The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales
This collection of "classics" certainly is a departure from the Disney versions. The tales are mostly very dark and pessimistic, as originally recorded by the Brothers. For the more "colourful" children's stories it is better to buy the specific tales from the bookstore instead of a collective book.
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This story is available in the following languages
[
English
]
THE HORSE AND THE WOLF>
Once upon a time... a horse was gazing peacefully in a rolling
green meadow.
A famished wolf passing by saw the horse and his mouth began to
water.
"That's a fine horse! And will taste good too! He'd make a
juicy steak!
Pity he's so big. I don't think I'd manage to bring him down,
though you never
know..."
The wolf approached the horse, which continued to eat the
grass. "...maybe,
if I take him by surprise."
Now quite close, the wolf spoke to the horse, trying to sound
as pleasant as
he could.
"Good day, Mr. Horse, I see you're enjoying a meal. Is the
grass good? I
must say you're looking rather pale. Aren't you well?"
His mouth fool of grass, the horse replied: "Pale? Oh, no,
that's my natural
colour. I was born white and grey."
The wolf pretended not to understand what the horse had said.
"Yes, indeed,
very pale. It's just as well your master has given you a holiday
in the field,
instead of working."
"A holiday in the field? But I'm the picture of health!..."
The wolf was now circling round the horse, trying to find the
best point to
attack.
"I'm a doctor," he went on. "I can treat you. If you tell me
where the pain
is. I'm sure I can cure it. Take my advice. Let me examine you!"
The horse, who was not usually wary of others, became
suspicious of the
wolf's persistent remarks, and thought he had better be on his
guard. The wolf
was now very close and carefully biding his time, when the horse
said, in
alarm: "Yes! Now that think of it, I have a sore hind foot. It's
been swollen
for ages..."
Without a moment's thought, the wolf trotted up to the hoof
which the horse
had obligingly raised into the air. And when he was certain that
the wolf had
come within range, the horse gave a mighty kick, catching the wolf
on the
jawbone and sending him flying.
"Would like to examine me again?" The wolf heard the words as
he struggled
to his feet with spinning head.
"No thanks! That's enough for one day!" he mumbled, limping
away, with no
further thought for horse steaks.
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