The Moon (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The discovery and theft of the moon
In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark, and the sky spread over it like a black cloth, for there the moon never rose, and no star shone
Three young fellows from this perpetually dark land set out on a traveling expedition and arrived in another kingdom. There, when evening came and the sun disappeared behind the mountains, they witnessed something extraordinary: a shining globe placed on an oak tree that shed soft light far and wide, allowing everything to be seen clearly despite not being as brilliant as the sun.
The travelers stopped a passing countryman and learned that this was the moon, purchased by their mayor for three thalers and fastened to the oak tree. The mayor maintained it daily with oil and cleaning, receiving a weekly thaler from the townspeople for his services. Inspired by this discovery, the first young fellow suggested they could make use of such a lamp.
We could make some use of this lamp, we have an oak-tree at home, which is just as big as this, and we could hang it on that. What a pleasure it would be not to have to feel about
The second proposed a bold plan: they would fetch a cart and horses to carry away the moon, suggesting the local people could simply buy themselves another. The third, being a skilled climber, volunteered to bring it down, while the fourth brought the necessary transportation. Under cover of darkness, they executed their theft, boring a hole in the moon, passing a rope through it, and lowering it into their cart before covering it with cloth.
The moon brings light to the dark land
The four travelers successfully conveyed the stolen moon to their homeland and placed it on a high oak tree. The transformation was remarkable: old and young rejoiced when the new lamp illuminated the entire land, filling bedrooms and sitting rooms with its gentle light. The magical illumination awakened the hidden inhabitants of the dark realm.
Old and young rejoiced, when the new lamp let its light shine over the whole land, and bedrooms and sitting-rooms were filled with it. The dwarfs came forth from their caves
Dwarfs emerged from their rocky caves, and tiny elves in their little red coats danced in rings on the meadows. The four men took responsibility for maintaining their stolen treasure, providing it with oil, cleaning the wick, and receiving their weekly payment for these services.
Death of the guardians and the moons gradual dimming
As years passed, the four guardians of the moon grew old. When the first became ill and realized death was approaching, he made an unusual request: that one quarter of the moon should be buried with him as his rightful property. After his death, the mayor climbed the tree and cut off a quarter with hedge shears, placing it in the deceased man's coffin.
When one of them grew ill, and saw that he was about to die, he appointed that one quarter of the moon, should, as his property, be laid in the grave with him.
The moon's light decreased, though not visibly at first. When the second guardian died, another quarter was buried with him, and the light diminished further. The pattern continued with the third man's death, and the light grew weaker still. Finally, when the fourth was laid to rest, the old state of complete darkness returned to the land.
When the fourth was borne to his grave, the old state of darkness recommenced, and whenever the people went out at night without their lanterns they knocked their heads together.
The restless dead and chaos in the underworld
In the world below, where darkness had always prevailed, something extraordinary occurred. The four pieces of the moon united themselves together again, creating an unprecedented situation in the underworld. The dead, who had slumbered peacefully in eternal darkness, suddenly found themselves able to see again.
The pieces of the moon had united themselves together again in the world below, where darkness had always prevailed, it came to pass that the dead became restless and awoke
The moonlight proved sufficient for their weakened eyes, which could not have borne the brilliance of the sun. Amazed by their restored vision, the dead rose up and became merry, falling back into their former ways of living. Some went to plays and dances, while others hastened to public houses, where they drank wine, became intoxicated, and began to brawl and quarrel, eventually taking up cudgels to beat each other. The noise grew greater and greater, ultimately reaching even to heaven.
Saint Peters intervention and the moons placement in heaven
Saint Peter who guards the gate of heaven thought the lower world had broken out in revolt and gathered together the heavenly troops, which are to drive back the Evil One
When the expected demonic forces failed to appear, Saint Peter mounted his horse and rode through heaven's gate down into the world below. There he found the true source of the disturbance and took decisive action to restore the natural order.
There he reduced the dead to subjection, bade them lie down in their graves again, took the moon away with him, and hung it up in heaven.