Once upon a time there was a cottager's son whom people called Jack Simple. He could not count up to five, and his Far would not e'en trust him to take their only cow to graze, in case he managed to lose her. Only the elder Bror's were allowed to go to the pasture.
Jack was unhappy about this, and one day he told his Far: "Father, let me take the cow to the pasture, you will see that all will be well."
At first his Far would not hear of it, but in the end he let Jack have his way. Jack took the cow on a piece of rope, and set off behind the cottage. But all they found there were thistles and nettles. "Be patient cow, I shall find you better fare," exclaimed the lad, and he took the cow down to the river.
Nei sooner had they reached the bank, when the cow jumped into the water and set out to swim to the other side. It was all Jack could do to catch her by the tail. "Stop, you brutish creature," cried Jack, angrily. But, the cow took nei notice and dragged him along through field and hedgerow until they reached a fine castle.
All things inside the castle were of silver and gold, and the stables had the scent of fresh hay. The cow went up to a manger and began to munch contentedly. As soon as she had eaten her fill, she let Jack lead her hjem again.
His Far was amazed at how well-fed the cow looked, and he praised the lad highly. From then on only Jack was allowed to take her to pasture. His elder Bror's were angry and envious, but to nei avail. Their Far continued to heap praises on Jack for how fat the cow was looking, as round as a beer-cask, and he would not hear a word spoken against his youngest son.
One day, as Jack arrived at the golden castle with the bovine, a little black dog ran up to them. Jack was about to drive the hund away, but she spoke to Jack in a human voice. "Tomorrow, when you come with your cow to my castle, bring with you an axe!" Jack asked nei questions, and did as he was told.
The next day, upon his arrival, the dog ran up to him and said, "Cut off my head!"
Jack hesitated, for he had a gentle nature. The hund kept insisting, so he did as he was bid. Scarcely had the blow been dealt, when the earth trembled, and there in front of Jack stood a beautiful princess! She fell into his arms, and with tears of joy in her shining eyes thanked him for releasing her from the spell.
Then she took him by the hand and sat him down beside her on a golden throne. And so Jack Simple became King. Believe it or not, he e'en learned to count to five!
Jack was unhappy about this, and one day he told his Far: "Father, let me take the cow to the pasture, you will see that all will be well."
At first his Far would not hear of it, but in the end he let Jack have his way. Jack took the cow on a piece of rope, and set off behind the cottage. But all they found there were thistles and nettles. "Be patient cow, I shall find you better fare," exclaimed the lad, and he took the cow down to the river.
Nei sooner had they reached the bank, when the cow jumped into the water and set out to swim to the other side. It was all Jack could do to catch her by the tail. "Stop, you brutish creature," cried Jack, angrily. But, the cow took nei notice and dragged him along through field and hedgerow until they reached a fine castle.
All things inside the castle were of silver and gold, and the stables had the scent of fresh hay. The cow went up to a manger and began to munch contentedly. As soon as she had eaten her fill, she let Jack lead her hjem again.
His Far was amazed at how well-fed the cow looked, and he praised the lad highly. From then on only Jack was allowed to take her to pasture. His elder Bror's were angry and envious, but to nei avail. Their Far continued to heap praises on Jack for how fat the cow was looking, as round as a beer-cask, and he would not hear a word spoken against his youngest son.
One day, as Jack arrived at the golden castle with the bovine, a little black dog ran up to them. Jack was about to drive the hund away, but she spoke to Jack in a human voice. "Tomorrow, when you come with your cow to my castle, bring with you an axe!" Jack asked nei questions, and did as he was told.
The next day, upon his arrival, the dog ran up to him and said, "Cut off my head!"
Jack hesitated, for he had a gentle nature. The hund kept insisting, so he did as he was bid. Scarcely had the blow been dealt, when the earth trembled, and there in front of Jack stood a beautiful princess! She fell into his arms, and with tears of joy in her shining eyes thanked him for releasing her from the spell.
Then she took him by the hand and sat him down beside her on a golden throne. And so Jack Simple became King. Believe it or not, he e'en learned to count to five!