The Three Languages (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
Learning the three languages and disappointing the father
An aged count lived in Switzerland with his only son, whom he considered stupid and unable to learn anything. Frustrated with his son's apparent lack of progress, the father decided to send him away for proper education.
Hark thee, my son, I can get nothing into thy head, let me try as I will. Thou must go from hence, I will give thee into the care of a celebrated master
The youth was sent to a strange town and remained with the first master for a whole year. When he returned, his father asked what he had learned, and the son replied that he had learned what dogs say when they bark. The father was dismayed and sent him to a second master for another year. Upon his return, the youth announced he had learned what birds say. The father's anger grew even greater.
Oh, thou lost man, thou hast spent the precious time and learnt nothing; art thou not ashamed to appear before mine eyes? I will send thee to a third master
After the third year with yet another master, the youth returned claiming he had learned what frogs croak. This final revelation sent the father into furious rage.
This man is no longer my son, I drive him forth, and command you to take him out into the forest, and kill him.
Banishment and survival
The count's servants were ordered to take the youth into the forest and kill him. However, when the moment came, they could not bring themselves to harm him out of pity.
Instead, they let him go free and killed a deer, cutting out its eyes and tongue as proof for the old count that they had carried out his orders. The youth wandered on alone.
The fortress and the wild dogs
After some time wandering, the youth came to a fortress where he begged for lodging. The lord of the castle agreed but warned him of great danger.
The old tower was full of wild dogs that barked and howled without stopping, and at certain hours a man had to be given to them to devour. The whole district lived in sorrow and dismay because of these beasts, yet no one could stop this terror. The youth showed no fear and volunteered to spend the night with the dogs.
When he entered the tower, the dogs did not bark at him but wagged their tails amicably, ate the food he brought them, and did not hurt a single hair on his head. The next morning, he emerged safe and unharmed, to everyone's astonishment.
The dogs have revealed to me, in their own language, why they dwell there, and bring evil on the land. They are bewitched, and are obliged to watch over a great treasure
The youth explained that the dogs had told him they were bewitched and forced to guard treasure beneath the tower. He knew from their discourse how to break the spell. The lord of the castle promised to adopt him as a son if he succeeded. The youth went down again, accomplished the task thoroughly, and brought out a chest full of gold.
The howling of the wild dogs was henceforth heard no more; they had disappeared, and the country was freed from the trouble.
The journey to Rome and becoming Pope
After some time, the youth decided to travel to Rome. On his way, he passed by a marsh where frogs were croaking. He listened to them carefully, and when he understood what they were saying, he became very thoughtful and sad. He arrived in Rome just as the Pope had died, and there was great difficulty in choosing a successor.
The church officials had agreed that whoever should be distinguished by some divine and miraculous token would be chosen as the new pope. Just as this decision was made, the young count entered the church.
Suddenly two snow-white doves flew on his shoulders and remained sitting there. The ecclesiastics recognized therein the token from above
The church officials immediately asked him if he would be pope. Though undecided about his worthiness, the doves counseled him to accept, and he agreed. He was anointed and consecrated.
Thus was fulfilled what he had heard from the frogs on his way, which had so affected him, that he was to be his Holiness the Pope.
When he had to sing his first mass, he did not know a single word of it, but the two doves sat continually on his shoulders and whispered everything in his ear, guiding him through the ceremony.