年を憐れみ、庭師の下男と取り替えてやった。

And now the boy had to plant and water the garden, hoe and dig, and bear the wind and bad weather. Once in summer when he was working alone in the garden, the day was so warm he took his little cap off that the air might cool him. As the sun shone on his hair it glittered and flashed so that the rays fell into the bedroom of the king’s daughter, and up she sprang to see what that could be. Then she saw the boy, and cried to him: ‘Boy, bring me a wreath of flowers.’ He put his cap on with all haste, and gathered wild field-flowers and bound them together. When he was ascending the stairs with them, the gardener met him, and said: ‘How can you take the king’s daughter a garland of such common flowers? Go quickly, and get another, and seek out the prettiest and rarest.’ ‘Oh, no,’ replied the boy, ‘the wild ones have more scent, and will please her better.’ When he got into the room, the king’s daughter said: ‘Take your cap off, it is not seemly to keep it on in my presence.’ He again said: ‘I may not, I have a sore head.’ She, however, caught at his cap and pulled it off, and then his golden hair rolled down on his shoulders, and it was splendid to behold. He wanted to run out, but she held him by the arm, and gave him a handful of ducats. With these he departed, but he cared nothing for the gold pieces. He took them to the gardener, and said: ‘I present them to your children, they can play with them.’ The following day the king’s daughter again called to him that he was to bring her a wreath of field-flowers, and then he went in with it, she instantly snatched at his cap, and wanted to take it away from him, but he held it fast with both hands. She again gave him a handful of ducats, but he would not keep them, and gave them to the gardener for playthings for his children. On the third day things went just the same; she could not get his cap away from him, and he would not have her money.

こうして少年は庭に植え、水をやり、鍬を入れ、掘り、風と悪天候に耐えねばならなくなった。あるとき夏に、一人で庭で働いていると、その日はあまりに暖かかったので、風に当たろうと小さな帽子を取った。すると日が髪に照って、きらきら閃き、その光が王の姫の寝室に射し込んだ。姫はそれが何かと見ようと跳び起きた。そして少年を見つけて叫んだ。「そこの少年、花の冠を持っておいで。」少年は大あわてで帽子をかぶり、野の花を摘んで束ねた。それを持って階段を上っていると庭師に出会い、庭師は言った。「そんなありふれた花の花輪を、どうして王の姫君に持って行けるものか? 早く行って別のを作れ。いちばんきれいで珍しいのを探すのだ。」「いいえ」と少年は答えた。「野の花の方が香りが強くて、姫君もお喜びになるでしょう。」少年が部屋へ入ると、王の姫は言った。「帽子をお取り。わたしの前でかぶったままとは無作法です。」少年はまた言った。「できません。頭に腫れ物があるのです。」けれども姫は帽子をつかんで引き取った。すると黄金の髪が肩に転がり落ち、それは見事な眺めだった。少年は走って出ようとしたが、姫は腕をつかんで、ドゥカート金貨をひとつかみ与えた。少年はそれを持って立ち去ったが、金貨など少しも気にかけなかった。庭師のところへ持って行ってこう言った。「これはお子さんたちに差し上げます。遊び道具になるでしょう。」あくる日も王の姫は少年を呼んで、野の花の冠を持って来るように言った。そして少年がそれを持って入ると、姫はすぐさま帽子に飛びついて取り上げようとしたが、少年は両手でしっかり押さえた。姫はまたドゥカート金貨をひとつかみ与えたが、少年は取っておかず、庭師の子どもたちの遊び道具にと渡した。三日めもまったく同じだった。姫は帽子を取り上げられず、少年は姫の金を受け取らなかった。

Not long afterwards, the country was overrun by war. The king gathered together his people, and did not know whether or not he could offer any opposition to the enemy, who was superior in strength and had a mighty army. Then said the gardener’s boy: ‘I am grown up, and will go to the wars also, only give me a horse.’ The others laughed, and said: ‘Seek one for yourself when we are gone, we will leave one behind us in the stable for you.’ When they had gone forth, he went into the stable, and led the horse out; it was lame of one foot, and limped hobblety jib, hobblety jib; nevertheless he mounted it, and rode away to the dark forest. When he came to the outskirts, he called ‘Iron Hans’ three times so loudly that it echoed through the trees. Thereupon the wild man appeared immediately, and said: ‘What do you desire?’ ‘I want a strong steed, for I am going to the wars.’ ‘That you shall have, and still more than you ask for.’ Then the wild man went back into the forest, and it was not long before a stable-boy came out of it, who led a horse that snorted with its nostrils, and could hardly be restrained, and behind them followed a great troop of warriors entirely equipped in iron, and their swords flashed in the sun. The youth made over his three-legged horse to the stable-boy, mounted the other, and rode at the head of the soldiers. When he got near the battlefield a great part of the king’s men had already fallen, and little was wanting to make the rest give way. Then the youth galloped thither with his iron soldiers, broke like a hurricane over the enemy, and beat down all who opposed him. They began to flee, but the youth pursued, and never stopped, until there was not a single man left. Instead of returning to the king, however, he conducted his troop by byways back to the forest, and called forth Iron Hans. ‘What do you desire?’ asked the wild man. ‘Take back your horse and your troops, and give me my three-legged horse again.’ All that he asked was done, and soon he was riding on his three-legged horse. When the king returned to his palace, his daughter went to meet him, and wished him joy of his victory. ‘I am not the one who carried away the victory,’ said he, ‘but a strange knight who came to my assistance with his soldiers.’ The daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was, but the king did not know, and said: ‘He followed the enemy, and I did not see him again.’ She inquired of the gardener where his boy was, but he smiled, and said: ‘He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and the others have been mocking him, and crying: “Here comes our hobblety jib back again!” They asked, too: “Under what hedge have you been lying sleeping all the time?” So he said: “I did the best of all, and it would have gone badly without me.” And then he was still more ridiculed.’

