And the master said—
"You have been a faithful and good servant, so your pay shall be handsome."
Then he gave him a piece of silver that was as big as his head. Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off homewards. As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight, trotting along gaily on a capital horse.
"Ah!" said Hans aloud, "what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback! There he sits as if he were at home in his chair. He trips against no stones, spares his shoes, and yet gets on he hardly knows how."
The horseman heard this, and said—
"Well, Hans, why do you go on foot, then?"
"Ah!" said he, "I have this load to carry; to be sure, it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my head, and it hurts my shoulder sadly."
"What do you say to changing?" said the horseman. "I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver."
"With all my heart," said Hans, "but I tell you one thing: you will have a weary task to drag it along."
The horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into his hand, and said—