Once upon a time, there were three billy-goats. They were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat. The name of all three was “Gruff.”
On the way up was a bridge over a stream they had to cross. 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.
“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 hillside 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! 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 later 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 hillside 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 for 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!” the big billy-goat said, and so he flew at the Troll and tossed him out into the stream, and after that, he went up to the hillside. There the billy-goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again; and if the fat hasn’t fallen off them, they’re still fat; and so –
“Snip, snap, snout.
This tale’s told out.”