格林童話:Faithful Johannes忠實的約翰

Faithful Johannes

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

Once upon a time there was an old king who was ill. He thought, "I am lying on what must be my deathbed," then said, "Have faithful Johannes come to me."

Faithful Johannes was his favorite servant, and was so called, because he had been so loyal to him for his whole life long. When he approached the bed the king said to him, "Most faithful Johannes, I feel that my end is near. My only concern is for my son. He is still young and may not always have the best judgment. I will not be able to close my eyes in peace if you do not promise to teach him everything that he ought to know, and to be his foster father."

Faithful Johannes answered, "I will not forsake him, and will serve him faithfully, even if it costs me my life."

At this, the old king said, "Then I will die in comfort and peace," adding, "After my death, show him the entire castle —— all the chambers, halls, and vaults, and all the treasures which lie therein. But do not show him the last chamber in the long gallery, which contains the portrait of the Princess of the Golden Roof. If he sees that picture, he will fall violently in love with her, will fall down unconscious, and will put himself at GREat risk for her sake. You must protect him from that."
　　After faithful Johannes had once more given his promise to the old king about this, the latter said no more, but laid his head on his pillow and died.

After the old king had been carried to his grave, faithful Johannes told the young king all that he had promised his father on his deathbed, and said, "I will surely keep my promise, and will be loyal to you as I have been loyal to him, even if it should cost me my life."

When the mourning was over, faithful Johannes said to the young king, "It is now time for you to see your inheritance. I will show you your father's castle." Then he took him everywhere, up and down, and let him see all the riches and the magnificent chambers. But there was one chamber which he did not open, the one that contained the dangerous portrait. Now the portrait was so placed that when the door was opened one looked straight at it. It was so masterfully painted that it seemed to live and breathe and to be the most charming beautiful thing in the whole world.

the young king noticed that faithful Johannes always walked past this one door, and said, "Why do you never open this one for me?"

He replied, "there is something in there that would frighten you."

the king answered "I have seen the entire castle, and I want to know what is in this room as well." And he was about to break open the door by force.

Faithful Johannes held him back, saying, "I promised your father before his death that you should not see inside this chamber. It could bring GREat misfortune on you and on me."

"Oh, no!" replied the young king. "If I do not go in, it will be my certain downfall. I shall have no rest day or night until I have seen inside with my own eyes. I shall not leave here until you have unlocked the door."

Faithful Johannes saw that there was no other way. With a heavy heart and many sighs, he took the key from the large ring. After opening the door, he went in first, thinking that he could block king's view of the portrait, that the king would not see it in front of him. But what good did it do? The king stood on tiptoes and saw the portrait over faithful Johannes's shoulder. After seeing the girl's portrait, which was so magnificent and glistened with gold and precious stones, he fell unconscious to the ground.

Faithful Johannes picked him up, carried him to his bed, and sorrowfully thought, "Misfortune has befallen us, dear Lord. How will it end?" then he strengthened the king with wine, until he regained consciousness.

the king's first words were, "Oh, whose portrait is that beautiful picture?"

"That is the Princess of the Golden Roof," answered faithful Johannes.

the king continued, "My love for her is so GREat, that if all the leaves on all the trees were tongues, they would not be able to express it. I will risk my life to win her. You are my most faithful Johannes. You must help me."

the faithful servant thought to himself for a long time how to approach the matter, for it was difficult even to come into view of the king's daughter. Finally he thought of a way, and said to the king, "Everything which she has about her is of gold —— tables, chairs, dishes, cups, bowls, and household implements. Among your treasures are five tons of gold. Have the royal goldsmiths fashion one ton into all manner of vessels and utensils, into all kinds of birds, wild beasts, and strange animals. She will like these things, and we will go there with them and to try our luck."

the king summoned all the goldsmiths, and they had to work night and day until at last the most splendid things were prepared. When everything had been loaded on board a ship, faithful Johannes disguised himself as a merchant, and the king had to do the same thing in order to make himself quite unrecognizable. Then they sailed across the sea, and sailed on until they came to the city where the Princess of the Golden Roof lived.

