格林童話：勇敢的小裁縫(英)

　　The Brave Little Tailor

　　Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　One summer morning a little tailor was sitting on his table near the window. In good spirits, he was sewing with all his might. A peasant woman came down the street crying, "Good jam for sale! Good jam for sale!" That sounded good to the little tailor, so he stuck his dainty head out the window and shouted, "Come up here, my dear woman! You can sell your goods here!"

　　The woman carried her heavy basket up the three flights of stairs to the tailor, who had her unpack all of her jars. He examined them, picking each one up and holding it to his nose. Finally he said, "This jam looks good to me. Weigh out four ounces for me, even if it comes to a quarter pound."

　　The woman, who had hoped to make a good sale, gave him what he asked for, then went away angry and grumbling.

　　"May God bless this jam to give me health and strength," said the little tailor. Then taking a loaf of bread from his cupboard, he cut himself a large slice and spread it with the jam. "That is not going to taste bad," he said, "but I will finish the jacket before I bite into it."

　　He laid the bread aside and continued his sewing, happily making his stitches larger and larger. Meanwhile the smell of the sweet jam rose to the wall where a large number of flies were sitting. Attracted by the smell, a swarm of them settled onto the bread.

　　"Hey! Who invited you?" said the little tailor, driving away the unbidden guests. However, the flies, who did not understand German, would not be turned away, and they came back in ever-increasing numbers. Finally, losing his temper, he reached for a piece of cloth and shouted, "Wait, now I'm going to give it to you!" then hit at them without mercy. When he backed off and counted, there were no fewer than seven of them lying dead before him, with their legs stretched out.

　　"Aren't you someone?" he said to himself, surprised at his own bravery. The whole town shall hear about this." He hastily cut out a banner for himself, then embroidered on it with large letters, Seven with one blow. "The town?" he said further. "The whole world shall hear about this!" And his heart jumped for joy like a lamb's tail.

　　The tailor tied the banner around his body and set forth into the world, for he thought that his workshop was too small for such bravery. Before leaving he looked about his house for something that he could take with him. Finding nothing but a piece of old cheese, he put that into his pocket. Outside the town gate he found a bird that was caught in a bush. It went into his pocket with the cheese.

　　He bravely took to the road, and being light and agile he did not grow weary. The road led him up a mountain, and when he reached the top a huge giant was sitting there, looking around contentedly.

　　The little tailor went up to him cheerfully and said, "Good day, comrade. Are you just sitting here looking at the wide world? I am on my way out there to prove myself. Do you want to come with me?"

　　The giant looked at the tailor with contempt, saying, "You wretch! You miserable fellow!"

　　"You don't say!" answered the little tailor. Unbuttoning his coat, he showed the banner to the giant. "You can read what kind of man I am."

　　The giant read Seven with one blow, and thinking that the tailor had killed seven men, he gained some respect for the little fellow. But he did want to put him to the test, so he picked up a stone and squeezed it with his hand until water dripped from it.

　　"Do what I just did," said the giant, "if you have the strength."

　　"Is that all?" said the little tailor. "That is child's play for someone like me." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the soft cheese and squeezed it until liquid ran from it. "That was even better, wasn't it?" he said.

　　The giant did not know what to say, for he did not believe the little man. Then the giant picked up a stone and threw it so high that it could scarcely be seen. "Now, you little dwarf, do that."

　　"A good throw," said the tailor, "but the stone did fall back to earth. I'll throw one for you that will not come back." He reached into his pocket, pulled out the bird, and threw it into the air. Happy to be free, the bird flew up and away, and did not come back. "How did you like that, comrade?" asked the tailor.

　　"You can throw well enough," said the giant, but now let's see if you are able to carry anything proper." He led the little tailor to a mighty oak tree that had been cut down and was lying on the ground. He said, "If you are strong enough, then help me carry this tree out of the woods."

　　"Gladly," answered the little man. "You take the trunk on your shoulder, and I will carry the branches and twigs. After all, they are the heaviest."

　　The giant lifted the trunk onto his shoulder, but the tailor sat down on a branch, and the giant, who could not see behind himself, had to drag long the entire tree, with the little tailor sitting on top. Cheerful and in good spirits, he whistled the song "There Were Three Tailors Who Rode Out to the Gate," as though carrying a tree were child's play.

　　The giant, after dragging the heavy load a little way, could not go any further, and he called out, "Listen, I have to drop the tree."