それからまもなく、この国は戦に襲われた。王は民を集めたが、自分より力の勝る、強大な軍を持つ敵に立ち向かえるかどうか分からなかった。そこで庭師の下男が言った。「わたしも大人になりました。戦へ行きます。馬を一頭ください。」ほかの者たちは笑って言った。「おれたちが行ってしまってから、自分で探せ。一頭厩に残しておいてやるよ。」彼らが出て行ってから、少年は厩へ入って馬を引き出した。その馬は片足が悪く、足を引いて、ひょこ、ひょこと歩いた。それでも少年はそれにまたがり、暗い森へ馬を進めた。森のはずれに来ると、「鉄のハンス」と三度、木々にこだまするほど大きな声で呼んだ。するとたちまち野人が現れて言った。「何が望みだ?」「強い馬がほしい。戦へ行くのです。」「それはやろう。そしておまえが求める以上のものもな。」そして野人は森へ戻り、まもなく厩番が出て来て、鼻息も荒く、抑えるのもやっとという馬を引いていた。そしてその後ろには、全身を鉄で装った大勢の兵士が続き、その剣が日に閃いた。若者は三本足の馬を厩番に渡し、もう一頭にまたがって兵士たちの先頭に立った。戦場に近づくと、王の兵の大半がすでに倒れていて、残りも崩れ去る寸前だった。そこで若者は鉄の兵士たちとともにそこへ駆けつけ、嵐のように敵を突き破り、立ちはだかる者をみな打ち倒した。敵は逃げ始めたが、若者は追い、一人も残らなくなるまで止まらなかった。けれども王のもとへ戻らず、脇道を通って部隊を森へ連れ帰り、鉄のハンスを呼び出した。「何が望みだ?」と野人は尋ねた。「あなたの馬と兵士を返します。わたしの三本足の馬を返してください。」求めたことはみな叶えられ、まもなく若者は三本足の馬に乗っていた。王が宮殿に帰ると、姫が迎えに出て勝利を祝った。「勝利をもたらしたのはわしではない」と王は言った。「兵を率いて助けに来てくれた、見知らぬ騎士だ。」姫はその見知らぬ騎士が誰なのか聞きたがったが、王は知らず、こう言った。「敵を追って行って、それきり姿を見ておらぬ。」姫は庭師にあの少年はどこかと尋ねたが、庭師は笑って言った。「ちょうど三本足の馬で帰って来たところです。ほかの者たちがからかって、『そら、うちのひょこひょこがまた帰って来たぞ!』と叫んでおりました。それに『おまえはその間ずっと、どの生け垣の下で寝ていたんだ?』とも聞きました。すると本人は『おれがいちばんの働きをした。おれがいなければひどいことになっていたさ』と言うので、なおさら笑われております。」

The king said to his daughter: ‘I will proclaim a great feast that shall last for three days, and you shall throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknown man will show himself.’ When the feast was announced, the youth went out to the forest, and called Iron Hans. ‘What do you desire?’ asked he. ‘That I may catch the king’s daughter’s golden apple.’ ‘It is as safe as if you had it already,’ said Iron Hans. ‘You shall likewise have a suit of red armour for the occasion, and ride on a spirited chestnut-horse.’ When the day came, the youth galloped to the spot, took his place amongst the knights, and was recognized by no one. The king’s daughter came forward, and threw a golden apple to the knights, but none of them caught it but he, only as soon as he had it he galloped away.

王は姫に言った。「三日続きの大きな祝宴を触れ出そう。そなたは黄金の林檎を投げるのだ。ひょっとするとあの見知らぬ男が姿を見せるかもしれぬ。」祝宴が触れ出されると、若者は森へ出て鉄のハンスを呼んだ。「何が望みだ?」と野人は尋ねた。「王の姫の黄金の林檎を受け取れますように。」「もう手にしたも同然だ」と鉄のハンスは言った。「その折のために赤い鎧もやろう。そして勇ましい栗毛の馬に乗るがよい。」当日になると若者はその場へ駆けつけ、騎士たちのあいだに身を置いたが、誰にも気づかれなかった。王の姫が進み出て、黄金の林檎を騎士たちに投げたが、受け取ったのは若者のほかになく、受け取るやいなや駆け去った。

On the second day Iron Hans equipped him as a white knight, and gave him a white horse. Again he was the only one who caught the apple, and he did not linger an instant, but galloped off with it. The king grew angry, and said: ‘That is not allowed; he must appear before me and tell his name.’ He gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple, should go away again they should pursue him, and if he would not come back willingly, they were to cut him down and stab him.