Faithful Johannes had the king stay behind on the ship and wait for him. "Perhaps I shall bring the princess with me," he said. "Therefore see that everything is in order. Have the golden vessels set out and the whole ship decorated." Then he put all kinds of golden things into his apron, went on shore and walked straight to the royal castle. When he entered the courtyard of the castle, a beautiful girl was standing there by the well with two golden buckets in her hand, drawing water with them. She was just turning around to carry away the sparkling water when she saw the stranger and asked who he was.

He answered, "I am a merchant," opening his apron, and letting her look in.

"Oh, what beautiful golden things," she cried, putting her buckets down and looking at the golden wares one after the other. Then the girl said, "The princess must see these things. She takes such GREat pleasure in golden things, that she will buy all you have." Taking him by the hand, she led him upstairs, for she was the princess's chambermaid.

When the princess saw the wares, she was quite delighted and said, "They are so beautifully made that I will buy them all from you."

But faithful Johannes said, "I am only the servant of a rich merchant. The things I have here are not to be compared with those my master has in his ship. They are the most beautiful and valuable things that have ever been made in gold." When she wanted to have everything brought up to her, he said, "There is so much that it would take a GREat many days to do that, and so many rooms would be required to exhibit them, that your house is not big enough."

This made her all the more curious and desirous, so at last she said, "Take me to the ship. I will go there myself and see your master's treasures."

Faithful Johannes happily led her to the ship, and when the king beheld her, he saw that she was even more beautiful than the portrait, and he thought that his heart would surely break. Then she boarded the ship, and the king led her inside. But faithful Johannes remained with the helmsman and ordered the ship to be pushed off, saying, "Set all the sails and fly like a bird in the air."

Inside, the king showed her the golden vessels, every one of them, and also the wild beasts and strange animals. Many hours went by while she was looking at everything, and in her delight she did not notice that the ship was sailing away. After she had looked at the last item, she thanked the merchant and wanted to go home, but when she came to the side of the ship, she saw that it was on the high seas far from land, and speeding onward at full sail.

"Oh!" she cried in alarm "I've been betrayed. I've been kidnapped and have fallen into the power of a merchant. I would rather die!"

Taking her by the hand, the king said, "I am not a merchant. I am a king, and of no lower birth than you are. If I have tricked you into coming with me, it is only because of my GREat love for you. The first time I saw your portrait, I fell to the ground unconscious."

When the Princess of the Golden Roof was comforted when she heard this. Her heart yielded to him, and she willingly consented to marry him.

Now it so happened that while they were sailing onward on the high sea, faithful Johannes, who was sitting at the front of the ship making music, saw three ravens flying through the air towards them. He stopped playing and listened to what they were saying to each other, for he could understand them.

One cried "Oh, he is carrying home the Princess of the Golden Roof."

"Yes," replied the second, "but he doesn't have her yet."

the third one said, "Yes, he has her. She is sitting beside him in the ship."

then the first one began again, crying, "What good will that do him? When they reach land a chestnut horse will leap forward to meet him, and the prince will want to mount it, but if he does that, it will leap up into the air with him, and he will never see his bride again."

the second one spoke, "Is there no escape?"

"Oh, yes, if someone else quickly mounts it, takes the gun from its saddlebag, and shoots the horse dead, then young king will be rescued. But who knows that? And if anyone does know it, and tells it to the king, he will be turned to stone from his toes to his knees."

then the second raven said, "I know more than that. Even if the horse is killed, still the young king will not keep his bride. When they enter the castle together, a ready-made wedding shirt will be lying there on a platter. It will appear to be woven of gold and silver, but it is nothing but sulfur and pitch. If he puts it on, it will burn him to the very marrow and bone."

the third one spoke, "Is there no escape at all?"

"Oh, yes," replied the second raven. "If anyone with gloves on seizes the garment and throws it into the fire and burns it up, the young king will be saved. But what good will that do? If anyone knows it and tells it to the king, half his body will become stone, from his knees to his heart."

then the third raven said, "I know still more. Even if the wedding shirt is burned up, still the young king will not have his bride. After the wedding, when the dancing begins and the young queen is dancing, she will suddenly turn pale and fall down as if dead. If someone does not lift her up and draw three drops of blood from her right breast and spit them out again, she will die. But if anyone who knows that reveals it, his entire body will turn to stone, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet."

