"The Bremen Town Musicians" - The Fairy Tales of The Brothers Grimm

Once upon a time a man had an Ass which for many years carried sacks to the mill without tiring. At last, however, its strength was worn out ; it was no longer of any use for work. Accordingly its master began to ponder as to how best to cut down its keep ; but the Ass, seeing there was mischief in the air, ran away and started on the road to Bremen ; there he thought he could become a town-musician.

When he had been travelling a short time, he fell in with a hound, who was lying panting on the road as though he had run himself off his legs.

' Well, what are you panting so for, Growler ? ' said the Ass.

' Ah,' said the Hound, ' just because I am old, and every day I get weaker, and also because I can no longer keep up with the pack, my master wanted to kill me, so I took my departure. But now, how am I to earn my bread ? '

' Do you know what,' said the Ass. ' I am going to Bremen, and shall there become a town-musician ; come with me and take your part in the music. I shall play the lute, and you shall beat the kettle-drum.'

The Hound agreed, and they went on.

A short time after they came upon a Cat, sitting in the road, with a face as long as a wet week.

' Well, what has been crossing you, Whiskers ? ' asked the Ass.

' Who can be cheerful when he is out at elbows ? ' said the Cat. ' I am getting on in years, and my teeth are blunted and I prefer to sit by the stove and purr instead of hunting round after mice. Just because of this my mistress wanted to drown me. I made myself scarce, but now I don't know where to turn.'

' Come with us to Bremen,' said the Ass. ' You are a great hand at serenading, so you can become a town-musician.'

The Cat consented, and joined them.

Next the fugitives passed by a yard where a barn-door fowl was sitting on the door, crowing with all its might.

' You crow so loud you pierce one through and through,' said the Ass. ' What is the matter ? '

' Why! didn't I prophesy fine weather for Lady Day, when Our Lady washes the Christ Child's little garment and wants to dry it ? But, not withstanding this, because Sunday visitors are coming to-morrow, the mistress has no pity, and she has ordered the cook to make me into soup, so I shall have my neck wrung to-night. Now I am crowing with all my might while I have the chance.'

' Come along. Red-comb,' said the Ass ; ' you had much better come with us. We are going to Bremen, and you will find a much better fate there. You have a good voice, and when we make music together, there will be quality in it.'

The Cock allowed himself to be persuaded, and they all four went off together. They could not, however, reach the town in one day, and by evening they arrived at a wood, where they determined to spend the night. The Ass and the Hound lay down under a big tree ; the Cat and the Cock settled themselves in the branches, the Cock flying right up to the top, which was the safest place for him. Before going to sleep he looked round once more in every direction ; suddenly it seemed to him that he saw a light burning in the distance. He called out to his comrades that there must be a house not far off, for he saw a light.

' Very well,' said the Ass, ' let us set out and make our way to it, for the entertainment here is very bad.'

The Hound thought some bones or meat would suit him too, so they set out in the direction of the light, and soon saw it shining more clearly, and getting bigger and bigger, till they reached a brightly-Ughted robbers' den. The Ass, being the tallest, approached the window and looked in.

' What do you see, old Jackass ? ' asked the Cock.

' What do I see ? ' answered the Ass ; ' why, a table spread with delicious food and drink, and robbers seated at it enjoying themselves.'

' That would just suit us,' said the Cock.

' Yes ; if we were only there,' answered the Ass.

Then the animals took counsel as to how to set about driving the robbers out. At last they hit upon a plan.

The Ass was to take up his position with his fore-feet on the window-sill, the Hound was to jump on his back, the Cat to climb up on to the Hound, and last of all the Cock flew up and perched on the Cat's head. When they were thus arranged, at a given signal they all began to perform their music ; the Ass brayed, the Hound barked, the Cat mewed, and the Cock crowed ; then they dashed through the window, shivering the panes. The robbers jumped up at the terrible noise ; they thought nothing less than that a demon was coming in upon them, and fled into the wood in the greatest alarm. Then the four animals sat down to table, and helped themselves according to taste, and ate as though they had been starving for weeks. When they had finished they extinguished the light, and looked for sleeping places, each one to suit his nature and taste.