The Spirit in the Glass Bottle
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
once upon a time there was a poor woodcutter who worked from morning until late at night. When he had finally saved up some money he said to his boy, You are my only child. I want to spend the money that I have earned by the sweat of my brow on your education. Learn an honest trade so you can support me in my old age when my limbs have grown stiff and I have to sit at home.
Then the boy went to a university and studied diligently1. His teachers praised him, and he remained there for some time. After he had worked through a few classes, but was still not perfect in everything, the little pittance2 that the father had saved was all spent, and the boy had to return home to him.
Oh, said the father sadly, I cannot give you anything more, and in these hard times I cannot earn a heller more than what we need for our daily bread.
Father, dear, answered the son, don't worry about it. If it is God's will everything will turn out well for me. I will do all right.
When the father said he was going into the woods and earn some money by cutting cordwood, the son said, I will go with you and help you.
No, my son, said the father, you will find it too difficult. You are not used to hard work, and will not be able to do it. Furthermore, I have only one ax and no money left to buy another one with.
Just go to the neighbor, answered the son. He will lend you his ax until I have earned enough to buy one for myself.
So the father borrowed an ax from the neighbor, and the next morning at daybreak they went out into the woods together. The son helped his father and was quite cheerful and full of energy. When the sun was directly above them, the father said, Let us rest now and eat our noon meal. Then all will go twice as well.
The son picked up his bread and said, Just you rest, father. I am not tired. I will walk about a little in the woods and look for birds' nests.
Oh, you fool, said the father, why do you want to run about? Afterwards you will be tired and no longer able to lift an arm. Stay here, and sit down beside me.
But the son went into the woods, ate his bread, was very cheerful, and looked into the green branches to see if he could find a bird's nest. He walked to and fro until at last he came to an enormous oak that was certainly many hundred years old, and that five men would not have been able to span. He stood there looking at it, and thought, Many a bird must have built its nest in that tree.
Then suddenly he thought that he heard a voice. Listening, he became aware of someone calling out with a muffled3 voice, Let me out. Let me out.
He looked around but could not see anything. Then he thought that the voice was coming out of the ground, so he shouted, Where are you?
The voice answered, I am stuck down here among the oak roots. Let me out. Let me out.
The student began to scrape about beneath the tree, searching among the roots, until at last he found a glass bottle in a little opening. Lifting it up, he held it against the light, and then saw something shaped like a frog jumping up and down inside.
Let me out. Let me out, it cried again, and the student, thinking no evil, pulled the cork4 from the bottle. Immediately a spirit ascended5 from it and began to grow. It grew so fast that within a few moments a horrible fellow, half as big as the tree, was standing6 there before the student.
Do you know, he cried in an terrifying voice, what your reward is for having let me out?
No, replied the student fearlessly. How should I know that?
Then I will tell you, shouted the spirit. I must break your neck for it.
You should have said so sooner, answered the student, for then I would have left you shut up inside. However, my head is going to stay where it is until more people have been consulted.
More people here, more people there, shouted the spirit. You shall have the reward you have earned. Do you think that I was shut up there for such a long time as a favor? No, it was a punishment. I am the mighty7 Mercurius. I must break the neck of whomsoever releases me.
Calm down, answered the student. Not so fast. First I must know that you really were shut up in that little bottle, and that you are the right spirit. If you can indeed get inside again, then I will believe it, and you may do with me whatsoever8 you want.
The spirit said arrogantly9, that is an easy trick, pulling himself in and making himself as thin and short as he had been before. He then crept back into the opening and through the neck of the bottle. He was scarcely inside when the student pushed the cork back into the bottle, and threw it back where it had been among the oak roots. And thus the spirit was deceived.
The student was about to return to his father, but the spirit cried out pitifully, Oh, do let me out. Oh, do let me out.
No, answered the student, not a second time. I will not release a person who once tried to kill me, now that I have captured him again.
If you will set me free, cried the spirit, I will give you so much that you will have enough for all the days of your life.