　　The tailor jumped down agilely, took hold of the tree with both arms, as though he had been carrying it, and said to the giant, "You are such a big fellow, and you can't even carry a tree."

　　They walked on together until they came to a cherry tree. The giant took hold of the treetop where the ripest fruit was hanging, bent it down, and put it into the tailor's hand, inviting him to eat. However, the little tailor was much too weak to hold the tree, and when the giant let go, the tree sprang upward, throwing the tailor into the air. When he fell back to earth, without injury, the giant said, "What? You don't have enough strength to hold that little switch?"

　　"There is no lack of strength," answered the little tailor. "Do you think that that would be a problem for someone who killed seven with one blow? I jumped over the tree because hunters are shooting down there in the brush. Jump over it yourself, if you can."

　　The giant made the attempt, but could not clear the tree and got stuck in the branches. So the little tailor kept the upper hand here as well.

　　The giant said, "If you are such a brave fellow, then come with me to our cave and spend the night with us."

　　The little tailor agreed and followed him. When they reached the cave, other giants were sitting there by a fire. Each one had a roasted sheep in his hand and was eating from it. The little tailor looked around and thought, "It is a lot more roomy here than in my workshop.

　　The giant showed him a bed and told him to lie down and go to sleep. However, the little tailor found the bed too large, so instead of lying there he crept into a corner. At midnight the giant thought that the little tailor was fast asleep, so he got up, took a large iron bar, and with a single blow smashed the bed in two. He thought he had put an end to the grasshopper.

　　Early the next morning the giants went into the woods, having completely forgotten the little tailor, when he suddenly approached them cheerfully and boldly. Fearing that he would strike them all dead, the terrified giants ran away in haste.

　　The little tailor continued on his way, always following his pointed nose. After wandering a long time, he came to the courtyard of a royal palace, and being tired, he lay down in the grass and fell asleep. While he was lying there people came and looked at him from all sides, and they read his banner, Seven with one blow.

　　"Oh," they said, "what is this great war hero doing here in the midst of peace? He must be a powerful lord."

　　They went and reported him to the king, thinking that if war were to break out, he would be an important and useful man who at any price should not be allowed to go elsewhere. The king was pleased with this advice, and he sent one of his courtiers to the little tailor to offer him a position in the army, as soon as he woke up.

　　The messenger stood by the sleeper and waited until he stretched his arms and legs and opened his eyes, and then he delivered his offer.

　　"That is precisely why I came here," answered the little tailor. "I am ready to enter the king's service." Thus he was received with honor and given a special place to live.

　　However, the soldiers were opposed to the little tailor, and wished that he were a thousand miles away. "What will happen," they said among themselves, "if we quarrel with him, and he strikes out against us? Seven of us will fall with each blow. People like us can't stand up to that."

　　So they came to a decision, and all together they went to the king and asked to be released. "We were not made," they said, "to stand up to a man who kills seven with one blow."

　　The king was sad that he was going to lose all his faithful servants because of one man, and he wished that he had never seen him. He would like to be rid of him, but he did not dare dismiss him, because he was afraid that he would kill him and all his people and then set himself on the royal throne.

　　He thought long and hard, and finally found an answer. He sent a message to the little tailor, informing him that because he was such a great war hero he would make him an offer. In a forest in his country there lived two giants who were causing great damage with robbery, murder, pillage, and arson. No one could approach them without placing himself in mortal danger. If he could conquer and kill these two giants, the king would give him his only daughter to wife and half his kingdom for a dowry. Furthermore, a hundred horsemen would go with him for support.

　　"That is something for a man like you," thought the little tailor. "It is not every day that someone is offered a beautiful princess and half a kingdom."

　　"Yes," he replied. "I shall conquer the giants, but I do not need the hundred horsemen. Anyone who can strike down seven with one blow has no cause to be afraid of two."

　　The little tailor set forth, and the hundred horsemen followed him. At the edge of the forest, he said to them, "You stay here. I shall take care of the giants myself."

　　Leaping into the woods, he looked to the left and to the right. He soon saw the two giants. They were lying asleep under a tree, snoring until the branches bent up and down. The little tailor, not lazy, filled both pockets with stones and climbed the tree. Once in the middle of the tree, he slid out on a branch until he was seated right above the sleepers. Then he dropped one stone after another onto one of the giant's chest. For a long time the giant did not feel anything, but finally he woke up, shoved his companion, and said, "Why are you hitting me?"

