The Three Billy-goats Gruff

: East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon

Once on a time there were three Billy-goats, who were to go up to

the hill-side to make themselves fat, and the name of all three was

"Gruff."



On the way up was a bridge over a burn they had to cross; and under

the bridge lived a great ugly Troll, with eyes as big as saucers,

and a nose as long as a poker.



So first of all came the youngest billy-goat Gruff to cross the

bridge.
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"Trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge.



"Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.



"Oh! it is only I, the tiniest billy-goat Gruff; and I'm going up to

the hill-side to make myself fat," said the billy-goat, with such a

small voice.



"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.



"Oh, no! pray don't take me. I'm too little, that I am," said the

billy-goat; "wait a bit till the second billy-goat Gruff comes, he's

much bigger."



"Well! be off with you," said the Troll.



A little while after came the second billy-goat Gruff to cross the

bridge.



"TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!" went the bridge.



"WHO'S THAT tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.



"Oh! It's the second billy-goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the

hill-side to make myself fat," said the billy-goat, who hadn't such a

small voice.



"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.



"Oh, no! don't take me, wait a little till the big billy-goat Gruff

comes, he's much bigger."



"Very well! be off with you," said the Troll.



But just then up came the big billy-goat Gruff.



"TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!" went the bridge, for the

billy-goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under

him.



"WHO'S THAT tramping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.



"IT'S I! THE BIG BILLY-GOAT GRUFF," said the billy-goat, who had an

ugly hoarse voice of his own.



"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," roared the Troll.



"Well, come along! I've got two spears,

And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears;

I've got besides two curling-stones,

And I'll crush you to bits, body and bones."



That was what the big billy-goat said; and so he flew at the Troll

and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body

and bones, and tossed him out into the burn, and after that he went up

to the hill-side. There the billy-goats got so fat they were scarce

able to walk home again; and if the fat hasn't fallen off them, why

they're still fat; and so:



Snip, snap, snout,

This tale's told out.



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