No, answered the student, you would cheat me like you tried to the first time.
You are giving away your own good fortune, said the spirit. I will not harm you, but instead will reward you richly.
The student thought, I will venture it. Perhaps he will keep his word, and in any event he will not get the better of me.
So he pulled out the cork, and the spirit rose up from the bottle as before, and extended himself, becoming as large as a giant.
Now you shall have your reward, he said, handing the student a little rag that looked just like a small bandage. He said, If you rub a wound with the one end, it will heal, and if you rub steel or iron with the other end, it will turn into silver.
I have to try that, said the student. He went to a tree, scratched the bark with his ax, then rubbed it with the one end of the bandage. It immediately closed together and was healed.
Now it is all right, he said to the spirit, and we can part.
The spirit thanked him for having freed him, and the student thanked the spirit for the present, and returned to his father.
Where have you been running about? said the father. Why have you forgotten your work? I said that you wouldn't get anything done.
Don't be concerned, father. I will make it up.
Make it up indeed, said the father angrily. Don't bother.
Just watch, father. I will soon cut down that tree there and make it crash.
Then he took his bandage, rubbed the ax with it, and struck a mighty blow, but because the iron had turned into silver, the cutting edge bent10 back on itself.
Hey, father, just look what a bad ax you've given me. It is all bent out of shape.
The father was shocked and said, Oh, what have you done! Now I'll have to pay for the ax, and I don't know what with. That is all the good I have from your work.
Don't get angry, said the son, I will pay for the ax.
Oh, you blockhead, cried the father, How will you pay for it? You have nothing but what I give you. You have students' tricks stuck in your head, but you don't know anything about chopping wood.
After a little while the student said, Father, I can't work any longer after all. Let's quit for the day.
Now then, he answered, do you think I can stand around with my hands in my pockets like you? I have to go on working, but you may head for home.
Father, I am here in these woods for the first time. I don't know my way alone. Please go with me.
His anger had now subsided11, so the father at last let himself be talked into going home with him.
There he said to the son, Go and sell the damaged ax and see what you can get for it. I will have to earn the difference, in order to pay the neighbor.
The son picked up the ax and took it into town to a goldsmith, who tested it, weighed it, and then said, It is worth four hundred talers. I do not have that much cash with me.
The student said, Give me what you have. I will lend you the rest.
The goldsmith gave him three hundred talers and owed him one hundred. Then the student went home and said, Father, I have some money. Go and ask the neighbor what he wants for the ax.
I already know, answered the old man. One taler, six groschens.
Then give him two talers, twelve groschens. That is double its worth and is plenty. See, I have more than enough money. Then he gave the father a hundred talers, saying, You shall never need anything. Live just like you want to.
My goodness, said the old man. Where did you get all that money?
Then the son told him everything that had happened, and how by trusting in his luck he had made such a catch. With the money that was left he went back to the university and continued his studies, and because he could heal all wounds with his bandage he became the most famous doctor in the whole world.