　　"You are dreaming," said the other one. "I am not hitting you."

　　They fell asleep again, and the tailor threw a stone at the second one.

　　"What is this?" said the other one. "Why are you throwing things at me?"

　　"I am not throwing anything at you," answered the first one, grumbling.

　　They quarreled for a while, but because they were tired, they made peace, and they both closed their eyes again. Then the little tailor began his game again. Choosing his largest stone, he threw it at the first giant with all his strength, hitting him in the chest.

　　"That is too mean!" shouted the giant, then jumped up like a madman and pushed his companion against the tree, until it shook. The other one paid him back in kind, and they became so angry that they pulled up trees and struck at each other until finally, at the same time, they both fell to the ground dead.

　　Then the little tailor jumped down. "It is fortunate," he said, "that they did not pull up the tree where I was sitting, or I would have had to jump into another one like a squirrel. But people like me are nimble."

　　Drawing his sword, he gave each one a few good blows to the chest, then went back to the horsemen and said, "The work is done. I finished off both of them, but it was hard. In their need they pulled up trees to defend themselves. But it didn't help them, not against someone like me who kills seven with one blow."

　　"Are you not wounded?" asked the horsemen.

　　"Everything is all right," answered the tailor. "They did not so much as bend one of my hairs."

　　Not wanting to believe him, the horesemen rode into the woods. There they found the giants swimming in their own blood, and all around lay the uprooted trees.

　　The little tailor asked the king for the promised reward, but the latter regretted the promise, and once again he began to think of a way to get the hero off his neck. "Before you receive my daughter and half the kingdom," he said, "you must fulfill another heroic deed. In the woods there is a unicorn that is causing much damage. First you must capture it.

　　"I am even less afraid of a unicorn than I was of two giants. Seven with one blow, that is my thing."

　　Taking a rope and an ax, he went into the woods. Once again he told those who went with him to wait behind. He did not have to look very long. The unicorn soon appeared, leaping toward the tailor as if it wanted to spear him at once.

　　"Gently, gently," said the tailor. "Not so fast." He stopped, waited until the animal was very near, then jumped agilely behind a tree. The unicorn ran with all its might into the tree, sticking its horn so tightly into the trunk that it did not have enough strength to pull it out again, and thus it was captured.

　　"Now I have the little bird," said the tailor, coming out from behind the tree. First he tied the rope around the unicorn's neck, then he cut the horn out of the tree with the ax. When everything was ready, he led the animal away and brought it to the king.

　　The king still did not want to give him the promised reward and presented a third requirement. Before the wedding, the tailor was to capture a wild boar that was causing great damage in the woods. Huntsmen were to assist him.

　　"Gladly," said the tailor. "That is child's play."

　　He did not take the huntsmen into woods with him, and they were glad about that, for they had encountered the wild boar before and had no desire to do so again.

　　When the boar saw the tailor he ran toward him with foaming mouth and grinding teeth, wanting to throw him to the ground. But the nimble hero ran into a nearby chapel, then with one leap jumped back out through a window. The boar ran in after him, but the tailor ran around outside and slammed the door. Thus the furious animal was captured, for it was too heavy and clumsy to jump out the window. The little tailor called to the huntsmen. They had to see the captured boar with their own eyes.

　　The hero reported to the king, who now —— whether he wanted to or not —— had to keep his promise and give him his daughter and half the kingdom. If he had known that it was not a war hero, but rather a little tailor standing before him, it would have been even more painful for him. The wedding was thus held with great ceremony but little joy, and a king was made from a tailor.

　　Some time later the young queen heard in the night how her husband said in a dream, "Boy, make the jacket for me, and patch the trousers, or I will hit you across your ears with a yardstick." Thus she determined where the young lord had come from. The next morning she brought her complaint to her father, asking him to help her get rid of the man, who was nothing more than a tailor.

　　The king comforted her, saying, "Tonight leave your bedroom door unlocked. My servants will stand outside, and after he falls asleep they will go inside, bind him, and carry him to a ship that will take him far away from here."

　　The wife was satisfied with this. However, the king's squire, who had a liking for the young lord, heard everything and revealed the whole plot to him.

