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the Peasant and the Devil农夫与魔鬼 Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Once upon a time there was a clever, wily peasant, whose tricks could be much talkedabout. The best story, however, is how he once got the best of the devil and made a fool ofhim. One day the peasant had been working in his field, and just as it was getting dark he wasgetting ready to go home when in the middle of his field he saw a pile of burning coals. Filledwith amazement he walked toward it, and sitting on the top of the glowing coals there was alittle black devil. "You must be sitting on a treasure," said the peasant. "Yes indeed," replied the devil, "on a treasure that contains more gold and silver than youhave ever seen in your life." "the treasure is in my field and belongs to me," said the peasant. "It is yours," answered the devil, "if for two years you will give me one half of everythingyour field produces. I have enough money, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth." the peasant entered into the bargain, saying, "To prevent any dispute from arising aboutthe division, everything above the ground shall belong to you, and everything beneath theground to me." the devil was quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had planted turnips. Now when harvest time came the devil appeared and wanted to take away his crop, but hefound nothing except the yellow withered leaves, and the happy peasant dug up his turnips. "You got the best of me this time," said the devil, "but it won't happen again. Next timewhat grows above ground shall be yours, and what is under it shall be mine." "That is all right with me," answered the peasant. When planting time came the peasant didnot plant turnips again, but wheat. The crop ripened, and the peasant went into the field andcut the full stalks off at ground level. When the devil came he found nothing but the stubble,and he angrily disappeared into a chasm in a cliff. "That's the way one has to deal with foxes," said the peasant, then carried away thetreasure. | 
发表于 2016-3-29 08:33
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