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3 Billy Goats Bruse Posted by on Jun 30, 2019 in Traditions

(Photo from Pixabay; no copyright.)

Hello, how are you, see you later. As language learners, we often focus on everyday communication. Still, dreaming and telling stories is also important! Below is one of the most famous eventyr (fairy-tales) by the Norwegian folktale collectors Asbjørnsen og Moe (19th century) – De tre bukkene Bruse. (In English it’s known as Three Billy Goats Gruff!)

Det var en gang tre bukker som skulle gå til seters for å gjøre seg fete, og alle tre  het de Bukken Bruse. På veien var det en bro over en foss som de skulle over, og under den broen bodde et stort, fælt troll, med øyne som tinntallerkener og nese så lang som et riveskaft. ([Very literal translation – to make every Norwegian phrase transparent:] Once upon a time, three billy goats were walking to a seter to fatten themselves, and all three were called Bukken Bruse. On their way there was a bridge across a waterfall, which they had to cross, and below the bridge there lived a big, nasty troll, with eyes as pewter plates and a nose as long as a rake handle.)

Først kom den yngste Bukken Bruse og skulle over broen. Tripp trapp, tripp trapp, sa det i broen. (First came the youngest Bukken Bruse and had to cross the bridge. Trip trap, trip trap, it sounded in the bridge.)

“Hvem er det som tripper på min bro?” skrek trollet. (”Who’s tripping on my bridge?” the troll yelled.)

“Å, det er den minste Bukken Bruse. Jeg skal til seters for å gjøre meg fet”, sa bukken, den var så fin i stemmen. (”Oh, it’s the smallest Bukken Bruse. I’m going to the seter to fatten myself,” the billy goat said, it had such a delicate voice.)

“Nå kommer jeg og tar deg”, sa trollet. (”Now I’m coming to take you,” the troll said.)

“Å nei, ta ikke meg, for jeg er så liten, jeg. Bare vent litt, så kommer den mellomste Bukken Bruse, han er mye større.” (”Oh no, don’t take me, because I’m so small. Just wait a little bit, then the middle Bukken Bruse will come, he’s much bigger.”)

“Javel, så gå da, ” sa trollet. (”All right, then walk” the troll said.)

Om en liten stund kom den mellomste Bukken Bruse og skulle over broen. Tripp trapp, tripp trapp, tripp trapp, sa det i broen. (In a small while came the middle Bukken Bruse and had to cross the bridge. Trip trap, trip trap, trip trap, it sounded in the bridge.)

“Hvem er det som tripper på min bro?” skrek trollet. (”Who’s tripping on my bridge?” the troll yelled.)

“Å, det er den mellomste Bukken Bruse som skal til seters for å gjøre seg fet”, sa bukken; den var ikke så fin i stemmen, den. (”Oh, it’s the middle Bukken Bruse who’s going to the seter to fatten himself,” the billy goat said; its voice wasn’t quite so delicate.)

“Nå kommer jeg og tar deg”, sa trollet. (”Now I’m coming to take you,” the troll said.)

“Å nei, ta ikke meg. Bare vent litt, så kommer den store Bukken Bruse, han er mye, mye større.” (”Oh no, don’t take me. Just wait a little bit, then the big Bukken Bruse will come, he’s much, much bigger.”)

“Javel, så gå da”, sa trollet. (”All right, then walk” the troll said.)

Det gikk en stund, og så kom den store Bukken Bruse. Tripp trapp, tripp trapp, tripp trapp, sa det i broen; den var så tung at broen både knaket og braket under den! (A while passed, and then came the big Bukken Bruse. Trip trap, trip trap, trip trap, it sounded in the bridge; it was so heavy that the bridge was creaking and clattering below it!)

“Hvem er det som tramper på min bro?” skrek trollet. (”Who’s stamping on my bridge?” the troll yelled.)

“Det er den store Bukken Bruse”, sa bukken, den var så grov i stemmen. (”It’s the big Bukken Bruse,” the billy goat said, it had such a gruff voice.)

“Nå kommer jeg og tar deg”, skrek trollet. (”Now I’m coming to take you,” the troll yelled.)

“Ja, kom du! Jeg har to horn som spyd, med dem skal jeg stikke ut øynene dine! Jeg har to store kampesteiner, med dem skal jeg knuse både marg og ben!” sa bukken. (”Yes, just you come! I’ve got two horns as spears, with them I’ll gouge your eyes out! I’ve got two big boulders, with them I’ll crush both your marrow and your bones!” the billy goat said.)

Og så sprang den på trollet og stakk ut øynene på ham, slo i stykker både marg og ben, og stanget ham utfor fossen. Så gikk den til seters. (And then it jumped onto the troll and gouged out his eyes, broke his marrow and bones, and butted him out in the waterfall. Then it went to the seter.)

Der ble bukkene så fete, så fete at de nesten ikke orket å gå hjem igjen, og er ikke fettet gått av dem, så er de det ennå. (There the billy goats became so fat, so fat that they almost didn’t bother to walk back home, and if the fat hasn’t left them, then they’re still like that.)

Og snipp snapp snute, så er det eventyret ute. (And snipp snapp snute, now the fairytale is out/finished.)

 

You can listen to the text here. 🙂  (The fairytale was first published in 1843 and has long been in the public domain.)

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About the Author: Bjørn A. Bojesen

I was born in Denmark, but spent large parts of my childhood and study years in Norway. I later returned to Denmark, where I finished my MA in Scandinavian Studies. Having relatives in Sweden as well, I feel very Scandinavian! I enjoy reading and travelling, and sharing stories with you! You’re always welcome to share your thoughts with me and the other readers.


Comments:

  1. Françoise MARSEILLE:

    Hi!
    I enjoyed the story very much, because it is traditional, but still has the everyday conversation tone in it.
    I certainly would like more of this kind of posts!
    Ha det bra!

    • Bjørn A. Bojesen:

      @Françoise MARSEILLE Hei @Françoise! Tusen takk for det. I’ll take note of your suggestion. Ha det bra!