After the ravens had thus spoken they flew away. Faithful Johannes had understood everything well. From that time forth he became quiet and sad, for if he concealed what he had heard from his master, it would bring misfortune to the king, but if he revealed it to him, then he himself would have to sacrifice his life.

Finally he said to himself, "I will save my master, even if it brings destruction on myself."

When they landed, what the raven foretold did indeed happen, and a magnificent chestnut horse sprang forward.

"Excellent!" said the king. "He shall carry me to my castle."

He was about to mount it when faithful Johannes pushed in front of him, quickly jumped onto the horse, drew the gun from its saddlebag, and shot the horse.

the king's other servants, who were not very fond of faithful Johannes, shouted, "How shameful to kill the beautiful animal that was to have carried the king to his castle."

But the king said, "Hold your peace and leave him alone. He is my most faithful Johannes. Who knows what good may come of this?"

they entered the castle, and in the hall there stood a platter on which lay the wedding shirt that appeared to be made of gold and silver. The young king went towards it and was about to take hold of it, but faithful Johannes pushed him away, seized it with gloves, carried it quickly to the fire, and burned it up.

the other servants began to murmur again, saying, "Look, now he is even burning up the king's wedding shirt."

But the young king said, "Who knows what good he may have done? Leave him alone. He is my most faithful Johannes."

And now the wedding took place. The dance began, with the bride also taking part. Faithful Johannes was watchful and looked into her face. Suddenly she turned pale and fell to the ground as if she were dead. He ran quickly to her, picked her up and carried her into a chamber. He laid her down, then knelt and sucked three drops of blood from her right breast, and spat them out. Immediately she breathed again and regained consciousness. The young king saw what had happened, and not knowing why faithful Johannes had done it, GREw angry and shouted, "Throw him into prison."

the next morning faithful Johannes was condemned and led to the gallows. Standing high on the platform and about to be executed, he said, "Everyone who is condemned to die is permitted before his end to say one last thing. May I too have this right?"

"Yes," answered the king. "You are granted this right."

Faithful Johannes said, "I have been unjustly condemned, and have always been loyal to you, and he related how he had heard the conversation of the ravens at sea, and how he had had to do all these things in order to save his master.

then the king cried, "Oh, my most faithful Johannes, pardon! Pardon! Bring him down."

But as faithful Johannes spoke the last word, he fell down lifeless and turned to stone.

This caused the king and the queen GREat grief, and the king said, "Oh, I have rewarded him very badly for his great loyalty." He then ordered the stone figure to be taken up and placed in his bedroom next to his bed. Every time that he looked at it he wept, saying, "Oh, if only I could bring you back to life again, my most faithful Johannes."

Some time passed and the queen bore twins, two sons who GREw fast and were her delight. Once when the queen was at church and the two children were sitting beside their father and playing, he again looked sadly at the stone statue and said, "Oh, if only I could bring you back to life again, my most faithful Johannes."

then the stone began to speak and said, "You can bring me back to life again if you will in return give up what is dearest to you."

the king cried, "For you I will give up everything I have in the world."

the stone continued, "If you will cut off the heads of your two children with your own hand, then sprinkle their blood on me, I shall be restored to life."

the king was horrified when he heard that he would have to kill his own dearest children, but he thought of faithful Johannes's GREat loyalty, and how he had died for him, then drew his sword, and with his own hand cut off the children's heads. And when he had smeared the stone with their blood, it returned to life, and faithful Johannes stood before him, again healthy and well.

He said to the king, "Your loyalty shall not go unrewarded," then taking the children's heads, he put them on again, then rubbed the wounds with their blood, at which they became immediately whole again, and jumped about and went on playing as if nothing had happened.

the king was overjoyed. When he saw the queen coming he hid faithful Johannes and the two children in a large chest. When she entered, he said to her, "Have you been praying in the church?"

