The Bittern and the Hoopoe
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Adapted Version
One day, a man met an old farmer.
"Where is the best field?" the man asked. "I need grass for my cows."
The old farmer smiled. "Not too much grass," he said. "Not too little grass. Just right."
He stopped. He looked up. "Do you hear those sad birds?" he asked. "I will tell you their story."
Long ago, those two birds were farmers. They had cows. They each had a field. But they made big mistakes.
Bittern took his cows to a big field. The grass was tall and green. Sweet flowers grew all around. There was so much food! The cows ate and ate. They ate all day long. They got big and fat. They got wild and strong. They ran and jumped. Bittern could not stop them. He tried and tried. Too much food was bad.
Hoopoe took his cows to dry hills. There was no grass at all. There were no flowers. The hills were brown and dry. The ground was hard. The cows got thin and sad. They sat down in the dirt. They could not walk. They could not run. Too little food was bad.
Then the sun went down. It was time to go home.
Bittern called his cows. "Come, cows, come!" he said. But the cows were too wild. They did not listen. They ran far away. "Come, cows, come!" he cried. But no cows came back. Bittern sat down. He was so sad.
Hoopoe called his cows too. "Up, up, up!" he said. But the cows were too weak. They could not stand up. They could not walk home. "Up, up, up!" he cried. But no cows got up. Hoopoe sat down. He was so sad too.
The old farmer looked at the man. "Do you see?" he said. "Too much is bad." He held up one finger. "Too little is bad." He held up two fingers. "The best way is just right."
The man nodded. Now he knew.
"You can still hear them," the old farmer said. Bittern calls out now. "Come, cows, come!" And Hoopoe calls out too. "Up, up, up!" But no cows come. And no cows get up.
They call and call. They will call for ever.
Not too much. Not too little. Just right.
Original Story
The bittern and the hoopoe
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
"Where do you like best to feed your flocks?" said a man to an old cow-herd. "Here, sir, where the grass is neither too rich nor too poor, or else it is no use." - "Why not?" asked the man. "Do you hear that melancholy cry from the meadow there?" answered the shepherd, "that is the bittern; he was once a shepherd, and so was the hoopoe also,--I will tell you the story. The bittern pastured his flocks on rich green meadows where flowers grew in abundance, so his cows became wild and unmanageable. The hoopoe drove his cattle on to high barren hills, where the wind plays with the sand, and his cows became thin, and got no strength. When it was evening, and the shepherds wanted to drive their cows homewards, the bittern could not get his together again; they were too high-spirited, and ran away from him. He called, "Come, cows, come," but it was of no use; they took no notice of his calling. The hoopoe, however, could not even get his cows up on their legs, so faint and weak had they become. "Up, up, up," screamed he, but it was in vain, they remained lying on the sand. That is the way when one has no moderation. And to this day, though they have no flocks now to watch, the bittern cries, "Come, cows, come," and the hoopoe, "Up, up, up."
- * * * *
Story DNA
Moral
Moderation in all things is essential for success and well-being.
Plot Summary
A man asks an old cow-herd for advice on pasturing, who then explains the importance of moderation by telling the story of the bittern and the hoopoe. The bittern pastured his cows on overly rich land, making them wild and uncontrollable, while the hoopoe pastured his on barren land, making them weak and immobile. Both shepherds failed to manage their flocks due to their extreme choices. The cow-herd concludes that their current cries are a perpetual reminder of their past lack of moderation.
Themes
Emotional Arc
ignorance to regret
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The Grimm's tales often collected existing oral traditions, reflecting rural European life and common wisdom.
Plot Beats (9)
- A man asks an old cow-herd for the best place to feed flocks.
- The cow-herd advises a balanced pasture and points out the crying bittern and hoopoe.
- The cow-herd explains that the birds were once shepherds.
- The bittern pastured his cows on excessively rich meadows, making them wild and unmanageable.
- The hoopoe pastured his cows on barren hills, making them weak and unable to move.
