Once upon a time, there were three Billy Goats who wanted to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and all three were named “Gruff.”

On their way up, there was a bridge over a burn that 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.

First of all, the youngest Billy Goat Gruff came 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! Pray don’t take me. I’m too little, that I am,” said the Billy Goat; “wait a bit until the second Billy Goat Gruff comes, he’s much bigger.”

“Well! be off with you,” said the Troll.

A little while later, the second Billy Goat Gruff came 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 didn’t have such a small voice.

“Now, I’m coming to gobble you up,” said the Troll.

“Oh, no! Don’t take me! Wait a little until the big Billy Goat Gruff comes, he’s much bigger.”

“Very well! be off with you,” said the Troll.

But just then, the big Billy Goat Gruff came up.

“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! I’ve got two spears, And I’ll poke your eyeballs out at your ears; I’ve got besides two curling-stones, And I’ll crush you to bits, body and bones.”

That was what the big Billy Goat said. And so he flew at the Troll and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the burn. 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, why, they’re still fat. And so:

Snip, snap, snout, This tale’s told out.