　　"I'll put a stop to that," said the little tailor. That evening he went to bed with his wife at the usual time. When she thought he was asleep she got up, opened the door, and then went back to bed. The little tailor, who was only pretending to be asleep, began crying out with a clear voice, "Boy, make the jacket for me, and patch the trousers, or I will hit you across your ears with a yardstick! I have struck down seven with one blow, killed two giants, led away a unicorn, and captured a wild boar, and I am supposed to be afraid of those who are standing just outside the bedroom!"

　　When those standing outside heard the tailor say this, they were so overcome with fear that they ran away, as though the wild horde was behind them. None of them dared to approach him ever again.

　　Thus the little tailor was a king, and he remained a king as long as he lived.

　　夏季一個(gè)陽(yáng)光明媚的早晨，一個(gè)小裁縫坐在靠窗的臺(tái)子旁，竭盡全力地做著手中活兒。這時(shí)，街上走來(lái)一個(gè)農(nóng)家婦女，邊走邊吆喝：「買果醬啦!物美價(jià)廉呀!」小裁縫覺得這聲音挺悅耳，於是就將一頭卷發(fā)的腦袋伸出了窗外，喊叫道：

　　「上這兒來(lái)吧，親愛的太太，您的貨這兒有人要!」

　　農(nóng)婦手提沉甸甸的籃子，跨上臺(tái)階，來(lái)到小裁縫跟前，按照他的吩咐打開一只又一只的罐子。小裁縫挨個(gè)仔細(xì)察看，還把罐子舉到鼻子跟前聞了又聞，最后才說(shuō)道：「給我來(lái)四盎司，親愛的太太，半鎊也行?！?/p>

　　農(nóng)婦原來(lái)以為找到了好買主呢，她把小裁縫要的那一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)果醬如數(shù)秤給他之后，就氣呼呼地嘟噥著走了。

　　「愿上帝保佑，」小裁縫嚷嚷道，「這些果醬能給我?guī)?lái)好胃口。」

　　他從柜子里拿出麵包，切了一片下來(lái)，把果醬涂在上面。「我心里有數(shù)，不會(huì)不可口的，」他說(shuō)，「不過(guò)我得先做完這件背心再吃。」

　　於是，他把涂了果醬的麵包放在身旁，繼續(xù)縫了起來(lái)，心里感到美滋滋的，針腳就一針比一針大了。這時(shí)，果醬香甜的氣味招引來(lái)了一群聚在墻上的蒼蠅，它們紛紛落在麵包上，要品嚐一下這美味佳餚。

　　「哪有你們的份啊?」小裁縫說(shuō)著把蒼蠅趕跑了。蒼蠅才不理睬他說(shuō)了甚么，怎么也不肯走，於是落在麵包上的蒼蠅越來(lái)越多了。這下子，小裁縫火冒三丈，隨手抓起一條毛巾，朝著蒼蠅狠命地打了下去，打死了整整七只蒼蠅，有的連腿都給打飛了。

　　「你可真了不起!」他說(shuō)道，不禁對(duì)自己的勇敢大加讚賞，「全城的人都應(yīng)該知道你的壯舉?！拐f(shuō)罷，小裁縫風(fēng)風(fēng)火火地為自己裁剪了一條腰帶，縫好后，在上面繡了幾個(gè)醒目的大字：「一下子打死七個(gè)!」「不僅僅是全城，」他突然喊了起來(lái)，「還得讓全世界的人都知道!」說(shuō)到這兒，他的心激動(dòng)得歡蹦亂跳，活像一只小羊羔的尾巴。

　　小裁縫把腰帶系在腰間，打算出去闖世界，因?yàn)樵谒磥?lái)，憑著他的英勇無(wú)畏精神，再留在小小的作坊里，就大材小用啦。動(dòng)身前，他四下里搜尋了一番，看看有沒有值得帶上的東西，卻只發(fā)現(xiàn)了一快陳干酪，就隨手裝進(jìn)口袋里。在門前，他發(fā)現(xiàn)灌木叢中絆住了一只小鳥，便捉來(lái)放進(jìn)裝干酪的口袋里。

　　隨后，他得意洋洋地上了路。由於個(gè)子矮小，他身輕如燕，走起來(lái)一點(diǎn)兒也不感到累。走著走著，來(lái)到一座大山上。他到了山頂一看，發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)力大無(wú)比的巨人正坐在那兒，悠然自得地環(huán)顧左右。小裁縫壯著膽子走到巨人跟前，跟他打招呼：

