The Bremen Town Musicians

There was a man who had a donkey that had served him faithfully for many years, but whose strength was now running out, so that he became more and more unfit for work. Then the master wanted to get him out of the fodder, but the donkey noticed that there was no good wind blowing. So he ran away and made his way to Bremen. "There", he thought, "you can become a town musician". When he had gone a little while, he found a hound lying on the road, howling like one who has run himself tired." "Well, what are you whining about, dog?" asked the donkey. "Oh," said the dog, "because I'm old and getting weaker every day, and can't keep up with the hunt anymore, my master wanted to beat me to death, so I took to my heels. But with what am I supposed to earn my bread now"? "You know what," said the donkey, "I'm going to Bremen to become a town musician there. Go along and try music, too. I'll play the lute, and you hit the timpani." The dog liked the idea - and they went on.

It was not long before a cat was sitting by the path, making a face like three days of rainy weather. "Well, what's gotten into your way, old beard cleaner," spoke the donkey. "Who can be funny when you're in trouble," replied the cat. "Because I'm getting on in years, and my teeth are getting dull, and I'd rather sit behind the stove and spin than hunt around for mice, my wife wanted to drown me. I still managed to get away, but now good advice is expensive. Where shall I go?" "Go with us to Bremen, you know how to play night music. There you can become a town musician." The cat thought that was good and went along. Then the three fugitives passed a farm. There sat on the gate the house cock and screamed at the top of his lungs. "You are screaming through one's marrow," said the donkey, "what are you up to"? "Then I prophesied good weather for the dear landlady," said the rooster, "because she wants to wash clothes and dry them. As a thank you, and just because guests are coming tomorrow on Sunday, she told the cook that she wanted to eat me in the soup tomorrow - and that I should have my head cut off tonight. Now I'm screaming at the top of my lungs while I still can." "Eh what, you red-head," said the donkey, "you'd better go away with us, we'll go to Bremen, you'll find something better than death anywhere. You have a good voice, and if we make music together, it must go down well." The rooster liked the suggestion and all four of them went away together.