Читать книгу English Fairy Tales / Английские сказки. Elementary - С. А. Матвеев, Сергей Александрович Матвеев - Страница 16

Here was once a man who travelled the land all over[122] in search of a wife. He saw young and old, rich and poor, pretty and plain, and could not meet with one to his mind[123]. At last, he found a woman, young, fair, and rich, who possessed a right arm of solid gold. He married her at once and thought no man so fortunate as he was[124]. They lived happily together, but though he wished people to think otherwise, he was fonder of the golden arm[125] than of all his wife’s gifts besides.

At last she died. The husband put on black clothes and pulled the longest face at the funeral. But in the middle of the night, he dug up the body and cut off the golden arm. He hurried home to hide his treasure and thought no one would know.

The following night, he put the golden arm under his pillow and was just falling asleep when the ghost of his dead wife glided into the room. Stalking up to the bedside, it drew the curtain and looked at him reproachfully. Pretending not to be afraid, he spoke to the ghost, and said, “What have you done with your red cheeks?”

“All withered and wasted away,” replied the ghost in a hollow tone.

“What have you done with your red rosy lips?”

“All withered and wasted away.”

“What have you done with your golden hair?”

“All withered and wasted away.”

“What have you done with your Golden Arm?”

“You have it!”