以前，有个穷樵夫，每天起早贪黑地劳作，并节衣缩食，终於积攒了一点儿钱，便对他儿子说道：「我就你这么一个孩子，我要用我拿血汗辛辛苦苦挣来的钱，供你读书去。你要好好学点儿本领，等我老了、手脚不那样灵便了、只得坐在家烤火的时候，你才有能力养活我。」
於是，儿子便上学了，而且学习很勤奋，遭到老师们异口同声的称讚。中学毕业后，他上了大学，可是在学业完成前，爸爸给他的那点儿钱就用光了，他只得辍学。回到家后，爸爸不无忧伤地对他说：「我再也没办法供你继续学业了，眼下我只能挣口饭吃。」
「亲爱的父亲，」儿子回答说，「别犯愁啦。既然这是上帝的安排，必然会苦去甘来的。」第二天，爸爸要出去砍柴，儿子也想一块儿去。
「那好吧，孩子，」爸爸说，「就一块儿去吧。不过，你会吃不消的，你还不习惯於重体力活儿。还有呢，我只有一把斧子，没钱再买一把呀。」
「别担忧，」儿子回答说，「咱们找邻居借一把好啦。他们一定想借我用一段时间，我挣到钱买一把新的还给他们嘛。」
於是，爸爸找邻居借了一把斧子。第二天破晓，父子两个就一块儿进了森林。儿子兴高采烈地帮爸爸砍柴。
中午时分，爸爸说：「咱们歇息一下，吃午饭吧。目前刚好是时候。」
儿子拿起我们的那份麵包，然后说：「父亲，你歇着吧，我一点儿也不累。我到林子里去转一转，找几个鸟窝。」「你个小傻瓜，」爸爸大声说，「你目前如果到处跑来跑去，待会儿就会累得连胳膊都抬不起来了。还是坐在我身边，好好歇息吧。」
儿子没听爸爸的劝告，一边吃着麵包一边在林子里转悠。这天他心情格外愉快，兴緻勃勃地仰看着青翠的枝条，探寻着鸟窝。他在林中走来走去，看见了一棵枝繁叶茂的老橡树，那树树干粗大，足有几百年的树龄，他站在老橡树下，心想：「一定有很多鸟在上边筑巢。」
突然，他感觉听见了一点儿动静。小伙子屏息静听，果然听见一个低沉的声音在说：「放我出去！放我出去！」他四处搜寻，却甚么也没发现，好像那声音是从地底下钻出来的。他於是大声喊叫道：「你在什么地方啊？」
那声音回答说：「我在这儿，埋在老橡树的树根下面。放我出去！放我出去！」
小伙子开始在树根周围挖了起来，终於在一处小土坑里找到了一只玻璃瓶。他抢起玻璃瓶，对着阳光看了看，只见有一个青蛙模样的小东西，在瓶中疯狂地上窜下跳。「放我出去！放我出去！」那个小东西又喊了起来，而小伙子呢，想也没想就拔掉了瓶塞。说时迟，那时快，那个精灵一下子就从玻璃瓶里窜了出来，立刻开始不停地变大，转瞬之间，变成了一个十分可怕的巨人，个头儿有小伙子跟前的那棵老橡树的一半那样高。
「你知不知道，」这个大妖怪声音粗哑，语气吓人，问小伙子，「你把我放出来，会得到甚么回报呀？」
「不了解，」小伙子毫不畏惧地回答说，「我如何会了解呢？」
「我为此肯定得拧断你的脖子。」妖怪回答说。
「你如果早点儿告诉我就好啦，我就不会放你出来了。我的脑袋嘛，你可碰不能，你需要先去和其他的人商量商量才是。」
「甚么这个那个的，反正你肯定得同意你应该得到的回报。难道你以为，我是被无缘无故地关押在那儿的吗？不是的，这是对我的惩罚。我是威力无比的墨丘利尤斯呀，不管哪个放我出来，我肯定得拧断他的脖子。」
「好吧，」小伙子冷静地回答说，「不过，这可急不能。第一呢，你得向我证明一下，刚刚坐在那个小瓶子里的人确确实实就是你这么个庞然大物。你如果能再钻进来，我就服气了，然后，我就任你处置好啦。」
妖怪趾高气扬地回答道：「小菜一碟。」说着就开始把身子缩小，越缩越小，最后小到可以从瓶口钻进来了。妖怪刚钻进瓶子里，小伙子立刻麻利地把瓶塞用力塞紧，随手把瓶子扔回到树根旁的老地方。妖怪就如此被挫败了。