　　「你好，伙計(jì)。你坐在這兒眺望大世界，是吧?我正要去闖闖世界咧，怎么樣，有沒有心思跟我一快兒去?」

　　巨人輕蔑地瞟了他一眼，扯著嗓子對(duì)他說(shuō)：「你這個(gè)小可憐蟲!弱不禁風(fēng)的小癟三!」

　　「啊哈，你這么小看我，是嗎?你再往這兒瞧瞧!」小裁縫回答道。說(shuō)著解開上衣，露出腰帶來(lái)給巨人看?！改隳钜荒罹椭牢沂呛蔚热死病！?/p>

　　巨人念了起來(lái)：「一下子打死七個(gè)」。以為這位裁縫一下子打死的是七個(gè)人，心里不禁對(duì)小裁縫產(chǎn)生幾分敬意。不過(guò)，他決心要和小裁縫先試試身手，於是，就揀起一快石頭來(lái)，用手使勁一捏，捏得石頭滴出了水。

　　「要是你真有力氣，」巨人說(shuō)，「也來(lái)這么一手吧。」

　　「就這個(gè)呀?」小裁縫說(shuō)，「對(duì)本人來(lái)說(shuō)，跟玩兒似的?！拐f(shuō)著把手伸進(jìn)口袋里，掏出那快軟綿綿的干酪來(lái)，輕輕一捏，乳汁就冒了出來(lái)。

　　巨人看了不知說(shuō)甚么才好，卻懷疑這么個(gè)小人兒是不是真有那么大的力氣。隨后，他又揀起一快石頭來(lái)，朝空中猛地一拋，石頭飛得那么高，用肉眼幾乎看不見了。

　　「喏，」巨人說(shuō)，「可憐的小矮子，你也來(lái)一下?！?/p>

　　「的確，扔得挺高，」小裁縫回敬道，「可是你扔的那快石頭還是掉回到了地上。本人給你露一手，扔出去就不會(huì)再掉回來(lái)?！?/p>

　　說(shuō)罷，他從口袋里把那只小鳥抓出來(lái)，往空中一扔。重獲自由的小鳥歡歡喜喜地飛走了，頭也不回地一下便無(wú)影無(wú)蹤?！肝?，伙計(jì)，這一手還行吧?」小裁縫問道。

　　「我不否認(rèn)，扔?xùn)|西你還行?！咕奕嘶卮鹫f(shuō)，「現(xiàn)在我再瞧瞧你能不能扛動(dòng)沉重的東西?！?/p>

　　他把小裁縫領(lǐng)到一棵已砍倒在地的大橡樹跟前?！改阋钦嬗辛?，就幫我把這棵樹從林子里抬走。」

　　「好的，」小裁縫說(shuō)，「你扛樹干，我扛樹枝，這樹枝可是最難弄的呀?！?/p>

　　巨人扛起樹干，小裁縫卻坐在了一根樹枝上面。巨人沒法回頭看，不得不整個(gè)扛著大樹，還扛著坐在樹枝上的小裁縫。

　　小裁縫坐在后面，心曠神怡，快樂地吹著口哨，還唱了幾句「三個(gè)裁縫騎馬出了城」這首歌，抬樹對(duì)他來(lái)說(shuō)彷彿就是一場(chǎng)游戲而已。

　　巨人扛著沉重的大樹走了一段路程，累得上氣不接下氣，嚷嚷著說(shuō)他再也走不動(dòng)了，必須把樹放下來(lái)。

　　小裁縫一下子跳了下來(lái)，用兩只胳膊抱住樹身，做出一副一路上抬著大樹的樣子，接著對(duì)巨人說(shuō)，「虧你這么個(gè)大塊頭，連棵樹也扛不了!」

　　他們一快兒往前走著，來(lái)到一棵櫻桃樹前，樹冠上掛滿了熟透的櫻桃。巨人一把抓住樹冠，拉低后遞給小裁縫，讓他吃個(gè)夠。可小裁縫哪有這么大的力氣抓住櫻桃樹呢，巨人一松手，樹就忽地一下直起了身，小裁縫也隨著被彈到了空中。

　　小裁縫安然落地，巨人嚷嚷道：「咳!你連抓住這么一根小樹枝的力氣也沒有啊?」

　　「這和力氣有何相干!」小裁縫回答說(shuō)，「本人一下子能打死七個(gè)，你以為我連根小樹枝都抓不住嗎?林子里有個(gè)獵人要朝我開槍，我才急急忙忙跑過(guò)樹頂。你要是有能耐，跳給我瞧瞧?！?/p>