- At evening, the bittern's cows ignored his calls to come home.
- The hoopoe's cows were too weak to stand or move when he called them to 'Up, up, up'.
- The cow-herd states that this is the consequence of having no moderation.
- To this day, the bittern cries 'Come, cows, come' and the hoopoe cries 'Up, up, up', though they no longer have flocks.
Characters
Bittern ◆ supporting
A bird with a long beak, known for its melancholy cry
Regretful, loud
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult humanoid figure with the head and plumage of a bittern bird, featuring mottled brown, gold, and cream feathers. They wear a simple, earth-toned tunic and trousers made of rough linen, with a leather tool belt slung across their hips. Their posture is slightly hunched and attentive, with one three-fingered hand raised in a gentle, beckoning gesture. Their large, round amber eyes hold a kind and patient expression, and their long, pointed beak is closed softly. They stand on digitigrade legs ending in scaly, clawed feet. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Hoopoe ◆ supporting
A bird known for its distinctive call
Frustrated, loud
Image Prompt & Upload
A majestic anthropomorphic bird with a striking orange, black, and white plumage, featuring a magnificent, fan-like crest of elongated feathers on its head. Its eyes are bright and intelligent, with a wise, serene expression. It wears a simple, elegant cloak of deep blue velvet draped over its shoulders, clasped with a small silver brooch. The bird stands tall and dignified on two slender, scaled legs, one foot slightly forward in a poised stance. Its long, pointed beak is a warm golden hue. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Cow-herd ◆ supporting
An old man
Attire: Simple, rustic clothing suitable for a shepherd
Wise, observant
Image Prompt & Upload
A youthful figure, approximately sixteen years old, with curly chestnut hair and bright, observant eyes, dressed in a hand-stitched green tunic over beige leggings and scuffed leather shoes. He holds a slender wooden stick, standing with a confident yet humble posture, a faint, contented smile on his sun-tanned face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Man ◆ supporting
Unspecified
Attire: Unspecified
Inquisitive
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a kind, weathered face and short brown hair stands with a gentle smile. He wears a simple tunic of undyed linen, leather breeches, and sturdy boots. His posture is open and supportive, with one hand resting on his hip and the other extended slightly forward as if offering help. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Rich Green Meadow
Lush meadows overflowing with abundant flowers and tall grasses.
Mood: Fertile, abundant, but ultimately leading to wildness and lack of control.
The bittern's cows grow wild and unmanageable due to the overabundance of resources.
Image Prompt & Upload
Golden hour sunlight bathes a vast, rolling meadow in warm amber and deep emerald hues. Lush, knee-high grasses sway gently in a soft breeze, their tips catching the light. The meadow is overflowing with a vibrant carpet of wildflowers—poppies, cornflowers, and daisies in bursts of red, blue, and white. A few solitary, ancient oak trees dot the landscape, casting long, soft shadows. In the distance, a line of dark green forest marks the horizon under a sky painted with streaks of orange and pink clouds. The air feels clear and serene, with a sense of abundant, untouched nature. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
High Barren Hills
Elevated, desolate landscape with sparse vegetation and wind-blown sand.
Mood: Desolate, harsh, lacking in resources, leading to weakness and frailty.
The hoopoe's cows become weak and frail due to the lack of resources.
Image Prompt & Upload
Elevated desolate landscape of high barren hills at dusk, with sparse wind-blown grasses and patches of sand. The sky is a gradient of deep purple and soft orange, wispy clouds catching the last light. Rolling hills stretch into the distance, surfaces textured with eroded rocks and fine sand carried by a gentle breeze. Atmosphere quiet and lonely, long shadows cast by the fading sun. Colors are muted earth tones: browns, tans, grays, accented by warm sunset hues. No vegetation except occasional hardy shrubs. Wind creates subtle ripples in the sand, adding movement. Ethereal fairy tale ambiance with ancient desolation. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