"Yes, she answered, "but I have constantly been thinking about faithful Johannes and what misfortune has befallen him because of us."

then he said, "Dear wife, we can give him his life again, but it will cost us our two little sons. We will have to sacrifice them."

the queen turned pale, and her heart filled with terror, but she said, "We owe it to him for his GREat loyalty."

the king rejoiced to hear that she aGREed with him, then he opened up the chest and brought forth faithful Johannes and the children, saying, "God be praised! Faithful Johannes has been saved, and we have our little sons again as well." He told her how everything had happened. Then they lived happily together until they died.

很久以前，有個老國王生了重病，當他意識到自己剩下的時間已經不多時，就對身邊的人說：「傳忠實的約翰進來見我。」忠實的約翰是一個僕人，老國王之所以這樣稱呼他，是因爲他侍候國王很久了，而且非常忠誠可靠，也最受老國王喜愛。當約翰來到牀邊時，國王說道：「我忠實的約翰，我知道自己不行了。現在我放不下心的就是我的兒子，他還小，需要良師益友的輔助，除了你，我沒有甚麼好託付的朋友了。如果你不發誓把他應該懂得的東西教給他，做他的乾爹，我不能安然瞑目。」聽到這些話，約翰說道：「我決不會離他而去，我一定忠實地輔助他，即使獻出我的生命也在所不惜。」國王欣然說道：「現在我就放心了。我死後，你領着他把整座王宮的所有房間和庫房，包括房子裏的所有財寶看一遍。但要注意，有一間房子不能讓他進去，就是那間掛有金屋公主畫像的房間。如果他進去看了，就會深深地愛上她，並會因此而陷入萬劫不復的險境。你千萬要負起這個責任來。」當忠實的約翰再一次問老國王發誓以後，老國王安然地躺在枕頭上死去了。

老國王被安葬之後，忠實的約翰把老國王臨終前的一切囑託和自己的誓言都告訴了年青的國王，並說道：「我一定會忠實地執行自己的諾言，對你就像對你的父親一樣忠誠不二，即使獻出自己的生命也在所不辭。」年青的國王哭泣着說：「我永遠也不會忘記你的忠心。」　

喪事辦完以後，忠實的約翰對他的小主人說：「現在你應該看看你所繼承的財產了，我帶你去你父親的宮殿裏看看吧。」接着他引導小主人在王宮上上下下的各個地方都巡視了一遍，讓他看過了所有的財富和豪華的房廳，唯獨掛着圖像的那間房子沒有打開。因爲，那裏面掛着的畫像只要門一打開就看得見。那畫像畫得實在是太美了，讓人看了會有種呼之欲出的感覺，世界上再也沒有甚麼東西比畫上的女子更可愛、更美麗了。年青的國王發現忠實的約翰總是直接走過這間房子，卻並不打開房門，就問道：「你爲甚麼不打開這間房子呢？」他回答說：「裏面有會使你感到恐懼的東西。」但國王說：「我已把整個王宮看完了，也想知道這裏面是甚麼。」說完，他走上去用力要打開那扇房門，可忠實的約翰拉着他的後背說：「在你父親臨終前我發過誓，無論如何也不能讓你走進這間房子，否則你和我都會大難臨頭的。」年青的國王固執地說道：「對我來說，最大的不幸就是不能進去看看，只要沒有進去看，我就會日夜不得安寧，所以你不打開它，我就不走。」

忠實的約翰看到他再怎麼勸說，年青的國王就是不肯離去，心裏有了不祥的預感，沉重地歎了歎氣，從一大串鑰匙中找出一片鑰匙，打開了這個房子的門。門一打開，約翰便先走了進去，站在了國王和畫像之間，希望能擋着畫像不讓國王看見，但年青的國王卻踮着腳尖從他的肩頭看過去，一下子就看到了公主的肖像。目睹畫上穿金戴銀的少女如此美麗動人、嬌豔嫵媚的容貌，他心情激動極了，竟馬上倒在樓板上昏了過去。忠實的約翰趕緊將他扶起，把他抱到他自己的牀上，心裏一個勁地想：「唉——！不幸已經降臨在我們的頭上，上帝啊！這可怎麼辦呢？」