　　巨人試了一下，卻沒能跳過(guò)去，而被掛在了枝丫間。這樣一來(lái)，小裁縫又佔(zhàn)了上風(fēng)。

　　於是，巨人說(shuō)：「你是一個(gè)了不起的小勇士，就請(qǐng)你到我的山洞里去過(guò)夜吧?！?/p>

　　小裁縫很愿意，就跟著他去了。他們來(lái)到洞中，只見還有一些巨人圍坐在火堆旁，個(gè)個(gè)手里拿著一只烤羊，像吃麵包似的在吃著。小裁縫心想：「這兒可比我的作坊好多啦?！咕奕酥附o他一張床，叫他躺下休息?？蛇@張床對(duì)小裁縫來(lái)說(shuō)，實(shí)在是太大了，他沒有躺在床中間，而是爬到了一個(gè)角落里。半夜時(shí)分，那個(gè)巨人以為小裁縫睡熟了，抓起一根大鐵釘，照準(zhǔn)床上猛地紮了下去，以為把這個(gè)小蚱蜢給解決了。

　　第二天拂曉，巨人們動(dòng)身到林子里去，把小裁縫忘得一乾二凈。小裁縫仍然像往常一樣活蹦亂跳，無(wú)憂無(wú)慮，朝他們走去。巨人們一見，以為小裁縫要打死他們，個(gè)個(gè)嚇得屁滾尿流，拔腿就跑。小裁縫呢，繼續(xù)趕他的路，一直往前走去。

　　走了很久，小裁縫來(lái)到一座王宮的院子里。這時(shí)，他已累得精疲力盡，便倒在地上睡著了。他正躺在那兒睡的時(shí)候，不少人過(guò)來(lái)，看見了他腰帶上繡的字：「一下子打死七個(gè)!」「哎呀!」他們心想，「這一定是位了不起的英雄。和平時(shí)期他到這里來(lái)干甚么呢?」他們立即去向國(guó)王稟報(bào)，說(shuō)一旦戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)爆發(fā)，此人大有用場(chǎng)，千萬(wàn)不能放他走呵。

　　國(guó)王很讚賞這個(gè)主意，便差了一位大臣去找小裁縫，等他一醒來(lái)，就請(qǐng)他在軍隊(duì)里效力。這位使者站在一旁，眼睜睜地看著熟睡中的小裁縫，直等到小裁縫伸了伸懶腰，慢慢睜開了雙眼，才向他提出請(qǐng)求。

　　「我正是為此而來(lái)的，」小裁縫回答說(shuō)，「本人很愿意為國(guó)王效勞?！?/p>

　　他於是受到了隆重的接待，得到了一處別緻的住所?？墒瞧渌姽賲s很妒嫉，巴不得他早點(diǎn)兒遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地離開這里?！敢俏覀兒退蚱饋?lái)，」他們交談著，「他一下子就能打死我們七個(gè)，這可怎么是好呢?我們一敗涂地呀?！购髞?lái)，他們決定，一快兒去見國(guó)王，提出集體辭職。「我們這號(hào)人吶，」他們跟國(guó)王解釋說(shuō)，「無(wú)法和一位一下子就打死七個(gè)人的大英雄共事?！?/p>

　　因?yàn)橐粋€(gè)人而要失去所有忠心耿耿的軍官，國(guó)王感到十分難過(guò)，希望壓根兒就沒見過(guò)這個(gè)小裁縫，巴不得能早早把他打發(fā)走?？墒牵瑖?guó)王卻沒有這個(gè)膽量把他趕走，擔(dān)心小裁縫把他和他的臣民都打死，自己登上王位。他絞盡腦汁，冥思苦想，終於想出一個(gè)主意。他派人去告訴小裁縫，說(shuō)小裁縫是一位出類拔萃、英勇無(wú)畏的英雄，因此希望向他做如下提議：

　　在他的領(lǐng)地上，有一座大森林，林中住著兩個(gè)巨人，他們倆燒殺搶劫無(wú)惡不作，為害極大，可是至今卻沒有誰(shuí)敢冒生命危險(xiǎn)去和他們較量。要是小裁縫能制服和殺死這兩個(gè)巨人，國(guó)王就答應(yīng)把自己的獨(dú)生女兒許配給他，并賜給他半個(gè)王國(guó)，而且還準(zhǔn)備給他派去一百名騎士，為他助陣。

