"I like many things better than money. First, I will have a bow that
will bring me down everything I shoot at; secondly, a fiddle that will
set every one dancing that hears me play upon it; and, thirdly, I
should like to be able to make every one grant me whatever I ask."
The dwarf said he should have his three wishes, gave him the bow and
the fiddle, and went his way.
Our honest friend journeyed on his way too, and if he was merry
before, he was now ten times more so. He had not gone far before he
met an old Jew. Close by them stood a tree, and on the topmost twig
sat a thrush, singing away most joyfully.
"Oh what a pretty bird!" said the Jew. "I would give a great deal of
my money to have such a one."
"If that's all," said the countryman, "I will soon bring it down."
He took up his bow, off went his arrow, and down fell the thrush into
a bush that grew at the foot of the tree. The Jew, when he saw that he
could have the bird, thought he would cheat the man, so he put his
money into his pocket again, and crept into the bush to find the
prize. As soon as he had got into the middle, his companion took up
his fiddle and played away, and the Jew began to dance and spring
about, capering higher and higher in the air. The thorns soon began to
tear his clothes, till they all hung in rags about him, and he himself
was all scratched and wounded, so that the blood ran down.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!" cried the Jew. "Mercy, mercy, master! Pray
stop the fiddle! What have I done to be treated in this way?"
"What hast thou done? Why, thou hast shaved many a poor soul close
enough," said the other. "Thou art only meeting thy reward;" and he
played up another tune yet merrier than the first.
Then the Jew began to beg and pray, and at last he said he would give
plenty of his money to be set free. He did not, however, come up to
the musician's price for some time, so he danced him along brisker and
brisker. The higher the Jew danced, the higher he bid, till at last he
offered a round hundred crowns that he had in his purse, and had just
gained by cheating some poor fellow. When the countryman saw so much
money, he said--
"I agree to the bargain," and, taking the purse and putting up his
fiddle, he travelled on well pleased.
Meanwhile the Jew crept out of the bush, half naked, and in a piteous
plight, and began to ponder how he should take his revenge and serve
his late companion some trick. At length he went to a judge, and said
that a rascal had robbed him of his money, and beaten him soundly into
the bargain, and that this fellow carried a bow at his back, and had a
fiddle hanging round his neck. The judge sent out his bailiffs to
bring up the man whenever they should find him. The countryman was
soon caught, and brought up to be tried.
The Jew began his tale, and said he had been robbed of his money.
"Robbed, indeed!" said the countryman; "why, you gave it me for
playing you a tune, and teaching you to dance."
The judge said that was not likely; that the Jew, he was sure, knew
better what to do with his money; and he cut the matter short by
sending the countryman off to the gallows.
Away he was taken, but as he stood at the foot of the ladder, he
said--
"My Lord Judge, may it please your worship to grant me but one boon?"
"Anything but thy life," replied the other.
"No," said he; "I do not ask my life. Only let me play upon my fiddle
for the last time."