此时，小伙子计划回到爸爸身边去。哪个知那个妖怪却尖着嗓子淒淒惨惨地嚎叫起来：「喂，放我出去吧！放我出去吧！」小伙子斩钉截铁地回答说「不！」，他绝不再做那种蠢事了。可妖怪硬叫他听听条件保证不拧断他的脖子，还给他一大笔财富，他一辈子也花不完，用不尽。
「大概，」小伙子回答道，「你想用刚刚的方法再骗我一次。」
「你如果不同意，就错过了自己荣华富贵的机会啦，」妖怪庄严地说，「我发誓，绝不碰你一根毫毛。」
小伙子就想：「可以再冒它一次险，兴许他言而有信呢。」於是，小伙子又拔掉了瓶塞，妖怪钻出来后越变越大，又变成了一个巨人。
「目前你该得到你的回报了。」巨人说着递给小伙子一块橡皮膏模样的东西，告诉他说，「用它的一头在伤口上轻轻碰一下，伤口就会癒合；用另一头在钢铁上敲打一下，钢铁就会变成银子。」
「我得先尝试一下，」小伙子说罢走到一棵大树跟前，用斧子把树皮砍掉一小块儿，然后用那玩意儿在树皮的伤损处轻轻地碰了一下，树皮果真长拢了。「确实很好，」他对巨人说，「目前大家该分手了。」
妖怪感谢小伙子搭救了他，小伙子也感谢妖怪送给他这件礼物，然后他们动身各走各的了。
小伙子回到了爸爸身旁，爸爸嘟嘟囔囔地对他发起牢骚来，问他这么半天不干活儿，到底是来干甚么的。「我早就说过，这活儿你干不了。」他对儿子说。
「父亲，你千万不要生气，我会赶上来的。」
「赶上来！」爸爸一听火冒三丈，「我倒要看你如何个赶法？」
「父亲，你看好啦，我一斧下去就能砍倒那棵树。」
说完，取出那玩意儿来，在斧子上擦拭了一番，然后猛地一斧砍了下去。斧头上的铁已经变成了银子，所以斧刃卷了口。「我说，父亲，你瞧瞧，你借来的是甚么破烂斧子呀，完全变形啦。」
爸爸一看，瞠目结舌，说道：「都是你干的好事！这下你得赔人家斧子了，看你拿甚么来赔！你的确帮了大忙啦。」
「别生气嘛，」儿子说，「我赔斧子就是喽。」「唉，你这个傻瓜，」爸爸吼叫道：「你拿甚么赔？你身无分文。你的脑袋或许很好，可对砍柴你一窍不通。」过了一会儿，小伙子对爸爸说：「父亲，我再也砍不动了，咱们歇半天吧。」
「啊！甚么？」爸爸回答道，「你看我闲得起吗？我不能不干呐。你在这儿反正帮不上甚么忙，你最好回家去吧。」「父亲，我可是头一回到森林里来，我自己找不到路呀。咱们一快儿回家吧。」他对爸爸说着，爸爸的怒气已平息了几分，就答应一块儿回家去。
到家后，爸爸对儿子说：「去把这坏斧子卖了吧，看值多少钱，不够的只好由我来挣，好赔邻居一把新斧子。」
儿子拿着斧子来到城里的一家金店，金匠验了斧头的成色，放在秤上称了称，说道：「这把斧头值四百个银币，可我手里没这么多的现金。」
小伙子却说：「那好，你手头上有多少就给多少吧，剩下的即使是我借给你的。」
於是，金匠给了他三百个银币，还欠他一百。
随后，小伙子回到家，对爸爸说：「父亲，我有钱啦。
去问一问邻居，他那把斧子值多少钱。」
「我不需要问也了解，」爸爸回答说，「一个银币六格罗申。」
「那好，咱们给他两个银币十二格罗申，加倍偿还。」儿子说道，「你瞧，我有些是钱。」说罢，小伙子给了爸爸一百个银币，告诉爸爸从此将来再也不会缺钱花了，好好享清福吧。
「我的天老爷呀！」爸爸惊呼道，「这么多的钱是从什么地方弄来的呀？」
於是，儿子讲述了事情的经过。小伙子用剩下的钱，返回大学继续他的学业。后来，由於妖怪给他的那玩意儿可以治疗各种各样的伤口，他成了闻名於世的大夫。