　　「對(duì)你這樣一個(gè)人來(lái)說(shuō)，這是多么大的鼓舞呀，」小裁縫心里想道，「一位漂亮的公主，還有半個(gè)王國(guó)，真是千載難逢的好機(jī)會(huì)啊?！?/p>

　　於是，他回答說(shuō)：「當(dāng)然可以啦，我去制服那兩個(gè)巨人。那一百名騎士嘛，我并不需要他們。我這樣一個(gè)英雄，一下子能打死七個(gè)，那兩個(gè)怎么會(huì)是我的對(duì)手呢?！?/p>

　　小裁縫出發(fā)了，后面跟著一百名騎士。他們來(lái)到森林前，他對(duì)這些騎士說(shuō)：「你們就呆在這兒，我一個(gè)人去收拾那兩個(gè)傢伙?！拐f(shuō)罷，他獨(dú)自跑進(jìn)了林中，一邊走著，一邊環(huán)顧左右。沒多大一會(huì)兒，就發(fā)現(xiàn)了那兩個(gè)巨人。他們倆躺在一棵大樹下正睡覺呢，鼾聲如雷，樹枝都快被震掉了。小裁縫忙著把兩個(gè)口袋裝滿石頭，然后爬到樹上。爬到一半時(shí)，他悄悄地攀上一根樹枝，樹枝下邊就是那兩個(gè)熟睡中的巨人的腦袋。接著，他把石頭接二連三地朝一個(gè)巨人的胸口使勁砸下去。這位大傢伙有好一會(huì)動(dòng)也不動(dòng)一下，后來(lái)終於醒了，用力推了推身邊的同伴，問道：「你干嘛打我?」

　　「你在做夢(mèng)吧，」另一個(gè)回答說(shuō)，「誰(shuí)打你來(lái)著?」

　　說(shuō)完，他們倆又躺下睡了。這回，小裁縫把一塊石頭朝第二個(gè)巨人砸了下去。

　　「干甚么?」第二個(gè)嚷嚷起來(lái)，「干嘛拿石頭打我呀?」

　　「我沒有哇?！沟谝粋€(gè)咆哮著回答說(shuō)。

　　他們爭(zhēng)吵了幾句，卻因?yàn)楦械嚼Х?，又閉上眼睛睡了。小裁縫呢，故伎重演，選了一塊最大的石頭，朝第一個(gè)巨人狠命砸了下去。

　　「這太不像話啦!」第一個(gè)巨人吼了起來(lái)。他瘋了一樣地從地上一躍而起，把他的同伴朝樹上猛地一搡，撞得大樹都搖晃起來(lái)了。第二個(gè)分毫不讓，以牙還牙，兩個(gè)傢伙怒不可遏，把一棵棵大樹連根拔起，朝著對(duì)方猛扔過(guò)去，最后他們兩敗俱傷，都倒在地上死了。

　　小裁縫立即從樹上跳了下來(lái)?！刚媸侨f(wàn)幸，」他說(shuō)道，「他們沒有拔掉我剛才上的那棵樹?！?/p>

　　說(shuō)罷，他拔出劍來(lái)，在每個(gè)巨人的胸口上猛刺一劍，然后他走到那些騎士面前說(shuō)：「完事了，那兩個(gè)巨人都被我給解決了，可真是一場(chǎng)驚心動(dòng)魄的遭遇呀。他們見勢(shì)不妙就把大樹連根拔起進(jìn)行頑抗，當(dāng)然啦，面對(duì)本人這樣一下子能打死七個(gè)的英雄，那是徒勞的。」

　　騎士們策馬跑進(jìn)森林一看，兩個(gè)巨人躺在血泊之中，四周還有連根拔出的大樹，這才相信了小裁縫的話。

　　返回后，小裁縫要求國(guó)王把答應(yīng)給他的獎(jiǎng)賞賜給他，國(guó)王卻后悔了，又左思右想，考慮怎樣才能把小裁縫打發(fā)走。

　　「你在得到我的女兒和半個(gè)王國(guó)之前，」他說(shuō)，「必須再完成一個(gè)壯舉。在那座森林里，有一頭危害很大的獨(dú)角獸，你必須把它捕捉住。」