經過努力，國王纔好不容易被救醒，但他說的第一句話就是：「那美麗畫像上的少女是誰呀？」忠實的約翰回答說：「那是金屋國王女兒的畫像。」國王又繼續問道：「我太愛她了，就是樹上的葉子全部變成我的舌頭也難以訴說我對她的愛戀。我要去找她！哪怕是冒着生命危險也要去找她！你是我忠實的朋友，你必須幫助我。」

對於如何來幫助年青的國王，滿足他的願望，約翰思考了很久，最後他對國王說：「據傳說，她周圍的一切用具都是金子做的：桌子、凳子、杯子、碟子和屋子裏的所有東西都是金質的，並且她還在不停地尋求新的財寶。你現在貯藏了許多金子，找一些工匠把這些金子做成各種容器和珍禽異獸，然後我們帶着這些財寶去碰碰運氣吧。」於是，國王下令找來了所有技藝高超的金匠，他們夜以繼日地用金子趕製各種工藝品，終於把金子都做成了最漂亮的珍玩。忠實的約翰把它們都裝上一條大船，他和國王都換上商人的服飾，這樣別人也就不可能認出他們了。

一切準備停當後，他們揚帆出海了。經過晝夜不停的航行，他們終於找到了金屋國王管轄的領地。船靠岸後，忠實的約翰要國王待在船上等着他回來，他說：「或許我有可能把金屋公主帶來，因此，你們要把船內收拾整齊，將金器珍玩擺設出來，整條船都要用它們裝飾起來。」接着他把每樣金製品都拿了一個放進籃子裏，上岸向王宮走去。

當他來到城堡的大院時，看見一口井邊站着一個漂亮的少女，她正提着兩隻金桶在井裏打水。就在少女擔着金光閃閃的水桶轉過身時，她也看到了這個陌生人，她問他是誰。他走上前去說道：「我是一個商人。」說罷打開籃子，讓她來看籃子裏的東西。少女一看，驚奇地叫道：「荷！多麼漂亮的東西呀！」她放下水桶，把一件又一件金器看過之後說道：「國王的女兒最喜歡這些東西了，應該讓她看看，她會把這些全都買下的。」說完，她牽着他的手，把他帶進了王宮，因爲她是國王女兒的一名侍女，她向衛兵說明情況之後，他們就放行了。

公主看過他帶的這些貨樣後，非常興奮地說道：「太漂亮了，我要把它們全買下。」忠實的約翰說道：「我只是一位富商的僕人，我帶的這些和他放在船上的比根本算不了甚麼，他那兒還有你從來沒有見過的最精緻最昂貴的金制工藝品哩！」公主聽了之後，要他把所有的東西都拿上岸來，但他說道：「要拿的話得要不少天才能卸完，因爲太多了，就是把它們放在這兒最大的房間裏也放不下呀。」他這一說，公主的好奇心和慾望越發大了，忍不住說道：「帶我到你們的船上去吧，我要親自看看你主人的貨物。」

忠實的約翰非常高興，引着她來到岸邊。當國王看見她時，他覺得自己的心都要跳出嗓子眼了，情不自禁地馬上迎了上去。公主一上船他就引她進船艙去了。忠實的約翰來到船尾找着舵手，令他馬上起航，「張滿風帆！」他喊道，「讓船在波濤中像鳥兒在空中飛行一樣地前進。」

國王把船上的金製品一件一件地拿給公主過目，其中有各種各樣的碟子、杯子、盆子和珍禽異獸等等。公主滿心歡喜地欣賞着每一件藝術珍品，一點也沒有察覺船離岸起航。幾個小時過去了，在看完所有的東西后，她很有禮貌地對這個商人表示了謝意，說她應該回家了。可當她走出船艙、來到船頭時，才發現船早已離岸，此刻船正張滿風帆在茫茫大海上飛速航行。公主嚇得尖聲叫道：「上帝啊！我被誘騙了，被拐走了，落進了一個流動商販的掌握之中，我寧可死去。」但國王卻拉着她的手說道：「我不是一個商人，我是一個國王，和你一樣出身於王室。用這種矇騙你的方法把你帶出來，是因爲我非常非常地愛你。當第一次看到你的畫像時我就情不自禁地昏倒在地上。」金屋公主聽完後，這才放下心來。經過交談瞭解，她很快也傾心於他，願意嫁給他做妻子了。

