Laughing Eye and Weeping Eye, or the Limping Fox

Once upon a time there lived a man whose right eye always laughed and whose left eye always cried. This man had three sons: two were very clever, and the third was very stupid. The three sons were very curious about their father's strange eyes. They couldn't figure out the reason themselves, so they decided to ask their father why his eyes were not like other people's.

One day the eldest son went into his father's room and asked the question straight out. But instead of answering, the man flew into a terrible rage and sprang at him with a knife. The young man ran away in great fear and hid with his brothers, who were waiting anxiously to hear what had happened.

"You had better go yourselves," he said, "and see if you fare any better."

Hearing this, the second son entered his father's room, only to be treated the same way as his brother. He came back and told the youngest son, the fool of the family, that it was his turn to try his luck.

Then the youngest son walked boldly up to his father and said, "My brothers would not tell me what answer you gave them. But now, please tell me why your right eye always laughs and your left eye always weeps."

As before, the father grew purple with fury and rushed forward with his knife. But the simpleton did not move a step; he knew he had nothing to fear from his father.

"Ah, now I see who is my true son," exclaimed the old man. "The others are mere cowards. And since you have shown me that you are brave, I will satisfy your curiosity. My right eye laughs because I am glad to have a son like you; my left eye weeps because a precious treasure has been stolen from me. I had a vine in my garden that yielded a tun of wine every hour. Someone managed to steal it, so I weep for its loss."

The simpleton returned to his brothers and told them about their father's loss. They all decided to set out at once in search of the vine. They traveled together until they came to some crossroads. There they parted, the two older ones taking one road and the simpleton the other.

"Thank goodness we got rid of that idiot," exclaimed the two older brothers. "Now let's have some breakfast." They sat down by the roadside and began to eat.

They had only half finished when a lame fox came out of a wood and begged them for something to eat. But they jumped up and chased him away with their sticks, and the poor fox limped off on three legs. As he ran, he came to the spot where the youngest son was taking out the food he had brought. The fox asked him for a crust of bread. The simpleton didn't have much for himself, but he gladly gave half of his meal to the hungry fox.

"Where are you going, brother?" asked the fox, when he had finished his share. The young man told him the story of his father and the wonderful vine.

"Dear me, how lucky!" said the fox. "I know what happened to it. Follow me!" So they went on until they came to the gate of a large garden.

"You will find the vine you're looking for here, but it won't be easy to get. You must listen carefully to what I say. Before you reach the vine, you will have to pass twelve outposts, each with two guards.

If you see the guards looking straight at you, go on without fear, for they are asleep. But if their eyes are shut, then beware, for they are wide awake. Once you get to the vine, you will find two shovels, one of wood and one of iron.

Be sure not to take the iron one; it will make a noise and wake the guards, and then you are lost."

The young man got safely through the garden without any trouble until he came to the vine that yielded a tun of wine an hour. But he thought it would be impossible to dig the hard earth with only a wooden shovel, so he picked up the iron one instead. The noise soon woke the guards. They seized the poor simpleton and carried him to their master.

"Why do you try to steal my vine?" demanded the master. "And how did you get past the guards?"

"The vine is not yours; it belongs to my father. If you don't give it to me now, I will come back and get it somehow."

"You shall have the vine if you bring me an apple from the golden apple tree that flowers every twenty-four hours and bears fruit of gold." So saying, he ordered the simpleton to be released. The youth hurried off to consult the fox.

"Now you see," said the fox, "this comes from not following my advice. However, I will help you get the golden apple. It grows in a garden you will easily recognize from my description. Near the apple tree are two poles, one of gold and one of wood. Take the wooden pole, and you will be able to reach the apple."

Master Simpleton listened carefully and crossed the garden, escaping the watchmen as before. He soon arrived at the apple tree. But he was so dazzled by the beautiful golden fruit that he forgot all the fox had said. He seized the golden pole and struck the branch a sounding blow. The guards at once woke up and led him to their master. The simpleton had to tell his story.

"I will give you the golden apple," said the owner of the garden, "if you bring me a horse that can go around the world in twenty-four hours." The young man went to find the fox.

This time the fox was really angry, and no wonder. "If you had listened to me, you would have been home with your father by now. But I am willing to help you once more. Go into the forest, and you will find the horse with two halters around its neck. One is of gold, the other of hemp. Lead it by the hempen halter, or else the horse will neigh and wake the guards. Then all is over."

So Master Simpleton searched until he found the horse, and he was struck dumb by its beauty. "What!" he said to himself. "Put the hempen halter on an animal like that? Not I, indeed!" Then the horse neighed loudly; the guards seized him and brought him before their master.

"I will give you the golden horse," said the master, "if you bring me a golden maiden who has never seen the sun or the moon."

"But if I am to bring you the golden maiden, you must first lend me the golden horse to search for her."

"Ah," replied the owner, "but who will guarantee that you will come back?"

"I swear by my father's head," answered the young man, "that I will bring back either the maiden or the horse." Then he went to consult the fox.

The fox, who was always patient and kind, led him to the entrance of a deep cave, where stood a maiden all of gold, as beautiful as the day. He placed her on his horse and prepared to mount.

"Aren't you sorry," said the fox, "to give such a lovely maiden in exchange for a horse? Yet you are bound to do it, for you have sworn by your father's head. But perhaps I could take her place." So saying, the fox transformed himself into another golden maiden, so like the first that hardly anyone could tell the difference.

The simpleton took her straight to the owner of the horse, who was delighted with her.

And the young man got back his father's vine and married the real golden maiden as well.