The
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Once there were three billy goats who were all named Gruff.
They wanted to go up a hillside to eat grass and grow fat.
But to reach the hillside,
they had to cross a bridge.
And under the bridge in the stream lived a
terrible troll with eyes as big as plates
and a nose as long as a poker.
One day the smallest Billy Goat Gruff crossed the bridge.
Trip-trap,
trip-trap,
trip-trap,
sounded his little hooves on the bridge.
Who is that tripping over my bridge?
roared the troll.
It is only I,
said the smallest Billy Goat Gruff.
I am going up to the hillside to eat and grow fat.
I am going to eat you up, said the troll.
No,
please do not eat me.
I am so small.
Wait for my bigger brother.
He will make a better meal for you.
Well,
be off then,
said the troll.
Later the second biggest Billy Goat Gruff passed over the bridge.
Trip-trap,
trip-trap,
trip-trap,
went his hooves on the bridge.
Who is that tripping over my bridge?
roared the troll.
It is only I,
said the second biggest Billy Goat Gruff.
I am going up to the hillside to eat and grow fat.
I am going to eat you up, said the troll.
No, please do not.
Wait until the big Billy Goat Gruff comes.
He is larger than I. He will make a better meal.
Very well,
said the troll.
Just then the big Billy Goat Gruff came along.
Trip-trap, trip-trap,
trip-trap,
went his hooves on the bridge,
which shook with his weight.
Who is that tripping over my bridge?
roared the troll.
It is I,
the big Billy Goat Gruff,
he said in his deep voice.
Now I am coming to eat you up, roared the troll.
Then come, I have two spears to stick you with.
And that is just what the Billy Goat did with his great sharp horns,
and the troll was never seen again.
As for the three Billy Goats Gruff,
they climbed the hillside and ate and grew fat.