The Bremen Town Musicians

There once was an old donkey who could no longer carry heavy sacks. "I'll go to the town of Bremen and become a musician," he decided, and set off down the road singing a song.

On the way he met a tired dog, a lazy cat, and a hoarse rooster. "Come with us!" called the donkey. And the four of them walked on together, making up a cheerful tune as they went.

Night fell. In the forest the friends spotted a little house where robbers sat warming themselves at a table. The musicians very much wanted to warm up too.

So they climbed on top of one another: the donkey at the bottom, the dog above him, then the cat, and the rooster right at the top. And how they all sang at once! The robbers thought it was something dreadfully loud, jumped up, and ran off into the thicket.

The four friends went into the warm house, had supper of bread and cheese, and settled down close to the fire.

And so they stayed in the forest house — playing music in the mornings and resting in the evenings. The donkey yawned, the dog curled by the fire, the cat purred, the rooster tucked his head under his wing. Goodnight.