但就在他們在茫茫大海上航行之時，卻發生了這樣一件事情。這天，忠實的約翰正坐在船頭吹奏他的長笛，突然看見三隻渡鴉在天空中向他飛過來，嘴裏不停地嘰嘰喳喳。約翰懂得鳥語，所以，他馬上停止吹奏，留心聽着渡鴉之間的對話。第一隻渡鴉說：「他去了！他贏得了金屋公主的愛，讓他去吧！」第二隻渡鴉說：「不！他這一去，仍然得不到公主。」第三隻渡鴉說：「他這一去，一定能娶她，你們看他倆在船上並肩在一起的親熱樣子吧！」接着第一隻渡鴉又開口說道：「那對他有甚麼用？不信你就看吧，當他們登上岸後，會有一匹紅棕色的馬向他跑來。看到那匹馬，他肯定會騎上去。只要他騎上那匹馬，那馬就會載着他跳到空中去，他就再也別想看到他的愛人了。」第二隻渡鴉接着說道：「正是這樣！正是這樣！但有甚麼辦法嗎？」第一隻渡鴉說：「有，有！如果有人坐上那匹馬，抽出插在馬鞍裏的匕首把馬刺死，年青的國王才能得救，可有誰知道呢？就是有人知道，誰又會告訴他呢？因爲只要他將此事告訴國王，並因此而救了國王的命，那麼，他的腿從腳趾到膝部整個都會變成石頭。」第二隻渡鴉說：「正是這樣，正是這樣！但我還知道別的哩！儘管那馬死了，國王還是娶不到新娘。因爲當他們一起走進王宮時，就會看到睡椅上有一套新婚禮服，那套禮服看起來就像用金子和銀子編織而成的，其實那都是一些硫磺和瀝膏。只要他穿上那套禮服，禮服就會把他燒死，一直燒到骨髓裏面去。」第三隻渡鴉說道：「哎呀呀！難道就沒救了嗎？」第二隻渡鴉說：「哦！有，有！如果有人搶上前去，抓起禮服把它們扔進火盆裏去，年青的國王就得救了。但那有甚麼用呢？要是有誰知道，並告訴了這個人，他按這種辦法救了國王，那他的身體從膝蓋到胸部都會變成石頭，誰又會這樣幹呢？」第三隻渡鴉又說道：「還有，還有！我知道的還要多一些哩！即使禮服被燒掉了，但國王仍然娶不成新娘。因爲，在結婚典禮之後，當舞會開始時，只要年青的王后上去跳舞，她馬上會倒在地上，臉色蒼白得像死人一樣。不過，這時要是有人上前扶起她，從她的右乳房中吸出三滴血，她纔不會死去。但要是有誰知道這些，又將這個方法告訴某個人，這個人按這個方法救了新娘，那他的身體從腳尖到頭頂都會變成石頭。」接着，渡鴉拍着翅膀飛走了。忠實的約翰已聽懂了一切，他開始犯愁了，可他並沒有把他聽到的事情告訴他的主人。因爲他知道如果告訴了他，他一定會捨生救自己，最後他自言自語地說：「我一定要忠實地執行我的諾言，那怕付出自己的生命也要救我的主人。」

在他們上岸後，渡鴉的預言應驗了，岸邊突然跳出一匹神俊的紅棕色馬來，國王喊道：「快看，他一定會把我們送到王宮去的。」說完就要去上馬。說時遲，那時快，忠實的約翰搶在他之前騎上馬，抽出匕首把馬殺死了。國王的其他僕人原來就對他很嫉妒，這一來，他們都叫道：「他殺死送國王回宮的駿馬，太不像話了！」但國王卻說道：「讓他去做吧，他是我忠實的約翰，誰知道他這樣做不是爲了有好的結果呢？」