　　「兩個(gè)巨人我都沒怕，一頭獨(dú)角獸又有甚么可怕的呀?！剐〔每p吹噓道。

　　小裁縫帶著一根繩索和一把斧頭便動(dòng)身去了森林，告訴他的隨從們?cè)谏滞獾戎?。他沒找多大功夫，便發(fā)現(xiàn)那頭獨(dú)角獸就在眼前，并且正向他直沖過(guò)來(lái)。

　　他紋絲不動(dòng)地站在那里，等獨(dú)角獸逼近了，敏捷地一下子跳到樹后。獨(dú)角獸發(fā)瘋似的朝大樹撞過(guò)來(lái)，把角牢牢地戳進(jìn)了樹干里，怎么拔也拔不出來(lái)，就被捉住了。

　　「伙計(jì)，這回我可逮住你啦，」小裁縫從樹后轉(zhuǎn)出來(lái)后說(shuō)道。他用那根繩索把獨(dú)角獸的脖子捆了起來(lái)，然后用斧頭劈開樹干，松開獸角，牽著獨(dú)角獸回去見國(guó)王。

　　誰(shuí)知國(guó)王還是不肯把答應(yīng)給小裁縫的獎(jiǎng)賞賜給他，又提出了第三個(gè)條件。他必須再到森林里去把一頭危害很大的野豬逮住，然后才舉行婚禮。

　　「我很樂意去，」小裁縫回答說(shuō)，「逮住一頭野豬那還不是跟玩兒似的?！?/p>

　　野豬一見小裁縫，就口里冒著白沫，咬著牙，朝他猛沖過(guò)來(lái)，想一頭把他撞倒在地。誰(shuí)知勇敢的小裁縫敏捷地跳進(jìn)了旁邊的一座小教堂，眨眼之間，又從窗口跳了出去。野豬追進(jìn)了教堂，小裁縫從教堂后面幾步跑了過(guò)來(lái)，把門關(guān)住，氣勢(shì)洶洶的野豬又重又笨，沒法從窗口跳出去，就這樣被擒住了。

　　然后，勇敢的小裁縫去見國(guó)王，告訴他說(shuō)，愿意也罷，不愿意也罷，他這次必須信守諾言，把他的女兒和半個(gè)王國(guó)賞賜給他。

　　他們的婚禮隆重舉行，歡笑卻很少。不過(guò)，小裁縫還是當(dāng)上了國(guó)王啦。

　　不久，年輕的王后在一天夜里聽見丈夫說(shuō)夢(mèng)話。小裁縫在夢(mèng)中大聲地嚷嚷著：「徒弟，快點(diǎn)兒把這件背心縫好，再把這條褲子補(bǔ)一補(bǔ)，不然我就讓你的腦袋嘗嘗尺子的厲害。」這樣一來(lái)，她便弄清了她的君主和丈夫是甚么出身。第二天一早就對(duì)父親大發(fā)牢騷，抱怨國(guó)王給她選擇的丈夫只不過(guò)是一個(gè)下賤的裁縫。

　　國(guó)王安慰她說(shuō)：「今天晚上，你打開化妝室的門，我派侍從守在外邊，等他睡著了，我的侍從就悄悄地進(jìn)去把他捆起來(lái)，然后放到一艘船上，把他送到天涯海角?！?/p>

　　當(dāng)了國(guó)王的小裁縫有個(gè)男仆，聽見了老國(guó)王說(shuō)的話，就把這個(gè)陰謀稟報(bào)了主子。

　　到了晚上，小裁縫像往常一樣按時(shí)上床就寢，躺在妻子身邊。她以為他已經(jīng)入睡，就從床上爬起來(lái)，打開了化妝室的門，然后又躺在床上。小裁縫只是在裝睡，這時(shí)便開始尖著嗓子喊叫起來(lái)：「徒弟，把這件背心縫好，再把這條褲子補(bǔ)一補(bǔ)，不然我就讓你的腦袋嘗嘗尺子的厲害。我一下子打死了七個(gè)，殺死了兩個(gè)巨人，捉住了一頭獨(dú)角獸，還逮住了一頭大野豬，難道我還怕化妝室里的哪一個(gè)不成?」聽到了小裁縫的這一番話，打算把他捆綁起來(lái)的那幾個(gè)人，個(gè)個(gè)嚇得要死，拔腿就逃走啦。從此，再?zèng)]有誰(shuí)敢碰他一根毫毛。就這樣，勇敢的小裁縫繼續(xù)當(dāng)他的國(guó)王，一直當(dāng)?shù)诫x開人世。