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You can tell Coranda that the year is up, since the cuckoo is singing; pay him and send him away." Early in the morning the plaintive cry of the cuckoo was heard through the fields. The farmer seemed surprised. "Well, my boy, spring is come," said he. "Do you hear the cuckoo singing yonder? I will pay you and we will part good friends."
A young man by the name of Coranda, somewhat ungainly in manner, but cool, adroit, and cunning, which are not bad aids in making one's fortune, took it in his head to try the adventure. The farmer received him with his usual good nature, and, the bargain made, sent him to the field to work. At breakfast-time the other servants were called, but good care was taken to forget Coranda.
Begone, if you would not die by my hand!" "I will go when I have cut off your nose," said Coranda. "I have kept my word. Do you keep yours." "Stop!" cried the farmer, putting his hand before his face. "You will surely let me redeem my nose?" "It depends on what you offer," said Coranda. "Will you take ten sheep for it?" "No." "Ten cows?" "No; I would rather cut off your nose."
Coranda killed him, skinned him, cut him up with the meat and vegetables, and put the whole to boil over the kitchen fire. When the farmer's wife returned she called her favorite; but, alas! she saw nothing but a bloody skin hanging by the window. "What have you done?" said she to Coranda. "What you ordered me, mistress.
"A cuckoo!" said Coranda; "that is a bird which I have always wanted to see." He ran to the tree and shook it with all his might, when, behold! a young girl fell from the branches, fortunately more frightened than hurt. "Villain!" cried the farmer. "Are you not satisfied?" said Coranda, opening his knife. "Wretch! you kill my daughter and you think that I ought to be satisfied! I am furious.
Coranda took a ladder and mounted the roof of the house, which was quite new. Shingles, lath, nails, and tiles, he tore off everything, and scattered them all to the winds. When the farmer returned the house was open to the sky. "Villain!" said he, "what new trick have you played me?" "I have obeyed you, master," answered Coranda. "You told me to do exactly what I saw others do.
"Perfectly satisfied," said Coranda; "I have dined better than you have." At that instant the farmer's wife came rushing in, crying that her ham was gone. Coranda laughed, and the farmer turned pale. "Are you not satisfied?" asked Coranda. "A ham is only a ham," answered his master. "Such a trifle does not trouble me." But after that time he took good care not to leave the student fasting.
"Good," replied Coranda. "I would rather it was the tongue; but that will come next." Never was a finer wedding seen at Prague, and never was there a happier household. Coranda and the beautiful Helen were a model pair.
At dinner it was the same. Coranda gave himself no trouble about it. He went to the house, and while the farmer's wife was feeding the chickens unhooked an enormous ham from the kitchen rafters, took a huge loaf from the cupboard, and went back to the fields to dine and take a nap. "Are you satisfied?" cried the farmer, when he returned at night.
And he sharpened his knife on the door-step. "Father," said Helen, "the fault was mine; it belongs to me to repair it. Coranda, will you take my hand instead of my father's nose?" "Yes," replied Coranda. "I make one condition," said the young girl. "We will make the same bargain; the first one of us that is not satisfied after marriage shall have his nose cut off by the other."
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