當他們來到王宮，看見有間房子的靠椅上放着一套漂亮的禮服，禮服閃爍着金色和銀色的光芒。年青的國王走上前去準備把它們拿起來，但忠實的約翰卻把它們一把抓過，扔進火裏燒掉了。其他的僕人又咕噥着說：「看吧，現在他又把結婚禮服給燒掉了。」但國王還是說道：「誰知道他這麼做是爲了甚麼呢？讓他做吧！他是我忠實的僕人約翰。」

結婚盛典舉行後，舞會開始了，新娘一走進舞場，約翰就全神貫注地盯着她的臉，突然間，新娘臉色蒼白，就像死了一樣倒在地上。約翰迅速地彈身向她躍去，將她挾起，抱着她來到內室一張靠椅上，從她的右乳房中吸出了三滴血。新娘又開始呼吸，並活了過來。但年青的國王看到了全部過程，他不知道忠實的約翰爲甚麼要這樣做，只是對他的膽大妄爲非常氣憤，便下令說道：「把他關到牢房裏去。」

第二天上午，忠實的約翰被押出牢房，推到了絞刑架前，面對絞刑架，他說道：「在我死之前，我可以說件事嗎？」國王回答說：「准許你的請求。」於是，約翰將在海上聽到渡鴉的對話以及他如何決心救自己主子的全部經過都說了出來，最後他說道：「我現在受到了錯誤的判決，但我自始至終都是忠實而真誠的。」

當聽完約翰的敘述，國王大聲呼喊道：「哎呀！我最忠實的約翰！請原諒我！請原諒我！快把他放下來！」但就在忠實的約翰說完最後一句話之後，他倒下去變成了一塊沒有生命的石頭。國王和王后趴在石像上悲痛不已，國王說道：「天哪！我竟然以這種忘恩負義的方法來對待你的忠誠呀！」他令人將石像扶起，擡到了他的臥室，安放在自己的牀邊，使自己能經常看到它、哀悼它。他對石像說：「唉——！我忠實的約翰，但願我能讓你復活！」

過了一年，王后生下了兩個雙胞胎兒子，看着他們慢慢長大，她心裏高興極了。有一天，她去了教堂，兩個兒子和國王待在王宮裏。小傢伙到處玩耍，國王對着石像唉聲歎氣，哭泣着說道：「唉，我忠實的約翰，但願我能夠讓你復活！」這一次，石像竟開始說話了，它說道：「國王啊！要是你爲我能捨棄你最親愛的人兒，就能讓我復活。」國王一聽，堅定地說道：「爲了你，我願付出世界上的任何東西。」「既然這樣，」石像說道，「只要你砍下你兩個孩子的頭，將他們的血灑在我身上，我就會復活了。」聽到這裏，國王馬上震驚起來，但他想到忠實的約翰是爲他而死去的，想到他對自己忠心耿耿、誓死如歸的高尚品行，便站直身來，拔出佩劍，準備去砍下他兩個孩子的頭，將他們的血灑在石像上。但就在他拔出佩劍的一剎那，忠實的約翰復活了，他站在國王的面前，擋住了他的去路，說道：「你的真心誠意應該得到報答。」兩個孩子仍歡蹦活跳、喧鬧嘻戲着，就像甚麼事也沒有發生過一樣。

國王滿心歡喜。當他看到王后回來了，就想試一試她。他把忠實的約翰和兩個兒子藏進了一個大衣櫥裏面。當走她進房子後，他對她說：「你去教堂祈禱了嗎？」王后回答：「是的，我總是思念着忠實的約翰，想着他對我們的忠誠。」國王說道：「親愛的夫人，我們能夠使約翰復活，但必須以我們小兒子的死作代價，要救他就得捨去他們。」王后聽了大吃一驚，臉唰地變得毫無血色，但她仍堅定地說道：「只好這樣了，沒有他無私的忠心與真誠，就沒有我們的今天，沒有我們的小孩。」國王欣喜若狂地歡呼起來，因爲妻子和自己的想法完全一樣。他馬上跑去打開衣櫥，把兩個孩子和忠實的約翰放了出來，說道：「上帝也會爲此而感到驕傲！他又和我們在一起了，我們的兒子也安然無恙。」接着他把全部經過告訴了她，大家高高興興歡地歡聚一堂，生活又充滿了幸福和快樂。