二日めには鉄のハンスは若者を白い騎士に装わせ、白い馬を与えた。またしても林檎を受け取ったのは若者だけで、一瞬も留まらずにそれを持って駆け去った。王は怒って言った。「それは許されぬ。あの者はわしの前に出て名を名乗らねばならぬ。」そして、林檎を受け取った騎士がまた去ろうとするなら追え、進んで戻らぬなら斬り伏せて刺せと命じた。

On the third day, he received from Iron Hans a suit of black armour and a black horse, and again he caught the apple. But when he was riding off with it, the king’s attendants pursued him, and one of them got so near him that he wounded the youth’s leg with the point of his sword. The youth nevertheless escaped from them, but his horse leapt so violently that the helmet fell from the youth’s head, and they could see that he had golden hair. They rode back and announced this to the king.

三日めには、若者は鉄のハンスから黒い鎧と黒い馬を受け取り、また林檎を受け取った。けれどもそれを持って駆け去るとき、王の家来たちが追い、そのうちの一人がたいそう近づいて、剣の先で若者の脚に傷を負わせた。それでも若者は彼らから逃れたが、馬があまりに激しく跳ねたので兜が頭から落ち、彼らは若者が黄金の髪をしているのを見た。彼らは引き返して、そのことを王に告げた。

The following day the king’s daughter asked the gardener about his boy. ‘He is at work in the garden; the queer creature has been at the festival too, and only came home yesterday evening; he has likewise shown my children three golden apples which he has won.’

あくる日、王の姫は庭師にあの少年のことを尋ねた。「庭で働いております。あの妙な者も祝宴に行っておりまして、昨日の晩にやっと帰って来ました。それに、勝ち取ったという黄金の林檎を三つ、うちの子どもたちに見せてくれました。」

The king had him summoned into his presence, and he came and again had his little cap on his head. But the king’s daughter went up to him and took it off, and then his golden hair fell down over his shoulders, and he was so handsome that all were amazed. ‘Are you the knight who came every day to the festival, always in different colours, and who caught the three golden apples?’ asked the king. ‘Yes,’ answered he, ‘and here the apples are,’ and he took them out of his pocket, and returned them to the king. ‘If you desire further proof, you may see the wound which your people gave me when they followed me. But I am likewise the knight who helped you to your victory over your enemies.’ ‘If you can perform such deeds as that, you are no gardener’s boy; tell me, who is your father?’ ‘My father is a mighty king, and gold have I in plenty as great as I require.’ ‘I well see,’ said the king, ‘that I owe my thanks to you; can I do anything to please you?’ ‘Yes,’ answered he, ‘that indeed you can. Give me your daughter to wife.’ The maiden laughed, and said: ‘He does not stand much on ceremony, but I have already seen by his golden hair that he was no gardener’s boy,’ and then she went and kissed him. His father and mother came to the wedding, and were in great delight, for they had given up all hope of ever seeing their dear son again. And as they were sitting at the marriage-feast, the music suddenly stopped, the doors opened, and a stately king came in with a great retinue. He went up to the youth, embraced him and said: ‘I am Iron Hans, and was by enchantment a wild man, but you have set me free; all the treasures which I possess, shall be your property.’

王は若者を召し出させ、若者は来たが、また小さな帽子を頭にかぶっていた。けれども王の姫が近づいてそれを取ると、黄金の髪が肩に落ちかかり、若者はあまりに見目よく、誰もが驚いた。「そちが毎日、いつも違う色で祝宴に来て、三つの黄金の林檎を受け取った騎士か?」と王は尋ねた。「はい」と若者は答えた。「林檎はここにあります。」そして懐から取り出して王に返した。「さらに証が要るなら、追って来たあなたの家来たちがわたしに負わせた傷をご覧ください。それにわたしは、あなたが敵に勝つのを助けた騎士でもあります。」「そのような働きができるなら、そちは庭師の下男などではあるまい。言え、そちの父は誰だ?」「わたしの父は強大な王です。黄金も、要るだけたっぷり持っています。」「よく分かった」と王は言った。「わしはそちに礼をせねばならぬ。何か喜ばせられることはあるか?」「はい」と若者は答えた。「まさにございます。姫君を妻にください。」乙女は笑って言った。「ずいぶん遠慮のない方。でもわたしはもう、この方の黄金の髪で庭師の下男などではないと見抜いていましたわ。」そして近寄って口づけした。若者の父と母も婚礼に来て、大いに喜んだ。いとしい息子にまた会える望みをすっかり捨てていたからである。そして一同が婚礼の宴に着いていると、突然楽の音がやみ、扉が開いて、堂々たる王が大勢の供を連れて入って来た。王は若者のところへ行って抱きしめ、こう言った。「わたしは鉄のハンスだ。魔法によって野人になっていたが、おまえがわたしを自由にしてくれた。わたしの持つ宝はみな、おまえのものとなろう。」